Samvel Shahramanyan

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Samvel Shahramanyan

| native_name = {{Nobold|{{lang|hy|Սամվել Շահրամանյան}}}}

| order =

| image =

| imagesize =

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| office = 5th President of Artsakh

| term_start = 10 September 2023

| term_end = 21 May 2025

| primeminister =

| predecessor = Arayik Harutyunyan
{{small|Davit Ishkhanyan (acting)}}

| successor = Office abolished

| office1 = State Minister of Artsakh

| president1 = Davit Ishkhanyan (acting)

| predecessor1 = Gurgen Nersisyan

| successor1 = Artur Harutyunyan

| term_start1 = 31 August 2023

| term_end1 = 10 September 2023

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|12|01|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, Soviet Union (now Khankendi, Azerbaijan)

| death_date =

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| residence = Yerevan, Armenia

| party = Independent

| alma_mater = Artsakh University

| occupation =

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| children = 3

| branch = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Artsakh.svg}} Artsakh Defence Army

| serviceyears = 1996–1999

| rank = Major general

| battles =

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| native_name_lang = am

}}

Samvel Sergeyi Shahramanyan{{efn|{{langx|hy|Սամվել Սերգեյի Շահրամանյան}}}} (born 1 December 1978) is an Armenian politician who served as the 5th and final president of the Republic of Artsakh from 10 September 2023 to 21 May 2025. He also served as the leader of the Republic of Artsakh government in exile.

He was also State Minister from August to September 2023. He also served as Minister of Military Patriotic Upbringing, Youth, Sports and Tourism, Secretary of the Security Council of Artsakh and a Major General in the Artsakh Defence Army.

Early life and career

Shahramanyan was born in Stepanakert on 1 December 1978, in what was then the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. He graduated in 1999 from the economics department of the Artsakh University. From 1996 and 1999, he served in the Artsakh Defense Army and then moved to the Artsakh National Security Service, of which he was director between 2018 and 2020 upon appointment by President Bako Sahakyan.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-07 |title=Minister of State Samvel Shahramanyan is presidential candidate of 4 of 5 forces in Karabakh legislature |url=https://news.am/eng/news/779185.html |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=news.am |language=en |archive-date=2023-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906233029/https://news.am/eng/news/779185.html |url-status=live }}

Political career

=Ministerial positions in Artsakh=

In May 2020, Shahramanyan was appointed by President Arayik Harutyunyan as Minister of Military Patriotic Upbringing, Youth, Sports and Tourism as part of the latter's government.{{cite web|url=https://armenpress.am/en/article/1016755|title=Artsakh President appoints new Minister of Military Patriotic Upbringing, Youth, Sports and Tourism|first=Aneta|last=Harutyunyan|publisher=Armenpress|date=29 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610062231/https://armenpress.am/eng/amp/1016755|archive-date=10 June 2020|url-status=live}}

On 29 August 2023, Harutyunyan stated that he was considering resigning and going to serve in Artsakh's militia.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-29 |title=BREAKING: Nagorno-Karabakh President mulls resigning and joining militia |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1118288 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831194656/https://www.armenpress.am/eng/news/1118288/ |archive-date=2023-08-31 |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=Armenpress}} On 31 August, Harutyunyan announced his resignation as president of the Republic of Artsakh along with State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan.{{Cite web |last=Avetisyan |first=Ani |date=2023-08-31 |title=Arayik Harutyunyan resigns as president of Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://oc-media.org/arayik-harutyunyan-resigns-as-president-of-nagorno-karabakh/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831195434/https://oc-media.org/arayik-harutyunyan-resigns-as-president-of-nagorno-karabakh/ |archive-date=2023-08-31 |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=OC Media}} Before his resignation, in his final decree, Harutyunyan appointed Shahramanyan as the new State Minister, giving him broad powers.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-06 |title=Four factions of Nagorno-Karabakh Parliament nominated Samvel Shahramanian as presidential candidate |url=https://www.1lurer.am/en/2023/09/06/Four-factions-of-Nagorno-Karabakh-Parliament-nominated-Samvel-Shahramanian-as-presidential-candidate/990541 |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=www.1lurer.am |language=en |archive-date=2023-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908070224/https://www.1lurer.am/en/2023/09/06/Four-factions-of-Nagorno-Karabakh-Parliament-nominated-Samvel-Shahramanian-as-presidential-candidate/990541 |url-status=live }}

