Marat Kulakhmetov
“Ambassador” of Russian Federation to Tskhinvali Region
Marat Kulakhmetov is one of the most experienced persons in Russian military-political circles about the issues regarding Tskhinvali Region. Until 2008, he was directly involved in the processes unfolding in Tskhinvali Region for several years and he is knowledgeable about the intricacies of local politics. From 2017, he is actively involved in the processes unfolding in the region, this time with the title of a diplomat. After his appointment as “Ambassador”, Kulakhmetov has been giving interviews often to the local and Russian media and he is always in attendance on important events in the region.
General Biographical Information
- Marat Kulakhemtov was born on August 6, 1959, in a military family, in the city of Penza, RSFSR, USSR. His father was the Deputy Commander of the Leningrad Military District.
- In 1980, Kulakhmetov graduated from Leningrad Higher Command School; in 1991, from Frunze Military Academy in Moscow and in 2003 – from the Academy of the General Staff.
- In 2001, he was granted the title of General-Major of Russian Armed Forces.
- In June 2007, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, awarded Kulakhmetov with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Badge for his “Contribution to International Cooperation” in Tskhinvali Region conflict zone.
- After the end of the Russia-Georgia War, in October 2008, the de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, Eduard Kokoiti, awarded him with a medal for “Services in Protecting Peace in South Ossetia”.
- On October 4, 2019, Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, awarded Kulakhmetov „Friendship“ medal for his „great contribution to the implementation of Foreign Policy course“.
- He has a title of an Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Second Class.
Military Career
- Kulakhmetov started his military career in 1980, as a Commander of the Motor Rifle Platoon in Leningrad Military District. He went through all commanding positions, from the Commander of Platoon to the Commander of Division.
- In 2001-2003, he commanded the 19th Motor Rifle Division of the North Caucasus Military District, placed in North Ossetia.
- From October 2004, he was the Commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces in Tskhinvali Region. He replaced Sviatoslav Nabzdorov on this position. The Joint Peacekeeping Forces were created in 1992, after the end of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. During Kulakhmetov’s work in Tskhinvali Region, the Georgian side accused him of supporting separatists and making political statements. It is noteworthy that the current de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, Anatoly Bibilov, served in the North Ossetian Battalion of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces from 1998 to 2008, which means that Kulakhmetov and Bibilov worked together for four years.
- In the 2008 Russia-Georgia August War, Kulakhmetov commanded Russian peacekeepers and actively participated in the processes before the beginning of military action. After the end of the combat operations, Kulakhmetov led the process of the removal of the peacekeeping forces from the territory of Georgia.
- Soon after the end of the 2008 August War, on October 3, 2008, an explosion took place near the headquarters of the Russian peacekeeping forces in Tskhinvali, which took the lives of 11 people, including the Chief of Staff of the peacekeepers, Ivan Petrik. Kulakhmetov was transported to the Moscow hospital, diagnosed with contusion.
Diplomatic Career
- From August 2009, until his appointment as “Ambassador”, Kulakhmetov was an Advisor to the Minister in Russia’s Military-Political Affairs in Caucasus and Transnistria and Military Affairs in Central Asia at the Ministry of Foreign Affair of Russia. He also periodically participated in the Geneva Discussions as an advisor in the Russian delegation.
- On May 23, 2017, Kulakhmetov replaced the “Ambassador” of Russian Federation in Tskhinvali Region, Elbrus Kargiev, who had been serving on this position since Russia’s recognition of the independence of Tskhinvali Region. Kulakhmetov commenced his responsibilities as “Ambassador” on July 3, 2017, when he presented his letters of credence to the de facto President of Tskhinvali Region. Kulakhmetov’s appointment as Ambassador was assessed by the Georgian side to be “yet another provocation”.
- After his appointment as “Ambassador”, Kulakhmetov often gives interviews to the local and Russian media about the processes unfolding in the region and cooperation between Russia and Tskhinvali Region. He has close relations with local de facto leaders and together with them, he periodically participates in inspecting constructions funded with Russian money and festive openings of various buildings.
