Levon Ter-Petrosyan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Levon Ter-Petrosyan
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| Լևոն Տեր-Պետրոսյան | |
Ter-Petrosyan in 2014
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| 1st President of Armenia | |
| In office 11 November 1991 – 3 February 1998 |
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| Prime Minister | Vazgen Manukyan Gagik Harutyunyan Khosrov Harutyunyan Hrant Bagratyan Armen Sarkissian Robert Kocharyan |
| Vice President | Gagik Harutyunyan |
| Preceded by | Position established (Aram G. Sargsyan as First Secretary of the Communist Party) |
| Succeeded by | Robert Kocharyan |
| Chairman of the Supreme Council of Armenia | |
| In office 4 August 1990 – 11 November 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Hakob Voskanyan (as Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR) |
| Succeeded by | Babken Ararktsyan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Levon Hakobi Ter-Petrosyan
9 January 1946 Aleppo, Syria |
| Nationality | Armenian |
| Political party | Pan-Armenian National Movement (1989–2008) Armenian National Congress (2008–) |
| Other political affiliations |
Pan-Armenian National Movement (2008–2013) |
| Spouse | Lyudmila Ter-Petrosyan (née Pleskovskaya) |
| Children | David Ter-Petrosyan |
| Alma mater | Yerevan State University Leningrad State University |
| Signature |  |
Levon Ter-Petrosyan (born January 9, 1946) is an Armenian politician and historian. He was the first president of Armenia. He served from 1991 until he resigned in 1998.
Before becoming president, he was a researcher at the Matenadaran. He led the Karabakh movement starting in 1988. This movement aimed to unite the Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh region with Armenia. After Armenia became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991, Ter-Petrosyan was elected president. He guided the country through the First Nagorno-Karabakh War against Azerbaijan.
He was reelected in 1996, but there were claims of election problems. This led to large protests. He resigned in 1998 because he disagreed with his government members. They had different ideas about a peace plan for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
After his resignation, he stayed out of politics for a while. In 2007, he returned and ran for president again in 2008. He claimed the elections were unfair. This led to big protests, where sadly some people died. In 2008, he started the Armenian National Congress (ANC) party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Levon Ter-Petrosyan was born on January 9, 1946, in Aleppo, Syria. His family was Armenian and came from a long line of priests. They had taken part in a resistance movement during the Armenian genocide. His father was a founding member of the Syrian Communist Party.
His family moved to Soviet Armenia in 1947. He was still a baby at the time.
In 1969, he finished his studies at Yerevan State University. He continued his education at Leningrad State University, getting his doctoral degree in 1987. From 1972 to 1984, he worked as a researcher and science secretary at the Matenadaran. This is a famous center for ancient manuscripts.
Academic Work
Ter-Petrosyan wrote his main research paper on the Assyrian language. He also wrote many books and scientific articles in Armenian, French, and Russian. He is a member of the Writers Union of Armenia. He has received honorary doctorates from several universities around the world.
Karabakh Movement and Armenia's Independence
In the late 1980s, the Karabakh movement began in Soviet Armenia. Its goal was to join the Armenian-majority region of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. In May 1988, Levon Ter-Petrosyan and others formed a new Karabakh Committee. Ter-Petrosyan became the main leader of this committee.
The movement grew from just focusing on Nagorno-Karabakh to also seeking more democracy. From December 1988 to May 1989, Ter-Petrosyan was held in prison in Moscow. After his release, he continued his work.
In 1989, Ter-Petrosyan and the Karabakh Committee members started a political party. It was called the Pan-Armenian National Movement (ANM). He later became the party's chairman. In May 1990, the ANM won most seats in the Supreme Soviet of Armenia. This was a big step, as it was the first non-communist party to gain power in a Soviet republic. On August 4, 1990, Ter-Petrosyan was elected Chairman of the Supreme Council. This made him the leader of Armenia.
As Armenia moved towards independence, there were more clashes. On August 23, 1990, Armenia officially declared its intention to become an independent state. It also stated that Nagorno-Karabakh was an important part of it. Ter-Petrosyan did not agree with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's plan for a new union. Armenia chose not to take part in the referendum for this new union in March 1991.
In May 1991, Ter-Petrosyan said that the Soviet Union had "declared war on Armenia." He opposed the attempt to overthrow Gorbachev in August 1991. On September 20, 1991, Armenians voted strongly for independence. The country officially declared independence three days later.
Presidency: 1991–1998
First Term and the Karabakh War
Levon Ter-Petrosyan was elected the first President of independent Armenia on October 16, 1991. He received 83% of the votes. He then brought Armenia into the Commonwealth of Independent States. This group formed after the Soviet Union officially ended in December 1991.
In late 1991, fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh grew into a full-scale war. Ter-Petrosyan, as commander-in-chief, led the country during this time. In May 1992, Armenian forces achieved a major victory by capturing Shusha. They also captured Lachin weeks later, which connects Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh.
