Born: 13 December 1947 in Zelenogorsk, Leningrad Oblast, Russia

Married with two daughters

1961-71 -- metal worker at the Alma-Ata Heating System

1963 -- starts work with a geological survey team in Tula

1971-75 -- technician, engineer, senior engineer at the Alma-Ata department of Promenergoproyekt

1975 -- completes Alma-Ata Energy Institute

1990-93 -- member, secretary of the Supreme Soviet committee for economic reforms, co-chairman of the Democratic Kazakhstan deputies' group

1993-94 -- chairman of State Committee for Antimonopoly Policies

February 1994-January 1996 -- co-chairman of Socialist Party

January 1996- chairman of Socialist Party

April 1996 -- co-chairman of the Azamat social movement

October 1999- co-chairman of Forum of Democratic Forces of Kazakhstan

2001-2002 -- editor in chief of "Megapolis" newspaper

March 2002- member of political council of Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement