3 of the city of Aleysk, Altai Krai, and in 1976, he was the head of the Altaiavtodor association[clarification needed].

On 1 December 1996, Surikov was the third Governor (Head) of Altai Krai, and in March 2000, he was re-elected to this position.

[5][6] After Surikov lost the election to Mikhail Yevdokimov in 2004, he worked as an assistant to the plenipotentiary in the Siberian Federal District, while supervising the Altai Krai.

[7][1] On 27 August 2007, Surikov said that in response to US plans to deploy elements of a missile defense system in Eastern Europe, "Russia and Belarus may decide to create new joint military facilities, including nuclear ones."

He later said that Russia had no plans to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus, and his words were “misinterpreted”.