Alexander Vlasov

Aleksandr Vladimirovich Vlasov (; 20 January 1932 – 9 June 2002) was a Soviet politician, who held different cabinet posts, including interior minister and prime minister. He was the last communist prime minister of Russia, and a close ally of Mikhail Gorbachev.

Early life and education Vlasov was born into a Russian family in Babushkin, Buryat-Mongol ASSR, Russian SFSR (now Buryatia, Russia) on 20 January 1932. He attended the Irkutsk Mining Metallurgical Institute and graduated with a degree in mining engineering in 1954. He left the job less than in a year and joined the Communist Party in 1956. Then he began to work in the Komsomol. He was promoted to first secretary of the party in the Checheno-Ingush ASSR in 1975.

In January 1986, Vlasov was appointed interior minister, replacing Vitaly Fedorchuk in the post. Then Vlasov was appointed to the Politburo as a non-voting member in late September 1988. His tenure as interior minister lasted until 10 October 1988. Vadim Bakatin replaced him as interior minister.

Vlasov was elected as prime minister of the Russian Republic by the Supreme Soviet on 3 October 1988. He succeeded Vitaly Vorotnikov in the post. However, he lost the election to Boris Yeltsin who outpolled him, 535 votes to 467, receiving just 4 votes more than the minimum required for election.

Decorations and awards Order of Lenin Order of the October Revolution Order of the Badge of Honour, twice