Denis Travin

Former Deputy Head of the Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation

General Biographical Information 

• Denis Travin was born on July 17, 1972, in the city of Kostroma, RSFSR, USSR.
• In 1994, he graduated from the Faculty of Law at Ivanovo State University.
• In 2005, he defended the candidate dissertation and was granted the degree of the Candidate of Legal Sciences. Travin was a Docent at the Public Service and Management Institute for some time.

Professional Career

• From 1994, Travin was the Head of Legal Service of textile company “Contex”.
• From 2000 to 2005, he was the Deputy General Director in Legal Matters of the Lukoil-Neftekhim company.
• From 2006, he was the Director of the Department of Corporate Management and Legal Matters at AI Price Management.
• In 2008, Travin was appointed to the position of the Director of Investment Projects Department of the Ministry of Regional Development of Russia. He still worked at the Ministry when Oleg Govorun, who is currently Travin’s boss, held the position of Minister (May-October 2012) there.
• In October 2013, after Oleg Govorun’s appointment as the Head of Directorate for Social-Economic Cooperation with CIS Member States and the Republics of Abkhazia and “South Ossetia”, Travin was transferred from the Ministry of Regional Development to the Presidential Administration, to become Govorun’s Deputy.
• On October 2, 2018, the President of Russian Federation signed a Directive on the creation of “the Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation of the President of Russian Federation.” According to the Directive, the new Division replaced the Division for Social-Economic Cooperation with CIS Member States and the Republics of Abkhazia and “South Ossetia. After structural changes, Travin managed to maintain his position as Deputy Head at the Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation.
• On June 10, 2020, Travin resigned from the Presidential Administration. 

Relations with Abkhazia

• On November 13, 2015, Travin attended the 6th Russian-Abkhazian Business Forum, where he voiced the address of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, to the participants of the Forum.
• On December 29, 2015, Assistant to the Russian President, Vladislav Surkov, visited Abkhazia for a day. Travin was also included in Surkov’s delegation.
• On July 18, 2016, Travin attended meetings with the Abkhazian side at Gagra together with Surkov and Govorun.
• On 15 November, 2016, Travin attended the 7th Russian-Abkhazian Business Forum. This event was organized by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and the Ministry of Economy of Abkhazia.
• On February 10, 2017, Travin met with the de facto Minister of Economy of Abkhazia, Adgur Ardzinba, in Moscow, where the program of credits for medium and large businesses was discussed.
• On June 27, 2018, the de facto Prime Minister of Abkhazia, Genadi Gagulia, hosted Travin and the Deputy Minister of North Caucasus Affairs, Igor Koshin, in Sokhumi. Issues of the implementation of investment projects and delays on some construction sites were discussed during the meeting. In terms of the visit, Travin also met with the de facto President of Abkhazia, Raul Khajimba. Travin also inspected constructions in Ochamchire district.
• On October 23, 2019, issues related to implementation of investment program for 2017-2019 promoting socio-economic development of Abkhazia were discussed in Sokhumi. The meeting participants were Raul Khajimba, de facto President of Abkhazia and Russian representatives Travin, Igor Koshin, Deputy Minister of North Caucasus Affairs and Anton Melnik, Director of International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs. Preparation for the 18th intergovernmental meeting on socio-economic cooperation between Abkhazia-Russia was also discussed at the meeting.
• On December 18-19, 2019, the representative delegation of the Russian Federation visited Abkhazia. On December 19, the 18th Intergovernmental Session on socio-economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and Abkhazia was held in Sokhumi. The Session chairs were Vitaly Mutko, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation and Valery Bganba, de facto Prime-Minister of Abkhazia. The Russian delegation comprised Sergey Chebotarev, Minister of North Caucasus Affairs of the Russian Federation, his deputy Igor Koshin and Anton Melnik, Director of the Ministry International Cooperation Department. Delegation members from the Presidential Administration were Aleksey Filatov, Head of the Directorate for Cross Border Cooperation and Travin. At the session the committee approved investment program for 2020-2022, promoting socio-economic development of Abkhazia.

