Born April 3, 1934 in Vladikavkaz, in the family servant, the Ossetians.
In 1957 he graduated from the North-Caucasian Mining and Metallurgical Institute in 1973 - correspondence postgraduate AON of the Central Committee. Candidate of Historical Sciences, Doctor of Political Sciences.
Since 1957 - at the Komsomol.
In 1963 - 64 was the leader of a group of young Soviet specialists in the Republic of Cuba. Worked together with Fidel Castro and Ernesto Che Guevara, as well as the future vice-chairman of PACE Miguel Martinez.
. In 1964 - 65 - Soviet representative to the International Preparatory Committee of the IX World Youth Festival in Algeria
. In 1965 - 66 - Executive Secretary of the Committee of Youth Organizations (DMOs) of the USSR, in 1966 - 67 - Deputy, First Deputy Chairman of the ERC of the USSR.
. In 1967 - 86 - in various positions in the Soviet Committee for Solidarity with Asian and African countries.
. In 1986 - 88 - Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the USSR in the Syrian Arab Republic.
. From 1988 to 1990 - first secretary of the North Ossetian regional committee of the CPSU.
. In 1989 was elected deputy of the USSR.
. September 27, 1992 the by-election was elected people's deputy of the USSR.
. 12 December 1993 was elected to the State Duma
. December 8, 1995 waived parliamentary powers.
. From December 1995 to February 1998 - Member of the State Duma of the second convocation.
. January 18, 1998, was elected President of the Republic of North Ossetia.
. In the spring of 1998 - Member of the Federation Council.
. He was awarded orders and medals.
. Married
. Two sons - Sergei and Taimuraz, granddaughter of Madinah. Sergey - Ph.D. in History, Deputy Director General of JSC "Svyazinvest".