Russia on July 31 completed the withdrawal of border guards from Zvartnots International Airport in Armenia's capital Yerevan, following a request from the Caucasus nation earlier this year amid rising tensions between the two countries.
Russian border guards have been stationed in Zvartnots for decades, and are also present along Armenia's borders with Turkey and Iran in a demonstration of the close military ties between Moscow and Yerevan.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said in March that his government had given Moscow until August 1 to withdraw its forces from the airport. Pashinian said Armenia was capable of carrying out security control there “without Russian help.”
Armenian authorities held a farewell ceremony for Russian border guards stationed at Zvartnots airport in accordance with the rites. Photo: TASS
The Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the move, saying Yerevan risked causing "irreparable damage" to Russian-Armenian relations and jeopardizing Armenia's own security and economic development.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian agreed on the troop withdrawal when the two leaders met in Moscow in May.
The process was completed 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 guards, Edgar Hunanian, thanked the Russian forces for their service in his speech at the ceremony.
The head of the Border Guard Service of the National Security Service of Armenia Edgar Unanyan pointed out that "the expertise and knowledge transferred by the Russian border guards will continue to be applied in the service of the Fatherland."
“Your not always visible but essential work has made a significant contribution to the security of both Armenia and Russia,” said Russia’s charge d’affaires in Yerevan, Maksim Seleznyov.
During his May meeting with Pashinian, Putin also agreed to withdraw Russian troops and border guards from Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan, which had been deployed there at Yerevan’s request during and after the 2020 conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Russian border guards will continue to guard Armenia’s borders with Iran and Türkiye.
Russia also has a military base in the Caucasus country, Military Base No. 102 in Gyumri. In March, a senior Russian lawmaker said he “would not recommend that the Armenian authorities think about” demanding an end to the Russian military presence.
So far, Prime Minister Pashinian has not come up with any such plans, but he has frozen Armenia's membership in the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSSTO) and has not ruled out 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
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