=2023 election=

On 6 September 2023, it became known that three opposition parliamentary factions (Justice, Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Democratic Party of Artsakh) nominated Shahramanyan as their presidential candidate.{{Cite web |last=Anna |date=2023-09-06 |title=Three opposition factions of Artsakh nominate Samvel Shahramanyan as a presidential candidate |url=https://alphanews.am/en/three-opposition-factions-of-artsakh-nominate-samvel-shahramanyan-as-a-presidential-candidate/ |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=Alphanews |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906231520/https://alphanews.am/en/three-opposition-factions-of-artsakh-nominate-samvel-shahramanyan-as-a-presidential-candidate/ |url-status=live }} Later Shahramanyan's candidacy was supported by the largest faction of the Parliament, Free Motherland-UCA. In the presidential election held on 9 September, Shahramanyan, who was the sole candidate, was elected in a 22–1 vote out of 23 deputies present.{{cite news |title=Artsakh parliament elects Samvel Shahramanyan as president |url=https://arka.am/en/news/politics/artsakh_parliament_elects_samvel_shahramanyan_as_president/ |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=Arka |date=9 September 2023 |archive-date=9 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909172042/https://arka.am/en/news/politics/artsakh_parliament_elects_samvel_shahramanyan_as_president/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Սամվել Շահրամանյանն ընտրվել է ԱՀ նախագահ |url=https://arka.am/am/news/politics/Samvel_Shahramanyann_yntrvel_e/ |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=Arka |date=9 September 2023 |language=hy |archive-date=9 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909172043/https://arka.am/am/news/politics/Samvel_Shahramanyann_yntrvel_e/ |url-status=live }}

=Azerbaijani offensive, exodus and dissolution of Artsakh=

{{main|2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh|Flight of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians}}

Nine days after Shahramanyan was sworn in, Azerbaijan launched a military offensive against Artsakh.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-09-19 |title=Armenia, Azerbaijan: Baku Launches Military Operation In Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/armenia-azerbaijan-baku-launches-military-operation-nagorno-karabakh |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230919182727/https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/armenia-azerbaijan-baku-launches-military-operation-nagorno-karabakh |archive-date=19 September 2023 |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=Stratfor |quote=...the Russian peacekeeping contingent is incapable of preventing Azerbaijan's seizure of the region, despite this being a clear violation of the November 2020 ceasefire brokered by Russia that ended the last war.}}{{Cite web |title=Joint statement on Azerbaijan's attack on Nagorno-Karabakh {{!}} Communiqués {{!}} Documents {{!}} DSCA {{!}} Delegations {{!}} European Parliament |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/delegations/en/joint-statement-on-azerbaijan-s-attack-o/product-details/20230919DPU37422 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922111407/https://www.europarl.europa.eu/delegations/en/joint-statement-on-azerbaijan-s-attack-o/product-details/20230919DPU37422 |archive-date=22 September 2023 |access-date=2023-09-21 |publisher=www.europarl.europa.eu |quote=We condemn in the strongest terms today's pre-planned and unjustified attack of Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh...We recall that the attack takes place in the context of a major humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, following Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin Corridor for the past nine months, in violation of Baku's commitments under the ceasefire statement of 9 November 2020 and of the legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice. Humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh needs to be fully and permanently restored.}} The following day, the Artsakhi government reached a ceasefire agreement and agreed to disarm.{{Cite web |title=Russian-mediated ceasefire announced in Nagorno-Karabakh |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1120051.html |website=Armenpress |date=20 September 2023 |access-date=2023-09-28 |archive-date=2023-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921131534/https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1120051.html |url-status=live }} On 24 September, a mass evacuation of ethnic-Armenian civilians began, citing fears of persecution and ethnic cleansing if they remain.{{cite news |last=Light |first=Felix |date=23 September 2023 |title=Karabakh Armenians say ceasefire being implemented, aid is arriving |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-says-karabakh-armenian-fighters-start-giving-up-arms-2023-09-23/ |work=Reuters |access-date=23 September 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923130135/https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-says-karabakh-armenian-fighters-start-giving-up-arms-2023-09-23/ |archive-date=23 September 2023}}{{cite news |last=Roth |first=Andrew |date=24 September 2023 |title=First evacuees from Nagorno-Karabakh cross into Armenia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/24/first-evacuees-from-nagorno-karabakh-cross-into-armenia-azerbaijan |work=The Guardian |access-date=24 September 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924123645/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/24/first-evacuees-from-nagorno-karabakh-cross-into-armenia-azerbaijan |archive-date=24 September 2023}} On 28 September, Shahramanyan signed a decree stating that all state institutions would be dissolved by 1 January 2024, bringing the existence of the Republic of Artsakh to an end.{{cite news |url=https://www.leprogres.fr/defense-guerre-conflit/2023/09/28/plus-de-65-000-refugies-du-haut-karabakh-arrives-en-armenie |title=La république séparatiste du Haut-Karabakh cessera d'exister le 1er janvier 2024 |work=Le Progrès |date=28 September 2023 |access-date=28 September 2023 |language=fr |archive-date=28 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928071641/https://www.leprogres.fr/defense-guerre-conflit/2023/09/28/plus-de-65-000-refugies-du-haut-karabakh-arrives-en-armenie |url-status=live }}{{cite web | date=2023-09-28 | title=Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will cease to exist from Jan 1 2024 - Nagorno-Karabakh authorities |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nagorno-karabakh-republic-will-cease-exist-jan-1-2024-nagorno-karabakh-2023-09-28/ | access-date=2023-09-28 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928103245/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nagorno-karabakh-republic-will-cease-exist-jan-1-2024-nagorno-karabakh-2023-09-28/ | archive-date=2023-09-28 |publisher=Reuters | url-status=live}}

