The probability community lost one of its foremost figures with the passing of Alexandr Alekseevich Borovkov on May 14, 2026. Over a scientific career spanning more than seven decades, Borovkov was one of the architects of modern asymptotic probability theory. His work transformed the study of random walks, large deviations, queueing theory, stochastic processes, and mathematical statistics. Through his research, influential books, and the internationally recognized school of probability that he established in Novosibirsk, he shaped the development of probability theory both in Russia and internationally.
Borovkov graduated from Moscow State University in 1954 and began his research under the guidance of A. N. Kolmogorov. His earliest work concerned boundary crossing problems for random walks, a subject that remained central throughout his career. In 1960 he joined the Institute of Mathematics in Novosibirsk (known as Sobolev IM since the early 1990s), where he spent the remainder of his professional life and played a central role in establishing Novosibirsk as one of the world’s leading centers for probability research.
Borovkov’s research transformed several central areas of probability. He developed powerful analytical methods for boundary crossing problems for random walks and stochastic processes, and established foundational results in the modern theory of large deviations–including the principle of moderate deviations–and made influential contributions to limit theorems, ergodicity, weak convergence, and mathematical statistics. His ideas continue to underpin much of modern asymptotic probability theory and its applications.
His scientific output comprised nearly 300 publications, including a remarkable collection of research monographs and textbooks. His books Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics became standard texts for generations of students, while his research monographs on random walks, queueing theory, stochastic processes, and large deviations remain indispensable references for specialists. Borovkov’s influence extended far beyond his own research. He founded the Section of Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics at Novosibirsk State University and created the internationally renowned Novosibirsk School of Probability Theory. Through his students, his celebrated weekly seminar, and his unwavering commitment to mathematical scholarship, he established an intellectual tradition that continues to flourish.
His achievements were recognized by numerous scientific honours. He was elected a Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR in 1966 and a Full Member (Academician) in 1990. Among many distinctions, he received the USSR State Prize (1979), the Government Prize of the Russian Federation for his university textbooks, the A. A. Markov Prize (2003), and the A.N. Kolmogorov Prize (2015). He was also an invited speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Moscow (1966) and Helsinki (1978). Beyond his research, Borovkov made lasting contributions to the mathematical community through his editorial work, founding Siberian Advances in Mathematics and Mathematical Proceedings and serving for many years as editor-in-chief, while also contributing to the editorial boards of numerous mathematical journals.
I was fortunate to meet Alexandr on many occasions: in Novosibirsk, at Oberwolfach, in France, and at conferences elsewhere. Wherever we met, he was always approachable, eager to discuss mathematics, and generous with his ideas. He had a remarkable ability to listen carefully to a problem and suggest a new perspective or an unexpected line of attack. Conversations with him invariably left one with fresh ideas and renewed enthusiasm. I also remember, with a smile, that he once beat me in a game of tennis.
Alexandr Borovkov will be remembered not only for his profound mathematical achievements but also for his generosity, intellectual curiosity, and unwavering dedication to mathematics. Through his discoveries, his books, and the generations of mathematicians he inspired, he helped shape modern probability theory. His legacy will endure wherever probability is studied.
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Written by Takis Konstantopoulos, University of Liverpool