The Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic Central Electoral Commission (NKR CEC) described as “absurd and provocative” the statement by a representative of the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan.

NKR CEC Secretary Raya Nazaryan, speaking to Armenian News-NEWS.am and commenting on Azerbaijan CEC Secretary Natik Mammadov’s statement—that, “Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh can participate in the [Azerbaijan] Milli Majlis [i.e. National Assembly] elections”—, stressed that this statement is nothing but an unsuccessful attempt to cast a shadow on the independence of the young state of Karabakh.

“Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh are the citizens of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,” said Nazaryan. “Correspondingly, citizens of a foreign country cannot run in the [Azerbaijan] Milli Majlis elections.

“The statement by representative of the CEC of the neighboring unfriendly country is not worthy of attention.”

Mammadov had told Haqqin.az news agency of Azerbaijan that his proposal “applies to the Armenians who recognize Azerbaijani citizenship.”