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.