Viktor Chernomyrdin
Encyclopedia
Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin was the founder and the first chairman of the Gazprom
energy company, the longest serving Prime Minister of Russia
(1992–1998) and Acting President of Russia for a day in 1996. He was a key figure in Russian politics in the 1990s, and a great contributor to the Russian transition from a planned
to a market
economy. From 2001 to 2009, he was Russia's ambassador to Ukraine
. After that he was designated as a presidential adviser.
Chernomyrdin is known in Russia and Russian-speaking countries for his unique language style, containing numerous malapropism
s and syntactic
errors. Many of his sayings became aphorism
s and idiom
s in the Russian language
, the most famous being his expression "We meant to do better, but it came out as always" .
Viktor Chernomyrdin died on 3 November 2010 after a long illness. He was buried beside his wife in Novodevichy Cemetery
on 5 November, and his funeral was broadcast live
on Russian federal TV channels.
in Orsk
. He worked there until 1962, except for two years of compulsory military service from 1957 to 1960. His other occupations on the plant during this period included machinist, operator and chief of technical installations.
He became a member of the CPSU
in 1961.
In 1962, he was admitted to Kuybyshev Industrial Institute (which was later renamed Samara Polytechnical Institute). In his entrance exams he performed very poorly. He failed the math sections of the test and had to take the exam again, getting a C. He got only one B in Russian language, and Cs in the other tests. He was admitted only because of very low competition. In 1966, he graduated from the institute. In 1972, he completed further studies at the Department of Economics of the Union-wide Polytechnic Institute by correspondence.
between 1967 and 1973. In 1973, he was appointed the director of the natural gas refining plant in Orenburg
, a position which he held until 1978. Between 1978 and 1982, Chernomyrdin worked in the heavy industry arm of the CPSU Central Committee
.
In 1982, he was appointed deputy Minister of the natural gas industries of the Soviet Union
. Concurrently, beginning from 1983, he directed Glavtyumengazprom, an industry association for natural gas resource development in Tyumen Oblast
. During 1985–1989 he was the Minister of gas
industries.
, which became the country's first state-corporate enterprise. Chernomyrdin was elected its first chairman. The company was still controlled by the state, but now the control was exercised through shares of stock, 100% of which were owned by the state.
When the Soviet Union dissolved in late 1991, assets of the former Soviet state in the gas sector were transferred to newly created national companies such as Ukrgazprom and Turkmengazprom. Gazprom kept assets located in the territory of Russia, and was able to secure a monopoly in the gas sector.
Gazprom's political influence increased markedly after the new Russian President Boris Yeltsin
appointed the company's chairman Chernomyrdin as his Prime Minister in 1992. Rem Viakhirev
took Cherdomyrdin's place as Chairman both of the Board of Directors and of the Managing Committee. Gazprom was one of the backbones of the country's economy in 1990s, though the company underperformed during that decade. In 2000s, however, Gazprom became the largest extractor of natural gas in the world and the largest Russian company
.
appointed Chernomyrdin deputy prime minister in charge of fuel and energy.
On 14 December 1992, Chernomyrdin was confirmed by the VII Congress of People's Deputies of Russia as Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation.
In April 1995, he formed a political bloc called Our Home – Russia, which was aimed at becoming the central force in the parliament, but failed in this, gaining only 10% of votes.
On 18 June 1995, as a result of Shamil Basayev
-led terrorists taking over 1500 people hostage
in Budyonnovsk
, negotiations between Chernomyrdin and Basayev led to a compromise which became a turning point for the First Chechen War
. In exchange for the hostages, the Russian government agreed to halt military actions in Chechnya and begin a series of negotiations.
He was Acting President of the Russian Federation
for 23 hours on 6 November 1996, when Boris Yeltsin was undergoing a heart operation.
Chernomyrdin remained prime minister until his sudden dismissal on 23 March 1998. Following the 1998 Russian financial crisis in August, Yeltsin re-appointed Chernomyrdin as prime minister, and attempted to designate him as his successor. However, the Duma
twice refused to confirm Chernomyrdin as the head of the government. Rather than to risk the third rejection and thus to force the dissolution of the parliament and political crisis, the President opted to propose a more popular Yevgeny Primakov
as the new Prime Minister.
under UN control.
