Nikol Pashinyan vows trade diversification, outlines SCR concession options

Armenia is committed to diversifying its foreign trade and reducing dependence on individual markets, including Russia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has declared.

Pashinyan stated that even if Moscow lifts all restrictions on Armenian imports, Yerevan will continue to develop alternative export destinations. "Our relations must be diversified in any case. It is a problem when imports or exports depend heavily on a single link," the Prime Minister emphasized.

At the same time, Pashinyan noted that Armenia is not seeking to escalate tensions with Moscow while resolving the future of the country's rail infrastructure, offering proposals for the potential transfer of the South Caucasus Railway (SCR) concession.

The first option entails selling a portion of the company while retaining Russia's status as a minority shareholder. The second option involves splitting the current single license—which currently covers both infrastructure maintenance and transit operations—between separate entities.