Born on August 11, 1955, in Lipetsk.
Graduated from the Higher Military Political Border Control School of the Soviet State Security Committee (KGB), the Lenin Military-Political Academy and the Civil Service Institute's North-Western Personnel Training Centre.
Has a PhD in Sociology and the Order of Merit state award.
1973-1991: served with the Soviet KGB Border Force.
1991-1993: business administrator and assistant head of the Administration of the Leningrad Region's Vyborg District.
1993-1994: First Deputy Head of the Administration of the Vyborg District, Leningrad Region.
1994-2000: Head of the Administration of the Vyborg District, Leningrad Region.
2000-2007: First Deputy Governor of the Leningrad Region.
2007-2008: Advisor to the Council Chairman of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.
January 21, 2007: appointed Head of the Federal Service for the Oversight of Natural Resources.