Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan demands $2 billion yearly from Russia for railway use

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Yerevan could require Russia to pay up to $2 billion each year for the operation of the country's railway infrastructure. The network has been under Russian control since a 2008 concession that handed management to the South Caucasus Railway, a subsidiary of Russian Railways.

Pashinyan stressed that the railway is a national asset and that Armenia will seek a peaceful settlement, but warned it is prepared to bring the dispute before international arbitration if negotiations fail. Russian officials have cautioned that terminating the agreement could trigger a claim for repayment of their investment, and the issue is linked to broader tensions over Russian restrictions on Armenian imports and energy pricing.