The Caucasus Initiative of the Russia and Eurasia Program at CSIS hosted Arthur Baghdasaryan, who is one of Armenia's leading politicians and, until last year, parliamentary chairman. The discussion addressed Armenia's democratic landscape prior to the May 2007 parliamentary elections. These elections will be critical for defining Armenia’s future political trajectory.
Arthur Baghdasaryan is the founder and chairman of the Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law) Party, established in 1998. Prior to founding the Rule of Law Party, Mr. Baghdasaryan was a member of Armenia's National Assembly and was elected chairman of the National Assembly's committee on state and legal affairs in 1998. As chairman of the Rule of Law faction, he served a second term in the National Assembly from 1999 to 2003 and was also a member of the National Assembly's committee on foreign relations (2001-2003). In 2003, the Rule of Law Party doubled its vote in parliamentary elections, and Mr. Baghdasaryan was elected President (Chairman) of the National Assembly. He resigned from his position in May 2006.
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