The Armenian government, which blames Russia for not supporting it in the Nagorno-Karabakh war, is moving one step further away from Moscow.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Russian troops will withdraw from Zvartnots International Airport in the capital Yerevan. According to Pashinyan, the agreement, on the basis of which Russian border guards have been stationed at the airport since 1992, will be terminated on August 1.
He clarified that a letter on this issue had been sent to Moscow and said that the Armenian border guards are currently “have achieved knowledge, experience and capabilities to perform service without the help of Russia” at Zvartnots airport.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed receiving a request from Armenia on the issue and said contacts between the two sides continued at all levels, but did not provide details.
Russian border guards stationed at the airport under an agreement signed between the Russian Federation and Armenia after the collapse of the Soviet Union are working to ensure the security of the airport as well as the safety of cargo for Russian military personnel in the country.
Prime Minister of Armenia Pashinyan emphasized that this issue should be considered “technical, not political or geopolitical.” Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan also noted in a statement last week that Russian military transport operations at the airport have been significantly reduced, with senior officials publicly voicing harsh criticism of Russia. Recently, Armenia has begun to develop strategic relations with Western countries such as the United States and France, from whom it believes it will find support.
At the end of February, Armenia also effectively froze its participation in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Pashinyan continued his criticism of the CSTO in a statement on Tuesday, saying the organization did not accept Armenia’s request for help during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and said it could only send soldiers as neutral observers. Pashinyan also said that a complete withdrawal from the CSTO is possible, but did not specify a date.
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