Armenia denied information about deployment of foreign troops on its territory

The Armenian Foreign Ministry has denied the statement by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry that Russia is strengthening its military presence in the country to increase pressure on other Caucasus states. This was reported by Novosti-Armenia.

Thus, spokeswoman for the Armenian Foreign Ministry Ani Badalyan said that Yerevan keeps its principled position unchanged: the territory of Armenia cannot be used by third countries to conduct military actions against any of the neighbouring states.

Earlier, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry reported about the build-up of the Russian military presence in Armenia against the backdrop of worsening relations between Moscow and Baku. According to the GUR, the Kremlin has stepped up the process of manning its military base in Gyumri in a bid to strengthen its military and political influence in the South Caucasus region.

Andrei Yusov, a spokesman for the Defence Ministry's GUR, noted that the deployment of Russian troops in Armenia is part of the Kremlin's comprehensive strategy aimed at undermining international security. He stressed that along with fuelling inter-ethnic conflicts, Russia is increasing military pressure in the Caucasus. In Yusov's opinion, the aggravation between Azerbaijan and Russia may be a pre-planned element of this policy.