Andrei Kolesnik on the role of the 102nd Russian base in Gyumri: "Armenia will be devoured without its traditional ally."

ArmInfo. Armenia will be "devoured" without its traditional ally (Russia - ed.). This was stated by Andrei Kolesnik, a member of the State Duma Defense Committee, as reported by RIA Novosti.

Because, as Kolesnik noted, this base counterbalances certain threats. "Yerevan should not turn its back on Russia and abandon the military base in Gyumri. Because without its traditional ally, Armenia will be "devoured." This base has been there for several decades, and it is justified that it has been there for several decades," the State Duma committee member stated.

According to him, Russia has always helped Armenia, and relations between the two peoples have traditionally been good. However, he acknowledged that these relations have deteriorated recently. "Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan should decide on his allies and not try to 'sit on two chairs.' We have always fulfilled all our obligations," Kolesnik concluded.

As a reminder, days earlier, in a conversation with journalists following the SCO summit and a series of bilateral talks in Bishkek, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated his readiness to withdraw the 102nd Russian military base stationed in Gyumri "even tomorrow." On September 3, 2026, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated at a government briefing that he "does not consider the presence of the 102nd military base in Armenia a vital necessity."

It should be noted that the Russian military base is stationed in Armenia in accordance with a 1995 interstate agreement. In 2010, amendments were made to the document, according to which the period of her stay in the territory of Armenia was extended from the initial 25 years to 49 years, until 2044.