Mikhail Yefimovich Nikolayev (Russian: Михаил Ефимович Николаев; 13 November 1937 – 4 August 2023) was a Russian Yakut politician who was the first President of the Sakha Republic, serving from 1991 to January 2002. He was succeeded by Vyacheslav Shtyrov.[1]

Mikhail Nikolayev
Михаил Николаев
Nikolayev in 2008
Russian Federation Senator
from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
In office
28 January 2002 – 23 June 2010
Preceded bySeat established
Succeeded byVyacheslav Shtyrov
1st President of Sakha (Yakutia)
In office
20 December 1991 – 21 January 2002
Vice PresidentVyacheslav Shtyrov (1991–97)
Spartak Borisov (1997–2002)
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byVyacheslav Shtyrov
Personal details
Born(1937-11-13)13 November 1937[citation needed]
Oktyomtsy, Yakut ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Sakha Republic, Russia)
Died4 August 2023(2023-08-04) (aged 85)
Moscow, Russia
Resting placeOktyomtsy
Political party
SpouseDora Nikitichna Nikolaeva
Children3
Alma materOmsk State Agrarian University

Early life and education

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Mikhail Nikolayev was born in Oktyomtsy of the Ordzhonikidze district (modern Khangalassky District) of the Yakut Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. His parents were Yefim Fyodorovich Nikolayev and Maria Mikhaylovna Nikolayeva (maiden name — Kozlova). He graduated from the Omsk State Agrarian University in 1961.

Career

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Nikolayev began his career in 1961 after graduating from Omsk State Agrarian University as a veterinarian in the Zhigansky district. Then he switched to the Komsomol work: first secretary of the Zhigansky district Komsomol committee, head of the department of the Komsomol authority of the Yakutsk regional Komsomol committee, first secretary of the Yakutsk city committee of the Komsomol. He was member of the CPSU from 1963 until its ban in August 1991.[citation needed]

From 1969 to 1971, he studied at the Higher Party School at the Central Committee of the CPSU. From 1975 to 1979, Nikolayev was the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of YASSR. From 1979 to 1985, he served as the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic. This was the period when the republic came to the forefront of the Russian Federation in the production of agricultural products, and new and bold endeavours were undertaken in the meadow, seed production, and other areas. From 1985 to 1989 he was the Secretary of the Yakut Regional Committee of the CPSU, overseeing the issues of the agro-industrial complex.[citation needed]

 
Nikolayev (2nd from right) with Vladimir Putin during the latter's visit to the Sakha Republic

In December 1989, he was elected Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the YASSR. In April 1990, he was elected Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Yakut Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic IX – XI convocations and people's deputy of Yakutia of the XII convocation.

On 20 December 1991, Nikolayev was elected as the inaugural President of Yakutia, receiving 76.7% of the vote.[2] He was elected as a member of the anti-communist, Yakut nationalist Sakha Omuk party,[3] though he later grew distant from the party and came to oppose its aims, particularly those of the radical, pro-independence faction of the party.[4] On 16 January 1992, M.E. Nikolayev simultaneously headed the government of the republic. On 27 December 1991, the Yakut-Sakha Soviet Socialist Republic was renamed the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). In 1996, he was re-elected for a second term, gaining 58.96% of the vote.[citation needed]

Nikolayev was a member of the Federation Council of the first and second convocations. On 28 January 2002, he was appointed representative in the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation from the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Elected Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council. In February 2007, he was the President of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), V.A. Shtyrov, and was re-appointed M.E. Nikolayev as a representative of the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) to the Council of Federation. Nikolayev was a member of the Committee of the Council of the Federation on Social Policy, member of the Commission of the Council of the Federation to monitor the activities of the Council of Federation.[citation needed]

In December 2011, he was elected to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the VI convocation from United Russia. Member of the State Duma Committee on Regional Policy and the Problems of the North and the Far East.[citation needed]

By decision of the Head of the Republic Egor Borisov on 31 October,[when?] Mikhail Nikolayev was appointed a State Counselor of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in connection with the expiration of the powers of the deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.[citation needed]

Nikolayev was also the head of several public organizations. President of the International Public Movement "Eastern Dimension", President of the National Public Committee "Russian Family".[citation needed]

Personal life and death

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Nikolayev was married to Dora Nikitichna (née Sukharinova). They had three children, as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren.[citation needed]

Mikhail Nikolayev died in Moscow on 4 August 2023, at the age of 85.[5]

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ "Михаил Ефимович НИКОЛАЕВ", Члены Совета Федерации Федерального Собрания РФ, Government of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), archived from the original on 11 November 2007, retrieved 18 February 2010
  2. ^ Argunov, Ayaal (20 December 2021). "Рубрика "Кадр". В этот день 30 лет назад Михаил Николаев был избран президентом Якутии" [Photo Report: On this day 30 years ago, Mikhail Nikolayev was elected President of Yakutia]. Yasia (in Russian). Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  3. ^ Ibos, Caroline (January–June 1990). "Un exemple de bricolage identitaire dans l'espace post-soviétique : la république autonome de Yakoutie-Sakha" [An example of identity-building in the post-Soviet space: the autonomous republic of Yakutia-Sakha]. CEMOTI (in French) (27): 290 – via Persée.
  4. ^ Khazanov, Anatoly (3 December 1992). "Current Situation in Yakutia" (PDF). University of Pittsburgh Center for International Studies. p. 8. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  5. ^ Умер первый президент Якутии Михаил Николаев
  6. ^ Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 9 января 2008 года № 14
Preceded by
Office created
President of the Sakha Republic
1991–2002
Succeeded by