Nikolay Ashlapov was born on 23 January 1962, in the village of Suchkovo, Bolsheuluysky District, Krasnoyarsk Krai.

From 1984 to 1985, at the Achinsk alumina refinery, he was a foreman in the boiler shop of a thermal power plant in the direction of the MCM of the Soviet Union.

On 7 December 2003, Ashlapov was elected to the State Duma of the IV convocation from the regional branch of the United Russia party.

[2] On 5 April 2006, he resigned as a deputy in connection with his appointment to the position of First Vice President - Executive Director of JSC Glavmosstroy Holding Company.

On 15 July 2008, Ashlapov was appointed Deputy Minister of Regional Development of Russia.

In November 2013, Alexei Navalny stated on his blog that Ashlapov had two undeclared summer cottages in the Moscow Oblast.

[5][6] Ashlapov replied that he was not going to deal with Navalny, since he was not a deputy or a civil servant: "I have not been an official for the fifth year already and I don't have to report to anyone, for anything.

"[6] According to Navalny, the cost of the Ashlapov estate in the village of Leshkovo, Istra District, Moscow Oblast, is approximately 178 million rubles.