Matvienko
Valentina Ivanovna
Governor of St.Petersburg |
Valentina I. Matvienko was born in Ukraine in 1949.
She graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Chemistry and Pharmaceutics
in 1972, and the Social Sciences Academy of the CPSU Central Committee,
in 1985. In 1991, Mrs. Matvienko attended a retraining course
for high-ranking diplomats at the Diplomatic Academy of the USSR
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mrs. Matvienko pursued her active career in the Komsomol organization
for young communists from 1972 on, first as a Chief of the Department
in the Petrogradsky District Komsomol Committee, and later as
the First Secretary of the Leningrad Regional Komsomol Committee.
In 1984-86, she worked as the First Secretary of the CPSU Krasnogvardeisky
District Committee. In 1986-89, her position was Vice Chair of
the Executive Committee of the Leningrad City Council.
In 1989, Mrs. Matvienko was elected to the Soviet Parliament,
where she subsequently chaired the Soviet Supreme Concil Committe
for Women, Families, Maternity and Childhood.
Mrs. Matvienko entered her diplomatic service in 1991, and pursued
a career in foreign service until 1998. In 1991-94, she was the
Ambassador of the Soviet Union and later the Ambassador of Russia
to the Republic of Malta. In 1995-97, Mrs. Matvienko headed the
Foreign Ministry's Department for Liaison with Regions, Parliament,
Non-Governmental and Political Organizations. She worked in the
Foreign Office's Collegiate Body (1995-97) and served as the Ambassador
of the Russian Federation in Greece in 1997-98.
In the following years (1998-2003), Valentina Matvienko worked
as a Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation for Social
Policy.
On March 19, 2003, she was appointed Plenipotentiary Presidential
Representative in the Northwest Russia.
On October 5, 2003, Valentina Matvienko was elected Governor of
St.Petersburg.
Her State Awards include the Badge of Honor (1976), the Order
of the Red Banner of Labour (1982), and the Order for Service
to the Homeland, 3rd Degree (1999).
Married. Has a son.
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