Everyone who is interested in modern politics and history knows it well. This is one of the most famous democrats and reformers during perestroika. The first mayor of St. Petersburg, one of the authors of the current Constitution of the Russian Federation. In the last years of his life, he turned into one of the most scandalous figures in modern Russian politics. Constantly suspected of abuse of power, corruption and taking bribes. Moreover, it was under his leadership that many leaders of today’s state worked in the St. Petersburg mayor’s office in the 90s, including Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev.
Childhood and youth
It is worth starting to tell the biography of Anatoly Sobchak in 1937, when he was born in Chita. His father worked as an engineer on the railroad, and his mother was an accountant. The hero of our article grew up in a large family; he had three more brothers.
At the same time, Sobchak spent his childhood in the city of Kokand on the territory of modern Uzbekistan. The family moved there when my father was transferred to a new job. The future politician received his secondary education at a local school. Teachers note that he was very diligent, diligent and attentive.
Many are interested in the nationality of Anatoly Sobchak. In the biography of the politician you can find information that his paternal grandfather was Pole and his grandmother was Czech. On the maternal side, the grandparents were of Russian and Ukrainian nationality, respectively. So it is not possible to unambiguously determine who Sobchak himself was. It is obvious that there was a lot of blood mixed in his family.
Education
For higher education, Anatoly Sobchak, whose biography is given in this article, went to Tashkent University. He studied at the Faculty of Law, but after the first year he felt the strength and confidence to transfer to Leningrad. That's what I did. He had already received his diploma at the university in the Northern capital. This decision, apparently, turned out to be fateful in the biography of Anatoly Sobchak.
At the university, Sobchak stood out from other students because he was well-read, educated, and eager to prove himself. As a result, he received a Lenin scholarship. In 1959, after graduating from university, he was assigned to the Bar Association in Stavropol. Sobchak managed to return to Leningrad in 1962. At Leningrad State University he entered graduate school and soon defended his Ph.D. thesis.
After this, the hero of our article taught for three years at a special school under the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, then was an assistant professor at the law faculty of his native university. In 1985, he began to head the department of commercial law at the same faculty.
Career during perestroika
Anatoly Aleksandrovich Sobchak began to climb up the career ladder when perestroika began in the country. At that time, he became a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and was elected as a people's deputy to the Supreme Council. In this government body, the hero of our article heads a subcommittee that deals with issues of law and order and economic activities. Soon he founded an interregional deputy group, which began to play an important role in the Supreme Council.
In 1990, Anatoly Aleksandrovich Sobchak was already a member of the Leningrad City Council, and a few weeks later he became its leader.
Mayoral elections
In 1991, the hero of our article participates in the first democratic elections for the mayor of Leningrad. There are only two candidates on the ballot. The hero of our article is opposed by hydraulic builder Yuri Sevenard.
There is a fairly high turnout at the polls; almost 65% of residents of the Northern capital come to the polling stations. In the biography of Anatoly Aleksandrovich Sobchak, this day becomes significant; he confidently wins in the first round, receiving more than 66% of the votes.
One of his first decisions in his new post is to return the city to its historical name. From Leningrad it turns into St. Petersburg. At that time, a large number of young specialists found themselves working in the St. Petersburg mayor’s office, many of whom are in leadership positions in modern Russia. So, Sobchak’s confidants, whose photo is in this article, were Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, President Vladimir Putin, the heads of Rosneft (Igor Sechin) and Gazprom (Alexey Miller).
Work in the administration of St. Petersburg
In his first year as mayor of St. Petersburg, Sobchak began to actively gain popularity among the population. He actively participated in the Democratic Reform Movement, in August 1991 he spoke out against the actions of the State Emergency Committee, called on the population to rallies against the actions of the State Committee for Emergency Applications, and organized them himself. All this allowed the city to successfully resist the decrees issued by this department.
It is worth noting that Sobchak’s authority, despite all his popularity, was not unconditional. His commitment to democracy was surprisingly combined with authoritarian leadership methods, which led to regular conflicts with local deputies.
In addition, Sobchak constantly shocked the public with regular luxurious trips abroad and banquets, which he held with the aim of attracting humanitarian aid and new investments to the city. However, the bet on the West, which the hero of our article made, resulted in the suppression of industry in the city itself. Residents also condemned the mayor for the constant events with the invitation of international guests, which he held on the banks of the Neva, and for the waste of the municipal budget.
Moreover, his popularity was enormous not only in St. Petersburg, but also far beyond its borders. In 1995, his associates even persuaded him to run for president, becoming a competitor to Boris Yeltsin, but he categorically refused.
Re-election attempt
Instead, in 1996, Sobchak was supposed to be re-elected for a second term. Most experts were convinced of the confident victory of the hero of our article. According to polls, about a third of the city's residents unconditionally supported him, and another third was ready to vote for the mayor again under certain conditions.
However, Sobchak had strong competitors. A coalition was created against him, which included Artemyev, Shcherbakov and Yakovlev. On their side were part of the urban elite and democrats. This time there were many more candidates; the names of 14 candidates were included in the ballots. At the same time, the turnout in the first round turned out to be relatively low, especially compared to 1991; less than half of the voters came to the polling stations.
