The Federal Service for Supervision in the Fields of Agriculture and…
The Federal Service for Supervision in the Fields of Agriculture and Forestry (Rosselkhoznadzor) has blocked the import of more than 39,000 freshly cut roses from Armenia into Russia via Belarus using forged documents, the service reported.
Consensus
- A shipment of approximately 39,2 thousand fresh-cut roses from Armenia was intercepted at the Smolensk customs checkpoint.
- The roses were being transported through Belarus under false pretenses, declared as non-alcoholic tonizing drinks in documentation.
- The transport vehicle was driven by a citizen of Belarus and traveled from the Minsk region to Moscow.
- No phytosanitary or accompanying documents were present for the shipment.
- Fragments of original labeling with Armenian text were found on the packaging, confirming the origin.
- The entire consignment was destroyed by decision of the territorial office of Rosselkhoznadzor.
- An administrative case was initiated against the driver of the transport vehicle.
Points of divergence
- Armenian flower growers attempted to rebrand their roses as energy drinks via Belarus, and this is not the first time such attempts have occurred; previously, similar smuggling was caught with flowers allegedly from Iran. — tg_mash
- The attempt failed due to lack of intelligence in changing packaging labels that still bore Armenian script. — tg_mash
- Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, appealed directly to Vladimir Putin requesting removal of all import restrictions on goods. — tg_mash
- The ban was introduced by Rosselkhoznadzor starting 22 May 2026 for protection of Russia's phytosanitary integrity and export potential, with possible loss of up to 90% of Armenia’s flower export revenue if the Russian market is lost. — vesti
- The ban on imports from Armenia has been in effect since 22 May 2026, and restrictions on all non-quarantine products originating from or shipped through Armenia have been active since 12 June. — interfax
Coverage (4 sources)
- Armenian florists find another way to sell roses and chrysanthemums in Russia: smuggling them through Belarus under the guise of energy drinks — Mash
- Roselkhoznadzor destroyed a large batch of roses from Armenia — Вести
- Roselkhoznadzor blocked attempt to import Armenian roses via Belarus — Интерфакс
- Rosselkhoznadzor destroyed 39 thousand roses from Armenia — Москва 24