Nikolai Ryzhkov

Nikolai Ivanovich Ryzhkov (28 September 1929 – 28 February 2024) was a former Soviet politician who served as the Premier of the Soviet Union during Mikhail Gorbachev's Rule from 1985 to 1991. He became a Russian politician after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Ryzhkov was Boris Yeltsin's leading opponent in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) 1991 presidential election.

Nikolai Ryzhkov
Николай Рыжков
Nikolai Ryzhkov on 15 October 2019
10th Prime Minister of the Soviet Union
In office 27 September 1985 – 14 January 1991
President	Andrei Gromyko Mikhail Gorbachev
Preceded by	Nikolai Tikhonov
Succeeded by	Valentin Pavlov
Member of the State Duma Federation Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 17 September 2003
Constituency	Belgorod Oblast
Member of the State Duma Federal Assembly
In office 17 December 1995 – 17 September 2003
Constituency	Belgorod Oblast
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the People's Patriotic Union
In office 7 August 1996 – 1998
Preceded by	None—post established
Succeeded by	Fistul Zorkal'tsev
Personal details
Born	Nikolai Ivanovich Ryzhkov 28 September 1929 Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Died	28 February 2024(2024-02-28) (aged 94) Moscow, Russia
Citizenship	Soviet/Russian
Political party	Independent (present)
Other political affiliations	People's Patriotic Union Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Spouse(s)	Ludmila Ryzhkova
Children	Marina

Ryzhkov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour twice, the Order of the October Revolution in 1971, the Order of Lenin twice, and the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 4th class. He was named a National Hero of Armenia.

In March 2014, after the Crimean crisis, Ryzhkov was sanctioned by both the European Union and United States.