Georgy Poltavchenko

Georgy Sergeyevich Poltavchenko (Георгий Серге́евич Полтавченко) (born on 24 February 1953, in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union (today Azerbaijan)) was the Russian Presidential Envoy to the Central Federal District. He was assigned acting governor of Saint Petersburg in August 2011.

Life
He was born in Azerbaijan in 1953; his father was of Ukrainian descent. He studied at Leningrad Aviation Instrument-Making Institute. After graduation he worked at Leninets Research and Production Association and at a district Komsomol (Young Communists' League) committee in Leningrad. He began service in the KGB in 1979. From 1980–1990, he occupied various posts in the KGB, ultimately becoming chief of department, Vyborg directorate, regional department of KGB in Leningrad and the Leningrad region. Georgy was deputy of the Leningrad Regional Council from 1990–1993, deputy of Leningrad Regional Council. He was then chief of St. Petersburg directorate, Federal Tax Police from 1993–1999. He ran for the Leningrad city council unsuccessfully in 1998. From 1999–2000, he was plenipotentiary representative of the Russian President in Leningrad region.

LGBT Dispute
On March 2012, Poltavchenko drew the ire of the LGBT community in Russia after he approved a controversial law penalizing the propaganda of homosexuality. In retaliation, the LGBT community in Russia sent letters to the United States, the European Union, Australia  and Canada asking them to ban entry for city officials behind the controversial gay propaganda ban.