Born in 1957. A renowned Russian historian and literary critic, focusing his research primarily on the life and works of M. Bulgakov and the history of WWII. Has written more than 20 books, including Разведка. Тайны Второй мировой войны (2001), Наркомы страха: Ягода. Ежов. Берия. Абакумов (2001), Оккупация. Правда и мифы (2002), and Георгий Жуков: Триумфы и падения (2003), published by АСТ-ПРЕСС. Has written more than 500 scientific articles which have been translated into French, English, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, and Bulgarian.