POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

Yuri Krivov (b. 1962) – Russian statesman, scientist. Career: 20003-2005 – Head of the Department of Social Policy at Zarechny, Penzenskaya oblast; 2005 – 2007 – Deputy Mayor of Zarechny, Penzenskaya oblast,; 2010 – 2012 – Head of the Department for Innovation Policy and Special Projects in the regional government, Deputy Chair of the regional government. Since April, 2012 – till present – Chair of the regional government.

Ruslan Gulyaev (b. 1982) – Russian statesman and politician, scientist. Career: 2007 – 2011 - Member of State Duma of the RF; 2011 – till present – Deputy Minister of Education of Penzenskaya oblast.

Elena Stolyarova (b. 1955) – Russian statesperson, scientist. Career: 1999 – 2000 – Deputy Chair of regional government; 2000 – 2006 – Deputy Governor of Penzenskaya oblast; 2006 - till present – Deputy Chair of regional government.

Vyacheslav Tarasov (1950 – 1999) – Russian statesman, scientist, distinguished teacher. Career: 1997 – 1998 – Deputy Mayor of Penza; 1998 – 1999 – Vice Governor of Penzenskaya oblast.

Fyodor Kulikov (b. 1925) – Soviet and Russian statesman and politician. Career: 1979 – 1990 – First Chair of Regional Communist Party Government; 1981 – 1990 – Member of National Communist Party Government.

Maria Lazutova (b. 1947) – Russian statesperson and politician, scientist. Career: 1993 – 1996 – Deputy Minister of Education of the RF; 1997 – 2000 – Deputy Minister of Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, 2011 – Head of the State Duma Committee on Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs and Compatriot Relations.

Oleg Melnichenko (b. !973) – Russian Statesman, scientist. Career: 2008 – Vice Governor of regional government; 2009 – Deputy Presidential Envoy to Volga Federal District.

CULTURE

Tamara Melnikova (b. 1940) – museum professional, teacher, literary scholar. Career: 1968 – Curator at the State Lermontov Museum , Tarkhany Reserve; 1978 – Director of the museum.

Oleg Savin (1933 – 2009) – Russian writer, poet, literary scholar, journalist, a keen scholar of regional history.

SPORTS PEOPLE

Denis Ablyazin (b. 1992) – artistic gymnast, the 2012 Olympics vault silver medalist and floor bronze medalist. Winner of European Championships (vault gold medalist in 2013, team silver medalist in 2012, rings and vault bronze medalist in 2012).

Olesya Belugina (b. 1984) – rhythmic gymnastics Olympic champion (Athens, 2004), world champion (2002, 2003), European champion (2001, 2003) in rhythmic group competition.

Yevgeniya Bochkareva (b. 1980) - bronze Olympic medalist in 1996 games in Atlanta, rhythmic group competition.

Nikolay Elakhov (b. 1940) – successful coach in biathlon, trained Olympic medalists.

Irina Kalinina (b. 1959) – a diver, was the first among Russian sportspeople to win gold in 1980 Moscow Olympics in 3m Springboard; world championship gold medalist (1975, 1978), European champion (1974 – two silver medals, 1977 – two bronze medals, 1981 – a bronze medal). After finishing her sports career worked as a coach in Penza.

Natalia Lavrova (1984 – 2010) - a gold medalist in the rhythmic gymnastics group event at the 2000 (Athens) and 2004 (Sydney) Summer Olympics. Died in a tragic accident.

Igor Lukashin (b. 1979) – a diver, along with Dmitri Sautin, won the gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in the men's 10 m platform synchronized event. Bronze medalist (1998, world) and silver medalist (1997, European).

Yulia Pakhalina (b. 1977) – a diver, multiple Olympic medalist, won the gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics in the 3m Synchronized Springboard with partner Vera Ilyina, won silver medal in Synchronized 3m Springboard and bronze medal in 3m Springboard in 2004 Olympics (Athens), won two silver medals in 2008 Olympics (Beijing). Competed in European and world events, won 8 gold and 3 silver medals in European championships, 3 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 3 bronze medal in world championships.

Aleksey Voyevodin (b. 1970) – a race walker, bronze medalist at 2004 Olympics (Athens), since 1995 till 2007 participated in 15 major championships, won 3 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medal.

Anastasia Zueva (b. 1990) – a swimmer, an Olympic 2012 (London) silver medalist in backstroke, holds the Russian national records for the 50, 100 and 200 metres backstroke events, swam for Russia at the 2008 Olympics and the 2012 Olympics. At the 2008 Olympics, she set and held the Olympic record in the women's 100 m backstroke.

MASS MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

Timur Kerimov (aka Rodrigez, b. 1979) – a showman, stand-up comedian, musician, anchorman.

Vladimir Ter-Kazarov (b. 1970) – anchorman, journalist, DJ, entertainer.

Evgeny Rozhkov (b. 1975) –journalist, DJ, chief editor at Penza TV and Radio Broadcasting Company ‘Nash Dom’, news journalist.

Pavel Volya (b. 1979) – showman, comedian, anchorman, actor.