Why Armenia wants Russian troops off its state borders?

A few days ago, several state and public figures of Armenia made statements, urging to return control over the state border with Turkey and Iran under the jurisdiction of the national border guards, by withdrawing simultaneously the border troops of Russia's FSB (Federal Security Service), the Armenian Lragir reported.

Thus, as the statement notes, the countrychr("39")s sovereignty in the matter of protection of the state borders and the responsibility befitting a sovereign country in the frame of international relations will be restored.

In 1992 an agreement between the governments of Armenia and Russia delegated functions of protection of Armeniachr("39")s state borders with Turkey and Iran to the Border troops of the FSB of Russia. As the statement says, "it was important for Armenia in the years of Karabakh war, because it enabled to free up resources to ensure the victory of Armenia in the war". At the same time, for Russia it was important to gain control over a segment of external borders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Thus, in a difficult historical moment, Armenia had to temporarily concede a part of its sovereignty to its ally.

Moreover, several years ago the border checkpoint at Yerevan international airport was put under Russian control, which was not stipulated by the aforementioned agreement.

The statement designated the specific timing (in the near future) of the transfer of control over the state borders to the Republic of Armenia; otherwise the authors will feel free to take decisive actions with involvement of the public.

The signatories must have agreed with the fact that for the full restoration of sovereignty they would have to demand the withdrawal of #102 Russian military base from the territory of Armenia, but for some reason they didnchr("39")t.

Therefore, their sincerity unwillingly raises some doubts.

There are a few things to consider here.

Armenia is on the verge of holding presidential election. For many years Armenia was being ruled by the chr("39")Karabakh clanchr("39"), which came to power on the wave of the Karabakh war and the excitement of patriotism, as well as by means of killing political rivals and the brutal crackdown of the protests of its own people with numerous casualties.

Now the chr("39")Karabakh clanchr("39") has the opportunity to re-gain power one more time, but with less responsibility for decision making, by shifting a substantial part of it onto the shoulders of Parliament, while President Serj Sargsyan is going to become the head of the government.