For the first time, the Armenian government has officially confirmed that Russian border guards have been removed from the Akhurik checkpoint on the Armenia–Turkey border, and that service there is now carried out by the Border Troops of Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS), Factor.am reports.

According to the government’s 2025 performance report, “From March 1, 2025, exclusively servicemen of the Border Troops of the National Security Service of Armenia have been carrying out service at the ‘Margara’ crossing point on the Armenia–Turkey state border. Since the beginning of 2026, only servicemen of the Border Troops of the NSS have also been serving at the ‘Akhurik’ crossing point on the Armenia–Turkey state border. Currently, there is no active state border crossing point of Armenia that is not under the full control of the Border Troops of the NSS.”

At the beginning of the year, reports circulated about the withdrawal of Russian border guards from Akhurik, but the authorities did not confirm the information. Only the administrative head of the Akhurik community had mentioned that certain processes had taken place, including the installation of the Armenian state flag at the site.

It was also noted that in early January the NSS had classified information about the matter as a state secret, whereas it is now recorded in the government’s official report.

Earlier, it became known that Russian border guards had also been withdrawn from the Armenian–Iranian border checkpoint and from Zvartnots International Airport, while service at the Armenian–Iranian and Armenian–Turkish borders had been carried out jointly with Armenian border guards.

At the same time, Armenian authorities do not plan to remove Russia’s 102nd military base from Armenia.

“We have no plan and no concerns regarding the presence of the Russian military base,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Polish Institute of International Affairs, commenting on Russia’s military presence in Armenia.