Larisa Flamenbaum

Larisa Kuzhugetovna Shoigu (; 21 January 1953 – 10 June 2021) was a Russian politician. She served as a Deputy of the State Duma for its 5th, 6th and 7th convocations, between 2007 and 2021.

Born into a family involved in regional politics, Larisa Shoigu initially chose a career in medicine, as did her younger sister. Her brother, Sergei Shoigu, went into the military, eventually rising to the position of Russian Defence Minister. After studying at Tomsk Medical Institute, Larisa Shoigu graduated in 1977 and spent the next 22 years at Tuva Psychiatric Hospital, initially as a psychiatrist, and rising to the position of deputy chief physician for medical work. She moved to Moscow in 1998, working at the central polyclinic of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, before entering politics in 2007 with her election to the State Duma for its 5th convocation that year.

She was a member of United Russia, representing them in the Duma over the next fourteen years. She was re-elected in 2011 and again in 2016. During her time as deputy, she was a member of the State Duma Committee on Health Protection, and deputy chairman of the Duma committee on the Rules and Organization. She remained a Duma deputy until her death on 10 June 2021, at the age of 68.

Early life and family

Shoigu was born on 21 January 1953 in Chadan, Tuvan Autonomous Oblast, then part of the Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic, in the Soviet Union. Her mother, Alexandra Yakovlevna Shoigu (née Kudryavtseva), was Kuzhuget's second wife. She was a zootechnician, economist and several times deputy of the Tuva Regional Council of People's Deputies. She studied for a time at the Novosibirsk correspondence mathematical school, but then enrolled in Tomsk Medical Institute in 1970, where she met her future husband, the surgeon Konstantin Yakubovich Flamenbaum, before graduating in 1977. She became a member of the State Duma Committee on Health Protection. She served as the deputy chairman of the Duma committee on the Rules and Organization of the State Duma, and was a member of United Russia's General Council.

She began her third term as deputy for the Duma's 7th convocation on 18 September 2016, as part of United Russia. Her last appearance in the Duma was on 9 June 2021. During her time in office from 2007 until 2021, she co-authored 17 legislative initiatives and amendments in the drafting of federal laws.

Personal life Her husband died in 2017. Their son, Aleksandr Konstantinovich Flamenbaum, was born in 1975, becoming a lawyer, and CEO of a financial and investment company. Her cause of death was a stroke as an apparent complication of a COVID-19 infection. Her death was announced by Sergey Neverov, leader of United Russia in the Duma, who said that "her departure was a great loss for everyone." Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin expressed his condolences, stating that she was "a bright politician, talented and warm-hearted person."

The Head of the Republic of Tuva, Vladislav Khovalyg, issued an ukaz declaring 11 June a day of mourning in the republic. She was buried in the Troyekurovskoye Cemetery on 12 June in a ceremony attended by many of her colleagues, including Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin.