MP Garnik Danielyan of the opposition Hayastan faction has criticized Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan’s recent Facebook statement claiming the issue with Armenian brandy exports has been “largely resolved.”
Referring to the minister’s remarks, Danielyan noted that while 27 trucks loaded with bottled brandy reportedly passed through Georgia’s Gezi customs point in one day, one truck failed inspection. Papoyan interpreted this as proof that over 96% of Armenian brandy exports meet quality standards.
However, Danielyan expressed concern that the government failed to explain what prompted Georgian authorities to obstruct Armenian brandy exports for months. He stressed that as a transit country, Georgia has no authority to subject Armenian goods to testing.
“It’s no longer surprising that this ruling group has mastered only lies and manipulation over the past seven years. As they gauge public sentiment based on who splashes water on whom during Vardavar, and judge quality of life by trips to Lake Sevan, the economy and exports continue to decline,” Danielyan wrote.
He added that despite the minister’s cheerful tone, business owners are reporting serious cutbacks in production and exports. One brandy producer told him that whereas a truck of brandy used to cross the border daily, now that same amount is shipped only once a month.
He argued that Georgia's insistence on lab tests for Armenian brandy is unjustified and emphasized the drop in brandy and alcohol exports compared to last year, as per official data from the Statistical Committee.
No state agency has provided a full explanation as to why Georgia has been delaying Armenian brandy exports to Russia for months, Danielyan added.
He also pointed to a worsening situation in the liquefied gas sector. According to him, while hundreds of trucks importing gas from Russia face delays at Georgian border checkpoints, domestic gas prices continue to rise.
“This is a highly negative trend with irreversible consequences for our economy,” he warned, citing data showing a 12% drop in industrial output and a 45% decline in foreign trade during the first half of 2025.
Earlier, Armenian brandy producers had complained that Georgia was blocking trucks headed to Russia, insisting on conducting laboratory tests within its own territory. As a result, truck drivers were forced to wait for weeks at the Armenia–Georgia border.
