Viktor Alksnis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Viktor Alksnis
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As a Russian State Duma Deputy
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| Mayor of Tuchkovo | |
| In office 18 September 2013 – 4 February 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Efendi Haidakov (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Zhanna Kiselyova |
| Member of the State Duma | |
| In office 26 March 2000 – 24 December 2007 |
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| Member of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR | |
| In office 3 May 1990 – 2 October 1991 |
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| People's Deputy of the Soviet Union | |
| In office 21 May 1989 – 5 September 1991 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 June 1950 Tashtagol, Kemerovo Oblast, Russian SFSR, USSR |
| Died | 1 January 2025 (aged 74) |
| Citizenship | Russian |
| Nationality | Latvian |
| Political party | CPSU (1974–1991) ROS (1991–2000) A Just Russia (2016) |
| Other political affiliations |
Interfront of Latvia (1988–1989) Inter-regional Deputies Group (1989) Soyuz (1989–1991) National Salvation Front (1992–1993) Club of Angry Patriots (2023–2025) |
Viktor Imantovich Alksnis (Russian: Виктор Имантович Алкснис, Latvian: Viktors Alksnis; 21 June 1950 – 1 January 2025) was a Russian politician. He was also a colonel in the Soviet Air Force. Viktor Alksnis had Latvian family roots.
He led the Russian Center of Free Technologies. This group worked to share Free Software and open standards in Russia. He was a member of the State Duma, which is like a parliament in Russia. He also served as the mayor of Tuchkovo from 2013 to 2015.
People sometimes called him "the Black Colonel." This nickname came from his strong political views. It was a reference to a group of military leaders in Greece. Viktor Alksnis passed away on January 1, 2025, at 74 years old.
Family Background and Early Life
Viktor Alksnis's grandfather, Yakov Alksnis, was a very important person. In the 1930s, he was in charge of the Soviet Air Force. Sadly, he was arrested and executed later on. This happened during a difficult time in Soviet history.
Viktor's grandmother spent many years in labor camps. His father also faced problems because his own father was called an "enemy of the people." Later, in the 1950s, Yakov Alksnis was cleared of all charges. A military college was even named after him.
Despite his family's hard past, Viktor Alksnis strongly supported the Soviet system. In 1973, he finished his studies at the Riga Military Aviation Engineering School. This school was named after his grandfather. He became a qualified military radio engineer.
Views on the Soviet Union's Breakup
Viktor Alksnis was very against the breakup of the Soviet Union. He also opposed the independence of the Baltic States. He believed that Russian people in these states were treated unfairly.
In 1989, he became a member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The next year, in 1990, he was elected to the Supreme Council of Latvia. He helped start a group called "Soyuz." This group wanted to keep the Soviet Union together.
He even suggested removing the Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev. He wanted to declare martial law and let a military group take power. He hoped this would stop the Soviet Union from falling apart.
Alksnis also said that the Transnistrian Republic could be a starting point to bring back the Soviet Union. This republic is not recognized by most countries.
After leaving Latvia in 1992, he was not allowed to return. This is called being declared persona non grata. He then became active in Russian politics. He joined groups that supported nationalist and communist ideas. In 2005, he was also declared persona non grata in Ukraine. This happened after he suggested changing the border between Russia and Ukraine.
Promoting Free Software
In 2007, Viktor Alksnis started a project to encourage Free Software. This included using systems like Linux in Russian government offices. He wanted Russia to be more independent in its software use.
In 2008, he teamed up with Aleksandr Ponosov. Ponosov was a teacher who had faced legal issues over software. Together, they created the Center of Free Technology. This group aimed to study how to use Free Software in Russian schools.
Alksnis also met with Aleksey Bragin. Bragin was working on the ReactOS operating system. Alksnis wanted to support its development. He even invited Richard Stallman, who started the GNU project, to Moscow. However, Stallman canceled his visit because of some disagreements with Alksnis's views.
