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KEY: RUSSIAN BASE IN ARMENIA
February 4, 2015 13:28
EXCLUSIVE
Photo: http://www.startribune.com/
Taking into account that after the killing of the Avetisyan family
in Gyumri on January 12 the interest to the Russian base in Armenia
does not decrease, Mediamax has decided to focus on this topic in
its next article for the "Key" section.
1. How, when and under what circumstances was the Russian 102nd
Military Base established in Armenia?
-The military base was established on September 1, 1994, on the basis
of the 127th Motor Rifle Division of the Transcaucasian Military
District. On March 16, 1995, Presidents of Russia and Armenia Boris
Yeltsin and Levon Ter-Petrosyan signed a treaty on the deployment of
Russian military base in Armenia for 25 years with automatic extension
for five years if none of the parties objected to it.
"On April 18, 1997, the treaty was ratified by the Russian State Duma
which overcame the resistance of the pro-Azeri lobby the mouthpiece for
which was Chairman of the Russian Duma's Defense Committee, Lieutenant
General Lev Rokhlin. The MPs of the Armenian National Assembly did
not make themselves waiting and ratified the treaty a few days later",
wrote former Ambassador of Russia to Armenia Vladimir Stupishin.
2. What changed after the Presidents of Armenia and Russia signed
Protocol No. 5 in 2010?
- Protocol No. 5 of the Armenian-Russian agreement of 1995, extending
the deployment of the Russian military base in Gyumri till 2044,
was signed during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's state visit to
Armenia in August, 2010. The validity term of the agreement was 25
years and the protocol extended the period for up to 49 years. Other
than that, by this Protocol the area of the base's geographical and
strategic responsibility was also expanded. If the operation of the
base was previously limited to the external borders of former USSR,
then this restriction was withdrawn from the agreement text after
the Protocol was signed.
The Russian party undertook the commitment to jointly ensure Armenia's
military security and provide support to equip the Armenian Armed
Forces with up-to-date arms.
3. How many servicemen serve in the military base and what armament
does it possess?
-The total number of the servicemen of the Russian 102nd Military
Base is around 5000. According to the information provided by military
sources, the base is armed with 74 tanks, 17 IFV, 148 APC, 84 artillery
systems, and S-300 and S-200 surface-to-air missile systems.
In 2012, the base received over 200 new and modern Perun, Grotto and
Breeze UAVs compatible with GLONASS and GPS navigation systems.
The means and forces of the Armenian and Russian air defense took
up the permanent and joint duty in 2001. 18 Russian MiG-29 based in
Erebuni Airport in Yerevan are on duty to protect and defend the air
frontiers within the United Air Defense System of the CIS countries.
4. Who pays for the base?
- Moscow rents the base free of charge. The base is partially contained
at the expense of the Armenian state budget.
5. What was the base engaged in, in 2014?
- Over 2014, more than 100 military squad and platoon firings, about
15 tactical exercises of various levels including those within a
formation have been held.
The main focus was on training and holding of joint exercises with
the Armenian Defense Ministry subdivisions and the first tactical
exercise within the whole military base involving aviation and air
defense forces.
Over 2014, about 3500 training sessions of small arms firing and
about 500 classes for combat vehicles were carried out. Over 2200
practical classes, about 1500 test and control exercises were held
at the trainings of driving of armored vehicles and military equipment.
Pilots of Erebuni Russian air base carried out over 500 flights. The
overall flying time made over 2000 hours.
6. What criminal incidents involving Russian military servicemen
have occurred?
- On April 14, 1999, two drunken Russian servicemen, armed with rifles,
came to Gyumri market and opened desultory fire. Two people were
killed and nine were wounded. Armenian and Russian judicial authorities
agreed that the trial be held in Armenia under the chairmanship of an
Armenian judge and in conformity with the Armenian legislation. Russian
soldiers were also supposed to endure their sentence in Armenia.
By the decision of the Gyumri Court, they were sentenced to
respectively 15 and 14 years in maximum security penal colony.
According to unofficial information, the criminals were transferred
to Russia and in total, spent 7-8 years in jail.
On July 11, 2003, there was exchange of fire at the Russian base.
Several young people tried to infiltrate into its territory and
met with the resistance of the soldier on duty. As a result of the
scuffle, fire weapon was applied. Gyumri residents Arthur Poghosyan
and Armen Aroyan were killed. Two other people were taken to hospital
with gunshot wounds. Following this incident, Commander of Base Major
General Alexander Titov was relieved from his post by the order of
the Defense Minister of Russia. The report of the Transcaucasian
Military District stated that Titov committed gross infringement of
the military discipline and "did not fulfill his duty of service".
On April 7, 2013, A. Lazarian born in 2001 and M. Gevorgyan born in
1997 died in the territory of the tank range of the Russian base. The
children had stepped on a mine.
Early in the morning of January 12, 2015, six members of the Avetisyan
family were brutally killed in Gyumri. Six-month old Seryozha Avetisyan
who was taken to hospital with stab wounds died on January 19. The
principal defendant in the case is servicemen of the base Valery
Permyakov.
