Pashinyan says hosting Russian military base "not concern for Armenia"

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the presence of a Russian military base in Armenia does not raise concerns.

During his official visit to Poland, at a meeting with diplomats and analysts at the Warsaw-based Polish Institute of International Affairs, a member of the audience asked the Armenian Prime Minister if he intends to request Russia to close its base in Gyumri, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

“Until 2024, most of Armenia’s border checkpoints were under Russian control, or there was a presence of Russian border guards, for example, at our international airport. However, currently, all of our border checkpoints are controlled by Armenian border guards,” Pashinyan said in response to a question about Russian military presence.

“Naturally, we are grateful to Russia. As a newly independent state in the early 1990s, we did not have the capacity to provide such services, but now we do, and we are developing our capabilities. We have no plans or concerns regarding the presence of the Russian military base,” he added, emphasising that Armenia remains a close partner of Russia.

By Jeyhun Aghazada