Andrei Polyakov | |
|---|---|
Андрей Владимирович Поляков | |
| Ambassador of Russia to Rwanda | |
| In office 22 May 2013 – 31 October 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Mirgayas Shirinsky [ru] |
| Succeeded by | Karen Chalyan [ru] |
| Ambassador of Russia to Tunisia | |
| In office 11 April 2006 – 14 January 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Aleksei Podtserob [ru] |
| Succeeded by | Aleksandr Shein [ru] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 October 1950 Moscow,Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic,USSR |
| Died | 3 March 2021(2021-03-03) (aged 70) |
| Alma mater | Moscow State Institute of International Relations Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR |
| Awards | Order of the Badge of Honour Decoration For Impeccable Service Thirty Years |
Andrei Vladimirovich Polyakov (Russian:Андрей Владимирович Поляков; 14 October 1950 – 3 March 2021) was a Soviet and Russian diplomat. He served in various diplomatic roles from 1973 onwards, and served asAmbassador of Russia to Tunisia andto Rwanda.
Polyakov was born on 14 October 1950 inMoscow, then part of theRussian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, in theSoviet Union.[1] He studied atMoscow State Institute of International Relations, graduating in 1973, and entered diplomatic service. He undertook further studies later in his career at theDiplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR, graduating in 1987 as aCandidate of Historical Sciences.[1] His early diplomatic service was divided between positions in the central Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in the embassies of the USSR, and later Russia, in Sudan, Lebanon, and Egypt.[1]
Between 1999 and 2001 Polyakov was Counselor-Minister at theRussian embassy in Lebanon, followed by a return to Russia and a posting between 2002 and 2004 as Senior Adviser, Head of Section in the Department of the Middle East and North Africa at theRussian Foreign Ministry.[1] In 2004 he became the department's deputy director, being appointed to thediplomatic rank ofEnvoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Second Class on 7 May 2005. He left this post in 2006, and on 11 April 2006 was appointedambassador of Russia to Tunisia.[1][2] Hepresented his credentials on 29 June 2006, and remained ambassador until 14 January 2011.[3] During this time he was promoted to Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary First Class on 11 March 2009.[4] On 22 May 2013 Polyakov was appointedambassador of Russia to Rwanda, a post he held until his retirement on 31 October 2017.[1][5][6] He had been promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary towards the end of the assignment, on 10 February 2016.[1] During his time as he helped arranged the visit of RwandanMinister of Foreign Affairs,Louise Mushikiwabo, to Russia. This was the first time a Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs had visited the country.[1]
Polyakov died on 3 March 2021.[1] He was married, with two sons. Over his career he had received several awards and honours, including theOrder of the Badge of Honour in 1982, and theDecoration For Impeccable Service Thirty Years on 9 February 2011.[1][7] His obituary by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described him as "an experienced and highly professional diplomat who made a great contribution to the development of bilateral relations, the implementation of the course pursued by Russia to strengthen diverse ties with the countries of the Middle East and Africa, a reliable comrade and mentor."[1]