[3] He was a deputy of the State Duma of the IV, V, VI and VII convocation, and a deputy speaker of the State Duma of the VI and VII convocation,[4] the head of the United Russia faction, chairman of the Duma committee on security (2004-2011), and Deputy Secretary of the Security Council (1999-2001).

[9] Vasilyev became the acting Head of the Republic of Dagestan after the resignation of Ramazan Abdulatipov on 3 October 2017.

On 9 September 2018, Vasilyev was confirmed to be the official Head of the Republic of Dagestan.

[10] On 5 October 2020, Vasilyev resigned his post as Head of the Republic of Dagestan for health reasons.

[2] Due to his role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Vasilyev was among many Russian politicians sanctioned in February 2022 by the Ukrainian government, European Union, Australia and the G7 via the United States Department of State, the Canadian government, HM Home Office and Japan.