Armen Darbinyan says he will not stand for reelection as rector of the Russian-Armenian University in Yerevan due to a lack of support from the Russian and Armenian governments.

Founded in 1997, the university is jointly run by the governments of the two countries.

Darbinyan, who assumed the post of rector in 2001, is a former Armenian prime minister and member of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.

Darbinyan, in a statement, writes that he was nominated for reelection by the entire university staff.

“And what am I going to do? I do not rule out the creation of a private university promoting the same values of love, academic freedom, fairness, solidarity, creativity and personal growth. This will of course require a solid financial investment, and in this sense, I am open to substantive and interesting suggestions,” writes Darbinyan.