Aleksandr Matovnikov

{{Family name hatnote|Anatolyevich|Matovnikov|lang=Eastern Slavic}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Aleksandr Matovnikov

| native_name = {{nobold|Александр Матовников}}

| native_name_lang = ru

| image = Matovnikov (2018-06-28) 1 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Matovnikov in 2018

| office1 = 4th Presidential Envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District

| term_start1 = 26 June 2018

| term_end1 = 22 January 2020

| president1 = Vladimir Putin

| predecessor1 = Oleg Belaventsev

| successor1 = Yury Chaika

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|09|19|df=y}}

| birth_place = Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union

| alma_mater = FSB Academy

| allegiance = {{plainlist|

{{flag|Soviet Union}}
{{flag|Russia}}

}}

| branch = Federal Security Service

| rank = Lieutenant general

| unit = Alpha Group

| battles = {{tree list}}

| mawards = Hero of the Russian Federation

}}

Aleksandr Anatolyevich Matovnikov ({{langx|ru|Александр Анатольевич Матовников}}; born 19 September 1965) is a Russian politician and lieutenant general who is currently the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation since 22 January 2020. He was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation in 2017. Matovnikov was previously the fourth Presidential Envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District, serving from 2018 to 2020.

In his military career, he was the Deputy Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Main (Intelligence) Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces from 2013 to 2015, and Commander of the MTR and Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces 2015 to 2018.

Matovnikov was also a member of the Russian Security Council from 2018 to 2020.

Biography

Aleksandr Matovnikov was born on 19 September 1965 in Moscow.{{cite book |name-list-style=amp |year=2020 |title=Назначения в Вооружённых силах России: Матовников Александр Анатольевич |url=http://sc.mil.ru/files/morf/military/archive/rvo_2020-01.pdf |location=Moscow |publisher=Ministry of Defence of Russia |pages=74, 81 }} His paternal grandfather took part in the Great Patriotic War as an artilleryman, and his maternal grandfather fought in the civil war in Turkestan, in the Great Patriotic War he commanded a division, participated in battles in Stalingrad and Bryansk.

His father, Anatoly Mikhailovich Matovnikov, was a military man, a staff member of the State Security Committee, who in the 1980s held the post of deputy head of the secretariat of the 7th KGB Directorate (external surveillance of Soviet and foreign citizens), which was subordinate to the Alpha Group.{{cite web |last=Zaitsev |first=Gennady |url=http://www.specnaz.ru/articles/256/7/2875.htm |title=Генерал из ССО |publisher=Spetsnaz of Russia |date=29 January 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://tass.ru/info/5324670|title=Биография полпреда президента РФ в СКФО Александра Матовникова|publisher=TASS |date=26 June 2018|access-date=26 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=26212 |title=Матовников Александр Анатольевич |publisher=Heroes of the Country |access-date=3 January 2018}} After the 1991 Soviet coup attempt, in the context of a possible assault on the Lubyanka Building, Matovnikov destroyed secret management documents, for which he was subsequently forced to retire by the new leadership.{{cite web |last=Bandenko |first=Andrey |url=https://tass.ru/region-officials/5702449 |title=Александр Матовников: у меня был позывной Чекист |publisher=TASS |date=2018-12-05 |accessdate=2021-02-14 |language=ru |trans-title=Alexander Matovnikov: I had the call sign Chekist}}

In 1982, he entered the Higher Border Military-Political School of the KGB, and after graduation in 1986 he began to serve in the Alpha Group.{{cite web |last=Oleynikov |first=Nikolay |url=http://www.specnaz.ru/article/?802 |title=Присяга на верность родине |publisher=Spetsnaz of Russia |date=1 October 2005 |access-date=3 January 2018 |archive-date=14 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214200038/http://www.specnaz.ru/article/?802 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://tass.ru/info/4849711 |title=Военнослужащие, получившие награды за операцию в Сирии. Досье |publisher=TASS |date=28 December 2017 |access-date=3 January 2018}}

He served under the command of Major General Viktor Karpukhin, and according to a colleague of Colonel Yury Torshin, during the service they "looked with envy at the participants in the storming of Amin's palace - holders of military orders."{{cite web |last=Yegorova |first=Olga |url=http://www.specnaz.ru/article/?1766 |title="Тридцатый" на связи! |publisher=Spetsnaz of Russia |date=1 November 2010 |access-date=3 January 2018}}

As part of a motorized group operating under the cover of operational units of the border troops, Matovnikov took part in the Soviet–Afghan War, where he solved specific tasks in the interests of the KGB, including intercepting a caravan with weapons and drugs in the border area with Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.

