Sergey Markedonov: Nikol Pashinyan preferred another person than Bako  Sahakyan as president of NKR

ArmInfo.Usualy, the Karabakh scenario in Moscow is considered in a wider context, namely in the geopolitical one, when the internal situation in the NKR is  considered exclusively in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh  conflict., Sergeiy Markedonov, Leading Researcher at the  Euro-Atlantic Security Center of the MGIMO Institute for  International Studies stated during a video discussion on the ongoing  electoral processes in Artsakh.

He noted that today the conflict has little chance of resolution.  <This is obvious, just look at the dialogue between Nikol Pashinyan  and Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of the Munich Conference.  Obviously, there is no progress. For Moscow it is very important that  if the conflict did not remain frozen, then at least so that there  would not be an escalation, as in April 2016>, the expert said.

Markedonov emphasized that the second context in which the Karabakh  situation is considered is larger in the issue of Armenia as a whole.  <It is obviously, Yerevan and Stepanakert are not the same. There is  a very great dependence, both militarily and in terms of security,  and, as we have noticed, some political dependence. In Armenia, two  years ago, power changed, after which, step by step, the new  government was rebuilding the key segments for the Armenian political  elite. First, elections were held in local governments, then in the  National Assembly, and finally, the processes affected the judiciary.  This is a very difficult situation, and a referendum was to be held  on April 5, but the coronavirus prevented>, he said.

The expert stated that there were certain contradictions between  Nikol Pashinyan and NKR President Bako Sahakyan. <Pashinyan would  prefer to see another person in this post. Indeed, if you recall the  chronology of events, Armenia is the first of the countries of the  South Caucasus to introduce an emergency. But before the elections in  Karabakh, Pashinyan said that observers can go, but before that pass  a test for coronavirus.  That is, a completely liberal approach. Yes,  it can be noted that this is Artsakh, not Armenia, but it would be  possible to discuss the situation regarding the postponement of  elections due to force majeure circumstances>, Markedonov emphasized.

He also said that returning to the situation in Moscow, there was a  lot of talk in social networks that Russia supported Balasanyan more  and was afraid of Artsakh Foreign Minister Masis Mayilyan, as he <is  a representative of the Open Society Foundations (Soros) Foundation>.  <But if a person knows English well, this does not make him a member  of Soros. Karabakh people visit many international sites in order to  present their position. But Moscow does not recognize the NKR as an  independent country, and these conversations are pretty artificial.  Moscow works with Yerevan and is co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.   And the head of the NKR will cooperate with Pashinyan and understand  the role of Moscow in this process>, the expert noted.  As for  forecasts for the future, according to Markedonov, most likely, there  will be a problem of low legitimacy. <It's not only a boycott of  Mailyan. But due to the situation with the coronavirus, international  observers did not come to the polls either. When all people are on  self-isolation, it is difficult to conduct a productive campaign>, he  said.

According to Markedonov, the crisis is obvious, but you can look for  ways out of this situation: <The candidate who won the presidential  election may declare that he is the winner and the point, and then  they are afraid. Or he can say that yes, he won, but there is an  unresolved conflict and it's worthwhile to leave squabbles for now>.

It should be noted that on March 31 the presidential and  parliamentary elections were held in Artsakh. In anticipation of  their presidential candidate Masis Mayilyan suspended campaigning and  urged not to go to the polls, so as not to aggravate the  epidemiological situation in the republic. As a result of the  elections, none of the presidential candidates won more than 50% of  the vote. April 14 will be the second round of the presidential  election.

In the parliamentary elections, the Free Homeland party- United Civil  Alliance bloc led by former Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan won  40.4% of the vote.