Armenia’s third president Serzh Sargsyan has issued a statement on the eighth anniversary of his resignation, saying that his decision to run for prime minister in 2018 was both his most correct step and his greatest mistake.

Referring to the Republican Party’s decision not to participate in the upcoming elections, he stressed that if their involvement even minimally contributes to the reproduction of the current власти, they are ready to step back and allow other opposition forces to fulfill their promises.

“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 this country. Our party has already announced its decision not to participate in the upcoming elections. This is not merely a political stance, but a unified, well-considered and reasoned decision—a historic one.

In the spring of 2018, when my team and I stepped down, we did so by fulfilling your will. Eight years ago, in my resignation statement, I wrote a sentence which, due to edits by one of the beneficiaries of the text and subsequent manipulation by my ‘sworn’ friends, was turned into a stigma against me.

Throughout my life, I have made both correct and incorrect decisions. My most correct and difficult decision was ‘breaking my own promise’ and running for prime minister in 2018.

Unfortunately, it was also my greatest mistake, because I failed to explain to our people that my nomination was not about holding on to power, but about ensuring the security of Karabakh and Armenia. Yes, Nikol was right—he was ready to go to the end and had no red lines; I should not have run. I was mistaken in thinking we could explain to our people that, in a complex negotiation situation, my departure would lead to disaster. It was clear to me that at that stage, changing the negotiator and resetting the negotiation history would have tragic consequences, which is what happened. Not because I was the best negotiator, but because I deeply knew all parties involved, had institutional memory, and understood the value of Karabakh and victory as a member of the team that achieved and preserved it.

Yes, Nikol was right—I failed to explain, while he managed to mislead our people.

As a result of my 2018 candidacy, I lost much—from being misunderstood to rejection by my people—but from the distance of years I can confidently say I would go through that ordeal again, because I was convinced it would prevent disaster.

I could not explain because people 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 country. Today, eight years after my resignation, a significant part of the public believes that Nikol’s power remains as long as the ‘former’ leaders are at the forefront of political struggle.

I accept this demand as well: if my and the Republican Party’s participation contributes even one percent to the reproduction of the current administration, we step back to give people the opportunity to express their will soberly, without emotion, and to allow other opposition forces to realize their promises of change through elections.

I began my path with the formation of Artsakh’s self-defense forces, and I consider the greatest honor of my life to have participated in the victory of our people and in preserving it. During its time in power, the Republican Party did everything for a secure Armenia and Armenian Artsakh—to preserve with dignity the greatest victory of the Armenian people in the last hundred years. Of course, there were mistakes and disappointments, but I firmly believe they are forgivable and reversible, as evidenced by the fact that today we stand before our people with 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 opposition’s claims of an unquestionable victory, sociological data suggested otherwise. We participated to try to prevent the final betrayal and surrender of Artsakh. It was clear that the deceiver who signed capitulation after promising victory during the 44-day war, and who in 2021 promised de-occupation of Artsakh, would in reality surrender it behind the people’s back and leave Artsakh Armenians alone against the enemy, opening Armenia’s gates.

Months ago, the Republican Party proposed an impeachment initiative as the only realistic way to remove this government. It was clear to us that they and their external backers had already begun falsifying elections—imprisoning dissenters, distributing electoral bribes from the budget funded by doubled public debt, and ignoring growing lawlessness. Under such conditions, fair and competitive elections were impossible in our view. Unfortunately, our parliamentary partners chose a different path, waiting for elections. I wish them success in justifying that decision. I believe that to ensure opposition victory, a major consolidation is necessary to prevent vote fragmentation, which serves the interests of the current regime. The Republican Party will continue to play a significant role as an extra-parliamentary force for historical memory, dignity, and the Armenian dream.

The group that has cut Armenia from its roots, 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 the next generation. It is terrifying even for them; they simply do not realize it yet. We must wake up before it is too late. Dignified peace, reason, and harmony to our country and our people,” the statement reads.