I Have Never Engaged in Politics: Robert Kocharyan

I have never engaged in politics and I did not become the president of Artsakh as a result of engaging in politics. It was simply a national liberation movement, and by participating in and leading that movement, I became president. This was stated by the second President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, during a meeting with his supporters.

“Even today, I do not consider myself a politician. Maybe I can say I am a statesman. I have not engaged in politics, and I am not a member of any political party. I was once a member of the Communist Party, but I left it,” he said.

Touching on the youth, Kocharyan mentioned that indifference toward the country's internal politics can lead to situations similar to what the nation has gone through, standing aside, not noticing, and not fighting. “What happened was a tragedy, like a tsunami that affected every aspect of our lives. The youth should not stand by; they must be active, fight, and demand their rights,” he stated.

When asked about the formula for his success, he replied, “The guarantee of success is the discipline that is part of my character—a sense of responsibility and discipline. When these two come together, success is inevitable.” He added that continuous self-improvement and acquiring new knowledge are also crucial.