Vladimir Antyufeyev (Cyrillic: Владимир Антюфéев), also known under the assumed name Vladimir Shevtsov (born 19 February 1951) is the head of the Ministry of State Security of Transnistria. He is a Transnistrian citizen of Russian origin born in Novosibirsk.
Antyufeyev is the former Riga police deputy chief of criminal investigation. In August 1990, Antyufeyev was one of the organizers of a meeting of the Latvian MVD where some 80% of the Latvian police force made a decision not to recognize the Popular Front of Latvia government and follow the Constitution of the Soviet Union instead. These police forces would later be involved in the January 1991 events in Latvia. For these actions the Latvian government accused Antyufeyev of "crimes against the state" in August 1991, whereupon he fled to Russia "with 200 rubles in my pocket."[1][2][3]
In Russia Antyufeyev was assisted by Viktor Alksnis, on whose recommendation he traveled to Tiraspol to take part in the Transnistrian independence movement in September 1991 under the "Vladimir Shevtsov" pseudonym. Antyufeyev played a key role in forming the internal affairs and security organizations of the Transnistrian government.[3]
Shevtsov's real identity was revealed by Aleksandr Lebed in 1997. In 2004, the prosecutor of Moldova indicted Antyufeyev for crimes against the Moldovan state and freeing an officer accused of several assassinations.[2] As with all other Transnistrian politicians, Antyufeyev is subject to restrictive measures by the European Union.[4]
Vladimir Antyufeyev is married to Galina Antyufeyeva, a deputy in the Transnistrian Supreme Soviet and head of the committee on legislation.
Antyufeyev has stated: "We pose a real problem to Moldova. My life's purpose is to save this land [Transnistria] for Russia".[3]