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Russia has suspended the sale of a second batch of Armenian Jermuk mineral water, this time involving nearly 1.1 million bottles, due to alleged regulatory violations. Earlier this week, another smaller batch was blocked, bringing the total number of bottles subject to restrictions to approximately 1.4 million.
Citing Russian authorities, RBK reported that the restrictions were introduced following inspections of batches produced between October 23, 2025, and March 27, during which mandatory requirement violations were reportedly identified.
Subsequently, measures were taken “to prevent potential harm to the life and health of citizens.”
A previous similar case was announced on April 28, when Russian authorities suspended the sale of 338,000 bottles of Jermuk mineral water produced between February 17 and March 5, citing “violations of mandatory requirements.”
Following the initial report, the Food Safety Inspection Body of Armenia responded promptly, stating that it “has not yet received any official information” from the relevant Russian authorities.
At the time of publication, the Jermuk Group has not yet provided a response.
In its report, RBK cited information from Russian authorities providing additional details on the first batch, indicating that samples contained “elevated levels of bicarbonate ions, chlorides, and sulfates, which do not comply with the labeling and technical regulation requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).”
The two rounds of bans affecting Jermuk followed the recent reopening of an investigation into the company after tense negotiations between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 1.
The case against Jermuk began in 2024 and is linked to the death of North Ossetian businessman Oleg Gusov, who reportedly died after consuming allegedly contaminated Jermuk water. At that time, Russian regulatory authorities suspended the sale of 2.5 million bottles of Jermuk, but the ban was later lifted following an inspection.
In addition to the Jermuk case, immediately following the Pashinyan-Putin negotiations, Russia announced the introduction of “stricter requirements” for the import of Armenian goods and accused Armenia of being “very close to the point where we will have to reconsider our economic relations with this country.”
Russia has previously been accused of using food safety regulations as a means of economic pressure on other countries, including Armenia.