Following his dismissal this week as Artsakh State Minister, Ruben Vardanyan talked with RTVI (Russian Television International) a privately-owned international Russian-language television network, about his tenure as state minister and future plans.

Here’s what RTVI published.

What are the reasons for your decision to resign?

This is a question for the President [Araik Harutyunyan], not for me.

Those red lines that unite you, which you spoke about yesterday in a conversation with the President - what are they?

He voiced that everything related to the independence and identity of Artsakh is unacceptable for him and for 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 over the past few months, it has become clearer that there are things unacceptable for all the people of Artsakh, not only for Ruben.

You remain after the resignation. In what role do you see yourself now?

I moved to Artsakh and announced it much earlier than getting any public position. I have done a huge number of projects. We have an agency called "We are our mountains", aimed at consolidating the efforts of many projects in different areas. We have the “Artsakh Security and Development Front” movement, which includes hundreds of thousands of people, from young people to older generations, who are implementing various projects. Therefore, the field of activity is huge.

How do you see the future of the region in the coming years?

This February will mark 35 years since the independence movement for Nagorno-Karabakh, an autonomous region that was still part of the Soviet Union, began. All 35 years were very 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 are fighting 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 goal has not changed and will not change. Until Artsakh becomes a recognized state independent of Azerbaijan, I think the struggle will not stop.

Is it possible for you to return to political work?

When a country is under blockade, surrounded, when there is no electricity, no gas, no basic medicines, and so on, this is not about politics, this is about saving the motherland. And these are not lofty words. Every day you try to save people: children, adults, old people. And in this sense, I did not perceive my position in any way as political.

I perceived my work as a citizen and a soldier who helps and solves the problems of saving my homeland. Therefore, I do not have the perception that I went into politics or public office.

I went where it was necessary, where it was the most difficult period, 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 political, 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 it and I'm ready to continue to take responsibility. It's true. And I made sure that the people, even in the most difficult situation, see who is ready to take responsibility, who is ready to approach this correctly, and who are not ready. I think that the best assessment of my activity is the attitude of the people towards me.