Russia to join reconstruction of 2 railway sections in Armenia connecting to Azerbaijan, Turkey - deputy PM

MOSCOW. Feb 12 (Interfax) - Moscow and Yerevan will assess the technical and financial conditions for reconstructing two railway sections in Armenia so that they can subsequently be connected to Azerbaijan and Turkey's railway networks, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told journalists.

"In reply to the Armenian side's request and considering our friendly and fraternal feelings towards the Armenian people, Russia has decided to begin substantive negotiations on reconstructing two sections of Armenia's railways, which would be connected to Azerbaijan's railways near the town of Yeraskh and Turkey's railways near the village of Akhuryan," Overchuk said.

The overall length of the railway sections to be reconstructed is 1.6 and 12.4 kilometers.

"Technical, financial, and other modalities for implementing this project will be determined through negotiations," Overchuk said.

The reconstruction of said railway sections will provide Russia with direct rail links to Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Turkey with access to Mediterranean ports, and Iran with access to Gulf and Indian Ocean ports, he said.

"To accomplish this major undertaking, work is underway to unblock all disrupted routes in the Caucasus, including the possible resumption of rail services between Russian and Georgia through Abkhazia," Overchuk said.

Russia is continuing to work to unblock economic and transport links in the South Caucasus region in line with agreements reached between the Russian, Azerbaijani, and Armenian leaders in 2020-2021, Overchuk said.

Rail traffic between Russia and Armenia through Azerbaijan and Georgia was resumed at the end of 2025 for the first time since 1991, he said.