Pashinyan: Armenia will not object if Russia decides to pull out military base

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stated that Armenia will not object if Russia decides to withdraw its military base from Armenia.

Pashinyan made the statement at a press briefing when asked to comment on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s latest remarks.

Putin said Russia is ready to withdraw its military base from Gyumri “even tomorrow” if Armenia decides it no longer needs it, while saying Moscow would remain if the Armenian people want its military presence.

“We have not raised the issue of the Russian military base even once during this period, and it is not the case that we consider the presence of the Russian 102nd Military Base on the territory of Armenia to be a vital necessity,” Pashinyan said.

“If Russia decides to withdraw the military base from Armenia, we will not object, but if they express a desire to remain, we are also ready to discuss that. But during this period, we have never raised these issues,” Pashinyan added.

Russia’s 102nd Military Base is located in Gyumri, Armenia.