Vahram Atanesyan Says Azerbaijani Parliamentary Elections Not Legitimate

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: At today’s full session of the National Assembly of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Vardan Atanesyan, chairman of the NKR NA standing committee on foreign affairs, said that the Azerbaijani parliamentary elections, held last Sunday, proved once again that democracy is scorned in Azerbaijan.

He said that the international observers registered a number of violations of the electoral legislature and the US Department of State declared that the ‘parliamentary elections of Azerbaijan did not correspond to the international standards’. Vardan Atanesyan said the statement proves that the US Government and a plenty of international organizations do not recognize the results of the elections and consider them falsified. The deputy says the Azerbaijani people created the proper basis for such a statement by not partaking in the vote. ‘50% of the citizens, registered in the lists of voters, did not visit electoral offices.

This means that the society was not sure whether the list of members of the parliament depended on it or not,’ Vardan Atanesyan said. He noted that this was an expression of silent protest, which spoke about complete political nihilism and hatred towards the Azerbaijani authorities. According to Vardan Atanesyan, in this situation it is indispensable that the international community and the OSCE Minsk group co-chairmanship legitimizes the contacts with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and advances the process of recognition of the democratic and legal NKR.

‘With its failed and suspicious parliamentary elections Azerbaijan excludes any other opportunity of regulation of the existing issues,’ the chairman of NKR NA standing committee on foreign affairs. Vardan Atanesyan added that his statement stems from the viewpoint of the NKR NA ‘Democracy’ faction.