Analyst: Trust crisis emerges in Yerevan-Tbilisi relations

A trust crisis has emerged in relations between Yerevan and Tbilisi, according to political analyst Suren Surenyants.

In a social media post on Saturday, Surenyants pointed to several recent developments signaling rising tensions, including Georgia’s decision to block the export of approximately 10,000 stems of seasonal flowers from Armenia. According to an official statement from Tbilisi, Georgian customs officers at the Sadakhlo border crossing detected a “quarantine pest” during an inspection.

In addition, Armenian exporters of brandy and wine have raised concerns about what they describe as “unjustified checks and obstacles” imposed on their shipments transiting through Georgia for more than a month. Armenian cargo trucks bound for Russia and other destinations have been stranded at Georgian customs checkpoints for weeks.

The issue was expected to be discussed during a visit to Yerevan by Georgian Agriculture Minister David Songulashvili, scheduled for June 6. However, the visit was abruptly canceled. Adding to the tension, Georgia’s Foreign Ministry denied permission for Armenia’s national football team to charter a flight to Kosovo using a Georgian-registered aircraft.

“Armenian-Georgian relations are currently going through a complicated phase, where cooperation and tension coexist,” Surenyants wrote. “There is evidently a trust crisis between Yerevan and Tbilisi.”