Borys Kolesnikov
Encyclopedia
Borys Viktorovych Kolesnikov is the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Ukrainian politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

, statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...

, responsible for preparation and hosting European Football Championship in 2012 (Euro 2012), philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...

.

Biography

Born on October 25, 1962 in Mariupol
Mariupol
Mariupol , formerly known as Zhdanov , is a port city in southeastern Ukraine. It is located on the coast of the Azov Sea, at the mouth of the Kalmius River. Mariupol is the largest city in Priazovye - a geographical region around Azov Sea, divided by Russia and Ukraine - and is also a popular sea...

, Donetsk Oblast
Donetsk Oblast
Donetsk Oblast is an oblast of eastern Ukraine. Its administrative center is Donetsk. Historically, the province is an important part of the Donbas region...

, 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...

 (now Ukraine
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...

).

In 1991 graduated from Donetsk National Technical University
Donetsk National Technical University
Donetsk National Technical University is the biggest and oldest higher education establishment in Donbas, founded in 1921. It is located in Donetsk, Ukraine. In its early years, it was attended by Nikita Khrushchev.- External links :* ,...

 majoring in Merchandizing.
Graduated from Donetsk State University of Management
Donetsk State University of Management
Donetsk State University of Management is a Ukrainian University witch started in 1992 as the Donetsk State Academy of Management and was awarded the status of University in 2004 by the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science....

 (1997) majoring in Economic Manager.

Since 1980 he has worked in various positions in commercial enterprises in the Donetsk Oblast
Donetsk Oblast
Donetsk Oblast is an oblast of eastern Ukraine. Its administrative center is Donetsk. Historically, the province is an important part of the Donbas region...

 (province), manly in the steel industry.

Beginning from 1991 – Director of “Yug” trading company; Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Production Association “Kyiv-Konti”, CJSC (later the Konti Company).
From 1998 – Vice President of football club Shakhtar Donetsk. From 2002 – Chairman of the Football Federation of Donetsk Oblast.

In 2001-2006 – Head of Donetsk Regional Council.

Beginning from 2001 a spokesperson of Borys Kolesnikov was Mrs. Bondarenko Olena Anatoliyivna, now acting as an independent politician.
Late 2003 – Head of Donetsk Regional Branch of the Party of Regions
Party of Regions
The Party of Regions is an Ukrainian political party created on October 26, 1997 just prior to the 1998 Ukrainian parliamentary elections under the name of Party of Regional Revival of Ukraine. It was reformed later in 2001 when the party united with several others...

.

Known as one of the organizers of the Congress of Deputies of All Levels in Severodonetsk on November 28, 2004.
At the parliamentary elections in Ukraine (2006) and parliamentary elections in Ukraine (2007) was elected to 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...

 (Ukrainian parliament) as a member of the Party of Regions
Party of Regions
The Party of Regions is an Ukrainian political party created on October 26, 1997 just prior to the 1998 Ukrainian parliamentary elections under the name of Party of Regional Revival of Ukraine. It was reformed later in 2001 when the party united with several others...

 (both times listed number ten.

In 2010 appointed to the position of the Vice Prime Minister responsible for Euro 2012.
On 9 December 2010 by the Decree of the President of Ukraine was appointed to the position of the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine.

Kolesnikov is considered an ally of Rinat Akhmetov
Rinat Akhmetov
Rinat Leonidovych Akhmetov is a Ukrainian businessman. He is the founder and President of System Capital Management, and is ranked among the wealthiest men in the nation. Akhmetov is also the owner and President of the Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk...

; another influential Party of Regions member, industrial and politician.Kolesnykov and Akhmetov have been friends from a young age.

Political activity

Kolesnikov entered politics in 1999 when Victor Yanukovych was Donetsk Oblast governor, Then another five years as Chairman of the Regional Council. First as Deputy Chairman of the Donetsk Regional Council. In November 2004, during the Orange Revolution
Orange Revolution
The Orange Revolution was a series of protests and political events that took place in Ukraine from late November 2004 to January 2005, in the immediate aftermath of the run-off vote of the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election which was claimed to be marred by massive corruption, voter...

, Kolesnikov stated that if 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...

 would become President of Ukraine
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...

 that "would prompt the establishment of a new federal state in the form of a southeastern republic with its capital in Kharkiv
Kharkiv
Kharkiv or Kharkov is the second-largest city in Ukraine.The city was founded in 1654 and was a major centre of Ukrainian culture in the Russian Empire. Kharkiv became the first city in Ukraine where the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed in December 1917 and Soviet government was...

