He was born on August 16, 1956 in Yerevan.

He graduated with degrees in history and archaeology from the Moscow Pedagogical Institute in 1978. He is a Historical Sciences PhD. From 1978-1980 he served in the Soviet army.

In 1980-1989 he worked as a research assistant and later as a head of the scientific research division in the Erebuni Museum. In 1989 he worked as a research assistant in the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography under the Academy of Sciences.

In 1990-1992 he took part in the Artsakh liberation movement.

In 1990-1992 he was a member of the Armenia Central Committee of the Armenia Revolutionary Federation and from 1992­1995 was a member of ARF bureau. In 1995-1998 he was arrested for a political cause (the allegation was not confirmed).

In 1998-1999 he worked as an advisor to the President of the Republic of Armenia and head of the Commission on Issues of Local Self-Government.

1999-2003 was his first term as a deputy in the NA (electoral district # 17), where he as Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs; he was also a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Faction.

On May 25, 2003 he was reelected from the proportional list of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and elected Vice-President of the National Assembly on June 12.

He was also a member of both the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Faction and its bureau.

On May 12, 2007 he was elected as a deputy of the National Assembly from the proportional list of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

On June 7, 2007 he was elected Vice-President of the National Assembly.

He is fluent in Russian and English, and he knows German (with a dictionary).

He is married and has two children.