Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's request to sell the concession management of Armenia’s railway causes surprise and "emotions within," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with RBC television.

The minister noted that regular contacts are held between the deputy prime ministers of Russia and Armenia, and any issues of interest to the Armenian side can be discussed, including the situation with the South Caucasus Railway company, which is under the concession management of Russian Railways.

"We [i.e. Russia] are surprised to hear how these issues are... If they have already arisen, tell your colleague how you judge in this connection. But instead of that, a public statement is made that it is generally ‘theirs’ and that we owe them 2 billion in total," Lavrov said.

“I understand that this, in addition to assessments based on economic analysis, evokes emotions in the chest of our [Russian] citizens. I am no exception,” he added. Answering the question of how to “not allow the same mistakes” in relations with Armenia, as was the case with Ukraine, the Russian foreign minister noted that “everything has been done” on the Russian side.

“All our positions and the advantages that Armenia receives from participating in the Eurasian Economic Union—receiving energy from us at prices three to four times cheaper than in the European Union. I proceed from the fact that there are good economists there,” the Russian official added.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday announced that Yerevan was asking Moscow to sell its concession for managing Armenia’s railways to a third country. And when asked what Armenia will do if the Russian side refuses Yerevan’s proposals on railways, Pashinyan had stated that this was impossible.