Armenia, Russia not discussing withdrawal of 102nd military base, says ambassador Kopyrkin

Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin said that Armenia and Russia are not discussing the withdrawal of the 102nd Russian military base.

In an interview with the local Armenian newspaper Syunyats Yerkir, the Russian envoy stated that there has been no such issue on the bilateral agenda.

“The withdrawal of the 102nd military base is not on the agenda of bilateral relations,” he said. “The Armenian side has emphasized this at all levels. The Russian military presence remains a vital pillar of Armenia’s security system and a key factor in regional stability. At the same time, our troops do not pose any threat to anyone in the region,” the ambassador added.

He recalled that the treaty on Russia’s military presence in Armenia was originally signed in 1995 in Moscow for a period of 25 years, with automatic five-year extensions.

“Later, in 2010, our countries signed an additional protocol in Yerevan, which extended the Russian military presence in Armenia until 2044, with the possibility of further five-year extensions,” he said.

Russia's 102nd military base is located in Gyumri, Armenia.