Anastas Barkhudar
Anastas Barkhudar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First Secretary of State | |
| Assumed office 22 July 2010 | |
| Deputy | Almasd Dzolkert Ashot Vorsapetn |
| Directorates | See list
|
| Preceded by | Hetav Bartev |
| Member of the Directory from Armavia | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2010 | |
| Appointed by | Zaal Khurtsilava |
| Preceded by | Ovsanna Manoukian |
| Member of the Directory from Bayazet | |
| In office 20 July 2000 – 17 July 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Isaac Nersessian |
| Succeeded by | Hetav Bartev |
| State Secretary for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 7 September 1993 – 16 April 1996 | |
| Directorates | 9th 10th 11th 12th |
| Preceded by | Anastas Hariri |
| Succeeded by | Lorin Polat |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Anastas Barkhudar 22 February 1959 Tayots, Armavia, Vardana |
| Political party | Radical |
| Other political affiliations | Hravart (before 1983) |
| Spouse(s) | Delal Azmoun (m. 1988; div. 2006) Berfin Alikar (m. 2009) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Hrazdan |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Vardana |
| Branch/service |  Vardanan Army |
| Years of service | 1977 – 1984 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
Anastas Barkhudar (born 22 February 1959) is an Vardani statesman and former military officer serving, who has served as Director from Armavia and First Secretary of State since 2010. He previously served on the Directory representing the Republic of Bayazet from 2000 to 2004.
Barkhudar was born in Tayots in the Armavia. He studied law at the State University of Hrazdan, graduating in 1982. He was conscripted into the military in 1977, and served as an officer in the Vardani Army until 1984, earning the rank of Lieutenant. In 1991, he entered politics and worked as an aide to Director Zoravar Davtyan, and later as Foreign Secretary from 1993 to 1996. He joined the Directory in 2000, after a successful election in Bayazet. Following his electoral defeat in 2004, Barkhudar married his second wife, Berfin Alikar, and moved back to Armavia. In 2010, he was appointed to the Directory by then President Zaal Khurtsilava, and was elected First Secretary three months later. Barkhudar was first elected First Secretary of State in the 26th Directory, and is the longest serving officeholder, and second-longest serving de facto Vardani head of state since the revolution.
During his initial term as First Secretary, the Vardani economy grew by seven percent annually on average due to economic reforms. He has persued policies to further centralize government agencies and strengthen the bureaucracy which has increasingly becomes less independent throughout his tenure. Barkhudar's Secretariat has undertaken a modernization of the military and an expansion of social spending, but has been widely criticized for regressive policies, nepotism, political patronage, and attempts to further centralize the government.