Education: Degree in international law (with honors), Moscow State University (1982); postgraduate studies, Moscow State University (1982-1985).

In 1986–1990, served at the USSR Ministry of Merchant Marine.

In 1990–1991, served at the Committee on Inter-Republic Relations of the Supreme Soviet (Parliament) of Russia.

In 1991–1992, served as Assistant to and Head of Staff of the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

In 1992–1997, served as Head of Division, Deputy Director of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

In 1997–2001 — Deputy permanent representative to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva.

From 2009 to 2015, he served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Netherlands, Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

In 2001–2009, 2015–2017, he served as Director of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

In 2017–2020 — Director of Public International Law Studies, since 2020 — Advisor on Public International Law of the International and Comparative Law Research Center.

In 2003–2011, 2015–2018 — Member of the International Law Commission.