Russia called Yerevan's statements about ceding the concession to operate the railway to Armenia strange
22.04.2026,
16:43
Yerevan's statements about the need to cede the concession to operate the Armenian railway to another country seem strange, Alexey Shevtsov, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council, told reporters.
YEREVAN, April 22. /ARKA/. Yerevan's statements about the need to cede the concession to operate the Armenian railway to another country seem strange, Alexey Shevtsov, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council, told reporters.
"The Armenian side's statements that the concession management of Armenian railways by South Caucasus Railways (a subsidiary of Russian Railways) allegedly 'creates certain competitive losses' for the republic, and its proposals to cede this concession to third countries, appear strange, to say the least," he said, according to TASS.
As Shevtsov noted, the agreement was concluded under the most favorable terms for the Armenian side. "According to preliminary estimates, potential buyers of the concession will have to pay at least $250 million for the purchase of rights and compensation, spend approximately $40 million annually on operating costs, invest approximately $400 million in the restoration of the damaged Ijevan section, approximately $200 million in the Vanadzor-Fioletovo section, and approximately $40 million in the restoration of sections on the border with Turkey and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic," he listed.
He added that freight volumes on the Armenian railway network have not been confirmed, and their growth potential is unclear, while a decline is guaranteed if Armenia withdraws from the EAEU.
However, as Shevtsov pointed out, theory can always be tested in practice. Moreover, it is possible that the results will exceed expectations, and Armenia's social and economic losses from breaking with the EAEU will be even greater, the Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council added.
Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia does not intend to take any steps behind Russia's back or in defiance of it regarding the possible transfer of the concession for Armenian railways to Kazakhstan.
On railway discussions
Earlier, Pashinyan said that he had discussed the issue of the railway in Armenia with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Pashinyan, work in this direction is ongoing.
On April 2, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk stated that the Russian side learned about the possible transfer of the Russian concession for Armenian railways from colleagues in other countries; no one had discussed the matter directly with Moscow.
On April 7, the Kazakh Ministry of Transport and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) announced that they were not negotiating the acquisition of the Russian concession for Armenian railways.
On Armenia's plans
In February 2026, Pashinyan did not rule out the possibility of Russia selling the right to manage Armenian railways to another country friendly to Armenia and Russia, specifically Qatar, the UAE, or Kazakhstan.
Pashinyan stated that, as part of the TRIPP project, several countries are proposing to build a railway link between Nakhchivan and the mainland of Azerbaijan, bypassing Armenia, pointing out that the Armenian railway is managed by a Russian company. According to him, due to Russia's management of the Armenian railway, "Armenia is losing its competitive advantage."
Since 2008, the concessionaire for the Armenian railway has been South Caucasus Railways (SCR), a subsidiary of Russian Railways.
"The Armenian side's statements that the concession management of Armenian railways by South Caucasus Railways (a subsidiary of Russian Railways) allegedly 'creates certain competitive losses' for the republic, and its proposals to cede this concession to third countries, appear strange, to say the least," he said, according to TASS.
As Shevtsov noted, the agreement was concluded under the most favorable terms for the Armenian side. "According to preliminary estimates, potential buyers of the concession will have to pay at least $250 million for the purchase of rights and compensation, spend approximately $40 million annually on operating costs, invest approximately $400 million in the restoration of the damaged Ijevan section, approximately $200 million in the Vanadzor-Fioletovo section, and approximately $40 million in the restoration of sections on the border with Turkey and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic," he listed.
He added that freight volumes on the Armenian railway network have not been confirmed, and their growth potential is unclear, while a decline is guaranteed if Armenia withdraws from the EAEU.
However, as Shevtsov pointed out, theory can always be tested in practice. Moreover, it is possible that the results will exceed expectations, and Armenia's social and economic losses from breaking with the EAEU will be even greater, the Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council added.
Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia does not intend to take any steps behind Russia's back or in defiance of it regarding the possible transfer of the concession for Armenian railways to Kazakhstan.
On railway discussions
Earlier, Pashinyan said that he had discussed the issue of the railway in Armenia with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Pashinyan, work in this direction is ongoing.
On April 2, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk stated that the Russian side learned about the possible transfer of the Russian concession for Armenian railways from colleagues in other countries; no one had discussed the matter directly with Moscow.
On April 7, the Kazakh Ministry of Transport and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) announced that they were not negotiating the acquisition of the Russian concession for Armenian railways.
On Armenia's plans
In February 2026, Pashinyan did not rule out the possibility of Russia selling the right to manage Armenian railways to another country friendly to Armenia and Russia, specifically Qatar, the UAE, or Kazakhstan.
Pashinyan stated that, as part of the TRIPP project, several countries are proposing to build a railway link between Nakhchivan and the mainland of Azerbaijan, bypassing Armenia, pointing out that the Armenian railway is managed by a Russian company. According to him, due to Russia's management of the Armenian railway, "Armenia is losing its competitive advantage."
Since 2008, the concessionaire for the Armenian railway has been South Caucasus Railways (SCR), a subsidiary of Russian Railways.
