Dolgikh's early career involved various industrial and engineering management positions in Krasnoyarsk and Norilsk. In 1969 he became the First Secretary of the Krasnoyarsk Krai Committee of the CPSU. He was made a member of the CPSU Central Committee in 1971.[2] In 1972 he became a Secretary of the Central Committee.[3]
Dolgikh was elected as a candidate member of the Politburo in May 1982, at the same plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU that made Yuri Andropov a Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.[4] Dolgikh retired from all his CPSU leadership positions in September 1988.[5]
4 December 1965 – for outstanding service in the performance of tasks to increase the production of nonferrous metals and achievement of high technical and economic indices of the Norilsk Mining and Metallurgical Works
4 December 1984 – for outstanding achievements in office a candidate member of Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee and secretary, and in connection with his 60th birthday
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 4th class (28 December 2009) – for many years of fruitful activity for the social support of veterans and active participation in military-patriotic education of young people
Order of Friendship (8 August 2005) – for many years of fruitful work for the social support of veterans and patriotic education of young people
