Russian diplomat Alexander Avdeev: biography, activities and interesting facts

Alexander Avdeev is a well-known Russian diplomat. For several years he headed the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

Biography of the diplomat

Alexander Avdeev was born in the city of Kremenchug in the Poltava region in 1946. Immediately after the end of the Great Patriotic War.

After school I went to Moscow. He became a student at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. In 1968 he graduated from MGIMO.

In the same year, Alexander Avdeev began his professional career. He got a job at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR. Almost immediately he was sent abroad. He worked as a secretary-consultant at the Consulate General of the Soviet Union in the Albanian city of Annaba, then became the attaché of the embassy in Algiers. Avdeev Alexander worked for several years in Africa . Moscow after Algeria seemed to the diplomat a super-developed city.

In 1973 he returned to his homeland. About a year he worked in the central office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Again abroad

In 1977 Avdeev Alexander Alexeevich again sent to work in a foreign embassy. This time to France. At the Soviet Embassy in Paris, he holds the post of second, and then first secretary.

In Paris, he was involved in a scandal related to the case of Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Vetrov KGB. The security officer was recruited by Western intelligence. In particular, he handed over to NATO a Soviet program on the abduction of Western technologies.

Alexander Avdeev was among the 47 Soviet diplomats who were expelled as a result of the betrayal of Vetrov. However, later he managed to prove his innocence in this case. Avdeev returned to Paris.

In 1987, he was appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary in Luxembourg. After the collapse of the Soviet Union remains on diplomatic work in European countries.

From 1992 to 1996, Russian diplomat Alexander Avdeev represents the interests of the Russian Federation in Bulgaria.

In 1996 he returned to the central office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as deputy and first deputy minister.

For 6 years (since March 2002) he heads the Russian embassy in France. And later he combines this work with the ambassador's post in the Principality of Monaco.

Ministry of Culture

In 2008, in the life of Avdeev, an unexpected turn takes place. He changes the diplomatic mission to the post of Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation.

Alexander Avdeev, whose biography for many years has been associated with the establishment of ties in Russia in European countries, is becoming the chief official in the country in charge of culture.

This appointment occurs soon after the victory of Dmitry Medvedev in the presidential elections in Russia. In this post Avdeev replaces Alexander Sokolov, a well-known teacher and musicologist. Sokolov worked as a minister for 4 years. At that time, the Ministry of Culture was merged with the Ministry of Mass Communications. Shortly after his resignation, Sokolov became the rector of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory.

Work as Minister

The first steps of Avdeev as Minister became demands to increase the financing of culture in Russia. As a result of his activities, the volume of state support grew by a quarter. By 2012, the amount of financing amounted to 94 billion rubles. Despite this, Avdeyev constantly insisted that this is not enough for the planned development of the sphere entrusted to him. Avdeev always demanded more.

Using his connections in foreign governments, Avdeev contributed to establishing ties in Europe. In 2010, the year of Russia was held in France, in 2011 - in Spain and Italy, and in 2013 - in Germany.

In 2009, Avdeev sharply opposed the construction of the tower "Ohta-Center" in St. Petersburg. He noted that as a minister of culture, he is categorically against this construction. Avdeev supported many St. Petersburgers who opposed the construction of this skyscraper in the northern capital. Moreover, he insisted that, if necessary, the Ministry of Culture is ready to make an official statement. As a result, Avdeev sent an opinion to Rosokhrankultura, in which he pointed out grave breaches of legislation when issuing permission for high-altitude parameters.

In 2010 he signed a resonant decree Alexander Avdeev. The minister has reduced by more than 10 times the list of Russian cities with historical status. As a result, only 41 cities remained on the list. In particular, Nizhny Novgorod, Moscow and Pskov were excluded from it.

In 2011, Avdeev opposed the initiative of presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich. The official offered to cut scholarships for students. Avdeev furiously criticized these undertakings, stating that scholarships for students of creative universities should, at least, be maintained at the same level.

Elimination of Rosokhrankultura

In 2011, Avdeev participated in the liquidation of Rosokhrankultura. One of the main reasons was the audit conducted by the Accounts Chamber. According to its results, the activity of the service was deemed ineffective.

As a result of the transformation of the function Rosokhrankultura passed to the ministry, which was headed by Avdeev. Also, the official promised that as a result of these changes, work will be strengthened to protect monuments, laws on the protection of cultural heritage sites will be more carefully enforced.

This decision had many opponents. They noted that the liquidation of Rosokhrankultura would reduce control over the spending of money sent by the Ministry of Culture for the restoration of objects, because the Ministry of Culture allocates money for restoration. As a result, there will be a situation in which the department will have to control itself.

Reform of "Lenfilm"

Avdeev tried to solve another acute problem: the loss-making studio Lenfilm. The Ministry of Culture developed a step-by-step plan for the privatization and corporatization of Lenfilm. Against him well-known filmmakers and filmmakers. They presented their own vision of how to get out of this situation. Avdeev promised to find a solution that would satisfy all parties. However, by the time of his resignation the conflict had not been resolved. The fate of Lenfilm remains uncertain until the end.

An interesting fact, Avdeev agreed, that Lenfilm should be reformed without using commercial projects. He must remain an effective film studio, while paying himself.

In 2012, Avdeev signed a decree establishing clear boundaries of the Borodino field, giving special status to the adjacent lands. In particular, on this territory any activity that could harm the object of culture was forbidden. Only research and restoration work is permitted. Virtually all the powers to protect the territories passed to the leadership of the Borodino military historical museum-reserve. Thus, as many today believe, this unique place was managed to be preserved almost in its original form.

Also, when Avdeev was Minister of Culture, he managed to quickly complete the large-scale reconstruction of the Bolshoi Theater, start the renovation of the Pushkin Museum. Restoration work was carried out in St. Petersburg in the Naval Cathedral and the Summer Garden.

Resignation from the post of minister

From the post of Minister Avdeev left in May 2012. He was replaced by Vladimir Medinsky, who holds this post at the present time. Vladimir Medinsky became a vivid media personality, unlike the diplomatic Avdeev, today everyone is actively discussing any steps of the Ministry of Culture.

Alexander Alexandrovich Avdeev returned to the embassy. The diplomat became Russia's extraordinary ambassador to the Vatican and representative of the Order of Malta. This honorable mission is carried out to this day.

Personal life

The ex-minister is married to Galina Vitalyevna Avdeeva. In marriage, the couple have lived for many years. They bring up their only son.

They do not like to advertise their private lives. On the pages of the media and public events appear seldom, in order not to give too much reason to talk and gossip.