MOSCOW, March 12. /TASS/. Russia has been notified by Armenia about its decision to remove Russian border guards from the Zvartnots International Airport, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"True, a letter from a relevant agency regarding this has been received and relevant agencies are currently maintaining communication. I am not authorized to reveal more information," the Russian presidential spokesman said, taking a TASS reporter’s question, as he commented on a statement by Armenian Prime Minster Nikol Pashinyan about Russian border troops at Yerevan Airport.
"Naturally, contacts on all possible levels will be continued," Peskov assured reporters.
Earlier on Tuesday, Pashinyan said that Armenian border guards had notified their Russian counterparts that Armenia is capable of ensuring the smooth operation of border control functions at the Zvartnots airport without Russian assistance. Prior to that, Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan said that Yerevan had sent an official letter to Moscow asking it to discontinue the operations of Russian border guards at the airport.
Since 1992, Russian border guards have operated the checkpoint there. In the early 2000s, training for local guards was organized. Russian and Armenian border control staff currently serve jointly at the airport. Prior to 2024, Armenian officials had never voiced any dissatisfaction with the work of Russian border guards at the capital’s airport. However, Armenian and other media reported that officers of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) had allegedly exceeded their authority and refused to allow certain persons to enter Armenia.