The war caused great hardship for both countries. A ceasefire agreement was signed in May 1994. This ended the war with Armenian forces controlling more territories.
Economic Challenges
After the Soviet Union broke up, Armenia faced very difficult economic times. The country, which is landlocked and has few natural resources, was trying to change to a market economy. The war with Azerbaijan also caused problems. Azerbaijan stopped gas supplies and other goods from entering Armenia. The border with Turkey was also closed. Routes through Georgia were often blocked due to civil unrest there.
Armenia's economy suffered greatly from 1991 to 1993. There were widespread fuel shortages. These years are remembered as the "dark and cold years." Things got better after a nuclear power plant was restarted in 1995. Ter-Petrosyan's prime minister, Hrant Bagratyan, started economic reforms. These reforms helped Armenia's economy begin to recover. However, many people left the country during this difficult period.
1996 Reelection and Protests
Ter-Petrosyan ran for president again in 1996. According to official results, he won with about 52% of the vote. However, the opposition and many international observers claimed there were problems with the election.
On September 25, 1996, about 200,000 people protested in Yerevan. Some protesters entered the parliament building. Police and military forces were brought in to stop the protests.
Resignation
Ter-Petrosyan resigned in February 1998. This happened after he suggested a peace plan for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Many Armenians felt this plan would make their country less safe. Key members of his government, including Prime Minister Robert Kocharyan and Defense Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, disagreed with the plan. The leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh also opposed it.
The proposed plan involved returning some Armenian-controlled territories to Azerbaijan. In return, international peacekeepers would be sent to the region. It also aimed to lift blockades on Armenia. Ter-Petrosyan said he resigned to avoid serious conflict within the country.
Political Comeback
After resigning, Ter-Petrosyan mostly stayed out of public life. He focused on his scientific research. In 2005 and 2007, he published a two-volume history book.
2008 Election
On September 21, 2007, Ter-Petrosyan gave his first public speech in almost ten years. He strongly criticized the government at that time. He then announced he would run for president in the 2008 election. He accused the government of corruption. He also said that the current leaders were accepting a peace plan for Nagorno-Karabakh that was similar to what he had proposed years earlier. Several opposition parties supported him.
Protests
The election was held on February 19, 2008. Official results showed Ter-Petrosyan in second place. He and his supporters claimed the election was rigged. They started large protests in Yerevan on February 20.
On March 1, authorities moved in to clear the protest camp. Law enforcement agents dispersed the protesters. Ter-Petrosyan was placed under house arrest. Later, tens of thousands of protesters gathered again. The president declared a state of emergency, allowing the army to enter the capital. Sadly, some people died during these events. Ter-Petrosyan asked his supporters to go home to prevent more harm.
Armenian National Congress
In 2011, Ter-Petrosyan again led protests in Armenia. He was the leader of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition group. He called for the release of political prisoners and the government to resign.
2012 Parliamentary Election
Levon Ter-Petrosyan led the ANC in the 2012 parliamentary election. The ANC won 7.08% of the votes, gaining 7 seats in parliament.
2013 Presidential Election
In December 2012, Ter-Petrosyan decided not to run for president in the February 2013 election. He said that someone his age (68) should not seek the presidency in a democratic country. The ANC officially stated they would not take part in the election.
On February 7, 2013, Ter-Petrosyan said the ANC should become one single political party. The presidential election was held on February 18, 2013. Ter-Petrosyan voted for the "sake of the Republic of Armenia." The current president, Serzh Sargsyan, won the election.
On April 13, 2013, the Armenian National Congress officially changed from an alliance of parties to a single party.
2021 Snap Parliamentary Election
Ter-Petrosyan led the ANC's list in the June 2021 snap parliamentary elections. He said he would not take his seat in parliament if the ANC did not win a majority. The ANC received 1.54% of the vote, which was below the 5% needed to enter parliament.
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War and Aftermath
During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, Ter-Petrosyan met with other former presidents of Armenia. They discussed the situation. He and Robert Kocharyan asked to go to Moscow as special negotiators, but the visit did not happen.
After Armenia's defeat in the war, Ter-Petrosyan released a statement. He warned about the risk of a destructive conflict within the country. He called for the prime minister to resign voluntarily. He also urged leaders to find a solution through legal means.
In March 2021, Ter-Petrosyan met with former presidents Kocharyan and Sargsyan again. He suggested they form an alliance for the 2021 parliamentary election. This idea was rejected by both Kocharyan and Sargsyan.
Personal Life
Levon Ter-Petrosyan is married to Lyudmila. They have one son, David, who is an economist and businessman. They also have four grandchildren.
He speaks Armenian and Russian fluently. He also has a working knowledge of nine other languages.
Images for kids
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Levon Ter-Petrosyan's signature
See also
In Spanish: Levon Ter-Petrosián para niños
