With his retirement from military life, Kuznetsov settled in Blagoveshchensk and became active in local government, serving as a deputy in the city and regional dumas, and as an advisor to the deputy governor on the region. He had received a number of awards during his career, and on his death in 2020, politicians at the local and national levels paid tribute to his service.
Now retired from the military, Kuznetsov settled in Blagoveshchensk, Amur Oblast, where he became active in civil administration.
[2] From 2005 to 2007 he served as a deputy to the Amur Regional Council of People's Deputies IV convocation, and from 2 March 2008 was on the Legislative Assembly of Amur Oblast's V convocation.[4] From 12 March 2008 he was chairman of the Assembly's Committee on Veterans Affairs, which from 23 May 2008 became the Committee on Veterans Affairs, Public Organizations and Youth Policy.[4] In 2014 he became a deputy of the Blagoveshchensk City Duma's VI convocation for the city's 14th district, and the duma's deputy chairman for its VII convocation.[2][3][5] He served for a time as an advisor to the deputy governor of the region.[1] He was a member of United Russia.[2] He had also worked as a docent at the Far Eastern Higher Combined Arms Command School.[4]
Death and legacy
Kuznetsov died on 24 January 2020, at age 73.[1][3] Over his career he had received a number of awards in addition to that of Hero of the Soviet Union, including the Order of the Red Star on 17 August 1981, the Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" second and third classes, and the Order of Military Merit on 3 January 1997, in addition to fourteen medals.[2][3][5][4] He had also been created an honorary citizen of Blagoveshchensk.[1][6] He was married with three sons.[2] Condolences were offered and tributes paid by members of Blagoveshchensk City Council, with city Mayor Valentina Kalita [ru] describing him as "a strong-willed, energetic person and a true patriot of his country ... he always remained faithful to his duty and to the Fatherland. He was respected for his strength of character, honesty and decency [and] was an active participant in the public life of the city and region."[3]Vasily Orlov, Governor of Amur Oblast, called him "the last Hero of the Soviet Union in the Far East" and wrote that "a talented, honest and generous person has left us. This is how he will remain in our memory."[7]Alexander Kozlov, the Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, called him "honest, open, uncompromising, decent, energetic."[5]
A bust of Kuznetsov was placed in the grounds of the Far Eastern Higher Combined Arms Command School.[8] In 2020 the Amur Cadet Corps Boarding School was named after him.[9] On 5 July 2022, a statue of Kuznetsov was unveiled on the square opposite the Far Eastern Higher Combined Arms Command School. The design of the monument was developed with the input of his family, and depicts Kuznetsov, in military uniform and with his cap in his hand, walking to work at the school.[10]