Oleksandr Zinchenko
Encyclopedia
Oleksandr Oleksiovich Zinchenko ' onMouseout='HidePop("69924")' href="/topics/Slavuta">Slavuta
– died June 9, 2010 in Kiev
) was a Ukrainian
politician who was Director-General of the National Space Agency of Ukraine
from 2009 to 2010. Oleksandr Zinchenko had a controversial career that includes Soviet
Komsomol
leadership, business in Russia
and Ukraine, participation in the pro-Leonid Kuchma
Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united), survival of cancer
and joining the anti-Kuchma opposition.
Zinchenko was an Academician of the National TV Academy of Ukraine and has received the Honored Journalist of Ukraine award. He was married to a TV host, Iryna, and had two daughters, Ekaterina and Aleksandra.
(Khmelnytskyi Oblast
, then Ukrainian SSR
) on April 16, 1957. He graduated with a degree in physics from Chernivtsi University
, where from 1983-1985 he headed the Komsomol youth organization. From 1993-1995 Zinchenko headed Ometa-Merkantail and the joint stock company Balchug in Kiev . In 1996 he was appointed director of the Ukraine-Express information agency and worked as president of Inter TV in 1996 he also joined the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united) (SDPU(o)).
Zinchenko became the SDPU(o)’s chief deputy chairman (vice-Speaker) of the Verkhovna Rada
(parliament) in 1998 and headed the party’s parliament faction. In 2000, he chaired the parliament’s Freedom of Speech and Information Committee, which international media watchdogs criticized for doing little to bolster the freedom of speech in Ukraine. On of the tapes (dated May 2000) recorded by Kuchma's former bodyguard, Major Mykola Melnychenko
in President
Kuchma office (revealed during the Cassette Scandal
) Zinchenko seemed to talk with Kuchma about efforts to co-opt critical journalists and harass media outlets. Zinchenko was re-elected to the Verkhovna Rada in 2002
on a SDPU(o) ticket.
In June 2004 Zinchenko was appointed Campaign manager for Viktor Yushchenko
during the Ukrainian presidential election, 2004
and after Yushchenko victory served as a chief of the President's office for Yuschenko in 2005. In September 2005 he resigned from the latter position in protest against corruption
he alleged was taking place in the inner circle of the President, mainly accusing Petro Poroshenko. In December 2005 he created the political party Oleksander Zinchenko’s Patriotic Forces Party of Ukraine.
Zinchenko is member of the Kiev City Council
for Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko from the Kiev local election, 2008
till his resignation in June 2009 he was the faction leader.
On February 13, 2009 he was appointed Director General of the National Space Agency of Ukraine
, he was relieved of this post in March 2010.
Oleksandr Zinchenko died on June 9, 2010 at the age of 53, and was buried at Kiev's Baikove Cemetery on June 11. Ukrainian politicians
Yulia Tymoshenko
, Oleksandr Turchynov
, Mykola Tomenko
and Borys Tarasyuk
were present at his funeral.
Slavuta
Slavuta is a city in the Khmelnytskyi Oblast of western Ukraine, located on the Horyn River. Serving as the administrative center of the Slavutsky Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast, and is located approximately 80 km from the oblast capital,...
– died June 9, 2010 in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
) was a Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
politician who was Director-General of the National Space Agency of Ukraine
National Space Agency of Ukraine
The State Space Agency of Ukraine is the Ukrainian government agency responsible for space policy and programs....
from 2009 to 2010. Oleksandr Zinchenko had a controversial career that includes Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
Komsomol
Komsomol
The Communist Union of Youth , usually known as Komsomol , was the youth division of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The Komsomol in its earliest form was established in urban centers in 1918. During the early years, it was a Russian organization, known as the Russian Communist Union of...
leadership, business in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Ukraine, participation in the pro-Leonid Kuchma
Leonid Kuchma
Leonid Danylovych Kuchma was the second President of independent Ukraine from 19 July 1994, to 23 January 2005. Kuchma took office after winning the 1994 presidential election against his rival, incumbent Leonid Kravchuk...
Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united), survival of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and joining the anti-Kuchma opposition.
Zinchenko was an Academician of the National TV Academy of Ukraine and has received the Honored Journalist of Ukraine award. He was married to a TV host, Iryna, and had two daughters, Ekaterina and Aleksandra.
Biography
Zinchenko was born in SlavutaSlavuta
Slavuta is a city in the Khmelnytskyi Oblast of western Ukraine, located on the Horyn River. Serving as the administrative center of the Slavutsky Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast, and is located approximately 80 km from the oblast capital,...
(Khmelnytskyi Oblast
Khmelnytskyi Oblast
Khmelnytskyi Oblast is an oblast of western Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Khmelnytskyi.The current estimated population is around 1,401,140 .-Geography:...
, then Ukrainian SSR
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or in short, the Ukrainian SSR was a sovereign Soviet Socialist state and one of the fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union lasting from its inception in 1922 to the breakup in 1991...
) on April 16, 1957. He graduated with a degree in physics from Chernivtsi University
Chernivtsi University
The Chernivtsi National University is the leading Ukrainian institution for higher education in northern Bukovina, in Chernivtsi, a city in southwest Ukraine....
