Protests Erupt in Armenia Demanding Withdrawal of Russian Military Base in Gyumri

Gyumri, Armenia, August 2025 – Around 100 protesters gathered outside Russia’s 102nd Military Base in the Armenian city of Gyumri on Saturday, demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops and calling for an end to Moscow’s military presence in the country.

Armenia, a landlocked Caucasus nation, has traditionally relied on Russia as a security guarantor against neighboring Azerbaijan. However, relations between the two allies have sharply deteriorated since Azerbaijan’s 2023 offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, when Moscow refrained from intervening to defend Armenia.

Protesters Call Russia a “Threat, Not Protection”

Demonstrators held placards reading “Armenia without Russian boots” and “End the Russian occupation.”

“We demand the withdrawal of the Russian base from the territory of Armenia. The presence of this base does not ensure security, but creates an internal threat,” said protest organizer Arman Babajanyan.

Another protester, 74-year-old Anahit Tadevosyan, accused Russia of betrayal: “They have betrayed us, they must leave. The Russians are destroying Ukraine, and they destroyed our trust too.”

Counter-Protest in Support of Russia

The demonstration was met with a smaller counter-rally of pro-Russian Armenians who argued the Gyumri base remains essential for Armenia’s defense.

“The Gyumri base ensures the independence and security of Armenia,” said Manuk Sukiasyan of the Mother Armenia movement.

A heavy police presence prevented clashes between the rival groups.

The Russian 102nd Base in Context

The Russian 102nd Military Base, established in 1995, houses around 3,000 troops and advanced military equipment. It is one of Moscow’s most important outposts in the South Caucasus, strategically located near Armenia’s borders with Turkey and Iran.

Last year, Moscow agreed to withdraw some troops and border guards but maintained forces at Armenia’s western and southern frontiers. Despite being allies under the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), Yerevan announced it had de facto suspended participation, citing Moscow’s failure to honor defense obligations during the 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh crisis.

Geopolitical Tensions

The protests highlight growing disillusionment in Armenia toward Russia, once seen as its main protector. Instead, Yerevan has been seeking closer ties with the European Union and the United States, while also deepening security dialogue with France, which recently delivered defensive equipment to Armenia.

Further straining ties, Armenia ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2023, obligating it to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he visits the country, due to an outstanding ICC warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

What Lies Ahead

Armenia faces a difficult balancing act: while many citizens call for a reduced Russian presence, Moscow’s military base remains a central feature of the region’s security architecture. With Azerbaijan strengthening ties with Turkey and Armenia looking westward, the future of Russian troops in Gyumri could become a defining issue in Armenia’s evolving foreign policy.

For now, the protests underscore a profound shift—Russia is no longer viewed by many Armenians as the ultimate guarantor of their security, but increasingly as an unreliable partner whose presence may hinder Armenia’s sovereignty.