[Armenian News note: the below is translated from Georgian]

24 July 2019: The parliament of [Azerbaijan's] self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh has adopted a new electoral code, moving fully to the proportional electoral system from 2020. Until now, elections were held under proportional and majoritarian systems. The transition was preceded by lengthy discussions.

Nagorno-Karabakh MPs said that following the transition, Karabakh would become more democratic.

"The fully proportional system has gradually entered our political life. Until 2005, elections were held only under the majoritarian system. Then it moved to a mixed system. Now we are moving to a fully proportional system," opposition MP of the National Revival faction, Hayk Khanumyan, said.

However, this is not the only important change in the new electoral code.

In order to engage women in politics, a new article was incorporated in the code, envisaging at least a 25-per-cent quota for women in proportional lists.

"We proposed to make this number 25 instead of 20 per cent. It was supported by parliament. I think women should enjoy the same rights in bringing up important issues," Vardges Baginyan of the Democracy faction said.

Hayk Khanumyan, however, thinks that 25 per cent is not enough for women to enter politics.

"It is very unfortunate that women are not as active as they should be. However, the liberalisation of politics will facilitate it," the opposition MP said.

As it became known. disabled people were not able to take part in elections in Karabakh, because they could not go to polling stations. The [newly adopted] changes also envisage introducing portable ballot boxes in order to fix this shortcoming.

[Reporting by] Tigranuhi Martirosyan, Yerevan