At the same time, Sobchak managed to win, he scored 29 percent. Together with Vladimir Yakovlev, who received the support of 21.6 percent of voters, they entered the second round.
Second round
Before the decisive vote, Yakovlev was supported by Belyakov and Belyaev, who between them received almost 15% in the first round. In addition, Sobchak failed in the debate against his opponent, who regularly caught the current mayor ignorant of basic practical issues of city life.
The fight in the second round turned out to be stubborn. Sobchak received 45.8% of the vote, Yakovlev won with about 1.5% more.
The defeat came as a complete surprise to Sobchak himself and his entourage. After this, he no longer held any significant positions in government. For most Russians, the first mayor of St. Petersburg became a symbol of the democrats who sought decisive changes in the country in the early 90s. At the same time, many still consider him involved in the destruction of the usual world order and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Criminal case
Already in 1997, Sobchak became a defendant in a criminal case about corruption in the mayor's office of St. Petersburg. At first he is called in for questioning as a witness.
However, soon the investigation brings charges against the hero of our article himself under the articles “Abuse of Official Power” and “Bribe”. During this period, the family of Mayor Sobchak became the most discussed in the country; he was blamed for all the failures during that difficult period.
Life abroad
The politician's health deteriorates greatly, he is even hospitalized with a heart attack. Having recovered, he leaves for France for rehabilitation treatment. Sobchak remained in Paris until 1999.
There he decides to study science. He even began to give lectures at leading higher educational institutions in France, including the Sorbonne. He publishes about 30 scientific articles and writes two books.
In November 1999, it became known that the criminal case against Sobchak was dropped due to lack of evidence. Only after this does he return to Russia, declaring that he is again ready to participate in big politics. In addition, at the beginning of 2000, his former assistant in the mayor's office of St. Petersburg, Vladimir Putin, became a candidate for president of the country. Sobchak receives the position of confidant, and also heads the political council of democratic parties and movements in the Northern capital.
Family
In the biography of Anatoly Sobchak, personal life played a rather important role. He got married for the first time when he was a student. His chosen one was Nonna Handzyuk, a graduate of the Faculty of Philology of the Herzen Pedagogical Institute. They had a daughter, Maria.
But the feelings between the lovers eventually cooled down. Sobchak divorced his wife after 21 years of marriage in 1977.
Second marriage
He married for the second time in 1980 to Lyudmila Narusova. He met her when he acted as a lawyer in a difficult divorce case with his first husband. Narusova became his faithful and reliable ally, who helped and supported him in any situation.
It should be noted that Lyudmila was also involved in the implementation of her own projects. For example, she was a representative of the Russian government in the trustee fund “Memory, Responsibility and Future” in Germany. Now Lyudmila Narusova is a member of the Federation Council.
In 1981, an important event occurred in the biography of Anatoly Sobchak. The couple's personal life strengthened after the birth of their daughter Ksenia. Today Sobchak's daughter is one of the most famous women in the country. Having started her career as a TV presenter, she then went into journalism and politics.
Moreover, in the 2010s she found herself in the ranks of the liberal opposition. In 2018, the Civil Initiative party nominated her for the post of President of Russia. She managed to take fourth place out of eight candidates. She left behind the famous Grigory Yavlinsky, for whom this presidential campaign was far from his first.
Death of a politician
From this article you will learn all the details of the biography and causes of death of Anatoly Sobchak. Photos from the politician's funeral were immediately published in all newspapers.
The hero of our article died shortly before the 2000 presidential elections. He died on February 20 at the Rus Hotel, in the resort town of Svetlogorsk in the Kaliningrad region. According to official data, the cause of death of Anatoly Alexandrovich Sobchak was a heart attack.
For many, this tragedy became so unexpected that various conspiracy theories immediately began to appear. Some stated that the cause of Anatoly Sobchak’s death was Viagra, which he took along with alcohol in the company of women of easy virtue, others suspected that he was killed by political rivals.
The prosecutor's office of the Kaliningrad region even opened a criminal case due to the poisoning of the politician. However, the examination showed that there was no alcohol or dangerous drugs in his blood.
The politician was buried in St. Petersburg on February 24. His grave is located at the Nikolskoye cemetery.
Anatoly Sobchak has been a well-known political figure for a long time. It was thanks to his work that the city of St. Petersburg became exactly the way its residents were accustomed to seeing it over the past several decades.
To begin with, at least in Anatoly’s closest circle was the (then, however, future) President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. And at one time Sobchak had a great influence on this man.
The generation of Soviet people remembers that the nineties were not the easiest period. But Anatoly showed every concern for his country and tried to restore its well-being. Even despite the fact that many printed publications spread gossip and rumors about him, none of which were true.
Height, weight, age. Years of life of Anatoly Sobchak
The story of Anatoly Sobchak is interesting to many people. Those who are interested not only in the history of the political formation of Russia, but also in the personalities of then and modern politicians, are interested even in little things. For example, what was their height, weight, age. The years of Anatoly Sobchak's life are not secret information.
There is no officially confirmed information regarding his physical parameters, that is, height and weight. As for age, he would have been 81 years old. Those who are looking for photos of Anatoly Sobchak in his youth and now will only be able to find one photo.
