Andrey Kartapolov

Chairman of the Defense Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Coordinator of the State Duma Deputies Group for Relations with the De Facto Parliament of Abkhazia in the State Duma

General Biographical Information

• Andrey Kartapolov was born on November 9, 1963, in the city of in Weimar (German Democratic Republic), in a military family.
• In 1985, he graduated from the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School named after the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR.
• In 1993, he graduated from the Frunze Military Academy.
• In 2007, he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
• On June 11, 2015, he was awarded the rank of colonel general.
• He was awarded the orders For Merit to the Fatherland 3rd class and 4th class, For Military Merit, the Order of Courage and the Medal For the Return of Crimea.
• For the violation of Ukraine's independence and sovereignty as a result of the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, western countries have put him on the list of sanctions.

Military Career

• He started his military career in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany where he served in 1989-1994. After that, he served in various military positions in the Far East Military District.
• In 2007-2008, he was the Deputy Commander of the 41st Army in the Siberian Military District.
• In 2008-2009, he was the First Deputy Commander of the Combined Arms Army of the Moscow Military District and the Chief of Staff.
• In 2009-2010, he was the Commander of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
• In May 2010, he replaced Anatoly Khrulyov who was seriously wounded during the 2008 Russian-Georgian war in the post of commander of the 58th Army of the North Caucasus, and then - commander of the Southern Military District.
• In 2013-2014, he was the Chief of Staff of the Western Military District. On July 17, 2014, a Malaysian Airlines plane was shot down on the territory of Ukraine. As per the investigation reports, the 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade of Russia's anti-aircraft defense unit under the Western Military District, is also connected with the downing of the plane.
• In 2014-2015, he was the Commander of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and the Deputy Chief of the General Staff.
• In 2015-2018, he was the Commander of the Western Military District.
• From December 19, 2016 to March 1, 2017, he was the Commander of the Group of Russian Armed Forces in Syria.
• From July 30, 2018 to October 2021, he was the Deputy to the Minister of Defense of Russia (Sergei Shoigu), and also headed the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces.
• In 2021, Kartapolov’s military career ended when he was elected as a deputy in the State Duma.

Political Career

• On September 19, 2021, he as a member of the United Russia Party became a deputy of the State Duma of the 8th convocation.. 
• On October 12, 2021, he became the Chairman of the Defense Committee. He is the Coordinator of the Deputies Group (Friendship Group) in the State Duma of the 8th convocation which is responsible for relations with the de facto parliament of Abkhazia. 

Relations with Abkhazia

• On May 13, 2022, a meeting with a delegation of the Russian State Duma was held in the de facto parliament of Abkhazia. Kartapolov was the coordinator of the group of Russian deputies. The meeting discussed the issues of economic development of occupied Abkhazia, including the possibility of improving the legislation related to the facilitation of crossing the so-called border, tourism and air traffic recovery.
• On November 15, 2022, the Russian State Duma discussed the issue of ratification of an agreement on the transfer of the so-called Bichvinta state country house to Russia. Members of the de facto parliament of Abkhazia talked about this issue with their Russian colleagues among whom were the Deputy Speaker of the State Duma, Sergey Neverov, and Kartapolov.
• On December 1, 2022, the Speaker of the Russian State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, visited Abkhazia. This was the first visit the State Duma Chairman to the occupied regions of Georgia. Kartapolov also comprised the Russian delegation which met with both the de facto President of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, and the Speaker of the de facto parliament, Lasha Ashuba.
• On December 9, 2022, during his visit to Abkhazia, Kartapolov met with the de facto Minister of Defense, Vladimir Anua. The parties discussed the issue of military-technical cooperation. Kartapolov also visited the Museum of the so-called Armed Forces of Abkhazia.
• On December 10, 2022, Kartapolov attended the funeral ceremony of Beslan Tabaghua in occupied Gali. Tabagua, who served in the Russian Armed Forces, was killed during Russia's military aggression in Ukraine.