Mikhail Zurabov
Encyclopedia
Mikhail Yuryevich Zurabov is the current ambassador of Russia to Ukraine
and Russia
's former Minister of Health and Social Development (in Mikhail Fradkov's First Cabinet
and Mikhail Fradkov's Second Cabinet
). He held the post of Minister of Health and Social Development from 9 March 2004 to 24 September 2007. On 13 August 2009 Zurabov was appointed ambassador of Russia to Ukraine, however on 11 August 2009 Russian President Medvedev
postponed the sending of a new Russian ambassador to Ukraine "in view of the anti-Russian position of the current Ukrainian authorities". Zurabov presented his diplomatic credentials
to (newly elected
) Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych
on 2 March 2010.
Zurabov is seen as the third of the "Liberal Reformers" in Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov
's. German Gref
, Alexei Kudrin
are the other two.
In early 2005, Zurabov, Gref, and Kudrin all came under fire for reforms to benefits for the elderly that they suggested and the State Duma had approved in 2004. Many of the reforms had to do with replacing free government-funded benefits, such as medical care and transportation, with cash payments. This replacement angered many of the elderly because transportation costs are increasing. Protests took place all over Russia
, but neither the presidential administration nor the State Duma
responded to these protests in any substantial way. The President reprimanded Kudrin on national television, and a few members of the State Duma
went on a hunger strike for a short period of time. A no-confidence vote against Fradkov's cabinet was called by the State Duma
in early February, but it failed. Some analysts saw the whole affair as an attempt to either discredit or perhaps get rid of one of the three men by other members of the cabinet.
For a while it was believed that Zurabov, specifically, was being set up to take the fall for the failure of the Pension Reform that Mikhail Fradkov's Second Cabinet
instituted in early 2005. However, Zurabov retained his post, and continued to serve as the Minister of Health and Social Development until he was dismissed in 2007.
Zurabov is also accused of failing to provide medicine to the pensioners and handicapped.
Zurabov speaks Russian and Ukrainian
.
In an interview with Izvestiya v Ukraine in June 2010 Zurabov, as an ambassador to Ukraine, asserted that Russians and Ukrainians are a single nation with "some nuances, peculiarities, but a single nation".
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 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...
's former Minister of Health and Social Development (in Mikhail Fradkov's First Cabinet
Mikhail Fradkov's First Cabinet
Mikhail Fradkov's First Cabinet was a cabinet of the government of the Russian Federation during the presidential election of 2004, preceded by the cabinet of Mikhail Kasyanov, who had been dismissed by President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2004, and followed by Mikhail Fradkov's Second Cabinet...
and Mikhail Fradkov's Second Cabinet
Mikhail Fradkov's Second Cabinet
Mikhail Fradkov's Second Cabinet was the twelfth cabinet of the government of the Russian Federation, preceded by Mikhail Fradkov's First Cabinet, which followed the cabinet led by Mikhail Kasyanov, who had been dismissed by President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2004 shortly before the...
). He held the post of Minister of Health and Social Development from 9 March 2004 to 24 September 2007. On 13 August 2009 Zurabov was appointed ambassador of Russia to Ukraine, however on 11 August 2009 Russian President Medvedev
Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is the third President of the Russian Federation.Born to a family of academics, Medvedev graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad State University in 1987. He defended his dissertation in 1990 and worked as a docent at his alma mater, now renamed to Saint...
postponed the sending of a new Russian ambassador to Ukraine "in view of the anti-Russian position of the current Ukrainian authorities". Zurabov presented his diplomatic credentials
Diplomatic credentials
Diplomatic credentials are documents presented by foreign ambassadors and ministers to the chief of state of the host government. The documents, which follow a standard text, identify the diplomats as representatives of their governments and empowered to speak for them.According to diplomatic...
to (newly elected
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...
) Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych
Viktor Yanukovych
Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych is a Ukrainian politician who has been the President of Ukraine since February 2010.Yanukovych served as the Governor of Donetsk Oblast from 1997 to 2002...
on 2 March 2010.
Biography
Zurabov was born on 3 October 1953. He completed his undergraduate degree at the State University of Management in Moscow, and his masters degree at the All Union Scientific Research Institute for System Research. He held the position of Chairman of the Russian Pension Fund Administration from 1999 to 2004.Zurabov is seen as the third of the "Liberal Reformers" in Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov
Mikhail Fradkov
Mikhail Yefimovich Fradkov is a Russian politician and statesman who was the Prime Minister of Russia from March 2004 to September 2007. Fradkov has been the head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service since 2007.-Early life:...
's. German Gref
German Gref
German Oskarovich Gref , born February 8, 1964) is a Russian economist of German ethnicity, the founder of Center of the Strategic Development. He was the Minister of Economics and Trade of Russia from May 2000 to September 2007...
, Alexei Kudrin
Alexei Kudrin
Alexei Leonidovich Kudrin was the Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister of Russia from 18 May 2000 to 26 September 2011. After graduating with degrees in finance and economics, Kudrin worked in the administration of Saint Petersburg's liberal Mayor Anatoly Sobchak. In 1996 he started...
are the other two.
In early 2005, Zurabov, Gref, and Kudrin all came under fire for reforms to benefits for the elderly that they suggested and the State Duma had approved in 2004. Many of the reforms had to do with replacing free government-funded benefits, such as medical care and transportation, with cash payments. This replacement angered many of the elderly because transportation costs are increasing. Protests took place all over 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...
, but neither the presidential administration nor the State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
responded to these protests in any substantial way. The President reprimanded Kudrin on national television, and a few members of the State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
went on a hunger strike for a short period of time. A no-confidence vote against Fradkov's cabinet was called by the State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
in early February, but it failed. Some analysts saw the whole affair as an attempt to either discredit or perhaps get rid of one of the three men by other members of the cabinet.
For a while it was believed that Zurabov, specifically, was being set up to take the fall for the failure of the Pension Reform that Mikhail Fradkov's Second Cabinet
Mikhail Fradkov's Second Cabinet
Mikhail Fradkov's Second Cabinet was the twelfth cabinet of the government of the Russian Federation, preceded by Mikhail Fradkov's First Cabinet, which followed the cabinet led by Mikhail Kasyanov, who had been dismissed by President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2004 shortly before the...
instituted in early 2005. However, Zurabov retained his post, and continued to serve as the Minister of Health and Social Development until he was dismissed in 2007.
Zurabov is also accused of failing to provide medicine to the pensioners and handicapped.
Zurabov speaks Russian and Ukrainian
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
.
In an interview with Izvestiya v Ukraine in June 2010 Zurabov, as an ambassador to Ukraine, asserted that Russians and Ukrainians are a single nation with "some nuances, peculiarities, but a single nation".