Russia Withdraws From Border Checkpoint After 30 Years

Russia has withdrawn from the Agarak border checkpoint on the Armenia-Iran border after patrolling for 30 years, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced yesterday that only Armenian forces were patrolling the checkpoint, indicating that Russian forces withdrew, as reported by Radio Free Liberty Armenia.

The removal of Russian border guards is in accordance with an agreement reached between Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin in October, which stated that Russian border guards would leave the border checkpoint, and Armenian troops would carry out the protection of Armenia’s borders with Iran and Turkey from January 1, 2025, onward.

Newsweek reached out to the Russian and Armenian Defense Ministries for comment via email outside of business hours.

Why It Matters

Russia’s exit from the Agarak border checkpoint on the Armenia-Iran border is significant because it cements a shift in relations between the two countries, which were previously very closely tied.

Additionally, the removal of Russian border guards from Armenia’s border checkpoints allows for more of Moscow’s men to be sent to the war with Ukraine.

What To Know

The Armenian government initially pushed for the departure of Russian guards from border checkpoints amid increased tension with Moscow in March. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the decision, as they said it would raise the risk of causing “irreparable damage” to relations between the two countries, as well as putting Armenia’s security and economic development in danger.

Pashinyan and Putin met to discuss the removal of Russian guards soon after, in May, and came to an agreement.

This exit from the border checkpoint followed the Russian guards’ departure from Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport at the end of July. Upon leaving, the heads of Russia’s Border Guard Service said they hoped that “Armenia’s security will be ensured at the same high level by Armenian partners.”

Before this, the prime minister announced that, like the Agarak border checkpoint, Armenian troops would take over the security for the airport in the country’s capital starting August 1, 2024.

Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Iran were established in 1992, and the two countries share a 44-kilometer border. The border guard troops of the Russian Federal Security Service had been at the checkpoint between Armenia and Iran since Yerevan declared its independence in 1990.

Russia and Armenia have had a strong relationship historically, as it is a former part of the Soviet Union where Russian is still spoken, and the two countries have maintained close military, political, and economic ties. However, this relationship has shifted and declined since the start of Russia’s war with Ukraine in 2022, as Moscow did not intervene in a border dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which have historically had conflict over their borders.

This led to Armenia freezing of its membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

What People Are Saying

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, on Facebook: “From today on, border control is carried out only by the officers of the Republic of Armenia Border Guard Forces at the Agarak border crossing point of Armenia-Iran state border. Until now, since Armenia’s independence, border control was carried out by the Russian Federation Border Guard troops officers at Agarak crossing point, and I want to thank them for their service. And I wish success and good service to our border guards who have taken over border control from today.”

Igor Sushko, a Ukrainian living in the United States, posted a video of Russian guards leaving Zvartnots International Airport over the summer on X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: “Armenia: After 32 years, Russian border guards left their posts at Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan following Armenia’s demand.”

What Happens Next

Russia’s relationship with Armenia may drastically shift from this point on, but only time will tell how well Yerevan can protect its own borders without Moscow’s aid.