By the way, for some time there were rumors that Anatoly Sobchak’s real name was Filgestein. But the politician’s wife denied this information.
Biography and personal life of Anatoly Sobchak
Anatoly Sobchak was born in the last month of the summer of 1937. His father, Alexander Sobchak, worked as a railway engineer, and his mother, Nadezhda Litvinova, worked as an accountant. He also had brothers - Sasha, Egor and Yura.
The biography and personal life of Anatoly Sobchak began to unfold in earnest when he transferred from a university in Tashkent to Leningrad. He was a successful student. And he got married for the first time even before completing his studies.
After graduating from university, Anatoly began working at the bar, a little later became a graduate student and even defended his dissertation. For eight years he was an assistant professor at LTI. During his second marriage, he was already working at the Faculty of Law at Leningrad State University.
In 1989 he received a seat as a deputy, and in 1991 he became the first mayor of Leningrad. At the end of the same year, he proposed returning the city to its previous name - St. Petersburg.
Everything was fine, but in the mid-nineties, Sobchak’s persecution began, which could not but affect his health. He suffered two heart attacks and it is possible that it was the third that caused his death.
Family and children of Anatoly Sobchak
As we know, Anatoly Sobchak was a politician, held a high position, and often made long trips. He had very little free time, so it is not surprising that Anatoly Sobchak’s family and children very rarely saw him at home. Even in the difficult years of political persecution, they were and remained his reliable rear. The only island of peace where you could always return. The family never doubted Anatoly and always supported her in everything.
His wife, Lyudmila Narusova, said that on rare free days Sobchak loved to walk with her and her daughter along the streets of St. Petersburg, where they once settled.
Daughter of Anatoly Sobchak - Maria Sobchak
The politician’s first-born, Anatoly Sobchak’s daughter Maria Sobchak, appeared to him at a time when the politician himself was still a student. The girl was born in Anatoly’s first marriage, but she was raised not by her parents, but by her maternal grandmother. The little girl especially loved stories and bedtime stories. For example, “Cinderella,” which I never tired of listening to over and over again.
When Mashenka was still in school, she received only excellent grades. And at university I studied to be a lawyer. Now she is married and raising a wonderful son named Gleb, who is now a student at the same university where his grandfather and mother studied.
Daughter of Anatoly Sobchak - Ksenia Sobchak
The youngest daughter, now known to many, Ksenia, was born in 1983. Interestingly, the baby was named after Saint Xenia. The girl appeared in her second marriage, and the parents tried their best to take care of the baby. They literally did everything they could for her. Ksenia grew up very gifted - she studied well at a private school, went to various clubs.
When Anatoly died, the girl was only seventeen. And she took his death hard. Having come to her senses, Ksenia found a job on television and became a presenter.
The daughter of Anatoly Sobchak is known today not only as a presenter, but also as a political figure.
Ex-wife of Anatoly Sobchak - Nonna Handzyuk
The ex-wife of Anatoly Sobchak, Nonna Handzyuk, is originally from Odessa, and moved to St. Petersburg when she was little with her parents. The girl met her future husband, Anatoly, while a student. Thanks to her appearance, young Nonna was often surrounded by the attention of guys. Anatoly also fell under the influence of her beauty.
The lovers got married just a few months after they met, and lived happily together for twenty-three years. When Anatoly fell in love again, he did not hide it from his wife. And she, in turn, did not start scandals and let her husband go to another woman. Now she doesn’t hold a grudge against Anatoly’s new wife and even sometimes communicates with her.
Anatoly Sobchak's wife - Lyudmila Narusova
Anatoly Sobchak’s wife, Lyudmila Narusova, was born in Bryansk, and came to St. Petersburg to receive higher education. There she received a candidate's degree in historical sciences.
In 1991-94, this woman had nothing to do with politics. Lyudmila managed hospitals and hospices. But in 1995 she became a member of the State Duma parliament. And at the beginning of the 2000s, she was already able to head the foundation founded by her husband. Around the same time, she began hosting one of the popular shows on television.
Repeatedly Lyudmila managed to occupy the post of senator of the Supreme Soviet of Russia. Years have passed, but she continues to engage in political work, but also does not forget about the role of her grandmother.
Cause of death of Anatoly Sobchak
Soon after the funeral took place, a variety of rumors about the first official mayor of St. Petersburg began to appear in the press. There was even talk that he was with young girls in the sauna, and it was there that death occurred. As you can see, the cause of Anatoly Sobchak’s death literally became a sensation for the yellow press. There was no end to the various rumors.
He himself and his family carefully hid all news regarding the politician’s health. But not so long ago, Lyudmila said that doctors forbade her husband to worry, but he refused to quit work. Ultimately, how Anatoly Sobchak died remained unknown. Although at one time there were even rumors that he was killed. Indeed, in politics such an outcome is not uncommon.
Instagram and Wikipedia Anatoly Sobchak
Instagram and Wikipedia of Anatoly Sobchak are the resources that everyone who is interested in politics and the personality of this amazing man is looking for. He died in 2000, which is why you won’t find his profile on Instagram even if you wanted to. But his photographs can be seen on the Instagram pages of his wife Lyudmila and daughter Ksenia. It is noteworthy that there he is presented not as a politician, but as an ordinary family man.