He held the positions of the head of the 2nd department of the 1st department of the Alpha Group and the first deputy head of the Alpha Group.{{cite web |last=Yevdokimov |first=Pavel |url=http://www.specnaz.ru/article/?1157|title=Парни, закрывшие сердцем детей |publisher=Spetsnaz of Russia |date=1 October 2007 |access-date=3 January 2018 |archive-date=3 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103195732/http://www.specnaz.ru/article/?1157|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |last=Sovetov |first=Konstantin |url=http://www.specnaz.ru/articles/226/21/2272.htm |title=Трое из Будённовска |publisher=Spetsnaz of Russia |date=31 July 2015 |access-date=3 January 2018}}

In 1987, Matovnikov took part in the protection of the General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, who came on a state visit to Washington DC. In 1988, he ensured the safety of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during her visit to the areas of Armenia affected by the earthquake. In 1992, he graduated from the Higher School of the Ministry of Security of Russia.{{cite web |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4226421 |title=Чем известен Александр Матовников |publisher=Kommersant |date=21 January 2020 |access-date=21 January 2020}}

Matovnikov took part in the First and Second Chechen Wars, in several special operations, including in the North Caucasus.{{cite web |last=Novyy |first=Vladislav |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3669471 |title=Семеро назначены, один в уме. Владимир Путин обновил корпус полпредов в федеральных округах |publisher=Kommersant |date=27 June 2018 |access-date=27 June 2018}} He was one of the leaders of the responses to the Budyonnovsk hospital,{{cite web |last=Dyomin |first=Yuri |url=http://www.specnaz.ru/articles/224/8/2249.htm |title=Битва за Будённовск |publisher=Spetsnaz of Russia |date=31 May 2015 |access-date=3 January 2018 |archive-date=4 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104073131/http://www.specnaz.ru/articles/224/8/2249.htm |url-status=dead}} and Moscow theater hostage crises.{{cite web |url=http://redstar.ru/aleksandr-matovnikov-naznachen-polpredom-prezidenta-v-severo-kavkazskom-federalnom-okruge/ |title=Александр Матовников назначен полпредом Президента в Северо-Кавказском федеральном округе |publisher=Krasnaya Zvezda |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018 |archive-date=27 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627005734/http://redstar.ru/aleksandr-matovnikov-naznachen-polpredom-prezidenta-v-severo-kavkazskom-federalnom-okruge/ |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://ria.ru/spravka/20180626/1523430710.html |title=Биография Александра Матовникова |publisher=RIA Novosti |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}} He further was part of an investigation into the circumstances of the Beslan school siege.{{cite web |last=Metelyova |first=Svetlana |url=http://www.mk.ru/editions/daily/article/2005/05/26/195805-beslan-bez-grifov.html |title=Беслан без грифов |publisher=Moskovskij Komsomolets |date=26 May 2005 |access-date=3 January 2018}}{{cite web |last=Tverdov |first=Aleksey |last2=Solyanskaya |first2=Kseniya |url=https://www.gazeta.ru/2006/11/14/oa_223724.shtml |title=Возвращение Беслана |publisher=Gazeta.ru |date=14 November 2006 |access-date=3 January 2018}} In Chechen circles he had the nickname "Chekist".

After serving about 30 years in Alpha, in 2013, Matkovnikov was transferred to work in the Ministry of Defense, and then appointed to the post of Deputy Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Main (Intelligence) Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.

In 2015, after Alexey Dyumin left for the post of Deputy Defense Minister, Matovnikov became Commander of the MTR and Deputy Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.

