Russia says border guards maintain presence in Armenia

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian servicemen continue guarding Armenia's border with Iran and Türkiye, head of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Aleksandr Bortnikov said on Tuesday.

Commenting on reports claiming the Armenian government asked the Russian border guards to leave the country's territory, Bortnikov said Yerevan asked to withdraw temporary operational groups of Russian forces from the area of the demarcation line with Azerbaijan due to the ongoing normalization process between the two Caucasian countries.

"Such a decision has been made, and at the request of the Armenian side, and the border checkpoint at Yerevan's Zvartnots airport will be closed," he added.

In recent months, Armenia has taken a series of steps to distance from Russia, including the suspension of the Russian-led security alliance, the Collective Security Treaty Organization.