But in the Internet encyclopedia you can find some information about his personal life and political activities. Although, there is almost no information about his family. Article found on alabanza.ru
Anatoly Sobchak was born on August 10, 1937 in Chita. His father, Alexander Antonovich, worked as a railway engineer, his mother, Nadezhda Andreevna Litvinova, was an accountant. Anatoly was one of their four sons. When he was two years old, the family moved to Uzbekistan and lived in Tashkent, where he graduated from high school. After school, Anatoly first entered Tashkent University, the Faculty of Law, and the next year (1954), being an excellent student, he easily transferred to Leningrad State University.
During his student years, he married for the first time - to Nonna Handzyuk, a student at the Faculty of Philology of the Pedagogical Institute. Herzen. From this marriage a daughter, Maria, was born, who also became a lawyer. In 1959 A.A. Sobchak graduated from the Faculty of Law of Leningrad University. Assigned to the Stavropol Territory, he worked as a lawyer at the regional bar association for three years, and then as head of a legal consultation office.
In 1962, A. Sobchak returned to Leningrad, and in 1962-1965 he studied at the graduate school of Leningrad State University, where he defended his Ph.D. thesis. From 1965 to 1968 he taught law at the Leningrad Special Police School of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs. From 1968 to 1973 - Associate Professor at the Leningrad Technological Institute of the Pulp and Paper Industry. In 1973, he published his first book, “Legal Problems of Cost Accounting in Industry of the USSR.” Anatoly Sobchak is the author of more than 200 books and articles on economics and law.
From 1973 to 1981 A.A. Sobchak is an associate professor, and since 1982 a professor at the Faculty of Law of Leningrad State University. Here, after defending his doctoral dissertation in 1982, he created and headed the first department of economic law in the USSR. In 1980 A.A. Sobchak married for the second time. Wife - Lyudmila Borisovna Narusova, candidate of historical sciences, associate professor of the department of Russian history at the Academy of Culture, daughter Ksenia (1981).
In 1989, at the first democratic elections, Anatoly Sobchak was elected people's deputy of the USSR from the 47th Vasileostrovsky district of Leningrad. At the first congress, he became a member of the Supreme Council, the Committee on Legislation and Law and Order. A. Sobchak was the chairman of the parliamentary commission to investigate the tragic events of April 9, 1989 in Tbilisi, when many demonstrators were killed or injured during the dispersal of the rally by troops. He became one of the founders of the Interregional Deputy Group, formed from deputies of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in June 1989.
In April 1990, A. Sobchak was elected deputy of the Leningrad City Council of People's Deputies, and on May 23, 1990 - chairman of the Leningrad City Council. Following the results of the elections of the head of the city on June 12, 1991, he became the mayor of Leningrad. On the same day, a referendum was held on returning the historical name to the city, in which 54.86% of voters were in favor of the renaming. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR dated September 6, 1991, the city was returned to its historical name - St. Petersburg.
Anatoly Sobchak was a member of the Presidential Advisory Council under the President of the USSR M.S. Gorbachev, member of the Presidential Council under the President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin, in 1989-1991 he was elected as a people's deputy of the USSR, a member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. A.A. Sobchak headed the Constitutional Conference that prepared the Constitution of the new Russia. In 1994 he was appointed chairman of the government of St. Petersburg. He was the chairman of the International Charitable Foundation "Saving St. Petersburg and Leningrad", the UNESCO Center for Assistance, and the Baltic Bar Association. From 1991 to 1995 he was co-chairman of the Russian Democratic Reform Movement. His main achievements as mayor are in creating an attractive image of a European city, attracting investment to St. Petersburg, and establishing the status of the cultural capital of Russia. On his initiative, economic forums began to be held in the city; in 1994, the Goodwill Games and major international cultural festivals were successfully held. For the first time, the official transfer of church buildings to the denominations represented in St. Petersburg began. Anatoly Sobchak, as mayor of the city, carried out moderate reforms and defended the financial independence of the city.
In 1996, Anatoly Sobchak ran for the post of governor of St. Petersburg, but, having lost the election to Vladimir Yakovlev by 1.2% of the vote, he left the post of mayor and chairman of the city government. However, even after his defeat in the elections, Sobchak remained an iconic political figure enjoying great authority.
On October 3, 1997, investigators from the prosecutor's office, despite Sobchak's statement of illness, tried to forcefully bring him in for questioning as a witness in a case of corruption in the authorities of St. Petersburg. Only the wife’s insistence on calling an ambulance, which determined a heart attack, forced the investigators to abandon their intentions. For about a month, Sobchak was in the cardiac intensive care unit of the 122nd medical unit - as it turned out, with a third heart attack. Then he was transferred to the clinic of the Military Medical Academy, to the chief cardiac surgeon of the city, Colonel General Yu.L. Shevchenko. To continue his treatment peacefully, Anatoly Sobchak was taken by his wife to France on November 7, 1997. In Paris, he underwent treatment and then taught at the university, working in the archives on books.
