Pavel Nikolayevich Grudinin (; born 20 October 1960) is a Russian politician and businessman. He served as a municipal deputy of the urban settlement of Vidnoye from 1997 to 2011 and later as chairman of the Council of Deputies from 2017 to 2019.Грудинина убрали с поста председателя совета депутатов ВидногоЗакат политической карьеры Грудинина: Совет депутатов Видного лишил его мандата
Grudinin was the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) candidate in the 2018 Russian presidential election, held on 18 March. He placed second with 11.77% of the vote, losing to incumbent president Vladimir Putin, who secured re-election with 76.7%.
Early life and family Grudinin was born in Moscow on 20 October 1960 to Nikolai Konstantinovich Grudinin and Serafima Zinovievna Grudinina (née Pishchik), both agricultural workers. His parents met while studying at the Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy and were assigned in 1961 to work at the Lenin Sovkhoz in Leninsky District, Moscow Oblast.A Fairy Tale Comes True article from Sovetskaya Rossiya, 1 August 2017 (in Russian)Russian Presidential Candidate Pavel Grudinin – A Self-made Man at Promdevelop.ru database of Russian and CIS industries (in Russian with built-in Google Translate) Grudinin claimed that his extended family, including his sister, grandmother, son, aunts, uncles, and cousins, all worked at the same sovkhoz in various roles, forming a "dynasty" that collectively contributed "over 250 years of work" there.Grudinin: Stalin is our greatest leader of the past 100 years interview to Yury Dud, 6 February 2018 (in Russian)
His paternal grandparents originated from Vologda Governorate, with his father born in Gryazovetsky District and raised in Vologda. His maternal grandfather was Jewish, from Volgograd Oblast, and later moved to Leningrad, where he married an ethnic Russian woman. He served as a tank commander during World War II (referred to in Russia as the Great Patriotic War) and was declared missing in action in 1944.A List of Losses scan at OBD Memorial (in Russian) Grudinin identifies ethnically as RussianИнтервью с Павлом Грудининым, 23 December 2017 and adheres to Russian Orthodoxy, though he has criticized the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) for its "interference in temporal affairs".Pavel Grudinin's meeting with electorate in Nizhny Novgorod, 38:00, at the Red Line online TV (in Russian)Pavel Grudinin: "I'm a project of my parents, not Kremlin" interview at the Free Press online newspaper, 26 February 2018 (in Russian)
Education and career After graduating from school in 1977, Grudinin enrolled at the Moscow State Agroengineering University, earning a degree in mechanical engineering in 1982. He then began working at the Lenin Sovkhoz, where his family had long been employed. From 1982 to 1989, he served as head of the mechanical workshop, followed by a role as deputy director from 1990 to 1995. In 1995, he became general director of the newly privatized ZAO "Lenin State Farm" (a closed joint-stock company), acquiring a blocking stake in the enterprise.Красный капиталист: почему КПРФ выдвинула в президенты Павла Грудинина
Grudinin has described the farm as a "socialist enterprise" focused on producing dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Under his leadership, the farm expanded its community services, providing residents with access to healthcare, education, and other social programs.
Political career Grudinin was elected three times as a deputy of the Moscow Oblast Duma, serving from 1997 to 2011. In 2001, he earned a degree in jurisprudence from the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation.
In 2017, he became a municipal deputy of the urban settlement of Vidnoye. On 9 October 2017, he was elected speaker of the Council of Deputies but was removed from the role on 14 February 2019.Совет депутатов Видного снял с должности председателя Грудинина Twelve days later, on 26 February 2019, the council dismissed him from his position as deputy entirely.Политическая карьера Грудинина окончена
Following the death of Zhores Alferov, a Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) member in the State Duma, the CPRF nominated Grudinin to fill the vacant seat on 14 March 2019. However, the Central Election Commission (CEC) blocked his appointment on 21 March, citing undisclosed foreign financial accounts. The CPRF condemned the decision, and nationwide protests organized by Communist supporters on 23 March included demands for Grudinin's reinstatement.
