Armenias first and oldest online media - since 2000. 17 September 2026 - 16:06 AMT Pashinyan says Russian base not vital for Armenia News FeedPolitics The Armenian government would not object if Russia decided to withdraw the Russian 102nd military base from Gyumri, as it is not vital to Armenia’s security, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a briefing with reporters, Armenpress reports. “We have never put the issue of the Russian military base operating in Armenia up for discussion. Now Russia has put it up for discussion, and we are positioning ourselves around that discussion. What are we supposed to do, say, like the leader of Strong Armenia, ‘We have been left without protection’? If they want to withdraw it, let them withdraw it. I am saying that the events of September 2022 showed that the 102nd military base is not vital to Armenia’s security. “There has not been a single instance when any of our officials raised such an issue with any Russian official. If they decide to withdraw it, we will not object. The 102nd military base adds nothing to Armenia’s security. If they do not want to withdraw it, we are ready to discuss that as well,” Pashinyan said. The prime minister reiterated that Armenia is pursuing a balanced and balancing foreign policy. “There is no need to threaten us with removal from the Collective Security Treaty Organization. If they want to remove us, let them. If they do not want to remove us, then let them not,” Nikol Pashinyan said. On September 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with journalists in Bishkek that if Armenia believes it does not need the Russian military base, Russia is ready to withdraw it “even tomorrow.” At the same time, he said Moscow was prepared to continue cooperation if the Armenian side wanted to maintain the Russian military presence. On September 3, Nikol Pashinyan responded to the statement during a briefing with reporters, stressing that Yerevan had not raised the issue of withdrawing the 102nd military base.