A Defiant Karabakh Holds Election
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STEPANAKERT, Azerbaijan — Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh voted for a new leader Sunday, defying the world community and brushing off angry protests from the Azerbaijani capital, Baku.
In the latest twist in the long dispute over the mountainous enclave, its predominantly ethnic Armenian people turned out in fog and rain to elect a new “president” in a poll they hope will help gain recognition for their homeland.
“Any international organization that does not recognize these elections ... is itself against democracy,” said incumbent Arkady Gukasyan, who is seeking reelection.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been in conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh since the 1980s, and the two nations fought a war over the enclave in which 30,000 people were killed.
A cease-fire has been in force since 1994.
Azerbaijan condemned Sunday’s election as illegal and urged the world community not to heed it.
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