ArmInfo. Next week, Oleg Belozerov, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Russian Railways LLC, will visit Yerevan to discuss issues related to the Armenian Railways concession. RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced this at a briefing on October 8.
According to him, the results of the negotiations can be discussed after the visit. "We will hold a working discussion and draw some conclusions from it. But until the meeting takes place, I cannot say what its results will be," he said. Responding to a question about Russian proposals to restore border railway connections with Turkey and Azerbaijan (in the Akhurik and Yeraskh sections), voiced by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, the Prime Minister added that a Kazakh company is also interested in carrying out this work. "We will discuss all these issues," the Prime Minister added.
Previously, Nikol Pashinyan proposed that Russia transfer (sell) the concession rights to a third friendly country, naming Kazakhstan, the UAE, or Qatar as possible options. According to Pashinyan, the current Russian administration is hindering Armenia's integration into international transport networks and transit routes. He also noted that the Armenian government has grounds for annulling or revising the agreements. According to preliminary estimates, transferring the concession to a new participant will require approximately $250 million for the acquisition of rights and compensation, approximately $40 million annually for operation, and approximately $640 million for the restoration of key sections of the network (for example, Ijevan-Vanadzor-Fioletovo).
Moscow calls the Armenian side's demands and assertions baseless, stating that it does not intend to sell the concession. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies point to significant investments in Armenia's infrastructure since the agreement was signed in 2008.
