Yakovenko began his diplomatic career in 1976 and has held positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, including the Department of International Organizations, the Permanent Mission of the USSR to the United Nations in New York, the Foreign Policy Planning Department, the Department of International Scientific and Technical Cooperation, the Department of Security and Disarmament, the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to International Organizations in Vienna, and the Information and Press Department. He has participated in many sessions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly, the UNESCO General Conference, various OSCE forums, negotiations on conventional armed forces in Europe and confidence building measures, the IAEA Board of Governors meetings, the Russian-American Joint Commission on Economic and Technological Cooperation, and the G8 expert meetings. He headed the Russian delegation at the International Space Station negotiations.
Ambassador to the UK
In January 2011, Yakovenko was appointed by Russian PresidentDmitry Medvedev to the post of Ambassador of Russia to the United Kingdom, replacing Yury Fedotov. Yakovenko has written several comment and opinion pieces for British Daily Telegraph newspaper to clarify his diplomatic position. On 27 February 2019, he was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky. On 24 August 2019, a short note appeared on the website of the Russian Embassy in London stating that "Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Mr Alexander Yakovenko relinquished his duties and departed to Russia. Mr Ivan A. Volodin, Minister-Counsellor, acts as Chargé d'Affaires a.i." On 26 August 2019, the Russian news agency Sputnik reported that President Vladimir Putin had "relieved Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Alexander Yakovenko of his duties, with a relevant decree published on the official legal information portal." It was announced on 28 August 2019 that he would become the new rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Professional
2011–2019 – Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United Kingdom
1993–1995 – Deputy Director of the Department of International Scientific and Technical Cooperation, MFA
1976–1993 – various posts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and abroad
Recent participation in international fora
2009– – Vice-President of the Durban Review Conference, Head of the Russian delegation
2000–2009 – UN General Assembly sessions
2000–2009 – UN Security Council meetings
2005–2009 – Head of the Russian delegation at the ECOSOC sessions 2006-2009 - Head of the Russian delegation at the UNECE Session
2006–2009 – Head of the Russian delegation at the Human Rights Council sessions
2008–2009 – Head of the Russian delegation at the Alliance of Civilizations annual forum
2008– – Head of the Russian delegation at the Special Session of the FAO Conference 2008 - Head of the Russian delegation at the UNEP Special Session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum
2007 – Head of the Russian delegation at the UNESCO General Conference
2007 – Vice-President of the UNIDO General Conference, Head of the Russian delegation
2006–2007 – Head of the Russian delegation at the UNESCAP Session
2006 – Russian Representative at the Non-Aligned Movement Summit
2006 – Head of the Russian delegation at the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting
