Alexey Anatolyevich Antonov (born 6 July 1979, Gorky) is a Nizhny Novgorod politician and political consultant, a deputy of the Regional Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast of the 7th convocation (since 2021), and since January 2024 deputy chairman of the ZSNO and leader of the "United Russia" faction [1][3]. Before entering parliament he headed the regional executive committee of "United Russia" for many years and ran election campaigns as a political consultant [2][6]. In the 2026 influence rating of ZSNO deputies compiled by the news agency "Nizhny Seychas", he is among the top five [4].

Biography

He was born on 6 July 1979 in Gorky. In 2009 he graduated from the Volga-Vyatka Academy of State Service with a degree in "state and municipal administration", and in 2013 completed a master's programme in "sociology" at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration [1][8].

From the late 1990s he worked as a political consultant on election campaigns at various levels [3]: in 2014 he was chief political strategist of the city election headquarters of "United Russia" in Khabarovsk, and in 2016 deputy head of the regional election headquarters for the elections to the State Duma and the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast [7].

Outside parliament

On 14 February 2017 he was appointed acting head, and subsequently confirmed as head, of the regional executive committee of the Nizhny Novgorod branch of "United Russia" [2][6][7]. After being elected deputy chairman of the ZSNO he continued to head the executive committee concurrently; in October 2024 he did not rule out leaving that post, explaining this by the need to "concentrate on one thing" [5]. He also holds the position of deputy secretary of the regional party branch for work with deputies and deputy associations [1][8].

In the Legislative Assembly

He has been a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast of the 7th convocation since 2021 [1]. On 25 January 2024, at a ZSNO session, he was elected deputy chairman of the Legislative Assembly (Lyudmila Burkova of the KPRF became the second deputy chairman at the same time) and took over as leader of the "United Russia" faction [3].

He is a member of the committee on state authority of the oblast, local self-government and standing orders, and of the committee on transport and road infrastructure [1]. In the 2026 influence rating of ZSNO deputies by the news agency "Nizhny Seychas" he placed 5th in the "strong influence" group: experts group him, along with second deputy chairman Bakiyev, among experienced apparatchiks, one of whom, by "outlasting" one more convocation, could become the speaker's successor [4].

What remains to be clarified

The method of his election in 2021 (single-mandate constituency or party list), as well as the claim that in 2021–2024 Antonov was deputy leader of the "United Russia" faction, is not confirmed either by openly available sources or by the archived copy of his ZSNO profile. Judging by the party's website, where his tenure as head of the executive committee is dated 2017–2024, he left that post in 2024 [8].

Sources

  1. Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast — Antonov Alexey Anatolyevich — deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (archive)
  2. Kommersant (Volga region) — Alexey Antonov confirmed as head of the executive committee of the Nizhny Novgorod regional branch of "United Russia" (archive)
  3. nnews.nnov.ru — Alexey Antonov and Lyudmila Burkova elected deputy chairmen of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (archive)
  4. Nizhny Seychas — Influence rating of ZSNO deputies
  5. Nizhny Seychas — Antonov did not rule out leaving his post as head of the executive committee of the Nizhny Novgorod branch of "United Russia"
  6. nn.rbc.ru — RBC Nizhny Novgorod — Alexey Antonov heads the executive committee of the Nizhny Novgorod branch of "United Russia" (archive)
  7. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Biographical note: Antonov Alexey Anatolyevich
  8. nnov.er.ru — United Russia, Nizhny Novgorod regional branch — Antonov Alexey Anatolyevich — profile on the regional branch website (archive)