Ruben Vardanyan does not seek to become Artsakh president
YEREVAN, September 4. /ARKA/. Ruben Vardanyan, a billionaire businessman and philanthropist, who served for a short period as State Minister of Artsakh (the Armenian name of Nagorno-Karabakh) said in an interview with RTVI that he did not seek to become Artsakh president after its elected president Arayik Harutyunyan submitted his resignation to the Artsakh National Assembly on September 1.
"That is impossible from the point of view of the residency requirement . But even if it wasn't, I wasn't going to. I didn't come to Artsakh for that. I came to Artsakh to do everything to make Artsakh remain Armenian, free safe and happy for the life not only of today's generation, but also for many generations to come," he said.
Commenting on Artsakh president Arayik Harutyunyan's resignation, Vardanyan said it was unexpected.
"The resignation was discussed many times, but the decision was unexpected," he explained.
Asked whether Harutyunyan's resignation was a destabilizing factor amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, Vardanyan said that the crisis is a tool in the hands of Azerbaijan, which is trying in every possible way to force Artsakh to give up its right to live by its own laws, and is used by Baku as a lever of pressure on the Artsakh people and the international community.
"Any resignation, even in peaceful, calm times, is always a stress. This is quite a difficult situation, but I am sure that the leadership that ruled Artsakh and those who will replace it will pass these serious tests with dignity at such a difficult moment," he said.
Asked whether the newly appointed State Minister Samvel Shahramanyan could be considered a likely successor to Harutyunyan in this post, Vardanyan said he would not discuss the names now, as it is the right of the parliament.
"Five parties are represented there, they have the right to nominate their candidates. There are legal constitutional limits on who is eligible to run. It will be necessary to get 22 votes in the first round, if not - in the second round a simple majority to the candidate who will be trusted by the parliament," he said, explaining that the president thus elected will act until the next parliamentary and presidential elections in 2025.
In late February 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh president Arayik Harutyunyan dismissed Ruben Vardanyan as State Minister.
Vardanyan was appointed to the post of Artsakh State Minister on November 4, 2022. Vardanyan, a billionaire and social entrepreneur, renounced his Russian citizenship in 2022 September and moved to Nagorno-Karabakh. Later he agreed to take up as Artsakh State Minister (prime minister). -0-
