Why the Second Round of Presidential Elections in Artsakh Will Not Be Delayed

Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan has signed a decree declaring a state of emergency in the country, which will last until May 12. According to the decree, the recent cases of the virus have necessitated the implementation of new additional measures and actions, including holding the presidential elections on April 14.

It is emphasized that the second round of presidential elections, scheduled for April 14 in Artsakh, will take place. The decree states that the right of voters and others to free movement for the purpose of participating in the upcoming presidential elections will be maintained.

The decision not to postpone the elections has sparked intense discussions online and has faced numerous criticisms. It should be noted that the second round of elections in Artsakh cannot be delayed.

Former Human Rights Defender of Artsakh, Ruben Melikyan, mentioned in an interview with ArmDaily.am that the legislation in Artsakh does not foresee any possibility of delaying the second round. The only option would be to declare a state of emergency or martial law, in which case everything would start from scratch, meaning the results of the first round would need to be annulled.