Vladimir Yakunin

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Vladimir Yakunin

Vladimir Ivanovich Yakunin (Russian: Владимир Иванович Якунин; born June 30, 1948 in Vladimir region), is a Russian official, head of state run Russian Railways company. Vladimir Yakunin is a close ally of the Russian president Vladimir Putin and is considered to be one of the members of his inner circle.

In 1972 Vladimir Yakunin graduated from Leningrad Mechanical Institute and after completing his military service worked in the State Committee of the Sovmin (Council of Ministers) responsible for international trade.

Between 1985 and 1991 Yakunin was part of the Soviet diplomatic mission in the United Nations.

After 1991 he was a private businessman until 1997 then he became a government official once again.

In 2000 Yakunin became deputy of the Russian transportation minister.

On June 15, 2005 Vladimir Yakunin became head of the Russian Railways.

Vladimir Yakunin is Chairman of the Committee of Trustees of the Center of the National Glory of Russia and St. Andrew's Foundation organizations which fund Orthodox Church-related projects.

Vladimir Yakunin is also President of the "World Public Forum - Dialogue of Civilizations", an International NGO, registerd in Vienna, Austria, which he co-founded with C.Kapur of India and N.Papanikolao from Greece/USA. World Public Forum - Dialogue of Civilizations is an initiative to link people of different civilizations, traditions and religions. It organizes the annual Rhodes Conference on Dialogue of Civilizations.