On 24 July 2021, the CEC barred Grudinin from participating in the 2021 Russian legislative election, alleging he owned shares in a Belize-registered company—a violation of Russian electoral laws prohibiting parliamentary candidates from holding offshore assets. Grudinin denied the accusations, stating, "The [Communist] Party is an opposition party... Someone is afraid of the impact a coalition of left-wing forces could achieve." CPRF leader Gennady Zyuganov pledged to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
2018 presidential campaign
On 23 December 2017, at the XVII Congress of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), Pavel Grudinin was nominated as the party's presidential candidate.Съезд КПРФ утвердил кандидатуру Грудинина на выборах президента РФ CPRF leader Gennady Zyuganov was appointed to head his campaign headquarters.Зюганов возглавит предвыборный штаб Грудинина
Grudinin's nomination drew criticism from prominent left-wing figures, including Sergey Mironov (A Just Russia), Maxim Suraykin (Communists of Russia), and political analyst Boris Kagarlitsky.Миронов считает выдвижение Грудинина на выборы политической ошибкойКагарлицкий: Выдвижение Грудинина привело к расколу левых Critics argued that his background as a businessman and former member of United Russia (2001–2010) conflicted with communist ideology opposing the "bourgeois class." Controversy intensified after reports revealed undisclosed foreign bank accounts linked to Grudinin, which he attributed to "technical errors" in financial disclosures.ЦИК: Грудинин избавился от иностранных ценных бумаг стоимостью 7,5 млрд рублейПолитолог: Почему Грудинину пришлось лично ехать в Австрию, чтобы закрыть «транзитный счет»?
During the campaign, Grudinin visited 11 federal subjects alongside his home region of Moscow Oblast, holding rallies, press conferences, and tours of local enterprises to emphasize economic and social welfare platforms.
In the election held on 18 March 2018, Grudinin placed second with 11.8% of the vote, behind incumbent president Vladimir Putin, who secured re-election with 76.7%.
2024 presidential candidacy
On 14 November 2019, Grudinin announced his intention to run for president in the 2024 Russian presidential election. As part of his platform, he pledged to dissolve the State Duma, hold snap parliamentary elections, and nationalize assets obtained through illegal means.
Grudinin stated he would seek the nomination of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF). However, he added that if the party selected another candidate, he would support their bid instead.
Personal life Grudinin was married and has two adult sons from the marriage.Кто такой Павел ГрудининЗюганов видит лучшим кандидатом в президенты Грудинина
On 16 July 2018, he divorced his wife, Irina, via court proceedings. Reports cited Grudinin's adultery as the grounds for divorce, alleging he had concealed a long-term extramarital relationship and maintained a second family. Grudinin was reportedly in a relationship with Ksenia Kutyukhina, with whom he has two daughters born in 2012 and 2014.Жена Грудинина рассказала о разводе после 37 лет брака
Electoral history
2018 presidential election
Candidates Party Votes % Vladimir PutinIndependent56,430,71276.69 Pavel GrudininCommunist Party 8,659,206 11.77 Vladimir ZhirinovskyLiberal Democratic Party 4,154,985 5.65 Ksenia SobchakCivic Initiative 1,238,031 1.68 Grigory YavlinskyYabloko 769,644 1.05 Boris TitovParty of Growth 556,801 0.76 Maxim SuraykinCommunists of Russia 499,342 0.68 Sergey BaburinRussian All-People's Union 479,013 0.65Source: CEC
Awards and titles Grudinin has received the following honors: Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow" Letter of Gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation Honorary Diploma of the State Duma The title Honored Worker of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
References
External links Pavel Grudinin presidential campaign website Pavel Grudinin presidential campaign Facebook Pavel Grudinin presidential campaign Twitter Pavel Grudinin presidential campaign YouTube Кандидат в президенты Павел Грудинин Павел Грудинин (биография)