Alexander Khinshtein

Alexander Yevseyevich Khinshtein (; born 26 October 1974) is a Russian politician and former journalist who has served as governor of Kursk Oblast since 21 September 2025.

Biography Alexander Khinshtein was born on October 26, 1974 in Moscow.

He graduated from high school in 1991. In 1996-2001, Khinshtein studied at the Faculty of Journalism at Moscow State University.

He is one of the architects of anti-LGBT legislation that bans "promoting LGBT propaganda", saying, "LGBT today is an element of hybrid warfare and in this hybrid warfare we must protect our values, our society and our children,"

Khinshtein supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On 4 March 2022, the Duma passed a law introducing prison terms of up to 15 years for spreading "fake news" about Russia's military operation in Ukraine. Khinshtein said the law "concerns all citizens, not only Russian ones, because we are talking about actions against Russia."

On 5 December 2024, Khinshtein was appointed as acting governor of Kursk Oblast by President Vladimir Putin. He was elected governor the following year with 86.9% of the vote.

Personal life Khinshtein was born in Russia to a Jewish family. His father Yevsey Abramovich Khinshtein and mother Inna Abramovna Regirer are engineers.

Sanctions He was sanctioned by the UK government in 2022 in relation to the Russo-Ukrainian War. Khinshtein has also been sanctioned by the United States, the EU, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. 2nd class Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" (2003) Medal Defender of a Free Russia Medal of Zhukov Jubilee Medal "300 Years of the Russian Navy" Medal "In Commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg" Medal "In Commemoration of the 800th Anniversary of Moscow" Order of Alexander Nevsky Order of Friendship 4th class Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"

Personal life Married twice. In 2008 he divorced his first wife, Yulia Fedotova. In 2016 he married actress Olga Polyakova (the pseudonym is Polya Polyakova), the couple have two sons: Artyom (born in 2014) and Lev (born in 2017).

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