Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk responded to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statements claiming that "Russian Railways" are "toxic for Armenia." Overchuk noted that "Russian Railways" continue to transport goods through Russian territory, for instance, to Europe, and that no one raises questions about "toxicity" except for Pashinyan.
Armenia's Plans for the South Caucasus Railway
The railway network of Armenia has been under the concession management of the South Caucasus Railway CJSC, a subsidiary of RZD, since 2008. In February 2026, Prime Minister Pashinyan did not rule out the possibility of transferring the management rights of the railway to another country friendly to both Armenia and Russia, particularly Kazakhstan, the UAE, or Qatar.
On July 30, Pashinyan indicated potential financial claims against Russia amounting to about $2 billion in the context of the South Caucasus Railway concession, emphasizing that Yerevan hopes to resolve the issue through dialogue.
On the same day, RZD head Oleg Belozerov stated that the Russian side intends to adhere to the terms of the concession agreement and expects to recover invested funds in case of its termination or modification. According to the Russian side, over 30 billion rubles have been invested in Armenia's railway system since the concession began.
