18:53, 7 February, 2020
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh, representing non-governmental organizations, can participate in the upcoming elections in Azerbaijan only as international observers with appropriate guarantees for their safety. And members of the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Artsakh, in turn, can organize training to share their experience of holding fair and transparent elections with their Azerbaijani counterparts. Only in this format can the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh participate in the upcoming elections in Azerbaijan, Chairwoman of the Central Electoral Committee of Artsakh Srbuhi Arzumanyan said, commenting on the announcement of the Central Electoral Committee of Artsakh, ARMENPRESS was informed from Artsakh’s CEC.
“Comment by Chairwoman of the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Artsakh Srbuhi Arzumanyan on the Statement by the Central Electoral Commission of Azerbaijan
Such a statement by Azerbaijan is ridiculous. Just a few years ago, the Azerbaijani authorities tried to annihilate the peaceful population of the Republic of Artsakh, claiming that there were no civilians in Artsakh, and subjected the peaceful settlements of our country to large-scale attacks. And now they are cynically declaring that the citizens of Artsakh can participate in the upcoming elections in Azerbaijan. I would like to stress that there is no legal-political connection between the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh and the state of Azerbaijan. The people of Artsakh declared the establishment of its independent statehood yet at the December 10, 1991 referendum. For 29 years already, the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh have effectively exercised their inalienable right by establishing their own state structures through free and transparent _expression_ of will. And the regular national elections in Artsakh scheduled for March 31 will be another step on the way to the continued strengthening of the democratic statehood in our country. At the same time, I would like to note that the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh, representing non-governmental organizations, can participate in the upcoming elections in Azerbaijan only as international observers with appropriate guarantees for their safety. And members of the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Artsakh, in turn, can organize training to share their experience of holding fair and transparent elections with their Azerbaijani counterparts. Only in this format can the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh participate in the upcoming elections in Azerbaijan”, Srbuhi Arzumanyan said.
Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan