Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Russian Railways CEO Oleg Belozyorov, after which both sides said they had not discussed ending the concession arrangement for Armenia’s railways. Instead, the talks focused on implementing the existing agreement and continuing joint work.
Belozyorov told Azatutyun that the issue of keeping or cancelling the concession was not raised and that the Russian side considers the talks productive. Armenia’s government said the meeting covered infrastructure development carried out during the concession management of South Caucasus Railway, management efficiency, existing problems and possible solutions.
Yerevan said Pashinyan and Belozyorov agreed to set up a joint working group to discuss the issues within a short timeframe. According to the Russian side, the group will assess the transit potential of Armenia’s rail network.
In recent months, Yerevan had repeatedly argued that the current concession model was costing Armenia competitive advantages and that Western partners were reluctant to use railways managed by a Russian operator. Pashinyan had previously proposed transferring management to a third country acceptable to both Armenia and Russia, naming Kazakhstan as a possible candidate.
Russia had earlier warned that any change to the concession terms or termination of the contract could lead it to seek repayment of its investments, put at $400 million. Under the current agreement, the Russian company took over management of Armenia’s railway for 30 years, until 2038. To extend it by another 10 years, the sides must submit relevant proposals by August 2027.
The meeting also addressed the restoration of the Yeraskh–Azerbaijani Nakhichevan and Akhurik–Turkey border railway sections. The sides exchanged views on the opportunities that could arise from those projects.
