Russia's bases in Armenia has special political implication

PanARMENIAN.Net - The issue of appropriateness of Russia's military bases in Armenia will not be considered, Alexander Iskandaryan , Director of Caucasus Institute, political scientist said during the Yerevan-Moscow tele-bridge devoted to Armenia-Russia relations and outcomes of the visit of RF Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Yerevan.



"Even the most favorable development of Armenian-Turkish relations will not lead to elimination of Russia's bases in Armenia, " the politician said. According to Alexander Iskandaryan, Russia's bases in Armenia has special political implication.



The political scientist was sceptical to the view that Armenia-Turkey relations can improve to such extent that Armenia would demand the withdrawal of Russia's base. He stressed, that the military base is a symbol of Russo-Armenian strategic relationship.



The Russian 102nd Military Base is a Russian military base in Gyumri, Armenia, part of the Transcaucasian Group of Forces. The base is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the Armenian capital, Yerevan. The 261st Rifle Division was originally formed in 1941. It was probably activated in the Odessa Military District in July-August 1941. It was assigned to the 12th Army of the North Caucasus Front later in 1941 and remained with that Army up to at least August 1942 but then was assigned to the Transcaucasian Front's Black Sea Group of Forces. It then spent much of the later part of World War II, from January 1, 1943, onwards with the small 45th Army of the Transcaucasian Front which was guarding the USSR's borders with Turkey. After the war ended, the 261st Rifle Division was briefly designated the 37th Rifle Division but then became the 127th Motor Rifle Division in 1965.