Nikolay Merkushkin

Nikolay Ivanovich Merkushkin Кола Меркушкин Николай Иванович Меркушкин
1st Head of the Republic of Mordovia
Incumbent
Assumed office September 22, 1995
Personal details
Born	February 5, 1951 (1951-02-05) (age 60) Novye Verkhissy, Insarsky District, Mordovia ASSR, RSFSR, USSR
Nationality	Mordvin
Political party	United Russia
Spouse(s)	Taisiya Merkushinka
Profession	Politician
Religion	Russian Orthodoxy

Nikolay Ivanovich Merkushkin (Russian: Николай Иванович Меркушкин, Moksha: Кола Меркушкин) (born February 5, 1951 in Novye Verkhissy, Mordovia) is the head of the Republic of Mordovia in Russia. He has held that office since September 22, 1995. January 24–September 22, 1995 he was Chairman of the State Assembly of Mordovia.

Merkushkin was an electrical engineer before entering politics. He was reelected president of Mordovia in 1998 and 2003 with 80% of the vote. He has maintained popularity by having a relatively stable economy in the republic and paying salaries and pensions on time. He has prevented opponents from running against him by disqualifying candidates which seem to have more than 3% invalid signatures. Merkushkin is married to Taisiya Merkushinka, an ethnic Erzyan and has two sons.

References

• Глава Республики Мордовия Н.И.Меркушкин награжден орденом "За заслуги перед Отечеством" III степени (Russian)
• Глава Республики Мордовия Николай Иванович Меркушкин (Russian)
• Official website of the Republic of Mordovia (Russian)

Persondata
Name	Merkushkin, Nikolay Ivanovich
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 5, 1951
Place of birth	Novye Verkhissy, Insarsky District, Mordovia ASSR, RSFSR, USSR
Date of death
Place of death