Major, Russian Air Force, Res., graduated from Yeisk Higher Military Fighter Pilot School, 1973 and from Moscow Aviation Institute, 1984; civilian test pilot at Flight Research Institute LII; was selected as cosmonaut for Buran flights on 09.03.1983 (LII-2); OKP (cosmonaut basic training): 9/85 - 1987; later he turned to the policy and became first member of the State duma of the Russian Federation; from 1996 to 1998 he was a boss of the security council of the Republic of Dagestan in the capital Mashatshkala.