A constitutional referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh , an unrecognized republic, took place on February 20, 2017 . At least 25% of voters were required to approve the new Constitution. The constitution was approved by about 3/4 of the voters. [one]
Content
- 1 Context
- 2 Amendments
- 3 Results
- 4 Reaction
- 5 notes
Context
President Bako Sahakyan created a commission to draft a new Constitution, which was supposed to replace the 2006 Constitution. The draft Constitution was submitted to the National Assembly on November 24, 2016 and approved on January 17, 2017. [one]
Amendments
According to the new Constitution, the main official name of NKR was changed to “Republic of Artsakh”; the name “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic” also retained its official status. Also, the new constitution transformed the NKR from a mixed to a presidential republic : the post of prime minister was abolished, and the president was given greater powers to make decisions regarding security [2] .
According to Levon Galustyan, a former observer from unrecognized Abkhazia in a referendum, the idea of changing the name of Nagorno-Karabakh was introduced by politicians of Nagorno-Karabakh who expressed concern that the use of the name Artsakh and Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan in the names of sports teams and cultural initiatives abroad could create the wrong impression about the reality of the region. [3]
Results
| The choice | Vote | % |
|---|---|---|
| "Behind" | 69 570 | 90.05 |
| "Against" | 7,686 | 9.95 |
| Invalid / Empty Newsletters | 2 172 | - |
| Total | 79 428 | one hundred |
| Registered Voters / Turnout | 103 818 | 76.51 |
| Source: CEC | ||
Reaction
The government of Azerbaijan, a state that officially includes Nagorno-Karabakh, but which lost actual control over the region after the Karabakh war , condemned the referendum, calling it provocative and counterproductive for the conflict resolution process. [4] In addition, the government issued an international arrest warrant for three members of the European Parliament who attended the referendum as observers. [5]
The OSCE Minsk Group , which is leading the search for a peaceful solution to the Karabakh conflict [6] , said that the results of the referendum will not change the legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh. [7] The governments of several countries stated that they did not recognize the referendum, including Germany [8] , Georgia , [9] , Ukraine [10] and Turkey . [eleven]
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Berg-Karabach (Aserbaidschan), 20. Februar 2017: Verfassung Direct Democracy (German)
- ↑ Referendum to create 'Republic of Artsakh' on Europe's fringe EU Observer, February 20, 2017
- ↑ Galustyan: I like the idea of renaming Abkhazia into Apsny Sputnik, 23 February 2017
- ↑ Ali Akhmedov: “The“ referendum ”planned in Nagorno-Karabakh is another provocation of Armenia” Archived copy of July 4, 2018 on the Wayback Machine Azeri Press Agency, February 16, 2017
- ↑ MEP Štětina faces Azeri arrest warrant Prague Daily Monitor, 24 February 2017
- ↑ The OSCE Minsk Group
- ↑ Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group OCSE, February 17, 2017
- ↑ German Foreign Ministry “Vestnik Kavkaza”: German government does not recognize “referendum” in Karabakh Vestnik Kavkaza, February 23, 2017
- ↑ Tbilisi does not recognize referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh Civil Georgia, February 21, 2017
- ↑ Ukraine considers “referendum” in Nagorno-Karabakh Interfax-Ukraine illegitimate , February 21, 2017
- ↑ Turkey does not recognize “referendum” in Nagorno-Karabakh - KP.UA Foreign Ministry , February 18, 2017