Irina Podnosova, Chairman of the Supreme Court of Russia. Biography

Irina Podnosova was born in 1953 in Pskov. In 1970, she became a student at the Faculty of Law of Leningrad State University (LSU). She studied in the same course with the future President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, who entered the law faculty of Leningrad State University in the same year.

After graduation, from 1975 to 1978, Podnosova worked as a consultant in the justice department of the Executive Committee of the Leningrad Regional Council of Deputies. Then she moved to the Saratov region. For a year she was a lawyer at the Volsky Construction Products Factory. In 1979, she joined the Volsky City Council of the region, where she consistently held the positions of legal adviser, senior legal adviser and head of the legal department.

In 1990, Podnosova returned to the Leningrad region and was elected a judge of the Luga City Court, and in 2003 became its chairman. For the next 10 years, she headed the Luga City Court, while simultaneously working for the Council of Judges of the Leningrad Region (2002-2012). She became the chairman of this council twice: in 2006-2008 and in 2010-2012.

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In 2008, Podnosova spoke out against the appointment of Vitaly Shevchuk to the post of head of the regional judicial department at the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. Alexander Gusev, the head of the federal judicial department, insisted on Shevchuk's candidacy, but the regional Council of Judges and the chairman of the Leningrad Region court did not support this decision.

Nevertheless, in 2011 Shevchuk nevertheless headed the Leningrad regional court, and in 2013 Podnosova became his deputy. During her four years in this position, she also managed to consider five criminal cases under Article 105 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Murder"), most of which included aggravating circumstances.

In 2016, Podnosova joined the Council of Judges of Russia, and a year later became chairman of the Leningrad Regional Court. Since 2018, she has headed the Second Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction.

In July 2020, Podnosova became Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court of Russia – Chairman of the Judicial Board for Economic Disputes. Her predecessor in this position was Oleg Sviridenko. Despite the recommendation of the Higher Qualification Board of Judges (HCCC) to appoint him for a second term, the Supreme Court and the Council of Judges rejected his candidacy. In this regard, Sviridenko resigned.

Podnosova was Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court until April 2024. During this time, she has personally reviewed more than 11,000 cassation appeals against decisions of arbitration courts and over 1,2 thousand appeals for judicial review.

In February 2024, Vyacheslav Lebedev, Chairman of the Supreme Court, passed away. In March of the same year, the HCCC declared his post vacant. Candidates over the age of 35 who have a higher legal education and at least 10 years of experience in law were considered. Irina Podnosova became the only candidate for a high position. Her candidacy was unanimously approved by the HCCC, and she was also supported by the Supreme Court and the Council of Judges.

On April 17, Podnosova was confirmed by the Federation Council as Chairman of the Supreme Court of Russia. She became the first woman in the history of the country to hold this post.

Irina Podnosova — personal life

Irina Podnosova was married. Her husband, Sergey Podnosov, works as the deputy chief physician at the Zhemchuzhina tuberculosis sanatorium located in the Leningrad region. They also have a son, Egor Podnosov. He followed in his mother's footsteps and chose the profession of a lawyer.

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Irina Podnosova — death

Irina Podnosova's death became known on July 22, 2025. She was 71 years old. The cause of death was not announced, however, according to TASS sources, she died of cancer.

The press service of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation expressed condolences to Podnosova's family. In the Telegram channel of the department, the death of the chairman of the Supreme Court was called a huge loss for the Motherland and an irreparable loss for the legal community.

"Irina Leonidovna has always put the interests of the state and society first. Hard work for the good of the country, dedication, skill and high moral qualities helped her achieve high results, serve the law and justice," the publication says.

Yuri Ivanenko was appointed Acting Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.