On November 12 (November 1), 1727, 290 years ago, Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov was born - a man who was destined to play a very significant role in the Russian political and cultural middle of the 18th century. The fate of Ivan Shuvalov is an incredible rise and disgrace, unprecedented political influence and personal modesty impressive for those times. Ivan Shuvalov is known to a wide audience, first of all, as a favorite of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. Initially, Ivan Shuvalov did not have factors that could contribute to a court career.

Coming from a poor noble family, Ivan Shuvalov lost his father early - Ivan Shuvalov Sr., who served in the guard. Shuvalov Jr. was raised by his mother, Tatyana Rodionovna. The boy's childhood passed on his grandfather's estate in the Smolensk province, as well as in Moscow. Even then, in the early years, Ivan showed great interest in reading, self-education. Unlike many of his peers who were interested in secular entertainment, young Ivan Shuvalov was drawn to books. He read a lot, studied foreign languages. Acquaintance with the French literature of that time made him one of the most advanced people in his views.

How did Shuvalov end up at court? Thanks to protection. His cousins ​​in the 1740s - 1750s occupied a very serious position in the state hierarchy of the Russian Empire. Alexander Ivanovich Shuvalov (1710-1771), even before the accession of Elizabeth Petrovna, was in charge of her palace economy, received the rank of lieutenant general in 1744, and in 1746 he generally headed the Office of Secret Investigative Affairs. Pyotr Ivanovich Shuvalov (1711-1762), who served as chamber junker for Tsesarevna Elizabeth Petrovna, took an active part in the coup of 1741, for which he was promoted to major general and became a senator. Both brothers provided full support to their younger relative Ivan Shuvalov. In 1742, the 15-year-old youth began serving at the court of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna as a page-chamber. This is how his personal acquaintance with the Empress happened. Then even his cousins ​​Alexander and Peter could not imagine that after some few years the younger Shuvalov would surpass even them, experienced courtiers, in terms of the scale of his influence on the policy of the empress. So far, they only thought that they had securely attached the young man to the court service and, over time, he would be able to make a career. But the patrons of the young Shuvalov were mistaken - Ivan Ivanovich was the least interested in a formal career.

In 1749, 22-year-old Ivan Shuvalov was promoted to chamber junker. By this time, from a well-read youth, he turned into an educated and prominent young man. In addition to refined manners, Shuvalov was also bribed by his external data - he was very tall, under two meters, an athletically built young man, but at the same time without that “rough” appearance that was present in many hefty guards officers. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna herself "laid her eye" on him, who, as you know, was very loving towards the male sex. The external attractiveness of the young Ivan Shuvalov, his tact, good manners and excellent education fascinated the Empress. Ivan developed into one of her favorite chamber junkers and quickly became a favorite of the empress.

By this time, Adjutant General Alexander Shuvalov and his brother Peter were elevated to the dignity of a count. But Ivan Shuvalov refused the title of count. He was generally a very humble person. Ivan Shuvalov did not want to accept either the title of count or other honors. In 1751, he received the post of chamberlain and was no longer going to receive any high posts and ranks. He refused not only the title of count, but also the position of senator, as well as the estates proposed by Elizabeth with ten thousand souls of serfs.

At the same time, Ivan Shuvalov, indifferent to rank and wealth, was able to quickly enough concentrate in his hands a colossal influence on the political life of the country. In a certain period, entire areas of foreign and domestic policy of the Russian Empire were under the control of Ivan Shuvalov. If earlier he was “moved” by the brothers Alexander and Peter, now the younger Ivan helped his high-ranking relatives in acquiring ranks and positions. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna brought Ivan Shuvalov as close as possible to her. He was the only one of the courtiers who got the opportunity to personally report to the Empress, he also announced her will to the Senate, governors, and government officials.

I must say that Russia of that time was very lucky with the favorite of the Empress. Unlike many other courtiers, Ivan Shuvalov was a truly worthy person. His enlightenment was immediately reflected in the domestic and foreign policy of the Russian Empire, which in the 1750s Ivan Shuvalov had the most serious influence on. From childhood, who knew French very well and admired the works of French writers and philosophers, Ivan Shuvalov actively contributed to the rapprochement of the Russian Empire with France. In France, Shuvalov, apparently, saw the standard of an enlightened monarchy and wanted Russia to come as close as possible in terms of development to this advanced European power at that time.

