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The office of former commander-in chief of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Defense Army, Samvel Babayan dismissed media reports alleging Babayan has agreed not to run for president in the event of current Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan's resignation.

“They have nothing to do with reality. Bako Sahakyan's resignation and Samvel Babayan's nomination are in no way linked, let alone talks about an agreement. They are two different processes,” the office said in a statement.

According to the statement the collection of signatures in support of constitutional changes that would allow Babayan to run in Artsakh presidential elections in 2020 has already completed, and the former military leader will ‘definitely’ put forward his candidacy when the process is completed and the amendments are adopted.

“As for Bako Sahakyan's resignation, it is a pressing issue. Bako Sahakyan must step down immediately for illegally occupying the position of the Artsakh president for a third time, which amounts to an overthrow of the constitutional order,” the statement said, stressing the need to hold democratic elections in the country.