Seyran Ohanyan Սեյրան Օհանյան |
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Seyran Ohanyan.jpg | |
Born | July 1, 1962 Shusha, Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union |
Allegiance | USSR Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Armenia |
Service/branch | Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army, Armenian Army |
Years of service | 1983 - Present |
Rank | Colonel General |
Commands held | Soviet 366th Motorized Rifle Regiment, Armenian 5th Army Corps |
Battles/wars | Nagorno-Karabakh War |
Seyran Ohanyan (Armenian: Սեյրան Մուշեղի Օհանյան; born July 1, 1962) is the current Defence Minister of Armenia. He has held this position since April 14, 2008.
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Ohanyan was born in the town of Shusha, then a part of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union. In 1979, he completed high school in the village of Mrgashen, in the region of Nairi in the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic.[1]
Ohanyan attended the Baku Higher Joint Command College and completed his studies there in 1983. He served as the Second Battalion commander in the 366th Motor Rifle Regiment of Soviet Ground Forces's 23rd Motor Rifle Division with the rank of a major before joining Nagorno-Karabakh's newly formed army in 1991 and playing a major role in the Nagorno-Karabakh war against Azerbaijan.[1] He was seriously wounded in action in 1992 and had one of his legs amputated as a result of the injury.
In the government of Nagorno-Karabakh, Ohanyan served as Minister of Defense. Subsequently, he was appointed as chief of the general staff of the Armenian Armed Forces and First Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia in 2007. After Serzh Sargsyan took office as President of Armenia, he appointed Ohanyan as Minister of Defense on April 14, 2008.[2][3]
Ohanyan is married and has three sons and one daughter.[1]
He has been awarded with the medals and decorations of the USSR, Republic of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh Republic:[1]
USSR:
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh:
Republic of Armenia:
Ministry of Defence of Armenia:
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Mikael Harutyunyan |
Minister of Defence of Armenia 2008 – present |
Incumbent |