"A Russian politician and statesman. Senator of the Russian Federation representing the executive power of the Zaporizhia Region since September 23, 2023. A member of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security.

General Director of the ROSKOSMOS State Corporation for Space Activities from May 24, 2018 to July 15, 2022.

In 1997, he became a member of the State Duma.

He is known for his opposition activities as the head of the regional branch of the GREAT RUSSIA party and as the head of the RODINA (Motherland) party until 2006.

In 2003 and 2004, he was the deputy chairman of the State Duma.

From January 2008 to December 2011, the representative of the Russian Federation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Russia.

From December 23, 2011 to May 18, 2018, deputy chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, chairman of the Board of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation, the Supervisory Board of the Roscosmos State Corporation, the Supervisory Board of the Fund for Advanced Research, the Maritime Panel under the Government of the Russian Federation, the State Commission on development of the Arctic, the state border commission, the export control commission of the Russian Federation.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Military Historical Society from 2013 to 2019.

In 2018, he headed the state corporation for space activities – ROSCOSMOS."