Lavrov Sergey Viktorovich is a diplomatic worker who began his career during the Soviet era and continues at the present time. Since 2004 - Minister of Foreign Affairs, member of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. His wife, Maria Alexandrovna, is a teacher by education, but she did not work a day at school. She devoted her whole life to home, family and children.
Biography of Maria Alexandrovna
Lavrov got married when she was a student at a pedagogical university with a degree in “teacher of the Russian language and literature,” a philologist. Sergei Lavrov at that time was also a student at MGIMO and was finishing his third year. After receiving higher education, Maria did not have the opportunity to work in her specialty - as the wife of a diplomat, she was forced to travel with him on foreign business trips that lasted for years. Therefore, her destiny and vocation were her husband, home and children.
Until the moment of the wedding with Sergei Lavrov, little is known about the biography of his wife. During the period when her husband lived and worked in the United States, Maria was in charge of the library of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN.
The total experience of the Lavrovs' life together was more than 40 years, and they fell in love with each other at first sight. In the early 70s, Sergei was tall (185 cm) and a handsome young man who knew how to play the guitar, sing and read poetry well. By the way, Lavrov never left his hobbies. He now sings with pleasure with a guitar, writes poetry, is engaged in rafting and football.
Character
By nature, Maria is very modest, intelligent and does not like to appear in public. At social events and diplomatic receptions, he tries not to leave her husband. She shows restraint in clothes, but tries to be stylish, which speaks of her good taste. She is very tactful, always supports her husband in everything and provides home comfort.
He takes an active life position, although he tries to be in the shadow of her husband. She created and runs the "Women's Club", which includes the wives of Russian diplomatic workers. This organization provides assistance and support to the spouses of diplomats who are forced to leave for a foreign country and get used to new living conditions. Maria herself advises the club members on behavior and communication in other countries, often unfriendly.
The "Women's Club" was very popular, and the fact of participation in it was incredibly prestigious. Currently, the club has ceased to exist, but many of its members are grateful to Maria for the support she gave them.
In raising her daughter, she focused on knowledge of the Russian language, history, culture and heritage of the Russian people. Thanks to this, after 17 years spent abroad, daughter Catherine did not cease to be Russian with heart and soul. And when choosing a husband, I was guided by the fact that he was necessarily Russian. According to Catherine, the mentality of Americans and Europeans is alien to her and she chose only her compatriot as her husband.
Living together
The first business trip took place in 1972, immediately after graduating from MGIMO. In Sri Lanka, on the island of Ceylon, they lived with his wife for about four years. Then they returned to Moscow, where Sergei built a career at the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In the early 1980s, Sergei Lavrov was appointed first secretary of the USSR's Permanent Mission to the UN at its headquarters in New York. And then he consistently became an advisor and senior adviser to this office. In total, they lived in the United States for seven years: from 1981 to 1988.
In 1988, the Lavrovs returned to Moscow and Sergei took up a career at the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In four years, he rose to the position of Head of the Office of International Organizations and Director of the Department of International Organizations and Global Problems of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Since 1992 Sergey Lavrov has been Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and since 2004 - Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Daughter and grandchildren
Over the years of their life together, the Lavrovs made only one daughter - Ekaterina Lavrova. After getting married, her surname changed to Vinokurova. Born and raised on a business trip to the United States, in New York. She graduated from school in Manhattan and Columbia University in the same city. She was educated in the direction of political science. She received her second higher education in economics in London.
She currently lives in Moscow, until recently she headed the Russian branch of the Christie's auction house. Then she headed the company "Smart Art". The mission of this organization is to help budding Russian artists gain international recognition. To achieve these goals, Ekaterina constantly arranges meetings for Russian artists with collectors and owners of galleries, foundations, state and private museums.
Since 2008, she has been married to Alexander Vinokurov, a Russian entrepreneur and manager, heir to a pharmaceutical magnate. In a marriage with him, she gave birth to a son, Leonid (2010) and a daughter (2012). She met her husband while studying in London.
Interesting facts about Maria Alexandrovna
In the anti-corruption declaration for 2015, the property of Maria Lavrova includes:
- a piece of land in shared ownership with an area of 2845 sq. m;
- a residential house in a joint property with her husband, with an area of 499 sq.m;
- personal apartment with an area of 247 sq.m;
- personal garage with an area of 15, 6 sq. m;
- garage in a joint property with her husband, with an area of 100 sq. m;
- car KIA Ceed.
Joint ownership is also recorded in the spouse's declaration.
Also, on the Internet, there are practically no home photos of Lavrov with his family members, as well as photos of his family vacation. Only photos from open events and official meetings are posted. This is believed to be in the interests of the personal and family safety of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Many friends of the Lavrovs note that Maria Alexandrovna has a good education and erudition and can hold a conversation for hours on any topic. Although at negotiations and official events he never expresses his opinion, but supports the opinion of her husband.
Maria Lavrova rarely gets caught on camera and almost never gives interviews. Sergei himself, in communication with journalists and reporters, also rarely talks about his personal life.
