Government of the Republic of Artsakh (Armenian: Արցախի Հանրապետության Կառավարություն) is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of Artsakh. The executive council of government ministers is headed by the President of Artsakh. The 2017 constitutional referendum approved the transformation of the government into a presidential system; the office of the Prime Minister was thereby abolished.
Following an Azerbaijani assault on 19 September 2023, Artsakh agreed to dissolve itself by 1 January 2024.[1] However, instead of dissolving, the government of Artsakh established a government-in-exile based in Yerevan, Armenia.
The Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, opposed the said government-in-exile, calling it a "security threat".[2] [3] [4] On 28 March 2024, Pashinyan stated, "In Armenia, apart from the Government of the Republic of Armenia, no other government can exist."[5] Some of Artsakh's leadership met with Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the anti-government protests on 21 May 2024 in Yerevan.[6] On 14 June 2024, Pashinyan threatened to crack down on Artsakh's leadership, saying they were encouraging anti-government protests in Yerevan.[7]
The incumbent government of Artsakh before dissolution was led by President Samvel Shahramanyan who won the 2023 presidential election.[8] [9]
| President | Years in office | Party membership | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samvel Shahramanyan | 2023 | Independent | |
| Arayik Harutyunyan | 2020 - 2023 | Free Motherland | |
| Bako Sahakyan | 2007 - 2020 | Independent | |
| Arkadi Ghukasyan | 1997 - 2007 | Independent |
| Prime Minister | Years in office | Political party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arayik Harutyunyan | 2007 - 2017 | Free Motherland | |
| Anushavan Danielyan | 1999 - 2007 | Independent | |
| Zhirayr Poghosyan | 1998 - 1999 | Independent | |
| Leonard Petrosyan | 1994 - 1998 | Independent | |
| Robert Kocharyan | 1992 - 1994 | Independent | |
| Oleg Yesayan | 1992 - 1992 | Independent |