Mikhail Smirnovsky
Encyclopedia
Mikhail Nikolayevich Smirnovsky was a Soviet diplomat
and a specialist in Soviet relations with English-speaking countries. He was first secretary of the Soviet Embassy in Washington DC in 1953, and served a second time in Washington as the minister-counselor and second-ranking officer of the Embassy at the beginning of the 1960s. Around 1963 Smirnovsky returned to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow, where he was chief of the USA section of the Ministry. In 1966 he became Soviet Ambassador
to the United Kingdom
, where he served until around 1972. It is believed that he was later, in Moscow
, a member of the Foreign Ministry's Collegium, understood to have been an advisory group of senior officers. He was a player in US-Soviet relations at critical times, including the Cuban missile crisis
of 1962. Smirnovsky was viewed by American
colleagues as an efficient, businesslike diplomat who, in contrast to many other Soviet officials, eschewed rudeness and avoided unnecessary exaggeration.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and a specialist in Soviet relations with English-speaking countries. He was first secretary of the Soviet Embassy in Washington DC in 1953, and served a second time in Washington as the minister-counselor and second-ranking officer of the Embassy at the beginning of the 1960s. Around 1963 Smirnovsky returned to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow, where he was chief of the USA section of the Ministry. In 1966 he became Soviet Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where he served until around 1972. It is believed that he was later, in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, a member of the Foreign Ministry's Collegium, understood to have been an advisory group of senior officers. He was a player in US-Soviet relations at critical times, including the Cuban missile crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
of 1962. Smirnovsky was viewed by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
colleagues as an efficient, businesslike diplomat who, in contrast to many other Soviet officials, eschewed rudeness and avoided unnecessary exaggeration.