Ph.D., professor, Corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the ASSR, and honored figure of science of the ASSR
Rshtuni was born on February 6, 1894, in Vagharshapat, in a family that migrated from Rshtunik. In 1915, he graduated from Gevorgyan Seminary, and until 1919 taught in the Armenian schools of Tabriz, then Akhaltskha, Sukhumi, and Tbilisi.
From 1919-1924, Rshtuni studied at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the Tbilisi Polytechnic Institute. In 1924, he returned to his homeland, was invited to work at YSU in 1925, and headed the Chair of USSR History for 40 years in a row. He also worked in the positions of the dean of the history faculty and the head of the educational department of YSU. For many years, Rshtuni worked in the Armenian Department of the USSR Academy of Sciences and the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.
In 1940, he defended a candidate's thesis, and in 1941 - a doctoral thesis. In 1944, Rshtuni became a professor. In 1956, he was elected a correspondent member of the Academy of Sciences of the ASSR.
From 1952-1953, Rshtuni was persecuted on the charge of belonging to the "United Current", but did not give up his principles.
He was engaged in the study of issues of the new and modern period of Armenian history, covering previously almost unstudied issues related to Transcaucasia and Eastern Armenia in 1861-1870 to the transformations carried out by imperial Russia, to the history of the Armenian peasantry and socio-political currents.
Vahan Rshtuny authored about 40 works, among which is "Peasant Reform in Armenia in 1870". (Yerevan, 1947), "Armenian social currents and 1861, 1864, 1870 peasant reform" (Yerevan, 1956), "From the history of Armenian public currents. 2nd half of the 19th century, post-reform period" (Yerevan, 1956), "Outlines of the history of the peasantry of Armenia (1828 - 1917)" (3 parts, Yerevan, 1960, 1968), etc.
20 PhD theses were defended under his supervision.
In 1946, Rshtuni became an honored figure of science of the ASSR.
In 1956, he was awarded the Order of Lenin.
Rshtuni passed away on February 4, 1970, in Yerevan.
