Artashes Babalyan, physician and minister

The photograph shows Artashes Babalyan, an Armenian physician, statesman and public figure, and a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. He was Minister of Social Protection of the First Republic of Armenia from 31 October 1919 to 5 May 1920. Under his leadership the state helped refugees, orphans, widows and war invalids amid famine, epidemics and devastation.

During the First World War Babalyan was chief physician of the Armenian volunteer regiment “Vardan” and took part in battles on the Caucasian front, including the defence and liberation of Van in 1915. He saved soldiers' lives and organised hospitals and the evacuation of the wounded. In 1920, during the Turkish-Armenian war, he was at the front as a government representative and was taken prisoner by Turkish troops. After his release he lived and worked in Iran.

In this portrait he wears a tall fur hat and a military tunic with metal buttons.