Governor of the Krasnodar Region

Born December 23, 1960 in the village of Vyselki in Krasnodar kray region of Russia. In 1978, after graduating from school, he entered the Polytechnics Institute in Krasnodar city. After graduating five years later as a mechanical engineer, Alexander Tkachev began working as a heat engineer at a factory of combined animal feed stuff (CAFS) in his native Vyselki, soon becoming the enterprise’s chief mechanic. In 1986, he was elected First Secretary of Vyselki District Komsomol Committee. In 1990 he was elected director of the CAFS factory. In 1993, following his initiative, the enterprise was reorganized to become AgroKomplex joint-stock company, and Mr. Tkachev was elected its Director General. The 1994 victory in the region’s parliamentary election launched his political career. In 1995, Tikhoretsk Electoral District-made up of 11 cities and administrative districts of the region-gave him credence by electing him a deputy of the second State Duma and then, in 1999, into the third State Duma. In the parliament Mr. Tkachev was chairman of the Committee for Nationalities Issues. Noting his firm stance and pro-active involvement in the work dedicated to the country’s agricultural problems, his colleagues in the Russian parliament elected Alexander Tkachev chairman of the Duma’s Agricultural Group. Mr. Tkachev also heads the Agrarian Union of Kuban. On February 25, 2000 he successfully defended his thesis for Candidate of Economic Sciences degree. On December 3, 2000, Mr. Tkachev achieved a clear-cut victory running for the Governor of Krasnodar Kray region. A total of 82.14 per cent of electors voted for his candidacy. On March 14, 2004, he was re-elected (officially inducted on March 30). On December 17, 2004, he successfully defended a doctoral thesis in economics. On April 23, 2007, upon proposition made by President of Russia voiced at a session of the kray’s legislature, Alexander Tkachev was vested with the powers of the Head of the Administration of Krasnodar Kray for another five-year term. He took charge of the office on the same day.