Sergei Kiriyenko

Sergei Kiriyenko
Name	Sergei Kiriyenko
Caption	Kiriyenko in 2017
Office	First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration of Russia
Term start	5 October 2016
President	Vladimir Putin
Predecessor	Vyacheslav Volodin
Office2	Director General of Rosatom
Term start2	30 November 2005
Term end2	5 October 2016
Predecessor2	Alexander Rumyantsev
Successor2	Alexey Likhachev
Office3	Prime Minister of Russia
Term start3	23 March 1998
Term end3	23 August 1998
President3	Boris Yeltsin
Predecessor3	Viktor Chernomyrdin
Successor3	Viktor Chernomyrdin
Birth name	Sergei Vladilenovich Kiriyenko
Birth date	26 July 1962
Birth place	Sukhumi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
Party	Our Home – Russia (1995–1999), Union of Right Forces (1999–2000), United Russia (2003–present)
Alma mater	Gorky Institute of Water Transport Engineers, Academy of National Economy

Sergei Kiriyenko is a prominent Russian statesman and political figure who has held several high-ranking positions in the Government of Russia. He served briefly as the Prime Minister of Russia in 1998 under President Boris Yeltsin and later became a key administrator within the Kremlin under President Vladimir Putin. His career spans significant roles in both the energy sector, notably as head of the state nuclear corporation Rosatom, and in domestic political management, where he is considered a central figure in shaping internal policy and electoral strategy.

Early life and education

Sergei Vladilenovich Kiriyenko was born in Sukhumi, then part of the Georgian SSR within the Soviet Union. His father, Vladilen Kiriyenko, was a professor of philosophy, and his mother, Larisa Vasilievna, worked as an economist. The family later moved to the Russian SFSR, where he spent much of his youth in the city of Gorky, now Nizhny Novgorod. He graduated from the Gorky Institute of Water Transport Engineers in 1984, specializing in shipbuilding. Following his initial career, he pursued further executive education at the Academy of National Economy in Moscow.

Business career

After completing his engineering degree, Kiriyenko began his professional life at the Krasnoye Sormovo shipyard in Gorky, rising from a metalworker to a senior position. In the early 1990s, during the period of privatization in Russia, he transitioned to the banking and energy sectors. He became involved with Garantiya Bank and later served as the head of the Nizhny Novgorod regional oil company NORSI-Oil, a subsidiary of the state-owned Rosneft. His successful management during the Russian financial crisis of the 1990s brought him to the attention of federal authorities in Moscow.

Political career

Kiriyenko's political ascent began in 1997 when he was appointed First Deputy Minister of Fuel and Energy in the government of Viktor Chernomyrdin. His association with the reformist faction led by Boris Nemtsov and Anatoly Chubais was significant. In March 1998, following a political crisis, President Boris Yeltsin nominated him as Prime Minister; at 35, he became the youngest person to hold the office in modern Russian history. His tenure was dominated by the severe 1998 Russian financial crisis, culminating in the Russian government bond default and the devaluation of the Russian ruble in August 1998, which led to his dismissal by the State Duma.

First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration

After leaving the premiership, Kiriyenko led the Union of Right Forces party and served as Presidential Envoy to the Volga Federal District. His career was revitalized under President Vladimir Putin. From 2005 to 2016, he served as the Director General of the state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, overseeing its expansion into a global leader in nuclear technology. In October 2016, he was appointed First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration of Russia, a role often described as overseeing domestic politics and ideology. In this capacity, he is reported to manage key political projects, including electoral campaigns for United Russia and policies related to the integration of the Donbas region following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Sanctions and international response

Following the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kiriyenko has been subject to numerous international sanctions. The United States Department of the Treasury, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other nations have imposed asset freezes and travel bans on him, citing his role in formulating policies related to the disputed territories. The US State Department has specifically accused him of overseeing "Kremlin political interference operations" and undermining the sovereignty of Ukraine.

Personal life

Kiriyenko is married to Maria Kiriyenko, a philologist. They have three children: a son, Vladislav Kiriyenko, who is a businessman, and two daughters. He is known to be an avid practitioner of yoga and a vegetarian. His father-in-law was a notable Soviet-era diplomat. Despite his high-profile political role, he maintains a relatively private family life, with residences in Moscow and occasional public appearances at cultural and sporting events.

Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Prime Ministers of Russia Category:People from Sukhumi