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What is actually written in the TRIPP documents: 49 or 99 years, 42 or 44 km, signing or initialing? All versions with links to sources.

06.08.2026·MaSIS TV·12 min read
What is actually written in the TRIPP documents: 49 or 99 years, 42 or 44 km, signing or initialing? All versions with links to sources.

In two days, on August 8, it will be one year since Nikol Pashinyan, Ilham Aliyev, and Donald Trump met in Washington. And yesterday, on August 5, the Constitutional Court of Armenia accepted the case of the TRIPP framework agreement for examination.

During this past year, so many contradictory figures and formulations have circulated about TRIPP that many do not have a clear picture. In one place it says 42 kilometers, in another, 44. In one place, 49 years, in another, 99. In one place it is written that the peace agreement has been signed, in another, that it has not yet.

In this article, we try to separate what is written in the actual documents, what reputable American and European sources write, and where the differences stem from. The source is indicated next to each claim.

Public discussions around the TRIPP project are often full of contradictions.
Public discussions around the TRIPP project are often full of contradictions.

The First Confusion: "Signed" or "Initialed"

This is the most common mistake, and it is significant.

On August 8, 2025, the Joint Declaration was signed in Washington by Pashinyan and Aliyev. Meanwhile, the actual agreement "On the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations" was initialed by Foreign Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov.

Initialing means that the parties confirm the final version of the text. It does not give legal force to the document. Signing and ratification are still ahead.

What is accurate? The Declaration was signed. The peace agreement was not. As of now, August 2026, the peace agreement has not yet been signed and ratified. According to the International Center for Transitional Justice, the August 8 document is not a treaty, but a political framework that still requires international support and attention — https://www.ictj.org/latest-news/fragile-framework-lasting-peace-between-armenia-and-azerbaijan

Second Confusion: 49 Years or 99 Years

In this matter, both figures are actually correct; they just refer to different things. The problem is that many publications mention only one without explanation.

What Western Sources Write

Between August and November 2025, most reputable American and European analytical platforms wrote 99 years:

What Pashinyan Said

In the fall of 2025, the Prime Minister publicly stated that two scenarios were being discussed: 49 or 99 years, linking the duration to the volume of investment and the logic of compensation — https://www.specialeurasia.com/2025/11/17/armenia-tripp-pashinyan-politics/

What is Written in the Agreement Itself

Most importantly, on May 26, 2026, the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs published the full text of the framework agreement. According to the text published by Armenpress, an initial term of 49 years is planned, at the end of which the parties, by mutual consent, can extend it for another 50 years. In the event of an extension, Armenia's share in the TRIPP Development Company increases to 49%, and this extension is the only compensation provided by Armenia in exchange for that increase — https://armenpress.am/en/article/1251237

That is, 49 + 50 = 99. When "99 years" is written, it refers to the maximum possible term. When "49 years" is written, it refers to the guaranteed initial term.

49 or 99 years: legal differences in the agreement's terms.
49 or 99 years: legal differences in the agreement's terms.

One Armenian legal analysis formulated the same structure as follows: TDC receives exclusive rights for land use, development, permitting, and operation for 49 years, with the possibility of extension up to 99 years — https://www.arfd.am/eng/news/8531/

The Third Confusion: 42, 43, or 44 Kilometers

Here the difference is small, but it shows that the final route is still being finalized.

The US Department of State has announced that the engineering study for TRIPP is still underway — https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/05/the-united-states-and-armenia-announce-tripp-framework-agreement-and-sign-the-strategic-partnership-charter-and-critical-minerals-mou

In other words, the exact length is not yet final, and the difference is explained by that fact.

The Fourth Confusion: When Was the Framework Agreement Signed?

Different dates are circulating here as well, and all are correct for different stages:

According to the official release of the US Embassy, the signing was done remotely in two different cities — https://am.usembassy.gov/signing-of-the-framework-agreement-between-the-united-states-of-america-and-the-republic-of-armenia-on-strategic-cooperation-concerning-the-tripp/

The Money and the Company

This part is relatively less contested.

TRIPP Development Company (TDC) — a joint venture with an initial share distribution of 26% Armenia, 74% US. In the event of an extension, Armenia's share becomes 49%.

Initial share distribution of TRIPP Development Company.
Initial share distribution of TRIPP Development Company.

The TRIPP+ enterprise fund was established on January 26, 2026.

Funding:

  • January 30, 2026 — The US Department of State Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs allocates $201 million until December 31, 2036
  • July 16, 2026 — the amount is doubled, reaching $402 million, without any change to the deadline

Source: https://times.am/1023332/

The Ratification Process: Where We Are Now

  1. July 16, 2026 — The Government approves the draft law on ratification and decides to apply to the Constitutional Court. Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan is appointed as the government representative to the Constitutional Court — https://armtimes.com/hy/article/340115
  2. August 5, 2026 — The Constitutional Court accepts the case for examination. The trial will begin on September 15 via written procedure. Judge Edgar Shatiryan has been appointed as the rapporteur for the case — https://www.aravot.am/2026/08/05/1573017/
  3. Next step — In the event of a positive conclusion by the Constitutional Court, the document will be sent to the National Assembly for ratification

What Do the Different Sides Say?

In this section, we present four different positions without presenting any of them as the truth.

