Pashinyan: Border guard change not linked to visa regime

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the replacement of Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) border guards at the country’s state border with officers from Armenia’s National Security Service was not linked to visa liberalization requirements with the European Union (EU).

Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the Armenian prime minister made the statement during a government briefing.

According to the report, Pashinyan said work to transfer full control of the borders with Türkiye and Iran to Armenian border guards had begun earlier and represented an important indicator of national sovereignty. He said that at the time, Yerevan was focused not on the EU’s visa liberalization requirements but solely on developing its own national border capabilities.

Pashinyan also said Russia was a friendly country and reiterated that Armenia was ready for dialogue with Moscow on the continued presence or possible withdrawal of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri. The opposition described the possibility of the base’s withdrawal as a “new adventure” threatening the country’s security.

For context, the 102nd Russian military base operates under an interstate agreement signed in 1995. In 2010, the parties extended the agreement until 2044. The base’s aviation component is located at Erebuni airfield in Yerevan.