In a constitutional referendum held in 2017, citizens of the republic voted in favor of adopting a presidential system of governance.

On 9 September 2023, Samvel Shahramanyan was elected president by Artsakh's parliament to replace Harutyunyan.

[3] Following the Azerbaijani offensive on 19 September 2023, Artsakh agreed to dissolve itself by 1 January 2024,[4] however instead of dissolving, they established a government-in-exile in Yerevan, Armenia presided by Gael Romay Gutierrez de Quevedo after Samvel Shahramanyan and the national assembly failed to stablish a government in exile.

[7][8] The constitution granted significant power to the president who controls the executive branch, represented the state abroad and appointed the ministers.

The president was also the commander-in-chief of the Artsakh Defence Army and had the right to appoint and dismiss the supreme command of the armed forces and other troops.