Born July 18, 1970 in Smela, Cherkassy Region (Ukraine).

Education

1992: Graduated with honours from Moscow State Institute of International Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Professor, DSc.

Experience

1991-1992: Embassy of the Russian Federation in Washington, D.C., USA.

1992-1998: Worked in book publishing and advertising; postgraduate studies at Moscow State Institute of International Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

1998-1999: Head of Information Policy Department, Ministry of Taxation.

1999-2000: Board head, central election headquarters of the Motherland-All Russia bloc.

2000-2002: Adviser to the Deputy Speaker of the State Duma.

2002-2004: Executive committee head, Moscow city branch of the United Russia party, head of the United Russia party election headquarters for Moscow.

2003-2007: Deputy of the State Duma (4th convocation) of the Federal Assembly.

2004-2005: Deputy head, Central Executive Committee of the United Russia party.

2007-2011: Deputy of the State Duma (5th convocation) of the Federal Assembly, deputy head of the State Duma Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection; head of the State Duma Committee for Culture.

2010-2012: Member of the Presidential Commission to Counter Attempts to Falsify History to the Detriment of Russia's Interests.

May 21, 2012: Appointed Minister of Culture by Presidential Executive Order.