2010 Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary election

Background

Nagorno-Karabakh declared its independence from Azerbaijan in 1991. The First Nagorno-Karabakh War took place between 1988 and 1994 which resulted in Nagorno-Karabakh, with Armenian support, becoming de facto independent from Azerbaijan. However it has not been internationally recognised and Azerbaijan still claims the area as part of its state.

Several changes to the election process were made since the previous election in 2005. Whereas previously, 22 of the parliament's 33 seats were filled using party-list proportional representation and 11 using first-past-the-post, the distribution for these elections is 17–16. Another change concerns the lowering of the election threshold from 10% to 6% (for political parties) and from 15% to 8% (for electoral blocs).

A total of 94,900 voters are registered for the election, about 66% of the total population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Contesting parties

Before the elections, it became clear very few opposition parties would contest. Four parties contesting the 17 list-based seats are registered: Free Motherland (FM), led by Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan, the Democratic Party of Artsakh (DPA), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARM) and the Communist Party of Artsakh (CPA). Of these parties, only the communists did not support president Bako Sahakyan in the 2007 election. 44 More candidates stand for election in the 16 FPTP constituencies.

Opinion polls

Results

With about 50% of the votes counted, Free Motherland led the count with 45.8% of the votes. The DPA was at 30.7% and the ARF at 18.2%. The CP was below the electoral threshold of 6% (5.34%), which means it might be difficult for them to get a seat.

The Communist Party failed to cross the electoral threshold and did not win any seats.

Reactions

About 120 international observers from France, Russia, USA, Italy, Germany, Greece, Great Britain, Argentina, Ireland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Iran, Netherlands, Canada, Slovakia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Transnistria, and others, as well as a big group of observers from Armenia observed the elections. Later the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast stated that Iran had not delegated any observers. Azerbaijan made a black list of the international observers who visited Nagorno-Karabakh and declared them personae non-gratae.

Various international organisations and countries issued statements refusing to recognise the 2010 elections in Nagorno-Karabakh, among them the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Iran, Russia, Turkey, and Lithuania.

References

References

1. Maximiliano Herrera. "Electoral Calendar- world elections, US elections, presidential election, world parties". Mherrera.org.
2. Hayrumyan, Naira. (12 March 2010). "NKR votes 2010: Absence of opposition in Karabakh’s upcoming polls". Armenia Now.
3. (19 June 2005). "Karabakh holds disputed elections". [[BBC Online]].
4. Hayrumyan, Naira. (20 May 2010). "NKR Votes 2010: Candidates for parliament seats united in uncompromising stance on Karabakh settlement". Armenia Now.
5. (24 May 2010). "Free Homeland Party Wins 45.8 percent of Votes in Karabakh Elections". RIA Novosti/Yerevan Report.
6. (25 May 2010). "На парламентских выборах в НКР победила партия "Свободная родина"". Karabakh News.
7. "[http://en.beta.rian.ru/world/20100524/159140148.html Free Homeland party leads count in Karabakh parliamentary vote] {{Webarchive. link. (16 July 2011 ." ''[[RIA Novosti]]''. 24 May 2010.)
8. (25 May 2010). "PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS HELD IN THE NKR". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
9. [https://www.day.az/news/politics/211143.html Иран опроверг информацию об участии своих наблюдателей на так называемых «парламентских выборах» в Нагорном Карабахе]. Day.az. Retrieved on 13 January 2012.
10. (26 May 2010). "Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry: The foreigners, who observed the "elections" in Nagorno Karabakh, will be banned from arriving in Azerbaijan". APA Azerbaijan.
11. [http://www.osce.org/item/44073.html OSCE Chairperson-in-Office comment on the 'parliamentary election' in Nagorno-Karabakh] {{webarchive. link. (27 June 2010)
12. [https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=disputed-region-of-nagorno-karabakh-elects-new-parliament-2010-05-23 Disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh elects new parliament]. Hurriyetdailynews.com (23 May 2010). Retrieved on 13 January 2012.
13. [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/100621w0002.htm Q&A: Nagorno Karabakh – Lord Howell of Guildford]. Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved on 13 January 2012.
14. [https://www.a1plus.am/ru/politics/2010/05/26/france Франция не признает выборы в НКР]. A1plus.am. Retrieved on 13 January 2012.
15. [http://www.payvand.com/news/10/may/1293.html Iran does not recognize parliamentary poll in Nagorno-Karabakh: FM Spokesman]. Payvand.com. Retrieved on 13 January 2012.
16. [http://asbarez.com/81198/karabakh-voters-flock-to-polls-for-parliamentary-elections/ Karabakh Voters Flock to Polls for Parliamentary Elections]. Asbarez.com. Retrieved on 13 January 2012.
17. [http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-210757-turkey-condemns-election-in-karabakh.html Turkey condemns election in Karabakh] {{Webarchive. link. (5 October 2012 . Todayszaman.com (21 May 2010). Retrieved on 13 January 2012.)
18. [http://www.inform.kz/eng/article/2272041 Lithuania confirms non-recognition of "parliamentary elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh]. Inform.kz. Retrieved on 13 January 2012.