Relations with Tskhinvali Region

• On October 14, 2015, Travin visited Tskhinvali to attend the opening of sports complex Olymp. During his visit, Travin received a medal dedicated to 25 years of the Republic of “South Ossetia” from the de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, Leonid Tibilov.
• On February 2, 2016, Travin visited Tskhinvali where the de facto President of Tskhinvali Region was summarizing the work done in 2015 in terms of the investment programs supporting the social-economic development of Tskhinvali Region, together with the contractor companies.
• On May 17, 2017, Travin participated in a meeting chaired by the de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, Anatoly Bibilov, where the issue of building a modern hotel in Tskhinvali was discussed. The de facto Prime Minister, Erik Pukhaev, also attended the meeting. Together with Pukhaev, Travin inspected a new theater still under construction, anti-tuberculosis clinic, residential homes and surgical-operation center. Travin expressed his dissatisfaction with the pace of construction of the theater.
• On June 8, 2017, Travin visited Tskhinvali together with Vladislav Surkov. Together with the de facto Prime Minister, Travin inspected construction work (school, kindergarten) in Akhalgori occupied district.
• On October 26, 2017, Travin participated in a meeting with the de facto leader of Tskhinvali Region, Anatoly Bibilov, where he talked about the deficit of cadres in local government and recommended to start reforms from the higher echelons of the government.
• On September 25, 2018, Travin visited Tskhinvali in order to inspect the 2018-2019 construction works in terms of the investment programs supporting the social-economic development of Tskhinvali Region. He inspected the constructions together with the de facto Prime Minister of Tskhinvali Region, Erik Pukhaev, including his visit to a medical-social center, residential complexes, hotel and the streets. After inspecting Iriston hotel, Travin pointed out that Tskhinvali center looks rather attractive and “European”. In total, Travin was satisfied with the visit. At the end of inspection, Travin visited a new pastry factory. By the end of his visit, Travin had also met the de facto President, Anatoly Bibilov.
• On February 18, 2019, Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, with Igor Koshin, Deputy Minister of Northern Caucasus Affairs of Russia, and Travin discussed the issues of Russian Investment Programs implementation in Tskhinvali Region. Investment Programs implementation for 2018 and planned programs for 2019 was also reviewed on the meeting held in Tskhinvali. Formation of Investment Programs project for 2020-2022 was the topic for discussion as well.
• On February 23, 2019, concert in honor to the day of “Defender of the Fatherland” was held in Tskhinvali. Travin, together with Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, attended the ceremony. Travin was on working visit in Tskhinvali.
• On September 19, 2019, Travin, together with Aleksey Filatov, Head of the  Directorate for Cross Border Cooperation of the President of Russian Federation, paid two day working visit to Tskhinvali Region. Travin and Filatov participated in the ceremony dedicated to the 29th anniversary of republic declaration by Tskhinvali Region. During the visit they also met with Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President of the Region and visited ongoing constructions under investment program. 
• On November 28, 2019, Igor Koshin, Deputy Minister of North Caucasus Affairs of the Russian Federation, paid working visit to Tskhinvali Region. Koshin delegation members were Travin and Marat Kulakhmetov, „Ambassador“ of the Russian Federation to Tskhinvali Region. During the visit Russian delegation met with Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President of Tskhinvali Region. Results of investment program implementation promoting socio-economic development of Tskhinvali Region for 2019 were reviewed at the meeting.
• On December 24, 2019, in Tskhinvali, four new facilities (Kindergarten, building of the Committee on Taxes and Fees, maternity home, multi-apartment buildings) have been opened funded under the investment program promoting socio-economic development of the Tskhinvali Region. Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President, participated in the ceremony along with Travin, Marat Kulakhmetov, Russian „ambassador“ to the region and Igor Koshin, Deputy Minister of North Caucasus Affairs.