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Pavel Grudinin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In this name that follows East Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Nikolayevich and the family name is Grudinin.
Pavel Grudinin
Павел Грудинин
Grudinin in 2018
Member of the Moscow Oblast Duma
In office
14 December 1997 – 15 October 2011
Personal details
Born
Pavel Nikolayevich Grudinin

(1960-10-20) 20 October 1960 (age 64)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations
Spouse
Irina Igorevna Grudinina
​
​
(div. 2018)​
Children4
Alma materMoscow State Agroengineering University
Occupation
  • Politician
  • Businessman

Pavel Nikolayevich Grudinin (Russian: Павел Николаевич Грудинин; born 20 October 1960) is a Russian politician and businessman. He served as a municipal deputy of the urban settlement of Vidnoye from 1997 to 2011 and later as chairman of the Council of Deputies from 2017 to 2019.[1][2][3]

Grudinin was the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) candidate in the 2018 Russian presidential election, held on 18 March. He placed second with 11.77% of the vote, losing to incumbent president Vladimir Putin, who secured re-election with 76.7%.[4]

Early life and family

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Grudinin was born in Moscow on 20 October 1960 to Nikolai Konstantinovich Grudinin and Serafima Zinovievna Grudinina (née Pishchik), both agricultural workers. His parents met while studying at the Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy and were assigned in 1961 to work at the Lenin Sovkhoz in Leninsky District, Moscow Oblast.[5][6] Grudinin claimed that his extended family, including his sister, grandmother, son, aunts, uncles, and cousins, all worked at the same sovkhoz in various roles, forming a "dynasty" that collectively contributed "over 250 years of work" there.[7]

His paternal grandparents originated from Vologda Governorate, with his father born in Gryazovetsky District and raised in Vologda.[7] His maternal grandfather was Jewish, from Volgograd Oblast, and later moved to Leningrad, where he married an ethnic Russian woman. He served as a tank commander during World War II (referred to in Russia as the Great Patriotic War) and was declared missing in action in 1944.[8] Grudinin identifies ethnically as Russian[9] and adheres to Russian Orthodoxy, though he has criticized the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) for its "interference in temporal affairs".[10][11]

Education and career

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After graduating from school in 1977, Grudinin enrolled at the Moscow State Agroengineering University, earning a degree in mechanical engineering in 1982.[12] He then began working at the Lenin Sovkhoz, where his family had long been employed. From 1982 to 1989, he served as head of the mechanical workshop, followed by a role as deputy director from 1990 to 1995. In 1995, he became general director of the newly privatized ZAO "Lenin State Farm" (a closed joint-stock company), acquiring a blocking stake in the enterprise.[13][14]

Grudinin has described the farm as a "socialist enterprise" focused on producing dairy, fruits, and vegetables.[15][16][17] Under his leadership, the farm expanded its community services, providing residents with access to healthcare, education, and other social programs.[16][17][18]

Political career

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Grudinin was elected three times as a deputy of the Moscow Oblast Duma, serving from 1997 to 2011. In 2001, he earned a degree in jurisprudence from the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation.

In 2017, he became a municipal deputy of the urban settlement of Vidnoye. On 9 October 2017, he was elected speaker of the Council of Deputies but was removed from the role on 14 February 2019.[19] Twelve days later, on 26 February 2019, the council dismissed him from his position as deputy entirely.[20]

Following the death of Zhores Alferov, a Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) member in the State Duma, the CPRF nominated Grudinin to fill the vacant seat on 14 March 2019.[21] However, the Central Election Commission (CEC) blocked his appointment on 21 March, citing undisclosed foreign financial accounts. The CPRF condemned the decision,[22] and nationwide protests organized by Communist supporters on 23 March included demands for Grudinin's reinstatement.[23]

On 24 July 2021, the CEC barred Grudinin from participating in the 2021 Russian legislative election, alleging he owned shares in a Belize-registered company—a violation of Russian electoral laws prohibiting parliamentary candidates from holding offshore assets. Grudinin denied the accusations, stating, "The [Communist] Party is an opposition party... Someone is afraid of the impact a coalition of left-wing forces could achieve." CPRF leader Gennady Zyuganov pledged to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.[24]

2018 presidential campaign

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Main articles: Pavel Grudinin 2018 presidential campaign and 2018 Russian presidential election
2018 Presidential campaign logo

On 23 December 2017, at the XVII Congress of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), Pavel Grudinin was nominated as the party's presidential candidate.[25] CPRF leader Gennady Zyuganov was appointed to head his campaign headquarters.[26]

Grudinin's nomination drew criticism from prominent left-wing figures, including Sergey Mironov (A Just Russia), Maxim Suraykin (Communists of Russia), and political analyst Boris Kagarlitsky.[27][28][29] Critics argued that his background as a businessman and former member of United Russia (2001–2010) conflicted with communist ideology opposing the "bourgeois class." Controversy intensified after reports revealed undisclosed foreign bank accounts linked to Grudinin, which he attributed to "technical errors" in financial disclosures.[30][31]

During the campaign, Grudinin visited 11 federal subjects alongside his home region of Moscow Oblast, holding rallies, press conferences, and tours of local enterprises to emphasize economic and social welfare platforms.

In the election held on 18 March 2018, Grudinin placed second with 11.8% of the vote, behind incumbent president Vladimir Putin, who secured re-election with 76.7%.

2024 presidential candidacy

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Main article: 2024 Russian presidential election

On 14 November 2019, Grudinin announced his intention to run for president in the 2024 Russian presidential election. As part of his platform, he pledged to dissolve the State Duma, hold snap parliamentary elections, and nationalize assets obtained through illegal means.

Grudinin stated he would seek the nomination of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF). However, he added that if the party selected another candidate, he would support their bid instead.[32][33]

Personal life

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Grudinin was married and has two adult sons from the marriage.[34][35]

On 16 July 2018, he divorced his wife, Irina, via court proceedings. Reports cited Grudinin's adultery as the grounds for divorce, alleging he had concealed a long-term extramarital relationship and maintained a second family. Grudinin was reportedly in a relationship with Ksenia Kutyukhina, with whom he has two daughters born in 2012 and 2014.[36]

Electoral history

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Main article: Electoral history of Pavel Grudinin

2018 presidential election

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Results of Pavel Grudinin by federal subjects
Candidates Party Votes %
Vladimir Putin Independent 56,430,712 76.69
Pavel Grudinin Communist Party 8,659,206 11.77
Vladimir Zhirinovsky Liberal Democratic Party 4,154,985 5.65
Ksenia Sobchak Civic Initiative 1,238,031 1.68
Grigory Yavlinsky Yabloko 769,644 1.05
Boris Titov Party of Growth 556,801 0.76
Maxim Suraykin Communists of Russia 499,342 0.68
Sergey Baburin Russian All-People's Union 479,013 0.65
Source: CEC

Awards and titles

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Grudinin has received the following honors:

References

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  1. ^ "Директор Совхоза им. В.И. Ленина Павел Грудинин: Мы стали заложниками формулы". kprf.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  2. ^ Грудинина убрали с поста председателя совета депутатов Видного
  3. ^ Закат политической карьеры Грудинина: Совет депутатов Видного лишил его мандата
  4. ^ "Кандидатом в президенты от КПРФ станет не Геннадий Зюганов, а Павел Грудинин". Meduza (in Russian). Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  5. ^ A Fairy Tale Comes True Archived 14 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine article from Sovetskaya Rossiya, 1 August 2017 (in Russian)
  6. ^ Russian Presidential Candidate Pavel Grudinin – A Self-made Man at Promdevelop.ru database of Russian and CIS industries (in Russian with built-in Google Translate)
  7. ^ a b Grudinin: Stalin is our greatest leader of the past 100 years interview to Yury Dud, 6 February 2018 (in Russian)
  8. ^ A List of Losses scan at OBD Memorial (in Russian)
  9. ^ Интервью с Павлом Грудининым, 23 December 2017
  10. ^ Pavel Grudinin's meeting with electorate in Nizhny Novgorod, 38:00, at the Red Line online TV (in Russian)
  11. ^ Pavel Grudinin: "I'm a project of my parents, not Kremlin" interview at the Free Press online newspaper, 26 February 2018 (in Russian)
  12. ^ "Земляника – ягода победы" (in Russian). 12 November 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  13. ^ Красный капиталист: почему КПРФ выдвинула в президенты Павла Грудинина
  14. ^ "Музей клоунов заработал в совхозе имени Ленина". Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Rich Communist in Kremlin race offers 'strawberry' socialism". France 24. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  16. ^ a b Weir, Fred (6 September 2017). "In capitalist Russia, a socialist garden flourishes". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  17. ^ a b Lowe, Thomas (7 March 2018). "Russia's Communist party candidate Pavel Grudinin is proving too popular for the Kremlin's liking". ABC News. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Life at the Lenin Sovkhoz, Home to Russia's New Capitalist Communist Party Leader". The Moscow Times. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  19. ^ Совет депутатов Видного снял с должности председателя Грудинина
  20. ^ Политическая карьера Грудинина окончена
  21. ^ "Грудинин получит депутатский мандат Жореса Алферова" (in Russian). РИА Новости. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  22. ^ Ведомости (21 March 2019). "ЦИК отказался передать Грудинину мандат депутата Госдумы". Ведомости. www.vedomosti.ru. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  23. ^ "В Москве и других городах проходят акции коммунистов за права граждан". Радио Свобода. 23 March 2019.
  24. ^ "Russia: Communist Grudinin barred from parliamentary election". dw.com. 24 July 2021.
  25. ^ Съезд КПРФ утвердил кандидатуру Грудинина на выборах президента РФ
  26. ^ Зюганов возглавит предвыборный штаб Грудинина
  27. ^ "КПРФ совершает огромную ошибку: Сурайкин о выдвижении Грудинина". Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  28. ^ Миронов считает выдвижение Грудинина на выборы политической ошибкой
  29. ^ Кагарлицкий: Выдвижение Грудинина привело к расколу левых
  30. ^ ЦИК: Грудинин избавился от иностранных ценных бумаг стоимостью 7,5 млрд рублей
  31. ^ Политолог: Почему Грудинину пришлось лично ехать в Австрию, чтобы закрыть «транзитный счет»?
  32. ^ "Грудинин объявил, что будет баллотироваться в президенты в 2024 году". Daily Storm. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  33. ^ "Грудинин будет участвовать в следующих выборах президента". Федерал Пресс. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  34. ^ Кто такой Павел Грудинин
  35. ^ Зюганов видит лучшим кандидатом в президенты Грудинина
  36. ^ Жена Грудинина рассказала о разводе после 37 лет брака
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Preceded by Communist Party presidential candidate
2018 		Succeeded by
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