Despite the fact that friends advised not to return, Anatoly Sobchak returned to St. Petersburg on July 12, 1999. In October 1999, A.A. Sobchak received an official notification from the Prosecutor General's Office about the termination of the criminal case. None of the “accusations” circulated in the press were confirmed. Claims were won in courts to protect honor and dignity in connection with libelous publications. In December 1999, Sobchak ran for deputy of the State Duma in the 211th Central single-mandate district, in the face of strong opposition from city authorities and in the absence of support from the leaders of right-wing forces. As in the 1996 elections, he lacked 1.2% to win, which this time turned out to be fatal.
At the beginning of 2000, Anatoly Sobchak became a confidant of Russian presidential candidate Vladimir Putin, and in this capacity he went to Kaliningrad on February 15. The first mayor of St. Petersburg died suddenly on the night of February 20, 2000 in the city of Svetlogorsk, Kaliningrad region. On February 23, members of the St. Petersburg government appealed to the city governor Vladimir Yakovlev with a request not to take part in the funeral ceremony of the ex-mayor of St. Petersburg Anatoly Sobchak. On February 24, Vladimir Yakovlev decided not to attend the funeral, distributing the following statement: “I did everything necessary so that the funeral of Anatoly Aleksandrovich Sobchak, the first democratically elected mayor of our city, was held with dignity. However, everyone knows the circumstances that could color the funeral ceremony in inappropriate colors. They do not argue over the coffin. This is not Christian, this is not human. I made a decision: not to create any inconvenience for anyone in these conditions. I notified the acting president of my decision. He was understanding about it. I'm sure he did the right thing." Late in the evening of the same day, acting Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in St. Petersburg.
On February 24, more than 40 thousand people came to the Tauride Palace in St. Petersburg to say goodbye to Anatoly Alexandrovich. And although the farewell was extended for several hours, not everyone was able to get into the Catherine Hall of the Tauride Palace. “It turns out that he was needed, it turns out that we loved him. His life has been unfairly difficult lately,” Daniil Granin said at the civil funeral service. Anatoly Sobchak was buried at the Nikolskoye cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra next to Galina Starovoytova, who was killed in 1998. At the moment the coffin was lowered into the grave, a three-shot gun salvo sounded. The Russian national anthem was performed. The author of the tombstone, Mikhail Shemyakin, made a bust of A. Sobchak from a photograph chosen by Vladimir Putin.
Now an alarm system is installed at the grave of Anatoly Sobchak, and 24-hour video surveillance is carried out by two cameras. According to the cemetery guard, the unprecedented measures are the initiative of Lyudmila Narusova. Before this, there had been attempts to desecrate the grave. It is very difficult to impartially write a biography of Sobchak. I know people who idolize him, bring fresh flowers to his grave, and I also know those who still hold a grudge against the first mayor. One thing is beyond doubt: Anatoly Sobchak was a prominent lawyer, political and public figure, a man who returned St. Petersburg to its historical name, and this, you see, is not so little.
“Today I am the head of the state, and therefore I cannot allow myself to speak harshly, but I will tell you my opinion in a generalized form. I believe that this is not just death, I believe that this is death. And this, of course, is the result of persecution.” , - said A.A. on the day of the funeral. Sobchak Vladimir Putin.
The period from the late 80s to the early 90s became a time of enormous transformation for Russia. Such changes were largely possible thanks to the activities of outstanding and strong individuals who entered politics with new ideas and aspirations. One of these people was Anatoly Sobchak, a Soviet scientist, politician and first mayor of St. Petersburg.
Biography
Anatoly Alexandrovich's family was difficult by Soviet standards. His father went through the Great Patriotic War and was awarded the Order of the Red Star for organizing the crossing of the Frisch Gaff Bay. After the war, he worked as a railway engineer, which is why they often moved and lived in different cities of the Soviet Union. Anatoly Sobchak was Russian by nationality, but the blood of the Czech and Polish people also flowed in his veins.
Little Tolya was born in Chita, but spent his childhood and youth in the city of Kokand, in Uzbekistan. Before the war, my father worked here on the railroad, and my mother was an accountant. When Alexander Antonovich was taken to the front, his mother remained the head of the family, consisting of two old grandmothers and three children. In total, the couple had four sons.
The life of Anatoly Sobchak in his early years was difficult. Even children had to work, despite the sweltering heat in summer and the terrifying cold winds in winter. The boy very quickly realized that there was no place for him here, and while still at school he decided that he would go to study in Leningrad.
Study and work as a teacher
After finishing 10th grade, Anatoly entered Tashkent University, but studied there for only a short time. The dream of a beautiful and developed city did not leave the young man. In 1954, he achieved a transfer to Leningrad State University at the Faculty of Law. Here he showed perseverance, talent and a thirst for knowledge, became the best student on the course and even received a Lenin scholarship.
After defending his diploma, Anatoly Sobchak and his young wife Nonna were assigned to the bar in the Stavropol Territory. Here the young specialist received an excellent assessment of his abilities and was able to gain the trust of the local population, who respected him greatly. He even rose to the rank of head of legal advice, which speaks of the extraordinary abilities of this man. There, the family lived in difficult conditions for three years, but after completing their internship, the young people were able to return to Leningrad, and Anatoly entered graduate school.
In 1964, he defended his dissertation on the topic “Civil liability for causing harm by the action of a source of increased danger.” After that, Sobchak worked for several years as a teacher at the Leningrad police school.
