On March 5, the website dikgazete.com reported that, at the end of 2025, the Armenian government had signed a contract with the Turkish construction company Limak Holding to construct the Armenian section of the so-called “Zangezur Corridor.”
“According to the contract, Limak Holding will construct two mountain tunnels, each measuring 8 to 10 kilometers in length, along with various bridges and extensive road reconstruction projects. These tunnels are supposed to play a crucial role in a new integrated transport system that will connect Baku with Kars.”
Two days later, on March 7, the information was also posted on the social media platform X. A video was published (archived) claiming that the company Limak would assume full control of the “Zangezur Corridor” project for 40 years, while Turkey would retain 100% of the project’s revenue during the first 10 years.
On March 9, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia (MTAD) denied the information in an interview with Verified, labeling it disinformation.
“The information disseminated by various users on X that Armenia has signed a contract with a Turkish construction company for the construction of the so-called “Zangezur Corridor” does not correspond to reality.”
“It is important to emphasize once again that the ‘Zangezur Corridor’ does not exist and cannot exist within the Republic of Armenia. This position has been publicly reiterated by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia multiple times. Therefore, the Republic of Armenia could not have signed any such agreement,” stated Sona Harutyunyan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.
Why the source is untrustworthy
Dikgazete.com is a Turkish news platform that has frequently drawn the attention of fact-checking journalists for inaccuracies in its reporting. The news outlet is known for publishing strongly pro-Russian articles.
The Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), which specializes in disinformation research, has identified Dikgazete.com as an “unknown/non-transparent Turkish-language website” that disseminates false information about Moldovan President Maia Sandu. Typically, once content is published on this platform, it spreads to larger media outlets and social networks. This website frequently features content that aligns with and supports the Kremlin’s foreign policy.
The author of this article is Okay Deprem, who has a history of spreading misinformation, particularly about Armenia. He has appeared on a Russian Fakes platform as a pro-Kremlin contributor.
Deprem also works as a journalist for the Turkish media outlet ODA TV. In a YouTube video three years ago, he claimed that he held Luhansk citizenship and had previously resided in various countries, including Russia and Ukraine.
ODA TV is known to be involved in the Russian “Storm-1516” disinformation campaign.
Recently, “Verified” addressed Okay Deprem’s false claim. In his article, he alleged that the LGBT+ community, with the support of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, intends to hold a march in Yerevan on April 7, 2026. The Prime Minister’s office has denied this information.
For more information about the activities of Turkish-born Okay Deprem, read the article on the Fact-Checking Platform (FIP.am).
What is commonly referred to by Azerbaijani or Turkish sources as the “Zangezur corridor” is actually known as the TRIPP (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity), or “Trump’s Route,” a communications concept project.
The agreement was reached at the initiative of U.S. President Donald Trump through a joint declaration signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States on August 8, 2025. It envisages the construction of a road, railway, and other infrastructure through Armenia’s Syunik region to connect mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stated that the TRIPP project is one of the components of Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative.
