Mikael Harutyunyan

Mikael Harutyunyan Serzh Sargsyan Robert Kocharyan
7th Defence Minister of Armenia
In office April 4, 2007 – April 14, 2008
Preceded by	Serzh Sargsyan
Succeeded by	Seyran Ohanyan
Personal details
Born	1946 Sagiyan, Shamakhi, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Armenian

Mikael Harutyunyan (Armenian: Միքաել Հարությունյան, born February 10, 1946, Sagiyan, Shamakhi, Azerbaijan) was the 7th Defence Minister of Armenia from April 4, 2007^[1] until April 14, 2008. As of April 14, 2008 he has been serving as Chief Military Inspector and Presidential Advisor to the President of Armenia.

Early life

Harutyunyan was born and grew up in the village of Sagiyan in central Azerbaijan. He graduated from a Soviet military college in Baku on 1967.^[1] In 1976 Colonel General Harutyunyan graduated from the Reconnaissance Department of Frunze Military Academy. In 1988 he graduated from the USSR Armed Forces General Staff Military Academy. Harutyunyan served in the Soviet armed forces and in 1992 by the Order of CIS Joint Armed Forces Chief Commander sent to the Republic of Armenia and was assigned as the First Deputy Chief of General Staff of Armenian Armed Forces - Head of Operational Department.

In 1994 he was promoted to the rank of Major General and was assigned as the Chief of General Staff of Armenian Armed Forces - First Deputy Minister of Defence. In 1996 promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and in 2002 to the rank of Colonel General by the decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia.^[2][3]

Appointment as Defence Minister

On March 26, 2007, Serzh Sargsyan, who was the Defence Minister, was appointed Prime Minister of Armenia after the sudden death of Andranik Margaryan. The post was vacant until April 4, 2007 when Colonel-General Mikael Harutyunyan was appointed to the post of Defence Minister. Before being appointed to the post, Harutyunyan was First Deputy Defense Minister.^[4]

Appointment as Advisor to the President

On April 14, 2008, the newly elected president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan (former Prime Minister of Armenia), signed two decrees: one appointing Mikael Harutyunyan as Chief Military Inspector, and another appointing him as a Presidential Advisor, with the hope that his skill and experience would prove useful in the continual development of the military.^[5] Replacing Mikael Harutyunyan in his Minister of Defence post was Seyran Ohanyan.^[6]

Honors and awards

He is a recipient of orders and decorations of USSR, the Republic of Armenia and foreign states:^[3]

• Service to the Motherland Second Degree USSR
• Combat Cross Second Degree Republic of Armenia
• Vardan Mamikonyan Republic of Armenia
• Combat Cross Second Degree Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
• The Legion of Honour on behalf of the President of the USA
• Combat Service First Degree by the President of Armenia
• For the Service to the Motherland First Degree by the President of Armenia
• Marshal Baghramyan by the Minister of Defence of Republic of Armenia
• For Perfect Service First and Second Degrees, by the Minister of Defence of Republic of Armenia
• Andranik Ozanyan by the Minister of Defence of Republic of Armenia
• Coat of Arms by the Minister of Defence of Republic of Armenia
• Nominal weapon by the Minister of Defence of Republic of Armenia
• For Strengthening Combat Collaboration by the Minister of Defence of Russian Federation.

See also

• Nagorno-Karabakh War
• Seyran Ohanyan
• Seyran Shahsuvaryan

References

1. ^ ^{a b} [ www.armenialiberty.org ] Thursday 5, April 2007
2. ^ ArmenaLiberty.org
3. ^ ^{a b} Official site of Ministry of Defence of Armenia
4. ^ http://www.yerkir.am/eng/index.php?sub=news_arm&id=29940
5. ^ Armenian News - PanARMENIAN.Net | Armenian News Agency - Armenia’s former Defense Minister appointed advisor to President
6. ^ Armenian News - PanARMENIAN.Net | Armenian News Agency - RA President introduced new Defense Minister to supreme officers

Political offices
Preceded by Serzh Sargsyan	Defence Minister of Armenia 2007–2008	Succeeded by Seyran Ohanyan

Persondata
Name	Harutyunyan, Mikael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 10, 1946
Place of birth	Sagiyan, Shamakhi, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union
Date of death
Place of death