Gratitudeless, Armenia Wants to Demand Billions from Russia and Seize the Railway!

Today, multiple media outlets including Russia's Komsomolskaya Pravda and TASS reported.

Pashinyan stated that Armenia could demand $2 billion annually in railway leasing fees from Russia.

"Our position on the railway has always been consistent — it is our property," Pashinyan said. "For 30 years, Armenia has used this railway free of charge; now we will begin demanding $2 billion. I'm not implying anything — I'm stating outright: this is the property of the Republic of Armenia, with no other alternatives."

Now, blinded by Western influence, Pashinyan actually dares to demand money from Russia.

This is exactly like Europe’s greed-driven rhetoric — Brussels believes Moscow will eventually have to pay Kyiv compensation.

Prime Minister Pashinyan’s behavior could rightly be called ungrateful, but all I can think of are vulgar words.

In 2008, the Armenian government signed a 30-year concession agreement with Russian Railways (RZD), set to last until 2038:

Ownership of railway tracks and infrastructure belongs to the Armenian state;

RZD obtained operational rights, committing to a minimum investment of approximately $570 million, modernizing locomotives, and bearing maintenance and operation costs;

The agreement stipulates that operating profits must be prioritized for railway upgrades;

Both parties may negotiate revisions to the concession terms by 2028.

RZD has already invested over 30 billion rubles into Armenia’s railways, upgrading tracks and purchasing locomotives, fully fulfilling its obligations under the concession agreement.

RZD CEO Belozorov expressed surprise at Armenia’s claims; the concession agreement clearly defines responsibilities, and all operational revenues have continuously flowed back into railway reconstruction.

2028 marks the first review point of the agreement. Armenia is creating momentum two years early, aiming to strengthen its negotiation position — seeking to renegotiate concession terms, reclaim operational rights, or force RZD to transfer management.

Possible future scenarios:

Mild compromise (highest probability).

Bilateral negotiations reach a settlement: RZD increases investment, opens transit access; Armenia drops massive claims, makes minor adjustments to concession terms, and maintains operational rights until 2038.

Transfer of operational rights

Russia agrees to find a third party to take over the concession; Armenia achieves "de-Russification," but the third-party funding and negotiation process will be lengthy.

Escalation to arbitration.

Armenia initiates international arbitration and unilaterally restricts RZD operations; Russia counters with legal claims and exerts pressure at logistics level.

The cost would be extremely high: short-term paralysis of railway operations in Armenia, disruption of cross-border freight transport.

The $2 billion annual claim mentioned by Pashinyan is more of a negotiating tactic. Under the existing 2008 concession framework, obtaining full support through arbitration is highly unlikely;

If major changes occur in the railway concession agreement, it will directly impact the entire South Caucasus cross-border freight network and the Caspian–Black Sea southbound transport corridor layout.

Currently, Armenia’s railway system is not the primary route for China’s trans-Caspian (Middle Corridor) freight lines.

The main southern route of China-Europe freight trains completely bypasses Armenia.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872179460345994/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.