Withdrawal of Russian guards from Armenian borders with Turkiye and Iran ‘possible’, says deputy FM

Russian border guards currently patrolling Armenia’s borders with Turkiye and Iran could eventually withdraw as a result of strengthening border security capacity, the Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan has said.

A U.S. team specialized in customs and border security is set to visit Armenia in the coming weeks to collaborate with Armenian counterparts on enhancing border security capabilities after the signing of the Armenia-U.S. strategic partnership charter.

Asked to elaborate on increasing border security capacity, Hovhannisyan told reporters it is time for Armenia to be capable of protecting its borders on its own.

“It has always been done by a third country, we have to be able to finally control our border ourselves,” he said.

This could result in Russian border guards withdrawing from the Armenian borders with Turkiye and Iran, the Deputy FM said when asked on the probability of such developments.

“Of course, ideally every country must be able to control its borders. And this assistance concerns the increase of our capacity through exchange of relevant experience,” the Deputy FM said.