Pashinyan Says Armenia Would Not Oppose Russian Base Withdrawal, Keeps Russian Nuclear Plant Option Open

YEREVAN — Armenia would not object if Russia decided to withdraw its 102nd Military Base from Armenian territory, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said, while emphasizing that the issue has not been the subject of official discussions between Yerevan and Moscow.

“There has been no such discussion, and during this entire period we have never raised the issue of the Russian 102nd Military Base stationed in Armenia,” Pashinyan told reporters following a government meeting. “If Russia decides to withdraw the military base from the Republic of Armenia, we will not object. But if they express a desire to remain, we are also prepared to discuss that.”

Pashinyan said Armenia does not consider the presence of the Russian military base to be a vital necessity for the country.

His comments followed remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said during a September 1 press conference in Bishkek that Moscow was prepared to withdraw the base if Armenia no longer considered its presence necessary.

“If Armenia believes that it does not need the Russian military base, we will leave tomorrow. Is Armenia ready for that? Please, we are not imposing anything on anyone,” Putin said.

Russia’s 102nd Military Base in Armenia operates under bilateral agreements and has traditionally been tasked with helping address external security threats facing Armenia.

Addressing broader Armenian-Russian relations, Pashinyan said he is expected to make a working visit to Moscow and stressed the need for a comprehensive review of bilateral ties to determine where the two countries’ positions coincide and where they differ in practice.

Pashinyan also addressed Armenia’s plans to build a new nuclear power plant, saying the government has not ruled out selecting a Russian proposal for a future modular nuclear facility.

“We have said that we do not consider the selection of any option impossible. We need the best proposal, and we are looking for the best proposal,” Pashinyan said.

He stressed that Armenia’s decision would be based on practical considerations rather than geopolitical preferences.

“There are several factors: price, payback period, construction timeframe, financing mechanisms and so on,” Pashinyan said. “It is already time to make a decision, but we are also working to extend the operating life of the existing nuclear power plant once again. The issue must be taken out of the political context.”

Pashinyan said Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev is expected to visit Armenia in September to present potential projects and proposals. He emphasized that choosing a partner for the new nuclear facility would not represent a geopolitical choice for Armenia but would instead be based on securing the best combination of cost and quality.

The prime minister said the government has never ruled out the possibility that the Russian proposal could ultimately prove to be the most advantageous option.