Barinov worked in various oil and gas enterprises of Western Siberia throughout 1990s.
In June 2000, he was elected a deputy of Arkhangelsk Regional Assembly from Severodvinsk.
Layer he resigned as a member of the Assembly moving to the staff of the Envoy in the North Western Federal District.
From April 2003 to August 2004 Barinov was federal inspector for Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
On May 24, 2006, he was arrested[1] and on July 21 dismissed by President Vladimir Putin from his position.