Shavarsh Kocharyan was born on April 3, 1948 in Yerevan.

Mr. Kocharyan graduated from Yerevan Polytechnic Institute in 1971. He is an engineer, mathematician, Docent and PhD of Biological Sciences. He was awarded a Patvo Nshan (Sign of Honor) Order in 1986.

From 1971-1972 he worked as a junior scientific associate in the Charentsavan branch of the Moscow Institute of Genetics. From 1972-1975 he did his postgraduate studies at the Moscow Institute of Genetics. He spent the next five years as a junior sci­entific associate at the Institute of Experimental Biology under the Academy of Sciences. From 1981-1982 he was a junior scientific associate at the Institute of Microbiology. He spent the next eight years first as a junior scientific associate, later laboratory head, divi­sion head and in the end Acting Director of Scientific Affairs in Yerevan Scientific Research Institute of Amino Acids.

From 1990-1995 he served in the Supreme Council (electoral district # 75) and he was the deputy chairman of the Supreme Council Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and the leader of the National Democrats Deputy Group.

From 1995-1999 he served in the NA from the proportional list of the National Democratic Union Party and he was a member of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and the secretary of National Democratic Union Faction.

1999-2003 was his second term as a deputy in the NA and he was the chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Youth Affairs. He was a member first of the National Democratic Union Faction, later he was not a member of any faction or deputy group and in the end joined the People's Voice Deputy Group.

On May 25, 2003 he was elected to the NA from the proportional list of the Justice Alliance he is currently on the NA Standing Committee on Social, Health Care and Environmental Protection Affairs. He is a member of the Justice Faction and the found­ing president of the National Democratic Party.

Mr. Kocharyan is married and has two children.