Armenian premier`s office responds to rumors about Armenia`s  intention to demand payment for deployment of Russian military base

ArmInfo.The office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan succinctly  responded to rumors circulated in the media and social networks about Yerevan's intention to present an invoice to Moscow for the presence of a Russian military base on the territory of Armenia.

Last week, especially in the Russian segment of social networks,  information was circulated that allegedly the Prime Minister of  Armenia Nikol Pashinyan would bill Russia for the presence of a base  in Gyumri, and even direct quotes were given from the words of the RA  Prime Minister: "We are not in a position to waste land. In the near  future we will send an invoice to the Russian Foreign Ministry to pay  for the deployment of troops in our country."

Taking into account the sensitivity of this topic and the existence  of an official agreement on the conditions for the presence of a  Russian military base on the territory of the Republic of Armenia,  ArmInfo sent a request to the Office of the Prime Minister of the  Republic of Armenia with a request to confirm or refute these  statements.

The official response received by ArmInfo today says: "In response to  your question, we inform you that such statements were not made by  the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan."

The 102nd Russian military base is stationed in Armenia in accordance  with the interstate agreement between Moscow and Yerevan concluded in  1995. The base personnel are on combat duty within the framework of  the CIS Joint Air Defense System. On August 20, 2010, the Russian  Federation and Armenia extended the validity of the agreement on the  deployment of the base until 2044. The Protocol also provides for the  expansion of the scope of its geographical and strategic  responsibility. The air component of the 102nd Russian military base  in Gyumri is the Erebuni airbase, located in Yerevan. The airbase  personnel are on combat duty for air defense in the United Air  Defense System of the CIS countries.