Pashinyan: Russian military base in Armenia is not "vital necessity"

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said Yerevan does not consider the presence of Russia’s 102nd military base in Armenia a vital necessity, while indicating that the government is prepared to discuss its future with Moscow.

“We do not consider the presence in Armenia of the 102nd Russian military base a vital necessity,” Pashinyan said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

He said the issue of the base has not previously been raised for discussion between the two sides.

“There have been no discussions regarding the base; we have not raised the issue of the base before. If Russia decides to withdraw the base, we will not object. If it decides to keep it, we are ready to discuss it,” Pashinyan said.

The 102nd Russian Military Base is located in Gyumri, Armenia, and has long been part of Russia’s military presence in the South Caucasus.

By Vafa Guliyeva