Deadline For Karabakh Presidential Candidates Expires

DEADLINE FOR KARABAKH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES EXPIRES

ARMENPRESS
May 07 2007

STEPANAKERT, MAY 7, ARMENPRESS: The deadline for submitting candidates
for Nagorno-Karabakh presidential election, slated for July 19,
expired on Saturday.

Raya Nazarian, secretary of the Central Election Commission in
Nagorno-Karabakh capital city Stepanakert, said the Commission has
accepted bids from a deputy foreign minister Masis Mailian and a local
parliament member Armen Abgarian.. She said both were nominated by
initiative groups.

Other candidates are the chief of Nagorno-Karabakh national security
service Bako Sahakian, who many analysts say stands the best chance
to win the election, a professor of Artsakh University Vanya Avanesian
and the leader of Nagorno-Karabakh Communist Party Hrant Melkumian.

The registration of candidates will be over on May 30 and the election
campaign will last from June 20 to July 17.