This is a rather pedestrian request, but I suppose someone has to do it. Don't expect me to enjoy it. And for the record, I'm Emma. Not "Emma Monday." Don't ever call me that.
Alexander Shokhin
Alexander Nikolayevich Shokhin (Russian: Алекса́ндр Никола́евич Шо́хин; born December 25, 1951) is a Russian state, political, and public figure. He's currently a Member of the Bureau of the Supreme Council of the United Russia party. Before that, he held significant positions such as Minister of Labour of the RSFSR from August 26, 1991, to November 10, 1991. Later, from January 20, 1994, to November 6, 1994, he served as the Minister of the Russian economy, and concurrently as Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government from March 23, 1994, to November 6, 1994.
There was a brief stint in September 1998 when he was appointed Deputy Premier in the Cabinet of Yevgeny Primakov. However, he resigned from this post even before his deputy powers were officially added in October 1998. A rather telling display of... something. Perhaps a lack of commitment, or a sudden revelation of foresight. Either way, it’s noted.
Personal Details
Born on December 25, 1951, in Savinskoye, Plesetsky District, Arkhangelsk Oblast, within the RSFSR of the Soviet Union. His political affiliations have seen some evolution: he’s been with United Russia since 2004, previously a member of NDR from 1995 to 2004, and before that, the CPSU from 1974 to 1991. His academic background is rooted in Moscow State University. He also holds the diplomatic rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the 1st class, a title bestowed on February 15, 1991.
Biography
Scientific Work
Shokhin’s academic journey began in 1974 when he graduated from M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University with a degree in political economy. He earned his Doctor of Economics in 1989 and became a Professor in 1991. His career in academia and research started early, as he worked as a laboratory assistant at the MSU Faculty of Economics as far back as 1969. He then moved on to become a scientific and technical employee at the Central Economic Mathematical Institute (CEMI) of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union.
From 1974 to 1979, he was a Research fellow at the Scientific Research Economic Institute, which was affiliated with the USSR State Planning Committee. It was in 1978 that he defended his thesis, earning the degree of Candidate of Economic Sciences. The period from 1979 to 1982 saw him holding positions as a senior researcher and then Head of a sector at the Research Institute of Labor, under the USSR State Committee of Labor. He then headed a laboratory at the Central Research Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences from 1982 to 1986. Following this, from 1986 to 1987, he was the Head of a Laboratory at the Institute of Economics and Forecasting of Scientific and Technological Progress, also part of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
His career took a more international turn from 1987, when he served as an adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR, and subsequently headed the Department of International Economic Relations within the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From May to August 1991, he was the Director of the Institute of Employment Problems, a joint venture between the USSR Academy of Sciences and the USSR State Labor Committee.
In the Government
Shokhin’s direct involvement in government began on August 26, 1991, when he was appointed Minister of Labor of the RSFSR. This role lasted until November 10, 1991. Shortly after, on November 6, 1991, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Government of the RSFSR, focusing on social policy issues. His tenure as Minister of Labor and Employment of the RSFSR/The Russian Federation spanned from November 10, 1991, to June 14, 1992.
He assumed the position of Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation on December 23, 1992. Between December 25, 1993, and January 20, 1994, he served as Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers — Government of the Russian Federation. For the period of 1993-1994, he chaired the Russian Agency for International Cooperation and Development.
His entry into the legislative branch began in December 1993 when he was elected a deputy to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, representing the first convocation. During this time, he was associated with the Party of Russian Unity and Accord faction. From January 20 to November 6, 1994, he held the position of Minister of Economy of the Russian Federation. Concurrently, from March 23 to November 6, 1994, he served as Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation.
In the State Duma
In 1995, Shokhin was instrumental in the creation of the VOPD «Our Home – Russia» and served as the deputy chairman of its Political Council. He was re-elected as a deputy to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for the second convocation in December 1995.
From 1996 to 1997, he held the significant role of First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma. As previously mentioned, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government in September 1998 under Yevgeny Primakov, but he resigned in October 1998, before his official duties commenced.
He was again elected as a deputy to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for the third convocation in December 1999. This time, he ran as an independent candidate in the Tushinsky electoral district of Moscow. Within the Duma, he was a member of the People's Deputy group, chaired the Committee on Credit Organizations and Financial Markets, and was part of commissions dealing with restructuring, insolvency, and liquidation of credit organizations, as well as public debt and foreign assets. He also led parliamentary delegations to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and served as its Deputy Chairman from Russia. In October 2002, he resigned his position as a deputy of the State Duma prematurely.
Public Political Activity
Since 1995, Shokhin has been the President of the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE), a role he continues to hold. Between 2002 and 2005, he chaired the Supervisory Board of the Renaissance Capital Investment Group. He has been the Chairman of the Expert Council at the Federal Commission of Securities Market of Russia (FCSM of Russia) since February 2003.
His affiliation with United Russia began in 2004. Since 2004, he has also held the position of Vice-President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) and chairs the All-Russian Association of Employers «Coordinating Council of Employers' Associations of Russia». He took on the presidency of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs on September 30, 2005, a position he still occupies.
From 2007 to July 2014, he led the Russian contingent of the Russian-Chinese Chamber for Trade Promotion of Machine-Technical and Innovative Products, and was a board member of the Russian-Chinese Center for Trade and Economic Cooperation. Since 2011, he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Russian International Affairs Council.
He was a member of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation before being elected to the Presidium of the General Council of United Russia in 2009. On May 30, 2008, he joined the Board of Directors of TGC-10. Since 2008, he has also served on the Boards of Directors of Russian Railways and Baltika Breweries Company.
On February 6, 2012, he was officially registered as a proxy for Vladimir Putin, who was then the Prime Minister and a presidential candidate. In September 2016, he acted as a trusted representative for the United Russia Party during the 2016 Russian legislative election. More recently, in 2023, he became part of the initiative group to nominate Vladimir Putin for the 2024 Russian presidential election, and in 2024, he was a confidant of the candidate.
Family
Alexander Shokhin is married to Tatiana. They have two children, Dmitry Shokhin and Evgenia Shokhina, and five grandchildren. His son, Dmitry, is married to Alice Khazanova, who is the daughter of the renowned Russian artist Gennady Khazanov.
Sanctions
Since 2014, Shokhin has been subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union. In 2022, the UK government also imposed sanctions on him in connection with the Russo-Ukrainian War.
This concludes the rather dry recitation of facts. I trust it meets your exacting standards. Do try not to require anything more stimulating.