By Elen Muradyan
Armenia has the legal leverage to terminate its railway concession agreement with Russia, but does not plan to pursue that option, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday, signaling a preference for continued negotiations over confrontation.
Speaking at a press briefing in Yerevan, Pashinyan said his government sees dialogue as the primary path forward. “We see discussions as the solution,” he said.
The issue was raised during Pashinyan’s meeting Wednesday in Moscow with President Vladimir Putin, where the two sides exchanged positions and agreed to continue talks. Pashinyan said Armenia’s concern is that the current arrangement limits the country’s ability to fully realize its competitive potential.
“Our task is to ensure that Armenia can fully utilize its competitive advantages,” he said, adding that Yerevan does not seek to harm Russian interests and values its friendly relations with Moscow.
Under a 2008 agreement, Armenia transferred management of its railway network to Russian state-owned Russian Railways (RZD) for 30 years, with an option to extend for another 10. The deal effectively placed the country’s rail infrastructure under Russian concession control.
In recent months, Pashinyan has raised concerns about the pace and scope of infrastructure development under the agreement. In January, he urged Russia to make urgent decisions on restoring key railway segments.
Read more: Armenia, Russia to launch talks on railway restoration
Armenia expects the rehabilitation of several strategic sections currently under the concession. These include the stretch from the Armenia–Turkey border near Akhurik to the existing network, the Yeraskh section near the Armenia–Nakhichevan border, and lines in the Tavush region up to Ijevan.
If these works are not carried out within a reasonable timeframe, Armenia is prepared to undertake the reconstruction at its own expense, Pashinyan said in December.
He has also floated the idea of a third-party arrangement, suggesting that a country friendly to both Armenia and Russia could potentially acquire the management rights from RZD—an option that would preserve ties while altering the operational model.
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