In December 1999 Chernomyrdin was elected a member of the Duma
(Russian parliament).
In May 2001, Vladimir Putin
appointed Chernomyrdin Ambassador of Russia to Ukraine. This action was interpreted by some Russian media agencies as a move to distance Chernomyrdin from the centre of Russian politics
. In 2003, he dismissed talk of an apology for the Holodomor Famine
made by Russians.
In February 2009 Chernomyrdin again strained the relations between Ukraine and Russia
when he in an interview said "It is impossible to come to an agreement on anything with the Ukrainian leadership
. If different people come in, we'll see". The Ukrainian foreign ministry
said in a response it could declare Chernomyrdin "persona non grata
" over the row.
On 11 June 2009, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
relieved Chernomyrdin as Russian Ambassador in Kiev
, and appointed him as "presidential adviser and special presidential representative on economic cooperation with CIS member countries". In a parting shot at the Ukrainian government, Chernomyrdin stated that Russia should not apologise to Ukraine
over voicing its suspicions about Ukraine being unable to pay for its natural gas, and further stated that Russia wants Ukraine to pay for the gas it consumes, and hence Russia is right to be concerned about the solvency of the Ukrainian state.
, the former Prime Minister was deeply affected by the death of his wife Valentina, seven and a half months earlier in 2010.
Chernomyrdin was buried beside his wife in Novodevichy Cemetery
on 5 November 2010. On 3 November Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
signed an order to show Chernomyrdin's funeral in a live broadcast
on Russian federal TV channels (only the funerals of the former President Boris Yeltsin
and Patriarch Alexy II were granted the same right in recent years). Head of the Presidential Administration of Russia
, Sergey Naryshkin
, supervised the funeral ceremony.
Condolences on the death of Chernomyrdin were voiced on 3 November by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and other state figures in Russia.
s and syntactically
incorrect speech. His idioms received the name Chernomyrdinki, and are somewhat comparable to Bushism
s in style and effect.
One of his expressions "We wanted the best, but it turned out as always" (Хотели как лучше, а получилось как всегда in Russian) about the economic reforms in Russia became a very popular proverb. The phrase was uttered after a highly unsuccessful monetary exchange performed by the Russian Central Bank
in July 1993.
Among his other sayings were:
President and the Government of the Russian Federation
Foreign awards
Awards of states of the Russian Federation
Faith awards
Departmental Awards
|-
Gazprom
Open Joint Stock Company Gazprom is the largest extractor of natural gas in the world and the largest Russian company. Its headquarters are in Cheryomushki District, South-Western Administrative Okrug, Moscow...
energy company, the longest serving Prime Minister of Russia
Prime Minister of Russia
The Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation The use of the term "Prime Minister" is strictly informal and is not allowed for by the Russian Constitution and other laws....
(1992–1998) and Acting President of Russia for a day in 1996. He was a key figure in Russian politics in the 1990s, and a great contributor to the Russian transition from a planned
Planned economy
A planned economy is an economic system in which decisions regarding production and investment are embodied in a plan formulated by a central authority, usually by a government agency...
to a market
Market economy
A market economy is an economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. This is often contrasted with a state-directed or planned economy. Market economies can range from hypothetically pure laissez-faire variants to an assortment of real-world mixed...
economy. From 2001 to 2009, he was Russia's ambassador to Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. After that he was designated as a presidential adviser.
Chernomyrdin is known in Russia and Russian-speaking countries for his unique language style, containing numerous malapropism
Malapropism
A malapropism is an act of misusing or the habitual misuse of similar sounding words, especially with humorous results. An example is Yogi Berra's statement: "Texas has a lot of electrical votes," rather than "electoral votes".-Etymology:...
s and syntactic
Syntax
In linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing phrases and sentences in natural languages....
errors. Many of his sayings became aphorism
Aphorism
An aphorism is an original thought, spoken or written in a laconic and memorable form.The term was first used in the Aphorisms of Hippocrates...
s and idiom
Idiom
Idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made...
s in the Russian language
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
, the most famous being his expression "We meant to do better, but it came out as always" .
