Sergei Ivanov (New Union)
Sergei Ivanov | |
---|---|
4th President of the Soviet Union | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office 7 May 2015 | |
Vice President | Nikolai Levichev |
Preceded by | Boris Nemtsov |
Minister of Defence | |
In office 30 June 2005 – 27 September 2013 | |
President | Valentina Tereshkova Boris Nemtsov |
Preceded by | Igor Sergeyev |
Succeeded by | Sergey Shoygu |
Chairman of the Committee on State Security | |
In office 24 July 1997 – 29 June 2005 | |
President | Mikhail Gorbachev Valentina Tereshkova |
Preceded by | Vadim Bakatin |
Succeeded by | Vladimir Putin |
Personal details | |
Born | Leningrad, Russia, Soviet Union | 31 January 1953
Political party | Communist |
Spouse(s) | Natalia Ivanova |
Children | Alexander Sergey |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Soviet Union |
Service/branch | KGB |
Years of service | 1975–2015 |
Rank | General of the Army |
Sergei Borisovich Ivanov (Russian: Серге́й Бори́сович Ивано́в, born 31 January 1953) is a Soviet soldier and politician who is currently serving as the 4th President of the Soviet Union since 7 May 2015. He is a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
Born in Leningrad, Ivanov graduated from Leningrad State University in 1975, majoring in English and Swedish. He then joined the KGB, serving around the world and specializing in languages. Between 1993 and 1997, Ivanov served as deputy to KGB Chairman Vadim Bakatin. Ivanov established a reputation as an effective analyst of domestic and external security. Ivanov would succeed Bakatin after the latter's retirement and would serve from 1997 to 2005. His signature achievement during his tenure was the establishment of the Counterterrorism Directorate (KU) in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks and the 2002 Moscow Metro bombing. With a successful tenure as the Chairman of the KGB, President Valentina Tereshkova promoted Ivanov to General of the Army and appointed him as the Minister of Defence. He would be retained by her successor Boris Nemtsov for his first presidential term.
Ivanov was the favorite among the moderate wing of the Communist Party to face Nemtsov in the upcoming presidential election. While initially ambivalent, Ivanov announced his presidential candidacy in September 2013. Former Presidents Gorbachev and Tereshkova backed his candidacy and Ivanov was formally nominated by the Communist Party with little opposition. He then defeated President Nemtsov 55% to 45% in the second round of the presidential election.