Sherig-ool Oorzhak

Who is Sherig-ool Oorzhak?

Sherig-ool Dizizhikovich Oorzhak, born July 24, 1942 in the village of Shekpeer in independent People's Republic of Tuva, was the leader of Tuva for 17 years, from 1990 to 2007.

Oorzhak graduated from the Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural academy in 1971. Then he was an economist, director in the state farm "Shekpeer" in 1971-1980.

In 1983 he became activist of the Tuvan branch of the Communist Party. He graduated from Novosibirsk High Communist Party School in 1985. From December 1986 he was secretary at the Tuvan branch of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

He was three-times deputy of Supreme Soviet of Tuva Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. From 1990 to 1992 he was Chairman of the Council of Ministers (i.e. Prime Minister) of Tuva ASSR. In 1990 he was elected people's deputy of RSFSR. In August 1991 he suffered a defeat from Kaadyr-ool Bicheldei in the race for Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Tuva ASSR.

On March 15, 1992 he was elected to be President of the Republic of Tuva. In 1993 he was Head of the Constitutional commission of Tuva (the Constitution was adopted on October 21, 1993). In 1997 he was re-elected as President.