Vladimir Nikolaevich Pakov (born March 3, 1970, Rostov, Yaroslavl Oblast)[2][12] is a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast of the VII convocation (2021-2026), chairman of the committee on state power, local self-government and rules of procedure; elected on the "United Russia" list[12], member of the party's faction[1]. Colonel, full holder of the Order of Courage[3][12]; in 2014-2021 he was the military commissar (voenkom) of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast[2][5]. His committee was the lead committee when the Kstovo municipal district was merged into Nizhny Novgorod[7] and when a new scheme of 25 single-member constituencies, designed to last ten years, was adopted[10].

Biography

He was born on March 3, 1970, in Rostov, Yaroslavl Oblast.[2][12] In 1987 he graduated there from secondary school No. 1 (now the A. L. Kekin Gymnasium).[4] In July 1991 he graduated from the M. V. Frunze Omsk Higher Combined Arms Command School.[2] He commanded a special forces reconnaissance and airborne company; he received his colonel's shoulder boards at 34.[4]

In July 1995 he was sent to Chechnya as commander of a reconnaissance company: a three-month posting stretched to March 1996. In September 1999 he took part in the second Chechen campaign. At the end of 1999, when the reconnaissance troops of his unit fell into an ambush near the village of Duba-Yurt, Pakov, then still a major, took responsibility and manned two officer tank crews, whose fire covered the reconnaissance troops. He was wounded twice across the two campaigns; he is a full holder of the Order of Courage.[3] He was awarded the medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" with swords, and in 2025 the Order of Honor.[12]

He has lived in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast since 1996. He has been a member of "United Russia" since 2011 and sits on the presidium of the regional branch's political council; since 2002 he has served on the regional pardons commission. He is married, with a daughter, Irina (born 1992). He names patriotic upbringing of young people and work with servicemen as his main themes.[6]

Outside parliament

From 2000 he headed the Nizhny Novgorod aeroclub; according to his home gymnasium, during his years running the club more than 1,200 parachutists were trained.[4] From December 30, 2009 to October 2014 he was chairman of the regional branch of DOSAAF Russia for Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. In October 2014 he was appointed military commissar of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast; the post fell vacant after the previous voenkom, Sergei Mishanin, took his own life in July 2014.[2]

Pakov headed the commissariat for about seven years and resigned of his own accord — this was reported on October 1, 2021; the departure was linked to his moving into permanent work in the regional parliament, and the voenkom's duties passed to his deputy, Sergei Smirnov.[5] In September 2022, now as a deputy and former voenkom, he visited Mulino, where mobilized men from Nizhny Novgorod Oblast were stationed, and spoke about their living conditions: "There are no domestic problems at all — they sleep in warm barracks, everyone is well fed."[11]

In the Legislative Assembly

Pakov became a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast in 2016, combining the mandate with his post as voenkom, and was re-elected in the September 2021 election.[6][5] In the VII convocation (2021-2026) he was elected on the "United Russia" list and headed the committee on state power, local self-government and rules of procedure — the lead committee for electoral law, municipal structure, and the status of deputies themselves. His constituency office operates in Kstovo, on Lenin Square.[12]

On January 29, 2026, the Legislative Assembly adopted a new scheme of 25 single-member constituencies, designed to last ten years; it was used to prepare for the 2026 regional parliament elections. Pakov, as chairman of the lead committee, explained that work on the document had been carried out jointly with experts and representatives of the municipalities, and that the adopted scheme would help distribute the load on election commissions evenly and make voting day convenient for voters.[10]

The committee also handles support for participants in combat operations. In May 2026 Pakov reported that more than 70 percent of the region's veterans of the war in Ukraine were already employed, listed the programs "Create Your SVO Career," "Your Own Business," and "Heroes. Nizhny Novgorod Oblast," and cited figures from the regional center for unmanned aircraft systems — about 20 organizations, more than 2,500 drones produced, and 566 specialists trained in 2025.[1]

Controversial decisions

On March 27, 2025, the Legislative Assembly, unanimously and without hearing a report, adopted a law merging the Kstovo municipal district into Nizhny Novgorod. Pakov, as chairman of the lead committee, said the municipalities had made an important decision that should speed up development in Kstovo, and that a shared budget would make it possible to more effectively fund the construction of schools, roads, and social facilities. Before the vote, residents of Kstovo had drafted an open letter to the deputies asking them to abandon the merger, fearing that utility rates would rise; this did not affect the outcome of the vote.[7] In February 2025, 25 honorary citizens of Kstovo came out against the merger, appealing to the State Duma and the Federation Council: they pointed to the district's remoteness (75 km from the village of Achapnoye to Nizhny Novgorod), to the loss of the district's own budget, government bodies and symbols, and demanded a referendum.[13]

On July 28, 2025, Pakov's committee recommended for adoption, and on July 31 the Legislative Assembly adopted, a law on liability for begging and accosting citizens in public places. Offenders are to be prosecuted under the article on minor hooliganism (Article 20.1 of the Administrative Offenses Code), with a fine of 500-1,000 rubles or arrest for up to 15 days — if the begging disturbs public order; the law covers costumed street performers who grab passersby, but not volunteers and charitable organizations collecting donations with permission.[9] Pakov justified the initiative by noting that federal law provides no separate liability for begging, except in cases involving minors. Speaker Yevgeny Lyulin linked the law to hospitality and tourism.[8]

Sources

  1. Vremya N — Pakov: Nizhny Novgorod Oblast provides comprehensive support for our heroes and develops defense technologies (archive)
  2. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Vladimir Pakov appointed new military commissar of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (archive)
  3. Vremya N — Pakov: duty is to defend the Motherland (archive)
  4. gim-kekina.edu.yar.ru — A. L. Kekin Gymnasium (Rostov) — Vladimir Nikolaevich Pakov, gymnasium graduate (archive)
  5. nn.aif.ru — "AiF — Nizhny Novgorod" — Vladimir Pakov leaves post of military commissar of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (archive)
  6. MK — Nizhny Novgorod — "MK in Nizhny Novgorod" — Vladimir Nikolaevich Pakov (archive)
  7. NN.RU — Kstovo district merged with Nizhny Novgorod: deputies adopt law (archive)
  8. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Residents of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast to face fines for begging in public places (archive)
  9. Nizhny Seychas — Legislative Assembly's state power committee backs penalty for accosting citizens (archive)
  10. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Legislative Assembly adopts new scheme of single-member constituencies for the next 10 years (archive)
  11. Nizhegorodskaya Pravda — Fighting spirit: how mobilization is proceeding in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (archive)
  12. ideputat.er.ru — "Voter — Deputy" — Vladimir Nikolaevich Pakov — deputy profile (archive)
  13. Nizhny Seychas — 25 outraged honorary citizens of Kstovo: appeal to the State Duma and Federation Council against merger with Nizhny (archive)