Overchuk: Armenia has not approached Russia about terminating the South Caucasus Railway concession, Moscow is in favor of continuing it
07.08.2026,
14:04
Yerevan has not received any official requests to terminate the South Caucasus Railway concession.
YEREVAN, August 7. /ARKA/. Yerevan has not received any official requests to terminate the South Caucasus Railway concession. Russia is in favor of continuing it, said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk.
"We have not received any official requests regarding the termination of the concession. But we constantly hear public statements about this; there are proposals for individual sections that are an integral part of the Armenian railway system. How can one separate one sleeper from another? Such thoughts are circulating," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, TASS reports.
According to Overchuk, the Russian side favors calmly resolving these issues through consultations and dialogue. "We are ready to continue working and extending the concession in Armenia, especially since Russian Railways is probably the only professional company capable of effectively managing and developing this railway," Overchuk added.
The Russian Deputy Prime Minister recalled that, as early as January 2026, decisions were made to support the reconstruction of two small sections of Armenian railways. "Interestingly, as soon as Russia announced its readiness to participate in the restoration of these railway sections, which truly provide Armenian railways with connectivity to both Azerbaijan and Turkey, literally the next day, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan issued a statement claiming that Russia's participation in the concession allegedly deprives Armenia of some competitive advantages in terms of railway development," he noted.
According to Overchuk, it is very difficult to assess how Armenia's railways will be connected to the rest of the world without connectivity to Russian railways.
Armenia's plans for the South Caucasus Railway
In February 2026, Pashinyan did not rule out the possibility of Russia transferring management rights to the Armenian railway to another country friendly to both Armenia and Russia, specifically Qatar, the UAE, or Kazakhstan.
He also stated that, as part of the TRIPP project, several countries are proposing to establish a railway connection between Nakhchivan and the mainland of Azerbaijan, bypassing Armenia, pointing out that the Armenian railway is managed by a Russian company. According to him, this is causing "Armenia to lose its competitive advantage."
On July 30, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan admitted to making financial demands of $2 billion against Russia in the context of the South Caucasus Railway concession. He stated that the railway is the property of Armenia and the republic has the right to use any legal mechanisms, including arbitration. Pashinyan also stated that Yerevan expects to resolve the issue amicably through dialogue with the Russian side. Later that day, Russian Railways CEO Oleg Belozerov stated that the Russian side intends to adhere to the terms of the concession agreement and, if Armenia terminates or amends it, expects to receive a return on its investment.
"We have not received any official requests regarding the termination of the concession. But we constantly hear public statements about this; there are proposals for individual sections that are an integral part of the Armenian railway system. How can one separate one sleeper from another? Such thoughts are circulating," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, TASS reports.
According to Overchuk, the Russian side favors calmly resolving these issues through consultations and dialogue. "We are ready to continue working and extending the concession in Armenia, especially since Russian Railways is probably the only professional company capable of effectively managing and developing this railway," Overchuk added.
The Russian Deputy Prime Minister recalled that, as early as January 2026, decisions were made to support the reconstruction of two small sections of Armenian railways. "Interestingly, as soon as Russia announced its readiness to participate in the restoration of these railway sections, which truly provide Armenian railways with connectivity to both Azerbaijan and Turkey, literally the next day, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan issued a statement claiming that Russia's participation in the concession allegedly deprives Armenia of some competitive advantages in terms of railway development," he noted.
According to Overchuk, it is very difficult to assess how Armenia's railways will be connected to the rest of the world without connectivity to Russian railways.
Armenia's plans for the South Caucasus Railway
In February 2026, Pashinyan did not rule out the possibility of Russia transferring management rights to the Armenian railway to another country friendly to both Armenia and Russia, specifically Qatar, the UAE, or Kazakhstan.
He also stated that, as part of the TRIPP project, several countries are proposing to establish a railway connection between Nakhchivan and the mainland of Azerbaijan, bypassing Armenia, pointing out that the Armenian railway is managed by a Russian company. According to him, this is causing "Armenia to lose its competitive advantage."
On July 30, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan admitted to making financial demands of $2 billion against Russia in the context of the South Caucasus Railway concession. He stated that the railway is the property of Armenia and the republic has the right to use any legal mechanisms, including arbitration. Pashinyan also stated that Yerevan expects to resolve the issue amicably through dialogue with the Russian side. Later that day, Russian Railways CEO Oleg Belozerov stated that the Russian side intends to adhere to the terms of the concession agreement and, if Armenia terminates or amends it, expects to receive a return on its investment.