First marriage
Anatoly Sobchak met his first wife as a child. Nonna Gadzyuk lived in the neighboring yard. Young people sometimes walked in the same company, but did not feel any sympathy for each other. According to his own recollections, he did not like these walks, and he did not like Nonna either. But after finishing school I suddenly realized that I was in love. In the 4th year, the young people got married. Later, Nonna recalled three terrible years of living in the Stavropol Territory, where the young lawyer Sobchak was sent to practice. The newlyweds lived in someone else's house and heated the stove with dung briquettes. Only three years later the family was able to return to Leningrad, where Anatoly Sobchak became a graduate student at the Leningrad Institute.
After the birth of their daughter Masha, the young couple lived for a long time in a small communal apartment with difficult neighbors. Only in 1965 were they able to save up for a cooperative apartment. They lived poorly and very amicably, the daughter adored and idolized her father. But in 1977, the family idyll came to an end.
Marriage to Lyudmila Narusova
At the time of their meeting, Lyudmila was getting a divorce and tried unsuccessfully to sue her ex-husband for an apartment. Friends advised her to the talented scientist Sobchak. His advice was successful, the woman was able to return the square meters. At the same time, feelings arose between the two people, and soon Anatoly left the family and married Lyudmila. In the early 1980s, their daughter Ksyusha was born. Anatoly Sobchak and Ksenia Sobchak were very close. The TV presenter still supports her father’s endeavors in everything.
The children of Anatoly Sobchak in some ways became the successors of his work. Maria became a successful lawyer, like her son. Ksenia, after making a successful career on Russian television, went into politics and even became a participant in the last presidential elections.
First steps in politics
From the late 60s to the early 80s, Anatoly Alexandrovich had a successful scientific career. He was an associate professor at the Leningrad Technological Institute, defended his dissertation in 1973, and later became an associate professor at the Faculty of Law, and then a professor at Leningrad State University.
In the late 80s, a successful researcher and teacher decided that he was capable of more and turned his attention to political activities. In 1988 he became a member of the CPSU party, from which he left immediately after the collapse of the USSR. In 1989, Anatoly Alexandrovich was elected people's deputy of the USSR. It is said that young students Dmitry Medvedev and Nikolai Svanidze participated in his election campaign, hanging posters in support of Sobchak around the city. In addition, the professor was Medvedev’s supervisor during his thesis defense.
It is to this period that the beginning of cooperation between Anatoly Sobchak and Putin dates back to. The newly appointed people's deputy took the young KGB officer into his team. And here Sobchak showed persistence and extraordinary mental abilities; within a few months he became a deputy of the Leningrad City Council, and soon its chairman.
Governor of St. Petersburg
As a representative of the interregional parliamentary group, he was part of the team investigating the events in Tbilisi in the spring of 1989, when a group of protesters was harshly dispersed by the authorities. For this investigation, Anatoly Sobchak became an honorary citizen of the capital of Georgia.
As part of the Leningrad City Council, Anatoly Aleksandrovich practically ruled the city, but was always in a precarious position, since he could simply be removed by other deputies by a majority vote. In 1990, the position of mayor of Leningrad was introduced. And already in 1991, Sobchak was elected the first mayor of the cultural capital of Russia. It was he who insisted on returning the historical name to the city; moreover, he did not rule out moving the capital here, to the banks of the Neva. Many even began to accuse him of monarchical inclinations, especially when Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich was invited to the city.
During the putsch, he supported Yeltsin’s democratic movement and openly opposed the actions of the State Emergency Committee. Many argue that it was thanks to his influence that bloody uprisings in St. Petersburg were avoided.
Management Assessment
Despite Sobchak’s great participation in the life of St. Petersburg (and he really rooted for his hometown and its inhabitants), ordinary citizens did not like and opposed him. Few people knew that during the massive shortage of 1991, when bread and basic products were distributed using coupons, Anatoly Aleksandrovich held meetings with foreign companies, asked and begged for the import of consumer goods.
But people, already embittered by difficult times, expressed their dissatisfaction with what they considered to be the egregious behavior of the mayor’s family. They condemned Lyudmila Narusova, who regularly appeared in expensive outfits and jewelry, and Sobchak himself, who often went to parties abroad. Paradoxically, the more the mayor did good deeds for his city, the more ordinary residents disliked him.
The situation was aggravated by the authoritarian habits of Anatoly Alekseevich. Despite upholding democratic principles, as the head of the city, he demanded absolute obedience from his subordinates, which is why conflict situations often arose in the government.
Last years
But the end of the career of a talented politician was still associated with more compelling reasons. Alexander Anatolyevich described this period in his book “A Dozen Knives in the Back.” Once at a reception, Yeltsin said that he was tired of power and it seemed like it was time for him to retire... Sobchak supported this idea, which angered Boris Nikolayevich, who was accustomed to everyone flatteringly answering this question, as if everything was fine, and he still have a lot of strength.
The real persecution of the politician began at the instigation of the Kremlin. The press printed incriminating evidence against Sobchak almost every week. Either he has several mistresses in St. Petersburg, or his niece just got an apartment in the city center. They even got personal.
