Yuri Zhdanov

Yuri Zhdanov studied at MSU Faculty of Chemistry. Training under Bonifaty Kedrov is recorded. The recorded working language is Russian. The field of work recorded is chemistry and philosophy. Employment is recorded with Southern Federal University and Rostov State University. Distinctions recorded are USSR State Prize, Zhukov Medal, Order of Lenin and Order of the Red Star.

• Name — Yuri Zhdanov • Birth Name — Yuri Andreyevich Zhdanov • Born — 20 August 1919 • Birthplace — Tver, RSFSR • Died — 19 December 2006 • Place of death — Rostov-on-Don, Russia

Yuri Zhdanov was born on August 20, 1919, in Tver. He graduated from Moscow State University in 1941 with a degree in organic chemistry and served with the Red Army during World War II. He received a Ph.D. in 1948. In 1947, he was appointed head of the Central Committee's Science Department. He was sympathetic to genetics, which at the time was being ferociously attacked in the Soviet Union as "bourgeois science" by followers of Lysenkoism. As head of the department, he publicly criticised the scientific theories of Trofim Lysenko at a meeting with party propagandists and was subsequently rebuked by Joseph Stalin at a Politburo meeting ("Don't you know that our entire agriculture depends on Lysenko?"). He married Svetlana Alliluyeva in the spring of 1949 "as a matter of hard common sense but without any special love or affection". Joseph Stalin respected the Zhdanov family and had always hoped the two families would be linked in marriage. They soon divorced in 1952. They had a daughter Yekaterina in 1950. He joined Rostov State University in 1953, becoming a member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences and eventually Rector of the University. He was the author of numerous papers on organic chemistry. In 1950 as the member of Soviet political leadership Zhdanov took active role in the implementation of the national policy of antisemitism. In his later year while being the Rector of Rostov State University and the Chair of the North-Caucasian Scientific Center of Higher Education he established the atmosphere of ethnic and religious tolerance. At that time most Soviet colleges and universities had severe quota on Jewish students and faculty. Many Jewish students from different regions of the Soviet Union were coming to Rostov-on-Don knowing that they would be admitted to local colleges and university. Most colleges and universities of the Rostov-on-Don region under the leadership of Zhdanov employed Jewish faculty and staff. Three out of five scientific research institutes of Rostov State University were headed by Jews. He died on 19 December 2006 in Rostov-on-Don.

The authorities additionally record the headings Yuri Andreyevich Zhdanov, Jurij Andreevič Ždanov, Yury Zhdanov and Yury Andreyevich Zhdanov. His recorded language was Russian. His recorded confession was Marxism. He was the child of Andrei Zhdanov and Zinaida Zhdanova. He married Svetlana Alliluyeva.

Yuri Zhdanov is recorded as chemist, university teacher, philosopher, polymath and science organizer.