Levon Ter-Petrosyan

Ter-Petrosyan was arrested by Soviet authorities for his role in organizing protests over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He was imprisoned for several months, which increased his popularity among Armenian nationalists and positioned him as a leader of the independence movement.

Ter-Petrosyan co-founded the Armenian National Movement (ANM), a political party that advocated for Armenian independence from the Soviet Union. The ANM became the leading force in the independence movement and later formed the first post-Soviet government.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan was elected the first President of independent Armenia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, winning 83% of the vote. He led the country through its early years of independence, establishing state institutions and navigating the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Ter-Petrosyan led Armenia during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War against Azerbaijan. Under his leadership, Armenian forces gained control of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories, though the war resulted in significant casualties and displacement on both sides.

Ter-Petrosyan resigned as president after facing widespread protests and opposition from key allies over his proposal to compromise on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. His resignation marked a major political shift, leading to the election of Robert Kocharyan.