Russia seeks to retain control of railway linking Armenia to Nakhchivan

Russia is seeking to maintain its position in managing Armenia's railway infrastructure and to keep taking part in new transport routes forming in the South Caucasus, according to local media reported by Modern.az. The report says Russia's role in operating Armenia's rail network is important for building new logistics links in the region.

Reports say much of the railway infrastructure in the Yeraskh direction needs to be essentially rebuilt. On the line running toward Kars at the Turkish border, Soviet-era rails, technical facilities and other infrastructure have been partly preserved. One key issue for Armenia is creating a route that could compete with the line Turkey built from Kars to the Dilucu crossing near Nakhchivan.

On October 14, Oleg Belozyorov, head of Russian Railways, met Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan. They discussed restoring the Gyumri–Akhuryan–Turkish border and Yeraskh–Nakhchivan lines, as well as integrating Armenia's rail network into international routes. The sides agreed to set up a joint working group. Belozyorov said the cancellation of the concession agreement with Russia on managing Armenian railways was not raised in the talks.