For Me, Artsakh is a Red Line: Ruben Vardanyan

On April 24, Ruben Vardanyan, the co-founder of the Aurora humanitarian initiative, was hosted at CivilNet's booth in Stepanakert. An excerpt from the conversation is presented below, with certain edits made.

– You have faced criticism; Vigen Khachatryan from the Civil Contract party said that ‘Armenia has no future without Artsakh’ is a very dangerous thesis, which has raised significant reactions. When we say, ‘Armenia has no future without Artsakh,’ is this more of an ideological thesis, or is it really the case?

– That is my opinion. I have stated this openly, and I have said that since November 9, [2020], my perspective has changed sharply. I could critique something; there could be things I dislike, but for me, as an Armenian, as a man, and a person who holds certain ideas, Artsakh is a red line. Perhaps for that person, it is not a red line; that is their thesis. And for me, this is not a matter of cheering or a slogan; this is ideological... it is my strength.

Feeling as an Artsakhtsi — as a human being, not just as someone born in Artsakh or having roots there, but as someone who sees how vital Artsakh is for the Armenian world — regarding values, way of life, mindset... the depth connected to our overall history, where Armenians have lived for centuries and millennia, and the Armenian spirit has been preserved here, is crucial for me. Because if I want to remain Armenian and for the Armenian world to thrive, losing Artsakh is not just losing a piece of land; it is losing our foundational values, our core strength. That’s how it is for me.

For me, that is a red line, and after that, I announced that the more active reason for entering the political-social sphere has been this, and that will not change. I have said and will say — I don’t know what the Armenian government will sign, what agreement it will enter into, if it undermines Artsakh, if it undermines the possibility for Artsakh people to live there, I will not accept it. And I want to say now — I will stand by the people of Artsakh and say: I will be here with you, I will not allow this to be implemented by others on our behalf… perhaps with legitimate opportunities, but legitimacy is not enough. These decisions must be national. And I, as an Armenian, as a person who has decided that this is important to me... this is one of the most significant and principled issues for me.

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