According to media reports, Matovnikov was a special assignment officer under Russian President Vladimir Putin and was one of the leaders of secret military operations abroad, including in Ukraine, where he coordinated the actions of personnel during Russia's annexation of Crimea.{{cite web |last=Ivanov |first=Maksim |last2=Safronov |first2=Ivan |last3=Sinergiyev |first3=Ivan |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3661813 |title=Корпусу полпредов обещают обновление. Перемещения могут затронуть сразу четыре федеральных округа |publisher=Kommersant |date=18 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}}{{cite web |last=Dergachev |first=Vladimir |last2=Istomina |first2=Mariya |url=https://www.rbc.ru/politics/26/06/2018/5b3264f69a794747a8fe7ef8 |title=Назначенец из "Альфы": зачем ветеран спецназа стал полпредом в СКФО |publisher=RBK Group |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}}{{cite news|last=Bocharova |first=Svetlana |last2=Churakova |first2=Olga |last3=Nikolsky |first3=Aleksey |last4=Mukhametshina |first4=Yelena |url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2018/06/26/773809-putin-naznachil-polnomochnih-predstavitelei-federalnih-okrugah |title=Путин назначил полномочных представителей в федеральных округах. Четверо сохранили свои посты, троих уволили, судьба одного неизвестна|newspaper=Vedomosti |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}} He was also at the command posts he took part in the Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war.{{cite web |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3669290 |title=Чем известен Александр Матовников |publisher=Kommersant |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}}

File:Vladimir Putin with military people (2017-12-28) 08.jpg awards Matovnikov as a Hero of the Russian Federation, 2017]]

In 2017, in the rank of Major General by decree of Putin, Matovnikov was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation, in his own words, "for Syria."{{cite web |last=Yeliseyeva |first=Marina |url=http://redstar.ru/index.php/component/k2/item/35549-chest-po-zaslugam |title=Честь – по заслугам |publisher=Krasnaya Zvezda |date=29 December 2017 |access-date=30 December 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/4848934 |title=Путин вручил в Кремле госнаграды военнослужащим, отличившимся в ходе операции в Сирии |publisher=TASS |date=28 December 2017 |access-date=30 December 2017}} Due to the closed nature of the service, he first appeared in public and in front of cameras only during the award ceremony, despite the fact that the names of most of the Syrian "Heroes of Russia" are classified.{{cite web |last=Valchenko |first=Sergey |last2=Kruglov |first2=Aleksandr |last3=Sozayev-Guryev |first3=Yegor |url=https://iz.ru/689564/sergei-valchenko-aleksandr-kruglov-egor-sozaev-gurev/v-plen-nikogo-ne-brat|title="В плен никого не брать!". Президент вручил награды участникам операции в Сирии и призвал решительно бороться с террористами |publisher=Izvestia |date=28 December 2017 |access-date=4 January 2018}}{{cite web |last=Goryashko |first=Sergey |url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-44617994 |title=Генерал из секретного подразделения. Что известно о новом полпреде на Кавказе |publisher=BBC Russian |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.specnaz.ru/articles/256/8/2880.htm |title=Золотые звёзды Лубянки |publisher=Spetsnaz of Russia |date=29 January 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}}

On 22 February 2018, Matovnikov he was promoted to Lieutenant General.

