Mikayel Arayi Minasyan (Armenian: Միքայել Արայի Մինասյան; born on October 1, 1977) is an Armenian diplomat and politician. He served as Armenia's Ambassador to Vatican between 2013 and 2018.

M. Minasyan was born on October 1, 1977.

He attended the Murad-Rafaelyan College in Venice, Italy in 1993 - 1996. In 1996-2000 he studied at the University of Trieste and obtained Master's degree on the topic “Geostrategic and geopolitical dynamics in the Caucasus”. He earned his Ph.D. in History in 2004 from Institute of History at Armenian National Academy of Sciences, where he studied “The Armenian Cause and Armenian Church in 1977-1878.”

In 1999-2000, Minasyan headed a joint program of the Armenian Foreign Ministry and Italian Foreign Ministry on professional training for junior diplomats at the University of Trieste.

Minasyan worked for MEP Demetrio Volcic from 1999 to 2002 as a consultant for EU-South Caucasus relations and vice-chairman of the European Parliamentary Delegation to the South Caucasus.

From 2000 to 2003, he was a member of the European Movement International in Armenia. In the same period, he founded European Movement in Armenia organization.

From 2005 to 2013, Minasyan was the Honorary Consul of San Marino in Armenia.

In 2007 – 2008 he was appointed an assistant to Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan. From 2018 to November 3, 2011, he was first deputy chief of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s staff.

Right before the parliamentary elections of 2012, he joined the Campaign Headquarters of the Republican Party of Armenia. In January 2013, Minasyan headed the Campaign Headquarters of Serzh Sargsyan.

In March 2013, Minasyan was appointed as Ambassador of Armenia to Vatican. On 10 December 2013, he was appointed as Ambassador of Armenia to Sovereign Military Order of Malta (residence in Vatican). In May 2016, Minasyan was appointed as non-resident Ambassador Armenia to Portugal (residence in Vatican). In November 2018, Minasyan was recalled from office of Ambassador of Armenia to Vatican.

In April 2018, it became known that the Armenian State Revenue Committee accused Minasyan of illicit enrichment, providing false data in the assets and income declaration, as well as legalizing corrupt assets. the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan granted the State Revenue Committee’s motion and ordered Minasyan’s arrest. A year later, this decision was overturned by the Criminal Court of Appeal. In September 2020, the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan again issued a ruling to arrest Minasyan.

In February 2019, Minasyan announced an establishment of Hasratyan-Minasyan Educational and Cultural Foundation.

In 2020, Minasyan accused relatives of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of involvement in the smuggling of cigarettes, weapons, and diamonds. Following Pashinyan’s signing of the ceasefire statement concerning Nagorno-Karabakh, which took effect on November 10, 2020, Minasyan responded with the following message: “He signed it… Nikol and his gang deceived the people, misleading them with rumors of ‘victory.’ Damn you to hell, Nikol!”

Awards and Titles

“Vachagan Barepasht” Medal (May 5, 2015, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic).

The Grand Cross of the Order of Pius IX (March 16, 2016, Vatican)

The Order for Service to the Motherland II Degree (September 17, 2016).

The Great Officer of Order of Services, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (October 24, 2016, Order of Malta)

The Grand Cross of Order of Services, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (December 11, 2017, Order of Malta).

 Personal Life

Minasyan is married to Anush Sargsyan, the older daughter of Serzh Sargsyan, the President of Armenia from 2008 to 2018.

Mikayel Minasyan’s godfather is Victor Mnatsakanyan, head of Yerevan’s Kentron District, who was a member of “My Step” political alliance.