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Seyran Ohanyan
Սեյրան Օհանյան
File:Seyran Ohanyan at the Pentagon 2012 crop.jpg
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(1962-07-01) (age 63)
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

Seyran Ohanyan (Armenian language: 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 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]

Awards and decorations[]

He has been awarded with the medals and decorations of the USSR, Republic of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh Republic:[1]

USSR:

  • 70th Anniversary of USSR Armed Forces
  • For Perfect Service
  • For Excellency

Republic of Nagorno Karabakh:

Republic of Armenia:

  • Combat Cross 1st degree
  • Tigran the Great
  • For the Service to the Motherland

Ministry of Defence of Armenia:

  • For Perfect Service 1st and 2nd Degrees
  • Drastamat Kanayan
  • Marshal Baghramyan
  • For the strengthening of cooperation
  • Maternal Gratitude
  • Soviet Union Marshal Zhukov
  • Coat of Arms

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Seyran Ohanyan. Ministry of Defence of Armenia. Accessed 10 January 2010.
  2. "New President Appoints Two Key Ministers", ArmeniaNow.com, April 15, 2008.
  3. "Sarkisian Appoints Key Ministers in Emerging Cabinet." RFE/RL. April 15, 2008.

External links[]

Political offices
Preceded by
Mikael Harutyunyan
Minister of Defence of Armenia
2008 – present
Incumbent
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