YEREVAN. – Opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) issued a statement with respect to Thursday’s presidential elections in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

“We call upon NKR’s authorities to do their utmost to secure legitimate, free, and fair elections. In the military and diplomatic war with Azerbaijan, democratic institutes’ higher level and vitality should be among NK’s primary resources, and this will be noticed by the international community. [And] The latter’s reaction to the elections will greatly depend on the quality of the elections.      

At the same time, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are the biggest claimants of free and fair elections. And, last, legitimate elections are NKR’s security issue.   

We also call upon Armenia’s authorities to commence consultations with the respective departments of friendly countries, to secure a positive attitude toward NK presidential elections,” ANC’s statement specifically reads.     

To note, three non-party affiliate candidates are running in Thursday’s presidential elections. They are: Incumbent NKR President Bako Sahakyan, Deputy Director Arkadi Soghomonyan of Academic Activities at the NKR capital Stepanakert Branch of State Agrarian University of Armenia, and NKR National Assembly MP Vitali Balasanyan.

NKR’s previous presidential elections were held on July 19, 2007, and serving President Bako Sahakyan was elected Head of State. According to official figures, he had received 85.12 percent of the total votes.