, where from 1983-1985 he headed the Komsomol youth organization. From 1993-1995 Zinchenko headed Ometa-Merkantail and the joint stock company Balchug in Kiev . In 1996 he was appointed director of the Ukraine-Express information agency and worked as president of Inter TV in 1996 he also joined the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united) (SDPU(o)).
Zinchenko became the SDPU(o)’s chief deputy chairman (vice-Speaker) of the Verkhovna Rada
Verkhovna Rada
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is Ukraine's parliament. The Verkhovna Rada is a unicameral parliament composed of 450 deputies, which is presided over by a chairman...
(parliament) in 1998 and headed the party’s parliament faction. In 2000, he chaired the parliament’s Freedom of Speech and Information Committee, which international media watchdogs criticized for doing little to bolster the freedom of speech in Ukraine. On of the tapes (dated May 2000) recorded by Kuchma's former bodyguard, Major Mykola Melnychenko
Mykola Melnychenko
Mykola Melnychenko was a bodyguard of the former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma.Between 1998 and 2000 Melnychenko allegedly recorded numerous conversations that took place in the office of the Ukrainian leader before fleeing abroad with the secretly taped recordings...
in President
President of Ukraine
Prior to the formation of the modern Ukrainian presidency, the previous Ukrainian head of state office was officially established in exile by Andriy Livytskyi. At first the de facto leader of nation was the president of the Central Rada at early years of the Ukrainian People's Republic, while the...
Kuchma office (revealed during the Cassette Scandal
Cassette Scandal
The Cassette Scandal , also known as "Tapegate" and "Kuchmagate", erupting in 2000, was one of the main political events in Ukraine's post-independence history...
) Zinchenko seemed to talk with Kuchma about efforts to co-opt critical journalists and harass media outlets. Zinchenko was re-elected to the Verkhovna Rada in 2002
Ukrainian parliamentary election, 2002
Ukrainian parliamentary election of 2002 took place on March 31. Half of the deputies to Verkhovna Rada were elected on proportional basis, while the other half were elected by popular vote in single-mandate constituencies...
on a SDPU(o) ticket.
In June 2004 Zinchenko was appointed Campaign manager for Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko is a former President of Ukraine. He took office on January 23, 2005, following a period of popular unrest known as the Orange Revolution...
during the Ukrainian presidential election, 2004
Ukrainian presidential election, 2004
The Ukrainian presidential election, 2004 was held on October 31, November 21 and December 26, 2004. The election was the fourth presidential election to take place in Ukraine following independence from the Soviet Union...
and after Yushchenko victory served as a chief of the President's office for Yuschenko in 2005. In September 2005 he resigned from the latter position in protest against corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
he alleged was taking place in the inner circle of the President, mainly accusing Petro Poroshenko. In December 2005 he created the political party Oleksander Zinchenko’s Patriotic Forces Party of Ukraine.
Zinchenko is member of the Kiev City Council
Kiev City Council
Kiev City Council or Kyivrada is the city council of Kiev municipality, the highest representative body of the city community. The members of city council are directly elected by Kievans and the council is chaired by the Mayor of Kiev .The council meets in a 1950s City Council building...
for Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko from the Kiev local election, 2008
Kiev local election, 2008
Early mayoral and city council elections were contested in the Ukrainian capital Kiev on May 25, 2008. The snap election was called by the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada by a 246-5 vote on March 18 amid corruption allegations involving the incumbent Mayor Leonid Chernovetskyi...
till his resignation in June 2009 he was the faction leader.
On February 13, 2009 he was appointed Director General of the National Space Agency of Ukraine
National Space Agency of Ukraine
The State Space Agency of Ukraine is the Ukrainian government agency responsible for space policy and programs....
, he was relieved of this post in March 2010.
Oleksandr Zinchenko died on June 9, 2010 at the age of 53, and was buried at Kiev's Baikove Cemetery on June 11. Ukrainian politicians
Politics of Ukraine
Politics of Ukraine take place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the Cabinet. Legislative power is vested in the parliament...
Yulia Tymoshenko
Yulia Tymoshenko
Yulia Volodymyrivna Tymoshenko , née Grigyan , born 27 November 1960, is a Ukrainian politician. She was the Prime Minister of Ukraine from 24 January to 8 September 2005, and again from 18 December 2007 to 4 March 2010. She placed third in Forbes Magazine's List of The World's 100 Most Powerful...
, Oleksandr Turchynov
Oleksandr Turchynov
Oleksandr Valentynovych Turchynov is a Ukrainian politician, a screenwriter, a Doctor of Economic Studies. He also was acting Prime Minister after former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's government was dismissed on March 3, 2010...
, Mykola Tomenko
Mykola Tomenko
Mykola Volodymyrovych Tomenko is a Ukrainian politician and statesman. He has been a member of the Verkhovna Rada for two consecutive convocations . In Verkhovna Rada he served as the Chairman of the Freedom of Speech and Mass Media Committee...
and Borys Tarasyuk
Borys Tarasyuk
Borys Ivanovych Tarasyuk is a Ukrainian politician. He has twice served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. He is from Zhytomyr Oblast. Tarasyuk studied international relations and international law at National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv, and graduated in 1975...
were present at his funeral.