Artur Baghdasaryan
| Artur Baghdasarian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of the National Assembly | |
|
In office June 12, 2003 – June 1, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Armen Khachatryan |
| Succeeded by | Tigran Torosyan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 8, 1968 Yerevan, |
| Nationality | Armenian |
| Political party | Armenian Renaissance |
| Alma mater | Yerevan State University |
Artur Baghdasaryan (Armenian: Արթուր Վահանի Բաղդասարյան, born November 8, 1968) is a Republic of Armenia politician and former President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia. He is the leader of the pro-government Armenian Renaissance party. He is married and has two children.[1]
Biography
Baghdasaryan was born in Yerevan. In 1985 he finished the Khachatur Abovian Secondary School in Yerevan. In the same year, he entered the Law Faculty of Yerevan State University and graduated in 1992. He served in the army from 1988–1989.
- From 1989 to 1993 he worked as a journalist, head of department, and deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Avangard."
- In November 1993 he was elected deputy chairman chairman of the Executive Committee of the Shengavit Community Council.
- From 1994 to 1997 he studied and graduated from the Academy of Civil Service with honors. In 1995 he defended his candidate (Ph.D.) thesis and obtained the degree of candidate of Legal Sciences.
- On July 5, 1995, Baghdasaryan was elected deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, representing the Shengavit Electoral District 5. In September 1995 he was elected chairman of the Union of Lawyers and Political Scientists of the Republic of Armenia.
- In 1997 he defended his doctoral dissertation in Moscow and obtained the degree of doctor of Legal Sciences.
Political career
In March 1998 he was elected the Chairman of the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.
- In June 1998 he was elected the Head of the Rule of Law Party. On May 30, 1999 he was elected Deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia of the 2nd Convocation from the Shengavit Electoral District Number 21, and in September 1999 was the Head of the "Orinats Yerkir" Faction of the National Assembly.
- In 2000, Baghdasaryan was chosen as the Chairman of the Board of the French University of Armenia, and in 2002 of the European Regional Academy in the Caucuses. From 2001 to 2003 he was a member of the Standing Commission on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.
- On May 25, 2003 he was elected a Deputy of the Third Convocation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
- On June 12, 2003, Baghdasaryan was elected the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.
Although he was part of the governing coalition, in December 2005 Baghdasaryan alleged that "serious ballot stuffing" occurred during the November 2005 constitutional referendum.[2] He stood as Rule of Law's candidate in the February 2008 presidential election and placed third with 17.7% of the vote according to final official results.[3]
The Law and Order party, like second place candidate Levon Ter-Petrossian, criticized the 2008 election as being flawed, and it claimed that Baghdasaryan received more votes that he was given in the final results.[4] Baghdasaryan, unlike some other members of his party, did not take part in the protests against the election led by Ter-Petrossian, however.[5] On February 29, 2008, he announced that he had accepted the post of Secretary of the National Security Council in a planned coalition government,[4][5] recognizing the legitimacy of the election and the victory of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan. Although the post of Secretary of the National Security Council has previously been considered primarily ceremonial, and the Council seldom met, Sargysan said that he intended for the Council to become more active during his presidency, giving Baghdasaryan the opportunity "to get fully involved in the governance of our country."[4]
He is the author of a number of scientific monographs and more than 100 scientific and analytical articles.
References
- ↑ Official biography
- ↑ Liz Fuller, "Armenia: Parties Realign Ahead Of 2007 Parliamentary Elections", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 18 January 2006.
- ↑ "RA CEC DECLARED SERGE SARGSIAN ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT", defacto.am, 25 February 2008.
- 1 2 3 Anna Saghabalian, "Baghdasarian Returns To Armenian Government" Archived March 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine., Armenialiberty.org, February 29, 2008.
- 1 2 "Armenia: Coalition Government Takes Shape As Protests Continue", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, February 29, 2008.