The restoration has sparked arguments about whether the mosque should be considered “Persian” or “Azerbaijani,” and some locals question whether the Armenian-controlled territory should be rebuilding its mosques at all.
Earlier this year, both sides appeared to be trying to turn down the temperature on their grievances against the other. But now the momentum seems to be going in the other direction.
Samvel Babayan was effectively disqualified after the de facto parliament declined to change a law requiring the president to be resident in the territory for the previous 10 years.