BAKO SAAKYAN WINS "PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS" IN NAGORNO KARABAKH

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 20 2007

Bako Saakyan, a 46-year-old former security chief, has won over 85
percent in a leadership election in the Azeri breakaway region of
Nagorno-Karabakh, the central election commission said on Friday.

The data is preliminary and the final results will be announced later
on Friday.

Saakyan wants full independence for the enclave, home to 140,000
people, from Azerbaijan and has compared its situation to Serbia’s
breakaway province of Kosovo, which the West wants to turn into an
independent state.

Azerbaijan has declared the results illegal.

APA reports quoting Russian media that only 25% of listed voters
participated in the ‘elections’. Saakyan’s candidacy was officially
supported by Armenian authorities which have occupied Azerbaijani
territories. World states and international organizations denounced
the election in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan as illegal
under international law. They regard this election would have an
effect on the success of ongoing peace process.