“We don’t need the Russian military base, if they want to withdraw it, please do”: Nikol Pashinyan

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said during a government briefing that Armenia “does not need the Russian military base, if they want to withdraw it, please, let them withdraw it even tomorrow.”

“If, however, they want to stay, we’re ready to discuss the terms for keeping a base that we don’t need,” he said.

According to Pashinyan, Armenia has never before put the question of the Russian military base up for discussion.

“Now Russia has put the question up for discussion, and we’re positioning ourselves around this debate. What can we do? If they want to withdraw it, let them withdraw it. I’m saying that the 102nd Russian military base, and the events of September 2022, showed that it is not of vital importance to Armenia’s security,” he said.