Armenia's Prime Minister Pashinyan: Russia Relations Will Inevitably Change Amid Peace and Normalization

Relations between Russia and Armenia are bound to shift regardless of who holds power in Yerevan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said , as his country gradually normalizes ties with Azerbaijan and moves closer to Europe. “Our relations with Russia will inevitably change. This is not connected to any individual or political force. Whoever it may be, Armenia-Russia relations will not be the same as before,” Pashinyan said in an interview published this weekend. He said bilateral ties “cannot remain the same as long as there is an environment of peace in Armenia.” Tensions between traditional allies Russia and Armenia have grown since Azerbaijan regained control of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023. Armenia accused Russia and its peacekeeping forces of failing to deter Baku’s military offensive. “Armenia-Russia relations under conditions of conflict are one thing, while Armenia-Russia relations under conditions of peace are another,” Pashinyan told Boon TV. Last week, Pashinyan said Armenia would not oppose the possible closure of a Russian military base in the city of Gyumri. The facility hosts around 3,000 Russian troops and is located near the Turkish border. Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month that he was ready to order the closure of the military base “even tomorrow” if Armenia decided it no longer desired the Russian military presence. A 2010 agreement extends Russia’s right to operate the military base until 2044. Armenia also froze its participation in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in 2024 and has taken steps toward possible EU membership. The Kremlin has reacted with mounting economic pressure, introducing import bans and restrictions on Armenian goods this year. In June, Putin warned Yerevan against growing closer to Brussels, drawing parallels to Ukraine’s initial push toward European integration. AFP contributed reporting.