Oleksii Reznikov
Oleksii Reznikov | |
|---|---|
Олексій Резніков | |
 | |
| 17th Minister of Defence of Ukraine | |
| Assumed office 4 November 2021 | |
| President | Volodymyr Zelensky |
| Prime Minister | Denys Shmyhal |
| Preceded by | Andriy Taran |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Minister of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories | |
| In office 4 March 2020 – 3 November 2021[1] | |
| Prime Minister | Denys Shmyhal |
| Preceded by | Oksana Koliada |
| Succeeded by | Iryna Vereshchuk |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Олексій Юрійович Резніков Oleksii Yuriyovych Reznikov 18 June 1966 Lviv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine) |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | European Solidarity |
| Education | University of Lviv |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union |
| Branch/service |  Soviet Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1984–1986 |
Oleksii Yuriyovych Reznikov (Ukrainian: Олексій Юрійович Резніков; born 18 June 1966) is a Ukrainian lawyer and politician who has since 4 November 2021 served as Minister of Defence of Ukraine.[2] Reznikov previously has served in several other positions in the government of Ukraine; Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine,[3] deputy head of the Kyiv city state administration from 2016 to 2018, and deputy mayor-secretary of the Kyiv city council from June 2014[4] to December 2015. Reznikov also served as Head of Ukraine's National delegation in Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe from 2015 to 2016, and was chosen by President Volodymyr Zelensky on 5 May 2020 to represent Ukraine in the working political subgroup at the Trilateral Contact Group regarding a settlement to the War in Donbas.[5]
Early life and education[]
Reznikov was born in Lviv, then part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in the Soviet Union. His father, Yurii Reznikov was a professor, Master of Sports Acrobatics, Provost of the Lviv State Institute of Physical Culture. His mother, Olena Reznikova, was a neurologist at Lviv neuropsychiatric clinic, Master of Sports in Rhythmic Gymnastics.
From 1984 to 1986, Reznikov served in the Soviet Air Forces.
Reznikov attended Lviv University, receiving a master's degree with honours in Law in 1991. During his university years, Reznikov actively participated in student life: he won the Law Student Olympics across the Ukrainian SSR in the individual and team competitions and represented Ukraine at the Law Student Olympics across the Soviet Union.
In addition to Ukrainian, Reznikov is fluent in Russian, English, and Polish.
Career[]
 | This section does not cite any sources. (February 2022) |
Professional career[]
Reznikov's professional career began during his last year of university, when he co-founded the brokerage company Galicia Securities. Between 1999 and 2002, he served as the Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Legislation Centre in Kyiv. He also established Pravis law firm (later Reznikov, Vlasenko and Partners), which, in 2006, merged with the law firm Magister and Partners to become Magisters.
In 2009 and 2010, Magisters won the Chambers Europe Award. In 2010, British magazine The Lawyer named Magisters the best law firm in Russia and the CIS. In 2011, Magisters was subject of a friendly takeover by Egorov, Puginsky, Afanasiev and Partners, an international group with offices in London, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kyiv, Minsk and Washington, D.C. Until 3 July 2014, Reznikov headed the Department for Disputes and served as General Counsel of Egorov, Puginsky, Afanasiev and Partners.
During his law practice, Reznikov defended then-presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko before the Supreme Court of Ukraine, and the third round of the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election was annulled.
Reznikov represented B. Fuksman and O. Rodnyanskiy in their case against the "Studio 1 + 1" in the company of Central European Media Enterprises, pertaining to their share of the ownership. He represented "Investment-Metallurgical Union" Consortium defending the legality of privatization of the "Krivorozhstal"; defended PFC "Dnieper" on privatization of the "Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant". Reznikov also represented several other people, including Savik Shuster, Vladimir Gusinsky, OJSC "Arsellor Mittal Kryviy Rih" company "Quasar" Sadogan Petroleum, DCH, FC "Metallist" (on charges of violating the principles of fair play), IA "IMC" Corporation " Interpipe ". He gained extensive experience in representing clients in the Supreme Economic Court of Ukraine, the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine, the Supreme Court of Ukraine, and in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.
