At the same time, he was criticised for his autocratic ideology, accused of supporting Chechen rebels, and his supposed 'cult of personality'.

In the 2001 elections, he suffered a tight defeat against his opponent Leonid Markelov, where Kislitsyn received 25% of the vote.

Prior to serving in the Soviet Army, he was trained as mechanic in a specialized vocational school in Tomsk.

In 1978 he graduated from the Faculty of History, Mari State Pedagogical Institute.

He began his political career during the Soviet Union, where he eventually became President of Mari El.