". Yushchenko did become President and this federal state never materialized. Kolesnikov was arrested early 2005 on charges of abuse of office, extortion and making a death threat. Kolesnikov has repeatedly denied the charges, which were later dropped. The Party claimed to be a victim of a political persecution campaign organized by the new government. The Party of Regions claimed the arrest was an example of political repression. The Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...

 called the investigation "in full compliance with European standards". Kolesnikov has since been cleared of charges and released from pre-trial detention in August 2005 when he offered a written pledge not to flee the country. By October 2005 Kolesnikov had resumed his job as head of the regional council.

Kolesnikov was elected to 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...

 (Ukrainian parliamnet) as a member of Party of the Regions in 2006
Ukrainian parliamentary election, 2006
The Ukrainian parliamentary election took place on March 26, 2006. Election campaigning officially began on July 7, 2005. Between November 26 and December 31, 2005 party lists of candidates were formed....

 and 2007
Ukrainian parliamentary election, 2007
Early parliamentary elections in Ukraine took place on 30 September 2007. The date of the election was determined following agreement between the President Viktor Yushchenko, the Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Moroz on 27 May 2007, in an attempt...

 (in 2007 as № 10 on the list).

After wining the 2010 presidential election
Ukrainian presidential election, 2010
The Ukrainian presidential election of 2010 is Ukraine's fifth presidential election since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The first round was held on January 17, 2010...

 Victor Yanukovych stated (on February 9, 2010) that Kolesnikov was his preferred next Prime Minister of Ukraine
Prime Minister of Ukraine
The Prime Minister of Ukraine is Ukraine's head of government presiding over the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, which is the highest body of the executive branch of the Ukrainian government....

. Instead of becoming Prime Minister Kolesnikov was anointed by the Verkhovna Rada (on March 11, 2010) Vice Prime Minister in the Azarov Government
Azarov Government
The first Azarov Government was appointed on March 11, 2010 as part of the "Stability and Reform" coalition between the Party of Regions, Lytvyn Bloc and the Communist Party of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament...

 (responsible for hosting Euro 2012).

State activity

On March 11, 2010 Borys Kolesnikov was appointed to the position of Vice Prime Minister for Euro 2012. And in December he took the office of the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine
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...

 and the Minister of Infrastructure
Minister of Infrastructure
Minister of Infrastructure can mean:* Minister for Infrastructure and Transport * National Infrastructure Minister of Israel* Italian Minister of Infrastructures* Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism...

 of Ukraine
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...

.

Euro 2012

The number one task for Kolesnikov as supervisor of preparations for Euro 2012 became protecting Ukrainian rights to host European Football Championship.

In June 2010 the UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....

 Supervisory Board decided to approve the country’s right to host European Football Championship 2012 in all four Ukrainian cities - Kyiv, Donetsk, Lviv and Kharkiv, which Borys Kolesnikov commented as follows: “Ukraine may fear no more lest any of its cities was suspended from the list of European Football Championship 2012 hosting cities”.

Borys Kolesnikov’s further work on Euro preparations was related to construction and reconstruction of Ukrainian stadiums and airports, and also development of infrastructure objects.

Opinions:

Every time I come to Borys Kolesnikov’s office I see all constructions displayed on the monitor of his PC, and he follows them online”, said Mr. Tigipko, adding also that he highly estimates efforts made by Mr. Kolesnikov when preparing Ukraine for the European Championship. "It’s very good we keep up with the UEFA schedules, and we fulfil the obligations undertaken, implementation of which had been seriously threatened before. I think it is a personal credit of Borys Kolesnikov, since he is the man actively managing the matters of Euro 2012”, stated Sergey Tigipko.

For quick paces of construction and reconstruction of stadiums and airports UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino called him Super-Borys.

According to Kommentari paper “After the Euro 2012 Kolesnikov may become the most popular ‘white-and-blue’ politician. Depending on how successfully will be Euro 2012 hosted in Ukraine, the whole activity of Borys Kolesnikov, the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, will be evaluated for the whole period of his office in the Cabinet of Ministers”.

Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine

As a Head of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine in 2010 Borys Kolesnikov defined key priorities of activities and infrastructure development in the following directions:

Public affairs

For the time under the management of Kolesnikov the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine has increased its presence in social networks: from June 2011 the Ministry has been an active user of Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...

 social network.
A prohibition to photographing at railway stations and airports was raised.
Entire ticket: by Euro 2012 one will be able to purchase in Ukraine a ticket for any interurban transport.
Starting from June one can pay in payment terminals for railway and bus tickets purchased over the Internet.
Insurance benefits for the passengers against traffic accidents now have become twice as much, in 2011 insurance settlement increased up to UAH 102,000.
Aviation
In 2011 a contract was signed with Ilyushyn Finance, CJSC, a leasing company, on supply of first An-158 aircrafts.

On May 19, 2011 Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Borys Kolesnikov presented state enterprise “Antonov” with a certificate to synthetic flight training system of the D level.

On June 26, 2011 – a new flight strip of International Airport in Donetsk (4 km long, 75 m wide, 1 m thick).
Now Kolesnikov plans to make full modernization of flight strips at Kharkiv and Lviv airdromes.

