The Secretary of the Armenian Security Council said that Yerevan has never discussed the withdrawal of the Russian military base
Quick Look
Secretary of the Armenian Security Council Alen Simonyan said that Yerevan never spoke about the withdrawal of the Russian military base from the territory of the republic, despite Vladimir Putin’s statements about his readiness to leave upon request and Nikol Pashinyan’s response about his readiness to discuss maintaining the base if Russia wishes.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Russian military base in Gyumri is a key element of Armenia's security and has been present on its territory since Soviet times. The question of its status periodically arises in the context of bilateral relations and regional security.
Secretary of the Armenian Security Council Alen Simonyan said that Yerevan never spoke about the withdrawal of the Russian military base from the territory of the republic.
YEREVAN, September 16 – RIA Novosti. Armenia has never talked about the withdrawal of the Russian military base from the territory of the republic, Secretary of the Security Council of the country Alen Simonyan told reporters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on September 1 that if Yerevan believes that the Russian base in Gyumri is not needed, then the Russian side will leave even tomorrow and will not impose anything on anyone. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan responded by saying that Yerevan is ready to discuss with Moscow the preservation of a Russian military base in Armenia if Russia expresses such a desire.
“Honestly, this is a statement from the Russian side (about the withdrawal of the base - ed.). We didn’t discuss anything, we didn’t say a word about it... As the Prime Minister (Nikol Pashinyan - ed.) said, if they want, let him stay, if they want, let him leave. When they talk about this during negotiations with us, we will say our point of view, but we didn’t say that. They said it, and I don’t understand why they said that,” Simonyan said.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Armenia and Russia will continue negotiations on the status of the Russian military base in Gyumri without drastic changes in the current position
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific conditions does Russia put forward to maintain a base in Armenia?
- How does Armenian society feel about the presence of the Russian military base?
- Are there alternative options for ensuring the security of Armenia discussed in Yerevan?