Viktor Chernomyrdin died on 3 November 2010 after a long illness. He was buried beside his wife in Novodevichy Cemetery
Novodevichy Cemetery
Novodevichy Cemetery is the most famous cemetery in Moscow, Russia. It is next to the 16th-century Novodevichy Convent, which is the city's third most popular tourist site. It should not be confused with the Novodevichy Cemetery in Saint Petersburg....
on 5 November, and his funeral was broadcast live
Live television
Live television refers to a television production broadcast in real-time, as events happen, in the present. From the early days of television until about 1958, live television was used heavily, except for filmed shows such as I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke. Video tape did not exist until 1957...
on Russian federal TV channels.
Youth and education
Chernomyrdin's father was a labourer and Viktor was one of five children. Chernomyrdin completed school education in 1957 and found employment as a mechanic in an oil refineryOil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
in Orsk
Orsk
Orsk is the second largest city in Orenburg Oblast, Russia, located on the steppe about southeast of the southern tip of the Ural Mountains. The city straddles the Ural River. Since this river is considered a boundary between Europe and Asia, Orsk can be said to lie in two continents. It is...
. He worked there until 1962, except for two years of compulsory military service from 1957 to 1960. His other occupations on the plant during this period included machinist, operator and chief of technical installations.
He became a member of the CPSU
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
in 1961.
In 1962, he was admitted to Kuybyshev Industrial Institute (which was later renamed Samara Polytechnical Institute). In his entrance exams he performed very poorly. He failed the math sections of the test and had to take the exam again, getting a C. He got only one B in Russian language, and Cs in the other tests. He was admitted only because of very low competition. In 1966, he graduated from the institute. In 1972, he completed further studies at the Department of Economics of the Union-wide Polytechnic Institute by correspondence.
Early career
Chernomyrdin began developing his career as a politician when he worked for the CPSU in OrskOrsk
Orsk is the second largest city in Orenburg Oblast, Russia, located on the steppe about southeast of the southern tip of the Ural Mountains. The city straddles the Ural River. Since this river is considered a boundary between Europe and Asia, Orsk can be said to lie in two continents. It is...
between 1967 and 1973. In 1973, he was appointed the director of the natural gas refining plant in Orenburg
Orenburg
Orenburg is a city on the Ural River and the administrative center of Orenburg Oblast, Russia. It lies southeast of Moscow, very close to the border with Kazakhstan. Population: 546,987 ; 549,361 ; Highest point: 154.4 m...
, a position which he held until 1978. Between 1978 and 1982, Chernomyrdin worked in the heavy industry arm of the CPSU Central Committee
Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union , abbreviated in Russian as ЦК, "Tse-ka", earlier was also called as the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party ...
.
In 1982, he was appointed deputy Minister of the natural gas industries of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Concurrently, beginning from 1983, he directed Glavtyumengazprom, an industry association for natural gas resource development in Tyumen Oblast
Tyumen Oblast
Tyumen Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Tyumen. The oblast has administrative jurisdiction over two autonomous okrugs—Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Tyumen is the largest city, with over half a million inhabitants...
. During 1985–1989 he was the Minister of gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
industries.
Founder of Gazprom
In August 1989, under the leadership of Chernomyrdin, the Ministry of Gas Industry was transformed itself into the State Gas Concern, GazpromGazprom
Open Joint Stock Company Gazprom is the largest extractor of natural gas in the world and the largest Russian company. Its headquarters are in Cheryomushki District, South-Western Administrative Okrug, Moscow...
, which became the country's first state-corporate enterprise. Chernomyrdin was elected its first chairman. The company was still controlled by the state, but now the control was exercised through shares of stock, 100% of which were owned by the state.
When the Soviet Union dissolved in late 1991, assets of the former Soviet state in the gas sector were transferred to newly created national companies such as Ukrgazprom and Turkmengazprom. Gazprom kept assets located in the territory of Russia, and was able to secure a monopoly in the gas sector.
