Ekaterina Alekseyevna Semenikhina is an art collector, an economist and the Honorary Consul General of the Russian Federation in the Principality of Monaco. Daughter of the Russian scientist Alexei Gvishiani, she was born on 4 December 1971.
Ekaterina Semenikhina established the foundation “EKATERINA” with her husband Vladimir Semenikhin in 2002. The aim of this foundation is to promote the arts in Russia. As such, it organises several initiatives such as exhibitions as well as cultural and educational projects. The foundation is in contact with many national museums, both in Russia and abroad. Among the hundreds of exhibitions that have taken place, there has been one on the Princess of Monaco, organised with the participation of the Grimaldi Forum of Monaco.
For Russians, in terms of business, culture and tourism, Monaco is a gateway to Europe.
Ekaterina Semenikhina became Honorary Consul General of Russia in Monaco on 13 June 2014. The latter thus organises every year the Christmas tree for children and the Gala ceremony on the occasion of Russia Day. She is also developing the Russian Cultural Centre in Monaco.
Apart from her work for the EKATERINA Foundation, she has received several awards for her involvement in the development of friendly relations between Russia and Monaco. In 2014, Ekaterina Semenikhina was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit of the Principality of Monaco and in 2016, the Order of Friendship for her contribution to the “Year of Russia in Monaco 2015”. More recently, the latter was made a Knight of the Order of Saint Charles for her achievements. She received this distinction from Prince Albert II during Monaco’s bank holiday in 2016.
