Viktor Ivanov
| Viktor Ivanov | |
|---|---|
 Viktor Ivanov | |
| Native name | Виктор Петрович Иванов |
| Born | May 12, 1950 |
| Allegiance | Soviet Union |
| Service/branch | KGB |
| Years of service | 1987-1988 |
| Battles/wars | Soviet war in Afghanistan |
Viktor Petrovich Ivanov (Russian: Виктор Петрович Иванов, born May 12, 1950, Novgorod, Soviet Union) is a Russian politician and businessman, former KGB officer,[1] who served in the KGB Directorate of Leningrad and its successors in 1977–1994. Currently, he is the Director of The Federal Narcotics Service of Russia.
In 1987–1988 as a KGB officer he took part in the Soviet war in Afghanistan.[2]
In December 1990 together with Boris Gryzlov and Valentin Chuykin he founded the small-scale enterprise Blok engaged in various businesses and became its director.
In October 1994 he resigned from FSK and was appointed Chief of the Administrative Staff of the Saint Petersburg Mayor Office. In 1999 he succeeded Nikolai Patrushev as the Head of the Internal Security Department of Russia's FSB. Since January 5, 2000, he has been a Deputy Head of the Presidential Staff for personnel appointed by Vladimir Putin. Viktor Ivanov is considered one of Putin's closest allies.
In September 2001 Russia's Prime Minister appointed Ivanov representative of the state in the Boards of Directors of the Antei Corporation and Almaz Scientific Industrial Corporation, developing and producing air defence systems, including S-300. On November 22, 2001, he was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of Almaz and initiated the merger of Almaz and Antei. Since June 2002 Ivanov has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the result of the merger, OJSC Almaz-Antei Air Defense Concern.
Since November 4, 2004, he has also been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC Aeroflot airline.
Head of Federal Narcotics Control Service
Since May 15, 2008, he has been a Director of Russia’s Federal Service for the Control of Narcotics[3] and a Chairman of State Anti-Narcotics Сommittee, which includes 29 Heads of Russian Ministries.
In 2010, when the State of California in the United States had a ballot initiative asking voters about the legalization of marijuana, Ivanov public spoke out against it. He flew to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., to lobby against drug legalization, meeting with the Los Angeles mayor, Los Angeles county sheriff, and U.S. drug czar.[2]
In 2015 Ivanov pointed out that Islamic State, like Boko Haram, is supported significantly through money made by trafficking Afghan heroin.[4] He called out for a global alliance to liquidate drug production and develop alternative sources of income in drug-producing areas.[5] Ivanov who was blacklisted by the United States in the aftermath of the 2014 Crimean Crisis[6] also accused the United States of deliberately undermining international efforts of anti-drug cooperation.[5]
References and notes
- ↑ "New jobs, old faces: The line-up confirms that Vladimir Putin is still in control". The Economist. May 15, 2008. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
Also seemingly sidelined is Viktor Ivanov, a hardline ex-spook who worked closely with Mr Sechin.
- 1 2 Keating, Joshua E. (22 October 2010). "Interview: Viktor Ivanov". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ↑ Wu Jiao and Li Xiaokun (2010-06-11). "SCO leaders may make crucial Afghan decisions". China Daily. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
Russia's drug control chief Viktor Ivanov warned last month in Beijing: "Drugs produced in Afghanistan are flowing to Russia and China, intensifying regional instability,
- ↑ "ISIS economy based on illegal drug trade - Russian anti-drug chief". RT. July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
- 1 2 "Russian anti-drug chief urges new plan to counter Afghanistan drug threat". RT. March 25, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
- ↑ "‘Drug lords danced with joy, when US blacklisted me’ – Russian anti-drug chief". RT. March 20, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2015.