Russian observer mission of 16 monitored July 19 presidential polls in Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

According to the mission’s statement, “NKR presidential polls were held in the environment of intensive political competitiveness, with equal media access provided to all candidates. Certain shortcomings in the work of electoral committees were of technical and organizational character and couldn’t affect the results of the vote.”

In their statement, the observers urge for the attention of the OSCE Minsk Group and the international community to the efforts aimed at creation of a democratic electoral system. The observers called for rapid settlement of Karbakh conflict to promote establishment of stability on the region.

In this context, Russian MP Alexander Balaberov noted the importance of NKR presidential polls in Karabakh settlement talks, adding that negotiations without Artsakh president’s involvement are doomed to failure.

According to preliminary results of the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic’s Central Election Commission, the incumbent leader, Bako Sahakyan, gained 47 085 (66,7%) of the votes to win the presidential race.

His major rival Vitaly Balasanyan garnered 22 966 (32,5%) of votes while Arkady Soghomonyan received 594 (0,8%) of votes.