Born July 4, 1935 in the village Uakit Bauntovsky district, Buryatia. Russian.
Upon completion in 1959 of the Khabarovsk Institute of Railway Engineers worked at the Ulan-Ude plant lokomotivovagonoremontnom. Since 1968 - chief engineer of the plant.
In 1965, on the job he graduated from the Irkutsk Institute of National Economy. Ph.D. in Economics.
In 1976 went to party work. Since 1987 - Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Mary, and from January 1990 - Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Belorussian SSR.
. He was elected as Deputy of the Buryat ASSR.
. October 21, 1991 the Supreme Council of Buryatia
Potapova elected as its Chairman.
. In June 1993 he was elected people's deputy of Russia.
. 12 December 1993 was elected to the Federation Council of Russia.
. 30 June 1996 was elected President of the Republic of Buryatia.
. From 1996 until the post is a member of the Federation Council.
. June 21, 1998 was re-elected president of Buryatia.
. He is fluent Buryat language.
. Married with two children.
.
.