In the 90s, it was fashionable for journalists to see a Jewish trace in all political events, which is not surprising with the growing power of businessmen like Gusinsky, Berezovsky or Lisovsky. So, regarding the former mayor of the cultural capital, strange assumptions about his true nationality began to appear. So, in one of his speeches, Boris Nevzorov announced to the whole country that the real name of Anatoly Alexandrovich Sobchak is Finkelstein. It seems that after marriage he took his wife’s maiden name. The assumption is very strange, considering that the biographies of his father and grandfather are officially documented.
But this was one of the ways of psychological pressure that was actively exerted on Sobchak in the last years of his life.
Trip to Paris
In the 1996 St. Petersburg mayoral elections, he lost by less than 2 percent to his assistant Vladimir Yakovlev. Anatoly Sobchak was discouraged and upset by such betrayal from his inner circle. But the matter did not end there: a case was opened against the former mayor for abuse of power and accepting bribes.
Here the wife, Lyudmila Narusova, intervened, organized the hospitalization of her husband and took him to Paris. According to his own recollections, Anatoly Alexandrovich himself did not understand how he ended up as a refugee. In France, he underwent treatment, and also continued his scientific activities, corresponded with colleagues and friends and really missed Russia. He was able to return to his homeland only in 1999, when the government was headed by Vladimir Putin.
Causes of death and press speculation
Being a very stubborn man of high principles, he decided to prove his innocence, and this could only be done by returning to power. But, unfortunately, his era was already over. He lost the elections to the State Duma in 1999, and soon planned to participate in the elections for the mayor of St. Petersburg, but did not have time. The news flashed through the media: on the night of February 19, 2000, at the age of 62, Anatoly Aleksandrovich Sobchak died in the Rus Hotel. The real cause of death became known later - acute heart failure. He had previously complained of blood pressure and periodic heart pain. I was examined several times in clinics around the world, but I was not completely cured. An important factor was the experiences that the politician had recently.
Such a sudden death gave rise to many rumors. They said so much about how Anatoly Sobchak died. The cause was both alcohol poisoning and an overdose of Viagra. No one denied the contract killing. Anatoly Alexandrovich was in power for a long time, knew a lot and could tell the wrong people about a lot. The prosecutor's office of the Kaliningrad region even opened a case of poisoning, but it was soon closed due to the lack of any evidence. An autopsy showed that there was no alcohol in the politician’s blood; his heart simply could not withstand all the experiences and betrayals.
Several thousand people came to Anatoly Sobchak's funeral. During his time as mayor, he literally revived the city, made it truly European, and the residents did not forget this. Maybe he was not loved, but all his deeds were seen and appreciated.
Ksenia Sobchak, daughter of Anatoly Sobchak, sometimes, especially in recent years, spoke about the violent death of her father. It even hinted at the current government, but there is no real evidence.
Memory and merit
During his life, Anatoly Sobchak was a winner of various domestic and foreign awards more than once. In addition, scientifically he was recognized as an honorary doctorate from the universities of Macerata and Genuzza (Italy) and Oklahoma City, Towson University in the USA and many others. Some of the prizes were awarded posthumously. Throughout his life, Anatoly Alexandrovich wrote more than 140 scientific and fiction books. Moreover, his works were published not only in Russia, but also abroad.
Anatoly Sobchak was buried at Nikolskoye Cemetery. A monument was erected at the grave, the author of which was the famous sculptor Mikhail Shemyakin. In memory of the famous politician, in 2002, Vladimir Putin established 10 individual scholarships in his name for the best students of the Faculty of Law. In addition, a memorial plaque was installed at his native Leningrad University.
The assessment of Anatoly Alexandrovich’s personality is very contradictory. Some, especially the residents of St. Petersburg, still praise him and call him the best leader, thanks to whom the second city of Russia has become modern and even more beautiful. Others, on the contrary, criticize his excessive directness in his work and unwillingness to put up with criticism, as well as his overly rich life amid general poverty.
Anatoly Sobchak and Putin had a close working relationship. The experienced professor even became, to some extent, a mentor for the young KGB lieutenant colonel. The current president has always spoken highly of Anatoly Sobchak, calling him an intelligent and talented person. Many believe that it was he who became Putin’s ticket to big politics.
Anatoly Sobchak has been a well-known political figure for a long time. It was thanks to his work that the city of St. Petersburg became exactly the way its residents were accustomed to seeing it over the past several decades.
To begin with, at least in Anatoly’s closest circle was the (then, however, future) President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. And at one time Sobchak had a great influence on this man.
The generation of Soviet people remembers that the nineties were not the easiest period. But Anatoly showed every concern for his country and tried to restore its well-being. Even despite the fact that many printed publications spread gossip and rumors about him, none of which were true.
The story of Anatoly Sobchak is interesting to many people. Those who are interested not only in the history of the political formation of Russia, but also in the personalities of then and modern politicians, are interested even in little things. For example, what was their height, weight, age. The years of Anatoly Sobchak's life are not secret information.
There is no officially confirmed information regarding his physical parameters, that is, height and weight. As for age, he would have been 81 years old. Those who are looking for photos of Anatoly Sobchak in his youth and now will only be able to find one photo.
By the way, for some time there were rumors that Anatoly Sobchak’s real name was Filgestein. But the politician’s wife denied this information.
