MOSCOW. May 14 (Interfax) - Candidate for Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov has confirmed a decision to withdraw FSB Border Service groups from the disengagement line on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
"The Armenian side asked us to withdraw the provisional operations groups from the disengagement line and to close the problem of [their] presence in the [border] sectors that are not legally formalized in any way. This decision has been adopted," Bortnikov said at the Federation Council, which is discussing his candidacy for the post of FSB director.
This decision was made following Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on May 8, he said.
At the same time, Armenia asked Russia to keep its border guards on the border with Turkey and Iran, he said.
"Our border guards' presence in Armenia will continue. This matter has not been discussed in any other way so far. They are asking us to continue fulfilling our functional duties to guard the border with Turkey and Iran," Bortnikov said.
Russia will also fulfill Armenia's request to close the border checkpoint at Zvartnots International Airport, Bortnikov said adding that "we will do this in the near future."