Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly Called on November 26 to Discuss Lifting State of Emergency

At the initiative of the members of the ‘Enlightened Armenia’ and ‘Prosperous Armenia’ factions and by the decision of the National Assembly Speaker, an extraordinary session of the National Assembly has been called on November 26 to discuss the lifting of the state of emergency declared in Armenia on September 27.

A corresponding draft is currently being circulated in the National Assembly, which states in its justification section: “Due to the targeting of settlements located along the entire line of contact between the Artsakh and Azerbaijani armed forces, including those in the deep rear, as a result of the active military operations that began on September 27, 2020, the government of the Republic of Armenia made the decision to declare a state of emergency in the Republic of Armenia, establishing at the same time the measures and temporary restrictions on rights and freedoms applicable during the state of emergency, as well as the measures and bodies ensuring the legal regime of the state of emergency.”

Ceasefire and complete cessation of all military operations in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone were declared on November 10, 2020, at 00:00 Moscow time, after a statement was signed on November 9, 2020, by Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

According to points 3-5 of the aforementioned statement, Russian peacekeeping forces of 1,960 servicemen, equipped with firearms, 90 armored vehicles, and 380 vehicles and special equipment will be deployed along the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin corridor. The Russian peacekeeping contingent will be deployed alongside the withdrawal of Armenian forces. The peacekeepers will remain for a period of 5 years, with the possibility of automatic extension unless the parties announce the cessation of this provision 6 months before the expiration of the period.

For effectiveness and control, a ceasefire monitoring center will be established to ensure the implementation of the agreements between the parties. Taking these facts into account, it is proposed to lift the state of emergency declared on September 27.

The main presenter of the draft is the MP Gevorg Gorgisyan from the ‘Enlightened Armenia’ faction.