Ruling party lawmakers perplexed by opposition’s criticism of freight transit via Azerbaijan

Parliament majority MP Babken Tunyan called out the opposition on Wednesday for their disapproval of importing Kazakh wheat via Azerbaijani territory — a move that marked the first cargo transit through Azerbaijan into Armenia after Baku lifted restrictions.

Tunyan, representing the ruling Civil Contract party, said he was surprised by the opposition’s stance.

“Now, I want to ask those in your faction who have held government positions in the past — including in the fields of economics and international relations — Mr. Minasyan, Mr. Khachatryan, Mr. Avetisyan, Mr. Rustamyan, Mr. Gevorgyan: please stand up and clearly, without evasion, say whether what has happened is a positive development for Armenia or not,” Tunyan said, addressing opposition lawmakers during a plenary session.

Vice Speaker Ruben Rubinyan added that after the initialing of the peace agreement in Washington on August 8, the opposition had claimed it would benefit Azerbaijan but not Armenia. However, Rubinyan underscored that the wheat import via Azerbaijani territory is, in fact, advantageous to Armenia.

“Yesterday, the President of Azerbaijan stated that lifting the restriction is further proof that peace is not only on paper, but also a reality. So why don’t you take turns coming up here? I know you like quoting Aliyev — go ahead, take turns and quote him,” Rubinyan said.

MP Artur Khachatryan, representing the opposition Hayastan faction, stated that the unblocking of all transport routes in the region should occur simultaneously rather than partially.

He clarified that the opposition has never disapproved the unblocking.

“Our demand is the unblocking of all roads in the region. This includes the unblocking of the Armenia-to-Armenia route through Nakhchivan , which is impossible until the Sadarak–Yeraskh railway or crossing is constructed. It also includes the unblocking of the Ijevan–Gazakh road. We have never spoken out against unblocking,” he said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced on Tuesday that his country had lifted “all restrictions” on the transit of goods to Armenia. The first such shipment was a consignment of Kazakh wheat, Aliyev said during a meeting with the President of Kazakhstan.

Shortly afterward, Armenian Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan said that the first transit shipment of goods through Azerbaijani territory is expected to reach Armenia soon.
“Soon, the first batch of Kazakh wheat will enter Armenia via the Aktau–Baku route, followed by transit through Azerbaijani and Georgian railways. Peace has been established,” Papoyan said in a statement.