Evgeny Primakov

Biography

Yevgeny Maksimovich Primakov, born on October 29, 1929, in Kyiv, became a key figure in Soviet and Russian politics in the 20th and early 21st centuries. After studying at the Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies and later at the Faculty of Economics at Moscow State University, he started his career as a journalist and an academic expert in Arab affairs, gaining a reputation as a serious Arabist and economist. His academic achievements earned him a spot in the Russian Academy of Sciences and eventually its Presidium, highlighting his intellectual contributions alongside his public roles.

Primakov's public career took off in the last years of the Soviet Union. He was the Speaker of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union from 1990 to 1991, putting him at the heart of the chaotic politics during the USSR's breakup. After the Soviet Union collapsed, he became the Director of Foreign Intelligence, leading the SVR from 1991 to 1996. He was responsible for transitioning the Soviet intelligence structures into those of the new Russian Federation, a time marked by major organizational and political changes.

In 1996, President Boris Yeltsin named Primakov as Minister of Foreign Affairs, a role he held until 1998. His time at the Foreign Ministry was known for a more assertive expression of Russian interests globally, including opposition to NATO's eastward expansion and criticism of Western involvement in the former Yugoslavia. He was closely linked with promoting a multipolar world order instead of unipolarity, influencing Russian foreign policy thinking long after he left office. In a memorable act of post-Cold War Russian diplomacy, he turned his plane around mid-flight over the Atlantic in March 1999 when he heard about NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia.

Primakov served as Russia's Prime Minister from September 1998 to May 1999, stepping in right after the severe financial crisis of August 1998 that hit the Russian economy hard. His government, with ministers from various political backgrounds including the Communist Party, is credited with stabilizing the economy and restoring some public trust in state institutions. Though Yeltsin dismissed him in May 1999, his short time as Prime Minister had a notable impact on Russian governance during tough times. He later became President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and was a significant voice in foreign policy discussions until his later years. Primakov died in Moscow on June 26, 2015.