Putin made the remarks after talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, late on Tuesday. The discussions focused primarily on Moscow’s repeated call for Armenia to hold a referendum to decide whether it wants to seek membership in the European Union or remain part of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union.
Moscow has repeatedly made clear that it will no longer treat Yerevan favorably in economic relations, including by selling natural gas at a significantly lower price than elsewhere, if Armenia chooses to move toward EU membership.
Pashinian has repeatedly rejected Moscow’s calls for a referendum on potential EU accession, saying that while Armenia seeks to diversify its political and trade relations, including with Brussels, it sees no urgent need for a formal vote at this stage.
He told the Russian president in Bishkek the issue was “not yet ripe enough” to be put to a referendum.
During Putin’s press conference after the meeting, a reporter noted that Yerevan has officially ceased to view Moscow as a strategic ally and, in this regard, asked the Russian leader about the prospect of a continued Russian military presence in Armenia.
Putin said Moscow would withdraw its military base from the Armenian city of Gyumri “even tomorrow” if Yerevan decided it was no longer needed.
“But is Armenia ready for that?” he said, according to the Russian state-run news agency TASS. “We won’t impose anything on anyone. But if the Armenian people want some kind of Russian military presence there, then we will stay and work.”
Russia maintained its military presence in Armenia after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. The 102nd military base was established in Gyumri under an interstate agreement signed by Russia and Armenia in 1995. The initial 25-year agreement was extended in 2010 until 2044.
Pashinian indicated in February that Yerevan had no plans to put an end to Russia’s military presence in Armenia.
Official Yerevan has been careful not to demand the closure of the military base in Armenia or the withdrawal of Russian border guards deployed along its borders with Turkey and Iran. It only made sure in 2024 that the border guards leave the sole Armenian-Iranian border crossing and Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport.
It is not clear whether the issue of the Russian military base was discussed during the closed portion of the Bishkek talks or whether it will be raised during Pashinian’s upcoming visit to Moscow, which has been announced by both leaders.