Gorbachev’s first deputy premier for food and procurement, dismissed over the 1990 cigarette shortage
Born in Omsk in 1936, he graduated from the Omsk Agricultural Institute in 1961 and worked in agriculture in Tyumen Oblast. He became first secretary of the Isetsky district party committee in 1972 and head of the Tyumen regional agriculture administration in 1975, and chaired the Tyumen regional executive committee in 1976–1985. He became RSFSR Minister of Agriculture in 1985, and in 1989–1990 he was first deputy chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers and chairman of its State Commission for Food and Procurement. He was a candidate member of the Central Committee in 1986–1990. Gorbachev dismissed him on 31 August 1990 over a cigarette shortage that had set off demonstrations in Moscow.
Activities and affiliations
Career Timeline
- 1972–1975First secretary of the Isetsky district party committee
- 1975–1976Head of the Tyumen regional agriculture administration
- 1976–1985Chairman of the Tyumen regional executive committee
- 1985–1989Minister of Agriculture of the RSFSR; first deputy chairman of the RSFSR State Agro-Industrial Committee
- 1986–1990Candidate member of the CPSU Central Committee
- 1989.07.27–1990.08.30Chairman of the State Commission of the Council of Ministers of the USSR for Food and Procurement; first deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers