Sevkaretsi Sako was born as Sarkis Tsovanyan in the Sevkar village of the Russian Empire, currently located at the northeastern part of Armenia.[2] He establish relations with such prominent Armenian revolutionaries as Sarkis Gugunian, Kristapor Mikaelian, and Rosdom.[4]
In 1892 Sevkaretsi Sako resided in the monastery of Derik, near the Iranian-Turkish border in order to facilitate the transfer of Armenian volunteer soldiers, equipment, and weapons into Western Armenia.[1][4]
In 1897 he took part in the Khanasor Expedition as commander of the cavalry group where an offensive from Armenian revolutionary fighters against the Kurdish Mazrik tribe resulted in a victory.[1][4]
After the campaign was finished, Sevkaretsi Sako settled in Echmiatsin but soon returned to Western Armenia where he was arrested by Turkish police in Van, and was given a 101-year prison sentence.[1][4] In 1901 he was however given opportunity to be prosecuted through a Russian court which allowed him to be released.[1][4]