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Konstantin Ishkhanov (January 23, 1970) is an entrepreneur and philanthropist of Armenian origin/descent. Founder and President of the European Foundation of Support of Culture (EUFSC), Ishkhanov is the first and only foreigner recipient of Malta’s highest cultural award, Premju Ghall-Arti - Art Awards. He is the father of pianist Dmitry Ishkhanov, who at the age of 11 represented Malta at the Eurovision Young Musicians held in Cologne, Germany, becoming the youngest finalist in Eurovision history.

Early life
Konstantin Ishkhanov was born to Armenian parents on January 23, 1970, in Baku, Azerbaijan. His mother is a doctor and his father was an engineer. He graduated secondary school in 1987, after which he enrolled at the Azerbaijan Institute of Oil and Chemistry. In 1988, he entered compulsory service in the Soviet army and was demobilized in August 1989.

Education
In 1990 Ishkhanov moved with his family to Moscow and continued his education at the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University) from which he graduated in 1993 with a specialty in ‘Information-measuring and computing equipment’ and the qualification of ‘Engineer and electrician’.

From 1993–1995, he completed his postgraduate degree in the Russian Scientific Research Institute of Oil and Gas as an engineer in the laboratory of design and construction work to create low-waste, resource-saving, environmental-friendly oil production complexes. Simultaneously, he worked as a research fellow in the Oil and Gas Production Automation Department.

Career
In 1995–1996, he was the Director of the Scientific Center at the Russian-American Oil and Gas Company. In 1996–1999, Ishkhanov became the Deputy General Director of the Russian-American Oil and Gas Company. In 1999–2005, he started to work as a Deputy General Director in the "Electroservice" group of companies.

In 2005–2009, he founded the “Industrial Technologies of Electrical Engineering "PROMTEHELEKTRO"’ group of companies.

Activities
In 2007, Ishkhanov and his family moved to Malta. In February 2015, Konstantin Ishkhanov founded the European Foundation for Support of Culture (EUFSC), which is a non-profit organization with the key objective of promoting talented musicians and artists and encouraging the preservation of musical and cultural heritage. EUFSC holds numerous festivals, competitions, exhibitions, master classes, workshops, roundtables, concerts, and other events seeking to inspire interest in various types of modern art and to support young talented musicians across Europe, Asia, and America. The foundation also organizes international competitions in partnership with grant-giving foundations to financially support the young musicians.

The Foundation has organized performances and tours featuring internationally acclaimed artists and orchestras at many different venues around the world including the Carnegie Hall in New York, the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Musikverein, Munich Gasteig, etc.

Awards
In December 2019, Konstantin Ishkhanov was awarded a medal for his contribution to the development of musical culture as part of a grand charity concert held in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. The medal was handed to Ishkhanov by Valery Vorona, the rector of Ippolitov-Ivanov State Musical Pedagogical Institute.

On 16 April 2019, EUFSC President Konstantin Ishkhanov received Malta’s highest national award in the arts — the Premju Ghall-Arti Awards — for his significant contribution to the arts and for his ‘Unique Contribution to the Culture of Malta’.

Since 2007, Ishkahnov has worked to deepen Armenian-Maltese cultural ties and popularise Armenian culture in his country of residence. In 2019, the EUFSC supported major Armenian events such as the “Contemporary Classics” Composers' Festival and the ballet “Crystal Palace”. Yuri Bashmet, Krzysztof Penderecki, Karl Jenkins, Alexey Shor, Gidon Kremer, and many other musicians were guests at these events.