Andrey Bystritskiy

A prominent Russian researcher and academic. From 1985 to 1991, he worked as a senior researcher at the Academy of Educational Sciences before transitioning into media in 1991, serving on the Board of Radio Russia and presenting multiple radio and television programs. He headed the Social Research Department at the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) between 1993 and 1996 and held leadership positions in various media institutions, including Itogi magazine and TV Center channel. He also worked as a producer in the Russian Service of the BBC, led Mayak Radio and Television Company, and later became Director General of Vesti Channel.

Between 2000 and 2008, he served as Deputy Director General of Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting and Head of News Programming at Russia Channel. He also held positions as Board Member and Vice President of Euronews until 2013, Editor-in-Chief of Apologia magazine between 2005 and 2007, and Chairman of Voice of Russia until 2014. Since 2014, he has served as Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries at the Higher School of Economics and Chairman of the Valdai Discussion Club, an international Russian think tank dedicated to fostering dialogue among leaders and policymakers on global politics, economics, and security. He is a university professor, holds a Candidate of Sciences degree in Education, and has received the Russian Order of Honour (2007) and Presidential Recognition