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 High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan, summed up his working visit to Russia
31 January 2023
As part of a working visit to Russia, High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan was in Vsevolozhsk, Leningrad region.
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Zareh Sinanyan's visit to St. Petersburg
30 January 2023
The High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan, visited St Petersburg from 27-30 January as part of a working visit to Russia
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Zareh Sinanyan met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia
30 January 2023
On 27 January, the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan, who is on a working visit to Russia, met with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.
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The High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan met with Armenian lawyers from Russia
28 January 2023
During his visit to the Russian Federation, the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan, met at the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia with representatives of the Association of Armenian Lawyers of Russia, represented by the President of the Association Shagen Petrosyan.
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Zareh Sinanyan's meetings in Moscow
28 January 2023
Zareh Sinanyan's working visit to the Russian Federation continues. On January 25-27, the High Commissioner held several meetings in Moscow.
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High Commissioner participated in the annual review of the EU4IMPACT program
25 January 2023
High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan participated in the 2021-2022 EU4IMPACT program, which supports the establishment of new businesses and the growth of already established businesses by labor and returning migrants and their family members.
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New Year speech from RA High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan
30 December 2022
2022 is coming to a close. This year, our homeland faced serious security challenges, all the while staying committed to its independence and democracy and continuing on the path to progress and development.
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The Chief Commissioner participated in the launch of the Armenian Business Corner project
29 November 2022
The Armenian Business Corner supports Armenian manufacturers and service providers to present their businesses on a single and centralized platform to the U.S. market. The Armenian Business Corner will promote Armenian production in the United States and attract investors.
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Zareh Sinanyan received Ernest Arustamyan, member of the Engineering Academy of Armenia
18 November 2022
The High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs received Ernest Arustamyan, President of the Nonprofit European Investment Financial Group and member of the Engineering Academy of Armenia.
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Zareh Sinanyan received the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the Russian Federation
15 November 2022
On Monday, November 14th, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the Russian Federation, Kypros Giorgallis, and the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Cyprus in Armenia, Armen Khachatryan met with the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan in our Office in Armenia.
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Global Armenian Summit '22 participants from the Netherlands met with Mr. Sinanyan
11 November 2022
Participants of the Global Armenian Summit from the Netherlands - President of the Abovyan Cultural Association of The Hague and the Federation of Armenian Organizations of the Netherlands, Mato Hakhverdyan; President of the Union of United Armenians of the Netherlands, Sweta Abrahamian; and founder of Diary of the Netherlands, Ashot Knyazyan - visited our Office and met with Mr. Sinanyan.
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Zareh Sinanyan met with the Head Representative of St. Petersburg's Armenian Community.
21 October 2022
High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan met with the Chairman of the Council of the Armenian National-Cultural Autonomy of Saint Petersburg, Karen Mkrtchyan, in Yerevan.
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Ambassador of Japan to Armenia met with High Commissioner Mr. Sinanyan
17 October 2022
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Armenia, H.E. Mr. Masanori Fukushima visited our Office and met with the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan.
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"Hrant Dink: Here and Now" - Part 1
03 July 2022
We are starting a series of short films about the current exhibition "Hrant Dink: Here and Now" in Yerevan.
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The Armenian Evangelical Church celebrates its 175th anniversary
01 July 2022
The Armenian Missionary Association of America will continue its work after the renovation of its offices.
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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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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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