- On November 2018, the 19th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission for Social-Economic Cooperation between Russian Federation and Tskhinvali Region was held in Moscow, chaired by Mutko from the Russian side. The de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, Anatoly Bibilov and the “Ambassador” of Russia to Tskhinvali Region, Marat Kulakhemtov, also participated in the meeting. The issues of financial support for the social-economic development of Tskhinvali Region in 2018 and the implementation of the 2018-2019 investment programs designed to foster social-economic development of Tskhinvali Region were discussed during the meeting.
- On February 9, 2019, “Embassy“ of the Russian Federation in Tskhinvali Region held a reception in connection with the Diplomats’ Day of the Russian Federation (February 10). Kulakhmetov hosted local de facto leaders, including Erik Pukhayev, de facto Prime Minister.
- On February 23, 2019, Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, congratulated servicemen of the 4th military base of Russia, dislocated in Tskhinvali, with the day of “Defender of the Fatherland”. Kulakhmetov and Aleksandr Kravtsov, military base Commander, addressed servicemen with congratulatory speech.
- On September 9, 2019, Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President of Tskhinvali Region, met with Kulakhmetov, in connection with the 11th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Russian Federation and Tskhinvali Region. Dmitry Medoyev, de facto Foreign Minister, also attended the meeting.
- 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 Denis Travin, Deputy Head of the Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation of the Presidential Administration and Kulakhmetov. 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 Kulakhmetov, Igor Koshin, Deputy Minister of North Caucasus Affairs and Denis Travin, Deputy Head of the Directorate for Cross Border Cooperation of the Presidential Administration.
- On June 4, 2020, special edition of the magazine "Russian Word in South Ossetia" dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War was presented at the so-called South Ossetian State University. The event was attended by de facto president of the Tskhinvali Region Anatoly Bibilov and Kulakhmetov.
- On June 5, 2020, Russian Language day and birthday of the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin was celebrated in Tskhinvali. Representatives of the de facto government of the Tskhinvali Region also gathered in Pushkin Square. De facto president Anatoly Bibilov and Kulakhmetov delivered speeches at the event.
- On June 12, 2020, the state holiday of the Russian Federation - „Russia Day“ was celebrated in Tskhinvali. The event was started with laying flowers at the „Eternal Flame Memorial“ in the Alley of Glory. The event was attended by Kulakhmetov, Russian Diplomats and local de facto authorities. Motor rally, dedicated to the holiday, was held after the event.
- On July 14, 2020, the 28th anniversary of the deployment of joint peacekeeping forces in the conflict zone was marked in the Tskhinvali Region. The festivities began with laying flowers and wreaths at the "Stella of Peacekeepers" and the " Barracks of Peacekeepers". De facto leaders of the Tskhinvali Region and Kulakhmetov attended the ceremony.
- On February 15, 2022 the Tskhinvali region commemorated the day of Internationalist Soldiers. As part of the solemn event, the memorial to Soldiers was decorated with flowers. The event was attended by war veterans, de facto authorities of the region, military personnel of the 4th military base of Russia, students, schoolchildren, as well as Kulakhmetov, the Commander of the 4th military base of the Russian Federation in the Tskhinvali region, Roman Viazovsky, and the de facto President Anatoly Bibilov.
- On June 15, 2022, a delegation of the de facto republic of the Tskhinvali region, led by the de facto President, Alan Gagloyev, met with the Russian side in Moscow. The main topic of discussion was the issue of holding a referendum in the Tskhinvali region on the unification of the de facto republic and Russia. The Russian delegation included the Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, Dmitry Kozak, the Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, Konstantin Kosachev, the Head of the Directorate for Interregional Relations and Cultural Contacts with Foreign Countries of the Presidential Administration, Igor Maslov, the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council, Rashid Nurgaliyev, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrey Rudenko, the Deputy Head of the Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation of the President's Administration, Sergey Bovenko and Kulakhmetov.