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.