An opposition figure representing a nationalist party with links across the far-flung Armenian diaspora has been elected parliament speaker in Nagorno-Karabakh, fueling speculation about a possible shift in local politics largely influenced by Azerbaijan’s blockade of the region in recent weeks.
Ruben Vardanyan, the Nagorno-Karabakh premier, refused to resign at the weekend amid speculation that the Armenian government is seeking his ouster because of Azerbaijan’s continuing blockade of Karabakh’s land link with Armenia.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian received Nagorno-Karabakh’s visiting president, Arayik Harutiunian, but pointedly declined to release an official statement on the meeting on Wednesday.
Nagorno-Karabakh’s leaders were still not received by any senior Armenian officials as of Tuesday evening two days after announcing that they will visit Yerevan to seek clarification over Armenia’s plans to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan.