Armenia's President Armen Sarkissian surprisingly announced his resignation.
After much deliberation, he decided to resign after about four years as President of the Republic, according to a statement by the 68-year-old published by the Presidential Office in the capital Yerevan on Sunday evening.
"This is absolutely not an emotional decision, but corresponds to a certain logic."
The head of state referred to his limited powers.
The president "does not have the necessary instruments to influence the fundamental processes of domestic and foreign policy in the difficult period for the country," said Sarkissyan.
More than ever, the country needs “sensible, well thought-out and balanced measures”.
He campaigned for a constitutional reform so that the next president could work in a “balanced environment”.
The President had criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, especially in the course of the war over Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus.
The ex-Soviet republic lost control of large parts of the region in autumn 2020.
Azerbaijan, on the other hand, celebrated a victory.
At the time, Sarkissian criticized the fact that he had not been included in the negotiations.
He later expressed objections to Pashinyan's reappointment of the Armenian military leadership.
Sarkissian was also Prime Minister of Armenia in his political career.
The president said of the reasons for his resignation: "In this difficult time for our state, in which national unity is required, the institution of the president should not become the subject of gossip and conspiracy theories." It is still unclear who will be Sarkissyan's successor.