Armenia’s leadership is trying to shift responsibility for the possible future of the Russian military base in Gyumri onto Moscow. Mikhail Kalugin, Director of the Fourth CIS Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Russia, stated this in an interview with RIA Novosti.

According to him, such a position fits into the general trend of current Armenian policy, in which Yerevan, as the Russian diplomat claims, expects key decisions from external players. As an example, Kalugin mentioned the discussion of a possible referendum in Armenia on its choice between remaining in the Eurasian Economic Union and joining the European Union.

According to him, the Armenian authorities state that it is first necessary to receive a positive signal from Brussels. A similar situation, as per the Russian diplomat, is also developing around Armenia's relations with the CSTO. There are statements in Yerevan that the country’s possible expelling from this organization will free the Armenian authorities from the need to make an independent decision on whether to stay there or leave.

At the same time, Moscow is ready to discuss all issues related to the Russian military base in Gyumri, Kalugin said. According to the Russian diplomat, such a dialogue will be held within the framework of the existing agreements on the presence of a Russian military contingent in Armenia.

The Russian diplomat added that in the event of a discussion on the future of this base, Moscow intends to pay attention to reports by some Armenian media outlets, which, in his assessment, are aimed at discrediting the Russian military presence in Armenia and portraying this base as an “element of occupation.”

Kalugin claims that according to recent sociological studies, the majority of Armenia’s residents are in favor of maintaining the Russian military base in Gyumri. And as one of the evidences, he noted the interest of people in the open days held regularly at the base.