Armenian PM says Yerevan will not fall out with Russia, raises rail transit concerns

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that his government has no intention of harming Russia’s interests and will not allow Armenia to be drawn into actions against Moscow, while emphasising that Yerevan will always prioritise its own national interests.

Speaking on Armenia’s Public Television, Pashinyan stated that harming Russia has never been and will never be part of Armenia’s agenda, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

He added that no external force would be able to push Armenia into policies directed against Russia. The prime minister also described his relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin as direct and cordial, calling this approach part of Armenia’s broader strategy.

Pashinyan noted that Armenia is prepared to cooperate with Russia but would not act against its own national interests for the benefit of any other country. He revealed that Armenia signed an agreement on August 8, 2025, that it had previously proposed to Russia over the past five years, centred on five key principles: territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, reciprocity and the inviolability of borders.

At the same time, Pashinyan warned that Armenia risks losing its competitive edge in developing regional railway connections because the country’s railway network is managed by Russian Railways.

Responding to questions about restoring and expanding railway infrastructure, he said Armenia had earlier approached Russia regarding the reopening of rail links along the Yeraskh–Azerbaijan border route towards Nakhchivan, as well as the Akhurik–Turkish border section.

He stated that, amid heightened geopolitical tensions, Armenia’s reliance on Russian management of its rail system has weakened its competitiveness. According to Pashinyan, Yerevan must seek a long-term solution through what he described as a friendly and brotherly dialogue with Moscow.

The prime minister highlighted that one of the main challenges remains the configuration of future railway routes across the region. Armenia supports a route in which the railway from Zangilan would pass through Meghri and then connect to Nakhchivan via Armenian territory, arguing that this option would be more efficient and commercially viable.

Pashinyan suggested that Russian control over Armenia’s railway network contributed to Türkiye and Azerbaijan deciding in August 2025 to construct a new railway line linking Kars, Igdir, Aralik and Dilucu. The route, which runs entirely through Turkish territory to Nakhchivan and is expected to later connect to Azerbaijan via the so-called “Trump route”, bypasses Armenia.

He said he personally raised the issue during meetings with the presidents of Azerbaijan and Türkiye, pointing out that Armenia already possesses functioning railway infrastructure. However, he added that these proposals were met with diplomatic silence.

Pashinyan emphasised that the Turkish route would require building a railway from scratch, while Armenia’s existing infrastructure only needs limited restoration. He noted that just a few kilometres of track are missing in Yeraskh and even less in Akhurik, with modernisation requiring only several million dollars in investment and posing no serious technical or financial obstacles.

Nevertheless, he warned that international perception increasingly views the railway route through Armenia as effectively Russian, which further undermines its attractiveness and competitiveness amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

By Aghakazim Guliyev