Russian Border Guards Withdrawn from Akhurik Checkpoint

The Armenian government has officially confirmed that Russian border guards have been withdrawn from the Akhurik checkpoint on the Armenia–Turkey border, and that only the officers of the National Security Service (NSS) are currently serving there. This information comes from the government’s performance report for the year 2025.

In the report, under the chapter titled “National Security Service,” it is noted that throughout 2025, efforts continued to enhance the technological capabilities, staffing, and professional development of the NSS aimed at improving the effectiveness of state border protection.

According to the document, starting March 1, 2025, services at the “Margara” checkpoint on the Armenia–Turkey border are exclusively provided by the NSS border troops. From the beginning of 2026, the same arrangement has been applied to the Akhurik checkpoint, where only Armenian border guards are now on duty. The report emphasizes that there is currently no active checkpoint that is not entirely under the control of the NSS border troops.

It is noteworthy that earlier in the year, there were reports regarding the withdrawal of Russian border guards from the Akhurik checkpoint, but the authorities had not confirmed these claims. Previously, Russian border guards were also removed from the Armenian-Iranian border and Zvartnots International Airport, while in certain areas, border services are conducted in a joint format.