Born in 1950, Russian.

1972 – graduated from the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Has command of English, French and Sinhalese.

Started his career in 1972 at the Soviet Embassy in Sri Lanka.

1976-1981 – worked in the Department of International Organizations of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1981-1988 – First Secretary, Counselor and Senior Counselor in the Permanent Representation of the USSR at the UN.

1988-1990 – Deputy Head of the Department of International Economic Relations of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1990-1992 – Director of the Foreign Ministry's Department of International Organizations and Global Problems.

1992-1994 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

1994-2004 – Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation at the United Nations.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation since 2004.

Has the rank of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation.

Decorated with government awards.

Married, with one daughter.