I Will Not Allow My Personality to Be Exploited in Domestic Political Squabbles: Samvel Babayan Issues a Statement

Samvel Babayan, the leader of the United Homeland party, has issued a statement:

“What the Armenian press writes serves the Turkish agenda. Babayan came, Babayan went—just as he came and went, with whom he met, for what purpose, what he is planning, and so on. I have commented on these questions several times because I thought we have media and political analysts who are capable of understanding and commenting on political statements. But since the analytical capacity of their thoughts seems to be measured by financial allocations, I am forced to reaffirm my stance once again:

- The constitutional regulations of Artsakh are laid on landmines that will sequentially pulverize the last remnants of Artsakh in the context of this crisis. Therefore, I repeat: constitutional changes leave us no alternatives. This is what the state mentality suggests. The rest—arguments about human rights, seizing power, and other reasons—are merely narrow personal interests.

- Assessing the current and future security challenges of Artsakh soberly, I declare with full responsibility that I do not aspire to the position of President of the Republic of Artsakh, regardless of constitutional changes, governance models, election procedures, and so on. And I will not allow my personality to be exploited in domestic political squabbles.

- I have no competitors, including in the political arena. Therefore, before turning everyone into my competitors, think about what I and they have to compete with. I am an independent figure, devoted my entire conscious life to a single goal and interest: the ARMENIAN ARTSAKH. What I say, I proved back in 1999: I consciously took a step back—prioritizing statehood over political theatrics. I am doing the same today.

Dear compatriots, beloved Artsakh residents,
Do not succumb to the political intrigues of the animal kingdom that you and I are familiar with. Do not repeat the mistakes of the past.”