Yevgeny Primakov is an outstanding political and statesman of the USSR and the Russian Federation, economist, journalist, and orientalist-Arabist. Over the years, he held high positions in the government, has a scientific degree of Doctor of Economics, and was awarded the State Prize of the USSR and the State Prize of the Russian Federation.
An academician, statesman, with a reputation as a guardian of the interests of the Russian Federation, a pragmatic and respected diplomat, a large-scale personality representing a unique generation of the Soviet and post-Soviet eras - this is Yevgeny Primakov. He was called the “man of the century,” a man of great intelligence and unbending will. One has only to remember 1999, when Primakov decided to interrupt his visit to the United States and ordered the plane to be turned around directly over the Atlantic when he learned that NATO was going to bomb Yugoslavia.
Childhood[]
The childhood years of the future outstanding politician were spent in a communal apartment. She and her mother occupied a room with an area of 14 square meters, but there was always food and good clothes in the house. His mother raised him herself, so she had to combine two jobs so that her son would not need anything.
Mom was constantly at work, and Yevgeny grew up practically on the street, in the company of the same yard children. After finishing the seven-year school, he became a cadet at the naval preparatory school in Baku. However, he failed to graduate from this educational institution. After the second year, doctors found the first signs of pulmonary tuberculosis in him, and the guy was expelled from school for health reasons. Circumstances forced Primakov to return to school again to obtain a matriculation certificate and continue his studies in the future.
Mother had to make a lot of efforts, but she managed to cope with her son’s serious illness. In 1948, the young man received a certificate from Tbilisi Men's School No. 14. Since he studied well and had excellent knowledge in all subjects, without any effort or acquaintances he became a student at the Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies.
Upon completion of his studies at the university, Yevgeny decided to continue his education, and again became a student. This time from the Faculty of Economics, Graduate School of Moscow State University, from which he received his diploma in 1956. After successfully defending his thesis, he received the scientific degree of Candidate of Economic Sciences.
Political career[]
Yevgeny Primakov’s first job was the Arabic editorial office of the Main Directorate of Radio Broadcasting to Foreign Countries, where, by order of its editor-in-chief Sergei Kaverin, he was hired as a regular correspondent in 1956. He devoted fourteen years of his life to journalism, during which time he went through all the steps of the career ladder, and by 1970 he occupied the chair of editor-in-chief. Then Primakov went into the scientific field.
Yevgeny was appointed deputy director of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations, and seven years later he was already heading the Institute of Oriental Studies. In parallel with this, Primakov is a professor at the Diplomatic Academy, academic secretary in the department of economics and the department of problems of world economy and international relations.
In 1989, Primakov’s biography took a new sharp turn, this time in the political direction. In the same year, he was elected to the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee, the next year he became a member of the Presidential Council, and participated in resolving the most serious issues, including dangerous situations and conflicts.
After the well-known events of 1991, Primakov was assigned to head the foreign intelligence council of the Soviet Union, and subsequently Russia. He was also the first deputy chairman of the KGB of the USSR. The new appointment did not take long to arrive; in 1996, Primakov became the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, and in this position he proved himself to be the best.
Primakov negotiated with representatives of Middle Eastern countries. They turned out to be quite successful, and as a result, Russia received loans totaling $3 billion. In those years, the country really needed such a source of financing.
In 1996, during the reign of Boris Yeltsin, Primakov occupied the chair of Prime Minister of Russia. This work required the highest professionalism and the ability to solve issues at the highest level. Yevgeny Maksimovich himself had to conduct meetings, receptions and negotiations with the leaders of European countries or their representatives, since at that time Yeltsin was already seriously ill and could not fulfill his powers.
In 2001, during an extraordinary congress of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he was elected chairman, and he remained in this post until 2011. This work required him to use all his experience and scientific potential.
Primakov’s colossal achievements in this position added to his prestige at the global level; he was considered an unrivaled statesman and public figure, thanks to whose efforts all major federal-level programs were implemented.
In 2008, Primakov became one of the members of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences; in addition, he is an honorary member of the Russian Academy of Education, a leading Russian orientalist, an outstanding scientist in the field of foreign policy, economics and international relations of the Russian Federation.
Death[]
Yevgeny Primakov’s heart stopped on June 26, 2015, he was 85 years old.