Protection of Armenia`s borders with Iran and Turkiye will continue to be entrusted to Russian border guards

ArmInfo. Yerevan requested to withdraw  the temporary operative forces of the Russian border  guards. This was announced on May 14 by Alexander Bortnikov, a candidate for the post of director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia. "Such a decision has been made," noted the head of the FSB.

At the same time, according to him, some border guards will remain - they will guard the border of Armenia with Turkey and Iran. "In addition, the border checkpoint at Yerevan Zvartnots airport will be closed in the near future," he added.

After negotiations between the leaders of Armenia and Russia in Moscow on May 8, the head of the parliamentary faction of the ruling Civil Contract party, Hayk Konjorian, said that Russian border guards  would leave the Gegharkunik, Syunik, Tavush, Ararat and Vayots Dzor  regions, where they were deployed after the 44-day war, on the  initiative of the Government of Armenia, as well as the Zvartnots  airport.

After this, on May 10, spokesperson of the Russian president, Dmitry  Peskov, confirmed that the process of withdrawal of Russian military  and border guards from a number of regions of Armenia was agreed upon  on May 8 in Moscow during a meeting of the heads of Armenia and  Russia. He added that at the request of Yerevan, Russian border  guards will continue their service on the Armenian-Turkish and  Armenian-Iranian borders.

The basis for the current presence of Russian border guards in  Armenia is the interstate agreement on the status of Russian border  troops on the territory of the republic, concluded in Yerevan on  September 30, 1992.

The border department of the FSB of the Russian Federation in Armenia  includes 4 border detachments - in Gyumri, Armavir, Artashat and  Meghri, as well as a separate checkpoint at Yerevan Zvartnots  International Airport. The maintenance of Russian border guards in  Armenia is provided approximately equally by the governments of the  two states. Unlike the Russian military base, where exclusively  Russian citizens serve, Armenian citizens also have the right to  serve in the border troops of the Russian Federation in the republic.