Russia, Armenia launch negotiations on restoration of railway sections - Overchuk

Russia and Armenia will begin substantive negotiations on the restoration of sections of Armenia’s railway that will ensure connections to the railway networks of Azerbaijan and Turkey, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told reporters.

The project concerns sections that will connect Armenia’s railways with Azerbaijan’s railway network in the area of Yeraskh, as well as with Turkey’s railways in the area of Akhuryan village.

According to Overchuk, the total length of the sections is approximately 1.6 km and 12.4 km.

During the negotiations, the parties will discuss the technical, financial, and other conditions for the implementation of the project.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that restoring these sections would provide Russia with direct railway connections to the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as access through Turkey to the ports of the Mediterranean Sea, and through Iran to the ports of the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

Overchuk also emphasized that Russia is continuously working to unblock economic and transport ties in the South Caucasus.

He added that, within the framework of the negotiations, the possibility of restoring railway communication between Russia and Georgia through Abkhazia is also being considered.

According to him, strengthening transport and logistics ties in the Caucasus is important for peace, stability, and the economic development of the peoples of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Turkey, and Russia.

The Russian Deputy Prime Minister recalled that at the end of 2025, for the first time since 1991, railway communication between Russia and Armenia via the territories of Azerbaijan and Georgia had resumed, which, in his view, "contributes to strengthening trade between the EAEU member states and further developing transport links in the region."