Russian Military Base Withdrawal from Armenia Not on Agenda: Russian Ambassador

Sergey Kopirkin, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Armenia, has stated that the issue of withdrawing the 102nd military base from Armenia is not on the agenda of bilateral relations between Armenia and Russia. This announcement was made during an interview with the 'Syunik Earth' newspaper.

“The withdrawal of the 102nd military base is not on the agenda of our bilateral relations. The Armenian side has clearly stated this at all levels. The Russian military presence remains a vital pillar of Armenia's security system and an essential factor for regional stability. At the same time, our military does not pose a threat to anyone in the region,” emphasized the ambassador.

He recalled that the agreement on “Russia's military presence in Armenia” was initially signed in Moscow on March 16, 1995, for a duration of 25 years, automatically extending every five years. “Later, in 2010, our countries signed an additional protocol to the document in Yerevan, which extended the deployment of Russian military units in Armenia until 2044, with the possibility of extension every five years,” added Kopirkin.