Name of leader Arkday Gukasyan
Organization Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR)
Conflict country Azerbaijan
Gender Male
Year of birth 1957[1]
Place of birth Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Azerbaijan (Soviet Union)[2]
Year of death N/A
Deceased
No, there is no evidence that he has died in any sources.
Birth order
His birth order is unknown.
Age at start of rebel leadership
He became leader in 1997, so at age 40.[3]
Leader entry method
He was elected.[4]
Powersharing
No, there is no evidence of powersharing.
Education (also name universities attended, if any); note any relevant experiences while a student
“Finished the secondary school No8 of Stepanakert.”[5] “He graduated in 1979 from Yerevan State University with a degree in linguistics.”[6]
Ever married? If yes, age of first marriage
Yes, but at what age he married is unknown.[7]
Children
Yes, he had two children.[8]
Religious identification
He is probably Christian, since he is likely Armenian.
Elite family background
His family background is unknown.
Political affiliations and intellectual circles; note any relevant social connections made
No, there is no evidence of political affiliations.
Physical and mental health
No, there is no evidence of poor physical or mental health.
Pre-militant leader occupation
“He started his working career as a correspondent for “Soviet Karabagh” newspaper, becoming its Deputy Editor-in- Chief in 1981.”[9]
Experience in a state military, and role; any relevant social ties
No, there is no evidence of experience in a state military.
Experience in a nonstate military, and role; any relevant social ties
No, there is no evidence of experience in a nonstate military.
Combat experience prior to assuming resistance organization leadership?
No, there is no evidence of combat experience.
Held government position prior to assuming leadership?
No, there is no evidence he held a government position.
Lived in exile?
No, there is no evidence he lived in exile.
Study abroad?
No because even though he studied in Armenia, Armenia was part of the Soviet Union.[10]
Did the leader receive military training abroad?
No, there is no evidence of military training abroad.
Did the leader have extensive work experience abroad?
No, there is no evidence of extensive work experience abroad.
Serve time in prison? Social connections during that time?
No, there is no evidence of he served time in prison.
Was there an assassination attempt on the leader by the state?
No, there is no evidence of an assassination attempt by the state.
Cause of Death?
N/A
Primary language, and other languages spoken as adult
He spoke Armenian as his primary language. He likely spoke Russian as well.
Image Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Արկադի_Ղուկասեան.jpg/440px-Արկադի_Ղուկասեան.jpg
[1] “Arkadi Ghuykasyan,” Persons, January 1, 2006, Accessed July 9, 2017, https://web.archive.org/web/20110402070202/http://www.persons.am/en/91.html
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] “ARKADY A. GHUKASYAN,” National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, Accessed September 11, 2018, http://www.nankr.am/en/2435.
[6] See f.n.1
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.