Karabakh Votes
At the time of writing this post, polling stations have been open for the past six and a half hours in the breakaway and self-declared Republic of Nagorno Karabakh where its Armenian population will elect a new president. Although international interest is much lower in this election than those conducted in Armenia or Azerbaijan, press reports so far have not reported any major problems with the conduct of the vote. A few major international news agencies such as the BBC are reporting from on the ground in Karabakh.
People in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh are voting in presidential elections, which they hope will further their aim of independence.
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But this tiny, mountainous region is still the subject of a bitter dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, more than a decade after the ceasefire. Armenian forces won the war and now control Nagorno-Karabakh, after the Azeri population fled and years of negotiations have failed to deliver a peace deal.
One of the candidates for president, Bako Sahakian, says the election will demonstrate the democratic progress Nagorno-Karabakh has made.
“It is the most civilised way towards building democracy and civil society. It is the best and the most progressive way to build a state. We will try to do everything possible to get the international community to recognise Nagorno-Karabakh.”, Bako Sahakian says.
AFP’s Michael Mainville appears to be in Stepanakert as well and has written a more comprehensive report on the election. Indeed, unlike the BBC which concludes that the vote is unlikely to bring a still elusive peace deal closer, Mainville recognizes that its conduct is as much about proving to the world that Karabakh’s independence should be recognized than simply electing a new leader.
Voters in Nagorno-Karabakh head to the polls on Thursday for a presidential election they hope will help the ethnic Armenian-controlled enclave’s bid for independence.
Officials there said the vote was another step toward winning international recognition for the self-declared republic, which broke away from Azerbaijan amid heavy fighting in the early 1990s.
But no country in the world recognizes Karabakh’s independence and the international community is ignoring the vote. Azerbaijan has already denounced the election as having “no legal effect whatsoever.” Voters like Marusa Sogomonian said that will not stop them from casting their ballot.
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Five candidates are registered in the race to replace Arkady Ghukasian, who is ineligible to run after two terms as president. Ghukasian is backing the frontrunner, Bako Sahakian, a former head of Karabakh’s internal security service who is widely expected to sail to victory.
Analysts said Masis Mayilian, a deputy foreign minister who claims to represent a reformist camp within the government that can reduce the dominant role of the security services in government, is running a distant second. Critics, including Mayilian, have accused the government of orchestrating a pro-Sahakian campaign and using state resources to ensure his victory.
Sahakian brushed aside those concerns, saying he understood that a free and fair election was essential to Karabakh’s future. “Elections are vital to a civilized state within the international community,” he said. “We have never had a non-free election and this is one of our greatest achievements.”
Mayilian, who claims his campaign’s internal polls show him in a tight race with Sahakian, said that he hoped Thursday’s vote would be conducted fairly.
Still, there are few fundamental differences between the platforms of the various contenders, with all promising to continue the fight for independence and spur economic reform. Surrounded by Azerbaijani forces and linked by only one road with Armenia, Karabakh is mired in poverty, with high unemployment and few industries. Candidates are promising to attract more investment to the region and support new industries, including tourism.
Heavy clouds and fog hung over the region this week, producing a constant drizzle that has left Stepanakert cold and damp. But voters said they would not be deterred by the weather and officials said they expected a high turnout.
“Everyone I know is planning to vote,” said Samvel Agabekian, a 53-year-old veteran. “We fought for the right to choose our own leaders, so we take elections seriously.”
So, even if the international community refuses to either recognize the validity of the election or accept its result regardless of conduct and outcome, the electorate as well as some of the world press is interested. PanArmenian.net reports that in addition to 47 foreign observers in town for the election, there are also 53 foreign journalists.
The Karabakh authorities have even established a press room with an internet connection so they can file their reports, something which seems like a great idea and one which should be introduced in Armenia given the high cost even for low-quality dial-up services. The press center even appears to be allowing access to bloggers as well, something that must make the Karabakh election very progressive indeed.
Well, no doubt they’d think a blogger is a type of foreign journalist anyway, even if they lack official accreditation, so I don’t suppose they mind. Of course, one can only hope they’re checking accreditation in the polling stations themselves. That’s another matter entirely, and the presence of unauthorized individuals in polling stations during elections is a huge matter of concern.
Nevertheless, I wonder if a case can’t be made for accrediting some bloggers for the 2008 presidential election in Armenia?
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