Opposition Figure: We Expect Artsakh Lawmakers, Despite Threats from the Armenian Authorities, to Elect a New Speaker of the Artsakh Parliament

Arminfo. The ARF “Dashnaktsutyun” advocated that the deputies of the Artsakh parliament, without yielding to threats from the Armenian authorities, elect a new speaker of the National Assembly of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

In a conversation with journalists in parliament on September 16, Armenian parliament deputy from the opposition “Armenia” faction and representative of the Supreme Body of the ARF “Dashnaktsutyun” (ARFD) Ishkhan Saghatelyan, asked whether their political force would participate in consultations with the Artsakh authorities, noted that they do not see such a need today, as they are in constant contact with the NKR authorities.

“The Artsakh authorities are well aware of the ARFD’s position. Therefore, we believe there is no need to hold another meeting. Our position is that the state bodies of Artsakh must be preserved. They have a mission. We, within the scope of our capabilities, including through the ‘Hay Dat’ offices, have already organized numerous official meetings in a number of European countries,” Saghatelyan noted.

The deputy explained that the state institutions of Artsakh must be preserved in order to further raise the issue of the Artsakh people’s right to return. “We also expect the deputies of the Artsakh parliament to find the strength not to yield to threats from the Armenian authorities and elect the speaker of the NKR National Assembly. In addition, we expect the parliamentary forces of the Artsakh National Assembly to continue carrying out their mission. And let them be sure that at least we will support them. Therefore, we are always ready for discussions. It is not as though such discussions have not taken place in various formats all this time,” the opposition politician added.

Reacting to the statement by pro-government deputies that the existence of Artsakh institutions poses a threat to Armenia, Saghatelyan noted that there is only one threat in the country—the ruling “Civil Contract” party headed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. “All those forces or people who try to resist the fulfillment of the demands of Turkey and Azerbaijan are presented by the authorities as a threat and anti-national forces. But in reality, the threat, the anti-state force bringing war, is the current government,” the deputy concluded.

It should be recalled that on September 10, Artsakh State Minister Nzhde Iskandaryan announced the start of political consultations with parliamentary and extra-parliamentary political forces of the Republic of Armenia to determine the range of forces planning to cooperate with the NKR authorities. As the NKR state minister explained, the purpose of the consultations is to clarify how Armenia’s political forces envision further activities and cooperation with the Artsakh authorities, what their position is on preserving the NKR’s state institutions and protecting the rights of the Artsakh people, and how ready they are to take practical steps in these directions. Since, according to him, the issue of terminating or continuing the activities of the Artsakh authorities can no longer remain at the level of assumptions, individual statements, or political silence.