Zareh Sinanyan
Education
Zareh Sinanyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia, in 1973 and attended the local school No. 172.
He and his family immigrated to the United States in 1988 and settled in Burbank, California. Sinanyan attended the John Muir Middle School in Burbank and went on to graduate from Burbank High School. In 1997 he earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and history at the University of California, Los Angeles. He then attended law school at the University of Southern California, where he obtained his Juris Doctor. While in law school, Sinanyan worked for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and interned for Justice Earl Johnson of the California Court of Appeal. After his graduation from law school, he entered civil litigation service, working for several law firms.
Professional
In 2006, Sinanyan was appointed to the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission of Glendale, California, and held this position until 2008. He was also appointed to and served on the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee from 2008 through 2013. He served as chairman to the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee from 2009 through 2011.
In April 2013, Sinanyan was elected to the Glendale City Council. He was the first Armenian-born politician elected in the United States, and as a Council Member in Glendale, which is home to the largest concentrated Armenian diaspora community in the world. From April 2013 through April 2014, and from April 2017 through April 2018 he served as Chairman of the Glendale Housing Authority, he was also the founding Chair of the Glendale Economic Development Corporation.
Sinanyan served as Mayor of Glendale from April 2014 through April 2015, and April 2018 through June 2019.
From May of 2017 through June of 2019 Sinanyan served as Chair of Eco-Rapid Transit rail authority and President of Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority. From March 2017 through June of 2019 Sinanyan served on the Metropolitan Water District Board and Southern California Association of Governments Board of Directors.
On June 14, 2019, Sinanyan was appointed to serve as the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. He has been living in Armenia since then.
Other
Political Affiliation
Non-partisan
Marital Status
Sinanyan is married, he has one daughter and three sons.
News and announcements
The Barsamian School in Nice celebrates its 35th anniversary
27 June 2022
The spouse of the Prime Minister of the RA, Anna Hakobyan, accompanied by the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan, visited the Barsamian Cultural Complex in Nice.
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Armenia-Greece-Cyprus Trilateral Memorandum signed
24 June 2022
On June 24, a memorandum on trilateral cooperation on diaspora issues was signed between Armenia, Greece and Cyprus in Athens.
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Meeting with the Armenian community of Greece
24 June 2022
High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan met the Armenian organizations of Greece, the representatives of the Armenian clergy, and met with the representatives of the Armenian community of Greece at the Armenian Embassy in Athens.
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Zareh Sinanyan is on a working visit to Greece
23 June 2022
During his working visit to Greece, High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan met with the Chairman of the Greek-Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Akis Dagazian, and businessman Daniel Apikian.
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The delegation of the Ramgavar Azatakan Party met the High Commissioner
21 June 2022
High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan, welcomed the members of the Central Board of the Ramgavar Azatakan Party (Armenian Democratic Liberal Party) headed by Board Chairman - Michael Kharapian.
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Trilateral memorandum to be signed with Cyprus and Greece
20 June 2022
High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of RA Zareh Sinanyan will be on a working visit to Greece on June 22-24.
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Association of Armenian Lawyers Conference
19 June 2022
High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan attended the annual report conference of the Association of Armenian Lawyers in Moscow.
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Visiting cultural and educational institutions
15 June 2022
High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan visited the Narek Educational Foundation’s daycare and Saturday school in Los Angeles.
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The High Commissioner concluded his visit to Los Angeles
15 June 2022
The High Commissioner held a separate meeting with representatives of the Hayduk organization and other community organizations in Los Angeles.
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Meeting with representatives of the medical field and the founders of DISQO
15 June 2022
In Los Angeles, High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan met with our partners in the medical field, who played a critical role in supporting Armenia in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and during the 44-day war and post-war period.
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ARPA 30th Anniversary Gala
13 June 2022
In Los Angeles, High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan attended the ARPA Institute’s 30th Anniversary Gala.
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Zareh Sinanyan held a series of meetings in Chicago
07 June 2022
RA High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan’s visit to the U.S. continues.
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Zareh Sinanyan met with the Armenian community of Michigan
06 June 2022
High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Zareh Sinanyan is on a working visit to the United States of America.
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Diaspora Youth Ambassador 2021 program: Online closing ceremony
30 May 2022
On May 30, the 2021 Diaspora Youth Ambassador program of the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Armenia celebrated the online closing ceremony for its first group cohort.
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Opening of the Invest Armenia business platform
24 May 2022
Invest Armenia (https://investin.am/) business platform is officially operational. It bridges investment offers in Armenia with potential investors and local producers with wholesale buyers from abroad. High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan participated in the official presentation.
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High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan's message on the occasion of the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
24 April 2022
Today, all Armenians commemorate and pay tribute to the memory of millions of innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.
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Video: High Commissioner's Interview with Armenian Public TV
26 Fabruary 2022
High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan provides an update on Armenian communities in Ukraine, his recent trip to France, Armenia-Diaspora relations and repatriation in an interview with Armenian Public Television.
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Video: iGorts Professionals at the Ministry of Environment
25 Fabruary 2022
“We have high hopes that, at least minimally, we will be able to implement positive changes in our state system,” said High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan.
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ArmGov Highlights Our Office's Repatriation Work
10 January 2022
Repatriation is quickly becoming a daily trend in Armenia. Particularly encouraging is seeing entire families make the move together.
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Armenian Public TV Covers High Commissioner's Working Visit to Russia
22 November 2021
Armenian Public TV covers the High Commissioner’s visit to Moscow and his various meetings.
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