Burc Eruygur
14 October 2026•Update: 14 October 2026
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday exchanged views on reconstruction projects in the South Caucasus nation with Oleg Belozyorov, the CEO of state-owned Russian Railways.
A statement by Pashinyan’s office said he received a delegation led by Belozyorov in the capital Yerevan, during which the Russian official said Moscow seeks to make Armenia’s railway system competitive, “taking into account the possibilities of unblocking the regional transport infrastructures,” as well as integrating it into those of neighboring states and the international railway network.
“In this regard, the interlocutors discussed the opportunities created in the context of regional processes and the steps aimed at making the railways of Armenia competitive, as well as integrated into international transport routes,” the statement said.
It said that the sides exchanged views on reconstruction projects, namely the Gyumri-Akhurik and the Yeraskh-Nakhchivan railways, and the opportunities created as a result of them.
“Reference was made to the works carried out during the concession management of the ‘South Caucasian Railways’ company in the direction of infrastructure development, management efficiency, existing problems and the possibilities of their solution,” the statement added.
It said the sides reached an agreement to create a joint working group to discuss outlined problems “in a short period of time,” find possible solutions, and clarify further steps.
Armenia’s rail network is operated by South Caucasus Railway, a company owned by Russian Railways, under a 30-year concession agreement signed in 2008.
Yerevan argues that the agreement deprives the country of certain competitive advantages, while Moscow has accused the West of “blackmailing” Armenia on the issue.
