A protest and counter-protest were held in front of the Russian military base in the Armenian city of Gyumri, BNR reported. The protesters called for an end to Moscow's military presence in the country.
According to the counter-protesters, however, the base guarantees the independence and security of Armenia.
"We demand the withdrawal of the Russian base from the territory of Armenia. The presence of this base does not guarantee security, but creates an internal threat“, said Arman Babajanyan, one of the organizers of the protest.
Some demonstrators held posters with slogans such as: "Armenia without Russian boots" and "End of Russian occupation".
A heavy police presence outside the base, which houses about 3,000 Russian soldiers, prevented clashes between the anti-Russian demonstration and a counter-protest in support of the Gyumri base.
"The Gyumri base guarantees the independence and security of Armenia," said Manuk Sukiasyan, a member of the "Mother Armenia" movement, during the counter-protest.
The Russian 102nd military base has been located in the northern Armenian city since 1995.
Last year, Russia agreed to withdraw some of its troops and border guards from Armenia, but left forces on Armenia's borders with Turkey and Iran.
Relations between traditional allies Moscow and Yerevan have been strained since 2023, when Azerbaijan launched an offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, and Russia did not intervene in support of Armenia.
The two countries are military allies through the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a mutual defense pact, although Yerevan has said it has de facto suspended its participation in it due to bilateral tensions.
Armenia also joined the International Criminal Court last year, a move that obliges it to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he sets foot on Armenian territory.
Putin is the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges.