On July 31, Russia completed the withdrawal of its border guards from Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan, Armenia, at the request of the Caucasus nation earlier this year amid rising tensions between the two countries.
Russian border guards have been stationed in Zvartnots for decades, and also maintain a presence along Armenia's borders with Turkey and Iran, demonstrating the close military ties between Moscow and Yerevan.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian announced in March that his government had given Moscow until August 1st to withdraw all its forces from the airport. Pashinian stated that Armenia was capable of maintaining security there "without Russian assistance."
Armenian authorities held a farewell ceremony for Russian border guards stationed at Zvartnots airport, following proper protocol. Photo: TASS
The Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the move, saying that Yerevan risks causing "irreparable damage" to Russia-Armenia relations and endangering Armenia's own security and economic development.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian agreed on troop withdrawal when the two leaders met in Moscow in May.
This process concluded with a farewell ceremony held for several dozen officers of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in Zvartnots. The newly appointed commander of the Armenian border guard, Edgar Hunanian, thanked the Russian forces for their service in a speech at the ceremony.
Edgar Unanyan, head of the Border Guard Service under the Armenian National Security Service, stated that "the expertise and knowledge transferred by the Russian border guards will continue to be applied in service to the Fatherland."
"Your work, though not always easily noticeable, is essential and has made a significant contribution to the security of both Armenia and Russia," said Maksim Seleznyov, Russia's chargé d'affaires ad interim in Yerevan.
During his May meeting with Mr. Pashinian, Mr. Putin also agreed to withdraw Russian troops and border guards from the Armenian border region with Azerbaijan. These forces had been deployed there at the request of Yerevan during and after the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2020. Russian border guards will continue to protect Armenia's borders with Iran and Türkiye.
Russia also has a military base in the Caucasus country, namely Military Base No. 102 in Gyumri. In March, a senior Russian lawmaker said he "would not recommend that the Armenian authorities consider" requesting an end to the Russian military presence.
To date, Prime Minister Pashinian has not put forward any such plans, but he has frozen Armenia's membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSSTO) and has not ruled out the possibility of joining the European Union (EU).
Minh Duc (According to RFE/RL, TASS)
Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/nga-hoan-tat-rut-quan-khoi-san-bay-o-armenia-204240801112652268.htm
Comment (0)