Russian senator on reasons for Armenian premier`s drawing Russia into  `Trump corridor`

ArmInfo.  It's important for Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to involve Russia in the restoration of railway sections from Armenia to the borders of Azerbaijan and Turkey, which will then connect to the "Trump route," in order to "shift the blame" in case of criticism, believes  Konstantin Zatulin, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on  CIS Affairs.

On January 15, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia  had asked Russia for assistance in resolving the issue of restoring  railway sections from Armenia to the borders of Azerbaijan and Turkey  and asked Russia to do so as soon as possible. He said he had already  discussed this issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well  as at the government level of the two countries. Zatulin saw a catch  in this. "This followed the announcements three days ago regarding  the content of the agreements on establishing the 'Trump Corridor,'  partially revealing the agreements between the US and Armenia. These  agreements indicate that 76% of the company that will profit from  transit through this corridor will belong to the US, and 24% to  Armenia. No one else can participate. Russia may be involved in some  functions, but it cannot be among the founders or shareholders of  this company. After this, Pashinyan sought to make a gesture, to  deflect criticism that he is ignoring Russia's interests," he noted.

"Armenia wants to 'shift the blame' onto Russia; it is not interested  in Moscow's interests," Zatulin warned.

"We're talking about areas adjacent to Azerbaijan and Turkey.  Pashinyan wants to draw Russia into this work so he can then claim  everywhere that Russia is involved. Roughly speaking, he wants to  shift the blame onto Russia. This is roughly the same as what  happened to our peacekeeping contingent, which was first invited to  Karabakh and then effectively ignored. We simply need to understand  that Pashinyan isn't acting in our interests; he's betting on an  alliance and friendship with the West. His proposals need to be  analyzed repeatedly to ensure there's no hidden agenda," the NSN  source concluded.

On January 14, the Armenian Foreign Ministry published the framework  document signed with the American side in Washington for the  implementation of the Trump Roadmap for International Peace and  Prosperity (TRIPP). The 12-page document outlines the project's main  goals and operating mechanisms.

Among other things, the document emphasizes that Armenia intends to  sanction and support the creation of the TRIPP Development Company.  The company is expected to be responsible for developing the TRIPP  project, receiving an initial development right for a period of 49  years. Armenia intends to offer the United States a 74% stake in the  TRIPP Development Company, retaining 26%. This partnership is  expected to be extended for another 50 years, with an additional  ownership stake granted to the Armenian government, bringing its  stake to 49%.

As a reminder, on August 8, 2025, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a seven-point  joint "Declaration of Peace" in Washington. It provides for a joint  appeal to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe  (OSCE) to terminate the OSCE Minsk Process and related structures, as  well as the creation of a transport corridor through Armenian  territory that will connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave,  surrounded by Armenia, Turkey, and Iran.