A. Sakunts: I view the expansion of the Russian military presence in Armenia as a challenge to sovereignty
17:11, March 27, 2018 | News, Other news
As stated by Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office Artur Sakunts, the appearance of Russian military police units not only at the military base in Gyumri but also at the garrison in Yerevan serves as evidence for the expansion and fortification of the Russian military presence in Armenia.
“I view the expansion of the Russian military presence in Armenia as a challenge to sovereignty. Overall, in matters pertaining to Russia, the Armenian authorities have demonstrated and continue to demonstrate total absence of immunity to preserve sovereignty. And I can even call this a hybrid occupation,” he said, adding that the Government of the Russian Federation is waging a hybrid war
against its neighboring countries, namely Georgia and Ukraine, and employing mild and soft methods for a “hybrid occupation” in Armenia.
It should be noted that RIA Novosti reported that a military police unit is being established at the Russian military base of the Southern Military District deployed in Armenia.
Artur Sakunts indicated that several questions arise in connection with this expansion, in particular, in regard to the reason behind the fact that there used to be no military police unit there but now it is necessary.
“That is to say, we do not have any logical argument to substantiate the securing of the presence of a unit of the Military Police of the Russian Armed Forces,” he said, mentioning that one could get information on this from media outlets.
He raised the question whether the military police was going to operate only in the territory of the base or also outside it. “It is very odd that units of the RA Military Police and those of the Russian Military Police are going to operate in Gyumri. How are these going to be combined?” he asked.
Artur Sakunts also considered it problematic that another unit was going to be added, and the control for its activity was unidentified and incomprehensible.
The human rights defender also noted that it was envisaged to fortify the southern military bases of Russia, and the establishment of military units in Armenia stems logically from this fact.
“Nevertheless, the law enforcement bodies of the RA were supposed to handle the crimes and actions committed by servicemen of the Russian base outside the territory of the military base. This is secured by the contract. And what are the Russian police going to do here? And if certain fuctions are to be provided in order for the Russian police to deal with the fight against the illegal actions committed by servicemen of the base outside the territory of the Russian base or to conduct investigation in connection with them, then I view it as quite a serious challenge,” he said.