Graduated from the Leningrad Electro technical Communication Institute: holds a degree in radio-communications and broadcasting engineering. Began his career at the Lithuanian Television Centre (1958-1960), then Head of the Technological Department of the Lithuanian Television and Radio (1960-1966). During that period, he led the creation of the Lithuanian television and radio infrastructure. At the same time, engaged in journalistic activities; member of the Union of Journalists since 1966.
From 1966 to 1971, Director of the Technical Centre at the International Radio and Television Organization (OIRT - Intervision) with Headquarters in Prague: developed television news exchange between television organizations of Intervision and Eurovision; since 1968, member of the Eurovision and Intervision Operations Group and a member of the Television Commission of the International Olympic Committee; was instrumental in providing worldwide television and radio coverage of the Olympic Games; awarded the Silver Order of the International Olympic Committee.
From 1971 to 1990, Vice-Chairman of the USSR State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting, Chairman of the Interministerial Committee for Radio and Television Development and Member of the Interministerial Committee for Satellite Communication: participated in the development of new technological radio and television systems, directed the development of programme and technological conceptions, was responsible for the television and radio coverage of main international events, television and radio coverage of the Space Programme, construction and development of a television and radio multiprogramme system for the national and international coverage of the Moscow Olympic Games; decorated with national and international awards: State Prize of the USSR, EMMY Directorate Award from the USA National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, (for his assistance to the free media during the Cold War), Order of the Red Banner (USSR) (for his contribution to the Apollo-Soyuz space flight), two Orders of Honour (USSR), Order of Friendship (Russian Federation) , the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas and the Cross of Commander (Lithuania)
From September 1990 to January 2001, Assistant Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Paris: from September 1990 to January 2000, headed the Communication, Information and Informatics Sector; played a leading role in the implementation of UNESCO’s new communication strategy favouring press freedom, media pluralism and strengthening communication capacities of developing countries; promoted East-West and North-South media cooperation and exchanges and innovative uses of ICTs in UNESCO’s fields of competence; from November 1999 to January 2001, played a key role in UNESCO’s reform, overseeing the restructuring of the Secretariat and the revision of management and administrative practices; from May 2000 to January 2001, headed UNESCO’s Sector for Administration.
From February 2001, Adviser of the Director-General of UNESCO on the Communication, Information and Administration issues.
Full member of the International Academy of Electro technical Sciences; Academician of the Russian Engineering Academy; Academician of the Russian Academy of Information; Vice–President of Euroasian Academy of Television; Doctor Honoris Causa of the International Institute for Advanced Studies in Systems Research and Cybernetics (Canada); Doctor Honoris Causa of the Russian Presidential Academy of Management; Member of International Communication Institute; Fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, SMPTE (USA); Vice-President of Baden-Baden Foundation, Member of the Executive Board of World Press Freedom Committee