Born in Yekaterinburg on May 21, 1945.

1962 – 1968 – studied in the Institute of Asia & Africa, Faculty of History & Philology, where he had studied the Arabic language and history of the Arab world.

1966 – 1967 –  training course at Cairo University and American University in Cairo.

1968 – 970  – served in the Soviet Army as an officer.

1970 – 1972 – postgraduate studies at Moscow State University.

1972 – 1977  – lecturer with the High School of Social Sciences in the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen.

1977 – 1984 – research associate at the Institute of Asia & Africa.

1984 – 2009 – Head of Department of the Arab Countries, Head of the Centre of Strategic and Political Research, Institute of Oriental Studies under the Russian Academy of Sciences.

2009 – 2015 – Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies.

2015 until present – scientific advisor of the Institute of Oriental Studies

 V. Naumkin is a member of the advisory Scientific Council under the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, a member of the advisory Scientific Council under the Security Council of Russia.

V. Naumkin is the Editor-in-chief of the “Vostok/ORIENS” journal; Professor and Chair, leading the Department of Regional Studies at the Faculty of World Politics at Moscow State University, President a non-profit NGO “Center for Strategic and Political Studies”.

V. Naumkin has been honored with Russian and foreign awards, including the Russian Order of Friendship, bestowed on him by the Russian President for his achievements in science, medals and Certificate of Merit from Russia’s Federal Assembly.

In 2008, V. Naumkin was appointed Ambassador for the Alliance of Civilizations by the UN Secretary General.

Since 2011 - Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

V. Naumkin is the author of over 500 publications in Russian and other languages.