'Historic' rail transit shipment via Azerbaijan and Georgia to Armenia expected soon

The 15 wagons loaded with Russian wheat are expected to arrive from Azerbaijan to Georgia in the coming hours, and from there they will be transported to Armenia, South Caucasus Railway CEO Alexei Melnikov said on Wednesday.

“The grain is already on its way, and very soon it will be in Armenian territory,” Melnikov said at a press conference organized by Sputnik Armenia.

He described the railway shipment as a very important event, essentially a new chapter in the history of the railway.

The Kazakh grain will likewise arrive in Armenia soon.

“Kazakh grain will arrive in Azerbaijan from Russia today, and in the coming days it will be in Armenia. This is a very important event, including the fact that it is now possible to transport shipments to Armenia from Kazakhstan, other countries, and Russia,” he said. 

He expressed confidence that the route will undoubtedly be in demand and that many shipments will be delivered to Armenia by rail.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have lifted all restrictions on the transit of goods to each other’s countries.The first of these shipments are Russian and Kazakh grain cargos, expected to arrive in Armenia by railway through Azerbaijan and then via Georgia.

Armenian Vice Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan earlier described the transit shipments as “historic.”

“This is a historic event. The last time something like this happened was probably in 1991 or 1992, that is, before the active phase of the war,” he said.