Alexander Alexandrovich Volkov (politician)

Alexander Volkov
Алекса́ндр Алекса́ндрович Во́лков
1st President of the Udmurt Republic
In office
3 November 2000 – 19 February 2014
Preceded by Post Established
Succeeded by Aleksandr Solovyov (acting)
Personal details
Born (1951-12-25) December 25, 1951
Bryansk, RSFSR, USSR
Nationality Russian
Political party United Russia
Spouse(s) Nina Alexandrovna Volkova
Children 2
Profession Politician
Religion Russian Orthodoxy

Alexander Alexandrovich Volkov (Udmurt and Russian: Алекса́ндр Алекса́ндрович Во́лков; born December 25, 1951 in Bryansk) is the former President of the Udmurt Republic, located in the heart of Russia between the Kama and Vyatka Rivers. As President, Volkov is the highest official in the Udmurt Republic, the head of the republic's highest executive body, and leader of its two million citizens. Volkov took office November 3, 2000, for a five-year term after the first presidential elections in the Udmurt Republic took place on October 15, 2000. Prior to the elections, Volkov was the speaker of the Udmurtia Republican Legislature.

Personal life

Born into a large worker’s family, President Volkov graduated from a technical school and then worked as a foreman, chief engineer, and head of a construction department while studying at the Polytechnic Institute.

Volkov is an experienced and flexible regional politician whose 2000 election as President of the Udmurt Republic was "not exactly a birthday present for the Kremlin," according to political consultant Igor Mintoussov.

The danger of terrorism is the main concern of many among Volkov's constituents, especially for the 600,000 residents of Izhevsk, where Volkov occupies a palace and where Russia's oldest armaments factory is located, about 1,300 km east of Moscow. Surrounding rural regions are relatively impoverished and are said to turn to Volkov and the Udmurtia Legislature for support.

Along with Udmurt technical experts, Volkov has been negotiating with Gazprom, Russia's largest natural gas extractor, in collaborative efforts to develop the region’s gas supply system and establishing a centralized gas distribution company.

In President Volkov's most recent State of the Union address, he expressed appreciation that religious and interconfessional relations were stable last year, noting reconstruction began last year on the Saint Mikhail Cathedral, and that "this event is extremely outstanding." Volkov also stressed, "The growth of investment into economics of the Republic was and is the main task of the Government."

Public image

There has been a long-running conflict between Volkov and Zolotoya Provintsiya since his tenure as the parliamentary speaker of Udmurtia. Volkov was named 'Man of the Year' in a contest initially billed as 'Sex Symbol of the Year'. The next day, the publication hit the newsstands with a collage featuring the body of Michelangelo’s David fitted with Volkov’s head. Volkov found the image insulting and initiated a challenge that made its way to the Republican Constitutional Court. Zolotaya Provintsiya was charged with pornography, libel and invasion of privacy.

Honours and awards

Personal life

Volkov is married to Nina Volkova and he has two children. Volkov is also the grandfather of four children. His son, Andrey, is a notable alumni from the Izhevsk State Technical University, and his daughter, Vera is an attorney. His hobbies are football, fishing, skiing, tennis, and spending some time helping out in the garden. Volkov is notably a very experienced musician, as he can play the accordion. When on holiday, Volkov usually goes to Bryansk to meet his family. Volkov is fluent in Russian and can speak some English.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Position Created		 President of Udmurt Republic
2000–2014 		Succeeded by
Aleksandr Solovyov
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