Armenia should not decline from the Russian military presence in the country and turn its back on Moscow, as this may create additional threats for the country, Andrey Kolesnik, a member of the Russian State Duma Committee on Defense, told RIA Novosti, regarding the Russian 102nd Military Base located in Armenia.

“This base balances some threats. It has been there thoroughly for decades. There is no need to turn one’s back on one’s allies; [otherwise,] they will be swallowed up immediately. It [i.e. Armenia] is a small country. Russia has always come to the aid of Armenia, and relations between our peoples have traditionally been good,” the Russian MP said.

According to him, relations between Moscow and Yerevan have become complicated at present. Kolesnik called on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to clarify his allies and not try to “sit on two chairs at the same time.”

“We [i.e. Russia] have always fulfilled all our obligations [to Armenia],” Kolesnik added.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow was ready to remove the Russian 102nd Military Base in Armenia immediately if Yerevan considers that it no longer needs it. According to him, Russia does not intend to impose its presence on Armenia.

In turn, Pashinyan announced his readiness to discuss with Moscow the matter of maintaining the aforesaid Russian base in Armenia if the Russian side expresses such a desire.

The Russian 102nd Military Base is located in Gyumri, on the basis of an interstate treaty of 1995. Initially, the agreement provided for its presence in Armenia for a period of 25 years, but in 2010 this period was extended until 2044.