Seyran Ohanyan
| Seyran Ohanyan Սեյրան Օհանյան | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Defence Minister of Armenia | |
| In office 14 April 2008 – present | |
| President | Serzh Sargsyan |
| Preceded by | Mikael Harutyunyan |
| Defence Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh | |
| In office August 1999 – May 2007 | |
| President | Leonard Petrosyan Arkadi Ghukasyan |
| Preceded by | Samvel Babayan |
| Succeeded by | Movses Hakobyan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 July 1962 Shusha, Nagorno-Karabakh, Soviet Union |
| Political party | Independent |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  USSR Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Armenia |
| Service/branch | Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army Armenian Army |
| Years of service | 1983-present |
| Rank | Colonel General |
| Commands | Soviet 366th Motorized Rifle Regiment Armenian 5th Army Corps |
| Battles/wars | Nagorno-Karabakh War |
| Awards | see below |
Seyran Ohanyan (Armenian: Սեյրան Մուշեղի Օհանյան; born 1 July 1962) is the current Defence Minister of Armenia and former Defence Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh. He has held this position since 14 April 2008.
Biography
Ohanyan was born in the town of Shushi, 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 being sent for further service in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. He acted as commander of a motorized infantry platoon, and in March 1987 was appointed commander of the rifle company. In June 1988, he was transferred to the Red Banner Transcaucasian BO and was appointed commander of the infantry company commander of the 366th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment stationed in Stepanakert. Ohanyan was appointed deputy commander of a motorized infantry battalion of the same regiment on August 1989 and commander of the 2nd infantry battalion on September 1990.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Ohanyan joined 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. After the war, he was Deputy Commander of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army from 1994 to 1999 and the Defence Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic from August 1999 to May 2007.
Subsequently at the Republic of Armenia, 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 14 April 2008.[2][3]
Personal life
Ohanyan is married and has three sons and one daughter.[1]
Awards
He has been awarded with the medals and decorations of the USSR, Republic of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh Republic:[1]
- Armenia
- Order of the Combat Cross, 1st class
- Tigran Mets Order
- Drastamat Kanayan Medal
- Marshal Baghramyan Medal
- Medal "For the Service to the Motherland"
- Hero of Artsakh (September 1999)
- Order of the Combat Cross, 1st class
- Medal "For the liberation of Shushi"
- Soviet Union
- Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
- Medal "For Impeccable Service", 1st class
- Medal "For Impeccable Service", 2nd class
- Medal "For Impeccable Service", 3rd class
- Medal "For Distinction in Military Service", twice
- Medal "For Excellency"
- Foreign
- Other
- Police chief of Armenia commemorative gold watch
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Seyran Ohanyan. Ministry of Defence of Armenia. Accessed 10 January 2010.
- ↑ "New President Appoints Two Key Ministers", ArmeniaNow.com, April 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Sarkisian Appoints Key Ministers in Emerging Cabinet." RFE/RL. April 15, 2008.
External links
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| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Mikael Harutyunyan |
Minister of Defence of Armenia 2008 – present |
Incumbent |
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