Alexei Vladimirovich Stepanov is a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast of the VII convocation, elected in a single-member district[1] from United Russia[2]. He is General Director of the agricultural enterprise JSC "Ilyino-Zaborskoye"[1][6], and deputy chairman of the regional parliament's committee on the agro-industrial complex and rural development[7].

Biography

In the elections of 19 September 2016, Stepanov, who by then already headed JSC "Ilyino-Zaborskoye", was elected to the Council of Deputies of Semyonov Urban Okrug of the II convocation for District No. 17 from United Russia — with 89.94% of the vote according to preliminary election commission data[3]. By May 2021 he was chairman of that Council; on 27 May 2021 he was presented with an Honorary Diploma of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast for his contribution to the development of the agro-industrial complex[4].

Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast of the VII convocation were held on 17–19 September 2021[2]. Stepanov won in his single-member district, receiving 30,759 votes[1]; according to the parliament, all 25 single-member districts went to United Russia candidates[5].

Outside parliament

JSC "Ilyino-Zaborskoye" is an agricultural enterprise in the village of Ilyino-Zaborskoye: milk and meat, pedigree young cattle, and feed production[6]. In April 2022 the outlet "V Gorode N" reported a dairy herd of more than 600 head and a staff of 130[6]. The village has implemented a project under the state program "Integrated Development of Rural Territories" with a total cost of 194.5 million rubles, of which 161.5 million came from the federal budget: a modular gas boiler house and gas supply to residential homes, sewerage networks, a hockey rink, a renovated house of culture, a site for compact housing development of ten houses, and eight individual residential houses[11].

In September 2025 an agrotechnological class opened at the Ilyino-Zaborskoye school, with Stepanov's enterprise as its industrial partner[8]. On 18 December 2025, at a ceremony at the Rukavishnikov Estate Museum, Governor Gleb Nikitin and Legislative Assembly Chairman Evgeny Lyulin presented awards to Nizhny Novgorod residents: Stepanov was awarded the honorary title "Honorary Citizen of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast"[9][10].

In the Legislative Assembly

Stepanov sits on the committee on the agro-industrial complex and rural development[6]; by August 2025 he was the committee's deputy chairman[7]. On 14 April 2022 a field session of the Association of Representative Bodies of the Region's Municipal Districts, Municipal and Urban Okrugs under the Legislative Assembly was held in Ilyino-Zaborskoye, where he gave a report titled "Production is good, but people matter most"[6].

In September 2024 the Legislative Assembly's press service reported that Stepanov, accompanied by environmental specialists, inspected and assessed the operation of treatment facilities in Semyonov, the settlement of Sukhobezvodnoye, and the village of Ilyino-Zaborskoye[12]. In November 2024 the parliament reported the results of the XVII Spartakiad of the "Parlament" sports club in Arzamas: Stepanov took first place in swimming in his age group[13].

In May 2026 "V Gorode N", citing "Kommersant-Privolzhye", reported that the problems of pedigree livestock farms in selling cattle were discussed at a meeting of the regional parliament's agrarian committee: Stepanov explained that Nizhny Novgorod livestock farmers are forced to work under epizootic restrictions on the import and export of cattle, and, according to the lawmaker, the reasons for their introduction are known but are not openly discussed by the authorities[14]. In United Russia's preliminary vote of 25–31 May 2026 for District No. 24, Stepanov won with 5,832 votes[15].

Environmental complaints against the enterprise

On 15 January 2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod", citing a segment of the "Kstati" TV program, reported that the settlement had been flooded with manure from the local pedigree farm: residents claimed the enterprise was discharging waste into the Belbazh River. The chief engineer of JSC "Ilyino-Zaborskoye" stated that what flowed through the settlement was ordinary dark-colored water without animal waste[16]. On 16 January GIPERNN.RU reported the results of an inspection that the authorities organized on 15 January after residents' complaints: dark-colored meltwater was found in the enterprise's silage pits, and the matter concerned not manure but meltwater mixed with silage runoff, which had flowed toward the village along the natural slope; no instances of it entering the Belbazh River were established, and at the time of the inspection the enterprise was working to stop these waters from reaching the village[18]. On 18 January NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" reported, citing the Rosprirodnadzor administration, that no complaints had been received from residents of the settlement, and that inspectors were conducting a preliminary review[17].

Sources

  1. Nizhegorodskaya Pravda — 25 deputies elected to the regional parliament via single-member districts of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (23.09.2021) (archive)
  2. Nizhegorodskaya Pravda — Names of 50 Nizhny Novgorod residents who became deputies of the VII convocation Legislative Assembly announced (29.09.2021) (archive)
  3. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — One candidate from the Party of Growth, two each from the CPRF and LDPR, and 24 United Russia members elected to the Council of Deputies of Semyonov Urban Okrug, II convocation (20.09.2016) (archive)
  4. V Gorode N — Awards presented to regional benefactors at the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (27.05.2021) (archive)
  5. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Names published of Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast deputies of the VII convocation who won single-member districts (23.09.2021) (archive)
  6. V Gorode N — Evgeny Lyulin: "Ilyino-Zaborskoye is an example of how to comprehensively develop rural territories" (15.04.2022) (archive)
  7. V Gorode N — Evgeny Lyulin noted that practical cooperation in the agro-industrial sector strengthens both Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and Belarus (14.08.2025) (archive)
  8. V Gorode N — 12 new agrotechnological classes have appeared in Nizhny Novgorod schools (04.09.2025) (archive)
  9. Nizhegorodskaya Pravda — Gleb Nikitin presented awards to 33 figures for their contribution to the region's development (18.12.2025) (archive)
  10. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — 33 Nizhny Novgorod residents honored for outstanding contribution to the region's development (19.12.2025) (archive)
  11. Nizhegorodskaya Pravda — Large-scale development project for the village of Ilyino-Zaborskoye in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast implemented under the state program "Integrated Development of Rural Territories" (09.12.2021) (archive)
  12. V Gorode N — Nizhny Novgorod deputy assessed the operation of treatment facilities in Semyonov Okrug (06.09.2024) (archive)
  13. V Gorode N — Legislative Assembly swim team becomes absolute winner of the XVII "Parlament" Sports Club Spartakiad (17.11.2024) (archive)
  14. V Gorode N — Nizhny Novgorod livestock farmers complain of problems selling cattle (20.05.2026, citing "Kommersant-Privolzhye") (archive)
  15. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Results of United Russia's preliminary vote summed up in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (01.06.2026)
  16. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Pedigree farm floods settlement with manure in Semyonov Okrug (15.01.2025) (archive)
  17. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Residents of Ilyino-Zaborskoye settlement did not file complaints with Rosprirodnadzor about the pedigree farm (18.01.2025) (archive)
  18. GIPERNN — Nizhny Novgorod farm tries to stop settlement being flooded by foul-smelling streams (16.01.2025) (archive)