Marutyan is looking to position himself as an alternative to both the unpopular government and the mainstream opposition, which is tainted by the corruption of the previous regime.
What is new, however, is the conduct of elections in Karabakh, including in its abandoned former de facto capital, where President Aliyev cast his vote.
Kabul has since 2021 proven an unreliable customer. While regularly paying off part of its dues to Tajikistan, it has struggled to clear its debts outright.