Republic of Artsakh (government in exile)

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Republic of Artsakh
Արցախի Հանրապետություն
Artsakhi Hanrapetutyun
Anthem: Ազատ ու Անկախ Արցախ
Azat u Ankakh Artsakh
"Free and Independent Artsakh"
Status Government-in-exile
Capital-in-exile Yerevan
Official languages Armenian
Government Presidential republic
• President
Ashot Danielyan (acting)

The Republic of Artsakh [a] [1] was a de facto state in the South Caucasus between 1991 and 2023. Since 2023, it has continued as a government in exile based in Yerevan, Armenia.

Contents

History

The predominantly Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh was claimed by both the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the First Republic of Armenia when both countries became independent in 1918 after the fall of the Russian Empire. The Soviet Union established control over the area and created the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) within the Azerbaijan SSR in 1923. The First Nagorno-Karabakh War broke out in 1991 and ended with a ceasefire agreement in 1994 resulting in the Republic of Artsakh retaining control over the former NKAO and surrounding districts of Azerbaijan. [2] In 2020, a new war was fought in the region, with Azerbaijan achieving victory and regaining all the surrounding occupied districts and a significant portion of Artsakh's claimed territory.

Government in exile

Following an Azerbaijani assault on 19 September 2023, Artsakh president Samvel Shahramanyan signed a decree on 28 September that year, stating that by 1 January 2024 all of its state institutions would be dissolved. [3] [4] However, on 22 December 2023, Shahramanyan said that there was no official document stipulating the dissolution of republic, and his office stated that it was "empty paper". The Republic of Artsakh continued as a government-in-exile based in Yerevan, Armenia. [5]

The Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, opposed the said government-in-exile, calling it a "security threat". [6] [7] [8] On 28 March 2024, Pashinyan stated, "In Armenia, apart from the Government of the Republic of Armenia, no other government can exist." [9] Some of Artsakh's leadership met with Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the anti-government protests on 21 May 2024 in Yerevan. [10] On 14 June 2024, Pashinyan threatened to crack down on Artsakh's leadership, saying they were encouraging anti-government protests in Yerevan. [11]

On 21 May 2025, Samvel Shahramanyan's presidential term expired. As a result, Ashot Danielyan  [ hy ], who was also elected President of the National Assembly in exile, assumed presidential powers. [12]

Office holders

Presidents of the Republic of Artsakh in exile

PresidentYears in officeParty membership
Ashot Danielyan (acting)2025–presentIndependent
Samvel Shahramanyan 2023–2025Independent

Notes

  1. ↑ Armenian: Արցախի Հանրապետություն, romanized: Arts'akhi Hanrapetut'yun.

References

  1. ↑ "Search". 29 September 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  3. ↑ "La république séparatiste du Haut-Karabakh cessera d'exister le 1er janvier 2024". Le Progrès (in French). 28 September 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will cease to exist from Jan 1 2024 - Nagorno-Karabakh authorities". Reuters. 2023-09-28. Archived from the original on 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  5. ↑ "Nagorno-Karabakh dissolution not valid, says Armenian separatist leader". France 24. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  6. ↑ "Pashinian Slams, Warns Karabakh Leaders". Radio Free Europe . Archived from the original on July 21, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Twitter / X". 301.am (Twitter / X). Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Pashinyan Attacks Artsakh Government in Exile". Oragark. Archived from the original on July 21, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  9. ↑ "In Armenia, apart from the Government of the Republic of Armenia, no other government can exist". www.primeminister.am. 28 March 2024.
  10. ↑ More Karabakh Mayors Arrested After Meeting Armenian Protest Leader
  11. ↑ Pashinyan Again Threatens To Crack Down On Karabakh Leaders
  12. ↑ "Ashot Danielyan elected as new parliament speaker of Artsakh". Panarmenian.net. 23 May 2025.
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