Sergey Istrakov

Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

At the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, Sergey Istrakov, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, is one of the curators to Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region. Istrakov oversees modernization of de facto armed forces of Abkhazia to ensure operative compatibility between the Russian-Abkhazian armed forces. Modernization is envisaged under the agreement on alliance and strategic partnership signed on November 24, 2014. In direction of the Tskhinvali Region, Istrakov oversees implementation of the agreement between Russia and the Tskhinvali Region (signed on March 31, 2017) on the Tskhinvali Region armed forces separate units’ entry into the Russian armed forces.

General Biographical Information

• Sergey Istrakov was born on February 5, 1959, in the city of Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russian RSFSR, Soviet Union.
• In 1978-1982 studied at the Baku Higher Combined Arms Command School.
• In 1989-1992 studied at the Frunze Military Academy.
• In 2000-2002 attended the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
• In December, 2019, Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President of the Tskhinvali Region, awarded Istrakov Medal of Friendship for high professionalism and the huge personal contribution to the development of the Tskhinvali Region self-defence capability.
• Istrakov is Colonel General.

Military carrier

• In 1982-1989, after graduation from the Baku School, served as Platoon Commander, Company Commander, Commander of Combat Landing Battalion of the 39th Separate Air Assault Brigade in the Carpathian Military District.
• In 1992-2000, after graduation from the Military Academy, served in the Airborne Troops as Deputy Regiment Commander, Regiment Commander, Deputy Division Commander and Brigade Commander.
• In 1999-2000 served in peacekeeping forces on the territory of former Yugoslavia. In June of 1999 participated in the occupation of Pristina airport by the Russian paratroopers.
• In 2000-2002, in Budyonnovsk, served as Commander of the 205th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, Commander of the 20th Motorized Infantry Division, the First Deputy Commander of the 58th Army.
• In 2003-2004 served as Commander of the 20th Carpathian-Berlin Motorized Infantry Division.
• From 2006 to April 2008, served as Chief of Staff and the First Deputy Commander of the 58th Army in the North Caucasus Military District. Being in the Army he participated in Russian-Georgian War of August 2008.
• From April 2008 to June 2009, served as Commander of the 41st Army in the Siberian Military District. From June 2009 to January 2011, served as Deputy Army Commander in the Siberian Military district.
• From January 9, 2011 till April 2013, served as Deputy Army Commander in the Central Military District.
• On April 18, 2013, by the order of the President, he was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Ground Forces - First Deputy General-in-Chief of the Ground Forces.
• Since 2015 serves as Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
• According to the Ukrainian side, since 2014 Istrakov has been personally responsible for carrying out combat activities on the territory of Ukraine. Reportedly, Aleksandr Zakharchenko, one of the separatist leaders, has awarded Istrakov "for significant personal contribution to the formation and development of the Donetsk People's Republic."

Relations with Abkhazia

• On February 28-4 March of 2017, delegations of the Abkhaz and Russian Armed Forces in Sokhumi discussed the issue of modernization of de facto armed forces of Abkhazia. During the meetings experts discussed issues related to modernization, statutory-legal basis, material and technical support, servicemen salaries and social security. Istrakov was the head of the Russian delegation. The delegation comprised of specialists of different directions.

Relations with the Tskhinvali Region

• On March 21, 2018, delegation of the Russian Ministry of Defense headed by Istrakov visited the Tskhinvali Region. Purpose of the visit was implementation of the agreement between Russia and the Tskhinvali Region on entry of separate units of the Tskhinvali Region armed forces in the composition of the Russian Federation Armed Forces. Ibragim Gaseev, Acting Defense Minister represented Tskhinvali side at the meeting. Experts from both sides participated in the meeting.
• On April 10, 2019, Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President of the Tskhinvali Region met with the Russian delegation. Istrakov was the Russian delegation head. During the meeting the issues of interaction between law enforcement agencies were discussed. Bibilov thanked Istrakov for his outstanding attention to the Tskhinvali Region and for resolving organizational issues. According to Istrakov, [by April 2019] up to 300 servicemen of the Tskhinvali Region had already been serving in the Russian Armed Forces. Issues of salary and retirement benefits increase for the Tskhinvali Region servicemen were also discussed.
• On December 17, 2019, meeting between de facto Ministry of Defense of the Tskhinvali Region and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on issues of inter-agency cooperation was held in the Tskhinvali Region. Istrakov was the Russian delegation head. The Russian delegation was hosted by Ibragim Gaseev, de-facto Defense Minister. Purpose of the delegation visit was implementation of the agreement between Russia and the Tskhinvali Region on entry of separate units of the Tskhinvali Region armed forces under the composition of the Russian Federation Armed Forces. According to Gaseev, as a result of joint efforts, all conditions are created for the Tskhinvali Region citizens to undergo military service at the 4th military base and at various units of the 58th army of the Russian Federation. According to Gaseev, Istrakov made a huge contribution, as receiving the region citizens at the 4th military base was under his control. As Istrakov stated, [by December 2019] 508 citizens of the Tskhinvali Region had been undergoing military service at the 4th military base.