Gazprom's political influence increased markedly after the new Russian President Boris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...
appointed the company's chairman Chernomyrdin as his Prime Minister in 1992. Rem Viakhirev
Rem Viakhirev
Rem Viakhirev , is a Russian businessman. From 1992 until May 2001 he was chairman of Gazprom.In May 2001 Viakhirev had to resign as chairman. His successor is Alexei Miller.- External links :* *...
took Cherdomyrdin's place as Chairman both of the Board of Directors and of the Managing Committee. Gazprom was one of the backbones of the country's economy in 1990s, though the company underperformed during that decade. In 2000s, however, Gazprom became the largest extractor of natural gas in the world and the largest Russian company
Economy of Russia
The economy of Russia is the eleventh largest economy in the world by nominal value and the sixth largest by purchasing power parity . Russia has an abundance of natural gas, oil, coal, and precious metals...
.
Prime Minister of Russia
In May 1992, Boris YeltsinBoris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...
appointed Chernomyrdin deputy prime minister in charge of fuel and energy.
On 14 December 1992, Chernomyrdin was confirmed by the VII Congress of People's Deputies of Russia as Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation.
In April 1995, he formed a political bloc called Our Home – Russia, which was aimed at becoming the central force in the parliament, but failed in this, gaining only 10% of votes.
On 18 June 1995, as a result of Shamil Basayev
Shamil Basayev
Shamil Salmanovich Basayev was a Chechen militant Islamist and a leader of the Chechen rebel movement.Starting as a field commander in the Transcaucasus, Basayev led guerrilla campaigns against the Russian troops for years, as well as launching mass-hostage takings of civilians, with his goal...
-led terrorists taking over 1500 people hostage
Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis
The Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis took place from 14 June to 19 June 1995, when a group of 80 to 200 Chechen terrorists led by Shamil Basayev attacked the southern Russian city of Budyonnovsk , some north of the border with the Russian republic of Chechnya...
in Budyonnovsk
Budyonnovsk
Budyonnovsk , also spelled Budennovsk, is a town in Stavropol Krai, Russia. Previously, it was named Svyatoy Krest and Prikumsk...
, negotiations between Chernomyrdin and Basayev led to a compromise which became a turning point for the First Chechen War
First Chechen War
The First Chechen War, also known as the War in Chechnya, was a conflict between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, fought from December 1994 to August 1996...
. In exchange for the hostages, the Russian government agreed to halt military actions in Chechnya and begin a series of negotiations.
Acting President of the Russian Federation
The Acting President of the Russian Federation is a temporary post provided by the Constitution of Russia. Acting President is a person who fulfills the duties of President of the Russian Federation when cases of incapacity and vacancy occur...
for 23 hours on 6 November 1996, when Boris Yeltsin was undergoing a heart operation.
Chernomyrdin remained prime minister until his sudden dismissal on 23 March 1998. Following the 1998 Russian financial crisis in August, Yeltsin re-appointed Chernomyrdin as prime minister, and attempted to designate him as his successor. However, the Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
twice refused to confirm Chernomyrdin as the head of the government. Rather than to risk the third rejection and thus to force the dissolution of the parliament and political crisis, the President opted to propose a more popular Yevgeny Primakov
Yevgeny Primakov
Yevgeny Maksimovich Primakov is a Russian politician and diplomat. During his long career, he served as the Russian Foreign Minister, Prime Minister of Russia, Speaker of the Soviet of the Union of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, and chief of intelligence service...
as the new Prime Minister.
Diplomatic career
During the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 Chernomyrdin was a special representative of Russia in Yugoslavia. It was he who persuaded Slobodan Milosevich to agree to an armistice and to place KosovoKosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
under UN control.
In December 1999 Chernomyrdin was elected a member of the Duma
Duma
A Duma is any of various representative assemblies in modern Russia and Russian history. The State Duma in the Russian Empire and Russian Federation corresponds to the lower house of the parliament. Simply it is a form of Russian governmental institution, that was formed during the reign of the...
(Russian parliament).
