May 22, 2010 - 12:22 AMT
Artsakh Republic to hold parliamentary elections May 23

88 candidates from Free Motherland, Democratic Party of Artsakh, Communist Party and ARF Dashnaktsutyun are running for 17 seats in the parliament of the Artsakh Republic. 40 candidates are running by majority system for 16 seats in the parliament.

“On May 23, the CEC press office will provide information on the election process each three hours. 273 district electoral committees were formed. The rolls include 94900 voters, what makes 66% of the republic’s population,” said Albert Voskanyan, Director of the Center of Civil Initiatives NGO and Coordinator of the Working Group for the Release of Prisoners and Hostages and the Tracing of Missing Persons of the Karabakh Conflict.

“There is a provision dominating in all candidates' election campaign – the independence of Artsakh,” Mr. Voskanyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

60 international observers from Russia, U.S., European and regional countries are expected to arrive. Several dozens of foreign news agencies will cover the elections.