Moscow Responds to Pashinyan's Statement: This is a Bold and Destructive Step

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statement regarding potential financial claims against Russia concerning the South Caucasus Railway concession is a bold and destructive step. This was stated to "RIA Novosti" by Alexey Chepan, the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma's International Affairs Committee from the "Just Russia" party.

Pashinyan had earlier not ruled out the possibility of arbitration regarding the operation of the South Caucasus Railway LLC, which is under concession to the Russian Railways.

Chepan remarked, "Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statement regarding a potential $2 billion claim from Russia concerning the South Caucasus Railway concession is nothing more than a bold and destructive step that casts a shadow over bilateral relations and indicates a domestic crisis in Armenia." He noted that such threats, packaged as 'friendly resolutions', cannot be perceived by Moscow as anything other than an attempt at pressure and a revision of agreements.

In February 2008, Armenia's railway infrastructure was handed over to the concession management of the South Caucasus Railway for a period of 30 years, with an option to extend it for another 10 years.