In May 2001, Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
appointed Chernomyrdin Ambassador of Russia to Ukraine. This action was interpreted by some Russian media agencies as a move to distance Chernomyrdin from the centre of Russian politics
Politics of Russia
The politics of Russia take place in a framework of a federal semi-presidential republic. According to the Constitution of Russia, the President of Russia is head of state, and of a multi-party system with executive power exercised by the government, headed by the Prime Minister, who is appointed...
. In 2003, he dismissed talk of an apology for the Holodomor Famine
Holodomor
The Holodomor was a man-made famine in the Ukrainian SSR between 1932 and 1933. During the famine, which is also known as the "terror-famine in Ukraine" and "famine-genocide in Ukraine", millions of Ukrainians died of starvation in a peacetime catastrophe unprecedented in the history of...
made by Russians.
In February 2009 Chernomyrdin again strained the relations between Ukraine and Russia
Russia–Ukraine relations
Russia–Ukraine relations were established in 1991 immediately upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union of which both were founding constituent republics.Russia has an embassy in Kiev and consulates in Kharkiv, Lviv, Odessa and Simferopol...
when he in an interview said "It is impossible to come to an agreement on anything with the Ukrainian leadership
Government of Ukraine
Government of Ukraine is often associated with the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. However it should be considered that Ukraine is a country under a semi-presidential system with separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government...
. If different people come in, we'll see". The Ukrainian foreign ministry
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is the Ukrainian government ministry which oversees the foreign relations of Ukraine.-Historical overlook:...
said in a response it could declare Chernomyrdin "persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
" over the row.
On 11 June 2009, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is the third President of the Russian Federation.Born to a family of academics, Medvedev graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad State University in 1987. He defended his dissertation in 1990 and worked as a docent at his alma mater, now renamed to Saint...
relieved Chernomyrdin as Russian Ambassador in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, and appointed him as "presidential adviser and special presidential representative on economic cooperation with CIS member countries". In a parting shot at the Ukrainian government, Chernomyrdin stated that Russia should not apologise to Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
over voicing its suspicions about Ukraine being unable to pay for its natural gas, and further stated that Russia wants Ukraine to pay for the gas it consumes, and hence Russia is right to be concerned about the solvency of the Ukrainian state.
Death
Chernomyrdin died on the morning of 3 November 2010 after a long illness. The exact cause and the place of death has not been announced. According to people close to Chernomyrdin, such as popular singer Lev LeshchenkoLev Leshchenko
Lev Valerjanovich Leshchenko , is a renowned Russian singer, who was best known for his rendition of "Den Pobedy" and the 1980 Summer Olympics closing ceremony theme song "Do svidanja, Moskva".-Biography:...
, the former Prime Minister was deeply affected by the death of his wife Valentina, seven and a half months earlier in 2010.
Chernomyrdin was buried beside his wife in Novodevichy Cemetery
Novodevichy Cemetery
Novodevichy Cemetery is the most famous cemetery in Moscow, Russia. It is next to the 16th-century Novodevichy Convent, which is the city's third most popular tourist site. It should not be confused with the Novodevichy Cemetery in Saint Petersburg....
on 5 November 2010. On 3 November Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is the third President of the Russian Federation.Born to a family of academics, Medvedev graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad State University in 1987. He defended his dissertation in 1990 and worked as a docent at his alma mater, now renamed to Saint...
signed an order to show Chernomyrdin's funeral in a live broadcast
Live television
Live television refers to a television production broadcast in real-time, as events happen, in the present. From the early days of television until about 1958, live television was used heavily, except for filmed shows such as I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke. Video tape did not exist until 1957...
on Russian federal TV channels (only the funerals of the former President Boris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...
and Patriarch Alexy II were granted the same right in recent years). Head of the Presidential Administration of Russia
Presidential Administration of Russia
The Presidential Administration of Russia ) is the executive office of Russia's president created by a decree of Boris Yeltsin on 19 July 1991 as an institution supporting the activity of the president and vice-president The Presidential Administration of Russia (also known as Staff of Russia’s...
, Sergey Naryshkin
Sergey Naryshkin
Sergey Yevgenyevich Naryshkin is a Russian official, politician and businessman, head of the Administration of the President of Russia from May 2008 and chairman of the Historical Truth Commission from May 2009....
