Moscow confirms Russian base withdrawal not raised in Armenia talks

The issue of withdrawing the Russian military base in Armenia has never been raised in bilateral talks, said Maria Zakharova, the official spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, at a briefing.

She stated that "Russia maintains a broad range of cooperation with Armenia, though, as with any country, some issues naturally arise," Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

However, there is a regular dialogue with Yerevan across all departments connected in some way to the base’s matters.

“This issue has never been raised in a practical sense. Perhaps it has been discussed within communities, public forums, or expert circles. That is a different matter. But in interactions with Yerevan, this topic has not been brought up,” the Russian diplomat emphasised.

Notably, Russia has maintained a military base in Armenia for decades, playing a key role in regional security in the South Caucasus. The 102nd Russian Military Base, located in Gyumri, is the largest Russian military presence abroad and acts as a strategic deterrent in the region.

It was established following the collapse of the Soviet Union and formalised by treaties between Russia and Armenia.

The base serves as a stabilising force amid ongoing tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Russia’s presence is seen as crucial by Yerevan to balance regional power dynamics and ensure Armenia’s security.

Despite occasional calls in some Armenian political and public circles for a reduction or withdrawal of Russian troops, Moscow has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the base.

Bilateral military cooperation between Russia and Armenia includes joint exercises, arms supplies, and intelligence sharing. The two countries are also members of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).

By Aghakazim Guliyev