Vahan Hovhannisyan was born on August 16, 1956 in Yerevan.

Mr. Hovhanissyan 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. He spent the next nine years work­ing first as a scientific assistant and later as a head of the scientific research division in the Erebuni Museum. In 1989 he worked as a scientific associate in the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography under the Academy of Sciences. From 1990-1992 he took part in the Artsakh liberation movement. From 1990-1992 he was a member of the Armenia Central Committee of the Armenia Revolutionary Federation and from 1992­1995 was a member of its bureau. From 1995-1998 he was detained for a political cause (the allegation was not confirmed). From 1998-1999 he worked as an advisor to the President and head of the Commission on Issues of Local Self-Governance.

1999-2003 was his first term as a deputy in the NA (electoral district # 17) where he served 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 Revolutinary Federation and elected Vice Chairman of the NA on June 12. He is also a member of both the Armenian Revolutinary Federation Faction and its bureau.

Mr. Hovhannisyan is married and has two children.