Sergey Shoygu

Sergey Kuzhugetovich Shoygu (Серге́й Кужуге́тович Шойгу́; born May 21, 1955) is a Russian political figure who was Minister of Emergency Situations from 1991 to 2012. He holds the military rank of General of the Army. He is also the President of the International Sport Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers.

In March 2012, he was announced as one of the potential candidates for the Governor of Moscow Oblast. In April 5, 2012 he was elected as the 3rd Governor of Moscow Oblast, and entered into his office in May 11, 2012. On November 6, 2012 he was appointed Minister of Defence of Russia.

Early life and education
Shoygu was born in Chadan, Tuva to a Tuvan father and a Russian mother. In 1977, Shoigu graduated from the Krasnoyarsk Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Civil Engineering. Following graduation in 1977, he worked in the construction industry for the next decade, advancing from low levels to become an executive. In 1988 he became a minor functionary in the Abakan branch of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and then in Komsomol for a couple of years. In 1990 he moved to Moscow from Siberia and was appointed Deputy Chief of State Architecture and Construction Committee of the Russian Federation.

Ministry of Emergency situations
In 1991, he was appointed the head of Rescuer Corps, which was later given more responsibilities and renamed first to the State Committee on Emergencies, and eventually to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, making Shoigu a government minister. He became popular because of his hands-on management style and high visibility during emergency situations, such as floods, earthquakes and acts of terrorism. In 1999 he became one of the leaders of the Russian pro-government party Unity. He was awarded the Russia's most prestigious state award – Hero of the Russian Federation – in 1999.

Governor of Moscow Oblast
In May 11, 2012 he entered to his office as Governor, after he was elected in April 5, 2012 by Moscow Oblast Duma (legislature).

Ministry of Defence
On November 6, 2012 Shoygu was appointed Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation when Putin ousted his longtime ally, Anatoly Serdyukov.

Personal life
Sergey Shoygu is married to Irina Shoygu, and has two daughters (Yuliya, born 1977 and Kseniya, born 1991). In his spare time, Shoigu enjoys sports such as football and horseback riding, and enjoys music of Vanessa Mae and The Ramones. He speaks nine languages, including English, Japanese and Turkish. He also has the largest collection of ancient samurai swords in Russia, worth over $40 million.

Russian scientist Viktor Petrik attempted to use Shoygu's name to market his water filters. Shoygu has requested that Petrik cease using his name to market products.

On May 16, 2011, Shoygu fired his personal driver because of the driver's threat to shoot a motorist made during a row on a Moscow Ring Road.

Awards

 * Hero of the Russian Federation
 * Order of Merit for the Fatherland 2nd class
 * Order of Merit for the Fatherland 3rd class
 * Order of Honour
 * Order for Personal Courage (USSR)
 * Medal Defender of a Free Russia
 * Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow"
 * Medal "In Commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg"
 * Medal "In Commemoration of the 1000th Anniversary of Kazan"
 * Three Medals "For Strengthening Military Cooperation" (Ministry of Defence)
 * Medal "For Diligence in Engineering Tasks" (Ministry of Defence)
 * Medal "200 Years of the Ministry of Defence" (Ministry of Defence)
 * Medal "200 Years of the Ministry of Internal Affairs" (MVD)
 * Medal "For Merit of the Stavropol Territory"
 * Honoured Rescue Worker of the Russian Federation
 * Order of "Merit of the Altai Territory"
 * Honorary Citizen of the Kemerov Oblast
 * Order "Danaker" (Kyrgyzstan)