Why the Transportation Issue is So Important for Conflict Countries: A Look by RIA Novosti

Russian news agency RIA Novosti has published an article by analyst Anton Lisitsin, in which he discusses the recent negotiations between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, analyzing why the transportation issue is so crucial for the conflicting countries.

The article notably mentions that Armenia will gain railway connections with Russia, while Azerbaijan will have a direct corridor to Nakhchivan through Armenia. The leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan have talked together, after which Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate meetings with Aliyev and Pashinyan. Aliyev and Pashinyan emphasized different points during these discussions. Aliyev reminded that this is the second joint statement by the leaders of the region's states. However, the importance of the new document lies in its potential to help unblock the roads of the Caucasus.

“After more than 30 years, Azerbaijan will restore connectivity with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through transportation communication via Armenia, Armenia will gain access to Russia and Iran, and we will have access to the Turkish market. Additionally, the railways of Turkey and Russia will connect,” Aliyev stated.

Why Did Pashinyan Go to Moscow?

During the meeting, Pashinyan emphasized that humanitarian issues, particularly the exchange of prisoners of war and the remains of the deceased, hinder discussions about transit and the economy.

The internal political backdrop has not favored negotiations in the transportation sector. In Yerevan, an indefinite rally demanding Pashinyan's resignation was announced at the end of the year, with the opposition blocking roads in front of his convoy. The Prime Minister went to Moscow in the context of harsh comments from his opponents. For instance, human rights activist Avetik Ishkhanian suggested, “Is the Prime Minister not signing a new ‘capitulation’?” Many in Armenia consider the announcement regarding the ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh a defeat. In November 2020, with Moscow's mediation, Baku and Yerevan halted the fighting and agreed on the exchange of prisoners and corpses. Azerbaijan regained control over the regions of Karvachar, Kashatagh, and Aghdam, which had previously been under the control of the Republic of Artsakh. A Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed in the region.

The release of the document has sparked a wave of protests in Armenia. Even during the meeting with Putin, opponents continued to criticize Pashinyan; a demonstration was taking place near the Armenian embassy in Moscow.

The assertion that the most significant issue is the exchange of prisoners did not help Pashinyan. At home, he is criticized for discussing the Azerbaijani agenda.

Breaking Painful Stereotypes

Stanislav Tarasov, Candidate of Historical Sciences and expert on Caucasian issues, believes that the latest meeting in Moscow was merely a prologue to a complicated diplomatic game. “If we use everyday Marxist thesis, then trade must change the psychology of the conflicting peoples,” Tarasov notes.

The expert does not rule out that the Minsk format may gradually evolve into a trilateral format involving Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. “The transfer of the conflict into the political and diplomatic field is inevitable after Russian peacekeepers have stood in Karabakh. No one wants confrontation with the third party, Russia. Even Ankara is now inclined to cooperate with Yerevan,” Tarasov emphasized.

It is worth noting that on November 9, the leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan reached an agreement regarding the deployment of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, signing a declaration that ceded seven regions of Artsakh to Azerbaijan, as well as Shusha and Hadrut, with the exception of one village from the Askeran and Martuni regions, as well as the villages of Talish and Mataghis from the Martakert region.