Abhay Kumar Singh’s journey from Patna to the political corridors of Russia is unlike any other. Now a two-time elected deputat in Kursk — a position equivalent to an MLA — he remains the first and only Indian-origin lawmaker to win an election in Russia.
Born and educated in Patna, Singh completed his schooling at Loyola High School before travelling to Russia in 1991 to pursue medicine at Kursk State Medical University. After graduating, he briefly returned to India to practise as a doctor but later moved back to Russia to start a pharmaceutical venture, eventually expanding into real estate and construction. His business success made him a well-known figure in Kursk and opened the door to politics.
Singh joined President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia Party in 2015 and, within two years, contested and won the 2017 Kursk city assembly election — where he introduced an Indian-style election strategy that proved decisive. Recalling the campaign, he said that unlike India, Russian lawmakers rarely interact directly with citizens. He changed that by holding public meetings, staying visible in neighbourhoods, and maintaining open contact with voters — an approach he calls adding “a tadka of Indian politics to Russian elections.” The result was a record-margin victory, which he repeated in 2022.
Speaking to India Today TV, Singh also praised the Russian-made S-400 missile systems currently used by India and suggested that India should explore acquiring the newer S-500, which is presently deployed only within Russia. He emphasised that even China has not received access to the S-500, and India would be the first if Moscow agreed.
Beyond politics and defence, Singh spoke about the growing demand for the Indian workforce in Russia. He noted that Russia faces shortages across multiple sectors and skill levels — from specialised technicians to blue-collar workers — and encouraged Indians to explore professional opportunities there, especially as Western countries increasingly tighten their long-term immigration rules.
From a medical student in Kursk to a lawmaker representing a region bordering Ukraine, Abhay Kumar Singh’s story is a rare example of an Indian influencing public life in Russia — and doing so using a model of democratic outreach he learned back home in Bihar.