On 26 June 2018, Matvonikov was appointed Presidential Envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District, replacing Oleg Belaventsev.{{cite web |url=http://kremlin.ru/acts/bank/43216 |title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 26.06.2018 г. № 370 "О полномочном представителе Президента Российской Федерации в Северо-Кавказском федеральном округе" |publisher=Kremlin.ru |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://kremlin.ru/acts/news/57850 |title=Олег Белавенцев освобождён от должности полпреда Президента в Северо-Кавказском федеральном округе |publisher=Kremlin.ru |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://kremlin.ru/events/administration/57855 |title=Александр Матовников назначен полпредом Президента в Северо-Кавказском федеральном округе |publisher=Kremlin.ru |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.skfo.gov.ru/press/events/758/ |title=Александр Матовников назначен полпредом Президента в Северо-Кавказском федеральном округе |publisher=Official site of the Representative of the Russian Presidency in the North Caucasus Federal District |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=28 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://pyatigorsk.org/14624 |title=Новым полномочным представителем Президента РФ в СКФО стал генерал-лейтенант Александр Матовников |publisher=Pyatigorsk |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=28 June 2018}} This decision was supported by the leadership of the North Caucasus Federal District, including the heads of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, Karachay-Cherkessia, Rashid Temrezov, Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, North Ossetia Vyacheslav Bitarov, and Governor of Stavropol Krai, Vladimir Vladimorov.{{cite web |url=http://tass.ru/politika/5326039 |title=Главы регионов Северного Кавказа ожидают от нового полпреда СКФО стратегических решений |publisher=TASS |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://tass.ru/politika/5329121 |title=Кадыров: новый полпред повысит уровень социально-экономического развития регионов СКФО |publisher=TASS |date=27 June 2018 |access-date=28 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://ria.ru/politics/20180626/1523449478.html |title=Глава Карачаево-Черкесии уверен, что жители СКФО поддержат нового полпреда |publisher=RIA Novosti |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://ria.ru/politics/20180626/1523448691.html |title=Евкуров прокомментировал назначение Матовникова полпредом в СКФО |publisher=RIA Novosti |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://tass.ru/v-strane/5325072 |title=Глава Северной Осетии: богатый опыт Матовникова поможет решить важные задачи в СКФО |publisher=TASS |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://tass.ru/politika/5325560 |title=Глава Ставрополья: опыт нового полпреда поможет укрепить безопасность в СКФО |publisher=TASS |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}} On 28 June 2018, in Pyatigorsk, Belaventsev introduced Matovnikov to the heads of the subjects, representatives of the clergy, law enforcement agencies, and the staff of the embassy.{{cite web |url=http://www.skfo.gov.ru/press/events/759/ |title=В Пятигорске представлен полномочный представитель Президента Российской Федерации в СКФО Александр Матовников |publisher=Official site of the Representative of the Russian Presidency in the North Caucasus Federal District |date=28 June 2018 |access-date=28 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://tass.ru/politika/5331872 |title=В Пятигорске представили нового полпреда президента в СКФО |publisher=TASS |date=28 June 2018 |access-date=28 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://tass.ru/obschestvo/5332297 |title=Экс-полпред президента в СКФО считает улучшение качества жизни главной задачей на Кавказе |publisher=TASS |date=28 June 2018 |access-date=28 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.interfax-russia.ru/South/news.asp?id=945831&sec=1671 |title=Полпред президента на Северном Кавказе Матовников представлен главам республик СКФО |publisher=Interfax |date=28 June 2018 |access-date=28 June 2018}}{{cite web |last=Larintseva |first=Aleksandra |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3670809 |title=Александр Матовников готов к работе на Кавказе. А Олег Белавенцев займется внуками |publisher=Kommersant |date=28 June 2018 |access-date=29 June 2018}}.{{quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote=Here you need to work well, live well, and, of course, do not forget about national security in February 2018 I was awarded the rank of lieutenant general.|source=Matovnikov as Plenipotentiary Envoy{{cite web |url=http://pyatigorsk.org/14641 |title=В Пятигорске официально представлен новый полномочный представитель Президента РФ в СКФО|publisher=Pyatigorsk |date=28 June 2018 |access-date=28 June 2018}}}}

On 3 July 2018, Matovnikov was included in the Russian Security Council.{{cite web |url=http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201807040027 |title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 03.07.2018 № 401 "О внесении изменений в состав Совета Безопасности Российской Федерации, утвержденный Указом Президента Российской Федерации от 25 May 2012 г. № 715" |publisher=Official Legal Information Web Portal |date=3 July 2018 |access-date=4 July 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://kremlin.ru/acts/news/57935 |title=Внесены изменения в состав Совета Безопасности |publisher=Kremlin.ru |date=4 July 2018 |access-date=4 July 2018}}

From 2018 to 2019, Matovnikov took part in resolving the situation with the territorial dispute between Chechnya and Ingushetia and the protests that arose in this regard.{{cite web |url=http://www.skfo.gov.ru/press/events/856/ |title=Александр Матовников приветствовал подписание соглашения о границе между Республикой Ингушетия и Чеченской Республикой |publisher=Official site of the Representative of the Russian Presidency in the North Caucasus Federal District |date=26 September 2018 |access-date=21 January 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://tass.ru/politika/5694792 |title=Полпред в СКФО: главы Ингушетии и Чечни проявили мудрость в вопросе об определении границы |publisher=TASS |date=19 October 2018 |access-date=21 January 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://tass.ru/politika/5694795 |title=Полпред в СКФО: Ингушетия получила более 7 тыс. га после определения границы с Чечней |publisher=TASS |date=19 October 2018 |access-date=21 January 2020}}{{cite web |author=Марьям Загидова|url=https://www.kavkazr.com/a/29963665.html |title=Матовников не справился с ситуацией в Ингушетии? |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=26 May 2019 |access-date=21 January 2020}}

File:Matovnikov, Yevkurov, Kadyrov (2018-09-26) (2).jpg & Yunus-Bek Yevkurov in September 2018]]

