Sargis Shahnazar Araratyan (; 1886–1943) was an Armenian politician who served as Minister of Finance of the

First Republic of Armenia The First Republic of Armenia, officially known at the time of its existence as the Republic of Armenia, was an independent History of Armenia, Armenian state that existed from May (28th ''de jure'', 30th ''de facto'') 1918 to 2 December 1920 in ...

from 1919 to 1920 and Minister of Social Protection in 1920. Sargis Araratyan was a chemist by profession, as well as a public figure, a statesman and a prominent politician, a member of the ARF (Armenian Revolutionary Federation). He lived in Baku and took an active role in the Armenian National life. Hovannisian describes Sargis Araratian in The Republic of Armenia, Vol. II:

... like other Dashnakist intellectuals, raratianserved as teacher, editor, and field-worker. Regarded as an incisive thinker, he was often consulted by highly placed comrades. At the time of the Persian revolution in 1906 he was teaching at
Tabriz Tabriz (; ) is a city in the Central District (Tabriz County), Central District of Tabriz County, in the East Azerbaijan province, East Azerbaijan province of northwestern Iran. It serves as capital of the province, the county, and the distric ...
, where he was closely associated with the Persian Armenian revolutionary leader Eprem Khan. He later earned a doctorate in chemistry at the
University of Geneva The University of Geneva (French: ''Université de Genève'') is a public university, public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded in 1559 by French theologian John Calvin as a Theology, theological seminary. It rema ...
, while collaborating with Mikayel Varandian in the management of Droshak (“Banner”), central organ of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. After his return to the Caucasus, Araratian was first attached to one of the Armenian volunteer regiments as a propagandist and then participated in the defense of Baku in 1918. Now, at thirty-three years of age, he took on the tremendous problems of finance and provisions in the Republic of Armenia.

In 1918, he was elected a member of Baku City Council and sent to

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

for negotiations on the future of Baku. In late 1918, after Armenia gained independence he moved to Yerevan. From 1919 to 1920, Araratyan was elected a member of the ARF Bureau, and a member of Parliament. He held the post of the Minister of Finance and also the Minister of Provisions (08.1919-05.1920). In the period of 05.1920-12.1920 he was the Minister of Assistance and Reconstruction. He left Yerevan in 1920, lived in Bucharest, Romania.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Araratyan, Sargis 1886 births 1943 deaths Armenian chemists Armenian nationalists Armenian Revolutionary Federation politicians People from the First Republic of Armenia Finance ministers of Armenia Ministers of social protection of the First Republic of Armenia Russian Constituent Assembly members