“Caucasian Knot” reported that Nikol Pashinyan, speaking at a rally in Gyumri on May 25, promised to take the country’s second city and its development “under his control.” Some city residents expressed concerns for the city’s fate if the Russian base is withdrawn: for example, Karapet Manukyan believes that Pashinyan is “pursuing the wrong policy against Russia.” “I have a store next to a Russian base, and my main clients are Russian military personnel. If he becomes prime minister again, the future of the base will be in serious question. Maybe the Europeans will force Pashinyan to demand the base’s withdrawal. This is a direct blow to the businesses of many Gyumri residents; we depend heavily on them here,” the man said.
Shortly after the start of the election campaign in Armenia, the human rights organizations Union of Informed Citizens and the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office reported that the base was being used to directly influence the electoral process in Armenia. “Armenian citizens working at the 102nd Military Base are being subjected to pressure. Citizens who called us and wished to remain anonymous due to fears of possible persecution by the base command report that they are being directly coerced into voting for a particular political party under threat of dismissal. Moreover, the Russian command allegedly demands that employees extend this pressure to their family members, relatives, and friends, thereby increasing the number of controlled votes,” the human rights activists stated in a statement.
The 102nd Russian military base, stationed in Gyumri, Armenia’s second-largest city, plays a vital economic role for local residents. A “Caucasian Knot” correspondent spoke with base employees and city residents to determine whether the command is indeed interfering in Armenia’s internal affairs.
Khoren Gevorgyan, a civilian employee at the base who works in the canteen, said he was advised to vote against Pashinyan. “No one approached me or told me what to do. But through various conversations, advice, and examples, they seemed to advise me not to vote for Pashinyan because he’s doing a lot against Russia,” he told the “Caucasian Knot.”
Gevorgyan himself also believes Pashinyan is pursuing an anti-Russian policy. “If he’s moving toward the US, that means he’s moving away from Russia. I don’t understand much about politics, but it’s obvious to me,” he noted.
The owner of one of the fitness clubs where military personnel at the base work out also intends to vote against Pashinyan. “70 percent of my clients are Russian. Answer your own question: can I support Pashinyan? I seriously think that if this policy continues, in 5-10 years they will demand the base’s withdrawal. This means I will lose most of my clients,” he told the “Caucasian Knot.”
The 102nd Military Base of the Southern Military District in Gyumri is part of the Russian Forces Group in the Transcaucasus. The agreement with Armenia on the base’s deployment was extended in August 2010 until 2044, according to a “Caucasian Knot” report on the 102nd Russian Military Base.
According to him, Russian military personnel purchase not only monthly subscriptions but also other goods. “We have a massage parlor: only Russians go there; locals don’t spend money on it. During training sessions, only Russians buy freshly squeezed juices and fresh fruit; locals bring their own. These are small things, but my business is built on these small things,” he noted.
Armen Movsisyan, who works as a driver at the 102nd Military Base, confirmed that support for Pashinyan is not welcomed by his employees. “It’s not fashionable here, let’s say; it’s not customary to support him. All the talk and discussions lead to the idea that another Pashinyan term threatens the withdrawal of the Russian base from Armenia. It’s not worth voting for him; everyone understands that. If someone doesn’t understand, they’re told so point-blank,” he told the “Caucasian Knot.”
Movsisyan is convinced that anyone who goes against this general line will lose their job. “If someone goes and votes for Pashinyan, they’ll lose their job. That’s the conclusion I’ve drawn from conversations. No one has said this directly to me or threatened me, but you’d have to be a bit thick not to understand it,” he noted.
Analysts agree with the thesis about Gyumri’s economic dependence on the base
Gyumri is the most pro-Russian city in Armenia, and the majority here is against Pashinyan, according to local journalist Shushan Margaryan. “There were recent municipal elections here, and Pashinyan’s team lost to political forces advocating rapprochement with Russia. This factor, among other things, was the reason people voted against the candidate from Pashinyan’s party, which is generally pro-Western. I believe the parliamentary elections will be no exception, and the opposition will gain more votes here,” she told the “Caucasian Knot.”
The journalist confirmed that the city’s economic dependence on the military base is significant. “I can’t say that without the base, the city will be left with nothing—but hundreds of jobs will be lost, dozens of businesses dependent on the base will definitely close, and hundreds of businesses will lose some of their customers, especially their solvent ones,” Margaryan noted.
EconomistSamvel Markosyan shares these assessments. “The Russian military base is home to 5,000 Russian servicemen, plus civilian personnel, mostly Armenian citizens. There’s no exact data, but it’s at least 500 people. Now imagine they lose their jobs. 500 families will find themselves in a very difficult situation, because they are undoubtedly their families’ source of income. Their salaries are higher than the average for all of Armenia,” he told the “Caucasian Knot.”
Furthermore, businesses created to serve the base will close. “First and foremost, we’re talking about businesses created to serve the needs of military personnel and their families: grocery stores, clothing stores, beauty salons and other personal care services, stores selling military clothing and footwear, and so on—three of them in just one area near the base. A bakery, a cafe, pet stores, shawarma shops—the list goes on and on. And we’re only talking about businesses located near the base and in the part of town where the military lives. The economic dependence isn’t critical, but it’s very, very significant,” he assured.
Political Scientist: Election Interference Must Be Investigated
The pressure exerted by the 102nd Base command on its Armenian employees should be grounds for an investigation, political scientist Harutyun Mkrtchyan believes.
“Human rights activists reported that the base’s leadership is threatening and calling for people not to vote for Pashinyan. Armenian law enforcement agencies should have followed up on these statements and taken appropriate action, as this constitutes direct interference in Armenia’s domestic political processes by a foreign state’s mission in our country. This is direct interference in the election process with the aim of achieving the result Moscow desires,” he told the Caucasian Knot.
According to him, Moscow’s attempts to influence the election outcome are intensifying every day. “On June 1, an investigation was published that shows how Moscow, with the help of pro-Russian blogger Mika Badalyan, is organizing flights for Russians with Armenian passports to Armenia on the eve of the elections. They even gave a precise date: June 4. They are buying tickets for everyone who wants them, meaning they are giving out free round-trip tickets. This is also interference in the elections, which is punishable under Armenian law,” he noted.
Elections to the National Assembly of Armenia will be held on June 7. According to analysts, the parties of Samvel Karapetyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and former President Robert Kocharyan will be key competitors in the elections. Samvel Karapetyan’s “Strong Armenia,” along with Robert Kocharyan’s “Armenia” bloc and Gagik Tsarukyan’s “Prosperous Armenia” party, is one of the most pro-Russian parties in the Armenian parliamentary elections. The “Caucasian Knot” has prepared a report titled “2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia.”
Translated automatically via Google translate from class=”gmail_default” st1yle=”font-size:small”>
Source: class=”gmail_default” st1yle=”font-size:small”>© Caucasian Knot
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