Born in Donetsk, USSR in 1948

Graduated from the Moscow University of International Relations (Faculty-political sciences) in 1971

1971-1972 Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the USSR (1st European Department)

1972-1975 Embassy of the USSR in Italy

1976-1982 Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the USSR (1st European Department)

1982-1988 Embassy of the USSR in Italy (Counsellor)

1989-1992 Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the USSR/Russian Federation (Department of the Pan European Cooperation, Deputy Director)

1992-1998 Embassy of the Russian Federation in Switzerland (Minister-Counsellor)

1998-2001 Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (Department of the Pan European Cooperation, Deputy Director)

Aug. 2001- Dec. 2003 Director of the Directorate General of Human Rights of the Council of Europe

Since Jan. 2004 Director General of the Directorate General for Social Cohesion of the Council of Europe (social rights, health, bioethics, migration, Roma, people with disabilities, drugs prevention, quality of medicines)

Ph. D. – Political Sciences (1980)

Diplomatic grade – Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (1991)