Russia's State Duma calls Pashinyan's threats over the South Caucasus Railway a brazen step
The statement by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan about possible financial claims against Russia over the concession of the South Caucasus Railway is a brazen and destructive step, Alexey Chepa ("A Just Russia"), first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, told RIA Novosti.
Earlier, Pashinyan did not rule out the possibility of going to arbitration over the operation of the CJSC "South Caucasus Railway," which is held under concession by Russian Railways.
"The statement by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan about a possible demand for 2 billion dollars from Russia for the concession of the South Caucasus Railway (SCR) is nothing other than a brazen and destructive step, casting a shadow over bilateral relations and pointing to an internal crisis in Armenia," Chepa said.
According to him, such threats, wrapped in the facade of a "friendly settlement," cannot be perceived by Moscow otherwise than as an attempt at pressure and a revision of agreements.
In February 2008, Armenia's railway infrastructure was transferred to the concession management of the South Caucasus Railway for 30 years with the right to extend it for another 10 years.
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