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Updated: Dec 15, 2010

CNS Tribute to Dr. Alexander Pikayev

Tragic News about the Passing of Dr. Alexander Pikayev

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Dr. Alexander Pikayev on June 16, 2010. Known to all of his friends and colleagues in the international nonproliferation community simply as "Sasha," he was in the prime of his life—personally and professionally.

Sasha was only 48 years old, but had long been one of the most senior and authoritative Russian analysts of defense and national security issues, especially those involving U.S.-Russian/Soviet nuclear arms control. Indeed, my first recollection of him was as a young scholar—in his 20s—when he participated in a U.S.-Soviet arms control negotiation simulation course I offered one the summer at the University of Bonn. At the time, I remember Ambassador Victor Israelyan, who was a co-instructor of the course, observing Sasha in action and commenting: "What is this young man doing here? We need him on the 'real' Soviet START delegation."

Sasha was selected to join the original Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) Soviet Nonproliferation "core group" in 1991, and was one of the early NIS Nonproliferation Project Visiting Fellows in Monterey during the spring 1994 semester. He was a unique figure, sometimes reserved, often funny, but always exceptionally astute. On conference panels he tended to speak softly and slowly, usually without notes, but with great precision and acuity regardless of the topic. The breadth and depth of his knowledge were enormous, and he could meticulously recall facts and figures on almost any issue impacting on Russian national security. One also could always count on him to be probing and provocative, qualities that endeared him to many and made him an invaluable colleague and resource as the Head of the CNS Nonproliferation Project in Russia.

At the time of his passing, Sasha also served as Director of the Section on Disarmament and Conflict Resolution of the Center for International Security at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) in Moscow. He previously had worked as co-chair of the WMD Nonproliferation Program at the Carnegie Moscow Center and as a senior professional staff member of the Russian Duma Defense Committee.

Sasha was a prolific author, frequent media commentator, and friend and mentor to many in international arms control and nonproliferation community. He cannot be replaced, but he will long be remembered.

Sasha's friends at CNS extend their deep condolences to his wife Marina and his family.

Bill Potter

Tributes and Remembrances