Pashinian told a news briefing in Yerevan that the issue of the Russian 102nd military base stationed in Armenia was not discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the meeting of the two leaders on the margins of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kazakhstan, earlier this week.
“We have never raised the issue of the 102nd military base stationed in Armenia during this period. It doesn’t mean, however, that we consider the presence of the 102nd military base in Armenian territory to be a vital necessity,” Pashinian said.
“If Russia decides to withdraw its military base from the Republic of Armenia, we will not object,” he added. “But if they express a desire to stay, we are also ready to discuss that.”
Pashinian’s comments came two days after Putin said Moscow could withdraw the base from the Armenian city of Gyumri “even tomorrow” if Yerevan decided that it was no longer needed.
Asked about the future of Russia’s military presence in Armenia at a press conference following the September 1 talks, Putin said Moscow would not impose it on Yerevan.
“If Armenia considers that it doesn’t need the Russian military base, we will leave even tomorrow. But is Armenia ready for that?” Putin said, as quoted by the Russian state-run news agency TASS.
He added, however, that “if the Armenian people want some kind of Russian military presence there, then we will stay and work.”
Russia has maintained a military presence in Armenia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The 102nd military base in Gyumri was established under a Russian-Armenian interstate agreement signed in 1995. Its initial 25-year term was extended in 2010 until 2044.
The issue of the base comes amid increasingly strained Armenian-Russian relations as Yerevan seeks to deepen ties with the European Union while remaining, for now, a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union.
Moscow has repeatedly warned that it will not continue treating Armenia favorably in economic relations if Yerevan chooses to move toward EU membership.
Pashinian has rejected Moscow’s calls for a referendum on possible EU membership, saying Armenia sees no urgent need for such a vote at this stage.