Law on the Occupation of Territories of Artsakh to Be Important Document, Babayan Says

The draft law on the occupation of territories of the Artsakh Republic, currently under consideration in the National Assembly of Artsakh, is set to be an important document and a significant step towards clarifying approaches to resolving the Artsakh issue and determining its international status. This was stated to Armenpress by David Babayan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Artsakh Republic, emphasizing the significance of the bill from political, historical, and moral perspectives.

"This will, of course, be a very important document. It represents our vision and is essential both politically and historically as well as morally. It is generally a crucial step, and this process is significant in itself. Therefore, discussions in the National Assembly of Artsakh will take place, and we anticipate active discussions. Naturally, this law will be comprehensive, encompassing various aspects," Babayan commented.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, there is a high likelihood that the draft law will be adopted, and the same is predicted by all factions and political forces in the National Assembly of Artsakh. The draft law titled "On Occupied Territories" was published on February 4, 2022, initiated by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Artsakh Republic and all five factions of the parliament. The first reading of the bill is scheduled for February 16.

The draft law defines the legal status of areas occupied due to military aggression against the Artsakh Republic perpetrated by the Republic of Azerbaijan with the direct involvement of foreign terrorist militants during the years of 1991-1994 and 2016, and in 2020. It addresses the special legal regime applied to these territories, the features of state administration and local self-government bodies, the rights and freedoms of citizens, as well as the preservation and protection of the rights and interests of legal entities.

According to the draft law, occupied territories include regions, communities, and localities listed in the Azerbaijan Republic's administrative division law under ***, **, and *, as well as the lands and water resources included in these areas.