Sergey Nikolayevich Lebedev (Russian: Серге́й Никола́евич Ле́бедев, IPA: [sʲɪrˈɡʲej nʲɪkɐˈlajɪvʲɪtɕ ˈlʲebʲɪdʲɪf]; born 9 April 1948) is a Russian politician who has been the General Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) since 2007. He had previously beenGeneral of the Army in the Russian Armed Forces and Director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) from 2000 to 2007.
Lebedev graduated in 1970 from the Chernihiv branch of Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. A 1978 graduate (cum laude) of the Diplomatic Academy of the Soviet Foreign Ministry, Lebedev speaks German and English.
Before intelligence work, Lebedev served in the Army during 1966–72. He began his career in 1975 when he joined the KGB. He began duties in the First Chief Directorate (foreign intelligence) in 1975.
Lebedev was appointed as Director of the SVR on 20 May 2000. According to news reports, he was appointed to the post because President Vladimir Putin wanted "an intelligence chief whom he knows well and has confidence in". Putin and Lebedev met while serving in East Germany.[2]
On 5 October 2007, Lebedev was elected the Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States and succeeded Vladimir Rushailo.[3]
In 2019, powers as the Chairman of the CIS Executive Secretary were extended for 3 years.[4]