Alexander Khatisian (; 17 February 1874 – 10 March 1945) was an

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...

politician, doctor and journalist. In a letter to his wife, the first prime minister of Armenia, Hovhannes Kajaznuni, described Khatisian as a person with "inexhaustible energy and a strange ability to work". Adding that "he has entrepreneurship (initiative), strong nerves, he understands issues quickly, he has a lot of administrative experience. able to adapt and find the middle line … he is the most valued member of my cabinet today, unfortunately he has no moral authority, does not inspire faith and confidence in his personality, and this greatly hinders the work." Khatisian was born in

Tiflis Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი, ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), ( ka, ტფილისი, tr ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia ( ...

in the Tiflis Governorate of the

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(Tbilisi,

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) to a prominent Armenian family of noble origins. He first studied at a state school in Tiflis, then received his training as a doctor at universities in Moscow, Kharkov and Germany. He served as the mayor of Tiflis from 1910 to 1917. During this period Count Illarion Ivanovich Vorontsov-Dashkov consulted with him, Primate of Tiflis Bishop Mesrop Der-Movsesian, and prominent civic leader Dr. Hakob Zavriev about the creation of Armenian volunteer detachments in the summer of 1914, which Khatisian enthusiastically supported and organized. In 1917, Khatisian became a member of the

Armenian Revolutionary Federation The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (, abbr. ARF (ՀՅԴ) or ARF-D), also known as Dashnaktsutyun (Armenians, Armenian: Դաշնակցություն, Literal translation, lit. "Federation"), is an Armenian nationalism, Armenian nationalist a ...

. In the lead up to the establishment

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 ...

, he served as a member from the Armenian National Council of Tiflis to the Armenian National Council and later to the permanent executive committee selected by Armenian Congress of Eastern Armenians. After declaration of the First Republic of Armenia, he served as foreign minister and signed the Treaty of Batum with the

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. He served as interior minister January–April 1920 following the death of Aram Manukian, then served as

prime minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

from May 1919 to May 1920, resigning in the aftermath of the Bolshevik-led May Uprising. After his resignation, he sought aid for the Republic of Armenia in various European capitals. On December 3, 1920, an Armenian delegation led by Khatisian signed the Treaty of Alexandropol with Kemalist Turkey, though the government it represented no longer existed (power had already been transferred to the new Soviet authorities), making the treaty illegal. Following the Soviet takeover of Armenia, Khatisian went into exile in

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. He wrote his memoirs titled ''Kʻaghakʻapeti mě hishataknerě'' ("The Memoirs of a Mayor") and ''Hayastani Hanrapetutʻian tsagumn u zargatsʻumě'' ("History and Development of the Republic of Armenia", 1930, revised edition 1968). He was arrested following the liberation of Paris from Nazi occupation on suspicion of collaborating with the Germans, but was soon released. He died in Paris on 10 March 1945 at the age of 71.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khatisian, Alexander 1874 births 1945 deaths Georgian people of Armenian descent National University of Kharkiv alumni Ministers of foreign affairs of Armenia Prime ministers of Armenia Armenian Revolutionary Federation politicians Armenian political scientists Interior ministers of Armenia People from the First Republic of Armenia Armenian mayors of Tbilisi Ministers of social protection of the First Republic of Armenia Politicians from the Russian Empire