Artsakh Republic President's Representative on Special Assignments Dies at 58

STEPANAKERT, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS:

Karen Babouryan, the Artsakh Republic president's representative on special assignments, suddenly died at 58.

Karen Babouryan was born 1954 in Stepanakert. In 1971 he graduated from the Stepanakert secondary school N8, in 1980 law department of the State University after Kirov in Baku. From 1980 to 1991 he worked at the Executive Committee of the Nagorno-Karabakh regional Council of people's deputies as an instructor, assistant to the chairman, head of the organizational-instructional department. In 1992 was elected chairman of the standing commission on state building, law and justice of the NKR Parliament of the first convocation.

In 1993-1996 he held the position of acting chairman, then chairman of the NKR National Assembly. In 1997 he was appointed deputy foreign minister of the Artsakh Republic From the end of 1997 till 2001 he worked at the NKR President's Office as a head of the legal department, then as a head of the legal department of the NKR Security Council.

From 2001 till 2008 was a secretary of the NKR Security Council. In 2006-2007 he occupied the position of the head of the NKR President's Office. From May of 2008 Karen Babouryan held the position of Artsakh Republic President's representative at large.

He was elected a deputy of the NKR Parliament of first three convocations.

Karen Babouryan represented the interests of Nagorno Karabakh in the USSR Constitutional Court, headed the NKR delegation at hearings in the European Parliament. He periodically partook in discussions on the Karabakh issue within the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of the CIS. In May of 1994 he signed the Bishkek protocol on behalf of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. He was awarded with the "Grigor Lousavorich" order.

The name of Karen Babouryan is inextricably linked with the Karabakh national liberation movement and the process of the formation of the independent Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Being a highly professional lawyer he has had an essential contribution in making legally impeccable the formalization of the NKR's formation in full compliance with the existing international norms.

Whatever state position Karen Babouryan held, he always displayed himself as a true patriot, skilled state and political figure who rated the interests of his country and people above everything else. Karen Babouryan was held in high respect and authority both in the Motherland and abroad.

Bright image of Karen Babouryan as a person, citizen and state figure will always remain in the memories of the Artsakh people.

An official from the central information department of the Office of Artsakh Republic President told Armenpress that President Bako Sahakyan sent a letter of condolence to Karen Babouryan's family. The letter reads as follows:

"I have learnt with deep sorrow about the death of deserved son of our country, Artsakh Republic President's representative at large Karen Babouryan.

Karen Babouryan was among the pioneers of the Artsakh national liberation movement and had an essential contribution to the formation of Artsakh's independent statehood. Occupying high positions during one of the most responsible periods in the history of our republic, including the post of the National Assembly chairman, he had shown himself as a proficient public and political figure.

The Motherland has rated high Karen Babouryan's services awarding him with "Grigor Lousavorich" order.

In the hour of irretrievable loss on behalf of the NKR authorities and myself I express deepest condolences and support to all the relatives and friends of the deceased, wish them tenacity and strength. The memory of Karen Babouryan will always remain bright in the hearts of Artsakh people".