Armenia's third president Serzh Sargsyan has issued an address on the eighth anniversary of his resignation, explaining the reasons behind his decision to run for the post of prime minister in 2018. According to Operative Information Center-OMM, Sargsyan stated that this move, which contradicted his previous promises, was dictated solely by national security considerations.
Sargsyan noted that his greatest mistake was not the nomination itself, but the failure to properly communicate the motives behind the decision to the public. He emphasized that the primary objective was not to retain power, but to ensure the continuity of the negotiation process regarding Garabagh. "Yes, Nikol was right: he was ready to go to the end and had no red lines. I should not have put forward my candidacy. I thought we could explain to the people that my departure amid complex negotiations would lead to disaster, but I was wrong," he admitted.
The former leader believes that changing the negotiator at such a critical juncture reset all progress made and led to severe consequences for the country. While acknowledging that his involvement in the 2018 events resulted in a loss of public support, Sargsyan claimed he would take the same steps again under similar circumstances. Commenting on the current political landscape, he noted that the participation of former leaders in elections only strengthens the incumbent government's position. Consequently, the "Republican Party of Armenia" has decided not to participate in upcoming elections to avoid splitting the opposition vote.
The 2018 events, often referred to as the "Velvet Revolution," saw widespread protests in Armenia against Sargsyan's attempt to remain in power by transitioning from the presidency to the prime ministership following constitutional changes. The subsequent political shift led to Nikol Pashinyan's rise to power. Since then, Azerbaijan has restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Garabagh region, following the 44-day war in 2020 and local anti-terrorist measures in September 2023, effectively ending the decades-long conflict.