On 20 June 2014, Reznikov's advocacy license (originally issued on 10 March 1994) was suspended, due to his appointment as the Secretary of the Kyiv City Council.
In November 2018, Reznikov renewed his legal practice as a partner at the Asters Law Firm. Oleksii focuses on alternative dispute resolution including: expert determination, negotiation, facilitation, conciliation, mediation, fact-finding, early neutral evaluation, settlement conference and settlement agreements.
Social and community activities[]
 | This biographical article is written like a résumé. (February 2022) |
- Was a member of the House of Qualification Certification of the Disciplinary Commission of the Bar of Kyiv.
- Provided legal assistance and support to the Ukrainian Medical Union.
- In 2005 was a member of the Supervisory Board of OJSC "State Savings Bank of Ukraine"
- Lectured at the School of Lawyers' Skills.
- Lectured classes for young lawyers at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Solomon University, Lviv University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Since 2009 – Professor of Public Law at the International Solomon University. Lectured "Advocacy in Ukraine" course "Actual problems of judicial law in Ukraine".
- Since 2010 founder of the "Oleksii Reznikov Scholarship For Young and Talented Law Graduates of Ukraine".
- Author of workshops in the framework of the overall project with the Bureau of leading Belarusian publishing of "Industrial and commercial law."
- Participated in the development of the "Tax Code of Ukraine" project, the Law of Ukraine "On Advocacy in Ukraine", and changes to the Commercial Code.
- Participated in the Ukrainian TV version of the program "What? Where? When? Star Wars”, winning in team competition and receiving the "Silver Owl" prize in season 2014.
Political career[]
In the 2014 Kyiv local election, Reznikov was elected to Kyiv City Council's 7th convocation as a member of Solidarity.[4] Reznikov served as chairman of the Kyiv City Council Commission for the Restitution of the Rights of the Rehabilitated. On 19 June 2014, Reznikov was appointed Deputy Mayor – Secretary of the Kyiv City Council.[4]
Reznikov has served in multiple positions, including as head of Ukraine's National delegation in Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe from 2015 to 2016. Afterwards, he turned to activism, serving as Deputy Chairman of the Mayor Anti-Corruption Council, as a board member of the "Let's Do it Together" social project. At the same time, he also remained in government becoming a member of the Reformation Team for the Decentralisation, Local Government and Regional Policy of the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development.
On 4 March 2020, Reznikov was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine in the Shmyhal Government.[3] On 18 September 2019, President Volodymyr Zelensky authorised Reznikov to represent Ukraine in the working political subgroup at the Trilateral Contact Group on a Donbas settlement.[5] On 5 May 2020 President Volodymyr Zelensky authorised Reznikov to First Deputy Head of the Ukrainian delegation at the Trilateral Contact Group.
On 1 November 2021, Oleksii Reznikov submitted his letter of resignation from the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine role. This resignation request was registered by the Verkhovna Rada on 1 November 2021.[6] On 3 November 2021 the Verkhovna Rada dismissed him as Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, and subsequently appointed him Minister of Defence.[1][7]
The United States estimated in December 2021 that Russia could assemble 175,000 troops to invade Ukraine.[8] Reznikov said that "we have 250,000 official ... members of our army. Plus, I said 400,000 veterans and 200,000 reservists. 175,000 (is) not enough to go to Ukraine."[9] Reznikov said that Russia could launch a large-scale attack on Ukraine in late January 2022.[10] In December 2021 he accused Germany of vetoing Ukraine’s purchase of anti-drone rifles and anti-sniper systems via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.[11]
On 25 January 2022, Reznikov said he saw no threat of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.[12][13] [needs update]
Personal life[]
Reznikov participates in trophy and rally raids, enjoys scuba diving, playing tennis, and skiing. He was the director of the amateur short films "People-quad" and "People-ATV: Elusive Again." He has over 260 diving expeditions, 163 parachute jumps, and tens of thousands of kilometres travelled on ATV over rough terrain.
