STEPANAKERT. - From legal viewpoint there is nothing vulnerable in Bako Sahakyan’s being elected a president, Speaker of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) National Assembly Ashot Ghoulian told journalists after the election, responding to the criticism that Bako Sahakyan has violated the Constitution by being nominated for the third time.

“I think we have all won, since we managed to unilaterally conduct an important political process, as a result of which we elected the president of the Artsakh Republic. And starting from September 2018, he will exercise his authorities,” he said.

Referring to the comments on that the re-election of Bako Sahakyan is the democratic retreat of Artsakh, Ghoulian said: “I don’t share this opinion. It is improper to open a political debate. From legal viewpoint there is nothing vulnerable here. If there was such a gap, the political forces and the acting president would be the first not to give their agreement to the nomination. The Constitution should be read and perceived correctly.”

According to the Artsakh parliament speaker, they are dealing with a president, who was elected in nationwide elections during two terms and whose authorities are terminating in September. Already in September he will continue his activity as a president elected by the parliament.

Touching on the term of Sahakyan’s office, which will end in 2020, Ashot Ghoulian noted that any other candidate may be elected any moment. “Under the new Constitution, the NA Speaker may be elected any moment but only given there is a new candidate, who will win the majority votes.”

Bako Sahakyan was on Wednesday elected president of the country for the third time. Under the new Constitution, this is a transitional stage, and already in 2020 the nationwide presidential election will be held in Artsakh.