Governor of Sverdlovsk Oblast Eduard Ergartovich Rossel

Eduard Rossel was born on October 8, 1937 in the village of Bor of Gorky Oblast (now Nizhniy Novgorod Oblast) into a German cabinet maker's family. His parents were deported in 1941, and he became a homeless. From 1947-1957 he was a student at a school in Ukhta (Komi Republic).

In 1962, he graduated from Sverdlovsk Mining Institute, and in 1971 he received his academic degree in construction.

He started his career in 1963, in Tagilstroy Construction Company.

Twenty years later, in 1983, he became deputy director, and later director of Sreduralstroy Regional Construction Company.

His political career began in 1990, when he was elected to Sverdlovsk Oblast legislative assembly. Some years later he became head of the assembly and its executive committee. In 1991, he chaired the Association of Economic Cooperation of Oblasts and Republics of the Urals.

On October 16, 1991 he was appointed head of the Administration of Sverdlovsk Oblast. In November 1993 he was dismissed after his activity on creation of the so-called “Urals Republic.”

In December 1993, he was elected to the Federation Council (Upper Chamber) of the Russian Parliament.

From 1994-1995, he chaired Sverdlovsk Oblast Duma (legislative assembly).

On August 20, 1995 he was elected as Governor of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Since then he has been re-elected twice (in 1999 and 2003), and in October 2005 he was appointed Governor of the Oblast for a fourth term.

The Governor is married with a daughter, grandson and granddaughter.