Nagorno-Karabakh inaugurates its president

On September 7 the city of Stepanakert hosted a special session of the National Assembly of Nagorno-Karabakh, where a ceremony of inauguration of President Bako Saakyan took place.

Nagorno-Karabakh held its presidential election on July 19. According to the CEC, the incumbent President Bako Saakyan won 67.65 percent of votes; Vitaly Balasanyan – 32.51 percent and Arkady Sogomonyan – 0.84 percent.

The President took the oath on the Constitution and the Gospel of the 17^th century and received the blessing of Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, the leader of the Artsakh Eparchy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Vladimir Zakharov, Director of the Institute of Political and Social Studies of the Black Sea-Caspian Sea Region, said that "the inauguration day of the of President of Nagorno-Karabakh is of great importance not only for the region but for the Caucasus as a whole."

"Not for the first time elections in Nagorno-Karabakh were held clearly; and people vote for the person they respect and appreciate by his actions," said Zakharov.

Despite the fact that Nagorno-Karabakh is in isolation and needs to solve a lot of problems for the recognition of its independence; however, the country is on the right track, said Paruir Airikyan, the leader of the association "National Self-Determination".

Azerbaijan treats elections in Nagorno-Karabakh as illegitimate.