Alexander Alexeyevich Avdeyev

Alexander Alexeyevich Avdeev (Russian Александр Алексеевич Авдеев; born September 8, 1946 in Kremenchug, Poltava Oblast, Ukrainian SSR ) is a Russian politician and diplomat. He was since 2008 Minister of Culture of the Russian Föderationm and represents his country since 2013 in the Vatican.

In 1968, Avdeev graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. In the following years he was employed in the diplomatic service of the Soviet Union at various places abroad as well as in the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From 1987 to 1990 years, he was Ambassador of the Soviet Union in Luxembourg. In 1991, he was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR for a short time.

From 1992 to 1996 Avdeev was Russia's ambassador to Bulgaria. From 1996 to 1998 he was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1998 to 2002 First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Then he was from March 2002 to May 2008 Russian Ambassador in France.

From 2008 to 2012 Avdeev was Minister of Culture in the Government of the Russian Federation.

2013 he was appointed by Vladimir Putin as ambassador to the Holy See.