1. The Government of Armenia and the US

On August 5, Pashinyan received Aryeh Lightstone, Senior Advisor to the US Special Envoy for Peace Missions, and noted that a stable and positive atmosphere has developed in the region since August 8, 2025 — https://www.aravot.am/2026/08/05/1572975/

According to the official formulation of the US Department of State, the framework agreement is an important achievement, and the parties are one step closer to ensuring unimpeded multimodal transit in the region, while respecting Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity — https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/05/the-united-states-and-armenia-announce-tripp-framework-agreement-and-sign-the-strategic-partnership-charter-and-critical-minerals-mou

The text of the agreement explicitly states that Armenia maintains full sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction over all TRIPP implementation zones — https://www.aravot.am/2026/05/26/1559399/

2. Azerbaijan and Turkey

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov stated that physical construction of the section passing through RA territory is expected to start in 2026, and that Baku has fulfilled most of its obligations — https://mediamax.am/en/news/region/61543

On the Azerbaijani side, the Horadiz–Aghband railway (about 110 km) is planned to be completed by the end of 2026. Aliyev said the entire route could open by the end of 2028 — https://www.caspiannews.com/news-detail/armenia-says-construction-of-tripp-corridor-to-begin-in-late-2026-2025-11-13-0/

In Turkey, the Kars–Igdir–Aralik–Dilucu railway is being constructed, about 224 km, with completion planned within four years — https://en.apa.az/infrastructure/zangezur-corridor-seen-as-key-link-in-both-middle-and-north-south-routes-analysis-476885

Important terminological observation: Azerbaijani and Turkish sources consistently present TRIPP as the Armenian section of the "Zangezur Corridor." The Armenian side does not accept this formulation and presents its approach within the framework of the "Crossroads of Peace" initiative, asserting that roads must be opened simultaneously in all directions. The Carnegie Endowment analysis notes that Yerevan viewed Baku's "corridor" formulation as a territorial threat — https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2026/03/rewiring-the-south-caucasus-tripp-and-the-new-geopolitics-of-connectivity

The construction of infrastructure is perceived differently in different countries.
The construction of infrastructure is perceived differently in different countries.

3. The Armenian Critical Stance

Armenian legal analyses raise concerns regarding specific articles. The analysis published in the Armenian Weekly and on the ARF website notes:

  • Article 6(1) requires Armenia to expropriate and hand over lands located in TRIPP zones, including private property, at its own expense, without a compensation mechanism and without a spending cap
  • Article 3(7) protects the American share of TDC from acquisition by third parties, but no similar protection is provided for Armenian entities
  • Article 10 provides only for consultations, without mandatory arbitration or a dispute resolution mechanism
  • Azerbaijan is not a party to this bilateral agreement; therefore, Armenia's reciprocal transit rights are not legally secured by this document

Source: https://armenianweekly.com/2026/06/10/what-tripp-actually-commits/

Legal concerns are also confirmed at the state level. The RA Ministry of Justice expressed the opinion that the agreement contains norms contradicting RA legislation, particularly regarding tax exemptions, but, taking into account the political nature of the document, considered it subject to ratification — https://www.azatutyun.am/a/tripp-hamadzaynagir-vaveratsoum/33805211.html

In the opposition camp, the second president Robert Kocharyan, as well as former US Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien, expressed opposition to the project — https://jamestown.org/armenia-balances-between-the-tripp-and-zangezur-corridor/

4. Iran and Russia

Iran reacted negatively to the project from the beginning. In August 2025, Ali Akbar Velayati condemned the plan in strong terms, describing it as a step aimed at undermining Armenia's territorial integrity — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/9/iran-rejects-planned-transit-corridor-outlined-in-armenia-azerbaijan-pact

Tehran calls the corridor the "NATO Turan Corridor" — https://www.trtworld.com/article/4a7d08eecd5a

According to CEPA's assessment, Iran and Russia see a threat in the American presence, even though American troops will not be deployed along the route — https://cepa.org/article/trumps-road-tripp-delivers-a-peace-deal/

The clash of geopolitical interests around the new regional project.
The clash of geopolitical interests around the new regional project.

Warning to the reader: In some Russian and pro-Russian publications, a claim is circulating that up to a thousand fighters from an American private military company will be deployed there to ensure the security of the route. This claim is not stipulated in official documents and is not confirmed by independent sources. We present it only as circulating but unconfirmed information.

What Has Not Yet Happened

This is perhaps the most important part because it often gets lost in the flow of announcements:

What to Watch in the Coming Months

  1. September 15 — Start of the Constitutional Court trial
  2. Following the Constitutional Court's conclusion, the vote in the National Assembly
  3. Actual start of construction in Syunik — The Azerbaijani side expects it in 2026, but there is no official date from the Armenian side yet
  4. Completion of the Horadiz–Aghband line — Baku promises the end of 2026
  5. Referendum on constitutional reforms — planned for 2027

Summary

Most of the confusion around TRIPP stems not from malice, but from three reasons: inaccurate use of legal terms, the phased nature of the project (the same document is "signed" multiple times at different stages), and the fact that several parameters are not yet final.

The most reliable approach when following this topic is to check three things each time: which document is being referred to, what stage it is in, and who the source is.

Accurate verification of documents and sources is the only way to avoid misunderstandings.
Accurate verification of documents and sources is the only way to avoid misunderstandings.

List of Main Sources

Primary Documents

International Analysis

Armenian Sources

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