ArmInfo.The former head of the Artsakh Defense Forces, Samvel Babayan, stated that the media reports that he would not run for the presidency of the NKR, in the event of the resignation of Bako Sahakyan, are not true.
The statement of the representatives of Babayan's initiative group, in particular, states: "The resignation of Bako Sahakyan and the nomination of Samvel Babayan cannot be linked to each other. There can be no agreement between the parties. These are two different and unrelated processes. This the process will be held according to the law, with all the appropriate steps. When it comes to the nomination, Samvel Babayan will surely put forward his candidacy for the presidency of the NKR, "the statement says.
The statement also touches upon the issue of the resignation of the current President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan. "This is a very serious question. Bako Sahakyan must resign for illegally seizing the presidency of Artsakh for the third time, which is a violation of the constitutional order. The NKR must hold new free elections in which the people of Artsakh will express their will and form a legitimate authority. 20 years of democracy in Nagorno-Karabakh has been crushed. But it, in the end, must win, ensuring a healthy political competition for all forces, "the statement stresses. It should be noted that the day before the Artsakh party "United Armenia" made the same demand. However, the current Constitution of Artsakh does not give Samvel Babayan the right to run for president, since he has not lived in the republic for the past 10 years, as required by law for presidential candidates.