Russian border guards leave Zvartnots airport

ArmInfo. Russian border guards have left the Zvartnots International Airport, where they have been guarding Armenia's air gates since 1965.

Today, July 31, an official ceremony of signing the Protocol on the transfer of the state border at the Zvartnots air checkpoint to the Armenian side was held. The Protocol was signed by the Commander of the Border Troops of the National Security Service of Armenia Edgar Hunanyan and the Head of the Border Department of the FSB of Russia in Armenia, Lieutenant General Roman Golubitsky.

The Protocol notes that "the Armenian side thanks the Russian side for the long-term joint service in ensuring border control at the Zvartnots air checkpoint and states that it has no claims against the Russian side."

At the ceremony of the withdrawal of Russian border guards from Zvartnots airport, the Russian Embassy's envoy counselor Maxim Seleznev said, in particular: "It is safe to say that you have worthily represented Russia and the Border Service of the Russian FSB here in Armenia all these years.

Your not always visible, but very necessary work has made and continues to make a significant contribution to ensuring the security of both Armenia and Russia. During your service with the border guards of the National Security Service of Armenia, you have given them invaluable experience, knowledge and skills, laid a reliable foundation for the further functioning of the checkpoint at a high level.  I thank you for your impeccable work, Russia is rightfully proud of you."

In turn, the head of the Border Directorate of the Russian FSB in Armenia Roman Golubitsky said that the Russian border guards worthily completed the tasks presented at Zvartnots airport and expressed gratitude to them for their services. "I would like to express my gratitude to you for the task accomplished. For its proper fulfillment, ensuring Armenia's security in the air passage. We all hope that Armenia's security will be ensured at the same high level by our Armenian colleagues," he noted.

At the same time, Golubitsky emphasized that the fate of each border guard from the unit will be determined, a place of service in other units of the Border Control or other places of service in Armenia or Russia will be offered. "I would like to express hope that the friendship that was established between the peoples in the international unit, in which both citizens of Armenia and citizens of Russia served, will be preserved, strengthened and continued. Thank you all for the task accomplished," Golubitsky concluded.

And the Chief of the Border Troops of the National Security Service of Armenia Edgar Hunanyan noted that the servicemen of the Border Troops of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia and the Border Department of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation served together at the Yerevan International Airport for 32 years. "This period is evidence of our close partnership, interaction and continuous work. During these years, our joint service has made a huge contribution to strengthening our border security in the Republic of Armenia. Thanks to our joint cooperation, significant successes have been achieved in the field of border control, and the experience and knowledge transferred by the Russian border guards will continue to be used in serving the Motherland," said Hunanyan, expressing sincere gratitude to the Russian border guards for their service.

At the ceremony, letters of gratitude were also presented and medals were awarded to those who distinguished themselves in their service.  The farewell event was attended by the leadership and personnel of the Border Directorate of the FSB of the Russian Federation in Armenia, headed by Lieutenant General Golubitsky, and the border troops of the National Security Service of the country with the new commander, Colonel Unanyan, veterans of the border service, members of parliament, etc.

The basis for the current presence of Russian border guards in Armenia is the interstate agreement on the status of the border troops of Russia on the territory of the republic, concluded in Yerevan on September 30, 1992.

The Border Department of the FSB of the Russian Federation in Armenia includes 4 border detachments - in Gyumri, Armavir, Artashat and Meghri, as well as a separate checkpoint at the Yerevan International Airport "Zvartnots". The maintenance of Russian border guards in Armenia is provided by the governments of the two states approximately equally. Unlike the Russian military base, where only Russian citizens serve, citizens of Armenia also have the right to serve in the border troops of the Russian Federation in the republic.

We will add that on March 6, Secretary of the Armenian Security Council Armen Grigoryan announced that the country intends to independently carry out border control at the Zvartnots International Airport, adding that the Armenian authorities notified Russia of this decision by sending an official letter. And already on March 12, at a press conference, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the Armenian side can independently provide service at the Zvartnots Airport without the help of Russian border guards.

Their colleagues from Armenia expressed gratitude to the Russians for their service. The complete withdrawal of Russian border guards from the airport should be completed by August 1 of this year.