Sergey Nikolayevich Lebedev (Russian: Сергей Николаевич Лебедев, IPA: [sʲɪrˈɡʲej nʲɪkɐˈlajɪvʲɪtɕ ˈlʲebʲɪdʲɪf]; born 9 April 1948) is a Russian politician who has been the General Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) since 2007. He had previously been General of the Army in the Russian Armed Forces and Director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) from 2000 to 2007.
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Early life and career
His father, Nikolai Ivanovich, was from Biysk, Siberia. He was a veteran of the Red Army and worked as a driver. His mother, Nina Yakovlevna, studied at the Leningrad Military Mechanical Institute and survived the Siege of Leningrad. After the war, she received a degree in finance and worked as an accountant. In 1965, he graduated from the Jizzakh Secondary School with a gold medal. A short time later was elected secretary of the Chernihiv City Committee of the Komsomol. Lebedev graduated in 1970 from the Chernihiv branch of Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. In 1971-1972 he did his military service in the Kiev Military District. He is a 1978 graduate (cum laude) of the Diplomatic Academy of the Soviet Foreign Ministry.
Before intelligence work, Lebedev served in the Army during 1966–72. He began his career in 1975 when he joined the KGB. He began duties in the First Chief Directorate (foreign intelligence) in 1975.
From 1998 to 2000, he was the official representative of the SVR in the United States, holding the rank of Lieutenant General.
SVR Director (2000-2007)
Lebedev was appointed as Director of the SVR on 20 May 2000. According to news reports, he was appointed to the post because President Vladimir Putin wanted "an intelligence chief whom he knows well and has confidence in". Putin and Lebedev met while serving in East Germany.
CIS Executive Secretary (2007–present)
On 5 October 2007, Lebedev was elected the Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States and succeeded Vladimir Rushailo.
In 2019, his powers as the Chairman of the CIS Executive Secretary were extended for 3 years.
Family
He is married to Vera Mikhailovna, is a chemical engineer. They have two adult sons and four grandchildren. Lebedev speaks German and English.
Honors and awards
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" IV degree
Order of Alexander Nevsky (22 April 2013)
Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow" (1997)
Two medals "For strengthening military cooperation"
Medal "200 Years of the Ministry of Defense" (2002)
Medal "200 years of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia" (2002)
Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (1978)
Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (1988)
Medal "For Impeccable Service" , 1st degree
Medal "For Impeccable Service" 2nd degree
Medal "For Impeccable Service" 3rd degree
Order of Merit, 3rd class (24 August 2013, Ukraine)
Order of Friendship of Peoples (30 December 2002, Belarus)
Order of Honor (29 March 2018, Belarus)
Order of Stephen the Great (Moldova)
Order of Danaker (11 April 2003, Kyrgyzstan)
Order of Neutrality (11 October 2019, Turkmenistan)