Roads Through Azerbaijan Will Soon Open to All Armenian Citizens, Armenian Minister Assures

Armenia will soon gain access to roads running through Azerbaijan, following a ‘peace’ agreement signed in Washington on August 8, officials said Thursday.

Davit Khudatyan, Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, told reporters that the roads are not yet open to Armenian citizens. “However, we are moving at an accelerated pace to make them accessible to all citizens of Armenia,” Khudatyan said. He emphasized that the process is bilateral and guided by the principle of reciprocity, ensuring that Armenia’s rights are fully protected. It is said that Armenians will also be using these roads, but where and how is still unknown.

Khudatyan stated that the documents signed in Washington guarantee Armenia’s sovereignty, jurisdiction, and control over its roads. He said the agreement puts clear rules that protect Armenia’s land while letting the country use trade and transport routes through Azerbaijan.

The agreement comes after Azerbaijan requested a transport corridor to connect Nakhijevan, a region bordering Armenia and an exclave of Azerbaijan. The United States will receive exclusive development rights for the corridor land for 99 years. Under the TRIPP — the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity — Washington will oversee the construction of railways, pipelines, fiber optic lines, and other key infrastructure along the route.

The TRIPP corridor will link mainland Azerbaijan to Nakhijevan while passing through Armenian territory. While officials claim the corridor could allow people and goods to travel from Europe to Azerbaijan and Central Asia without passing through those countries, these promises may face significant security, political, and logistical challenges.

The plan has raised concerns in Iran. While Tehran has supported the project, it has also expressed caution and raised concerns about the corridor’s impact on its regional connections.

Khudatyan said the agreement represents a major step toward lasting peace. “The initialing of the peace agreement [with Azerbaijan] brings Armenia a very big step closer to peace, which is a long-awaited, joyful, and important event for every citizen of the country,” he said.

Officials said the new corridors would help Armenia keep economic and transport links, while keeping infrastructure under Armenian jurisdiction. However, some warn that the arrangement could also give Azerbaijan greater influence over Armenia’s trade routes, raising questions about the long-term benefits. 

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