On September 7, 2026, it became known that Denis Ryabinin, Deputy Minister of Transport and Roads of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, was leaving government service to become General Director of LLC "JV Nizhekotrans" — a joint Russian-Belarusian enterprise producing MiNiN trams and electric buses.[1][2]

Circumstances of the appointment

Ryabinin had served as Deputy Minister of Transport and Roads of Nizhny Novgorod Region since July 2022. Before joining the ministry, he had held senior positions at JSC Volgo-Vyatskaya Suburban Passenger Company.[1][3] At the ministry, he was responsible for public transport development and served as one of the public faces of Nizhny Novgorod's transport reform.[3]

His resignation letter was submitted with a termination date of September 11, 2026. The regional government confirmed the transition: "It is planned that Denis Ryabinin will continue to work within structures connected to the development of public transport in Nizhny Novgorod Region."[2][4]

Background: Nizhekotrans and expansion plans

LLC "JV Nizhekotrans" was established in late 2022. By the time of Ryabinin's appointment, the company was completing a major contract to renew rolling stock in Nizhny Novgorod: the delivery of 170 trams, including 26 three-section units, and 62 electric buses — with a completion deadline by the end of Q3 2026. The company was also supplying tram cars to Krasnodar.[4]

Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin announced during a meeting with the President of Russia his intention to develop production of other types of public transport at Nizhekotrans, in addition to trams.[1][2] The new project envisions restarting production at the Kulibin special economic zone in Dzerzhinsk, establishing robotized assembly lines, and expanding the product range to include hybrid and electric passenger transport.[4]

Sources

  1. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Deputy Head of the Ministry of Transport Denis Ryabinin to head Nizhekotrans (archive)
  2. Vremya N — Denis Ryabinin leaves post of Deputy Minister of Transport of Nizhny Novgorod Region (archive)
  3. Newsroom24 — Denis Ryabinin to leave the Nizhny Novgorod Ministry of Transport and head Nizhekotrans
  4. Biznes News. Vremya Zarabatyvat — Denis Ryabinin leaves the Ministry of Transport to lead the company Nizhekotrans — Business News. Vremya…
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