The Sunday parliamentary elections in the Nagorny Karabakh Republic were held in conformity with the law, without any incidents, and with a very high turnout, Hovhanness Sahakyan, a member of the Armenian National Assembly observation mission, the head of the Committee for the State and Legal Affairs, told ArmInfo.
He said not every recognized state manages to conduct such high-level democratic elections. "Nagorny Karabakh was very well-prepared for the elections. They have reformed the Election Code. What is more important, the law was fully observed during the voting. In Artsakh they realize the high importance of the elections as a step forward in democratic development. I think many countries should learn NKR's example. If Artsakh continues to move ahead at such pace, its international recognition is near at hand, " Sahakyan said.
He recalled that nearly 100 delegates from 25 countries observed the elections. "It is an unprecedented interest in elections. Such high interest in elections is not a usual thing even in the internationally acknowledged states. Consequently, the world community de facto recognizes these elections," he said.
As for the statements by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and international observers on the elections in Artsakh, Sahakyan said they do not cast any doubt on the legitimacy of these elections. "They just say that the elections cannot be recognized as a factor influencing on the status of Artsakh. However, they do not cast doubt on the legitimacy of the elections. Furthermore, in their statements, they highlighted the Karabakh people's right to choose their future, which has already angered Baku," he said.
The major fight during the elections was between ARFD Party and the Democratic Party of the parliament speaker Ashot Ghulyan. A total of seven parties ran for the parliament of the NKR.