Russia could withdraw from Gyumri base ‘as soon as tomorrow’ if asked, Putin says following talks with Pashinyan

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. The meeting addressed a broad range of bilateral agenda issues, including Russia’s military presence in Armenia, Moscow’s restrictions on Armenian imports, and Armenia’s European Union membership aspirations that Russia finds problematic.

This was the first meeting between the two leaders since Pashinyan’s reelection as prime minister following a nationwide election in June.

The meeting came amid heightened political tensions between the two countries. Since the leaders last met in April, Russia has imposed sweeping restrictions on Armenian imports despite the two countries being members of the Eurasian Economic Union, citing phytosanitary concerns. The restrictions have caused major economic turbulence in Armenia, as the country’s agro-food products had been sold almost exclusively to Russia for decades.

Also read: Armenia faces sweeping Russian import restrictions across industries

The measures are widely viewed as Moscow’s retaliation for Yerevan’s pivot toward Western countries, including its aspirations to join the European Union. In May, Putin urged Armenia to hold a nationwide referendum as soon as possible to determine whether Armenians wish to remain in the Russian-led Eurasian bloc or join the EU instead.

Armenia has rejected those calls, arguing that holding a referendum before formally applying for EU membership would not make sense. Putin repeated his call at Tuesday’s meeting.

“I repeat, we will treat any choice of the Armenian people with respect. As Armenia decides, so it will be. But we must align our trade and economic policy with these possible decisions, and we would like to ask you to bring clarity to this issue as soon as possible,” Putin said. “I hope that we will now discuss all these issues with you in a calm, friendly, businesslike atmosphere,” he added.

Pashinyan responded largely in line with his earlier remarks, dismissing Russia’s allegations that Armenia’s EU aspirations contradict its commitments to the Eurasian Economic Union.

“We have analyzed the existing contractual framework between Armenia and both Russia and the Eurasian Union, and, frankly, we have not found any violations,” Pashinyan said.

Moscow’s business interests in Armenia

Putin also argued that Russia’s extensive involvement in Armenia’s economy is beneficial to the South Caucasian country.

“Russia is Armenia’s main trade and economic partner, with a share of about 30 percent, and is also an investor in the Armenian economy. In the first half of the current year, trade turnover amounted to $2.5 billion.

“Mutually beneficial projects are being implemented in the fields of industry and agriculture, mining, peaceful nuclear energy, transport, and the digital economy. Russian companies are the largest taxpayers to the Armenian budget, creating jobs, transferring modern technologies, and strengthening the country’s energy security,” Putin said.

“There are companies that operate successfully, they are profitable and they develop, but there are also companies that, unfortunately, are not profitable and are not developing. And this, I think, is a problem both for Armenia and Russia,” Pashinyan responded.

The remark is likely a reference to South Caucasus Railway, a subsidiary of Russian Railways that operates Armenia’s rail network under a monopoly concession signed in 2008. Russia’s management of the railway has been widely criticized over its failure to implement major infrastructure projects and what critics describe as massive underinvestment.

In January, Pashinyan urged Russia to sell the concession to a third country that has good relations with both Moscow and Yerevan. Russia has flatly rejected the proposal, dismissing allegations of shortcomings in its management of the railway.

Also read: Pashinyan renews calls on Russia to give up Armenia’s railways

“I am always interested in holding discussions with you on any topic, but on the main issue, I will allow myself to disagree with you. You said that you have not announced your withdrawal [from the Eurasian Union]. The adoption of a law on joining another economic organization is essentially an announcement of withdrawal from our organization, because being members of both at the same time is incompatible,” Putin said, referring to a non-binding law adopted by Armenia’s parliament last year declaring its ambition to join the EU sometime in the future.

“Time will come when we’ll have to make a clear choice. Our position is that the time has not yet come,” Pashinyan replied.

The exchange was followed by a round of negotiations behind closed doors.

At a press briefing after the talks, Putin said he had invited Pashinyan to pay a working visit to Moscow to discuss the railway issue.

“We have agreed to proceed in a calm manner,” Putin said.

Russia’s military base in Gyumri

The Russian president also touched upon Russia’s military base in Armenia, a topic that was not mentioned during the public part of the talks.

“If Armenia believes that it does not need the Russian military base in Gyumri, we can leave as soon as tomorrow. Is Armenia prepared for this? But if the people of Armenia want Russia to have a military presence in their country, we will stay,” the Russian president said at the briefing.

It remains unclear whether the military base was discussed between Pashinyan and Putin behind closed doors.

“I had a very good meeting with the Russian president. Armenia-Russia relations are highly important for both countries, and we approach these relations with great care. However, in the new circumstances, we need to reformulate our relations, and I am certain that this will make our relations better, warmer and mutually beneficial,” Pashinyan said in a social media post following the meeting.