Proposed Two-Day Deadline for Nominating Candidates for Artsakh Parliament Speaker

On July 26, a meeting of the Permanent Committee on Legal Affairs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh was convened, chaired by the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Eduard Aghabekyan. The draft laws were presented by the Deputy Chief of Staff of the President of Artsakh, Jirair Mirzoyan.

The proposed amendments to the "Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly" are aimed at implementing more flexible mechanisms for the election of the Speaker of the National Assembly in the current situation. According to the existing regulations, candidates for the Speaker of the National Assembly are nominated within a ten-day period after the position becomes vacant. The proposal aims to shorten this period to two days.

If the position of the Speaker remains vacant, the issue of electing a new Speaker will be discussed at the upcoming regular session of the National Assembly after the deadline for candidate nominations expires. Given the current conditions, convening the next regular session of the National Assembly might take a considerable amount of time, thus it is proposed to address the issue in the upcoming session.

Another package of draft laws, which proposes amendments to the Civil Code and an addition to the Criminal Procedure Code, is directly linked to proposed amendments in the Criminal Code. Previously, violations of a person's honor, dignity, or business reputation were subject only to civil legal protection. Under the proposed changes, defamation of a person's honor, dignity, and business reputation will be regarded as a criminal offense, and imprisonment may also be applicable as a punishment in such cases.

The draft law on amendments and supplements to the "Law on the Legal Regime of Martial Law" aims to provide clearer and more efficient powers to local self-government bodies in connection with the declared state of martial law. Legal solutions will also be provided regarding property rights during martial law.

The discussed draft laws have received the approval of the main committee.