Protest against a military base of Russia in Armenia. “Put the end of the Russian occupation”
Protest in the area of the Russian military base in Gyumri, Armenia, Saturday, August 23, 2025. Credit: Karen Minasyan / AFP / Profimedia
Around 100 people organized a rally on Saturday in the area of a Russian army base in the Armenian city of Gyumri, asking to cease Moscow's military presence, AFP reports.
Armenia, a former Soviet country in the Caucasus, has been based on Russia for a long time to strengthen its security in confronting the neighbor Azerbaijan, but relationships became tense in the context of the offensive triggered by Baku in 2023 to regain control over Nagorno-Karabah, in which Moscow did not intervene.
“We ask the withdrawal of the Russian base from the territory of Armenia. The presence of this base does not provide security, but creates an internal threat,” said Arman Babajanyan, one of the organizers of the demonstration.
One of the slogans displayed by the demonstration was “put an end to the Russian occupation”.
“Russia has to leave Armenia,” said protester Anahit Tadevosyan, who said the Russians “destroy Ukraine.”
“They betrayed us, they have to leave,” added the 74-year-old man.
There was also a counter -humanifestation
A strong presence of the police outside the base, which houses about 3,000 soldiers, has prevented possible clashes between the demonstrators from the anti-Russia meeting and a counter-mentation of several people in support of the base.
The base of Gyumri “ensures the independence and security of Armenia,” said Manuk Sukiasyan, a member of the “Mother Armenia” movement, at the counter -humanifestation.
The Russian military base is located in the city of northern Armenia since 1995.
Last year, Russia agreed to withdraw some of the bands and border guards in Armenia, but left its forces on Armenia's borders with Turkey and Iran.
The two countries are military allied through the organization of the Collective Security Treaty (OTSC), led by Moscow, although the Herevanus announced that it has suspended de facto participation in the collective defense pact against the background of bilateral stresses.
In addition, Armenia joined 2024 at the International Criminal Court (CPI), which is forced to arrest the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, if he sets foot on the Armenian territory. Putin is targeted by an arrest warrant from the CPI based on charges of war crimes.
