On February 23, businessman Ruben Vardanyan was removed from his position as Minister of State by decree of the President of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR). He remained in this position for 112 days.
An RTVI correspondent spoke to Ruben Vardanyan about his plans and the future of the region.
What are the reasons for your decision to resign?
This is a question for the president. [Араику Арутюняну]not for me.
These red lines that unite you, of which you spoke yesterday during a conversation with the president – what are they?
He expressed that everything related to the independence and independence of Artsakh, [переступать эти красные линии] unacceptable to him and to the rest of the people. In this sense, our red lines coincide. And it seems that this is a very important thing, that thanks to this conflict of the last few months, it has become increasingly clear that there are things that are really unacceptable for all the people of Artsakh, not only for Reuben.
Alexander Patrin / Kommersant
You stay after the resignation – what role do you see yourself in now?
I moved to Artsakh and announced it long before I received a public position. I have done a lot of projects. We have an agency called “We are our mountains”, aimed at consolidating the efforts of a large number of projects in different fields. We have the “Artsakh Security and Development Front” movement, which includes hundreds of thousands of people, from young to older generations, who are implementing various projects. The field of activity is therefore immense.
How do you see the future of the region in the years to come?
This February will mark 35 years since the start of the independence movement in Nagorno-Karabakh, an autonomous region that is still part of the Soviet Union. All 35 years have been very different, difficult. But the most important thing has not changed – the Armenians, who voted on February 20, 1988 for secession from the Azerbaijan SSR, will not change their minds. They fight for their independence, for the right to live according to their own laws, according to their own traditions. This path is very long, perhaps it will continue for decades, but the main objective has not changed and will not change. Until Artsakh becomes a recognized independent state from Azerbaijan, I think the struggle will not stop.
Is it possible for you to resume political work or is it a past stage?
When a country is under blockade, surrounded on all sides, when there is no electricity, no gas, no basic medicines, etc., it is not about politics, it is about save the homeland. And these are not big words, just every day you try to save people: children, adults, old people. And in that sense, I did not see my position as political in any way.
I perceived my work as a citizen and a soldier who helps and solves the problems of saving my motherland. Therefore, I don’t feel like I went into politics or public office.
I went where it was needed, where it was the most difficult time, and tried to help in any way I could. Therefore, I have a slightly different perception of my experience over the past 112 days. In general, I perceive this not as a political activity, but as a public activity, as a person who took responsibility and made decisions in a very difficult situation.
I took on a huge responsibility. I’m not afraid of her and I’m ready to continue to take my responsibilities, it’s true. And I made sure that people, even in the most difficult situation, see who is ready to take responsibility, who is ready to approach this correctly and who is not ready. I think the best evaluation of my activity is people’s attitude towards me.
