Vyacheslav Anatolyevich Damdintsurunov (; born September 21, 1977) is a Russian political figure, professional sportsman, and a deputy of the 8th State Duma.
Damdintsurunov is a professional sportsman; in 1999, he became the Russian champion in Muay Thai. Damdintsurunov had been working for more than 13 years on developing and implementing sports policies in the region. Damdintsurunov is also a former vice-rector of the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism. In 2017, he was appointed the Minister of Sports and Youth Policy of Buryatia. He resigned in 2021 after he was elected a deputy from the Buryatia constituency of the State Duma of the 8th convocation.
Vyacheslav Damdintsurunov is married and has three children.
On February 25, 2022, in the context of RussiaâÂÂs invasion of Ukraine, he was included in the European Union sanctions list in response to RussiaâÂÂs decision to recognize the territories of UkraineâÂÂs Donetsk and Luhansk regions and to send Russian troops there.
On March 11, 2022, he was added to the United Kingdom sanctions list âÂÂfor recognizing the independence of two separatist regions in Ukraine.âÂÂ
On September 30, 2022, he was placed under sanctions by the United States in response to the âÂÂsham referendaâ and the âÂÂannexation of Ukrainian territories by Russian occupying forces.â The U.S. Department of State noted that deputies had unanimously passed the law on âÂÂfake news,â and some deputies played a key role in spreading Russian disinformation about the war.
He is also subject to sanctions by Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Ukraine, and New Zealand.
He has received a Letter of Gratitude from the Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation (2020), Letters of Gratitude from the Head of the Republic of Buryatia (2018, 2020), a Letter of Gratitude from the Russian Union of Martial Arts (2018), as well as recognition from the Russian Wrestling Federation and the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism (2014).
He has also been awarded several honorary certificates, including: a Certificate of the President of Russia attached to the commemorative medal âÂÂFor Selfless Contribution to the Organization of the All-Russian Mutual Aid Campaign #WeAreTogetherâ (2020), a Certificate from the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation (2020), a certificate from the All-Russian Physical Culture and Sports Society âÂÂDynamoâ (2019), and a certificate from the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism (2016).
Since 2001 he has been married to Natalya Damdintsurunova. The couple has three children: a daughter, Altana, and two sons, Dorzhi and Aldar.