Vahagn Garniki Khachaturyan (, ; born 22 April 1959) is an Armenian economist and politician who has served as the fifth and current president of Armenia since 2022. He previously served as mayor of Yerevan from 1992 to 1996 and minister of High-Tech Industry from 2021 to 2022 under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.Decrees of the President of the Republic
He was a member of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) until his resignation in 2022, although he had not participated in party activities since 2017. He led the ANC list in the 2013 Yerevan City Council election.
Early life and career Khachaturyan was born in 1959 in Sisian. He graduated from the Yerevan Institute of National Economy in 1980, with the qualification of an economist. From 1980 to 1982, he served in the Soviet Army. After fulfilling his national service, he carried out, for the next decade, pedagogical activities at the Yerevan Institute, working for the first eight years at the HrazdanMash (Hrazdan Instrumental Production) Enterprise as an economist and then at the Mars Factory as the deputy general director until 1992.
Political career From 1990 to 1996, Khachaturyan was a member of the Yerevan City Council, and from 1992 to 1996 he held the mayorship of Yerevan. He was a deputy in the National Assembly of Armenia from 1995 to 1999. From 1996 to 1998 he was an adviser to President Levon Ter-Petrosyan.
In 2002 he became Vice President of the Center for Political Science, Law, and Economic Research. He was appointed to the government as Minister of High-Tech Industry in 2021.
Presidency (2022–present) List of foreign visits by Vahagn KhachaturyanDate(s)CountryLocationsType of VisitMay 30, 2022TbilisiFirst official foreign visit. Met with President Salome Zourabichvili and PM Irakli Garibashvili to discuss regional cooperation.June 16–18, 2022St. PetersburgAttended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).September 18–19, 2022LondonAttended the State funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the official reception hosted by King Charles III.October 5–6, 2022SofiaMet with President Rumen Radev.November 6–8, 2022Sharm El SheikhAttended the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).January 15–17, 2023TallinnMet with President Alar Karis, and Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.January 16–19, 2023DavosAttended the World Economic Forum (WEF).April 18–20, 2023VilniusMet with President Gitanas Nausėda.May 5–6, 2023LondonAttended the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla.May 22–24, 2023DohaParticipated in the Qatar Economic Forum and held talks with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.July 24–25, 2023Vatican City / RomeReceived in an audience by Pope Francis. Held talks with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Italian President Sergio Mattarella.October 11–12, 2023AshgabatMet with President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.December 9–12, 2023Buenos AiresAttended the presidential inauguration ceremony of Javier Milei.December 13–15, 2023MontevideoMet with President Luis Lacalle Pou.January 15–18, 2024DavosAttended the World Economic Forum (WEF).February 5-7, 2024BudapestState visitFebruary 16–18, 2024MunichAttended the Munich Security Conference (MSC).April 22–23, 2024TbilisiMet with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.May 27–29, 2024AstanaHeld talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.July 25–27, 2024ParisAttended the official opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics at the invitation of the IOC and President Emmanuel Macron.October 2024BerlinOctober 11, 2024AshgabatParticipated in an international forum commemorating the 300th anniversary of the poet Magtymguly Pyragy.May 2025Vatican CityInauguration of Pope Leo XIVLista De Personalidades Esperadas En La Entronización Del Nuevo Papa León XIV June 2025ParisJanuary 2026DavosAttended the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) sessions.February 2026AthensState visit.
Nomination and election
Following the resignation of President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian in January 2022, the ruling Civil Contract Party nominated Khachaturyan for the presidency. He was elected president by the Armenian parliament in the second round of voting. He was inaugurated on 13 March 2022.
Domestic activities Khachaturyan actively promotes Armenia's high-tech sector as a key area of economic diversification.
Foreign activities
In June 2022, he visited the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on its 25th anniversary in St. Petersburg, Russia. In February 2024, he visited Hungary, the first state visit since the restoration of diplomatic relations and the second visit of an Armenian president since 1989. He met with President Katalin Novák, Speaker Laszlo Kover, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and representatives of the Armenian community of Hungary. He also visited Pázmány Péter Catholic University.
In an interview with Russian media outlet RTVI, Khachaturyan declared that Armenia had transitioned away from a "little brother" dynamic with Russia in favor of a new and equal partnership with Moscow.
Personal life He is married to Anahit Minasyan and has two children. Besides his native Armenian, he also speaks Russian and English.
Other activities 2000: Founding member of the ARMAT Center for Democracy and Civil Society Development 2006: Founding member of the social and political initiatives "Aylyntrank" 2019–2021: Member of the Board of the Armeconombank
Awards
Jubilee Medal "In honor of the 300th anniversary of Magtymguly Fragi" (October 11, 2024, Turkmenistan)Указ Президента Туркменистана от 11 октября 2024 года «О награждении юбилейной медалью Туркменистана „Magtymguly Pyragynyň 300 ýyllygyna“ Президента Республики Армения ХАЧАТУРЯНА Ваагна Гарниковича» Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Savior (2026, Greece)Statements by the Presidents of the Hellenic Republic Constantine An. Tassoulas and the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan Knight Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor (2026, France)
References