In 1991 the Armenian populated Nagorno Karabakh Republic secedes from Azerbaijan. This seccession is not recognized by the international community, but de factor Nagorno Karabakh is an independent presidential democratic republic, closely related to Armenia. President becomes Robert Kocharyan. He resigns when he becomes prime minister of Armenia and is succeeded by Arkady Gukasyan of the Democratic Artsakh Party. Ghukasyan is re-elected in 2003.