newly founded political party Country of Living. In November 2021, Vardanyan gave an interview in which he spoke about plans to start a political career in Armenia, and also considered the possibility of becoming the president of Armenia. In September 2022, Vardanyan declared that he was moving to the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh (in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh) and announced that he was no longer a Russian citizen. Following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Vardanyan was named in a draft bill in the U.S. House of Representatives which called for him to be targeted for individual sanctions. Vardanyan denies that his renunciation of Russian citizenship is an attempt to escape international sanctions against Russia. In his words, his actions stem from a desire to be with his nation during a time of crisis: “Today the people of Artsakh are in a very difficult psychological state, they have no confidence in the future. The inhabitants of the republic, who survived two wars and lost their loved ones in the struggle for independence, feel abandoned,” he stated. In October 2022, Vardanyan was publicly offered the position of State Minister with "broad powers" by President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan. Harutyunyan appointed Vardanyan Minister of State on 4 November 2022. Vardanyan submitted a request to revoke his Russian citizenship so that he could become a citizen of Artsakh, which was officially granted in December 2022. Vardanyan was dismissed from the position of State Minister on 23 February 2023, having held office for less than four months. Vardanyan’s dismissal was one of the key demands made by Azerbaijan for it to end the blockade of Artsakh. Prior to this, Vardanyan had rejected Azerbaijani demands that he leave the region. Following his dismissal, Vardanyan vowed to continue living and working in Artsakh. Philanthropy and social entrepreneurship Vardanyan through his philanthropic activities has been involved with Pushkin Museum council, Russian National Orchestra and The American Russian Youth Orchestra. He co-founded Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO and was its president from 2006 to 2011. As of 2019, Vardanyan holds is the vice-chairman at the Skolkovo advisory board. Vardanyan also heads the supervisory board at Skolkovo Institute for Emerging Market Studies (SIEMS). From 2000 till 2016, Vardanyan was a member of the university endowment supervisory board at Russian New Economic School, During 2008-09 he was one of the members of the advisory board. He had previously held served