If economic ties between Armenia and Russia are severed, certain Armenian products on the Russian market could be replaced by goods from Azerbaijan, according to Boris Titov, the Russian president’s special representative.

Titov stated that the potential consequences would primarily affect Armenia’s economy and could have implications for both the energy sector and the food market. In his assessment, energy prices for Armenia could move closer to European levels, while food prices on the domestic market could rise, RBC reported.

“And what we lose in Armenia, we will, of course, replace, including with products supplied from Azerbaijan,” Titov said.

Earlier, Russia restricted imports of a number of vegetables and fruits from Armenia. Restrictions were also imposed on Armenian flowers, Jermuk mineral water, and brandy.

At the end of May, Rosselkhoznadzor stated that Armenian agricultural products had recently failed to meet Russian and Eurasian Economic Union requirements. The agency suggested that Armenia’s Ministry of Economy has not been properly exercising its authority in this area since the dissolution of the Ministry of Agriculture in 2019.