Born on March 21, 1950, in Moscow. 

1972: graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the USSR Foreign Ministry.

1972-1976: worked at the Soviet Embassy in Sri Lanka.

1976-1981: worked in the Department of International Economic Organisations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1981-1988: First Secretary, Adviser, Senior Adviser to the Soviet mission to the UN.

1988-1990: Deputy Head of the Department of International Economic Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1990-1992: Head of the Department of International Organisations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1992: Head of the Department of International Organisations and Global Problems at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1992-1994: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

1994-2004: Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

March 9, 2004: appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.

May 21, 2012: Reappointed Minister of Foreign Affairs by a presidential decree.

Married, with a daughter.