YEREVAN (Azatutyun.am)–Two weeks after President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness to withdraw Russian troops from Armenia, a senior Russian diplomat has said that their continued presence is indispensable for the South Caucasus country’s security.
“We have not received any requests from the Armenian side regarding the withdrawal of the Russian military base stationed in Gyumri,” Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told the Moscow daily Izvestia in an interview published on Tuesday. “We continue to proceed from the premise that it is a key element of the security architecture of Armenia and the South Caucasus.”
“Many quite rightly ask: what is the alternative?” he said. “In our view, no such alternative is currently in sight. Frankly speaking, it is difficult to imagine, for instance, French soldiers in this role — if only because of the geographical distance between France and Armenia.”
Putin publicly raised the possibility of Russian troop withdrawal right after his September 1 talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during which he kept pressing Yerevan to quickly choose between seeking to join the European Union or remaining part of a Russian-led trade bloc. Speaking to journalists, he said Moscow is ready to close the Gyumri base “even tomorrow” if asked by the Armenian government.
“But if the Armenian people want some kind of Russian military presence there, then we will stay and work,” added Putin.
Pashinyan responded by saying that his administration “will not object” if Russia decides to end its long-standing military presence. The Russian base is not of “vital importance” for Armenia, he said.
Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan referred to Pashinyan’s statement when he responded to Galuzin later on Tuesday. He did not comment further.
“If they want to remove the military base, they should announce it,” deputy parliament speaker Vahagn Aleksanyan said for his part. “If they don’t, that too is a matter for discussion — we will discuss it.”
Aleksanyan also noted that the Russian troops did not defend Armenia against Azerbaijan’s “military aggression” in 2021 and 2022.
Some Armenian opposition leaders have expressed serious concern at the prospect of their withdrawal. They view the Russian base as a vital deterrent against a perceived threat emanating from Turkey, Azerbaijan’s closest ally.
