What the Papers Say (EV) (Russia)
Tuesday
WHO NEEDS THE RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN GYUMRI MORE
Is Yerevan an alliance with Moscow?
by Alexander Khramchikhin
Source: Nezavisimaya gazeta, N180, , p. 7
The Southern Military District of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation includes three military bases (MB) located outside the country. Two of them are in Abkhazia and South Ossetia (after the war in 2008, Moscow recognized the independence of both republics), fully integrated with the armed forces of the respective republics, under the Russian command. The 102nd military base of the Russian Armed Forces stationed in Armenia in Gyumri is in a completely different status.
Formally, the 102nd MB is not integrated into one grouping with the Armenian Armed Forces, but, of course, there is a close coordination between them, joint exercises are held regularly. Nevertheless, its status is extremely difficult for geopolitical reasons.
Armenia is cut off from Russia by Georgia, completely hostile to Russia, and Azerbaijan, completely hostile to Armenia.
Due to these circumstances, the 102nd MB has not so much military as political significance. It is located on the border with Turkey and acts as a guarantor against this country's involvement on the side of Azerbaijan in a new war for Nagorno-Karabakh, if any. Of course, the Russian base, because of the incompatibility of the potentials, cannot resist the Turkish army, but an attack on it will mean aggression against Russia as a whole, in accordance with the norms of the international law, that is, it will guarantee that Russia will have to start a war against Turkey.
It is clear that the Russian army will in no case march against Ankara, but it should prevent occupation of Armenia by the Turks (even partial).
[Translated from Russian]