Lazar Matveev facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lazar Matveev
Matveev in 2017
Born	Lazar Lazarevich Matveev (1927-04-17) April 17, 1927 (age 99) Krasnoyarsk Krai, RSFSR, Soviet Union (Now Russia)
Allegiance	Soviet Union
Branch	KGB

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Lazar Lazarevich Matveev was born on April 17, 1927. He is a former leader in Soviet intelligence. This means he worked for a secret organization that gathered important information for the Soviet Union.

Who is Lazar Matveev?

Lazar Matveev was an important figure in the KGB. The KGB was the main security agency for the Soviet Union. It was like a very powerful spy agency. Matveev worked as a senior liaison officer. This means he was a key contact person. He connected the KGB with another secret police force called the Stasi. The Stasi was the main security agency in East Germany.

Working with Vladimir Putin

Matveev worked in Dresden, East Germany. This was from 1982 to 1989. During this time, Vladimir Putin worked for him. Putin is now the President of Russia. Their time together in East Germany was an important part of both their careers.

A Special Birthday Visit

On April 17, 2017, Lazar Matveev turned 90 years old. To celebrate, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited him. Putin went to Matveev's home in Zhulebino, Moscow.

Vladimir Putin visiting Lazar Matveev on his 90th birthday.

Some of Matveev's other former KGB colleagues were also there. These included Sergey Chemezov and Nikolay Tokarev. They had also worked with Matveev in the past. Putin brought Matveev two special gifts. One was a wrist watch with the Russian presidential symbol. The other was a rare copy of the Pravda newspaper. This newspaper was printed on April 17, 1927. That was the exact day Matveev was born!