Armenia has commenced independent preparatory work to restore the Gyumri-Akhurik and Yeraskh railway sections, aiming to reconnect the country’s rail network towards the Turkish and Azerbaijani borders. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia will undertake this restoration independently, with ongoing discussions for other sections, including with Russian partners. This move comes as Armenia’s railway network has been operated by South Caucasus Railway, a subsidiary of Russian Railways, under a concession agreement since 2008. However, declining freight traffic and unfulfilled investment commitments have prompted Armenia to assert its ownership and pursue its own interests, emphasizing that the railway must not remain a dead end. Armenia possesses the legal right to terminate the concession unilaterally but prefers to find a solution through discussions, potentially involving a third country.