Robert Kocharian Issues a Statement

On October 8, former President of Artsakh and the second President of Armenia, Robert Kocharian, addressed those who demand his freedom following a statement released the day before. Below is the full text of his address.

“Dear colleagues and friends,
I thank you for the initiative of the statement published yesterday. It is inspiring when various people with authority among the public in Armenia and Artsakh come together to express their unified protest against the political persecution being carried out against me. I also thank the hundreds of individuals, our citizens, and members of the diaspora who have joined in the statement and welcomed it across social networks and other platforms. Thank you.

I find it necessary to emphasize: your voice is proof of the undeniable fact that what is happening has ceased to be a struggle for one person's freedom, for stopping political persecution against one individual. This is now a fight for a legal and democratic state, for national dignity and against arbitrariness.

The legal lawlessness policy conducted by the acting Prime Minister has deeply stirred the thinking segment of society, and the initiative and response following this statement are the best evidence of that.

I want you to know: I am determined to continue the fight, even from behind bars. It is simply laughable to me the hopes of those who think that imprisonment can force me to abandon my principles, my political goals that I have been pursuing since '88, from the very first days of the Karabakh movement. In my life, it is not the first time I have had to endure hardships for an important cause, and that cannot break my will.

I am confident that justice will prevail, and we will join forces to strengthen and build the security of our two states.”