Robert Kocharyan: During the “Velvet Revolution,” Serzh Sargsyan Calmly Insisted There Were No Problems

Speaking to journalists on May 19, 2025, Robert Kocharyan reflected on the 2018 “velvet revolution.”

“In April 2018, I called the third president and asked how he assessed the situation, because things were clearly snowballing and could soon spiral out of control,” Kocharyan recalled. “Serzh Sargsyan responded very calmly, saying there were no problems and everything was under control. I was surprised. I asked, ‘Are you sure?’ I probably repeated the question a couple of times. But he continued to respond in the same calm manner, insisting everything was under control. Just a few days later, he submitted his resignation.”

Robert Kocharyan believes that if Serzh Sargsyan had declined the post of prime minister and nominated someone else instead, the change of power would not have occurred.