From Student Activism to Institutional Reform: The Evolving Mission of the Restart Foundation
26-06-2026 19:03 Հայաստան Հարցազրույցներ
In a recent broadcast of the Noyan Tapan television program, host and guest delved deep into the history, philosophy, and future trajectory of one of Armenia’s most prominent youth movements. Sitting down with Yuri Movsesyan, the Programs Coordinator of the Restart Foundation, the discussion illuminated how a student initiative born out of raw defiance in 2017 has transitioned into a structured institute aiming for systemic political changes.
The Genesis of a Movement
The roots of the Restart Foundation trace back to 2017, a turbulent political period under the Republican Party's rule. Movsesyan recalled that the movement originally ignited under the banner of preserving draft deferments for students engaged in scientific research. At the time, the government insisted on universal military service, while the youth countered by demanding an end to systemic corruption—particularly within the medical and military sectors where officials' children frequently evaded service.
Although the controversial law was ultimately passed "secretly at night," the mobilization yielded a powerful byproduct: a highly active core of intelligent students. Movsesyan, who had just moved from Ijevan to study at Yerevan State University (YSU) as a 17-year-old, quickly found his place within these public processes.
"We realized that the secret to success lies in consistently dealing with the problems, and we understood that the roots of all fundamental issues in Armenia were located right within Yerevan State University," Movsesyan noted.
The group initially focused on fundamental university conditions, conducting corruption investigations and highlighting poor sanitary and pedagogical environments, before shifting to the national stage.
From the Locomotive of Revolution to Civil Subjectivity
By March 2018, as broader political developments gathered momentum across Armenia, Restart members became pivotal in mobilizing the country's youth. While they did not officially join the Velvet Revolution under the "Restart" name, approximately 99% of its members served as the organizational backbone and main speakers for the youth movement that ultimately toppled the previous regime.
However, the foundation drew a definitive red line: they refused to become part of the post-revolutionary government, choosing instead to remain proactive watchdogs.
Over the years, the foundation’s scope has broadened significantly. While higher education was the priority in 2018, the catastrophic events of the 2020 war and subsequent geopolitical shifts forced a strategic reorientation. Today, Restart operates across five regional offices with institutional frameworks focusing on foreign policy diversification, security, and broad democratic reforms.
Engaging the Next Generation
Addressing the perceived generational divide and shifting communication landscapes, Movsesyan explained that the foundation adapts its outreach to where the youth actually are—namely Instagram and TikTok—to discuss politics in innovative, engaging ways. This strategy is designed to counter the "unbearable atmosphere" of hostility and misinformation often found on platforms like Facebook, which has driven younger demographics away from traditional political spaces.
When pressed by the Noyan Tapan host regarding whether the youth have closed themselves off due to public blame surrounding post-revolutionary disappointments, Movsesyan acknowledged a sense of responsibility but firmly rejected any narrative of inaction. He pointed out that youth voter turnout grew significantly to 58% in recent elections, up from 46% in 2021, proving that young citizens are still prepared to assume civic responsibility.
Cultivating Independent Leaders
The ultimate long-term benchmark of success for the Restart Foundation is a profound, value-based political generational change. The goal is not to institutionalize youth into existing political parties, but to foster independent, community-oriented leaders capable of breaking through the current political stalemate.
According to Movsesyan, the lack of new influential youth-led political forces is largely driven by the absence of a transparent political financing system in Armenia, leaving well-meaning young people without the resources to compete. Nevertheless, the foundation continues its mission to transform youth from passive objects of political decisions into independent political subjects.
As Movsesyan concluded, seven years is a brief moment in the life of a country, and the process of constantly re-evaluating and "restarting" society's democratic foundations remains an ongoing, essential journey.
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