In 1970, he graduated from the Azerbaijan Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages, and three years later, in 1973, he completed his studies at the Baku Higher Party School.

From 1973 to 1986, he served as the Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Youth Organizations of the Azerbaijan SSR in Baku.

Later, in 1998 and 1999, he held the position of head of the Main Department of International Cooperation, Public Relations, and Special Projects at ITAR-TASS.

Since November 1999, he has been the First Deputy General Director of the TASS news agency (formerly known as ITAR-TASS until 1 October 2014).

[6] His older brother Yuli is an actor and film director who serves CEO of the Nika Award.