Leonid Potapov

Leonid Vasilyevich Potapov was the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Buryatia from August 1991 to 1994, and then President of the Buryat Republic in Russia from July 1994 to July 2007. He was reelected three times ; in 2002 he received 68% of the vote.

Biography

Potapov was born in Uakit, Buryatia. In 1959 he graduated as an Engineer from Khabarovsk Institute of Railway Transport. From January to April 1990 he was nominal Vice President of Turkmen SSR. In April 1990 he returned to Buryatia and was nominated as a local communist party chief. In October 1991 he became Chairman of the Supreme Council.
He died from COVID-19 on 12 November 2020, aged 85.

Order "For Merit to the Fatherland";
* 3rd class - for outstanding contribution to strengthening Russian statehood and many years of diligent work
* 4th class - for outstanding contribution to the socio-economic development of the republic, strengthening friendship and cooperation between nations
Order of Friendship - for services to the state, achievements in work and significant contribution in strengthening friendship and cooperation among peoples and selfless actions in rescuing the dying
Order of the October Revolution
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Order of the Badge of Honour
Distinguished Engineer of the Buryat ASSR
Honorary citizen of the city of Ulan-Ude
Honorary Professor of the Buryat State University, Modern University for the Humanities, Irkutsk State University, Irkutsk State Technical University and the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics