“Putin’s Way”: the Geostrategic and Political-Communication Significance of the Transport Corridor in the South Caucasus

The article discusses the initiative of the transport corridor “Putin’s Way”, which involves the restoration of communication along the route “Russia – Abkhazia – Georgia – Armenia”. The purpose of the study is to determine the geostrategic and political-communication significance of this project. The prerequisites for the project, the interests of Russia, Armenia, Georgia and Abkhazia, as well as the limitations associated with the conflict legacy of the region are analyzed. It is noted that several competing transport connectivity architectures are being formed in the South Caucasus, including the North-South ITC, TRIPP, the Zangezur Corridor, the Crossroads of the World, the Trans-Caspian Corridor, Iranian routes through Armenia and along the Araks River. At the same time, the same sections of transport infrastructure can be simultaneously considered as elements of different corridors, but competition takes place not only between routes, but between the principles of their organization, management models, control mechanisms and political conditions of operation. It is shown that the “Putin’s Way” initiative goes beyond the scope of the transport and logistics project and represents one of the models of regional connectivity based on the historically and geographically determined connection between Russia and the South Caucasus. It restrains the monopolization of the agenda of unblocking communications by external forces and creates additional conditions for dialogue, coordination of interests and increased trust. Despite tense relations, all countries of the South Caucasus are currently united by an interest in predictable relations. It is concluded that the basis for an agreement (and not a situational “deal”) on a project may not be the coincidence of political positions, but the formation of practical interdependence, creating space for compromise, sustainable dialogue and the gradual restoration of lost trust. The name “Putin’s Way” emphasizes the geostrategic scale of the project, Russia’s approaches to building good neighborly relations, and connects its implementation with the level of political authority necessary to achieve interstate agreements.

1. Davtyan V.S., Margaryan N.I. Transport Communications of the South Caucasus after the War in Nagorno-Karabakh. Rossiya i novye gosudarstva Evrazii [Russia and the New States of Eurasia]. 2022; I(LIV):123–135 [In Russian]. https://doi.org/10.20542/2073-4786-2022-1-123-135.

2. Degtev A.S., Margoev A., Tokarev A.A. Georgia’s Economy in the Space of Contradictions Between Regional Powers. Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta [MGIMO Review of International Relations]. 2016; 2(47):219-233 [In Russian]. https://doi.org/10.24833/2071-8160-2016-2-47-219-233.

3. Karimov Sh.I. Political Opportunities and Risks of Opening the Zangezur Corridor, its Role in Increasing Transport Connectivity in the South Caucasus. Obshchestvo: politika, ekonomika, pravo [Society: Politics, Economics, Law]. 2024; 4:41–46 [In Russian]. https://doi.org/10.24158/pep.2024.4.6.

4. Malysheva D. Russia and Eurasia’s Transit Corridors. Rossiya i novye gosudarstva Evrazii [Russia and New States of Eurasia]. 2023; II(LIX):91–102 [In Russian]. https://doi.org/10.20542/2073-4786-2023-2-91-102.

5. Markarov A.A., Davtyan V.S. Transport Geopolitics in the South Caucasus under the Challenges of Unblocking Communications. Geoekonomika energetiki [Geoeconomics of Energetics]. 2022; 20(4):56–73. [In Russian]. https://doi.org/10.48137/26870703_2022_20_4_56. EDN VJMIYC.

6. Pylin A. International Transport Corridors in the South Caucasus and their Transit Potential. Postsovetskij materik [Post-Soviet Continent]. 2018; 4(4):121–137 [In Russian]. EDN YTGMTZ.

7. Rastoltsev S.V. Trump: Settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict. Rossiya i Amerika v XXI veke [Russia and America in the XXI Century]. 2025; 11 [In Russian]. https://doi.org/10.18254/S207054760037143-4.

8. Fedorovskaya I. Projects for the Development of Transport Infrastructure in Transcaucasia. Rossiya i novye gosudarstva Evrazii [Russia and the New States of Eurasia]. 2022; IV(LVII):123–131 [In Russian].

9. Tsvetkov V.A., Zoidov K.H., Medkov A.A., Mustafaev A.A. Development of Transport Systems of the South Caucasus and Russian Interests. Regional`nye problemy preobrazovaniya ekonomiki [Regional Problems of Economic Transformation]. 2012; 1(31):37–60 [In Russian]. EDN OZMFSP.

10. Chebotareva E.A., Solop I.A., Merkulov I.V. Zangezur Corridor: Main Provisions, Problems and Prospects for the Development of Land Communication. Vestnik MADI [MADI Bulletin]. 2023; 4(75):86–92 [In Russian].

11. Shumilov M.M. Zangezur and South Araz Transport Projects: Problems of Implementation in the Context of Relations Between Armenia, Iran and Azerbaijan. Upravlencheskoe konsul`tirovanie [Administrative Consulting]. 2024; 4:21–46 [In Russian]. https://doi.org/10.22394/1726-1139-2024-4-21-46. EDN OKOIIB.