Question: Can you tell us about your joint work on the Tsarskoselsky Station project?
Sergey Lavrov: I have known Vladimir Resin for a long time. I highly value his striving to promote civil society projects, especially when they concern our sacred relics from the history of the Russian state.
The reconstruction of the Tsarskoselsky Station is one of the projects which Vladimir Resin is enthusiastically implementing as head of the Board of Trustees, where I am a member. I believe that this project is extremely important for preserving our history and for fostering the next generation, especially now that Tsarskoye Selo and everything around it has put into proper shape, as we say. This includes another project on which I worked together with Resin, the renovated Church of St Sergius of Radonezh.
Only the Tsarskoselsky Station laid in ruins, sticking out like a sore thumb in the landscape which we have restored as part of a project to renovate the district. And second, leaving that historical building in its sorry state would have been a shame.
Vladimir Resin willingly accepted the post of head of the Board of Trustees. The project is at full steam now, with active support from St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov and the Agriculture Ministry, which I would like to emphasise because the adjacent land plot belongs to it. It is a difficult job, including from a purely bureaucratic point. But Resin knows how to settle such problems, and how to do this more effectively than via bureaucratic channels.
Question: How does he behave in difficult situations? How does he reacts? Did he act harshly?
Sergey Lavrov: The main thing is that he gets results. I have never heard him raise his voice at anyone, but you can formulate tasks quietly and this will stimulate better than shouting. I regard this as an effective management style.
Vladimir Resin has a huge amount of experience in construction, and his experience remains relevant. The main thing is that he wants to continue to do good deeds.
Question: Did he help renovate the church at MGIMO University?
Sergey Lavrov: Yes, it was one of his landmark projects, especially for me and all other MGIMO graduates.
The decision to build several churches, including at universities, was taken back in 2005 by Patriarch Alexy II of blessed memory. But the project was only launched in 2011, for a number of reasons.
Vladimir Resin took personal charge of this initiative, as well as the construction of other churches in Moscow, in line with the plan coordinated with the Russian Orthodox Church. He visited major construction sites weekly, inspecting progress first-hand and reviewing details on location. Each week, he held meetings with project clients, contractors, and benefactors who had contributed funds to the church-building efforts. From his office on Tverskaya Street, he monitored developments in real time through photographs and video reports, making informed decisions. Similar meetings were also held at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. This approach became a model of effective oversight. Builders, contractors, and project sponsors valued this level of engagement and were motivated to maintain high standards and avoid deficiencies in their work.
In 2016, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill consecrated the Alexander Nevsky Church at MGIMO. Following the service, he presented the highest decorations of the Russian Orthodox Church to several people, including Vladimir Resin.
I was present at the church’s opening ceremony. It leaves a truly remarkable impression, above all, a sense of warmth and connection to something deeply sacred and authentic. I am confident that the church serves as an important spiritual and cultural centre for MGIMO students, as well as for the residents of nearby neighbourhoods, helping to engage them in strengthening our culture, history, and traditions.
Question: Vladimir Resin will turn 90 in February. What would you like to wish him for his birthday?
Sergey Lavrov: I wish him all the very best, everything he himself hopes for in life. He is a creative individual with boundless energy, and I am certain he still has many plans ahead.
All of that deserves support, so above all I wish him good health. We all need health. The longer we live, the more we want to accomplish for our country and for our people – and for that, good health is absolutely essential.
Question: Is something you have learned from him? Although you already possess extensive experience and knowledge, is there anything in particular you have taken away from him?
Sergey Lavrov: I have already mentioned the qualities I consider exceptional in him – patience, professionalism, and the ability to grasp the essence. Most importantly, he knows how to find a solution and communicate it clearly so that people immediately understand what needs to be done. His managerial and leadership qualities are exemplary and worthy of emulation.