Alexander A. Volkov (Александр А. Волков) (born 1951) is the President of the Udmurt Republic, located in Eastern Europe between the Kama and Viatka rivers, in the heart of Russia. As President, Volkov is the highest official in the Udmurt Republic, the head of the republic's highest executive body, and leader of its 2 million citizens. Volkov took office November 3, 2005, 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. Jump to: navigation, search 1951 was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... The Udmurt Republic (Russian: ; Udmurt: Удмурт Элькун) or Udmurtia (Удму́ртия) is a federal subject of the Russian Federation (a republic). ... Jump to: navigation, search Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current national boundaries: Russia (dark orange), other countries of the former USSR (medium orange) and other former communist regimes (light orange). ... Jump to: navigation, search Kama (Russian: ; Tatar: Çulman) is a river in Russia, the longest left tributary of the Volga. ... Jump to: navigation, search November 3 is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 58 days remaining. ... Jump to: navigation, search 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search October 15 is the 288th day of the year (289th in Leap years). ... Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the year 2000. ...

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.

From engineer to politician

Volkov is an experienced and flexible regional politician whose 2000 election as President of the Udmert Republic was "not exactly a birthday present for the Kremlin," according to political consultant Igor Mintoussov.[1] Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the year 2000. ...

The danger of terrorism is the main concern of many among Volkov's constituents, especially for the 600,000 resdients of Izhevsk, where Volkov occupies a palace and where Russia's oldest armaments factory is located, about 1,300km east of Moscow. Surrounding rural regions are relatively impoverished and are said to turn to Volkov and the Udmurtia Legislature for support. Jump to: navigation, search The city coat of arms Izhevsk (Иже́вск, from 1985 to 1987Ustinov, after Dmitri Ustinov [Усти́нов]) is the capital and culture center of Udmurtia within the Russian Federation. ... Jump to: navigation, search Moscow (Russian: Москва́, Moskva, IPA: listen ▶(?)) is the capital of Russia, located on the river Moskva. ...

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. Gazprom (Cyrillic Газпром, sometimes transcribed as Gasprom) is the largest Russian company and the biggest natural gas extractor in the world. ...

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 and recognition

There has been a long-running conflict between Volkov and Zolotoya Provintsiya since his tenure as the parliamentary speaker of Udmertia. 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.

Volkov has been named as a 'Merited Builder' and as a 'Merited Engineer' of the Russian Federation. He was awarded the 'Order of Friendship', a 'Best Russian Manager' diploma, and a diploma as an 'Honoured REA Academician'.

Contact information

Contact information from the Press Service of the President and Government of the Udmurt Republic:

Administration of the President and the Government of the Udmurt Republic

426007, Izhevsk,

ul. Pushkinskaia 214, Russia

Phone: 007 (3412) 497-207

Fax: 007 (3412) 497-200

External links

• Enc.ex.ru - 'The Government of the Udmurt Republic'
• Gazprom.ru - 'Gazprom's delegation visited machine building compainies in Perm region and Udmurtia' (March 25, 2004)
• GDF.ru - 'The Mass Media in Udmurtia, Or A Summer Journey to Izhevsk', Alexander Mnatsakanyan
• Udmurt.ru - Official President's webpage (Udmurt Republic Press Service)