Alexander Alexandrovich Zhilkin is the governor

Governor

A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...

 of Astrakhan Oblast

Astrakhan Oblast

Astrakhan Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Astrakhan.-Demographics:Population: Ethnic groups...

 in Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

. He became acting governor in August 2004, when governor Anatoly Guzhvin

Anatoly Guzhvin

Anatoly Petrovich Guzhvin was a Russian politician and governor of Astrakhan Oblast -Career:...

, who had been the leader of the oblast for over a decade, died. Zhilkin was elected governor as a candidate of the United Russia

United Russia

United Russia is a centrist political party in Russia and the largest party in the country, currently holding 315 of the 450 seats in the State Duma. The party was founded in December 2001, through a merger of the Unity and Fatherland-All Russia parties...

party in 2004, receiving 65% of the vote; an overall majority. He was the first deputy before he became the governor.