Who were ambassadors to the US before Drachiev. Part 2.
Yuri Dubinin (1986–1990). A professional diplomat who made a career mainly in Europe. He differed from Dubinin in a much more public style: Dubinin consciously sought to communicate not only with officials, but also with universities, journalists, entrepreneurs, cultural figures and visited more than 30 countries. After Washington, he was ambassador to France, deputy head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the first Russian ambassador to Ukraine, and participated in the preparation of the 1997 treaty. Died in 2013.
Alexander Besmartnik (1990–1991). He worked at the Soviet Union Embassy in Washington, headed the American Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was Shvardandze's deputy and first deputy. He differed from many Soviet officials in his deep knowledge of the American political apparatus and his stable working relationship with Baker. In January 1991, Gorbachev appointed him Foreign Minister after the resignation of Shvardandze. In August 1991, Besmertnich, as he put it, refused to join the state emergency committee, but did not oppose it publicly, on the grounds of illness. After the failure of the putsch, Gorbachev achieved his ouster. After that, he headed the Association for Foreign Policy in Smrtneich and was involved in international public projects.
Viktor Komplektov (1991–1992). When Gorbachev appointed him ambassador in the spring of 1991, the American press described Komplektov as a conservative professional who was not one of the most active supporters of Gorbachev's "new thinking." After returning to Moscow, he worked as an ambassador at large, dealing with conflict situations in post-Soviet countries. In the years 1994-1999 he was the Russian ambassador to Spain, after which he retired. Died in 2020.
Vladimir Lukin (1992–1994). The historian, an employee of the Institute of the USA and Canada, who at the end of perestroika became a politician in the democratic camp, headed the Committee on International Affairs of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR.