Unfortunately, that was also my biggest mistake: Serzh Sargsyan

Serzh Sargsyan's statement on the occasion of the eighth anniversary of his resignation. This was reported by the office of the third president of Armenia.

“Dear people, I address you not as a politician, but as an Armenian, as a person whose life and fate are inseparable from this land and water, from this country. Our party has already announced its decision not to participate in the upcoming elections. This is not simply a political stance, but a unified, weighed, and substantiated decision—a historical decision.

In the spring of 2018, when my team and I left, we did so at your will. Eight years ago, in my resignation announcement, I wrote a sentence that was attempted to be turned into a stain on me due to the editing of one of the beneficiaries of the text and subsequent manipulation by my 'friends.' Throughout my life, I have made both right and wrong decisions. My most correct and difficult decision was to ‘break my own promise’ and run for the position of Prime Minister in 2018. Unfortunately, it was also my biggest mistake, because I failed to explain to our people that my intention to run was not at all about retaining power, but rather ensuring the security of Artsakh and Armenia.

Yes, Nikol was right—he was ready to go to the end and had no red lines; I should not have run. And I was wrong, thinking we could explain to our people that my departure in such a complex negotiation situation would lead to disaster. It was evident to me that a change of negotiator at that stage would have tragic consequences for the negotiations; that is what happened. It is not that I was the best negotiator, but that I profoundly understood all the parties involved in the negotiations, had institutional memory, and knew the value of Artsakh and victory as a member of the team that created and then maintained that victory.

Yes, Nikol was right—I failed to explain, while he managed to deceive our people. As a result of my candidacy for Prime Minister in 2018, I lost a lot—from not being understood to being rejected by my people because of it. However, with the distance of years, I can confidently say that I would go through that corridor again because I believed it would prevent a catastrophe.

I couldn’t explain to the people because they did not want to listen. I was 'wrong' while being right. In 2018, I ran to guarantee the security of Armenia and Artsakh, to prevent bloodshed at the borders, and then I resigned to prevent bloodshed within the borders. Today, eight years after my resignation, a significant portion of the people believes that Nikol's power exists as long as 'the former ones' are in the front line of political struggle against him.

I comply with this demand of the people as well: if our and the Republican Party's participation even by one percent contributes to the reproduction of the current regime, we will take a step back to allow people to express their will soberly, without emotions, and to let other opposition forces turn their promise of power change through elections into an unimpeded reality.

I started my journey with the formation of the self-defense forces of Artsakh and have always considered it the greatest honor of my life to participate in and maintain our people's victory. During its governance, the Republican Party did everything for the sake of a secure Armenia and Artsakh, to preserve and cherish the greatest victory of the Armenian people in the last hundred years with dignity. Certainly, there have been mistakes and disappointments, but in my deep conviction, those mistakes are forgivable and recoverable, and the evidence of that is that today we come out before our people with an open face and a clear conscience.

It is no secret that the Republican Party did not want to participate in the 2021 elections either, but we were forced to take that step. Contrary to the undeniable victory advertised by the opposition, the sociology hinted at otherwise. We participated in those elections to try to prevent the ultimate betrayal and surrender of Artsakh. It was evident that a deceiver who had signed the capitulation under the lie 'we will win' for 44 days and who promised the de-occupation of Artsakh during the 2021 campaign was actually going to hand over Artsakh behind the people's back, leaving the people of Artsakh alone against the enemy—and by doing so, opening the gates of Armenia to the enemy.

Months ago, the Republicans proposed an impeachment bill as the only realistic way to rid ourselves of these authorities. It was clear to us that they and their external sponsors had already begun to forge the elections by imprisoning dissenters and distributing electoral bribes from the budget, doubling state debt while turning a blind eye to the increasingly rising lawlessness. Under these circumstances, fair and competitive elections, in our opinion, were impossible. However, unfortunately, our parliamentary colleagues chose another path—waiting for the elections. I wish them success in justifying that decision.

I am convinced that a major unification is necessary to ensure the victory of the opposition in this situation to prevent the dispersion of votes, which would serve the interests of the current regime. The Republican Party will continue to maintain its significant role as an extra-parliamentary force for the sake of historical memory, dignity, and the Armenian dream. The group that has uprooted Armenia, brought it to its knees, buried it in debt, and flooded it with lies must leave. The alternative is terrifying for our country, our people, and future generations. It is terrifying even for them, they just do not realize it yet. It is time to awaken before it is too late.

Dignified peace, logic, and harmony to our country and people.”