When Vladimir Putin landed in India for his two-day visit, one of the unexpected figures drawing attention was Abhay Kumar Singh, an Indian-origin politician who calls Russia home. Singh is no ordinary public representative. He is the first Indian to ever become an elected legislator in Russia, serving as a deputat (equivalent to an MLA) in the Kursk city legislature. He represents the ruling United Russia Party, which aligns him directly with President Putin.

From Patna to Kursk

Singh was born in Patna and attended Loyola High School before leaving for Russia in 1991 to study medicine. The experience was far from smooth at first. Speaking to The Week last year, he recalled how the harsh winters in Kursk almost sent him back home. “I wanted to come back home. The temperatures in Kursk di

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