Alexei Tsvetkov, Russian-language émigré poet, translator, and essayist, was born in Ivano-Frankivsk (formerly Stanislaviv), Ukraine, grew up in Zaporizhzhia and briefly studied chemistry at the Odesa University, then history (1965–1968) and journalism (1971–1974) at the Moscow State University.

Together with Sergey Gandlevsky, Bakhyt Kenjeev, and Alexander Soprovsky he founded the unofficial group of poets Moscow Time.

Then he entered the University of Michigan graduate school and in 1983 was awarded a PhD degree.

Tsvetkov taught Russian language and literature at Dickinson College, Pennsylvania, then worked as an international broadcaster at the Voice of America radio station.

For many years Tsvetkov lived and worked as a freelance writer based in New York City.