The Russian military base in Gyumri will no longer be in Armenia if Yerevan is not interested in its presence, Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek, RIA Novosti reports.

“If Armenia finds that it does not need the Russian military base [in Gyumri], we [i.e. Russia] will leave tomorrow. But is Armenia ready for this? Please, we will not impose anything on anyone. And if the Armenian people want some kind of Russian military wing to be next to them, then we will stay, work, and cooperate,” Putin said.

The Russian president noted that Moscow does not intend to impose the presence of its military on Armenia. According to him, the decision on the further presence of the Russian base in Gyumri should take into account the position of the Armenian side and the citizens of Armenia.

Putin is in Bishkek, where he participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and held a number of bilateral meetings.