Alexander Vladimirovich Tsopov (born June 6, 1960) is a Nizhny Novgorod surgeon and politician, a deputy of the VII convocation of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, elected on the "United Russia" party list[2][3]. He is deputy chairman of the committee on social affairs and belongs to the "United Russia" faction[1]. He has headed hospitals in Arzamas and Kstovo[3][8], and in 2024–2025 headed a hospital in Khartsyzsk (DNR)[11].

Biography

He was born on June 6, 1960, in the city of Arzamas (disambiguation) in Gorky Oblast[3]. In 1983 he graduated from the Gorky Medical Institute named after S. M. Kirov, specializing in "General Medicine"[3][4]. He began his career as an intern physician, worked as a surgeon until 1998, and from 1998 to 2011 headed the M. F. Vladimirsky City Hospital in Arzamas[3].

In 2011–2012 he was vice-rector of the Nizhny Novgorod Medical Academy (now PIMU), in 2012–2013 he headed the Navashino Central District Hospital, and in 2013–2017 he was chief specialist for innovation and educational activities at NizhGMA[3]. From 2017 to 2021 he was chief physician of the central district hospital in the town of Kstovo[3], after which he continued working there as a surgeon[4][9][12]. From 2000 to 2020 he was elected deputy of the Arzamas City Duma for the III–VI convocations[3]; he was twice elected deputy of the regional Legislative Assembly[4].

Outside parliament

In August 2022, Tsopov headed the board of the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Public Organization "Medical Chamber," a territorial branch of the National Medical Chamber[12]. According to the "Declarator" project, his declared income for 2020 amounted to about 1.76 million rubles[15].

On June 13, 2024, Yevgeny Lyulin, chairman of the Nizhny Novgorod parliament, announced at an extraordinary session that Tsopov had taken charge of a hospital in Khartsyzsk (DNR) and did not intend to give up his deputy powers[4]. In an AiF-NN publication dated April 18, 2025, about a trip by Legislative Assembly deputies to the DNR and LNR, Tsopov was quoted on humanitarian aid to the Khartsyzsk hospital: "Your heart fills with warmth when you see how a common goal changes people's lives here, in Khartsyzsk"[10].

In August 2026, Nizhny Novgorod media reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had awarded Tsopov the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland," 2nd class medal[8][9]. According to the IA "Nizhny Novgorod" news agency, the award was given "for achieved labor successes and many years of conscientious work"[8].

In the Legislative Assembly

He served in the regional parliament during the IV and VII convocations[6][7]. On April 12, 2006, at the first meeting of the committee on ecology and environmental management, he was elected deputy chairman of the committee[5]. He entered the VII convocation of the Legislative Assembly on the "United Russia" list as leader of regional group No. 20, which received 46.43% of the vote; the party announced the distribution of mandates on September 27, 2021[2].

On July 23, 2025, the committee on social affairs elected Tsopov as deputy chairman[6], and on July 31 the deputies granted him these powers on a permanent basis effective August 4, 2025[6][7]. In May 2022, commenting on cholera prevention measures, he said that "the current prevention measures are absolutely timely and appropriate"[13]. In a ranking of deputy influence published by "Nizhny Seychas" on August 20, 2026, Tsopov was placed in the "medium influence" group[1].

Incident at Kstovo Hospital

In May 2021, while Tsopov headed the Kstovo Central District Hospital, the Nizhny Novgorod Telegram channel "Nizhny No. 1" published a video, filmed on a mobile phone by a Kstovo resident, showing a disabled man being taken home on a hospital gurney; according to the woman, her husband had not been hospitalized and no vehicle had been provided for the trip back[14]. Chief physician Alexander Tsopov visited the patient at home and expressed regret over what had happened; according to his explanation, there had been no indications for hospitalization, the patient and his wife had not insisted on hospitalization, and the deputy chief physician had called a medical transport vehicle to take the patient home: "While waiting for the transport, the patient's relative, by her own account, decided to take the patient home on the gurney herself"[14]. The regional Minister of Health ordered an inquiry into the situation, and the Kstovo City Prosecutor's Office organized a review of compliance with citizens' rights in the provision of medical care; the regional prosecutor's office said at the time: "Based on the results of the review, if grounds are found, prosecutorial response measures will be taken"[14].

Sources

  1. Nizhny Seychas — Deputy Influence Ranking of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast — 2026 (August 20, 2026)
  2. Nizhny Seychas — Gleb Nikitin and Alexander Shchelokov Renounce Their Mandates to the Nizhny Novgorod Legislative Assembly (September 27, 2021)
  3. ideputat.er.ru — Voter — Deputy — Alexander Vladimirovich Tsopov: deputy profile
  4. Kommersant (Volga region) — Kommersant Nizhny Novgorod — Nizhny Novgorod Deputy Alexander Tsopov Takes Charge of Hospital in DNR (June 13, 2024) (archive)
  5. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Alexander Tsopov, Alexander Timofeyev, and Dmitry Malukhin Elected Deputy Chairmen of the Committee on Ecology and Environmental Management of the Legislative Assembly (April 12, 2006) (archive)
  6. nn.aif.ru — AiF-Nizhny Novgorod — Alexander Tsopov Becomes Deputy Chairman of the Social Affairs Committee of the Legislative Assembly (July 31, 2025) (archive)
  7. nnews.nnov.ru — Alexander Tsopov Granted Powers of Deputy Chairman of the Regional Parliament's Social Affairs Committee on a Permanent Basis (July 31, 2025)
  8. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Vladimir Putin Awards Nizhny Novgorod Deputy for Merit to the Fatherland (August 5, 2026) (archive)
  9. Vremya N — Nizhny Novgorod Physician and Deputy Alexander Tsopov Awarded a Medal (August 5, 2026) (archive)
  10. nn.aif.ru — AiF-Nizhny Novgorod — The Lights of Khartsyzsk. Legislative Assembly Deputies Visit the DNR and LNR (April 18, 2025)
  11. Nizhny Seychas — 50 Shades of Not-Quite-White. What the VII Convocation of Regional Assembly Deputies Will Be Remembered For (April 21, 2026)
  12. nacmedpalata.ru — National Medical Chamber — Information on the Working Meeting of August 17, 2022 (archive)
  13. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Alexander Tsopov: "Cholera Prevention Measures Are Absolutely Timely and Appropriate" (May 18, 2022) (archive)
  14. RIA Novosti — Nizhny Novgorod Region to Investigate Why a Disabled Man Was Taken Home on a Gurney (May 19, 2021) (archive)
  15. declarator.org — Declarator — Alexander Vladimirovich Tsopov — official declarations (archive)