Alexander Bessmertnykh (politician)


Alexander Alexandrovich Bessmertnykh is a Russian diplomat who briefly served as foreign minister of the Soviet Union.

Early life

Bessmertnykh was born in Biisk in 1933, first of four children. He lost his father when he was 10 years old.

Career

Bessmertnykh joined the ministry of foreign affairs in 1957. From 1970 to 1983 he served as a consul at the Soviet embassy in the United States, and then headed the US department in the foreign ministry. In 1986, he was appointed deputy foreign minister and in 1988, he became first deputy foreign minister. From 1990 to 1991 he was ambassador to the United States.

Soviet Foreign Minister

He briefly served as a Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR in 1991, replacing Eduard Shevardnadze. During the August coup of 1991 he did not lend his support to the attempt at removing Gorbachev from power, but refused to condemn the plotters. Consequently, he was removed by Mikhail Gorbachev.