In 1971, Kharitonov graduated from the Kuban Agricultural Institute as an agronomist.

Since 1973 he was a Communist Party functionary, holding senior positions in Labinsky and Kurganinsky Districts of Krasnodar Krai.

From August 1994 to July 1996 Kharitonov was the governor of Krasnodar Krai.

[1] After he was removed from office by president Boris Yeltsin, he participated in the election of October 1996.

[2] From 1996 to 1998 he was a vice-chancellor of the Kuban State Agrarian University.