Only Armenia Questions Cooperation in the Region: Ovechuk

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Ovechuk stated in an interview with TASS that there are no grounds for transferring the concession of the Armenia Railway to a third party.

Ovechuk noted that all of Russia's neighbors, including EU member states, are interested in Russian railways, but only Armenia is questioning the continuity of cooperation.

In his assessment, transporting goods from Russia and Kazakhstan to Armenia through Azerbaijan and Georgia is beneficial for all parties involved. He emphasized that the unblocking of Armenia is crucial for the entire South Caucasus, and without the opening of transportation links, there will be no peace.

At the same time, Ovechuk disagreed with claims about low railway speeds, pointing out that in 2008 the average speed was 26.4 km/h, while by 2025 it is expected to reach 42.3 km/h. He added that the mountainous conditions in Armenia require significant investments, which may lead to an increase in tariffs.