Nagorno-Karabakh’s State Minister to face confirmation hearing as President, unopposed on September 9

13:52, 8 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. Nagorno-Karabakh’s parliament will hold a confirmation hearing to elect a new President on September 9, and the only candidate is the incumbent State Minister Samvel Shahramanyan, local authorities announced Friday.

Shahramanyan was nominated by the Free Motherland Party, Justice Party, ARF and the Artsakh Democratic Party.

The Nagorno-Karabakh parliament’s press service said that United Motherland Party nominated Samvel Babayan as a candidate but the application was turned down because the latter did not submit documents on meeting the requirements for president, particularly holding only Artsakh citizenship and residency in the past 10 years.

The parliament will convene at 11:00, September 9 for the election.

In March 2023, Nagorno-Karabakh adopted a law on continuity of government empowering parliament to elect a President in the event of the incapacitation or resignation of the incumbent president.

On September 1, Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan resigned.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS