Alexander Avdeev is a famous Russian diplomat. For several years he headed the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
Diplomat's biography
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 enter Moscow. Became a student of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Graduated from MGIMO in 1968.
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 an assistant secretary at the Consulate General of the Soviet Union in the Algerian city of Annaba, then became an attaché of the embassy in Algeria. Alexander Avdeev worked in Africa for several years. After Algiers, Moscow seemed to the diplomat to be a super-developed city.
In 1973 he returned to his homeland. He worked for about a year in the central office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Again abroad
In 1977 Avdeev AlexanderAlekseevich again sends to work in a foreign embassy. This time to France. At the USSR Embassy in Paris, he holds the position first of the second, and then the first secretary.
In Paris, he was involved in a scandal involving the case of KGB Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Vetrov. The state security officer was recruited by Western intelligence. In particular, he handed over to NATO the Soviet program to steal Western technology.
Alexander Avdeev was among 47 Soviet diplomats who were expelled as a result of Vetrov's betrayal. However, later he managed to prove his innocence in this case. Avdeev returned to Paris.
In 1987 he was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Luxembourg. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, he remains in diplomatic work in European countries.
From 1992 to 1996 Russian diplomat Alexander Avdeev represented 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 has been the head of the Russian embassy in France. And later he combines this work with the post of ambassador to the Principality of Monaco.
Ministry of Culture
In 2008, Avdeev's life took an unexpected turn. He changes his 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 Russia's ties in European states,becomes the chief official in the country in charge of culture.
This appointment comes shortly after Dmitry Medvedev's victory 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 rector of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory.
Work as Minister
Avdeev's first steps as minister were demands to increase funding for culture in Russia. As a result of his activities, the volume of state support increased by a quarter. By 2012, the amount of financing amounted to 94 billion rubles. Despite this, Avdeev constantly insisted that this was not enough for the systematic 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 spoke out against the construction of the Okhta Center tower in St. Petersburg. He noted that, as the Minister of Culture, he is categorically against this construction. Avdeev supported many Petersburgers who opposed the construction of this skyscraper in the northern capital. Moreover, he insisted that, if necessary, the Ministry of Culture was ready to issue an official statement. As a result, inAvdeev sent a conclusion to Rosokhrankultura, in which he pointed out gross violations of the law when issuing a permit for altitude parameters.
In 2010 Alexander Avdeev signed a resonant decree. The Minister reduced the list of Russian cities with the status of historical ones by more than 10 times. 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 suggested cutting scholarships for students. Avdeev vehemently criticized these initiatives, stating that scholarships for students of creative universities should at least be maintained at the same level.
Liquidation of Rosokhrankultura
In 2011, Avdeev participated in the liquidation of the Rosokhrankultura service. One of the main reasons was the audit conducted by the Accounts Chamber. According to its results, the activity of the service was recognized as ineffective.
As a result of the transformation, the functions of Rosokhrankultura were transferred to the ministry headed by Avdeev. The official also promised that as a result of these changes, work on the protection of monuments will be strengthened, laws in the field of protection of cultural heritage sites will be more carefully implemented.
This decision had many opponents. They noted that the liquidation of Rosokhrankultura would reduce control over the spending of money that was allocated by the Ministry of Culture for the restoration of objects, because the Ministry allocates money for restoration.culture. As a result, a situation will arise in which the agency will have to control itself.
Reform of Lenfilm
Avdeev tried to solve another acute problem - the unprofitability of the film studio "Lenfilm". The Ministry of Culture developed a phased plan for the privatization and corporatization of Lenfilm. Well-known directors and filmmakers opposed him. 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 still remains uncertain to the end.
Interesting fact, Avdeev agreed that Lenfilm should be reformed without using commercial projects. It must remain an efficient film studio while also paying for itself.
In 2012, Avdeev signed a decree on the establishment of clear boundaries of the Borodino field, giving a special status to the lands adjacent to it. In particular, any activity that could harm a cultural object was prohibited on this territory. Only research and restoration work is allowed. Almost all the powers to protect the territories were transferred to the leadership of the Borodino Military Historical Museum-Reserve. Thus, as many believe today, this unique place has been preserved almost in its original form.
Also, when Avdeev was the Minister of Culture, it was possible to quickly complete the large-scale reconstruction of the Bolshoitheater, start updating the Pushkin Museum. Restoration work has been carried out in St. Petersburg in the Naval Cathedral and the Summer Garden.
Resignation from the post of minister
Avdeev resigned from the post of minister in May 2012. He was replaced by Vladimir Medinsky, who currently holds this position. Vladimir Medinsky has become a bright media personality, unlike the diplomatic Avdeev, today everyone is actively discussing any steps of the Ministry of Culture.
Alexander Alekseevich Avdeev returned to embassy work. The diplomat became Russia's Ambassador Extraordinary to the Vatican and a representative to the Order of M alta. This honorable mission continues to this day.
Private life
The ex-minister is married to Galina Vitalievna Avdeeva. The couple have been married for many years. They are raising their only son.
At the same time, they do not like to advertise their private life. They rarely appear on the pages of the media and public events so as not to give unnecessary reason for rumors and gossip.
