Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan today hosted Ambassador Argo Avakov, newly appointed to the post of the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Abrahamyan stressed the positive role that the Office has played in facilitating various reforms in Armenia, singling out the legislative sector, improvement of the business arena, and the defense of human rights.

Before joining the OSCE, Ambassador Avakov served as Chief Adviser at the Foreign Policy Directorate of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation since 2008. Between 1998 and 2008 he held several posts within the United Nations Development Programme. His previous diplomatic postings include several senior positions at the Foreign Ministry in the Russian Federation; earlier he served at the embassies in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Ambassador Avakov holds an M.A. in oriental studies from Moscow State University. He speaks Russian, English, Nepali, Hindi and Armenian.

Photo (from left): Ambassador Argov, PM Abrahamyan