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The Gandzasar Monastery is located in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR), an independent state that emerged as a result of the break-up of the USSR’s Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic into two entities: the Azerbaijani Republic and NKR. Azerbaijan is controlled by a brand of Muslim Turks known today as “Azerbaijanis” or “Azeris.” Nagorno Karabakh Republic is populated by Armenian Christians. NKR was organized in 1991, on the basis of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Region, which was an ethnic Armenian autonomy subordinated to Soviet Azerbaijan in the Soviet times. Armenians have traditionally called their country Artsakh, a term that refers to one of the 15 provinces of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia. Although “Karabakh,” a geographical concept associated with the legacy of Nagorno Karabakh’s Soviet-era autonomy, is still in use, it is being gradually replaced with the region’s more relevant historical name — “Artsakh.” Nagorno Karabakh is a small presidential republic, with a population of about 144,000 (2008). It maintains close economic and military ties to its neighbor and ally, the Republic of Armenia. The National Assembly is NKR’s highest legislative and representative body. The frontiers of the republic are guarded by the Nagorno Karabakh Defense Army, whose units are internationally recognized as the most efficient in the post-Soviet space. The country is led by President Bako Sahakyan who was elected in the June 2007 poll. He is the third President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. President Sahakyan replaced the outgoing President Arkadiy Ghukasyan (1997-2006). The Foreign Ministry of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic maintains diplomatic representation offices in Armenia, Russia, United States, France, Germany, Lebanon, and Australia. http://www.gandzasar.com/assets/nagorno-karabakh/gandzasar-wedding.jpg http://www.gandzasar.com/assets/nagorno-karabakh/gandzasar-wedding.jpg