Major General: Armenia today is not ready to independently guard its borders with Turkiye and Iran

The presence of Russian border troops in Armenia is justified in every possible way and this  has been proven by time, since the threats emanating from the neighboring state were neutralized. First commander of the border troops of Armenia, Major General Levon Stepanyan, stated in response  to ArmInfo's question of how high is the probability of the withdrawal of Russian border troops from Armenia today and whether Armenia is capable of independently ensuring the protection of its borders on the Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Iranian border.

He recalled that the Russian border troops performed their service  well on the territory of Armenia; there were never any serious  incidents, accidents or misunderstandings between the two sides.   "And the fact that the number of personnel has decreased over the  years is also the fault of the Armenian side. The Russian side should  not be blamed for everything. I know that the Armenian side did not  respect the financial obligations, which had to be fulfilled on a  50/50 basis since 1992, so it was necessary to reduce the personnel.  In addition, Armenia did not provide the requested number of  conscripts, according to the agreement," he noted.

At the same time, he emphasized that today he does not imagine the  withdrawal of Russian border guards from Armenia possible.  "Conclusion, I don't think it's possible. Armenia today, no matter  what they say, is not ready for independent protection of these  areas. We do not have not only financial resources, but also human  ones. It is not an easy task to take under protection almost 400 km,  taking into account the Iranian border. Moreover, the Armenian border  guard troops were entrusted with protecting some areas on the border  with Azerbaijan. I just don't see it possible," Stepanyan said.

To clarify whether the Armenian border guards will be able to ensure  the safety of the Armenian population on the border with Azerbaijan,  where they are now entering, taking into account the unsettled  bilateral relations and current realities, the Major General drew  attention to the fact that among ordinary people there is such an  opinion that the border guards should protect and defend.

"The purpose of the border troops is not defense, not protection from  any kind of military operations.  Border troops, at best, can record  violations or prevent them, identify smuggling. The armament of the  border troops and their numbers do not allow them to conduct those  combat operations that are usually assigned to the army," Stepanyan  summed up.

The basis for the current presence of Russian border guards in  Armenia is the interstate agreement on the status of Russian border  troops on the territory of the republic, concluded in Yerevan on  September 30, 1992.

The border department of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the  Russian Federation in Armenia includes 4 border detachments - in  Gyumri, Armavir, Artashat and Meghri, as well as a separate  checkpoint at the Yerevan Zvartnots International Airport. The  maintenance of Russian border guards in Armenia is provided  approximately equally by the governments of the two states. Unlike  the Russian military base, where exclusively Russian citizens serve,  Armenian citizens also have the right to serve in the border guard  troops of the Russian Federation on the territory of the country.