A Closer Look To The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

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• published: 04 May 2015
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Nagorno-Karabakh, officially the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR; Armenian: Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի Հանրապետություն Lernayin Gharabaghi Hanrapetut'yun), Artsakh Republic or Republic of Artsakh (Armenian: Արցախի Հանրապետություն Arts'akhi Hanrapetut'yun), is a republic in the South Caucasus recognised by three non-UN states. Recognised by the United Nations as part of Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh controls most of the territory of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast and some of the surrounding area, giving it a border with Armenia to the west and Iran to the south. The predominantly Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh was claimed by both the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the First Republic of Armenia when both countries became independent in 1918. After the Soviet Union established control over the area, it created the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) within the Azerbaijan SSR in 1923. In the final years of the Soviet Union, the region re-emerged as a source of dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In 1991, a referendum held in the NKAO and the neighbouring Shahumian region resulted in a declaration of independence. Large-scale ethnic conflict led to the 1991–1994 Nagorno-Karabakh War, which ended with a ceasefire that left the current borders. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is a presidential democracy with a unicameral parliament. The de facto country is very mountainous, averaging 1,097 metres (3,599 ft) above sea level. The population is predominantly Christian, with most Christians being affiliated with the Armenian Apostolic Church. Several historical monasteries are popular with tourists, mostly from the Armenian diaspora, as most travel can take place only between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh is a presidential democracy. The executive power primarily belongs to the president. According to the NKR Constitution the president appoints and dismisses the prime minister. The National Assembly of Nagorno-Karabakh is the parliament, forming a unicameral legislature. It has 33 members who are elected for 5-year terms. The current President is Bako Sahakyan. In the recent presidential elections held on 19 July 2012 the incumbent president Sahakyan has been reelected for the second term. None of the elections are recognized by any governing body and are condemned by Minks Group Observant as well Azerbaijan, Turkey and OIC countries have more harsh stance by saying that the elections delude the peace talks. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has a multi-party system; as of 2009, the American NGO Freedom House ranks the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic above the republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan with respect to civil and political rights. Three organisations have members in the parliament: Democratic Party of Artsakh has 18 members, Free Motherland has 8 members, and the Movement 88 alliance has 3 members. A number of non-partisan candidates also take part in elections, and with some success; in 2005, eight of the 33 members to the National Assembly took their seat without running under the banner of established political parties in the republic. Constitution On 3 November 2006, the then President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Arkadi Ghukasyan signed a decree to carry out a referendum on a draft Nagorno-Karabakh constitution. This was held on 10 December of the same year among the citizens of Nagorno-Karabakh, which voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new constitution. According to official preliminary results, with a turnout of 87.2%, as many as 98.6 percent of voters approved the constitution. The 1st article of the document describes the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as "a sovereign, democratic legal and social state". More than 100 non-governmental international observers and journalists who monitored the poll evaluated it positively, stating that it was held to a high international standard.