U.S. Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller has said that while it is important that Nagorno-Karabakh have credible representatives, the United States does not recognize the results of resent presidential elections there.

“We have consistently stressed this need for open – to open routes in Nagorno-Karabakh and for a dialogue between the parties. While it is important that Nagorno-Karabakh have credible representatives for this process, as we have said in the past, we do not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent and sovereign state, and therefore we do not recognize the results of those so-called presidential elections that were announced over the last few days,” Miller told reporters on Monday, September 11.

“So I will say that the United States will continue to strongly support efforts by Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve outstanding issues through direct dialogue, and that’s why Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken and Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Lou Bono have been consistently engaged, and we will stay consistently engaged on this question.” Lawmakers in Nagorno-Karabakh voted to elect Samvel Shakhramanyan’s as their new president on Saturday, September 8.

The move followed the resignation of Arayik Harutyunyan, who stepped down on September 1 as president. It came amid soaring tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.