Armenia-Turkey Border “Margara” Checkpoint Now Operated Solely by Armenian Border Guards

YEREVAN — As of February 28, border control at the Armenia-Turkey “Margara” checkpoint is being carried out exclusively by Armenian border guards, according to the Prime Minister.

The “Margara” checkpoint has remained non-operational due to the closed state of the Armenia-Turkey border. In the summer of 2022, the Armenian government undertook a complete renovation of the checkpoint, after which it was staffed by Russian border guards for continuous service.

“I express my gratitude to the Russian Federal Security Service Border Troops for their service in this section of the Armenia-Turkey border,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated on social media.

He clarified that the transfer of responsibility for the “Margara” checkpoint to Armenian border guards means that, starting from March 1, 2025, all individuals entering and exiting Armenia will undergo border control exclusively by Armenian Border Guard forces. This aligns with the existing policy that all operational and non-operational checkpoints are managed solely by Armenian Border Guards.

During the fourth meeting of Armenian and Turkish envoys in Vienna in July 2022, both sides agreed to open the land border to third-country nationals as soon as possible. The Armenian side reconstructed the Margara checkpoint, investing approximately 1 billion AMD. However, two and a half years later, it remains unclear when this agreement will be implemented.

Reports in the media suggested the border might open on March 1, but no official confirmation has been provided. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has stated that the border will only open if Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations yield a positive outcome, emphasizing the interconnected nature of the Armenia-Turkey and Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization processes.