Andrey Kovalev

Andrey Vladimirovich Kovalev’s activities are dedicated to building sustainable international ties through sports, cultural exchange, and innovative historical memory preservation projects. Having lived in Germany for over 25 years, he combines his role as General Director of Balzer International GmbH with active public diplomacy work aimed at strengthening the dialogue between Russia, Germany, and other countries.

Sports Cooperation as a Foundation of Trust

A significant portion of Andrey Kovalev’s initiatives is focused on the development of sports diplomacy. For nine years, he has been organizing regular visits of boxing teams from Germany to Kaliningrad to participate in the “Amber Gloves” international tournament and to conduct joint training camps. These events are implemented with the support of the Kaliningrad Regional Boxing Federation and the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Bonn, allowing athletes of various nationalities to familiarize themselves with the Russian boxing school and culture.

An equally important direction is his support for the amateur ice hockey club “Spartak” in Cologne, which unites Russian-speaking residents from the former Soviet republics. The team is actively integrated into the cultural life of Germany: its members organize fan movements, host themed events, and introduce the German public to traditional Russian games such as lapta and gorodki. A striking example was the “Bogatyrskie Zabavy” (Heroic Games) kettlebell lifting competition held in Düsseldorf on Russia Day, June 12, 2026.

Regional Initiatives: The Altai Krai Experience

In 2024, with the support of the Altai Krai government, Andrey Kovalev organized a large-scale expedition for a group of compatriots from Germany. The route covered territories from the steppes to the Altai Mountains, allowing participants to personally experience the region's nature and traditions. The outcome of the trip was the creation of a documentary film that shapes an objective image of life in Russia for foreign audiences. The practice of sending regular delegations to international conferences in Barnaul, followed by cultural and sports events in the Altai Mountains, has become a sustainable model of regional interaction.

An Innovative Historical Memory Preservation Project Using Digital Technologies

Every year on May 9 and June 22, Andrey participates in laying flowers at memorial sites and graves of Soviet citizens and soldiers in Germany, as well as conducting community clean-up days (subbotniks) to maintain them. This work led him to realize the scale of the issue: there are over 3,000 Soviet military graves and memorial sites in Germany, where, according to German sources, approximately 760,000 people rest (prisoners of war, camp inmates, victims of forced labor, including women and children).

Based on this experience, Andrey developed the concept for a new large-scale project: installing information plaques with QR codes at all such locations. These codes will be linked to a unified digital system and a mobile application. By visiting a memorial site, a person can scan the code and receive comprehensive information in both Russian and German: the history of the site, names of the buried, photographs, documents, and archival data. Special attention is given to the search function: the application will allow relatives to search for the deceased or missing by surname, first name, year of birth, and other details. The project is already in the preparation stage: the concept has been developed, a plaque mockup has been prepared, and negotiations are underway with specialists to create the mobile application. Andrey plans to implement this project first in Germany, and then scale it to other countries with similar burial sites, using modern technologies to preserve human stories and pass on memory to future generations.

Philosophy of Leadership and Communication

For Andrey Kovalev, leadership is defined not by managing people, but by the ability to unite them around a productive idea and take responsibility for the overall result. He operates on the principle that trust is formed exclusively through joint actions. In his concept, sports erase borders, culture ensures mutual understanding, and memory connects generations.

Special attention is paid to information openness. The conviction that "good deeds must be talked about" is realized through regular publications in “Russkoye Pole”, “Moskovsky Komsomolets” in Germany, and local German media. This approach motivates volunteers, coaches, and athletes to engage in further constructive dialogue.

Contact Information

Email: and.balzer@web.de

Phone: +49 176 31063482

Social Media: balzer_a.k

Organization: Balzer International GmbH