Alexander Bessmertnykh (politician)

Alexander Alexandrovich Bessmertnykh (Russian: Алекса́ндр Алекса́ндрович Бессме́ртных; born 10 November 1933) is a Soviet diplomat who briefly served as foreign minister of the Soviet Union.

For the Russian skier, see Alexander Bessmertnykh (skier).
Alexander Alexandrovich Bessmertnykh
Алекса́ндр Алекса́ндрович Бессме́ртных
Bessmertnykh in 1989
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union
In office
15 January – 28 August 1991
PremierValentin Pavlov
Vitaly Doguzhiyev
Preceded byEduard Shevardnadze
Succeeded byBoris Pankin (acting)
Personal details
Born (1933-11-10) 10 November 1933
Biysk, Altai Krai, Russian SFSR, USSR
NationalitySoviet and Russian
Political partyCommunist Party of the Soviet Union (1957–1991)
SpouseMarina Vladimirovna
Children2
Alma materMoscow State University
ProfessionPolitics

Early life

Bessmertnykh was born in Biisk in 1933,[1] first of four children. He lost his father when he was 10 years old.

Career

Bessmertnykh joined the ministry of foreign affairs in 1957. From 1970 to 1983 he served as a consul at the Soviet embassy in the United States, and then headed the US department in the foreign ministry.[1] In 1986, he was appointed deputy foreign minister and in 1988, he became first deputy foreign minister. From 1990 to 1991 he was ambassador to the United States.[1]

Soviet Foreign Minister

He briefly served as a Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR in 1991,[2] replacing Eduard Shevardnadze, being approved by the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union 15 January, 421 voted in favour, 3 against,[3] and 10 abstained. During the August coup of 1991 he did not lend his support to the attempt at removing Gorbachev from power, but refused to condemn the plotters. For supporting the GKChP, the government of Valentin Pavlov was dismissed[4] and, accordingly, Bessmertnykh lost the post of Minister.[5]

References
  1. "Biographies" (PDF). The World Politics Forum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014.
  2. Ambassador Alexander Bessmertnykh
  3. БЕССМЕРТНЫХ Александр Александрович
  4. Комитет четырех: хорошее правительство в отсутствие страны
  5. Полномочные представители


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