Armenia Officially Requests Russia to Remove Its Border Guards from Yerevan Airport

Armenia has formally requested Russia to withdraw its long-standing border guards stationed at Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport. 

Armen Grigoryan, the secretary of Armenia's Security Council, emphasized on Wednesday that the country now possesses the capability to conduct comprehensive security measures at the airport independently. Grigoryan stated, "Armenia has informed the Russian Federation about its clear position in an official letter."

The presence of Russian border guards at Zvartnots International Airport has been a constant for decades, aligning with Armenia's military and political alliance with Moscow. However, recent reports from Armenian media suggest that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government desires their departure, indicating a deepening rift between the two nations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, responding to the Armenian request, insisted that Moscow has not received any official notifications yet. Peskov expressed confidence in the diplomatic process, anticipating a resolution to the current discord.

Some observers speculate that Armenia's decision to remove Russian border guards from the airport may be a precursor to a broader demand for the withdrawal of all Russian troops from the country. However, Pashinyan and his political allies have not indicated any such plans as of now.

Last month, Pashinyan suspended Armenia's membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), citing concerns about the alliance posing a security threat. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected these claims, asserting that Russia and the CSTO have honored their security commitments to Armenia.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova disclosed that Moscow has proposed "interagency consultations" to address Armenia's concerns about the CSTO, but there has been no response from the Armenian side thus far. Zakharova also echoed Lavrov's warnings about the negative consequences of Armenia's reorientation towards the West, cautioning against becoming a "duped victim of the West" and drawing parallels with the situation in Ukraine.