Armen Sargsyan President of the Republic of Armenia since April 9, 2018 Date of Birth: 23.06.1953 Country: Armenia

1. Education and Academic Career
2. Diplomatic Career
3. Political Leadership
4. Return to Academia and Business
5. Presidency and Controversies
6. International Relations and Recognition
7. Personal Life

Education and Academic Career

Armen Sarkissian embarked on his academic journey at the prestigious Yerevan State University, where he pursued a degree in Physics from 1970 to 1976. His intellectual curiosity led him to continue his studies at the university, completing an aspirantship in Theoretical Physics from 1976 to 1978. Subsequently, he served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theoretical Physics at Yerevan State University from 1979 to 1984. In 1981, he successfully defended his dissertation on "Superdense Celestial Configurations According to the Bimetric Theory of Gravitation," earning him a Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences degree.

Undeterred in his quest for knowledge, Sarkissian ventured to the renowned Cambridge University in the United Kingdom in 1984, where he spent a year as a lecturer. Upon returning to Armenia, he resumed his teaching position at Yerevan State University from 1985 to 1992. During this period, Sarkissian made significant contributions to the field as the founder and head of the Department of Mathematical Modeling of Complex Systems within the university's Department of Theoretical Physics from 1990 to 1992.

Diplomatic Career

Sarkissian's academic endeavors gave way to a distinguished diplomatic career. In 1992, he was appointed as Armenia's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, a position he held until 1993. Subsequently, his diplomatic responsibilities expanded to encompass the European Union as Ambassador-at-Large for Europe and the European Union from 1993 to 1994.

Sarkissian's diplomatic prowess extended beyond the United Kingdom and the European Union. From 1995 to 1996, he simultaneously served as Armenia's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Head of the European Catholic Community of Armenia, Ambassador to the Vatican, and Ambassador to Luxembourg.

Political Leadership

Sarkissian's diplomatic accomplishments paved the way for his entry into the political arena. In 1996, he was elected as Armenia's Prime Minister, serving in this capacity until 1997. After a brief hiatus, he returned to the diplomatic realm as Armenia's Special and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1998 to 2000.

Return to Academia and Business

Sarkissian's multifaceted career took another turn when he joined the Board of Directors of Lydian International, a company involved in developing the Amulsar Mine, in 2013. He also became a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dilijan International School in the same year.

Presidency and Controversies

On March 2, 2018, Armen Sarkissian was elected as the President of the Republic of Armenia. He assumed office on April 9, 2018. Despite his accomplishments, Sarkissian's presidency was met with controversy regarding his dual citizenship. Accusations emerged that he had violated Armenian law by holding both Armenian and British citizenship during a period from 2002 to 2007. Sarkissian acknowledged his past British citizenship, explaining that the decision was motivated by repeated invitations from various universities and considerations related to his travel and safety. He later presented evidence that he had renounced his British citizenship in December 2011.

International Relations and Recognition

In his capacity as President, Sarkissian undertook his first official foreign visit to Georgia. His tenure has been marked by significant international recognition. He holds the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and has been bestowed with prestigious awards, including the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 1st degree, and the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great.

Personal Life

Armen Sarkissian is married and has two sons. He has authored numerous academic articles and publications in various fields, including Theoretical Physics, Astrophysics, Computer Simulation, Political Science, and Transition Economy.