Cabinets of the First Republic of Armenia

The First Republic of Armenia was the first independent Armenian state since the Cilician Kingdom of Armenia, proclaimed on 28 May 1918 in the territory of present Armenia. The republic lasted until 2 December 1920 when it was partitioned by the Russian SFSR and the Turkish Nationalist forces. In the two and a half years of its existence, the republic was composed of 9 mostly Dashnak-dominated cabinets.

First Cabinet

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(30 June 1918 - 4 November 1918)

After weeks of negotiations, the Armenian National Council sent Hovhannes Kachaznuni to Yerevan to form the first Armenian cabinet on an "individual basis":[1]

Portfolio Holder Party
Premier (Minister-President) Hovhannes Kachaznuni Dashnak
Foreign Affairs Alexander Khatisian
Internal Affairs Aram Manukian
Financial Affairs Khachatur Karchikyan
Military Affairs Hovhannes Hakhverdyan Non-partisan

Second Cabinet

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(4 November 1918 - Spring 1919)

Populist Kristapor Vermishian replaced Levon Ghulian as Minister of Provisions on 1 March 1919. In March, 1919, Colonel Christophor Araratov was promoted to a major general, becoming the Minister of Military Affairs:[2]

Portfolio Holder Party
Premier (Minister-President) Hovhannes Kachaznuni Dashnak
Foreign Affairs Sirakan Tigranyan
Internal Affairs Aram Manukian
Welfare (Public Assistance) Khachatur Karchikyan
Military Affairs Hovhannes Hakhverdian Non-partisan
Financial Affairs Artashes Enfiadjian Populist
Judicial Affairs Samson Harutiunian
Enlightenment (Public Instruction) Mikayel Atabekian
Provisions Levon Ghulyan

Third Cabinet

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(Spring 1919 - 28 May 1919)

The third cabinet was as follows:[3]

Portfolio Holder Party
Premier (Minister-President) Hovhannes Kachaznuni Dashnak
Foreign Affairs Sirakan Tigranyan
Internal Affairs Alexander Khatisian
Welfare (Public Assistance) Sahak Torosyan
Justice Samson Harutiunian Populist
Finance Artashes Enfiadjian
Enlightenment Gevorg Melik-Karageozian
Provisions Kristapor Vermishian
Military Affairs Christophor Araratov Non-partisan

Fourth Cabinet

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(28 May 1919 - 10 August 1919)

Khatisian formed an interim cabinet before the coming election after the Populists boycotted the Dashnaks; Harutiun Chmshkian left the Populists to remain in the cabinet:[4]

Portfolio Holder Party
Premier-President (Abroad) Hovhannes Kachaznuni Dashnak
Acting Premier Alexander Khatisian
Foreign Affairs
Internal Affairs Sargis Manasian
Welfare Sahak Torosian
Public Instruction Sirakan Tigranian
Justice Harutiun Chmshkian Non-partisan
Military Affairs General Christophor Araratov

Fifth Cabinet

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(10 August 1919 - Spring 1920)

The 1919 Armenian parliamentary election gave the Dashnaks a "sweeping majority in the legislature":[5][6]

Portfolio Holder Party
Minister-President Alexander Khatisian Dashnak
Foreign Affairs
Internal Affairs Abraham Gyulkhandanyan
Judicial Affairs
Finance Sargis Araratyan
Provisions
Welfare and Labor Avetik Sahakyan
Agricultural Administration
Public Enlightenment and Culture Nikol Aghbalian
Military Affairs Christophor Araratov Non-partisan

Sixth Cabinet

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(February 1920 - 5 April 1920)

Most ministries were reorganised in preparation for a campaign of national reconstruction:[7]

Portfolio Holder Party
Minister-President Alexander Khatisian Dashnak
Foreign Affairs
Internal Affairs Abraham Gyulkhandanyan
Judicial Affairs Artashes Chilingarian
Communications Arshak Jamalyan
Finance Sargis Araratyan
Welfare and Reconstruction Artashes Babalian
Rural Economy and State Properties Simon Vratsian
Labor
State Controller Grigor Djaghetian
Military Affairs Major General Christophor Araratov Non-partisan

Seventh Cabinet

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(5 April 1920 - 5 May 1920)

For the first time since the first cabinet, Dashnaks held all the posts:[8]

Portfolio Holder Party
Minister-President Alexander Khatisian Dashnak
Foreign Affairs Hamo Ohanjanyan
Internal Affairs Abraham Gyulkhandanyan
Finance Sargis Araratyan
Justice Artashes Chilingarian
Communiations Arshak Jamalyan
Welfare and Reconstruction Artashes Babalian
Labour Simon Vratsian
Agriculture and State Properties
Public Education and Culture Nikol Aghbalian
Military Affairs Ruben Ter-Minasian

Eighth Cabinet

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(5 May 1920 - 25 November 1920)

Following the chaos of the May Uprising, Alexander Khatisian resigned from the cabinet, leading to a formation of a new government under Hamo Ohandjanian:[9]

Portfolio Holder Party
Minister-President Hamo Ohanjanyan Dashnak
Foreign Affairs
Internal Affairs Ruben Ter-Minasian
Military Affairs
Finance Abraham Gyulkhandanyan
Justice
Welfare and Reconstruction Sargis Araratyan
Labor Simon Vratsian
Agriculture and State Properties
Communications Arshak Jamalyan
Public Enlightenment and Culture Gevorg Ghazarian

Ninth Cabinet

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(25 November 1920 - 2 December 1920)

As the Turkish-Armenian War progressed unfavourably for the Republic of Armenia, the government of Hamo Ohandjanian resigned, leading to Simon Vratsian forming the last cabinet of Armenia before its partition:[10]

Portfolio Holder Party
Minister-President Simon Vratsian Dashnak
Foreign Affairs
Interim Internal Affairs
Military Affairs Drastamat Kanayan
Finance Hambardzum Terterian
Interim Welfare
Agriculture and State Properties Arshak Hovhannisyan
Judicial Affairs Arsham Khondkarian Social Revolutionary
Interim Commercial Affairs
Public Enlightenment and Culture Vahan Minakhorian
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References

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Bibliography

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  • Hovannisian, Richard G. (1971). The Republic of Armenia: The First Year, 1918–1919. Vol. 1. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520019843.