Only an absolute fool is never afraid of anything, but I have nothing to be afraid of as far as my personality is concerned, Serzh Sargsyan said yesterday, addressing the graduates of Andranik Margaryan Political School, Eurasia Diary reports citing Armenian website Tert.am.

The former president made the remark at a certificate award ceremony when asked by one of the graduates to share his concerns over the continuing chain of arrests and “persecutions” against former government officials.

“It is common knowledge that only an absolute fool is not ever afraid of anything. After 1988, I was really afraid … of losing part of our fatherland, i.e. – Nagorno-Karabakh, as that would pose real hazards to the last and remaining part of our homeland. But looking into the eyes of fear together with tens and thousands of dedicated [guardsmen], we were able to overcome the fear of war – with the result of which you all are aware of. [If you are asking me] whether or not I am afraid, [my answer] is I am afraid also today – of irresponsible populists' policies potentially undermining our state. As far as my personality is concerned, though, I have nothing to be afraid of. If my arrest is what is expected to make our people content and happy, if my arrest is going to pave the way to fully resolving the March 1 [2008 deadly post-electoral events] and the October 27 [1999 crackdown on the National Assembly], and neutralize the threats to our country, returning the Nagorno-Karabakh [conflict settlement] talks to the right track, let them arrest me,” he said.

Sargsyan said he believes that cowards are the people who often change their decisions under certain influences. ″I am not a decision changer. And I have never changed my decision[s]. If my absence from the society is going to give momentum to the economic revolution and boost repatriation, we will only be proud of that. I do not mind arrest,″ the ex-president stated.