In 1966, he was drafted to the Soviet Army for an 18-month term. From 1967 to 1985, he worked on leading positions in kolkhozes of Leningrad Oblast. From 1985 to 1991, he occupied several leading positions in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in Leningrad Oblast: Chairman of the Priozersk City Executive Committee, First Secretary of the Priozersk City Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and head of the Department of Agriculture and Food Industry and the Agricultural Department of the Regional Committee of the CPSU. He was also First Deputy Chairman of the Leningrad Oblast Executive Committee from 1989 to 1991.