YEREVAN. – Rumors have begun to be circulated in Armenia’s second largest city, Gyumri, that the city may soon become “closed;” that is, the entry to and the exit from Gyumri will be conducted with special passes only, Haykakan Zhamanak daily reports. 

“According to the rumors, the ‘closing’ of Gyumri will be discussed during [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s forthcoming visit [to Armenia], and it is due to the Russian military base stationed there, [and] which displays trends of expanding substantially.

“In response to our reporter’s question, Armenian defense minister’s spokesperson [Artsrun Hovhannisyan] said: ‘Since it relates to the Russian military base, I do not have the right to comment.’  

“[But] Hovhannisyan also said that he was hearing such a thing for the first time,” Haykakan Zhamanak writes.