Nagorno Karabakh is Holding Parliamentary Elections

On May 23 the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh will hold its 5th parliamentary elections since independence.

According to the official website of the Central Election Commission of NKR the parliamentary elections will be held both in proportional representation and majoritarian electoral system.

Four parties will participate by proportional representation: Free Homeland, Democratic Party of Artsakh, Communist Party of Artsakh and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun, ARF-D).

The first three heading the party list of Free Homeland Party are the Prime Minister of NKR Araik Harutyunyan, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly of NKR Rudik Hyusnunts and the Director of School #1 in Stepanakert Ramela Dadayan.

The top three in Democratic Party of Artsakh party list are Chairman of the National Assembly of Artsakh Ashot Ghulyan, Head of NA Standing Commission on Defense and Security Janna Galstyan and Head of Staff of the NKR Government Suren Grigoryan.

Sixteen candidates will participate in these elections by majoritarian electoral system.

Prior of the voting day in Karabakh’s parliamentary elections Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said in a statement that the EU “does not recognize the constitutional and legal framework within which the parliamentary elections in Nagorno Karabakh will be held.”

"I would like to recall that the European Union does not recognize the constitutional and legal framework within which the "parliamentary elections" in Nagorno Karabakh will be held this Sunday. This event should not prejudice the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I reiterate our firm support to the OSCE Minsk-Group, and the work of the three Co- chairs and their efforts towards a settlement of the conflict, and call on the parties to redouble their efforts to find a negotiated solution to the conflict. I recall the EU's readiness to offer further support to this end," said Ashton.