I Have Submitted My Resignation as President of the Public Council to the Government of Armenia: Styopa Safaryan

The President of the Public Council, Styopa Safaryan, wrote on his Facebook page:

“As you are already aware, today I submitted my application to the CEC from the list of the 'Shirinyan-Babajanyan Democratic Alliance' along with my sister, lawyer Seda Safaryan, to participate in these extraordinary elections. I am grateful to the alliance, represented by the leader of the For the Republic Party, Arman Babajanyan, and the leader of the Christian Democratic Party, Levon Shirinyan.

Making the decision to return to politics after a long break from 2013 was not easy for me. The unsuccessful attempt in 2017 pushed me further away from what is called 'big politics,' as it was not 'big' at all; rather, it was not politics at all.

Through the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs, which I founded in 2014, as well as the Agora Strategy Group international consulting company, where I have been a senior expert since 2019, I have tried to influence public opinion and decisions in international and national politics while keeping my distance from team politics.

The 2018 revolution, for me, as for the overwhelming majority of the people, was an opportunity for the modernization and reform of the country. Therefore, I accepted the government's offer to be a part of the Public Council, and in recent years I have served as the president of that body. I am grateful to the Prime Minister and the government for that high trust and for our joint work, as well as to the public for their faith, cooperation, and great attention during these challenging times.

In fact, more than a year and a half of that period coincided with the global pandemic and the declaration of a state of emergency in the country, as well as the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh in September and the declared martial law, followed by the difficult post-war period.

As much as my three work commitments had already peaked back in August 2020, I had to make choices against remaining in the Public Council. The war and its aftermath forced me to continue fulfilling my duties for my country and our people during this difficult period until the extraordinary elections.

In any case, my mission in the Public Council was set to end after the elections when the new government, as required by law, would form a new Public Council. However, this happened at the same time as I received the new offer, and yesterday I submitted my resignation from the position of president of the Public Council to the government of Armenia, as the law on the Public Council requires neutrality in political matters and prohibits participation in political struggles.

Now I am politically and personally freer to present and express my approaches to various issues within the realms of political life.

I thank all the departments and leaders of the government with whom we have collaborated to raise issues and public interests; for bringing them to the relevant bodies and for our joint work.

Finally, I return to politics not with enthusiasm but with concern and determination, alongside my team, to address the urgent security and development issues of the country, with the steadfastness to change the quality and effectiveness of power and politics within the limits of my humble abilities and experience.

I will not hide that this decision was made under the favorable pressure not only of our country's critical problems but also from a segment of society and my surroundings.

I would be happy for any of your support during this challenging journey, whether through organizing meetings, joining my team, or in other ways. In this regard, you know how to inform me for feedback.

Of course, the electoral lists still need to be approved by the CEC. But the decision has already been made.

I wish the best for our country and people, who deserve rebirth, new victories, and development.