Early Life and Career
Ter-Petrosyan was born in Aleppo, Syria to one of many Armenian families to survive the Armenian Genocide. They emigrated to Soviet Armenia in 1946.
In 1968, Ter-Petrosyan graduated from the Oriental Studies Department of the Yerevan State University. In 1972, he completed his postgraduate studies at the Leningrad State University. In 1987, he received his doctoral degree from the same university. In 1972-1978, Ter-Petrosyan worked as junior researcher at the Literature Institute of Armenia named after Manouk Abeghian. In 1978-1985, he held the post of science secretary at Matenadaran named after Saint Mesrob Mashdots. Since 1985, Ter-Petrosyan has been working at Matenadaran as a senior researcher.
He is married to Lyudmila Ter-Petrosyan. They have one son, David Ter-Petrosyan, and three grandchildren.
Ter-Petrosyan is fluent in Armenian, Assyrian, Russian, French, English, German, Arabic and some extinct languages. He is the author of more than 70 scholarly publications in Armenian, Russian and French. He is also a member of the Writers Union of Armenia, the French Asian Society, the Venice Mkhitarian Academy and a recipient of honorary doctorates from the University of La Verne, University of Sofia, Sorbonne University and University of Strasbourg.
Ter-Petrosyan's political career started in the 1960s. In 1966 he was arrested for his active participation in an April 24 demonstration. In February 1988, he led Matenadaran's Karabakh committee. In May of the same year, he became involved with the Armenian Committee of the Karabakh movement. From December 10, 1988, to May 31, 1989, he was under arrest in Matrosskaya Tishina together with other members of the Karabakh Committee.
In 1989, Ter-Petrosyan was elected Member of the Board of the Pan-Armenian National Movement. Later on, he became the Chairman of the Board.
On August 27, 1989, he was elected as deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR. He was re-elected as deputy on May 20, 1990. On August 4 of the same year, he became Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia.
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