Armenian Arsen Avakov elected as Ukrainian interim Interior Minister –
Armenian Arsen Avakov elected as Ukrainian interim Interior Minister –
Parliament in Ukraine elected opposition lawmaker Arsen Avakov as interior minister on Saturday until the formation of a new coalition government.
Avakov takes over the powerful post after lawmakers on Friday dismissed Vitaly Zakharchenko, an ally of embattled President Viktor Yanukovich, following two days of carnage in the capital, Kiev.
ARSEN AVAKOV
Arsen Avakov was born on January 2, 1964 in Kirova town (Kirovskiy district which is now Binagadinskiy district) of Baku (Azerbaijan) into a military family and is of Armenian ethnicity.
Since 1966 Avakov has been permanently residing in Ukraine.
From 1981 to 1982 Arsen Avakov worked as a laboratory assistant at the Chair for Automated Control Systems in Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute.
In 1988 he graduated from Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute as a systems engineer with a major in automated control systems.
In 1987—1990 Avakov was employed by All-Union Scientific-Research Institute on Water Protection (Kharkiv) as an engineer.
In 1990 Arsen Avakov founded and headed “Investor” JSC, аnd “Basis” Commercial Bank later in 1992.
In 2002 Avakov was elected a Member of the Executive Committee of Kharkiv City Council.
On February 4, 2005 by the Decree of the President of Ukraine Arsen Avakov was appointed the Head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration [ and resigned from the position of the Head of “Investor” JSC and “Basis” Commercial Bank Supervisory Board.
On March 26, 2006 he was elected a Deputy of Kharkiv Regional Council of the 6th convocation, a member of the Standing Committee on Budgetary Issues.
On October 31, 2010 Arsen Avakov was elected a Deputy of Kharkiv Regional Council of the 6th convocation, a member of the Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Historical Heritage, Intellectual Wealth and National Minorities.
On February 9, 2010 he resigned pursuant to Part 3 of Article 31 of The Law of Ukraine “On Civil Service”: “Principled disagreement with decisions made by the public body or an official thereof, and ethical reasons preventing continuation of civil service”.
On February 1, 2010 Avakov withdrew from “Our Ukraine” political party headed by the President Viktor Yushchenko. At the close of his term of office in Kharkiv Regional State Administration Avakov issued a detailed Summary Report.
On April 21, 2010 Arsen Avakov joined “Batkivshchyna” party and accepted the offer of Yulia Tymoshenko to lead the regional organization of “Batkivshchyna” political party (Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko).
Avakov published 12 scientific papers, one monograph and a number of essays on political and social issues. He is married and has a son named Oleksandr.
Arsen Avakov is a member of “Batkivshchyna” political party.