Vladimir Yakunin

Vladimir Ivanovich Yakunin (Russian: Владимир Иванович Якунин; * June 30, 1948 in Melenki, Vladimir Oblast ) is a Russian politician, diplomat and President of the Russian state railway company ( RŽD ).

1972 Yakunin graduated from his studies at the Leningrad Mechanical Institute. After military service he worked for the Council of Ministers of the USSR in the Foreign Trade Department. Between 1985 and 1991 he was a member of the Soviet Mission to the United Nations. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, he worked as a private businessman before he entered again in 1997 in the civil service. In October 2000 he was appointed Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation in February 2002 and Deputy Minister of Railways. On 15 June 2005, Yakunin was appointed President of the Russian Railways.

He thus replaces Gennady Fadeev from, who stood at the head of RZD since 2003.

Yakunin is considered to be a follower of Russian President Vladimir Putin and part of the narrower circle of power in the Russian Federation.

Honors

• Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (2002)
• Equestrian Order of the Holy grave in Jerusalem (2004)
• St. Sava Medal 1st Class (2005)
• Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 4th class (2008)
• Grand Gold Decoration with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria ( Resolution of the President on 15 October 2010, presentation by Federal Minister Doris Bures on March 3, 2011)
• Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2011)