In 2009 he took part in the Silk Way Rally in the Dakar Series as a co-pilot and navigator. The rally took place on the territory of three countries (Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan) and Karakum Desert.
- Two-time silver medallist of the Ukraine trophy-raid (2011–2012);
- Champion of the Ukraine trophy-raid (2013);
- Master of Sport of Ukraine in Motorsport.
Honours and awards[]
- For the past 10 years, Mr Reznikov remained in the lists of the most prominent lawyers of Ukraine.
- Honoured Lawyer of Ukraine in 2006.
- Tops the list of the best professionals to resolve disputes according to international professional journals «PLC Which Lawyer?» Since 2007.
- Honorary Professor of International Solomon University. The title was awarded for a series of workshops organized for students, graduators, practitioners since 2008.
- In the top of first category of lawyers to resolve disputes according to the edition of Chambers Europe. In the top of fifty best lawyers of Ukraine according to the rating "Leading Lawyers of Ukraine" in 2008.
- World's Leading Litigation Lawyers Guide Reznikov was recognized as one of the best trial lawyers in Ukraine by World's Leading Litigation Lawyers Guide. The same year, the magazine "Focus" placed O.Reznikov among the 30 the most successful lawyers of the country (2010).
- In 2019, at a reception dedicated to Independence Day, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Ukraine Bartosz Jan Cichocki presented Oleksii Reznikov with a state award - the Silver Cross of Merit (Poland).
References[]
- ^ a b Parliament sacks Deputy Prime Minister Reznikov, Ukrinform (3 November 2021)
- ^ Ukrainian Lawmakers Approve Reznikov As New Defense Minister, Radio Free Europe (4 November 2021)
- ^ a b Kitsoft. "Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine - Verkhovna Rada has appointed the new composition of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine". www.kmu.gov.ua. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ a b c Oleksiy Reznikov elected as Kiev City Council Secretary, Interfax-Ukraine (19 June 2014)
(in Ukrainian) The Secretary of the Council have chosen a partner of the defender of Tymoshenko, Espreso TV (19 June 2014) - ^ a b Zelensky appoints lawyer, ex-secretary of Kyiv Council Reznikov to represent Ukraine in political subgroup in Minsk, Interfax-Ukraine (18.09.2019)
- ^ Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Submits Resignation, Radio Free Europe (November 2021)
- ^ Ukrainian Lawmakers Approve Reznikov As New Defense Minister, Radio Free Europe (4 November 2021)
- ^ "U.S. Intel Says Russia Is Preparing 175,000 Troops For Ukraine Offensive". Forbes. 3 December 2021.
- ^ "Ukraine defense minister warns of 'bloody massacre' if Russia invades". The Hill. 7 December 2021.
- ^ "Russian invasion likely at 'the end of January,' warns Ukraine defence minister". National Post. 3 December 2021.
- ^ Olearchyk, Roman; Hall, Ben (12 December 2021). "Ukraine blames Germany for 'blocking' Nato weapons supply". Financial Times.
- ^ "Ukraine is urging calm, saying the Russian invasion won't happen soon". Deseret News. 25 January 2022.
- ^ "Minister of Defense of Ukraine Reznikov: "Russia is not ready for an attack on Ukraine"". 247 News Agency. 25 January 2022.
- O. Reznikov speech at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (on 16 October 2014) http://clients.dbee.com/coe/webcast/index.php?id=20141016-1&lang=en[permanent dead link]
- Mme Badlilita M Reznikov M Chiveri - interview during the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtspPuawF2Q
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oleksii Reznikov. |
 |
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Oleksii Reznikov |
- 1966 births
- Living people
- Politicians from Kyiv
- University of Lviv alumni
- Politicians from Lviv
- 21st-century Ukrainian lawyers
- 21st-century Ukrainian politicians
- Independent politicians in Ukraine
- Temporarily occupied territories and IDPs ministers of Ukraine
- National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine
- Vice Prime Ministers of Ukraine
- Defence ministers of Ukraine
- Ukrainian rally drivers