Former commander Samvel Babayan to participate in presidential elections in Artsakh

Former commander Samvel Babayan speaking to Azatutyun.am said he is being made to nominate his candidacy at the 2020 presidential elections in Artsakh.

“In Armenia all are asking why I do not return to Karabakh. It is restricted by the law: I have not lived there ten years uninterruptedly thus I cannot be a candidate. The Constitution allows gathering 5-10% signatures for an opportunity to be created for my participation. We will deal with it in March. I do not want to be nominated on my own, I am forced to do it,” he said.

Asked who forces him to do it, Babayan said, “After we gather the signatures you will see. I know I have a role. We will try to do everything, be useful. The signature gathering will start from March, after which it will become clear whether the authorities undertake this step, the demand registered in the Constitution or ignore it. It is a paradox, that today’s incumbent president came from Moscow in 1999 and was elected president in 2007. Did he live in the country for ten years incessantly, or not? Has anyone from Armenia left for Karabakh to become its president? ”

He said the initiator of the signature gathering are the people.

“No political force but people – individuals, people, allies, those want me to return,” he said.