Who Is Nicolai Lilin? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Nicolai Lilin was born on February 12, 1980, making him 45 years old in 2025. Born in Bălți, Moldova, he is known for his captivating storytelling and rich narratives that often explore themes of identity, culture, and personal experiences. With a unique background that blends Italian and Moldovan influences, Lilin has carved out a niche for himself in contemporary literature. He gained widespread recognition with his debut novel, "Siberian Education," which garnered acclaim for its vivid portrayal of life in post-Soviet territories.
| Occupation | Tattoo Artist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | February 12, 1980 |
| Age | 45 Years |
| Birth Place | Bender, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union (now Moldova) |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Country | Moldova |
Popularity
Nicolai Lilin's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
As of 2025, Nicolai Lilin stands at an impressive height of approximately 6 feet (183 cm) and weighs around 165 pounds (75 kg). His body type is characterized as athletic, which may reflect his active lifestyle and passion for various physical activities. Lilin's distinct look and presence add to his appeal as a public figure and author.
He claims to have briefly taken part in the battle of Grozny and said in an interview with Il Giornale that he had participated in torturing prisoners of war.<ref name=19.10.2020> He claims he encountered very few Chechen guerrillas during the conflict, instead fighting mercenaries from Afghanistan, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
He has described two instances during the war in which he was nearly killed: the first occurring when he was shot in the chest with an AK-47, surviving thanks to his body armour, the second happening when a vehicle he was travelling in was capsized by a grenade launcher which left two comrades dead and himself with damage to his hearing.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
In regards to his personal life, Nicolai Lilin prefers to keep details about his family and relationships relatively private. As of 2025, he is reportedly single. However, rumors about potential romantic interests surface from time to time. Nicolai has not publicly confirmed any relationship status but is known to value deep connections with friends and family.
Lilin claims that at the age of 12, with the outbreak of the Transnistria War, he was handed a firearm for the first time, and was involved with other children in gathering intelligence and munitions during the battle of Bender. He alleges that during the conflict he lost an uncle and a cousin to a gang of neo-Nazis led by Andriy Parubiy.
He states that after the war, he took part in a gang war alongside his father, who was a bank robber. His parents separated after his father suffered three assassination attempts and moved to Greece, while his mother moved to Italy, leaving Lilin with his grandparents.
Lilin describes his grandfather as an elder member of a criminal gang who first taught him the ways of the Urkas and acted as a surrogate father.
In several interviews, he claimed that his grandfather was a Siberian hunter and Gulag survivor who, despite being anticommunist, fought as a sniper during World War II and was on the same convoy that took Vasily Zaitsev to Stalingrad.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Nicolai Lilin's net worth is estimated to be around $5 million. His income primarily comes from his successful writing career, including book sales, royalties, and engagements in literary festivals and events. Additionally, his involvement in public speaking and workshops contributes to his earnings. He continues to enjoy a stable financial foundation, allowing him to focus on his creative pursuits.
Lilin was initially critical of Vladimir Putin and his administration. In a series of interviews and writings during the late 2000s and early 2010s, Lilin denounced the Second Chechen War, the law "On Protecting Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development", the beating of Oleg Kashin and the murder of Russian journalists.
In 2012, he accused many Russian politicians of having earned their fortunes by enabling the production of child pornography for Western consumption since the 1990s.
He further blamed Putin for the 1999 Russian apartment bombings, the 2010 Moscow Metro bombings and the Domodedovo International Airport bombing, and voiced support for the 2011–2013 Russian protests.
In a 2013 interview with la Repubblica, Lilin stated:"I am appalled by how things are going with Putin, his homophobic laws, the censorship, pedophilia used as a criminal means of earning money.
Western-style corruption has taken over, which is why Putin and Berlusconi are such friends, and even look like each other: both of them have undergone plastic surgery to look younger, but only Satan never ages. They are demons. [...] I no longer have the stomach to live in such a country, where the only way out left is suicide.
[...] We need a new revolution, of ideas, not weapons." After the Russian annexation of Crimea, Lilin deleted his previous critical posts and began expressing views defending Russia's conduct. In a 2014 interview, he stated that Putin's negative reputation in Italy was based on distortions created by "people who support the Atlanticist bloc".
In a 2020 interview with il Giornale, Lilin expressed the view that "true" Russians desired a tsar and that Putin was fulfilling their wish. When asked a year later whether or not he considered Putin a dictator, Lilin answered: "Sure he is, according to the concept of dictatorship within the modern political vision.
But we all live in dictatorial systems today, everywhere". Regarding the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lilin has said:"[...] Russia has never started colonial wars or [wars] to expand its territory. [...] Russians don't want to invade anyone. The only reason they wage war is to ensure the integrity of their borders.
That's why Putin has sent the army to Ukraine, because NATO has been doing military activities there since 1998, threatening Russia's borders. Saying that Putin wants to invade Poland and the Baltic states is nonsense. Putin wants to live in peace, not have a NATO pistol aimed at his face."
Career, Business and Investments
Nicolai Lilin's career as an author began in earnest with the publication of "Siberian Education," which gained international acclaim and led to subsequent works that further demonstrated his storytelling prowess. In addition to his writing, Lilin has ventured into various business opportunities, including literary consultancy and promoting cross-cultural exchanges through his works. He has invested in a few startups related to literature and education, showcasing his commitment to fostering creativity and learning.
Lilin claims that after leaving the army, he attempted to find work in Saint Petersburg, but was rebuffed for being a war veteran. While there, he was arrested for illegal firearm ownership and held in custody for several months, during which he claims to have been regularly beaten.
Per his narrative, he later worked as a private security guard for a Russian opposition group with links to Chechen terrorists. He later spent three years working for a private Israeli security company as an antiterrorism consultant. He states that at one point he worked as a drill instructor for the Afghan National Security Forces.
Social Network
In the digital age, Nicolai Lilin is active on several social media platforms, where he engages with a considerable following. You can find him primarily on Instagram and Twitter under the handle @NicolaiLilin, where he shares insights about his life, writing process, and thoughts on various cultural topics. His online presence allows fans and aspiring authors to connect with him directly and stay updated on his latest projects.
Lilin has stated that he was incarcerated in a maximum security juvenile prison at the age of 12 for attempted murder after stabbing a drug addict in self-defence. He also claims that he maimed a man who had driven a young boy to suicide.
Lilin states that he killed for the first time at age 14, with the victim being a "Gypsy" drug dealer whom he shot with his grandfather's revolver. Still at age 14, per his narrative, he stabbed a boy in the back, leaving him paralysed for life.
A character profile of Lilin from Transnistria, however, states that his only recorded crimes involved stealing boats on the Dniester.
Education
Nicolai Lilin's educational background showcases his dedication to literature and the arts. He attended several institutions, honing his writing and critical thinking skills. His experiences growing up between two cultures profoundly influenced his perspective and inspired much of his work. Although specific details about his education are less publicized, it is evident that his academic journey has significantly shaped his literary voice.
Nikolai Yurievich Verzhbitsky (born 12 February 1980), known as Nicolai Lilin, is an Italian-Moldovan writer and tattoo artist from Transnistria. He moved to Italy in the early 2000s and wrote his first novel, Siberian Education, in 2009. It was subsequently adapted into a 2013 film starring John Malkovich.
The novel, which Lilin claimed was based on his experiences living among Siberian criminal gangs in his native Bender, became a bestseller in Italy, but was labeled a fake memoir by some journalists and historians.
Similar criticisms would be leveled at its sequel, Free Fall, which narrates the author's alleged experiences during the Second Chechen war.
