David Krishtal was born in 1959 in Zhukovsky, Moscow Region. He graduated cum laude from the Russian University of Transport in 1981.

For many years David Krishtal worked for the railway where he first became a union member in 1983, was an activist and then elected president of a district trade union organisation.

From 2001 till 2007 David Kristhal worked as the head of organisation department and a vice-president of Russian Trade Union of Railwaymen and Railway Construction.

In 2007 he was elected the FNPR vice-president in charge of social security and OSH issues. He is also in charge of organizational development and capacity building of the FNPR.