Born February 5, 1951 in the village of New Verhissy Insar area Mordovskoi ASSR, Mordvin. The family had eight children.
In 1973 he graduated from Mordovia State University H. P. Ogareva specialty "engineer of electronic equipment.
In 1968 began working on the farm of combiner. XXI Congress of the CPSU Insar area.
. In 1977 - 86 - on the Komsomol.
. In 1986 - 92 - on party work.
. In 1992 - 95 - Chairman of the Property Fund Mordovia Soviet Socialist Republic.
. Co Mordva Economic Union in June 1992.
. Since 1993 - Member of the Board Mordovia Republican organization of the Agrarian Party of Russia.
. 27 November 1994 was elected to the National Assembly of the Republic of Mordovia.
. January 24, 1995 was elected chairman of the National Assembly.
. September 22, 1995 elected the head of the Republic of Mordovia.
. Member of the Federation Council of the second convocation
. Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council on economic policy.
. February 15, 1998 was elected President of the Republic of Mordovia.
. On May 20, 1998 - Deputy Representative of Russia in the Chamber of Regions of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe.
. From September 1998 - Member of the Presidium of the RF Government.
. 19 December 1999 was elected to the State Duma of the third convocation.
. From 1996 - Academician of International Informatization Academy.
. He has state awards.
. He is fond of playing billiards, chess, football, volleyball.
. Likes Russian folk songs.
. Wife -
Merkoushkin Taisia Stepanovna (1948)
. Sons, Alexander (1974) and Alex (1978).