Mirzoyan: Russia ready to discuss restoration of Armenian rail links to Azerbaijan, Türkiye

Russia has expressed readiness to discuss the details of restoring railway sections in Armenia leading to the borders with Türkiye and Azerbaijan, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said in an interview with Public Television, Report informs.

"Just two or three days ago, I received signals that they [Russian representatives] are ready to discuss the nuances: who should invest and how much, and so on," the minister said.

Mirzoyan stressed that much would depend on the terms of the project's implementation. According to him, the issue still has to be considered by the relevant agencies.

In February 2008, Armenia's railway infrastructure was transferred to South Caucasus Railway under a 30-year concession agreement, with an option to extend it for another 10 years.

The issue of revising the existing Russian concession arose against the backdrop of Armenia's plans to restore railway sections on the borders with Azerbaijan and Türkiye. In May, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the Armenian government was ready to finance their reconstruction itself.

Pashinyan proposed that Moscow consider transferring the concession to a friendly third country, but Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin later said the issue was not under discussion.