Pashinyan calls for restoration of railway links as Azerbaijani fuel shipment heads to Armenia

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he has formally asked Russia to urgently help restore several key cross-border railway segments. The request covers the Yeraskh (Arazdeyan) to Nakhchivan border line and the Akhurik–Turkey border section. He also plans to raise the rehabilitation of the Gazakh–Ijevan railway line, expressing hope for a prompt response.

Pashinyan also welcomed the start of oil product deliveries from Azerbaijan to Armenia. Speaking to journalists, he confirmed that a train carrying Azerbaijani oil products has departed and is en route to Armenia. He emphasized that while the trade is conducted by private companies, recent progress toward peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan has created the political conditions that make such commerce possible.

For the first time, SOCAR has shipped domestically sourced oil products to Armenia. The initial consignment includes 1,220 tons of AI-95 automotive gasoline loaded into 22 railcars. The freight departed from the Baku Freight Station on an Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) train bound for the Boyuk Kesik station, from where it will proceed to Armenia through Georgian territory.

This first batch aligns with understandings reached at the November 28 meeting between Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigorian. The export of Azerbaijani oil products to Armenia is described as a purely commercial transaction, with pricing based on international market rates.

Georgia’s Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development stated that it received an application on December 5 for a one-time fuel transit from Azerbaijan to Armenia via Georgia. By decision of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgian Railways was instructed to carry out the one-time rail transportation free of charge.

Together, these developments suggest that the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan is moving beyond political talks and into practical, mutually beneficial economic steps. The fuel shipment provides immediate commercial dividends, while the proposed restoration of railway links could open broader avenues for trade and connectivity across the South Caucasus.

If reactivated, the Yeraskh–Nakhchivan and Akhurik–Turkey border segments would enhance Armenia’s access to neighboring markets and regional transport networks, potentially lowering logistics costs and shortening transit times. Reviving the Gazakh–Ijevan line could further diversify routes across the region, complementing road corridors and improving overall resilience against supply disruptions.

While specific timelines and technical arrangements will depend on intergovernmental coordination and infrastructure readiness, the combination of incremental trade initiatives and targeted rail rehabilitation could lay the groundwork for wider normalization and economic integration—benefitting Armenia, Azerbaijan, and their neighbors.