Sergei Lebedev

General of the Army Sergei Nikolaevich Lebedev ( _ru. Сергей Николаевич Лебедев; born April 9, 1948) became director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, the SVR, on May 20, 2000. On October 5 2007 Lebedev was elected the Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States [http://old.lenta.ru/news/2007/10/05/lebedev/ "Executive committee of CIS is headed by the chief of Russian Intelligence] Lenta.Ru October 5 2007 ru icon ]

Lebedev graduated in 1970 from the Chernihiv branch of Kiev's Polytechnical Institute. A 1978 graduate (cum laude) of the Diplomatic Academy of the Soviet Foreign Ministry, Lebedev speaks German and English.

Career

Before intelligence work, Lebedev served in the Army during 1971-72. He began his career in 1975 when he joined the KGB. He began duties in the First Chief Directorate (foreign intelligence) in 1975. According to news reports, he was appointed to SVR director position because Vladimir Putin wanted "an intelligence chief whom he knows well and has confidence in." Putin and Lebedev met while serving in East Germany. [ [http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/BF06Ag02.html Whither Russian foreign intelligence?] By Victor Yasmann, Asia Times, June 6, 2000]

Notes

References

* [http://www.cdi.org/russia/238-12.cfm Center for Defense Information Russia Weekly #238]
* [http://research.rencap.com/eng/government/government_detail27.asp Renaissance Capital Research Portal]