Pashinyan expels Russian border guards

Armenian border guards will replace Russian border guards on Armenia's border with Iran and Turkey, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said.

According to him, the agreement signed in the 90s with the Russian Federation stipulates that in parallel with increasing the potential of the Armenian border troops, Armenian border guards should take control of the border.

"I want to say that we pay Russian border guards for border protection. And before that, Russian colleagues raised the issue of increasing these amounts, since these amounts do not satisfy the services provided. We have calculated that if there is a topic related to the increase of these funds, then we can spend increased amounts on the development of our border potential, and gradually our Russian colleagues will fit into those amounts that will not be too burdensome for us. And we will take control of the rest of the sites. This is stipulated by the agreement," Pashinyan told reporters.

The system of protection of the state border of Armenia with Turkey and Iran has been completely preserved since the times of the USSR. The border department of the FSB of Russia in Armenia includes four border detachments — in Gyumri, Armavir, Artashat and Meghri.

Since August 1, 2024, the servicemen of the Armenian border troops have started independent protection of the state border in Zvartnots without the participation of their Russian colleagues — for the first time since 1992. In addition, from January 1, 2025, only servicemen of the Armenian border troops without Russians serve at the checkpoint on the Armenian-Iranian state border. At the same time, RIA Novosti emphasizes, according to the agreement reached with the Russian side, the border troops of the National Security Service of Armenia have been participating in joint protection of the state border between Armenia and Iran and the borders of Armenia and Turkey with Russian border guards since January 2025.