Russia demands central role in Armenian-Azerbaijani transport links

Russia has declared that Armenia and Azerbaijan can only open their borders to trade and travel “with Russia’s participation,” according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk. Speaking in televised remarks following the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Moscow, Overchuk hinted at Armenia’s resistance to this arrangement, suggesting that Yerevan had stalled a trilateral working group’s efforts to finalize transport links between the two nations.

The stalled talks revolve around the implementation of Paragraph 9 of the Russian-brokered ceasefire that ended the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. This clause mandates the reopening of transport corridors connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave through Armenia’s Syunik province, with Russian border guards overseeing the movement of goods and people. However, disagreements over Russia’s role in these transport links have become a flashpoint, particularly as Armenia remains firm in defending its sovereignty over border controls.

In a speech at the CIS summit, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian firmly dismissed claims that Yerevan had ever agreed to let foreign powers take control of its borders. “All claims that Armenia agreed in any form to let third countries ensure the security of communications on its sovereign territory or that any document provides for such a thing are simply not true,” he stated. Pashinian’s remarks underline the deepening discord between Yerevan and Moscow, with tensions escalating over Russia’s involvement in the region’s post-war settlement.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had previously accused Armenia of “sabotaging” the ceasefire agreement, a charge that Yerevan officials swiftly denied. Despite Armenia’s objections, Overchuk, during a visit to Yerevan last month, reiterated Moscow’s stance that opening transit routes through Armenia would not compromise its territorial integrity.

With the trilateral task force—comprising representatives from Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan—remaining at an impasse, the situation highlights Russia’s ongoing struggle to maintain its influence in the region. As Overchuk co-chairs this working group, Moscow’s insistence on a central role in the negotiations raises questions about the long-term dynamics between the three countries and whether a compromise can be reached without further straining relationships.

This latest development underscores the broader geopolitical tension between Armenia’s efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and Russia’s strategic interest in keeping a foothold in the South Caucasus.