"Strong Armenia" warned Armenian authorities against withdrawing Russian border guards from the Armenian-Turkish border.

ArmInfo. The withdrawal of Russian border troops from the Armenian-Turkish border will mean that this border legally ceases to exist. Edgar Ghazaryan, a member of the Armenian parliament from the opposition Strong Armenia faction, stated this in a conversation with journalists on September 2, commenting on the meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek.

In this regard, the MP recalled that Russia has two military stationary presences in Armenia: the 102nd Russian military base and the border troops of the Federal Security Service of Russia. "I note that the activities of Russian border troops in Armenia are regulated by the interstate Treaty of September 30, 1992, according to which the Armenian state, in essence, recognizes the agreement that established the USSR's state border with Turkey and Iran during the Soviet period. Since Armenia does not have a separate agreement with Turkey regarding the state border, if Russian border troops withdraw from the Armenian-Turkish border, it will legally cease to exist. I believe this is a very serious threat to our country in terms of the advancement of Turkish troops into Armenian territory. But I think this is one of Pashinyan's main goals," Kazaryan noted.

Overall, according to the opposition leader, the meeting between the two heads of state was not about improving relations between the countries, but quite the opposite. Moreover, according to Kazaryan, the meeting between the two leaders, which took place before the June parliamentary elections in Armenia, proceeded in the same spirit. "With Pashinyan's attitude, there can be no talk of improving relations. Let's not forget his speech in the Armenian parliament, when he effectively accused the Russian president of 'calling for the overthrow of the government in Armenia.' These are very serious accusations that the head of one state can make against another. I won't even mention that the government's program for 2026-2031 mentions "preventing attempts by external forces to carry out hybrid influence through the Armenian Apostolic Church." It's clear that we're talking about Russia, and all conscious people think so. And after all this, he's going to this meeting and thinks it should contribute to positive development," Kazaryan concluded.

It's worth noting that on September 2, following his visit to Bishkek, Putin, in a conversation with journalists, stated his readiness to withdraw the 102nd Russian base stationed in Gyumri "even tomorrow," if the Armenian side so desires. In 2010, the base's stay on the territory of the republics was scheduled to last until 2044.