Democratic Republic of Armenia - Administration

Administration

On May 30, 1918 the Armenian Revolutionary Federation had decided that Armenia should be a republic under a provisional coalition government. The declaration stated that the Republic of Armenia was to be a self-governing state, endowed with a constitution, the supremacy of state authority, independence, sovereignty, and plenipotentiary power. Katchaznouni became the country's first Prime Minister and Aram Manukian was the first minister of Interior.

Armenia established a Ministry of Interior and created a police force. The Armenian parliament passed a law on the police on April 21, 1920, specifying its structure, jurisdiction, and responsibilities. The Interior Ministry was also responsible for communications and telegraph, railroad, and the public school system, in addition to enforcing law and order. The reforms come soon and each of these departments became ministries.

In 1919, the leaders of the Republic had to deal with issues on three fronts: domestic, regional, and international. The Armenian Congress of Eastern Armenians that took control in 1918 fell apart and in June 1919, the first national elections were held. The establishment of law was a problem: Armenians had the most organized structure in their homeland; however, several other ethnic groups had been settled for many centuries in these lands, too (Kurds and Azeris were the major ones). During the 1920s, which began under the premiership of Kachaznuni, Armenians from the former Russian Empire and United States developed the judicial system. January 1919 was an important milestone as the country's first state university was founded.

Speakers of the Parliament of Democratic Republic of Armenia

1. Avetik Sahakyan (1 August 1918 - 1 August 1919)
2. Avetis Aharonyan (1 August 1919 - 4 November 1920)
3. Hovhannes Katchaznouni (4 November 1920 - 2 December 1920)

Prime Ministers in the Democratic Republic of Armenia

1. Hovhannes Katchaznouni (30 June 1918 – 28 May 1919)
2. Alexander Khatisyan (28 May 1919 – 5 May 1920)
3. Hamazasp "Hamo" Ohanjanyan (5 May 1920 – 25 November 1920)
4. Simon Vratsian (25 November 1920 – 2 December 1920)