Leonid Kulik (1883–1942), Russian mineralogist, led the (1927) first Soviet expedition to investigate the Tunguska event; born in Tartu. Igor Severyanin (Igor Lotaryov, 1887–1941), poet; lived, married, and died in Estonia. Nikolai Vekšin (1887–1951), sailor, helmsman of the bronze medal winning Estonian 6 Metre boat at 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games. Boris Nartsissov (1906–1982), Russian émigré poet; raised and educated in Estonia. Nikolai Stepulov (1913–1968), won silver medal in boxing, lightweight class at 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Alexy II of Moscow (Aleksei Rüdiger, 1929–2008), former Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church; born and raised in Estonia. Svetlana Tširkova-Lozovaja (b. 1945), former fencer, representing USSR, won Olympic gold in team foil twice (1968, 1972); lives in Estonia since early age. Mikhail Veller (b. 1948), Russian writer; works in Tallinn. Marina Kaljurand (née Rajevskaja, b. 1962), Estonian politician, Member of the European Parliament, former foreign minister. Anna Levandi (née Kondrashova, b. 1965), former figure skater, representing USSR, won silver at 1984 World Championships; lives in Tallinn. Valery Karpin (b. 1969), Russian football manager and former player, since 2021 manager of the Russia national team; born in Narva. Anton Vaino (b. 1972), chief of staff of the executive office of the President of Russia; born in Tallinn. Kristina Kallas (b. 1976), Estonian politician, leader of the Estonia 200 political party since its foundation in 2018. Tatjana Mihhailova-Saar (b. 1983), represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014; lives in Estonia since early age. Jevgeni Ossinovski (b. 1986), Estonian politician and former leader of the Estonian Social Democratic Party. Leo Komarov (Leonid Komarov, b. 1987), ice hockey player, representing Finland, 2011 World Champion and 2022 Winter Olympics gold medallist; born in Narva. Valentina Golubenko (b. 1990), chess Grandmaster, representing Croatia, world champion in girls' U18 category in 2008; lives in Estonia since early age. Elina Nechayeva (b. 1991), soprano, represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. Tommy Cash (Tomas Tammemets, b. 1991), rapper, singer and conceptual artist. See also Demographics of Estonia Estonia–Russia relations Ethnic Russians in post-Soviet states Population transfer in the Soviet Union Russification References Further reading Estonia–Russia relations Estonia Ethnic groups in Estonia Social history of Estonia