[5][6] The same year, he temporarily moved to the United States to obtain a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of North Dakota.

In 2003, Chikov also worked for Mikhail Khodorkovsky's Open Russia political party, where he set up a human rights department.

[12] Chikov connected the assassination attempt to his activities at the Kazan Human Rights Center.

[15] In October 2019, Chikov was expelled from the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights for criticizing the government.

[17] In March 2023, Russian Ministry of Justice added Pavel Chikov to its registry of foreign agents.

[31] Chikov is married to Irina Khrunova, who defended one of Pussy Riot members, Yekaterina Samutsevich, in 2012.