18:03, 26 June 2004

All candidates for municipal elections in Nagorny Karabakh nominated

404 candidates have been nominated for 202 posts of the heads of communities, chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Nagorny Karabakh Sergey Davidian told the Caucasian Knot correspondent. 10 people have been nominated for the post of Stepanakert Mayor. The favorites among them are chairman of the Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary commission on social affairs Eduard Agabekian and present mayor Amik Avanesian, who was supported by the pro-government Democratic Artsakh Union during the previous elections.

Commenting on the recent statements by the chairman of the Azerbaijan Central Election Commission that the Azerbaijan Commission intended to prevent foreign observers from taking part in the municipal elections in Nagorny Karabakh, Sergey Davidian said that to invite observers is the prerogative of the Karabakh authorities. It is quite possible that the foreign observers will not be invited to these elections at all. The municipal elections in Nagorny Karabakh, the third in turn, are set for August 8.

Editors note: See also the article "Municipal elections to be held in Karabakh".

Author: Naira Ayrumian, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot