Deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament Eduard Sharmazanov received delegation from Russian State Duma on Tuesday. The Russian MPs are leaving today for Nagorno Karabakh on observation mission. The presidential elections in Nagorno Karabakh are scheduled for July 19.

According to the press release of the National Assembly, the deputy parliament speaker welcomed the visit of the Russian MPs to Armenia and their participation in the observation mission in Nagorno Karabakh. He voiced conviction that the visit to Karabakh will enable the members of the delegation get acquainted how people of Artsakh are erecting their independent state basing on democratic values.

Speaking about bilateral relations, Eduard Sharmazanov said Armenian-Russian relations are dynamically developing today in all directions – economic, political, humanitarian, cultural. The deputy speaker voiced the necessity of expanding inter-parliamentary ties to ensure further development of relations.

Russian MP from Liberal-Democratic party Alexander Balberov said their visit is first of all agreed with their conviction in the necessity of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

MP Ivan Sukharev described Armenian-Russian relations as warm and friendly, stressing the necessity of implementation of new programs to reinforce the existing ties.

Artak Zakaryan, head of the NA Foreign Relations Standing Committee said the decision of the Russian MPs to observe the presidential elections in Karabakh is a brave step amid Azerbaijan’s inadequate assessments to it.

Zakaryan described such behavior as short-sighted and wrong which though results in more people getting interested in Karabakh’s fate and wanting to get familiarized with the situation there on site.

Denis Dvornikov, member of Russia’s Public Chamber, who also represents Russia’s International Right Association, noted that Karabakh issue should be settled through international right to self-determination. “There cannot be second opinion in this issue,” he said.