Born on September 8, 1946, in Kremenchug, Ukraine. 

1968: graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

1968-1973: USSR General Consulate and Embassy to Algeria.

1973-1987: USSR Foreign Ministry, various posts.

1987-1990: Soviet Ambassador to Luxembourg.

1991-1992: USSR Deputy Foreign Minister.

1992-1996: Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria.

1996-1998: Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation.

1998-2002: First Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation.

2002-2008: Russian Ambassador to France.

May 12, 2008: appointed Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation.

State awards: Order of Service to the Fatherland, 4th Class, Order of Honour, Order of Friendship

Married, with a son.