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Anatoly Antonov

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For the Olympic rower, see Anatoly Antonov (rower).
In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Ivanovich and the family name is Antonov.
Anatoly Antonov
Анатолий Антонов
Antonov in 2014
Ambassador of Russia to the United States
In office
21 August 2017 – 10 October 2024
PresidentVladimir Putin
Preceded bySergey Kislyak
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
28 December 2016 – 21 August 2017
MinisterSergey Lavrov
Deputy Minister of Defence
In office
2 February 2011 – 28 December 2016
MinisterSergey Shoigu
Personal details
Born
Anatoly Ivanovich Antonov

(1955-05-15) 15 May 1955 (age 69)
Omsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Alma materMoscow State Institute of International Relations
AwardsMerit for Fatherland (4th grade)
Order of Honour
Military service
Allegiance Soviet Union
 Russia
Branch/service Russian Armed Forces
Years of service1990—present
Rank1st class Active State Councillor of the Russian Federation

Anatoly Ivanovich Antonov (Russian: Анатoлий Ивaнович Антoнов, IPA: [ɐnɐˈtolʲɪj ɪˈvanəvʲɪtɕ ɐnˈtonəf]; born 15 May 1955) is a Russian military official and diplomat who is currently the Ambassador of Russia to the United States, formally replacing Sergey Kislyak on 21 August 2017 by presidential decree. With a reputation as a hardliner and tough negotiator, Antonov took up his post in Washington, D.C. on 1 September 2017.[1][2] He was formerly Deputy Minister of Defence and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Since 2015, he has been under sanctions of the European Union and Canada, in response to Russia's military intervention in Ukraine.[3][4]

He has the federal state civilian service rank of 1st class Active State Councillor of the Russian Federation.[5]

Early life and education

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Antonov was born on 15 May 1955 in Omsk, USSR.[6] In 1978, Antonov graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), and in 1983 received a master's degree.[6]

In 2012, he earned his doctorate of political science from the Institute of World Economy and International Relations in Moscow. His doctoral dissertation was entitled Controlling nuclear weapons as a factor in ensuring national and international security. He is fluent in English and Burmese.[7]

Career

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Antonov with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in 2016

Antonov began his diplomatic career after earning his undergraduate degree in 1978. He spent the next 30 years at the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its successor, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where his area of speciality was control of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.[7] In 2004, he was appointed Director of the Department for Security and Disarmament.[1]

On 2 February 2011, he was promoted by a Presidential Decree to become Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation.[6]

As Deputy Minister of Defense, he was personally sanctioned by the European Union following Russia's military intervention in Ukraine. He had accused NATO in December 2014 of turning Ukraine into a "frontline of confrontation" with Russia.[3]

On 28 December 2016, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.[8]

In March 2017, he was named as one of the candidates for the post of Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, after the death of Vitaly Churkin.[9] However, in the end, it was decided to appoint Vasily Nebenzya to this post.

Ambassador to the United States

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Nomination and confirmation

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Antonov is considered a hardliner against the West, earning him a reputation as a "bull terrier."[10] In early autumn 2016, he was considered to be the next Russian Ambassador to the United States as the Kremlin assumed that Hillary Clinton would win the presidential election and, therefore, bilateral relations would remain strained. However, despite the fact that Donald Trump won the election, Antonov was still chosen to take over the post from Sergey Kislyak, who had been the ambassador since 2008. In February 2017, Antonov was named the main candidate for this post.[11][12] On 11 May 2017, the Russian Foreign Ministry formally submitted Antonov to the Federal Assembly,[13] which voted to endorse him as ambassador on 18 May following a closed session of the State Duma's foreign policy committee.[14][15][16]

On 21 August 2017, Vladimir Putin formally appointed Antonov as the Ambassador of Russia to the United States by presidential decree.[17][18]

Term

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Antonov was recalled to Moscow on 17 March 2021 after US President Joe Biden called Putin a "killer." The decision to return Antonov to Washington, D.C. was made following the results of the 2021 Russia–United States summit.[19]

