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.