We will be abandoned in this region if the Russian military base is removed from Armenia, opposition Strong Armenia party chairman Samvel Karapetyan told reporters on Friday.

When asked what the aforesaid Russian military base has done for Armenia, Karapetyan responded: “Well, [then] bring a Turkish [military] base, put [it] in its [i.e. the Russian military base] place! A [foreign military] base is needed [in Armenia]. Now that base exists.

Now it’s either the Russians or the Turks; decide. Well, let them remove [the Russian military base]. Now the [Armenian] authorities know more, know better, can assess [it] better, they can say ‘goodbye’ with one signature.”

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently said: “It’s not like we [i.e. Armenia] consider the presence of the Russian military base [in Armenia] a vital necessity. If Russia decides to remove the military base from the territory of Armenia, we will not object.”