Russian border guards withdraw from Yerevan Airport

In a significant shift in regional dynamics, Russia has completed the withdrawal of its border guards from Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport in Armenia.

This move, demanded by Armenia earlier this year, reflects changing dynamics between the two allied nations.

Russia’s response and years of cooperation

For years, Russian border guards have been stationed at Zvartnots and along Armenia’s borders with Türkiye and Iran, symbolizing the close military ties between the two countries.

However, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced in March that Armenia would take over these responsibilities by August 1, asserting that Armenia could manage border controls independently.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has criticized this decision, warning that it could inflict “irreparable damage” to Russian-Armenian relations and jeopardize Armenia’s security and economic development. Despite these concerns, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pashinian agreed on the withdrawal during their May meeting in Moscow.

The process concluded with a farewell ceremony at Zvartnots for the departing officers of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). Edgar Hunanian, the newly appointed Commander of Armenian Border Troops, expressed gratitude for their service, highlighting the valuable experience and skills shared over 32 years of joint operations.

“You’re not always noticeable but very necessary work has made a significant contribution to the security of both Armenia and Russia,” stated Maksim Seleznyov, the Russian charge d’affaires in Yerevan.

Future deployments

At the May meeting, Putin also agreed to withdraw Russian troops and border guards from Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan. These forces had been deployed at Yerevan’s request during and after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. However, Russian border guards will continue to protect Armenia’s borders with Iran and Türkiye.

Russia maintains a military base in Armenia, and in March, a senior Russian lawmaker cautioned against demanding the end of this military presence. While Pashinyan has not indicated plans to remove the base, he has frozen Armenia’s membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization and has not ruled out a bid to join the European Union.

Changing dynamics in the region

The United States is planning to give considerable military assistance to Armenia as well as other countries such as France, India and more. For example, on June 18, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced the sale of 36 Caesar self-propelled howitzers to Armenia.

France appears to be leading the supply of Western military equipment to Yerevan, while in reality Washington has already been tuning Armenia’s defence industry into the West. It is possible to predict that Armenia and other Western countries will increase their military exercises and training in the future, like the U.S. Russia will see this support as a threat, and time and events will determine how it will react. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, will naturally perceive such an arms race by Armenia, along with the ongoing peace talks and normalization, as a threat.