, supervised the funeral ceremony.
Condolences on the death of Chernomyrdin were voiced on 3 November by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is the third President of the Russian Federation.Born to a family of academics, Medvedev graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad State University in 1987. He defended his dissertation in 1990 and worked as a docent at his alma mater, now renamed to Saint...
, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and other state figures in Russia.
Sayings
In Russian-speaking countries, Chernomyrdin is famous for his numerous malapropismMalapropism
A malapropism is an act of misusing or the habitual misuse of similar sounding words, especially with humorous results. An example is Yogi Berra's statement: "Texas has a lot of electrical votes," rather than "electoral votes".-Etymology:...
s and syntactically
Syntax
In linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing phrases and sentences in natural languages....
incorrect speech. His idioms received the name Chernomyrdinki, and are somewhat comparable to Bushism
Bushism
Bushisms are unconventional words, phrases, pronunciations, malapropisms, and semantic or linguistic errors that have occurred in the public speaking of former President of the United States George W. Bush and, much less notably, of his father, George H. W. Bush. The term has become part of popular...
s in style and effect.
One of his expressions "We wanted the best, but it turned out as always" (Хотели как лучше, а получилось как всегда in Russian) about the economic reforms in Russia became a very popular proverb. The phrase was uttered after a highly unsuccessful monetary exchange performed by the Russian Central Bank
Central Bank of the Russian Federation
The Bank of Russia or the Central Bank of The Russian Federation is the central bank of The Russian Federation. Its functions are described in the Russian constitution and in the special Federal law...
in July 1993.
Among his other sayings were:
- We executed all bullets: from A to B.
- Better than vodkaVodkaVodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
there is nothing worse. - From the very beginning there was nothing like that, and now there it is again.
- The direction we have is one – the correct one.
- A government is not that body which you can do with a tongue as you wish.
- Better to be the head of a fly than the buttocks of an elephant.
- 27 millions were left with no arms, no leg, and without nothing else.
- The soul hurts for grandchildren and the country.
- You got to think what to understand.
- Always we in Russia have something standing that we don't need.
- The principles that were principled were non-principled.
- There is still time to save the face. Later we will be forced to save some other parts of a body.
- Wine we need for health, and the health we need to drink vodka.
- My life has passed in the atmosphere of oil and gas.
- I can speak to everybody in whichever tongue, but that is the instrument I try not to use.
- Accuse of what? Of corruption? Whom? Me? Who? USA? What, did they, there, just wake up?
- I don't paint, but if I would like to none will seem to be too little.
- We need to do what our people need, not what we are doing now.
- The country we have – enough for her by skipping to do jumping.
- Here is what can happen when somebody's starting to reason.
Honours and awards
State awards of the Russian Federation and USSR- Order of Merit for the FatherlandOrder of Merit for the FatherlandThe Order of Merit for the Fatherland was instituted on 2 March 1994 by Presidential Decree. The statutes describe it as a decoration for merit, not an order of knights....
- 1st class (24 March 2009) - for outstanding contribution to strengthening the international prestige of the Russian Federation and many years of fruitful activity
- 2nd class (23 March 1998) - for outstanding contribution to the development of the Russian state
- 3rd class (9 April 2008) - for outstanding contribution to the development of Russian-Ukrainian relations
- 4th class (9 April 2010) - for long-term fruitful state activity
- Order of FriendshipOrder of FriendshipThe Order of Friendship is a state decoration of Russia established by decree # 442 of March 2, 1994 of the President of the Russian Federation....
(8 April 2003) - for outstanding contribution to the strengthening and development of friendship and cooperation between Russia and Ukraine - Order of the October RevolutionOrder of the October RevolutionThe Order of the October Revolution was instituted on October 31, 1967, in time for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was awarded to individuals or groups for services furthering communism or the state, or in enhancing the defenses of the Soviet Union, military and civil...
