Snap indirect presidential elections were held on 9 September 2023, in the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh. The President of the National Assembly of Artsakh acted as president until the election. The sole candidate, Samvel Shahramanyan, was elected in a 22–1 vote out of 23 deputies present. Several countries and supranational organizations, including the Council of Europe and the European Union, declared the elections as unlawful.
Background
Facing protests, President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan stated on 29 August 2023 that he was considering resigning and going to serve in Artsakh's militia. On 31 August, Harutyunyan announced his resignation as president of the Republic of Artsakh along with State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan. Before his resignation, Arayik Harutyunyan, by his last decree, appointed the Secretary of the Security Council Samvel Shahramanyan as a State Minister, giving him broad powers. He formally submitted his resignation to Artsakh's parliament on 1 September.
Candidates
The deadline for nominating a candidate for the post of President of the Republic of Artsakh is 7 September 2023.
On 6 September 2023, it became known that three opposition parliamentary factions (Justice, Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Democratic Party of Artsakh) nominated State Minister Samvel Shahramanyan as a presidential candidate. Later Shahramanyan's candidacy was supported by the largest faction of the Parliament, Free Motherland-UCA.
The United Motherland leader Samvel Babayan said that he would take part in the meeting of the National Assembly on the agenda of the presidential elections, but would not vote for the candidate. They plan to hold a demonstration in the capital Stepanakert on the day of the presidential elections. Later, the United Motherland faction nominated its leader Samvel Babayan, but his candidacy was rejected due to the fact that he did not present a certificate of Artsakh citizenship and that he had been permanently residing in the country for the past ten years.
Samvel Shahramanyan
Samvel Shahramanyan, according to various sources, is a close associate of former Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan. When the latter was president, Shahramanyan was the director of the Artsakh National Security Service.
Results
International reactions
Supranational organizations
: The Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić made a post on Twitter referred to the "so-called 'presidential elections' in Khankendi/Stepanakert" as having "no legal ground". She further emphasized that the "humanitarian situation in the region & respect for international standards is key." : The spokesperson for the European Union, Nabila Massrali, issued a statement stating that the European Union "does not recognise the constitutional and legal framework" within which the "so-called 'presidential elections'" took place in Karabakh. The EU also thinks it's crucial for the Armenians of Karabakh to unite behind a de facto leadership that is prepared and eager to engage in result-oriented talks with Baku. The EU has made a commitment to help this process. : The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) released a statement denouncing the elections as a "flagrant violation of international law". The statement further clarified that the OIC "does not recognize these illegitimate elections, which constitute a violation of Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity". The OIC also urged the "UN and international community not to recognize these elections". : The secretary general of the Organization of Turkic States expressed his "deep concern" relating to "so-called presidential elections organized on 9 September 2023 by the illegal regime created by Armenia in the Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan." : Spokesperson of the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, answered the question about UN's position on this election by saying "we would like to recall Security Council resolution affirming the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan"