How did Sobchak's father die? Anatoly Sobchak: biography, personal life, family, wife, children - photo

Politician and mayor of St. Petersburg Anatoly Aleksandrovich Sobchak, whose cause of death is still periodically the topic of publications in the media, lived an eventful and colorful life. He was a model of decency and political integrity, and he had a unique ability to see people's potential and help realize it. Sobchak’s activities left a significant mark on Russian history, and his descendants will remember his name for a long time.

Origin and family

Anatoly Sobchak himself always defined his nationality as “Russian,” but his family had a very complex ethnic origin. Paternal grandfather Anton Semenovich Sobchak was a Pole and came from an impoverished family. In his youth, he happened to fall passionately in love with a Czech girl named Anna from a fairly wealthy bourgeois family. Her parents categorically did not want to see a poor nobleman as a son-in-law, and Anton had no choice but to steal the bride, especially since she herself did not mind. To hide from pursuit, the couple leaves for the unknown country of Russia. The marriage turned out to be very happy, but Anna dreamed of starting her own business all her life, the couple saved money for many years, when the goal was already close, Anton Semenovich lost the entire accumulated amount in a casino in one sitting. He was a very enthusiastic and gambling person. In addition to his passion for the game, he indulged in political activities with great fire - he was a member of the Cadet Party. Before her death, as the Sobchak family legend says, the grandmother called Anatoly and told him to swear that he would never play in a casino or engage in politics. The little boy did not understand anything about politics, so he solemnly took an oath that he would not play, but kept silent about politics. And all his life he never sat down at a gaming table. But it didn’t work out with politics; he clearly surpassed his grandfather in political passion. Anatoly’s maternal grandfather was Russian, and his grandmother was Ukrainian. Sobchak's father was a transport network engineer, and his mother was an accountant. The marriage was successful, but times were difficult.

Childhood

Anatoly Sobchak was born in Chita on August 10, 1937; besides him, there were three more children in the family, one brother, however, died at the age of 2. The family lived in Kokand, the conditions were very difficult. In 1939, Anton's grandfather was arrested. In 1941, Anatoly’s father went to the front, and his mother alone supported the family, which included three small children and two old grandmothers. At the same time, the children were raised strictly, but they were never punished or shouted at. Sobchak recalled that they always called their parents by common names, although this was alien to the environment in which they lived. But the origin made itself felt; dignity and decency were in the Sobchaks’ blood. With the beginning of the war, an order came to their city to urgently send all Poles to Siberia. Neighbors and a friend, the head of the local administration, came to the head of the family and said that he had passport forms and would help them change their nationality. That's how they became Russian. Although Anatoly Alexandrovich later always said that he considered himself Russian, not only by language, but also by his love for this country. As a child, the boy read a lot, fortunately, books were given to him by a professor evacuated from Leningrad, and from him he was imbued with a special love for the northern capital.

Education

At school, Anatoly studied very well, he always participated in public life, obeyed his teachers and parents. He had two nicknames. One is a professor because he knew a lot and loved to read. The second is a judge, because from childhood he had a strong sense of justice. On his school leaving certificate he only had two B's: in geometry and the Russian language. After school, Anatoly Sobchak, whose biography began in Uzbekistan, entered the Faculty of Law. But later he decided to leave for Leningrad. And in 1956 he transferred to Leningrad University. Sobchak was an excellent student, he showed great diligence and received a Lenin scholarship. The professors loved Anatoly for his serious attitude to his studies and diligence.

Legal career

After university, Anatoly Aleksandrovich Sobchak, whose biography was connected with jurisprudence for many years, was assigned to the Stavropol Territory. Despite the fact that he studied well, he was not able to be assigned to Leningrad. In the Stavropol region, Sobchak began working as a lawyer. He lived in a small village and had to rent housing. Local grandmothers gladly attended his trials to listen to him speak “pityingly.” Later he goes to work as the head of a legal consultation. But such work was clearly too small for such a strong lawyer.

Scientist career

In 1962, Anatoly Alexandrovich returned to Leningrad. He entered graduate school and in 1964 defended his thesis on civil law. At the same time, he begins to work at the Police School, where he teaches legal disciplines. In 1968, he went to work at the Institute of Pulp and Paper Industry, where he held the position of associate professor. In 1973, he changed his place of work again, this time he returned to his native university. In the same year, he tries to defend his doctoral dissertation, but does not go through the approval procedure at the Higher Attestation Commission. Later, Sobchak would eventually become a doctor of law and a professor. He becomes the dean of the law faculty, and later heads the department of economic law. He worked at Leningrad State University for more than 20 years. All these years he has been active in scientific work, supervised the writing of dissertations, and published scientific articles and monographs. In 1997, Sobchak had to return to his scientific and teaching activities. He lived in Paris for almost two years, where he taught at the Sorbonne, wrote articles and memoirs, and published several scientific works.

Political activity

In 1989, Anatoly Sobchak, whose biography takes a turn, is actively involved in the political changes taking place in the country. He participates in elections and becomes a people's deputy. During the First Congress of People's Deputies, he was elected to the Supreme Council of the USSR, where he dealt with a familiar area - economic legislation. He was also a member of the interregional group of deputies representing the democratic opposition to the current party. In 1990, Sobchak became a deputy of the Leningrad City Council and at the very first meeting he was elected Chairman of the Leningrad City Council. He spoke a lot in the media, defending left-liberal views, and actively criticized the Soviet government and its forms of management. At that time, these were very popular slogans and on this Sobchak quickly began to make a career. In 1991, he became one of the initiators of the creation of the Democratic Reform Movement.

Mayor of St. Petersburg

In 1991, Sobchak became the first mayor of Leningrad. Anatoly Alexandrovich, as mayor, was very popular among city residents. The surname of Anatoly Sobchak evoked positive associations among most St. Petersburg residents, because he began positive changes in the city, kept it from the chaos of lawlessness and poverty, which at that time struck many cities in the country. He attracted humanitarian aid from abroad to prevent famine, which really threatened the city. Not everyone was delighted with the mayor’s activities; he was reproached and accused of many things. His personal character and management style were not liked by everyone, and he began to have conflicts with local legislators.

Sobchak's team

While working as mayor, Anatoly Alexandrovich was able to gather around himself a unique team of managers. He brought to power a whole galaxy of disciples and comrades-in-arms, who today make up the majority of the country’s ruling elite. So, it was he who brought his former student Sobchak’s postgraduate student Dmitry Medvedev to the government of St. Petersburg, who actively helped his scientific advisor conduct an election campaign for people’s deputies in 1989. Later, Anatoly Alexandrovich took him to work at the mayor’s office as assistant to the deputy mayor for external relations. And this manager was none other than Vladimir Putin. Sobchak began collaborating with him back in 1991 in the Leningrad City Council. Anatoly Alexandrovich also brought a young reformer to the government of St. Petersburg; he worked as an economic adviser to the mayor. Another graduate student of Sobchak, German Gref, also received a position at the mayor’s office, he was involved in property management. Also in Anatoly Alexandrovich’s team were such well-known characters as Alexey Miller, Vladimir Mutko, Alexey Kudrin, Viktor Zubkov, Sergey Naryshkin.

Political intrigue

Anatoly Sobchak, biography, whose personal history is full of ups, also knew great defeats. In 1996, mayoral elections were held in St. Petersburg, which were accompanied by a fierce struggle. Tons of incriminating evidence were poured onto Sobchak, he was accused of all sorts of sins: from diamonds and his wife’s fur coats to owning some unprecedented real estate and receiving bribes. In those elections, the head of Sobchak’s campaign headquarters was Vladimir Putin. Anatoly Alexandrovich lost the election to his ally and deputy Vladimir Yakovlev. Immediately after this fiasco, a real war began against Sobchak’s team. They began to really bully him, and many former friends turned away from him. In 1997, he was first brought in as a witness in a bribery case at the mayor's office, and then he was charged with abuse of power and receiving bribes. Enemies called bribes what was assistance to the city from various organizations and businessmen.

Achievements

Anatoly Sobchak, whose political career is still of interest to the public, is remembered by many as the man who returned St. Petersburg to its historical name. But, besides this, he made a great contribution to the creation of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, and did a lot for the formation of a democratic opposition in the country. He returned St. Petersburg to the status of a cultural capital, laid the foundation for the tradition of holding many city festivals and holidays, and brought the Goodwill Games to St. Petersburg.

Awards

Anatoly Sobchak, whose biography and life are an example of selfless service to his Fatherland, received many prizes and awards, but he had no state awards, except for the medal for the 300th anniversary of the Russian fleet. He was an honorary professor at 9 universities around the world, and an honorary citizen of 6 different territories around the world.

Death

Lost elections and unfair accusations led to Anatoly Sobchak having three heart attacks in a short period of time. This, apparently, allowed him to avoid arrest. In 1997, he left for Paris, where he improved his health, and then remained to work. In 1999, the criminal prosecution of Sobchak was dropped, and he returned to Russia. He ran for mayor again, but failed again. In 2000, Anatoly Alexandrovich became a confidant of Russian presidential candidate V. Putin. He had to go to Kaliningrad on business, but he didn’t have time to get there. On February 20, 2000, in the town of Svetlogorsk, he died. There were many rumors and speculations about how Anatoly Sobchak died. But the investigation proved that there was no poisoning or intoxication, his heart simply could not stand it.

Memory

When Anatoly Aleksandrovich Sobchak died, whose biography was full of trials and strong decisions, people realized what kind of person they had lost, and suddenly a wave of honors to him surged. The monument erected on his grave was created by Mikhail Shemyakin. In honor of Anatoly Alexandrovich, several memorial plaques are erected, a monument in St. Petersburg, a postage stamp is issued, and a square in St. Petersburg is named after him.

Personal life

Anatoly Sobchak, a biography whose personal life still interests many people today, was married twice. He met his first wife Nonna in Kokand. They got married when Sobchak was a student. His wife lived with him during the most difficult years of his formation, poverty, and homelessness. They lived together for more than 20 years. The second wife supported her husband in his political ambitions. She herself implemented several public projects in St. Petersburg and held several different positions at the mayor’s office. Sobchak was so bright and charismatic that women were very drawn to him. Even when he worked as a teacher, students often wrote him letters with declarations of love. Rumor attributed him with many novels, right up to Claudia Schiffer. He himself only chuckled in response.

Children of Anatoly Sobchak

Anatoly Sobchak, whose biography was filled with work and politics, was a good father. He had a daughter in each marriage. The eldest daughter Anna gave birth to his grandson Gleb, whom Sobchak adored. The youngest daughter Ksenia is known to everyone today as a TV presenter and journalist.

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.

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

Russian politician, first mayor of St. Petersburg Anatoly Aleksandrovich Sobchak was born on August 10, 1937 in the city of Chita. His father worked as a railway engineer, and his mother served as an accountant. Two years after Anatoly’s birth, the family moved to Uzbekistan.

Anatoly Sobchak graduated from high school in Uzbekistan and entered the law faculty of Tashkent University. In 1954, he transferred to Leningrad State University (LSU, now St. Petersburg State University).

In 1959, after graduating from university, Anatoly Sobchak worked for three years at the Stavropol Regional Bar Association - first as a lawyer in the city of Nevinnomyssk, and then as the head of a legal consultation.

In 1962 he returned to Leningrad, in 1965 he graduated from graduate school at Leningrad State University and defended his Ph.D. thesis.

From 1965 to 1968, Sobchak taught at the Leningrad Special Police School of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs. From 1968 to 1973 he was an assistant professor at the Leningrad Technological Institute of the Pulp and Paper Industry.

In 1989, Anatoly Sobchak was elected people's deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and was chairman of the subcommittee on economic legislation of the USSR Supreme Soviet Committee on Legislation and Law and Order.

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, Anatoly Sobchak was elected as a deputy of the Leningrad City Council of People's Deputies, and on May 23, 1990, became chairman of the Leningrad City Council.

Following the results of the first popular elections of the head of the city on June 12, 1991, he became the mayor of Leningrad (St. Petersburg). Since 1994, he simultaneously headed the government of St. Petersburg.

Under Sobchak, on September 8, 1991, the city of Leningrad was returned to its historical name - St. Petersburg.

Anatoly Sobchak was a member of the Presidential Advisory Council under USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev, a member of the Presidential Council under Russian President Boris Yeltsin, and participated in the work of the Constitutional Conference that prepared the democratic Constitution of the new Russia.

In 1991-1995 he was co-chairman of the Russian Movement of Democratic Reforms (RDDR).

In 1993, he headed the federal RDDR list in the elections to the State Duma of the first convocation (based on the voting results, the RDDR list did not overcome the 5 percent barrier).

In 1996, Sobchak ran for governor of St. Petersburg. In June 1996, he lost in the second round of elections to Vladimir Yakovlev.

In November 1997, Anatoly Sobchak went abroad for treatment, after which he lived in France, taught at a university in Paris, and worked on books in archives.

In 1997-1999, Anatoly Sobchak was involved as a witness and accused in the investigation of a number of corruption cases against the authorities of St. Petersburg. The criminal case opened against Sobchak was discontinued due to the lack of corpus delicti.

In July 1999, Sobchak returned to Russia and announced his intention to return to public politics.

At the beginning of 2000, he became a confidant of Russian presidential candidate Vladimir Putin and headed the Political Advisory Council of Democratic Parties and Movements of St. Petersburg.

On February 20, 2000, Anatoly Sobchak died in Svetlogorsk (Kaliningrad region) during a trip undertaken as part of the election campaign. The cause of death was acute heart failure. He was buried at the Nikolskoye cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra (St. Petersburg).

Anatoly Sobchak is the author of more than 200 books, articles and scientific papers. He published his first book, “Legal Problems of Cost Accounting in Industry of the USSR,” in 1971. Among his books are “The Walk to Power” (1991), “The Tbilisi Breakdown, or Bloody Sunday of 1989” (1993), “Once Upon a Time There Was a Communist Party” (1995), “From Leningrad to St. Petersburg. Travel through time and space" (1999), "A Dozen Knives in the Back" (1999).

Sobchak Anatoly Alexandrovich was born on August 10, 1937 in Chita. In 1959 he graduated from the Faculty of Law of Leningrad State University. He worked as a lawyer and taught law. In 1989-1991 he was a people's deputy of the USSR and was a member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. In 1990 he was elected as a deputy and then as chairman of the Leningrad City Council. On June 12, 1991, he won the election for mayor of St. Petersburg, and since 1994 he has been appointed chairman of the government of St. Petersburg. In 1996, he lost the next mayoral election. He took part in the State Duma elections in 1993, 1996 and 1999, but was invariably defeated both as a candidate in a single-mandate constituency and as the head of the electoral list of the Russian Movement of Democratic Reforms. Doctor of Law. He died on February 20, 2000 in Svetlogorsk.

Book materials used: G.I.Gerasimov. The history of modern Russia: the search and acquisition of freedom. 1985-2008. M., 2008.

Anatoly Aleksandrovich Sobchak (08/10/1937 [Chita] - 02/20/2000 [Svetlogorsk, Kaliningrad region]) Russia).

Anatoly Aleksandrovich Sobchak was born on August 10, 1937 in Chita. His father, Alexander Antonovich, worked as a railway engineer, and his mother, Nadezhda Andreevna Litvinova, served as an accountant. Anatoly was one of their four sons. When he was two years old, the family moved to Uzbekistan, where he graduated from high school (more details)

After school, Anatoly Sobchak entered the law faculty of Tashkent University, and the very next year - in 1954 - he transferred to Leningrad State University and became a Lenin Scholar.

During his student years, he married for the first time - to Nonna Handzyuk, a student at the Faculty of Philology of the Herzen Pedagogical Institute. From this marriage was born a daughter, Maria, who also became a lawyer and now works as a lawyer, specializing in criminal law. The son of Maria, the grandson of Anatoly Alexandrovich, Gleb is a student at the Faculty of Law of St. Petersburg State University (more details)

After graduating from the university, Anatoly Sobchak worked for three years at the Stavropol Regional Bar Association - first as a lawyer in the city of Nevinnomyssk, and then as the head of a legal consultation (more details)

In 1962 he returned to Leningrad. 1962-1965 - postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Law of Leningrad State University, defending a Ph.D. thesis. From 1965 to 1968, Sobchak taught 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.

Anatoly Sobchak is the author of more than 200 books and articles on economics and law. He published his first book, “Legal Problems of Cost Accounting in USSR Industry,” in 1971. From 1973 to 1981 - associate professor, since 1982 - 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 (more details)

In 1980, Sobchak married for the second time. Wife - Lyudmila Narusova, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Russian History at the Academy of Culture, daughter Ksenia - student at MGIMO (more details)

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. Anatoly Sobchak was the chairman of the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the tragic events of April 9, 1989 in Tbilisi, when many demonstrators were killed or injured during the dispersal of the rally by troops. Anatoly Sobchak 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, he was elected as a deputy of the Leningrad City Council of People's Deputies, and on May 23, 1990, as chairman of the Leningrad City Council. Following the results of the first popular elections of the head of the city on June 12, 1991, he became the mayor of St. Petersburg.

He was a member of the Presidential Advisory Council under USSR President M.S. Gorbachev, a member of the Presidential Council under Russian President B.N. Yeltsin. Anatoly Sobchak headed the Constitutional Conference that prepared the democratic Constitution of the new Russia.

Under the first democratically elected mayor of Leningrad, on September 8, 1991, the city was returned to its historical name - St. Petersburg.

Mayor Sobchak managed to create a strong, professional team of young, educated and talented managers, most of whom now occupy senior government positions in Moscow. His main achievements 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, defended the financial independence of the city, and fought against attempts by criminals to infiltrate the city’s economy.

At the beginning of 1996, on the eve of the election of the head of the city, a campaign began to discredit the mayor, carried out through the media by the Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the special services. An unprecedented press smear campaign and election fraud gave his opponent a 1.2% lead. However, even after his defeat in the elections, Sobchak remained an iconic democratic figure enjoying great authority. The persecution continued, the number of ordered publications increased, including intruding into personal life.

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. Sobchak spent about a month 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. Throughout the entire period of his treatment, the doctors were under serious pressure and direct threats were made against them. Therefore, in order to continue his treatment calmly, 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.

“I don’t wish my enemies to go through what I and my loved ones have had to experience over the past four years,” writes Anatoly Sobchak in his latest political book, “A Dozen Knives in the Back.” “From a person with an impeccable reputation, I instantly turned into a corrupt official, slandered and persecuted, accused of all mortal sins."

Despite the fact that friends advised not to return, Anatoly Sobchak returned to St. Petersburg on July 12, 1999. By this time, Prosecutor General Yuri Skuratov had been removed from office, Yuri Shutov, one of the most active perpetrators of the slanderous campaign launched against Sobchak, was arrested on suspicion of organizing a gang of murderers. In October 1999, Sobchak received an official notification from the Prosecutor General's Office that the criminal case was being terminated. 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. But the press was in no hurry to apologize, and the previously published lies did their dirty work. In December 1999, Sobchak ran for deputy of the State Duma in the 211th Central 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 V.V. Putin, and in this capacity, on February 15, he went to Kaliningrad.

The first mayor of St. Petersburg, Anatoly Sobchak, died suddenly on the night of February 20, 2000 in the city of Svetlogorsk, Kaliningrad region. On February 24, thousands of people came to the Tauride Palace 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 is buried at the Nikolskoye cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Site materials used http://www.peoples.ru/state/mayor/sobchak/

Read further:

Destruction of the USSR: Characters and Performers. (Biographical reference book).