Laurie Bristow
Sir Laurie Bristow was the United Kingdom’s last Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in 2021. He was previously the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Russia from 2016 to 2020, and Ambassador to Azerbaijan from 2004 to 2007.
He is now President of Hughes Hall, Cambridge University.
Laurie is a Distinguished Fellow of RUSI, Visiting Professor at LSE Ideas, and a Senior Associate Fellow of the European Leadership Network. He regularly writes and broadcasts on Afghanistan, Russia, international security and politics.
Foreign Office
Her Majesty’s Ambassador to The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
2021
Laurie was Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from June to November 2021. He served in Afghanistan during the final months of the Republic, the fall of Kabul to the Taliban on 15 August 2021, and the evacuation of over 15,000 people from Kabul airport after the Taliban takeover.
Laurie left the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in 2022 to become President of Hughes Hall, Cambridge University.
Her Majesty’s Ambassador to The Russian Federation
2016-2020
Laurie was Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation from 2016 to 2020. He was the UK’s ambassador during the 2018 Salisbury poisonings by Russian military intelligence.
Previous roles included Director, National Security in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 2012 to 2015; Director, Eastern Europe and Central Asia from 2010 to 2012; Deputy Ambassador to Russia from 2007 to 2010; Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan from 2004 to 2007.