MP: No Artsakh presidential candidate nominated

The term of Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan officially ended on May 21, 2025. According to the constitution of Artsakh, presidential elections must be held no sooner than 7 days and no later than 10 days after the expiration of the term. That deadline expires today.

Panorama.am spoke with Metakse Hakobyan, a member of the Justice faction in the Artsakh National Assembly, regarding the presidential election process.

Metakse Hakobyan: This period was designated for nominating candidates and holding elections. Regrettably, we haven’t made progress yet, primarily because we needed a consensus candidate under these circumstances.No candidate has been officially nominated to date. A public statement is expected either today or tomorrow, after which further steps will be clarified. At the moment, I can’t disclose more, but once the announcement is made, I promise to provide additional details.

We failed to act promptly during this stage simply because no nominations were made. No parliamentary faction nominated a presidential candidate.

As a small faction, we were waiting for larger factions to lead the process by nominating someone and we would have joined in. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. And I must say, that’s not just disappointing, it’s a serious mistake. In the current situation, such inaction amounts to weakness. Hopefully, steps will be taken in the coming days to resolve the problem.

Panorama.am: Was there any pressure from the Armenian government that could have contributed to the absence of a consensus candidate?

Metakse Hakobyan: No one can pressure me or our faction. Since the forced displacement, we've experienced all forms of pressure, sometimes direct, even physical and at times terroristic in nature. But such tactics have no effect on us. I can’t speak with certainty about others, but it’s clear that pressure exists.

In fact, I believe the recent remarks made by the Armenian parliament speaker were a direct acknowledgment of the pressures and demands being imposed on us. There was no hidden subtexts, his statements made the situation very clear. Yes, we’re under pressure. But in my view, no one from Artsakh has the right to yield to them or act out of fear. Our cause is far more important and far greater than any pressure we may face. People must understand that those applying pressure won't be in power forever, but fear, weakness and submission will leave long-term consequences.

Panorama.am: What happens if a president is not elected within the constitutionally mandated timeframe?

Metakse Hakobyan: It would lead to serious instability. The constitution is clear on this matter. I believe legal experts would be best positioned to provide a detailed explanation.

Panorama.am: Thank you for your time.