Ivan Kurdyukov
Encyclopedia
Ivan Fyodorovich Kurdyukov , born 1911 died 1977, was a Soviet diplomat
.
A member of the Russian Communist Party (bolshevik), Kurdyukov entered the service of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union in 1936.
His first diplomatic posting came in 1946 when he was posted as the Consul-General of the Soviet Union in Tianjin
until 1948. From 1949 to 1952 he was Assistant Manager of the 1st Far East Department of the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and from 1952 to 1953 he was posted as Adviser at the Embassy of the Soviet Union to the People's Republic of China
, acting for a time as chargé d'affaires
.
Returning to Moscow
in 1955, he managed the Far East Department of the Foreign Affairs Ministry until 1957, when in 1958 he was posted as the Senior Political Adviser at the Permanent Mission of the Soviet Union to the United Nations until June 1959.
On 23 June 1959 he was appointed as Ambassador of the Soviet Union to Australia, and presented his Letters of Credence to Governor-General of Australia
William Slim
on 10 August 1959. On 7 February 1963 the Australian government declared First Secretary at the Soviet Embassy in Canberra Ivan Skripov persona non grata
after he was accused by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
of being a spy. According to ASIO, Skripov recruited Kay Marshall, an ASIO agent, firstly by giving her small tasks to gauge her suitability as an agent. In December 1962 Skripov gave Marshall a package which she was to give to a contact in Adelaide
, however the contact didn't meet Marshall as planned. The package which had already been inspected by ASIO, contained coded transmission timetables for a Soviet radio station, along with a high-speed message sender which could be attached to a radio transmitter. Two months later the Australian government produced photos of meetings between Skripov and Marshall, and sent the embassy a note declaring Skripov persona non grata for "elaborate preparations for espionage" and gave him seven day to leave the country. The Australian government didn't divulge what secrets Skripov may have been seeking, but it was reported that workers at the Woomera missile range underwent interrogation. The Soviets responded by stating that the materials released by ASIO proved nothing and were produced to hinder the development of friendly relations between the Soviet Union and Australia, and declared that Kurdyukov, who was on sick leave in Moscow
, would not return to Canberra
.
On 9 July 1968, Kurdyukov was appointed as Ambassador of the Soviet Union to Uganda, and presented his credentials to President of Uganda
Milton Obote
in Kampala
on 5 October 1968. Kurdyukov held the post until 29 March 1972.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
A member of the Russian Communist Party (bolshevik), Kurdyukov entered the service of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union in 1936.
His first diplomatic posting came in 1946 when he was posted as the Consul-General of the Soviet Union in Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
until 1948. From 1949 to 1952 he was Assistant Manager of the 1st Far East Department of the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and from 1952 to 1953 he was posted as Adviser at the Embassy of the Soviet Union to the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, acting for a time as chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
.
Returning to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1955, he managed the Far East Department of the Foreign Affairs Ministry until 1957, when in 1958 he was posted as the Senior Political Adviser at the Permanent Mission of the Soviet Union to the United Nations until June 1959.
On 23 June 1959 he was appointed as Ambassador of the Soviet Union to Australia, and presented his Letters of Credence to Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
William Slim
William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim
Field Marshal William Joseph "Bill"'Slim, 1st Viscount Slim, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC, KStJ was a British military commander and the 13th Governor-General of Australia....
on 10 August 1959. On 7 February 1963 the Australian government declared First Secretary at the Soviet Embassy in Canberra Ivan Skripov persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
after he was accused by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is Australia's national security service, which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign interference, politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and...
of being a spy. According to ASIO, Skripov recruited Kay Marshall, an ASIO agent, firstly by giving her small tasks to gauge her suitability as an agent. In December 1962 Skripov gave Marshall a package which she was to give to a contact in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, however the contact didn't meet Marshall as planned. The package which had already been inspected by ASIO, contained coded transmission timetables for a Soviet radio station, along with a high-speed message sender which could be attached to a radio transmitter. Two months later the Australian government produced photos of meetings between Skripov and Marshall, and sent the embassy a note declaring Skripov persona non grata for "elaborate preparations for espionage" and gave him seven day to leave the country. The Australian government didn't divulge what secrets Skripov may have been seeking, but it was reported that workers at the Woomera missile range underwent interrogation. The Soviets responded by stating that the materials released by ASIO proved nothing and were produced to hinder the development of friendly relations between the Soviet Union and Australia, and declared that Kurdyukov, who was on sick leave in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, would not return to Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
On 9 July 1968, Kurdyukov was appointed as Ambassador of the Soviet Union to Uganda, and presented his credentials to President of Uganda
President of Uganda
-List of Presidents of Uganda:-Affiliations:-See also:*Uganda*Vice President of Uganda*Prime Minister of Uganda*Politics of Uganda*History of Uganda*Political parties of Uganda...
Milton Obote
Milton Obote
Apolo Milton Obote , Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and President of Uganda from 1966 to 1971, then again from 1980 to 1985. He was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda towards independence from the British colonial administration in 1962.He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971, but...
in Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
on 5 October 1968. Kurdyukov held the post until 29 March 1972.