Gennady Zyuganov is a Russian politician and the leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF). Born on June 26, 1944, in the Kursk region of Russia, he has been a prominent figure in Russian politics since the early 1990s. Zyuganov has run for the presidency multiple times, advocating for socialist policies and the revival of the Soviet-era ideals. Zyuganov's political career began in the Soviet Union, where he was involved in various party roles. After the collapse of the USSR, he became a key player in the opposition to the reforms of the 1990s. His party has maintained a significant presence in the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament.