The South Caucasus Railway responsibly fulfills its obligations and has invested more than 30 billion rubles in Armenia, which was also directed toward updating the rolling stock, official spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova announced.
According to her, claims coming from Yerevan that the Russian concession prevents Armenia from participating in international logistics projects are completely unfounded and do not correspond to reality. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson also emphasized that the West is attempting to exert pressure on the leadership of Armenia, demanding the complete removal of the Russian factor from the transport sector. In exchange, Yerevan is promised new investments and involvement in various programs; however, Zakharova advises first receiving what is promised before abandoning the existing system.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had earlier hinted that transferring the concession rights to a third country is being considered. Moscow characterizes these statements as a response to external pressure.
This firm statement from the Russian side demonstrates that the issue of controlling transport infrastructure has become a major axis of political disagreement between Yerevan and Moscow. Considerations by the Armenian authorities regarding the transfer of concession rights to a third country directly hit Russia's strategic presence in the region.
It will become clear in the near future whether Yerevan is prepared to proceed with revising the existing agreements or if the parties will find a compromise. Armenia's involvement in regional unblocking projects also depends on the further course of this process.
