The management of Armenian Railways could potentially be transferred from Russia to Kazakhstan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said, signaling possible changes in regional transport cooperation.

Yerevan believes that its current concession agreement with Russia is not economically beneficial. At present, the railway system is operated under a long-term contract by a subsidiary of Russian Railways, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Pashinyan stressed that discussions with Russia are ongoing and that Armenia will not make unilateral decisions without consultation. However, the government is already exploring potential new partners, including Kazakhstan.

Since 2008, Armenia’s rail infrastructure has been managed by the South Caucasus Railway, a subsidiary of Russian Railways, under a 30-year concession agreement set to expire in 2038.

Armenian officials have previously raised concerns over maintenance and investment levels, arguing that the country could handle certain infrastructure work independently.

Kazakhstan is now being considered as one of the potential stakeholders in future railway management. In addition, Armenian leadership has also mentioned possible cooperation on broader regional infrastructure initiatives, including the proposed “Trump Route” connecting Azerbaijan’s mainland with Nakhchivan via Armenian territory.