| Gennady Khazanov | |
| Birthname: | Gennady Viktorovich Khazanov |
| Birth Date: | 1 December 1945 |
| Birth Place: | Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Occupation: | Actor, humorist, parodist |
| Years Active: | 1967–present |
| Awards: | |
Gennady Viktorovich Khazanov (Russian: Геннадий Викторович Хазанов; born 1 December 1945) is a Russian Jewish stand-up comedian, actor and theatre manager. His work includes parodies of Russian and Soviet politicians, and mockery of various sub-cultural groups in modern Russia.[1] After graduating from the Moscow Circus School in 1969, Khazanov worked as a master of ceremonies in Leonid Utyosov Orchestra. He began his solo career in 1973 at Moscontsert, a Moscow state concert organization. He gained early success with monologues of a culinary school student written by Lion Izmailov and Iurii Volovich, and of a brave parrot who cannot stop telling the truth written by Arkady Khait. In 1997, he became artistic director of the Moscow Variety Theatre.[2] In 1999, he was president of the Security Foundation of the Russian Jewish Community, which was set up to coordinate action against antisemitism in Moscow.[3]
He is an acquaintance of Russian President Vladimir Putin.[4] In March 2014, he signed a letter in support of Putin's position on Russia's military intervention in Ukraine.[5]