MOSCOW, August 6. /TASS/. Russia is not imposing restrictions on exports from Armenia, as this is the reality that awaits the republic if it severs ties with Moscow, Alexey Fadeyev, Deputy Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, told a briefing.

"It must be understood that these are not our restrictions. This is the reality that awaits the republic if traditional ties are broken. We have repeatedly urged the Armenian leadership to speak honestly about all the pros and cons of such a reorientation toward the EU. Unfortunately, this was not done and is still not being done. However, the Armenian leadership itself has publicly admitted that there are a number of quality issues with certain categories of goods," he said.

According to the diplomat, "at the same time, Yerevan is turning away from relations with Moscow, claiming they hindered the search for alternative vectors, and instead offers the public a multitude of signed declarations on allied cooperation with Western countries."

"However, it is crucial to realize that documents filled with flashy phrases are not legally binding. In practice, these declarations lead to nothing, unlike the massive body of Russian-Armenian treaties and agreements. Neither Brussels, London, nor Paris will seriously invest in the Armenian economy. This is also quite obvious," he stressed.

Fadeyev recalled that "back in 2024, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a Dane and a freelance consultant to Yerevan who previously served as NATO Secretary General, made it crystal clear in the 'Friends of Armenia Network' report that for the West, the republic is a 'low-cost enterprise.'"

"Undoubtedly, building a multi-vector development for a state is a task and a priority for the political leadership of any country. However, one should not substitute concepts here," the diplomat added. "If the beautiful word 'diversification' is used to hide a pivot away from Eurasian integration and a traditional ally toward an openly hostile Russia and European Union, especially after a direct confrontation with Russia, then this is an outright deception not only of partners in Eurasian integration but also of their own population."

According to him, "it is therefore no coincidence that the social and economic consequences of such a 'leap' to Europe are being concealed from Armenian citizens, while current difficulties with exports are being presented as some kind of restrictions by Moscow."

In June, Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) imposed restrictions on supplies of fish products from Armenia to Russia due to detected violations.