New airdrome control tower was launched in Simferopol, it is the first tower built at times of Ukraine’s independence.

Railway

Talking about reforming of Ukrainian Railway at the summary press conference “Summing up results of the first half of the year. Development plan of the branch.”, Borys Kolesnikov defined three priorities. “First is to forget night train travelling in six years: any location in Ukraine will be reached during a day. And that thanks to new trains again. Second is traffic electrification (“Out of 22,000 kilometres of railroads only a half was electrified, we must increase this figure to 15,000”). Third is locomotive fleet modernization: we still use out-of-date Soviet Fleet”.

To implement the plans being shaped, to make high-speed train connection between Kyiv and Ukrainian cities hosting the Euro 2012, at the end of December 2010 a contract was signed with Hyundai Corporation under which Ukrainian Railway obtains 10 new multi-region electric trains.
Moreover, first six trains will allow express traffic between Kyiv, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lviv. For instance, one will be able to get to Kharkiv in 3.5 hrs, Lviv in 4.5 hrs, Donetsk in 5.5-6 hrs.

The Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine
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...

 - Minister of Infrastructure
Minister of Infrastructure
Minister of Infrastructure can mean:* Minister for Infrastructure and Transport * National Infrastructure Minister of Israel* Italian Minister of Infrastructures* Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism...

 of Ukraine
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...

 Borys Kolesnikov is also concentrated on maritime sector of Ukraine, roads and vehicles.

Assets

According to official data Borys Kolesnikov’s assets make APK-Invest and Konti, CJSC (Donetsk-based Konti confectionary manufactury).,

According to Focus magazine in 2006 Borys Kolesnikov was ranked 10th in the ranking of most influential representatives from Donetsk region.
In 2007 Borys Kolesnikov took 20th place in the Top 100 most influential Ukrainian people by Korrespondent magazine.

Last year’s (2010) total turnover of Konti and APK-Invest exceeded UAH 4 billion. Only the assets of Borys Kolesnikov himself were estimated at $810 million.

Charity

In 2008 Borys Kolesnikov established a registered charitable fund.

By that time charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...

 was made as personal gifts. Beginning from 2004 under his initiative best pupils were granted trips to Disneyland in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

, foreign trips for war veterans were organized, a reconstruction of Olimpiyskyi regional sport complex in Donetsk
Donetsk
Donetsk , is a large city in eastern Ukraine on the Kalmius river. Administratively, it is a center of Donetsk Oblast, while historically, it is the unofficial capital and largest city of the economic and cultural Donets Basin region...

 was made. Significant means were given to health recovery of children, support of country’s cultural inheritance.

According to the Fund aide, today’s activity of organization is made within the programs dedicated to development of education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...

, search for and support of gifted and active youth, formation of healthy lifestyle, preservation of country’s cultural and historical inheritance and creation of new historical, cultural and scientific values.

At the end of 2010 Borys Kolesnikov’s Foundation spent about 8 million hryvnias (USD 1 mln) for charity.

Personal life

Family

Kolesnikov is married (a wife Svetlana), has two children – a daughter Ekaterina (2004) and a son Konstantin (1992).

Hobbies

Among hobbies of the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine
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...

 - Minister of Infrastructure
Minister of Infrastructure
Minister of Infrastructure can mean:* Minister for Infrastructure and Transport * National Infrastructure Minister of Israel* Italian Minister of Infrastructures* Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism...

 of Ukraine
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...

, are football and hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...

.
Owing to his passion for hockey in 2010 Kolesnikov bought a hockey club.

I became a 100% owner of the club in July, in the last year. I always loved hockey, since I was a kid. I remember hockey since the USSR first match played against Canadian professionals on September 1, 1972, since we were dumped the first puck on the first minute. The USSR team won then 7:3”, said Kolesnikov to the journalists of Ukrainska Pravda.

Honours and awards

  • Deputy Head of the Party of Regions.
  • Member of the Political Board of the Party of Regions.
  • Deputy Head of the Fraction of the Party of Regions in Verkhovna Rada.
  • Member of parliamentary committee for economic policy.
  • Member of the Interim special parliamentary committee for elaborating draft laws on amending the Constitution of Ukraine.
  • Member of joint committee for cooperation of Verkhovna Rada and Federal assembly of Russian Federation.
  • Deputy Head of Ukraine’s permanent delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
  • Member of parliamentary group for interparliamentary ties with Japan, Germany, France.
  • President of Football Federation of Donetsk region.
  • Awarded with the Order of Merit of the II Degree.

External links

Official web-sites

Biographies

Interviews

Ukraine’s promo video to EURO 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKVupf0_a7I
Video Presentation of Hyundai train http://ukraine2012.gov.ua/ru/video/119/48146.html
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