Gleb Sergeyevich Nikitin (born August 24, 1977, Leningrad) is a Russian statesman and political figure, Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region since September 26, 2018 (from September 26, 2017 to September 26, 2018, he served as acting governor).[3][4] Nikitin's predecessor as governor was Valery Shantsev.[3] Prior to his appointment to the region, he held positions in federal property management bodies and in the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.

Education and career before Nizhny Novgorod Region

In 1999, he graduated from Saint Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance with a degree in Finance and Credit; in 2004, from Saint Petersburg State University with a degree in Law; and in 2008, from the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation with a degree in State and Municipal Management.[4] In 2012, he earned an MBA from the Columbia University Business School and the London Business School.[4] He holds a Candidate of Economic Sciences degree (2007).[4]

He began his career in 1999 at the Department of Economics of Municipal Property of the Committee for Municipal Property Management of Saint Petersburg, where he successively held the positions of leading specialist, head of department, and head of the state property disposal division.[4] In 2007–2008, he served as deputy, then as deputy head, of the Federal Agency for State Property Management.[4] From December 4, 2011 to June 28, 2012, he was acting head of Rosimushchestvo (predecessor: Yuri Petrov; successor: Olga Dergunova).[3] From July 5, 2012 to June 14, 2013, he was Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.[3] From June 14, 2013 to September 26, 2017, he was First Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation; Sergey Tsyb became his successor in that post.[3]

Activities as Governor

On September 26, 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Nikitin acting Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region.[4] In early elections held on September 9, 2018, he received 67.75% of the vote, and on September 26, 2018, he was officially inaugurated.[4] In the elections of September 11, 2023, he won with 82.82% of the vote.[4]

Since November 14, 2019, he has been secretary of the Nizhny Novgorod regional branch of the United Russia party, and is also a member of the presidium of its General Council.[3][4] He is a member of the presidium of the State Council of the Russian Federation and chairs the State Council commission on Ecology and Natural Resources.[4] Torpedo (nnov.ec).[4] Member of the supervisory board of the Territory Development Foundation.[4]

In the field of digital economy development, the region under Nikitin has held third place in Russia in software development and ICT services export volumes for the fourth consecutive year (as of 2025), trailing only Moscow and Saint Petersburg.[7] According to the governor, the region ranks first in the country in the effectiveness of IT sector support.[7] The key infrastructure project has been the Neymark IT Campus": the first construction phase (18 buildings for more than 1,300 students) was completed in 2025; instruction is offered across five programs in partnership with partner universities — HSE University, NSTU, Lobachevsky University, and NNGASU.[7] Nizhny Novgorod serves as a venue for federal industry events — the CIPR conference, the Technostrelka technology forum, and the "Reach for the Sky" unmanned aerial systems festival.[7]

In the area of religious and tourist infrastructure, Nikitin's tenure has seen the development of the pilgrimage and tourism cluster Arzamas: the restoration of the Cathedral of the Resurrection and the Transfiguration Cathedral in Arzamas has been completed, a Spiritual and Educational Center named after Seraphim of Sarov has been built in Diveevo, construction of the Holy Gates and monastery wall is ongoing, and restoration of the sites of the Holy Dormition Monastery in Sarov is under way.[2]

Civil service rank, awards, and sanctions

He holds the federal civil service rank of "Actual State Counsellor of the Russian Federation, 1st Class."[3][4] He has been awarded the Order of Honor (2016), the Order of Friendship (2019), the Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland," 2nd Class (2009), and an Honorary Certificate from the President of the Russian Federation (2020).[4] He also holds the medal "In Commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg," the Medal "For Strengthening Combat Cooperation" of the Ministry of Defense, and the Order of Seraphim of Sarov, 2nd Class.[3] He is subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union and a number of other states.[3]

Recent events

On August 1, 2026, Nikitin took part in the festive celebrations at the Diveyevo Monastery on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov. In 2026, the celebrations were of particular significance: the monastery marked three anniversaries at once — the 123rd anniversary of the discovery of the relics and the glorification of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov among the saints, and the 200th anniversary of the monastery.[4] — the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Mill Community, the 35th anniversary of the second discovery of the relics of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, and the 35th anniversary of the restoration of monastic life in the monastery.[5] The Divine Liturgy in the open air on the square before the Transfiguration Cathedral was led by Patriarch Kirill; according to law enforcement authorities, approximately 7,500 worshippers gathered on the square. Nikitin commented on the significance of the occasion, noting that the presence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church serves as a perpetual reminder of the exceptional importance of the Diveevo Monastery and Saint Seraphim of Sarov for the entire Christian world.[5][1] The celebrations were also attended by Igor Komarov, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Volga Federal District, Lyulin, and Artyom Zdunov, Head of the Republic of Mordovia.[2] Following the liturgy, Patriarch Kirill presented the monastery with an icon of the chief apostles Peter and Paul as a gift, and conferred ecclesiastical awards upon Metropolitan George, Abbess Sergiya (Konkova), and the nuns of the monastery.[1]

On the same day, August 1, 2026, a cargo weighing a total of 15 tonnes was dispatched from Diveevo with Nikitin's participation: tools and materials for equipping dugouts, camouflage nets, medical supplies and medicines, and household equipment.[5] On the territory of Perm Krai, the convoy was supplemented with 30 cubic meters of lumber.[5] The operation was organized by the The Diocese of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas for cooperation with the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies, in conjunction with the organization "Dukhovnoye Naslediye" (Spiritual Heritage), with the support of the regional government; the charitable foundation "Oko Lyubvi" (Eye of Love) also joined the collection effort.[5] Part of the cargo was destined for Residents of Nizhny Novgorod serving in the military in Belgorod Region, and for medical personnel from Nizhny Novgorod Region working in the Donetsk People's Republic; through a Belgorod support center, part of the aid was passed on to civilians in temporary accommodation facilities, along with educational materials and fiction books.[5][6] A second dispatch took place on August 3: cargo was sent to Bryansk Region, where the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese and "Dukhovnoye Naslediye" are equipping a field chapel.[5]

References

  • Wikidata (Q16680754 — entry in the open knowledge base)

Nikitin personally oversees the development of the Arzamas — Diveevo — Sarov pilgrimage and tourism cluster.[4]

During the visit to Diveevo on August 1, 2026, a meeting took place between Igor Komarov, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Volga Federal District, Patriarch Kirill, Governor Gleb Nikitin, and Archbishop George of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas.[4]

Sources

  1. Wikipedia (ru) — Nikitin, Gleb Sergeyevich (archive)
  2. RIA Novosti — Gleb Nikitin — biography, personal life, and career (archive)
  3. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — "We are building the infrastructure of the future": Gleb Nikitin (archive)
  4. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Celebrations in honor of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov held in Diveevo (archive)
  5. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Thousands of pilgrims in Diveevo: how the feast of the discovery of the relics of Seraphim of Sarov was celebrated (archive)
  6. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Humanitarian cargo sent by Nizhny Novgorod residents to the special military operation zone
  7. Vremya N — Another humanitarian cargo dispatched from Nizhny Novgorod Region to the special military operation zone (archive)
  8. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Another humanitarian cargo sent to the special military operation zone from Sovetsky District (archive)