Unfortunately, the political projects of Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov are still poorly studied. However, it is known that he was a man of very progressive convictions for his time and position. In an effort to promote enlightenment, Shuvalov insisted on the need for large-scale liberal political reforms. In particular, he advocated the abolition of corporal punishment for the nobles and the limitation of their service life, for streamlining the legal status of the unprivileged classes, considered it necessary to develop and put into practice the foundations of a universal education system, sought to create orphanages, guardianship councils. Apparently, Ivan Shuvalov was also a supporter of the gradual restriction of autocratic power, advocating an increase in the number of senators and the adoption of "fundamental laws" that could limit the monarch's powers.

Being an intellectual man, Ivan Shuvalov perfectly understood the need for the development of science, culture and art. Taking advantage of his enormous influence on the empress and the practically unlimited financial opportunities that opened up to him thanks to his position as a favorite, Shuvalov turned into the main patron of science and art in Russia in the 1750s. It was he who provided comprehensive support to Mikhail Lomonosov in his endeavors. In 1755, with the direct participation of Shuvalov, Moscow University was founded.
On January 12 (23), 1755, Elizaveta Petrovna signed a decree establishing the Imperial Moscow University.

The date of creation of the first university in the country fell on Tatyana's day. And it was no accident. Ivan Shuvalov honored his mother Tatyana Rodionovna in this way. It was Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov who was appointed the first curator of the university, having the opportunity to influence its organizational policy and engage in the selection of faculty. Subsequently, many historians accused Shuvalov of claiming that he appropriated all the real merits of Lomonosov in creating the university. However, not everything is so simple here. After all, without support from Shuvalov, who had influence on the empress, Lomonosov would most likely not have been able to push through the project of opening the Moscow University. Rather, Shuvalov played an even more important role in the creation of the university, solving many important organizational and political issues. In Soviet times, Shuvalov's merits in the creation of Moscow University were relegated to the background.

For political reasons, it was advantageous to represent Mikhail Lomonosov, a native of the people, and not the tsar's favorite and chamberlain Ivan Shuvalov, as the sole initiator of the creation of the university. They preferred not to talk about the merits of the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna herself. For a long time, it was Mikhail Lomonosov who was considered the sole initiator of the creation of the university, although it is clear to any more or less knowledgeable person that with all due respect to Lomonosov, if he had not enlisted the support of Shuvalov, and then the Empress, there simply would not have been any Moscow University at that time. Only in the 1990s, they again started talking about Shuvalov's role in the creation of the main higher educational institution in the country, a prize named after Shuvalov was even established, and one of the new buildings of Moscow State University was named after the tsar's chamberlain. A monument to Ivan Shuvalov was placed near the building of the Fundamental Library of Moscow State University.

In 1757, also with the great participation of Shuvalov, the Imperial Academy of Arts was opened. Initially, it was even placed in the famous mansion of Ivan Shuvalov at the corner of Italianskaya Street and Malaya Sadovaya. In 1758, the first classes began at the academy. At first, the state did not seek to allocate big money to finance the academy. For the needs of the opened educational institution, only 6 thousand rubles a year were given out, which was sorely lacking. The situation was corrected by Ivan Shuvalov himself, who began to supply the academy from his own funds. He invited and paid for the arrival of famous art teachers from France and Germany, organized the first intake of students, and most importantly, donated his collection of paintings to the academy. For six years, from 1757 to 1763, Ivan Shuvalov served as president of the Imperial Academy of Arts. In 1757, Shuvalov nevertheless received the rank of lieutenant general, although he was not directly connected with the army and military service.

A difficult period in the life of the favorite of Elizabeth Petrovna began after the death of the Empress. In 1762, Catherine (Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst) overthrew her husband Peter II, after which she reigned on the Russian throne for many decades. Following the overthrow of Peter, Catherine began to "cleanse" the court circles from the favorites of Elizabeth Petrovna. Naturally, the closest associate of Elizabeth, Ivan Shuvalov, also came under attack. He was sent to a long "exile" abroad. Ivan Shuvalov settled in France and, thanks to his fame and manners, quickly entered the entourage of the French Empress Marie Antoinette. For a foreigner, this was a colossal success, which, of course, the new Empress Catherine II also learned about.

Being a smart and prudent woman, Catherine II quickly realized that Ivan Shuvalov could be perfectly used to lobby Russian interests abroad, primarily in France. So Ivan Shuvalov turned into a prominent diplomat, carrying out assignments that were strategically important for the Russian Empire. Although formally Shuvalov was abroad "for treatment", in fact, for almost fourteen years, from 1763 to 1777, he conducted diplomatic work. The attitude of Catherine II to the former favorite of the late Elizabeth has changed. In 1773, Shuvalov was promoted to active Privy Councilor, and in 1777 he returned to the Russian Empire. By this time, the 50-year-old Shuvalov no longer took an active part in the political life of the country, although in 1778 he received the title of chief chamberlain of the imperial court. In the same year, he was again appointed curator of the Imperial Moscow University - Catherine understood that no one could cope with this task better than Ivan Shuvalov.

Without participating in active political life, Shuvalov, nevertheless, tried to take part in the cultural life of the country. The most important cultural figures of Catherine's Russia - Dashkova, Fonvizin, Derzhavin - entered the patron's mansion. To the best of his financial capabilities, which, despite the well-known disinterestedness of Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov, were still very significant, he tried to help cultural and scientific figures, artists, and poets. He helped many of them very much - not only with money, but also with his intercession, using the remnants of his former influence on court life. So, it is known that he covered Mikhail Kheraskov, Yakov Knyaznin, helped Nikolai Novikov with the creation of a philanthropic institution - a hospital and a school for orphans from poor families. Although Catherine II did not support this idea, Ivan Shuvalov himself undertook to finance the orphanage in order to divert the possible wrath of the empress to himself. But here, too, he got away with it - fate was generally very favorable to Ivan Shuvalov. Tsarevich Pavel Petrovich also treated Ivan Shuvalov well. It is interesting that Shuvalov, supporting scientists, artists, poets financially, preferred not to interfere in their scientific and creative activities, tried to give them complete freedom of expression.

An outstanding Russian statesman and philanthropist, Ivan Shuvalov lived a relatively long life by those standards. He survived Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine II, having died on November 15 (26), 1797 at the age of 70 - already during the reign of Emperor Paul I. Unfortunately, the contribution of Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov to the political and cultural development of the Russian state is still not sufficiently appreciated, therefore this prominent statesman is often undeservedly overlooked.

Main achievements

"Ideological support for national projects" and "finishing" the trilateral Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan; preparation of G8 summits, APEC, Universiade-2013, Olympic Games in Sochi; led the application for the 2018 FIFA World Cup; creation of a financial mega-regulator; massive privatization.

A family

Wife Olga, met at the law faculty of Moscow State University. Son: Eugene (b. 1993), graduated from the Moscow School of Economics, enjoys swimming, sambo and equestrian sports. Daughter: Maria (born 1998), was engaged in rhythmic gymnastics with Alisher Usmanov's wife, Irina Viner. Daughter: Anastasia (born 2002).

The half-sister, Elena Lebova-Shuvalova, works as the director of the Moscow House of Children's Creativity "Istok". Nephew Stanislav Shuvalov holds a senior position in the Peresvet-Group holding.

Biography

I. Shuvalov was born on January 4, 1967. in Chukotka, graduated from the law faculty of Moscow State University with a degree in jurisprudence, and became an attaché in the legal department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Since 1993 senior lawyer, and later director of the law office "ALM-consulting" Alexandra Mamuta. The firm was a member of the British law association Eversheds, whose services were used by well-known businessmen and politicians, such as Boris Berezovsky and Roman Abramovich.

Since 1997 - Head of the Department of the State Register of Federal Property of the State Property Committee. The department was headed by a protege of Anatoly Chubais, Alfred Kokh. Shuvalov represented the interests of the state on the boards of directors of Rosgosstrakh and Sovcomflot, and was a member of the board of directors of OJSC Russian Public Television.

1998 - Appointed Chairman of the Russian Federal Property Fund. The promotion was lobbied by Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko, an old acquaintance of A. Mamut. Shuvalov invited Zumrud Rustamova to become his deputy. A year later, she returned to the Ministry of Property, where she met the future Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich.

Shuvalov represented the interests of the state in the Russian State Insurance Company OSAO, ORT, the All-Union Exhibition Center (VVC), and Gazprom.

At the same time, Shuvalov joined the working group to develop urgent measures to overcome the financial crisis, together with Alexander Mamut, the head of Vnesheconombank, Andrei Kostin, and the head of the Kremlin administration, Alexander Voloshin.

2000 - Under the patronage of Alexander Voloshin, he became the head of the apparatus of the Russian government, deputy head of the presidential administration. In 2003 could take the post of prime minister instead of Mikhail Kasyanov, but as a result of a conflict with the prime minister, he left the government and was appointed assistant to the president. Shuvalov's responsibilities included doubling the GDP, fighting poverty, and military reform. He became the president's representative in the National Banking Council and chairman of the board and director of Sovcomflot (until 2008). He oversaw preparations for the G8 summit.

2008 - First Deputy Prime Minister, head of the commission for the development of small and medium-sized businesses, the commission for coordinating government actions to counter the consequences of the global financial crisis, curator of the organizing committee for the preparations for the APEC summit.

Shuvalov's candidacy was considered by Putin as a successor to the presidency, but the choice fell on Dmitry Medvedev, who did not put forward counter conditions. Shuvalov's duties included the development of an algorithm for interaction between the apparatus of the future Prime Minister Putin and the administration of President Medvedev. Medvedev wanted to appoint Shuvalov as head of the presidential administration, but the official refused and joined Putin's government. Since 2008 headed the state commission on socio-economic development of the Far East, Buryatia, Transbaikalia and the Irkutsk region.

2009 - national coordinator for CIS affairs.

2010 - Chairman of the Joint Government Commission for Economic Development and Integration, Sherpa of Russia in relations with Russian and foreign investors. After the resignation of Alexei Kudrin, he oversees the economic bloc in the government. In 2011 I. Shuvalov was "married" to the leadership of the "Just Cause" party. Instead, the official headed the electoral list of United Russia from Primorsky Krai in the elections to the State Duma, but, according to tradition, he surrendered his mandate, refusing to take the post of speaker of the State Duma.

2012 - First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, in charge of the financial block, privatization and housing. He came up with the idea of ​​creating a financial "mega-regulator". The merger of the Federal Service for Financial Markets and the Central Bank took place in July 2013. In 2013 the government raised the question of the expediency of the Ministry for the Development of the Far East, there were rumors about the transfer of functions to a specialized state corporation. Putin dismissed Viktor Ishaev from the post of plenipotentiary in the Far East and appointed Yury Trutnev to the post. The media called the reshuffle "an apparatus success" of Igor Shuvalov, considering Trutnev a "creature" of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Income

According to the income statement for 2012, Shuvalov earned 226.4 million rubles, his wife Olga Shuvalova - 222 million rubles. (She is the wealthiest wife of an official according to Forbes magazine).

The official earned the basis of his capital as the founders of a number of companies in 1995-1996: Stalker (wholesale trade), Fantheim (real estate activity), RANDO (production of consumer goods), ORT-Consortium of Banks (combined the capitals of banks- shareholders of Public Russian Television).

Ownership - several apartments and land plots with buildings, seven cars, "in use" - a house in Austria and an apartment in the UK. With the transition to the civil service, he transferred the business to trust management, and then to a blind trust.

The wife is the beneficiary of Severin Enterprises, registered in the British Virgin Islands since 2012.

A half-sister owns boutiques and beauty salons, her husband owns a dairy and a car building plant.

“As they say, it is not a well-fed official who is dangerous, but a hungry one. In this regard, Shuvalov is probably the most interesting and illustrative example, since he never hid his wealth. On the contrary, from the very beginning he worked for transparency, moreover, in the best Western traditions. Such measures allow Shuvalov to work calmly, avoiding suspicions of a conflict of interest, ”notes political scientist Alexei Mukhin.

Rumors

In his work he professes a strict, almost authoritarian style. While serving in the government, he “built” his subordinates, demanding strict compliance with the regulations, catching officials who were late at the entrance and forcing them to quote the Constitution verbatim.

Has a strained relationship with ex-Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin. Since 2006 Kudrin actively advocated increasing the tax burden on Gazprom, but Shuvalov, Arkady Dvorkovich, head of the president's expert department, and Viktor Khristenko, head of the Ministry of Industry and Energy, opposed it. In 2007 Shuvalov actually accused Kudrin of failing to fulfill the conditions for maintaining the current tax system. It was another episode in their long conflict.

He is a serious lobbyist for various financial groups. In May 2007, heading a special commission for interaction with regions in the field of housing construction, he sent a letter to Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gazprom Dmitry Medvedev with a request to help Coalco in the implementation of the Greater Domodedovo project, which provides for the construction of 12 million square meters. m. of housing in the suburbs, and received support.

Shuvalov since 2008 supervised preparations for the APEC summit in Vladivostok. The Accounts Chamber revealed violations in the amount of 15 billion rubles. during the preparation of the summit (the total budget amounted to 690 billion rubles), many objects were not commissioned on time. The summit resulted in several criminal cases against local officials, but there were no complaints against Shuvalov himself. After the forum, Ivan Ognev, director of the HSE Regional Initiatives Support Center, called Igor Shuvalov "the organizer of Putin's victories in Vladivostok, including the APEC summit in 2012, which changed the city and the local mentality beyond recognition."

In December 2011 The US Securities and Exchange Commission convicted Shuvalov of participating in transactions to acquire assets in the United States in the amount of $319 million, as well as providing Shuvalov with a loan of $119 million for these purposes at 40% per annum.

March 2012 through Sevenkey, the Shuvalov family acquired $18 million in Gazprom shares. Alexei Navalny accused Shuvalov of transferring tens of millions of dollars to the company's account from companies owned by billionaires Roman Abramovich and Alisher Usmanov. The media saw in the leak the hand of lawyer Pavel Ivlev, who is accused of embezzling $2.4 billion from Yukos. The Prosecutor General's Office did not reveal any violations in the sources of income of the Shuvalovs.

The media claimed that the official's wife owned the Zarechye Development company, which owned more than 250 hectares near Skolkovo. The company was engaged in trade in land plots, but the information has not received official confirmation. In 2007 a ring was stolen from Shuvalov's wife for 100 thousand euros in the beauty salon of Sergei Zverev, the thief was never found.

Igor Shuvalov and Sergei Chemezov could have had a hand in the resignation of Bolshoi Theater General Director Anatoly Iksanov in July 2013. At one time, Iksanov's old enemy, dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze, taught ballet to Shuvalov's daughter.

Igor Ivanovich Shuvalov is an experienced politician who devoted many years of his life to state activity. Over the years, Igor Ivanovich held the positions of assistant to the president and head of the federal property fund, served as first deputy chairman of the government. Shuvalov has established himself as a skilled and tough manager, however, as often happens, the political biography of Igor Shuvalov turned out to be ambiguous.

Childhood and youth

Igor Shuvalov was born in the village of Bilibino, in Chukotka. Igor's parents, native Muscovites, at that moment worked there under a contract. Shuvalov went to school in the Far East, but he graduated from school already in the capital. In 1984, the future politician tried to enter the country's main university, but unsuccessfully, and in 1985 the young man was called up for military service.

After serving, in 1987, Igor again submits documents to Moscow State University. This time, Shuvalov is enrolled in the so-called workers' faculty, and a year later Shuvalov becomes a university student, choosing the Faculty of Law. In 1993, Igor graduated from the university and went to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Politics

In the same year, Igor Shuvalov goes to work at ALM-Consulting, a newly established legal center. This work brings the future Deputy Prime Minister a lot of useful acquaintances among businessmen and politicians, for example, with Oleg Boyko, and. Igor Shuvalov provides assistance as a lawyer and eventually becomes a co-founder of a number of serious companies. In 1997, with the assistance of a serious businessman, Shuvalov was appointed head of the department of the state register of federal property.

Igor Ivanovich receives the right to represent the interests of the state and the government in financial organizations such as Rosgosstrakh and others. In the same year, Igor Shuvalov became a member of the board of directors of the Sovcomflot organization, and some time later, a member of the board of ORT. Igor Shuvalov's career is rapidly going up: immediately after his resignation, he takes the place of the head of the Federal Property Fund, on which he will last for many years. In addition, Shuvalov will continue to represent the interests of the country in Gazprom, VVTs and other large organizations.

In 2000, Igor Shuvalov was appointed to the post of head of the government apparatus. Information appears in the media that this happened not without the participation of Roman Abramovich and Alexander Voloshin (then head of the presidential administration). In his new post, Igor Shuvalov proved himself to be a tough and demanding leader. The official repeatedly said that it was necessary to improve the quality of work of subordinates, however, unlike many newly-minted bosses, he was not going to change the personnel structure of the structure. Shuvalov really managed to normalize the work of the government apparatus - new regulations were introduced, work was automated (under Shuvalov a common computer base appeared, which greatly facilitated the work of officials).

Gradually, the ambitious official acquired new powers, controlled all incoming documents, and eventually became an almost unofficial deputy prime minister with unlimited possibilities. The subsequent dismissal of Igor Ivanovich is associated, in particular, with the fact that his personality began to pose a danger to many political figures of that time, including for. The year 2003 was marked for Shuvalov by new appointments. Igor Ivanovich became an assistant to the head of the country, and then a deputy, who at that time headed the presidential administration.

In 2005, Shuvalov became the president's personal representative at the G8 summit, and a year later he became deputy chairman of the organizing committee of this event from our country. In December 2005, Shuvalov literally forced the Federation Council to abandon the law "On Subsoil". As part of this bill, it was proposed to transfer the minerals of the regions to the jurisdiction of the “feds”. Also, at the insistence of Igor Ivanovich, the issue of foreign citizens' access to the development of deposits in the Russian Federation was revised. Nevertheless, a year later, the law was still adopted.

2006 in Shuvalov's career turned out to be devoted to work outside of Russia: Igor Ivanovich represented the country at an economic forum in the UK, and also helped prepare the next G8 summit in the French capital. In April 2006, there was a rumor in the media that Vladimir Vladimirovich was dissatisfied with the way Shuvalov and his team prepared the text of the traditional message to the Federal Assembly, but this information was not confirmed and in no way affected Igor Ivanovich's career.

Meanwhile, events in the political arena flowed as usual. In 2008, Dmitry Anatolyevich came to power. The first decree of the new president was the appointment to the post of prime minister. He, in turn, appointed Shuvalov first deputy chairman of the government. Igor Ivanovich's duties included overseeing state policy in the field of foreign economics, trade, and tariff and technical regulation. Shuvalov also took upon himself the provision of support for small businesses from the state. In 2009, Shuvalov got the duties of the national coordinator for issues related to the CIS.

Public attention was attracted by Shuvalov's speech in September of the same year. Igor Ivanovich said that Russia needs a new structural privatization and corporatization of state assets. According to the politician, this measure should help reduce the lack of funds in the budget. Another serious issue that was marked for Igor Ivanovich in 2009 was the alleged entry of the Russian Federation into the World Trade Organization (WTO). It was originally planned that Russia would join the WTO in commonwealth with Belarus and Kazakhstan, but later Medvedev insisted on the countries' separate entry into the world organization.

Shuvalov headed the negotiating group. The result of hard work to agree on the necessary conditions was the decision of the Russian side to join the WTO outside the framework of a single customs union with Kazakhstan and Belarus, but politicians stressed the need to create a joint market between these countries. At the beginning of 2010, Igor Shuvalov became the head of the commission in the field of economy and integration, created instead of six previous commissions on the same issues. In the same year, Shuvalov managed to obtain permission for Russia to host the next World Cup.

Initially, analysts gave disappointing forecasts about the country's chances for a positive decision of the commission: insufficient number of stadiums, transport problems, as well as a lack of high-class hotels - all played against the Russian Federation. However, thanks to the efforts of Shuvalov and his team, the country's application was answered positively. According to preliminary estimates, this event will cost taxpayers more than the Olympics in Sochi.

Igor Shuvalov continued his political activities as Deputy Prime Minister until May 2018, he was actively involved in the problems of privatization, urban planning and foreign relations of the Russian Federation with other countries. The politician stated:

“The Russian Federation does not claim any kind of global leadership, so we feel happy and will be very satisfied if, in the formats in which we are now not allowed to fully develop, we still return to the foundations of the existence of these institutions.”

On March 18, 2018, Vladimir Putin won again. After taking office, Vladimir Putin offered the post of prime minister to Dmitry Medvedev. May 18 was announced to reporters. Igor Shuvalov did not retain his position.

Achievements

• Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", II degree (October 25, 2014) - for a great contribution to the preparation of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union and many years of conscientious work
• Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 3rd class
• Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 4th class
• Order (July 25, 2013) - for great services to the state and many years of fruitful activity
• Order of Honor
• Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation (June 12, 2004) - for active participation in the preparation of the Address of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly for 2004
• Honorary Diploma of the Government of the Russian Federation (May 28, 2003) - for his great personal contribution to solving the problems of the country's socio-economic development
• Order of Merit for the Republic of Tatarstan (2013)
• Honorary Citizen of Kazan (2013)
• Honorary citizen of Vladivostok (2014)
• Order of Friendship of Peoples (Belarus) - for "a significant personal contribution to the preparation of the treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union, the development and expansion of integration processes, the strengthening of economic cooperation between Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan." (2015)
• Medal "For Contribution to the Creation of the Eurasian Economic Union" 1st class (May 13, 2015, Supreme Council of the Eurasian Economic Union)
• Winner of the IV National Award "Director of the Year" (2009) in the nomination "Contribution to the Development of the Institute of Independent Directors"
• Medal of the 1st degree (January 31, 2017) - for merits in solving the strategic tasks of the country's socio-economic development and many years of conscientious work.

To remain at the trough of power as an honest, disinterested, unsullied person is an extraordinary feat. It was said that after the death of Elizabeth, Shuvalov gave her successor Peter III a million rubles - a farewell gift from the Empress.

At the end of 1749, the forty-year-old Empress Elizaveta Petrovna had a new favorite, Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov, twenty-two years old. It seemed to many that his “case” would be short-lived and a new young man would come to replace him. But the court oracles miscalculated.

The secret of the favorite

From his first day at court, it became clear that Ivan Shuvalov was different from other young people. This was noticed by Grand Duchess Ekaterina Alekseevna, the future Catherine II.

She wrote that "I always found him in the hallway with a book in his hand .., this young man seemed to me smart and with a great desire to learn .., he was very handsome in face, very helpful, very polite, very attentive and seemed by nature very meek temper."

Shuvalov was born in 1727, received a home education and was attached to the court by his cousins, Peter and Alexander Shuvalov, in the hope that the young man would wipe himself off there, get used to it and start making a career like everyone else.

But Ivan surpassed all expectations - he became the favorite of Empress Elizabeth and remained so until her death. There is a mystery in the history of this long relationship.

Of course, the aging coquette Elizaveta needed Shuvalov to feel young next to a handsome young man, so that with the help of new love, in a series of holidays and entertainment, to push back the autumn of life. But this is only part of the truth about the extraordinary affection of the Empress for Shuvalov.

Best of the day

Pretty soon she recognized and appreciated the truly golden character of her young lover.

From the very beginning, Ivan, contrary to the hopes of the brothers, did not show their characteristic arrogance and greed in grasping wealth, lands, titles and positions. Meanwhile, his possibilities were enormous - at the end of the life of the Empress, Shuvalov was her only speaker, prepared the texts of decrees and announced her decisions to dignitaries. The favorite did not benefit from this. In 1757, Vice-Chancellor Vorontsov submitted to the empress a draft decree on awarding Shuvalov the title of count, senatorial rank, 10 thousand serfs. But Shuvalov withstood all temptations here too. Therefore, in vain he is sometimes called a count - he never bore this title. "I can say that I was born without immeasurable pride, without a desire for wealth, honors and nobility."

Of course, everything is relative, and the favorite of the Empress did not live in poverty: he lived in the palace on full government allowance, and built his own palace on Nevsky Prospekt. And yet no one could hiss after him: "Thief!"

To remain at the trough of power as an honest, disinterested, unsullied person is an extraordinary feat. It was said that after the death of Elizabeth, he gave her successor Peter III a million rubles - a farewell gift from the Empress. This act of Shuvalov is consistent with everything we know about him.

And in these qualities lies one of the reasons for the long favor of Shuvalov. Always suspicious of the slightest attempts by her favorites to use her love for them to the detriment of her power, Elizabeth boundlessly trusted Shuvalov because she had experienced his disinterestedness and decency more than once.

Fancy lover

Once in the favorites of the empress who was fit for him in his mother, Shuvalov was hardly embarrassed - favoritism was a full-fledged public institution in the life of Europe, it was considered a wonderful means to arrange one's affairs. Young, handsome, fashionably dressed Shuvalov was the son of his age and was not going to give up his happiness.

I must say that Elizabeth, of course, liked him not so much for his learning as for his secular manners and panache. And it is unlikely that another person could become the favorite of the empress - a fashionista and coquette: after all, she would certainly be bored with bookworms in twisted stockings.

But Shuvalov was an unusual favorite, because with all the external signs of a secular dandy-petimeter, he turned out to be the most enlightened person, a subtle connoisseur of art. He was deeply and sincerely devoted to culture and education. Without him, there would have been no Moscow University (1755), the Academy of Arts (1757), the first public theater (1756) for a long time. Lomonosov, and therefore Russian science and literature, owe a lot to his patronage.

If Shuvalov shares the glory of the founder of Moscow University with Lomonosov, then the Academy of Arts is his personal brainchild, his eternal love. He was the author of the very idea of ​​creating the Academy in Russia, carefully selected teachers abroad, bought up works of art, books, engravings for classes. He presented the Academy with a colossal collection of paintings, which later became the basis of the Hermitage collection.

But most of all he cared about the pupils of the Academy. Shuvalov had a special flair for talent, and most importantly, as a philanthropist, he was devoid of envy of this talent, rejoiced at his success, nurtured and nurtured him. So in the palace stoker, who carved trinkets from bone, he saw one of the outstanding sculptors of Russia, Fedot Shubin, and gave him an education.

And not only Shubin! There was a clear, precise ideology in Shuvalov's patronage: to develop the sciences and arts in Russia and prove to the world that Russian people, like other peoples, can achieve success in everything - just create conditions for them!

Peace and freedom

All the elegant, festive court life, power, subservience of those around him ended at once on December 25, 1761, when Empress Elizabeth died in Shuvalov's arms.

But, having lost power, he received freedom and peace, which he had long sought. Later, from abroad, he wrote to his sister: “If God wills, I will live and, returning to my fatherland, I will not think of anything else, how to lead a quiet and carefree life, I will move away from the great world ..., not perfect in it well-being must be respected, but actually in a small number of people connected with me by kinship or friendship. I only ask God to believe that neither honor nor wealth can amuse me.

And these are not empty words, not the affectation of the ex-favorite. As we have seen, Shuvalov thought so even in the days of his power. Undoubtedly, he was owned by the then popular ideas of the so-called "philosophical" behavior: a comfortable, quiet life in a rich estate, in the bosom of nature, surrounded by friends, intelligent interlocutors, connoisseurs of the eternal and the beautiful. But, besides fashion, there was also a sincere desire to jump out of the squirrel wheel of life, to hide from the hustle and bustle.

In a word, the second half of Ivan Ivanovich's life went as he wanted. And he can be envied. He went abroad, visited his beloved France, lived in Italy, striking everyone with his refined upbringing and education. Returning to Russia, he remained single and led a quiet life among paintings and books.

In his house, Shuvalov created the first literary salon in Russia. “A bright, corner room,” a contemporary recalled, “there, to the left, in large armchairs at a table, surrounded by faces, sat a venerable, white old man, lean, of medium-large stature in a light gray caftan and white camisole. In conversations, he spoke bright, fast, without any echoes. His Russian language is beautifully finished in subtleties and tones ... His face was always calmly raised, his treatment of everyone was proactive, cheerful, good-natured.

Shuvalov's close friends gathered at Shuvalov's dinner table: poets Gavriil Derzhavin, Ivan Dmitriev, Osip Kozodavlev, Ippolit Bogdanovich, admiral and philologist Alexander Shishkov, Homer's translator Yermil Kostrov and others - outstanding, talented people. Here was all Russian literature, as later in the dining room of the Panayevs.

Everyone was comfortable and calm with Ivan Ivanovich. He loved his friends, needed their participation and attention. After the "eruption" from the palace, he wrote to his sister: "To get acquainted with worthy people is a consolation unknown to me until now. All my friends or for the most part were (formerly friends) only of my well-being, now they are actually mine."

He died in the autumn of 1797. This was the end of a happy life. In recent years, Shuvalov lived for his own pleasure, loved people, poetry and art. The glory of the smartest and most educated person accompanied him already during his lifetime. He was honored with what every philanthropist, patron of the arts dreams of: the great poet immortalized his name, weaving it into his poems:

They think wrong about things, Shuvalov,

Which glass is revered below minerals...

The halls are bright, the brilliance of metals

Leaving, Elizabeth hurries to the fields.

You follow her, my dear Shuvalov,

Where her Ceylon blooms in the north...

Dottoressa
Alessandra Jatta Olsoufieff 24.03.2006 05:57:38

I am a descendant of Ivan Ivanovich Suvalov, my great grand mother was Olga Suvalova Olsoufieva and I have spent long time in studing the live of Ivan Ivanovich Suvalov in Italy, in France, in England and in CCCP. I have written a full biografy of his life and I have plenty of information of his life, olso of the 14 years he was abroad. If somebody is interested in it, he can get in touch with me in russian, English, french or italian. Regards, Alessandra