On 20 February 2022, Antonov denied that Russia was planning an invasion of Ukraine.[20]

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Antonov has since rejected the notion that Russia's invasion was failing, condemned rising "Russophobia," and lamented a post-Soviet era in which Russia was "naive", trusted the West, and watched its stature decline.[21]

In February 2023, Antonov claimed that the U.S. government was attempting to demonise Russia and "fuel the Ukrainian crisis" by accusing Moscow of crimes against humanity.[22]

Antonov was relieved of duty on 10 October 2024, with a replacement not yet named at the time.[23] In a letter dated 29 June, Antonov wrote that his "assignment [was] coming to an end".[24]

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b Chernenko, Yelena (15 August 2017). Новый посол России в США Анатолий Антонов заступит на пост 1 сентября [Russia's new ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov to take up his post 1 September]. Kommersant (in Russian). Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  2. ^ Luhn, Alec (21 August 2017). "Who is Anatoly Antonov, Russia's next ambassador to the United States?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b Macdonald, Alastair (6 February 2015). "EU sanctions to target Russian deputy defence minister". Reuters. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  4. ^ Канада ввела новые санкции против России Kommersant, 18 February 2015.
  5. ^ О присвоении классных чинов государственной гражданской службы Российской Федерации и классных чинов юстиции федеральным государственным гражданским служащим (Decree 33) (in Russian). President of Russia. 27 January 2014.
  6. ^ a b c "Anatoly Antonov". Ministry of Defense. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Биография посла РФ в США Анатолия Антонова" (in Russian). TASS. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Замминистра Антонов вернулся из Минобороны в МИД РФ". Izvestiya (in Russian). 29 December 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Песков: кандидатура на пост постпреда РФ при ООН пока не определена". Izvestiya (in Russian). 14 March 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Russia Confirms 'Bull-Terrier' Ambassador to Washington". The Moscow Times. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  11. ^ Safronov, Ivan; Chernenko, Yelena (6 February 2017). "Непереводимая игра послов". Kommersant (in Russian). Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Deputy Foreign Minister Anatoly Antonov Named Russian Ambassador to U.S." The Moscow Times. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  13. ^ Ivanov, Maxim; Chernenko, Yelena (18 May 2017). "Анатолий Антонов ждет парламентского агремана". Kommersant (in Russian). Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Источник: комитет Госдумы одобрил кандидатуру Анатолия Антонова на пост посла России в США". Gazeta.ru (in Russian). 18 May 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Бывшего замминистра обороны готовили послом в Вашингтон на случай победы Клинтон" (in Russian). NBN. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Источник: комитет Госдумы утвердил кандидатуру Анатолия Антонова на пост посла РФ в США" (in Russian). TASS. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Putin names hardliner Anatoly Antonov as Russia's US ambassador". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  18. ^ Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 21.08.2017 № 395 [Decree No. 395 of the President of the Russian Federation of 21 August 2017] (in Russian). President of the Russian Federation. Retrieved 21 August 2017. Назначить Антонова Анатолия Ивановича Чрезвычайным и Полномочным Послом Российской Федерации в Соединенных Штатах Америки и Постоянным наблюдателем Российской Федерации при Организации американских государств в Вашингтоне, Соединенные Штаты Америки, по совместительству.
  19. ^ "Путин и Байден договорились вернуть послов" (in Russian). Коммерсантъ. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  20. ^ "The Undignified Fall of Russia's Once-Dignified Diplomatic Corps". The Foreign Policy. 31 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Lonely Anatoly: The Russian ambassador is Washington's least popular man". Politico. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Russia envoy accuses US of fueling Ukraine war with 'crimes against humanity' charge". Politico. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Putin Relieves Russian Ambassador to U.S. with No Replacement Named". The Moscow Times. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  24. ^ Osborn, Andrew (4 July 2024). "Russia's ambassador to US says his assignment coming to an end". Reuters. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
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Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Russian Ambassador to the United States
21 August 2017 – 10 October 2024 		Incumbent
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