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Russia’s Foreign Ministry has accused Western countries of blackmailing the Armenian government over the management rights of the South Caucasus Railway, which is operated under a Russian concession agreement.
“Given that the issue of transferring the concession to anyone had never previously been raised, it is highly likely that the Armenian leadership is simply being blackmailed,” the Russian Foreign Ministry told TASS when asked whether Yerevan had contacted Moscow through diplomatic channels regarding the concession of Armenia’s railway network.
“They demand the removal of the ‘Russian factor’ from the transport sector, while in return promising multimillion-dollar investments and access to projects whose economic viability is hardly apparent. This fully corresponds to the dishonest games of Western capitals aimed at pushing Russia out of the South Caucasus region,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry added that an amicable resolution of the issue requires practical discussions at the negotiating table.
“In general, before making public statements, partners usually sit down and discuss existing issues and concerns in a practical manner. This is especially true if, as Yerevan claims, there is a desire to find an amicable solution,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan once again called on Russia to be “flexible” and sell its concession rights to manage Armenia’s railway network to another country.
Speaking in parliament during debates on the government’s five-year plan, Pashinyan stressed that under the current Russian concession management of Armenia’s railway network, Armenia could lose the historic opportunity to integrate into the international railway network.
Pashinyan explained that international investors, freight carriers, sellers and buyers of goods want to avoid Armenia’s Yeraskh-Akhurik railway because the section is under the management of Russian Railways.
“The complex relations between Russia and the West and the sanctions imposed on Russia force international investors, freight carriers and trade participants to avoid it, consider it a risk and not take the risk of working with infrastructure subject to direct or indirect sanctions restrictions or carrying such a risk,” Pashinyan explained.
Earlier this month, he said that his government would not pursue confrontational solutions with Russia over the concession management of Armenia’s railways and preferred to resolve the issue in a “friendly atmosphere.”