In 2019, together with the director of the Russian National Guard, Viktor Zolotov, he submitted documents on the criminal activities of a member of the Federation Council Rauf Arashukov for Putin's consideration, after which he was arrested.{{cite web |url=https://www.rbc.ru/society/14/02/2019/5c651d0b9a794715b87bcf38 |title=Аресту Арашуковых предшествовал доклад генерала Матовникова в Кремль |publisher=RBK Group |date=14 February 2019 |access-date=21 January 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/news/2019/10/09/813221-arashukov |title=Арашуков назвал инициаторов уголовного дела против него|newspaper=Vedomosti |date=9 October 2019 |access-date=21 January 2020}}

On 22 January 2020, Putin appointed former Prosecutor General Yury Chaika to the post of plenipotentiary in the North Caucasus Federal District, on the same day Matovnikov was transferred to the post of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces of the Russia to replace Colonel General Aleksander Lentsov.{{cite web |url=http://kremlin.ru/acts/news/62631 |title=Указ о назначении на должность в Вооружённых Силах|publisher=Kremlin.ru |date=22 January 2020 |access-date=22 January 2020}} On 3 February, he was removed from the Security Council.{{cite web |url=http://kremlin.ru/acts/news/62722 |title=Подписан указ о внесении изменений в состав Совета Безопасности |publisher=Kremlin.ru |date=3 February 2020 |access-date=4 February 2020}}

Personal life

Until recently, data on Matovnikov's personal life was not freely available. He is currently married to Svetlana since 2005. They have children containing a daughter, Aleksandra (born in 2006), and a son, Aleksey (born in 2009).{{cite web |url=https://tass.ru/encyclopedia/person/matovnikov-aleksandr-anatolevich|title=Матовников, Александр Анатольевич |publisher=TASS |access-date=21 January 2020}} His first wife, Olga divorced in 1996. The daughter from her first marriage is Anna (born in 1995).{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

He is on good terms with the leaders of the regions of the North Caucasus Federal District.{{cite web |url=https://ria.ru/politics/20180626/1523430195.html |title=Ветераны "Альфы" поддержали назначение Матовникова полпредом в СКФО |publisher=RIA Novosti |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018}} Since 1999, for work, he was assigned to the family of Kadyrov's father, Akhmat, and lived in his house. He is friends with Ramzan, and make visits to him.{{cite web |url=https://grozny.tv/news.php?id=9539 |title=Рамзан Кадыров поздравил сотрудников органов госбезопасности России |publisher=Chechen State Radio-Television Company |date=20 December 2015 |access-date=26 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://chechnya.gov.ru/page.php?r=126&id=17410 |title=Глава ЧР поздравил с праздником всех сотрудников органов госбезопасности России |publisher=Head of the Chechen Republic |date=21 December 2015 |access-date=26 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104014012/http://chechnya.gov.ru/page.php?r=126&id=17410 |archive-date=2018-01-04 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://vesti95.ru/2018/06/р-кадыров-поздравил-а-матовникова-с-на/ |title=Р. Кадыров поздравил А. Матовникова с назначением на пост полпреда Президента РФ в СКФО |publisher=News of the Republic |date=27 June 2018 |access-date=28 June 2018}}

He is a member of the Association of Veterans of Alpha Anti-Terror Unit,{{cite web |url=http://www.specnaz.ru/articles/103/13/174.htm|title=Официальная хроника |publisher=Spetsnaz of Russia |date=1 April 2005 |access-date=26 June 2018 |archive-date=27 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627062248/http://www.specnaz.ru/articles/103/13/174.htm |url-status=dead}} conducts active military-patriotic work.{{Clarification needed|date=June 2024}} He is fond of mountain skiing, football, and horse riding.

= Income =

According to the data posted in the declaration containing information on income, expenses, property and property obligations of persons holding government positions in Russia, in 2018 Matovnikov earned 7,710,163 rubles. His wife's income for the same period was 279,840 rubles. Matovnikov owns a land plot with an area of 478 sq. meters, residential building with an area of 302.7 sq. m. and a non-residential building - 95 square meters. Matovnikov's wife owns two apartments with an area of 38.1 and 104.7 square meters.{{Cite web |url=http://kremlin.ru/structure/administration/income-reports |title=Сведения о доходах, расходах, имуществе и обязательствах имущественного характера лиц, замещающих государственные должности Российской Федерации и должности федеральной государственной гражданской службы в Администрации Президента Российской Федерации, а также их супруг (супругов) и несовершеннолетних детей за период с 1 января 2018 года по 31 декабря 2018 года |publisher=Kremlin.ru |date=12 April 2019 |access-date=13 April 2019}}