Pashinyan says Russian military base in Armenia has no vital significance for security

The Armenian government will not object if Russia wants to withdraw its 102nd Military Base from Gyumri, PM Nikol Pashinyan said, reiterating at the same time that Yerevan has never started such discussions.

“We have never put the issue of the Russian military base operating in Armenia on the agenda. Now Russia has put it on the agenda, and we are taking a position regarding this discussion,” he said at a press briefing.

“So what should we do, say, like the leader of ‘Strong Armenia,’ ‘we have been abandoned?’” he said, referring to opposition leader Samvel Karapetyan’s controversial remarks.

“If they want to withdraw it, let them withdraw it,” Pashinyan said.

“I am saying that the events of September 2022 showed that the 102nd Military Base has no vital significance for Armenia’s security. There has not been a single case when any of our officials raised such an issue or raised such a question with any Russian official. If they decide to withdraw it, we will not object. The 102nd Military Base adds nothing to Armenia’s security. If they do not want to withdraw it, we are also ready to discuss that issue,” Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister reiterated that Armenia is pursuing a balanced foreign policy and a policy of maintaining balance.

“We do not need to be threatened with withdrawal from the CSTO. If they want to withdraw [us], let them withdraw [us]. If they do not want to withdraw [us], let them not withdraw [us],” Pashinyan said.

On September 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a press briefing at the SCO summit that if Armenia believes it does not need a Russian military base, Russia is ready to withdraw it “even tomorrow.” At the same time, he said that if the Armenian side wants to maintain the Russian military presence, Moscow is ready to continue cooperation.

On September 3, Nikol Pashinyan responded to the statement, emphasizing that Yerevan had not raised the issue of withdrawing the 102nd Military Base.