Gennady Burbulis is a Russian politician and political thinker. He was
one of the most influential Russian political figures in the late 1980s and
early 1990s and one of the main architects of Russian political and economic
reform. A close associate of Boris Yeltsin, he held several high positions in
the first Russian government, including Secretary of State, and was one of
the drafters and signers of the Belovezha Accords on behalf of Russia. Some
of the highlights of his political career include initiation of the Interregional
Deputies' Group, the first legally organized opposition in the Soviet Union and
one of the prime catalysts for democratic reform in 1989; being appointed
Secretary of State by Boris Yeltsin in July 1991 and serving in this post through
November 1992, at the same time serving as First Deputy to the chairman
of the Government (Cabinet), where he was responsible for developing the
strategy and overseeing the implementation of political and economic reforms,
also making significant contributions to the shaping of foreign policy and
domestic security issues. After serving two terms in the Duma, Dr. Burbulis
was appointed deputy to the governor of Novgorod oblast, after which he
represented Novgorod in the Federal Assembly up until 2007. In addition to
his political career, Dr. Burbulis has continued his academic pursuits and has
been actively involved in nongovernmental
activities. He is the founder of
the Strategy Center for Humanitarian and Political Science, a research and
consulting organization which publishes books and monographs, as well as
holds frequent conferences, symposia, and round table discussions; founder of
"Dignity" School of Philosophy; president of the Youth Forum of Modernizers,
and president of the Russian Federation of Short Track Speed Skating.
Additionally, he is the provost of the International University in Moscow,
teaches at several institutions of higher education, and lectures extensively
both in Russia and abroad. Dr. Burbulis holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the
Urals State University.