Aram Araratyan
- See more at:
http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/parzabanum/13078#sthash.b2id5aLL.dpuf
February 4, 2015 13:28
EXCLUSIVE
Photo: http://www.startribune.com/
Taking into account that after the killing of the Avetisyan family
in Gyumri on January 12 the interest to the Russian base in Armenia
does not decrease, Mediamax has decided to focus on this topic in
its next article for the "Key" section.
1. How, when and under what circumstances was the Russian 102nd
Military Base established in Armenia?
-The military base was established on September 1, 1994, on the basis
of the 127th Motor Rifle Division of the Transcaucasian Military
District. On March 16, 1995, Presidents of Russia and Armenia Boris
Yeltsin and Levon Ter-Petrosyan signed a treaty on the deployment of
Russian military base in Armenia for 25 years with automatic extension
for five years if none of the parties objected to it.
"On April 18, 1997, the treaty was ratified by the Russian State Duma
which overcame the resistance of the pro-Azeri lobby the mouthpiece for
which was Chairman of the Russian Duma's Defense Committee, Lieutenant
General Lev Rokhlin. The MPs of the Armenian National Assembly did
not make themselves waiting and ratified the treaty a few days later",
wrote former Ambassador of Russia to Armenia Vladimir Stupishin.
2. What changed after the Presidents of Armenia and Russia signed
Protocol No. 5 in 2010?
- Protocol No. 5 of the Armenian-Russian agreement of 1995, extending
the deployment of the Russian military base in Gyumri till 2044,
was signed during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's state visit to
Armenia in August, 2010. The validity term of the agreement was 25
years and the protocol extended the period for up to 49 years. Other
than that, by this Protocol the area of the base's geographical and
strategic responsibility was also expanded. If the operation of the
base was previously limited to the external borders of former USSR,
then this restriction was withdrawn from the agreement text after
the Protocol was signed.
The Russian party undertook the commitment to jointly ensure Armenia's
military security and provide support to equip the Armenian Armed
Forces with up-to-date arms.
3. How many servicemen serve in the military base and what armament
does it possess?
-The total number of the servicemen of the Russian 102nd Military
Base is around 5000. According to the information provided by military
sources, the base is armed with 74 tanks, 17 IFV, 148 APC, 84 artillery
systems, and S-300 and S-200 surface-to-air missile systems.
In 2012, the base received over 200 new and modern Perun, Grotto and
Breeze UAVs compatible with GLONASS and GPS navigation systems.
The means and forces of the Armenian and Russian air defense took
up the permanent and joint duty in 2001. 18 Russian MiG-29 based in
Erebuni Airport in Yerevan are on duty to protect and defend the air
frontiers within the United Air Defense System of the CIS countries.
4. Who pays for the base?
- Moscow rents the base free of charge. The base is partially contained
at the expense of the Armenian state budget.
5. What was the base engaged in, in 2014?
- Over 2014, more than 100 military squad and platoon firings, about
15 tactical exercises of various levels including those within a
formation have been held.
The main focus was on training and holding of joint exercises with
the Armenian Defense Ministry subdivisions and the first tactical
exercise within the whole military base involving aviation and air
defense forces.
Over 2014, about 3500 training sessions of small arms firing and
about 500 classes for combat vehicles were carried out. Over 2200
practical classes, about 1500 test and control exercises were held
at the trainings of driving of armored vehicles and military equipment.
Pilots of Erebuni Russian air base carried out over 500 flights. The
overall flying time made over 2000 hours.
6. What criminal incidents involving Russian military servicemen
have occurred?
- On April 14, 1999, two drunken Russian servicemen, armed with rifles,
came to Gyumri market and opened desultory fire. Two people were
killed and nine were wounded. Armenian and Russian judicial authorities
agreed that the trial be held in Armenia under the chairmanship of an
Armenian judge and in conformity with the Armenian legislation. Russian
soldiers were also supposed to endure their sentence in Armenia.
By the decision of the Gyumri Court, they were sentenced to
respectively 15 and 14 years in maximum security penal colony.
According to unofficial information, the criminals were transferred
to Russia and in total, spent 7-8 years in jail.
On July 11, 2003, there was exchange of fire at the Russian base.
Several young people tried to infiltrate into its territory and
met with the resistance of the soldier on duty. As a result of the
scuffle, fire weapon was applied. Gyumri residents Arthur Poghosyan
and Armen Aroyan were killed. Two other people were taken to hospital
with gunshot wounds. Following this incident, Commander of Base Major
General Alexander Titov was relieved from his post by the order of
the Defense Minister of Russia. The report of the Transcaucasian
Military District stated that Titov committed gross infringement of
the military discipline and "did not fulfill his duty of service".
On April 7, 2013, A. Lazarian born in 2001 and M. Gevorgyan born in
1997 died in the territory of the tank range of the Russian base. The
children had stepped on a mine.
Early in the morning of January 12, 2015, six members of the Avetisyan
family were brutally killed in Gyumri. Six-month old Seryozha Avetisyan
who was taken to hospital with stab wounds died on January 19. The
principal defendant in the case is servicemen of the base Valery
Permyakov.
Aram Araratyan
- See more at:
http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/parzabanum/13078#sthash.b2id5aLL.dpuf