Bako Sahakyan

Bako Sahakyan (born August 30, 1960, Armenian: Բակո Սահակյան, sometimes transcribed as "Bako Sahakian" or "Saakian") was the former security chief of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic [ [http://www.enews.ma/voters-rebel_i61089_1.html Voters in rebel Karabakh elect new president] ] [Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia 2004 - Page 132 by Taylor & Francis Group, Imogen Gladman] and currently the third president of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/20/europe/EU-GEN-Armenia-Azerbaijan-Nagorno-Karabakh-Vote.php Bako Saakian wins presidential election in Nagorno-Karabakh] ] He replaced Arkadi Ghukasyan, who held the presidential post for two five-year terms.

Background

Sahakyan was born in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, in 1961. After serving in the Soviet army, he worked for nine years in a Stepanakert factory. In 1990, he joined the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army, of which he became a deputy commander. [ [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/07/21D0A9AD-DBB1-45EF-934B-49EF54296CED.html Former Security Chief Wins Nagorno-Karabakh Vote] ] In 1999, he was named interior minister of Nagorno-Karabakh. He also led the Nagorno-Karabakh security service from 2001 to June 2007, when he resigned in order to run in the 2007 Nagorno-Karabakh Presidential elections.

Bako Sahakyan ran as an independent and won the elections with 85 percent of the votes. Voters mainly turned to Sahakyan because of his record in the security services. [ [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22103717-1702,00.html Azerbaijan breakaway elects new president] ] He has pledged to seek full independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, using the example that international recognition of Kosovo as an independent state would pave the way for acceptance of Nagorno-Karabakh's sovereignty. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/20/europe/EU-GEN-Armenia-Azerbaijan-Nagorno-Karabakh-Vote.php Bako Saakian wins presidential election in Nagorno-Karabakh - Herald Tribune] ]

Bako Sahakyan is married and has two children.

[http://www.president.nkr.am Official website of the President of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic]

See also

*Nagorno-Karabakh
*Arkadi Ghukasyan

References

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6907012.stm High turnout in Nagorno-Karabakh]
* [http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/administration/afp-news.html?id=070719050909.daajqylf&cat=france Voters in rebel Karabakh elect new president]
* [http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2007/07/5AB1D4CC-801C-4C28-A555-FED4C1732669.ASP Karabakh Frontrunner Sweeps Presidential Vote]
* [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/07/56603197-2EDA-49B1-A205-1D105401C88F.html Nagorno-Karabakh: Breakaway Region Set To Elect New President]