Monday, February 11 2019 16:00

ArmInfo. Secretary of the  Artsakh National Security Council Vitaly Balasanyan begins  consultations for the nomination of Artsakh to the presidency in the  2020 elections. Balasanyan announced this in a conversation with  Artsakhpress.

According to him, consultations will be held with representatives of  parliamentary and extra-parliamentary parties, public organizations,  and activists. He also intends to discuss this issue with the  residents of Stepanakert and the regions. "I have already said that  in the event of my nomination I should have the support of the broad  public masses," Balasanyan said. He stressed that during the  discussions he will present a number of programs to improve the  socio-economic condition of the republic and improve its security.   "If I feel that the people support my initiative, then, undoubtedly,  I will run for the presidency of Artsakh," Balasanyan said.

To note, NKR former Defense Minister Samvel Babayan intends to fight  for the presidency of Artsakh, who was previously convicted for  attempting to assassinate the second president of the republic Arkady  Ghukasyan and later for an attempt to smuggle from Georgia to Armenia  MANPADS <Igla>. But, according to the Constitution of Artsakh, the  candidate for the presidency should live in the republic for the last  10 years, but Babayan, due to circumstances, does not pass this  qualification. In this regard, Babayan with his supporters intends to  initiate constitutional reforms before the presidential elections.

The Democratic Party, headed by the current speaker of the Artsakh  parliament, Ashot Ghulyan, will also present a candidate in the  presidential election. Head of the party faction Vardges Baghiryan  stated this.  However, he did not specify who exactly the party would  nominate for the presidential election, stressing that the congress  should decide this question.  Nevertheless, former presidential  candidate Artsakh, head of the "Free Homeland" party Arayik  Harutyunyan is considered the favorite of the presidential race,  despite the fact that he has not yet officially announced his  intention to run for election. However, in the political circles of  Artsakh, initially, immediately after Bako Sahakyan's last election  as president of the republic, information was exaggerated that  Harutyunyan would be his successor.