(1986) - Order of the Red Banner of LabourOrder of the Red Banner of LabourThe Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
(1979) - Order of the Badge of Honour (1974) - for achievements in the construction and development of the design capacity of the first stage of Orenburg gas complex
- Jubilee Medal "300th Anniversary of Russian Navy" (7 June 1996)
- 850th Anniversary of Moscow Medal850th Anniversary of Moscow MedalThe 850th Anniversary of Moscow Medal was a medal in Russia. It was established by Presidential Decree no 132 of February 26, 1997 in commemoration of the 850th anniversary of the first Russian reference to Moscow, dating to 1147 when Yuri Dolgorukiy called upon the prince of the Novgorod-Severski...
(6 September 1997) - Medal "In memory of Kazan 1000th anniversary" (23 August 2005)
- Medal "In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin" (1970)
- Jubilee Medal "Forty Years of Victory in Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945." (1985)
President and the Government of the Russian Federation
- Diploma of the President of the Russian Federation (12 December 2008) - for active participation in the drafting of the Constitution and a great contribution to the democratic foundations of the Russian Federation
- Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation (9 November 1993)
- Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation (14 August 1995) - for active participation in the preparation and conduct of the 50th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945
- Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation (12 July 1996) - for active participation in organizing and conducting the election campaign of President of Russian Federation in 1996
- Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation (30 July 1999) - for his great personal contribution to a political settlement between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and NATO, consistent defense of Russia's position in the Balkans
- Diploma of the Russian Federation Government (9 April 2003) - for his great personal contribution to the development of Russian-Ukrainian trade and economic cooperation
- Diploma of the Russian Federation Government (9 April 2008) - for long-term fruitful state activity
Foreign awards
- Medal "100th Anniversary of Birth of Georgi Dimitrov" (People's Republic of Bulgaria, 1982)
- Mkhitar Gosh (Armenia, December 4, 1998) - for outstanding contribution to the elimination of the consequences of the Spitak earthquake, humanitarian assistance and reconstruction work. Medal awarded April 18, 2002
- Order of ParasatOrder of ParasatThe Order of Parasat is an order awarded by the government of Kazakhstan. It was established in 1993.The order is awarded to notable figures in the fields of science, culture, literature and art, as well as statesmen and public figures, defenders of human rights, and others who have contributed to...
(Kazakhstan, September 1, 1999) - for his contribution to the development of oil and gas industry in Kazakhstan - Order of Prince Yaroslav the WiseOrder of Prince Yaroslav the WiseThe Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise is an award of Ukraine. It is awarded for distinguished services to the state and people of the Ukrainian nation. The Order was instituted on August 23, 1995 by the Ukrainian President, Leonid Kuchma....
, 5th class (Ukraine, April 8, 2003) - for outstanding contribution to the development of bilateral relations between Russia and Ukraine, weighty personal contribution in strengthening the friendly ties between the Russian and Ukrainian peoples - Order of MeritOrder of Merit (Ukraine)The Order of Merit first, second or third class, is the Ukrainian award, given to individuals for outstanding achievements in economics, science, culture, military or political spheres of activity...
, 3rd class (Ukraine, June 17, 2009) - for his contribution to the development of Ukrainian-Russian relations, the long-term diplomatic activity
Awards of states of the Russian Federation
- Order "For Merit" (Republic of Ingushetia, June 19, 2001) - for outstanding contribution to the establishment and development of the economy of Ingushetia
- Order the "Key of Friendship" (Kemerovo Region, March 7, 2008)
Faith awards
- Order of St. Sergius, 2nd class (Russian Orthodox Church, 29 March 29 2007) - for their efforts in strengthening the unity of Orthodox peoples
- Order "Christmas", 2nd class (UOC)
- Jubilee medal "1020 years of the Baptism of Kievan Rus' (PCM, 25 November 2008)
Departmental Awards
- Honorary Worker Minneftegazstroya (1 April 1988)
- Veteran Labour gas industry (8 April 1998)
- Honorary Worker of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2 April 2003) - for active participation in the implementation of Russian foreign policy
External links
- Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin from The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2007, and related articles
- Man in the News; Kremlin's Technocrat: Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin By Steven ErlangerSteven ErlangerSteven J. Erlanger is an American journalist who has been the Paris bureau chief for The New York Times since 2008. Erlanger joined the Times in September 1987....
The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
15 December 1992.
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