World experts say Armenia provided out-of-sight supplies to Russia, helping to circumvent sanctions

The EU is preparing the 14th package of sanctions against Russia in six main directions, Bloomberg reports, citing its sources. This package still needs to be approved, and may undergo significant changes. As reported, in the 14th package of sanctions, the EU intends to ban its members from using the Financial Messaging System, which came to replace SWIFT. The agency noted that since January 2024, this system has been in operation in 20 countries, including Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, allowing Russia to conduct uninterrupted banking operations despite EU sanctions.

The Guardian, in turn, wrote that German exports continue to pour into Moscow via countries such as Armenia. Thus, Putin’s supporters get mechanical and electrical parts they need to produce or maintain consumer goods. Nevertheless, “Armenia rightly points out that the export of goods to Russia cannot be blocked ‘unless those goods are under sanctions and included in the common high priority [CHP] list’”. As noted, putting items on the CHP list is the EU’s job.

Earlier, German newspaper Die Zeit reported that the trade turnover between EU countries and Russia’s neighbors has increased by 1000%. Experts say the reason for this is out-of-sight supplies to Russia, provided via such countries as Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Georgia and Kazakhstan. Moreover, trade between the EU and Armenia has expanded by 260%, reaching €2 billion.