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Vadim BakatinMinister of Internal Affairs and Chairman of the KGB
Date of Birth: 06.11.1937
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Vadim Viktorovich Bakatin: A Biographical Sketch
- Government Service
- Minister of Internal Affairs
- Chairman of the KGB
- Presidential Campaign and Post-Government Career
- Retirement and Legacy
- Personal Life
Vadim Viktorovich Bakatin: A Biographical Sketch
Early Life and CareerSoviet and Russian politician Vadim Viktorovich Bakatin was born in 1937 in the industrial town of Kuzbass, Siberia. His father, a mining engineer, and his mother, a surgeon, were sent to work on construction projects. After graduating from the Siberian State University of Science and Technology in 1960, Bakatin pursued a career in construction. He later joined the Communist Party in 1973 and held various party leadership positions.
Government Service
In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev appointed Bakatin as First Secretary of the Kirov Oblast Party Committee. During his tenure, he supported the construction of a museum dedicated to the Vasnetsov brothers, Russian realist painters.
Minister of Internal Affairs
In 1988, Bakatin was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs. He emphasized the humanitarian aspect of policing and sought to reduce the use of excessive force.
Chairman of the KGB
After the failed coup attempt of August 1991, Bakatin was appointed Chairman of the KGB. He aimed to reform the agency, preserving its vital intelligence and security functions while removing its political influence. However, these efforts faced resistance from factions within the Russian government.
Presidential Campaign and Post-Government Career
Bakatin ran for president in 1991 but lost to Boris Yeltsin. He later worked with the "Reform" foundation founded by economist Stanislav Shatalin. Despite being an experienced politician, he declined to run for election to the State Duma.
Retirement and Legacy
Bakatin continued to be active in public life, attending events such as the memorial service for poet Bulat Okudzhava. He remained passionate about poetry, music, and painting, even taking up painting himself.
Personal Life
Bakatin had two sons and three daughters-in-law. He believed that politics could be compatible with morality if individuals maintained principles of honesty, conscience, and ethics.
