Russia beefs up its Armenia bases near Turkish border
Russia has deployed seven attack and transport MI-24 and Mi-8 helicopters to reinforce its air base in Armenia near the capital, Yerevan, the RIA news agency quoted Russian Defense Ministry as saying on Tuesday. Russia also has a military base in Gyumri, the second largest city in Armenia in the northwestern part of the country close to the Armenian-Turkish border. The air base was set up in 1995 and since 1998 Russia has been stationing there fighter jets MIG-29.