The State Duma responded to Pashinyan`s statement regarding the operation of the South Caucasus Railway.

ArmInfo. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statement about possible financial claims against Russia for the South Caucasus Railway concession is a bold and destructive step. First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Alexei Chepa (A Just Russia) told RIA Novosti.

Earlier today, Pashinyan did not rule out the possibility of going to arbitration regarding the operation of the railway, which is under concession. Russian Railways, South Caucasus Railway CJSC.

"Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statement about a possible demand for $2 billion from Russia for the South Caucasus Railway (SCR) concession is nothing less than an audacious and destructive step, casting a shadow on bilateral relations and indicating an internal crisis in Armenia," Chepa said.

According to him, such threats, disguised as a "friendly settlement," cannot be perceived by Moscow as anything other than an attempt to exert pressure and revise the agreements. It should be noted that in February 2008, Armenia's railway infrastructure was transferred to the SCR concession management for 30 years, with the right to extend for another 10 years.