# Robert Kocharyan > second President of Armenia **Wikidata**: [Q613051](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q613051) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Kocharyan) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/robert-kocharyan # Robert Kocharyan ## Summary Robert Kocharyan is the second President of Armenia, serving as the country's head of state during a critical period following its independence from the Soviet Union. He is an Armenian politician and engineer who played a significant role in shaping Armenia's early post-independence political landscape. ## Biography - Born: August 31, 1954 - Nationality: Armenia, Soviet Union, Republic of Artsakh - Education: National Polytechnic University of Armenia - Known for: Serving as the second President of Armenia - Field(s): Politics, Engineering ## Contributions Robert Kocharyan's primary contribution lies in his role as the second President of Armenia, leading the country during its formative years as an independent nation following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. His presidency occurred during a crucial period when Armenia was establishing its sovereignty, governmental structures, and international relationships after gaining independence on September 23, 1991. As president, he helped navigate the country through the immediate post-Soviet transition period, addressing challenges related to economic restructuring, political stability, and regional security issues including the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan. ## FAQs ### What was Robert Kocharyan's educational background? Robert Kocharyan studied at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, which was established in 1933 and is located in Yerevan. This institution provided him with an engineering background before he entered politics. ### What awards and honors has Robert Kocharyan received? Robert Kocharyan has received numerous prestigious awards including the Order of the White Eagle (Poland's single grade decoration of merit established in 1705), the Hero of Artsakh honorific title, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (France's fifth rank of the Legion of Honour), the Order of Honour (Georgian order established in 1992), the Order of the Redeemer (Greece's oldest and highest decoration), the Order of Vytautas the Great (Lithuania), the National Order of the Cedar (Lebanon's civil and military decoration), the Order of Bethlehem (Palestinian Order), and an honorary doctorate from Lebanese University. ### What is Robert Kocharyan's citizenship status? Robert Kocharyan holds citizenship in Armenia, the former Soviet Union, and the Republic of Artsakh, reflecting his connection to the South Caucasus region and the former de facto state that existed from 1992 to 2024. ### What is Robert Kocharyan's official website? Robert Kocharyan's official website is https://robertkocharyan.am, which serves as his digital platform for public engagement and information sharing. ## Why He Matters Robert Kocharyan matters significantly in Armenian and South Caucasus history as the second President of Armenia during a pivotal period of the country's development as an independent nation. His presidency came at a time when Armenia was transitioning from Soviet rule to establishing its own governmental institutions, economic systems, and international relationships. As the leader of the second Armenian state in the modern era, he played a crucial role in consolidating Armenian sovereignty and navigating the complex geopolitical landscape of the post-Soviet South Caucasus region. His tenure was marked by efforts to establish democratic institutions, economic reforms, and management of the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which remains central to Armenian national security and identity. His influence extended beyond Armenia's borders, as evidenced by the numerous international honors he received from countries including Poland, France, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Lebanon, and Palestine, demonstrating his role in international diplomacy during his time in office. ## Notable For - Serving as the second President of Armenia following the country's independence from the Soviet Union - Being the first person to hold the presidency of Armenia after the establishment of the independent republic in 1991 - Receiving the Hero of Artsakh honorific title for his contributions to the region - Holding the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France's fifth rank of the Legion of Honour - Being awarded the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's prestigious decoration established in 1705 - Receiving the Order of Honour from Georgia - Being honored with the Order of the Redeemer from Greece - Holding the Order of Vytautas the Great from Lithuania - Receiving the National Order of the Cedar from Lebanon - Being awarded the Order of Bethlehem from Palestine - Receiving an honorary doctorate from Lebanese University - Studying at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, established in 1933 - Maintaining dual citizenship in Armenia and the former Soviet Union - Having citizenship in the Republic of Artsakh, the former de-facto state in South Caucasus from 1992 to 2024 - Operating an official website at robertkocharyan.am ## Body ### Early Life and Education Robert Kocharyan was born on August 31, 1954, during the Soviet era when Armenia was part of the Soviet Union. His birth occurred in a period when Armenia had been incorporated into the Soviet Union as the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic since December 4, 1920. He pursued higher education at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, which was established in 1933 and is located in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. This institution provided him with an engineering background, qualifying him as a professional practitioner of engineering. The university has been a significant center for technical education in Armenia since its founding, contributing to the country's technological and industrial development. ### Political Career and Presidency Robert Kocharyan's most significant role was serving as the second President of Armenia, taking office during a critical period in the country's history. Armenia declared independence from the Soviet Union on September 23, 1991, and joined the United Nations on September 17, 1991, preceding its formal independence date. As the second president, Kocharyan led the country through the immediate post-independence period, which was characterized by significant challenges including economic restructuring from a planned to a market economy, establishment of democratic institutions, and management of regional security issues. His presidency occurred against the backdrop of the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan, which began in the late 1980s and continued to be a defining issue for Armenian security and foreign policy. ### Citizenship and Regional Connections Robert Kocharyan holds citizenship in multiple entities that reflect the complex geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus region. His citizenship in Armenia aligns with his role as the country's president, while his Soviet Union citizenship relates to his birth and early life during the USSR period. Additionally, he holds citizenship in the Republic of Artsakh, the former de-facto state in South Caucasus that existed from 1992 to 2024. The Republic of Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, was proclaimed on September 2, 1991, and represented a significant element of Armenian regional influence and security concerns during Kocharyan's political career. ### International Recognition and Honors Throughout his career, Robert Kocharyan received numerous prestigious international awards and honors that reflect his diplomatic engagement and international recognition. These include the Order of the White Eagle from Poland, which was established in 1705 and represents Poland's single grade decoration of merit. He also received the Hero of Artsakh title, an honorific designation recognizing his contributions to the region. From France, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, which represents the fifth rank of the French Legion of Honour. Georgia recognized his contributions with the Order of Honour, established in 1992. Greece honored him with the Order of the Redeemer, which is the oldest and highest decoration awarded by the modern Greek state, established in 1833. Lithuania bestowed upon him the Order of Vytautas the Great, established in 1930. Lebanon awarded him the National Order of the Cedar, a civil and military decoration established in 1936. Palestine recognized him with the Order of Bethlehem. Additionally, he received an honorary doctorate from Lebanese University, further cementing his international academic recognition. ### Digital Presence and Public Engagement Robert Kocharyan maintains an official website at https://robertkocharyan.am, which serves as his digital platform for public engagement and information sharing. This online presence reflects the modernization of political communication and his continued relevance in public discourse. His digital footprint extends to various social media platforms where he maintains accounts under usernames such as @kocharianrobert and @robertkocharyan on Twitter, and robertkocharyan on Instagram, demonstrating his engagement with contemporary communication methods. ### Professional Identity and Skills Robert Kocharyan's professional identity encompasses both politics and engineering, representing a combination of technical expertise and political leadership. His engineering background from the National Polytechnic University of Armenia provided him with analytical and problem-solving skills that were valuable in his political career. As a politician, he held one of the highest offices in Armenia, demonstrating his ability to navigate complex political landscapes and represent the interests of his nation on the international stage. His dual expertise in engineering and politics positioned him uniquely to address both technical and governance challenges during his tenure as president. ## References 1. Integrated Authority File 2. International Standard Name Identifier 3. Encyclopædia Britannica Online 4. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie 5. Munzinger Personen 6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 7. YouTube API