39,000 roses exported from Armenia to Russia are destroyed on basis of fake documents

The Zhoghovurd newspaper of the Republic of Armenia (RA) reported that the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision of Russia (Rosselkhoznadzor) had reported that on July 23, a batch of 39.2 thousand freshly cut roses imported from Armenia was destroyed in the Smolensk region.

The decision was made due to gross violations of the rules for importing products subject to quarantine control into Russia. It is about nearly 39.2 thousand flowers and fake documents. The story surrounding the export of Armenian flowers is turning into not only the loss suffered by one businessman, but also a serious issue of state oversight and accountability.

This fact is especially noteworthy amid the official response sent to the Zhoghovurd daily by the food safety inspection body of Armenia. When Armenia’s [aforesaid] state body is asked about the origin, manufacturer, documents, damage, and destruction of that particular batch, the answer is repeated: “The Food Safety Inspection Body […] does not possess information about the given batch, its origin or manufacturer.”

A key question arises between these two official positions: if the Russian side has publicly identified the cargo as of Armenian origin and indicated its amount, why does the competent body of Armenia not have any information about the given batch?

Moreover, the Zhoghovurd daily had sent its inquiries to the RA Ministry of Economy, from where they forwarded our questions to the Food Safety Inspection Body, where, in fact, they don’t quite master the situation. (…).

The documents in this story leave several specific questions open. (…). The answers to these questions are important not only for one businessman. 39 thousand roses were actually destroyed, with which the chain of accountability from the cargo’s trajectory to the damage suffered by the businessman was also destroyed.