Russian border guards ensured security of Armenian border, expert says

Speaking with Alpha News, Russian military expert Konstantin Sivkov commented on the withdrawal of Russian border guards from Tavush, Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Gegharkunik, and Ararat regions, where they were deployed during and after the 44-day war.

According to the expert, this could lead to another military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“This is clearly the decision of the Armenian leadership, which is moving towards turning Armenia into ‘Anti-Russia’. This will lead to the fact that soon there will be a great risk of another military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan because Armenia refuses Russian ‘protection’. The Western ‘protection’, as the example of Ukraine shows, does not provide security, and Turkey is interested in obtaining a free corridor connecting Nakhichevan with Azerbaijan, that is, in having this very ‘Zangezur corridor’ under the control of Azerbaijan. Armenia does not agree to this. If Armenia agrees to this, then, of course, there will be no conflict, but in this case, Armenia will lose part of its territory. In the long term, maintaining this course will lead to the loss of Armenian statehood,” Sivkov said.

“The task of Russian border guards was the protection of the Armenian border, and an attack on Russian border guards meant an attack on Russia. This means that Russia provided a guarantee of Armenia’s security not just with its special forces but even with nuclear weapons. Now, this is no longer the case. In the near future, I predict that Pashinyan will demand the withdrawal of the Russian military base in Gyumri, and then Armenia will be left alone with Turkey and Azerbaijan,” Sivkov concluded.