Biography and personal life of Anatoly Sobchak
Anatoly Sobchak was born in the last month of the summer of 1937. His father, Alexander Sobchak, worked as a railway engineer, and his mother, Nadezhda Litvinova, worked as an accountant. He also had brothers - Sasha, Egor and Yura.
The biography and personal life of Anatoly Sobchak began to unfold in earnest when he transferred from a university in Tashkent to Leningrad. He was a successful student. And he got married for the first time even before completing his studies.
After graduating from university, Anatoly began working at the bar, a little later became a graduate student and even defended his dissertation. For eight years he was an assistant professor at LTI. During his second marriage, he was already working at the Faculty of Law at Leningrad State University.
In 1989 he received a seat as a deputy, and in 1991 he became the first mayor of Leningrad. At the end of the same year, he proposed returning the city to its previous name - St. Petersburg.
Everything was fine, but in the mid-nineties, Sobchak’s persecution began, which could not but affect his health. He suffered two heart attacks and it is possible that it was the third that caused his death.
Family and children of Anatoly Sobchak
As we know, Anatoly Sobchak was a politician, held a high position, and often made long trips. He had very little free time, so it is not surprising that Anatoly Sobchak’s family and children very rarely saw him at home. Even in the difficult years of political persecution, they were and remained his reliable rear. The only island of peace where you could always return. The family never doubted Anatoly and always supported her in everything.
His wife, Lyudmila Narusova, said that on rare free days Sobchak loved to walk with her and her daughter along the streets of St. Petersburg, where they once settled.
Daughter of Anatoly Sobchak - Maria Sobchak
The politician’s first-born, Anatoly Sobchak’s daughter Maria Sobchak, appeared to him at a time when the politician himself was still a student. The girl was born in Anatoly’s first marriage, but she was raised not by her parents, but by her maternal grandmother. The little girl especially loved stories and bedtime stories. For example, “Cinderella,” which I never tired of listening to over and over again.
When Mashenka was still in school, she received only excellent grades. And at university I studied to be a lawyer. Now she is married and raising a wonderful son named Gleb, who is now a student at the same university where his grandfather and mother studied.
Daughter of Anatoly Sobchak - Ksenia Sobchak
The youngest daughter, now known to many, Ksenia, was born in 1983. Interestingly, the baby was named after Saint Xenia. The girl appeared in her second marriage, and the parents tried their best to take care of the baby. They literally did everything they could for her. Ksenia grew up very gifted - she studied well at a private school, went to various clubs.
When Anatoly died, the girl was only seventeen. And she took his death hard. Having come to her senses, Ksenia found a job on television and became a presenter.
The daughter of Anatoly Sobchak, Ksenia Sobchak, is known today not only as a presenter, but also as a political figure.
Ex-wife of Anatoly Sobchak - Nonna Handzyuk
The ex-wife of Anatoly Sobchak, Nonna Handzyuk, is originally from Odessa, and moved to St. Petersburg when she was little with her parents. The girl met her future husband, Anatoly, while a student. Thanks to her appearance, young Nonna was often surrounded by the attention of guys. Anatoly also fell under the influence of her beauty.
The lovers got married just a few months after they met, and lived happily together for twenty-three years. When Anatoly fell in love again, he did not hide it from his wife. And she, in turn, did not start scandals and let her husband go to another woman. Now she doesn’t hold a grudge against Anatoly’s new wife and even sometimes communicates with her.
Anatoly Sobchak's wife - Lyudmila Narusova
Anatoly Sobchak’s wife, Lyudmila Narusova, was born in Bryansk, and came to St. Petersburg to receive higher education. There she received a candidate's degree in historical sciences.
In 1991-94, this woman had nothing to do with politics. Lyudmila managed hospitals and hospices. But in 1995 she became a member of the State Duma parliament. And at the beginning of the 2000s, she was already able to head the foundation founded by her husband. Around the same time, she began hosting one of the popular shows on television.
Repeatedly Lyudmila managed to occupy the post of senator of the Supreme Soviet of Russia. Years have passed, but she continues to engage in political work, but also does not forget about the role of her grandmother.
Cause of death of Anatoly Sobchak
Soon after the funeral took place, a variety of rumors about the first official mayor of St. Petersburg began to appear in the press. There was even talk that he was with young girls in the sauna, and it was there that death occurred. As you can see, the cause of Anatoly Sobchak’s death literally became a sensation for the yellow press. There was no end to the various rumors.
He himself and his family carefully hid all news regarding the politician’s health. But not so long ago, Lyudmila said that doctors forbade her husband to worry, but he refused to quit work. Ultimately, how Anatoly Sobchak died remained unknown. Although at one time there were even rumors that he was killed. Indeed, in politics such an outcome is not uncommon.
Instagram and Wikipedia Anatoly Sobchak
Instagram and Wikipedia of Anatoly Sobchak are the resources that everyone who is interested in politics and the personality of this amazing man is looking for. He died in 2000, which is why you won’t find his profile on Instagram even if you wanted to. But his photographs can be seen on the Instagram pages of his wife Lyudmila and daughter Ksenia. It is noteworthy that there he is presented not as a politician, but as an ordinary family man.
But in the Internet encyclopedia you can find some information about his personal life and political activities. Although, there is almost no information about his family.
