Ashot Ghulian

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Ashot Vladimiri Ghulian (born 19 August 1965) is a Nagorno-Karabakh politician. He served as the President of the National Assembly of Artsakh from 1 July 2005 to 21 May 2020. He also held government posts: Minister of Foreign Affairs (2002–2004) and Minister of Education, Culture and Sports (2004–2005). He is a member of the Democratic Party of Artsakh.

Early life and education: He was born in Khndzristan, Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1983 he studied history at Stepanakert Pedagogical Institute. He served in the Soviet Army from 1984 to 1986, and in 1990 he graduated from Vanadzor Pedagogical Institute. He taught at a local high school and took part in village self-defense during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1991–1992). He began public service in 1992, working with the Supreme Council and Foreign Ministry, becoming Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1998. He left the Foreign Ministry in 2001 and became a leader in the Democratic Party of Artsakh.

Political career: In October 2002 he became Nagorno-Karabakh’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and in 2004 he was appointed Minister of Education, Culture and Sports. In January 2005 he became president of the Central Council of the Democratic Party of Artsakh, and on 30 June 2005 he was elected speaker of the National Assembly. In the 2010 elections, the Artsakh Democratic Party finished second behind the Free Motherland party. He has visited the United States to seek support for Artsakh. He is married and has received the Order of St. Gregory the Illuminator.