10 Facts About Leonid Ivashov

Leonid Grigoryevich Ivashov is a Russian military and public official.

Leonid Ivashov is a former President of the Academy for Geopolitical Problems and a retired Colonel-General.

In 1964, Ivashov graduated from Tashkent Suvorov Military School and later in 1974 from the Frunze Military Academy.

Leonid Ivashov was a platoon commander in the Soviet military forces that invaded Czechoslovakia to put down the Prague Spring in 1968.

Leonid Ivashov was in charge of military co-operation between members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

General Leonid Ivashov was one of the organizers of the march of Russian paratroopers to Pristina in 1999.

Leonid Ivashov was reportedly involved in the Foundations of Geopolitics, a book by Aleksandr Dugin.

In October 2016, Leonid Ivashov explained in Russian Channel One that Russia's engagement in the Syrian conflict was critical to prevent construction of Qatar-Turkey pipeline, which would be catastrophic for Gazprom and, in turn, for the budget of the Russian Federation.

Leonid Ivashov published a statement condemning Putin's "criminal policy of provoking a war" and calling for President Putin's resignation.

Also on 7 February 2022 Leonid Ivashov publicly called for Putin to resign over threats of a "criminal" invasion of Ukraine.