=Exile=

On 4 October, it was reported that Shahramanyan had left Artsakh for Armenia.{{cite web|url=https://news.am/eng/news/784906.html|title=Karabakh President Samvel Shahramanyan is already in Armenia, Artsakh MP Davit Galstyan says|publisher=News.am|date=4 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005020546/https://news.am/eng/news/784906.html|archive-date=5 October 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.armenews.com/spip.php?page=article&id_article=108626|title=Le président du Haut-Karabakh, Samvel Shahramanyan, est en Arménie|publisher=Nouvelles d'Arménie en Ligne|date=4 October 2023|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005075939/https://www.armenews.com/spip.php?page=article&id_article=108626|archive-date=5 October 2023|url-status=live}} He was spotted in Yerevan on 16 October.{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/301arm/status/1713886795291578602 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2023-10-17 |archive-date=2023-11-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104013058/https://twitter.com/301arm/status/1713886795291578602 |url-status=live }} On 22 December 2023, Shahramanyan said that there was no official document stipulating the dissolution of government institutions, and his office stated that it was "empty paper".{{Cite web |date=2023-12-22 |title=Nagorno-Karabakh dissolution not valid, says Armenian separatist leader |url=https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20231222-nagorno-karabakh-dissolution-not-valid-says-armenian-separatist-leader |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=France 24 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-28 |title=President: Document to ‘dissolve’ Karabakh republic was only way to save compatriots |url=https://news.am/eng/news/814812.html |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=news.am |language=en}} In March 2024, Shahramanyan declared the Government of Artsakh a government-in-exile alongside their institutions. This declaration was disavowed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, calling it a "security threat".{{Cite news |title=Pashinian Slams, Warns Karabakh Leaders |url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/32881240.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240721221605/https://www.azatutyun.am/a/32881240.html |archive-date=July 21, 2024 |access-date=July 21, 2024 |work=Radio Free Europe}}{{Cite news |title=Pashinyan Attacks Artsakh Government in Exile |url=https://www.oragark.com/pashinyan-attacks-artsakh-government-in-exile/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721182541/https://www.oragark.com/pashinyan-attacks-artsakh-government-in-exile/|archive-date=July 21, 2024 |access-date=July 21, 2024 |work=Oragark}} On 21 May 2025, his presidential term expired. As a result, Ashot Danielyan, who was also elected President of the National Assembly in exile, assumed presidential powers.{{cite web|url=https://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/322691/|title=Ashot Danielyan elected as new parliament speaker of Artsakh|publisher=Panarmenian.net|date=23 May 2025}}

Personal life

Shahramanyan is married and has three children.{{cite web|url=https://arka.am/en/news/politics/artsakh_parliament_elects_samvel_shahramanyan_as_president/|title=Artsakh parliament elects Samvel Shahramanyan as president|publisher=ARKA News Agency|date=9 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909172042/https://arka.am/en/news/politics/artsakh_parliament_elects_samvel_shahramanyan_as_president/|archive-date=9 September 2023|url-status=live}}