Georgy Poltavchenko
Георгий Полтавченко
Governor of Saint Petersburg
In office
22 August 2011 – 3 October 2018
Preceded byValentina Matvienko
Succeeded byAlexander Beglov
1st Plenipotentiary Representative in the Central Federal District
In office
18 May 2000 – 31 August 2011
Succeeded byAndrey Popov (acting)
Personal details
Born
Georgy Sergeevich Poltavchenko

(1953-02-24) 24 February 1953
Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union
(now Baku, Azerbaijan)
NationalityRussia Russian
Political partyYabloko (2001-present)
Other political
affiliations		Communist Party (1975-1991)
Independent (1991-2001)
SpouseYekaterina Leonidovna Poltavchenko
ChildrenAleksey Poltavchenko (b. 1985)
Alma materSaint Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation
ProfessionPolitician
Signature

Georgy Sergeyevich Poltavchenko (Russian: Гео́ргий Серге́евич Полта́вченко, IPA: [ɡʲɪˈorɡʲɪj sʲɪrˈɡʲejɪvʲɪtɕ pɐlˈtaftɕɪnkə]; born on 24 February 1953) is a Russian politician. He has the federal state civilian service rank of 1st class Active State Councillor of the Russian Federation.[1]

He became Governor of Saint Petersburg in 2011. On 3 October 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin replaced him by Alexander Beglov on an interim basis until the 2019 city election.[2] Previously, he served as the Presidential Envoy to the Central Federal District.

Life

He was born in Azerbaijan in 1953; his father was of Ukrainian descent. He studied at Leningrad Aviation Instrument-Making Institute. After graduation he worked at Leninets Research and Production Association and at a district Komsomol (Young Communists' League) committee in Leningrad. He began service in the KGB in 1979. From 1980 to 1990, he occupied various posts in the KGB, ultimately becoming chief of department, Vyborg directorate, regional department of KGB in Leningrad and the Leningrad region. Georgy was deputy of the Leningrad Regional Council from 1990 to 1993, deputy of Leningrad Regional Council. He was then chief of St. Petersburg directorate, Federal Tax Police from 1993 to 1999. He ran for the Leningrad city council unsuccessfully in 1998. From 1999 to 2000, he was plenipotentiary representative of the Russian President to Leningrad Oblast.

Political career

Governor of Saint Petersburg

Poltavchenko served as Governor of St. Petersburg from 31 August 2011 to 3 October 2018.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Georgy Poltavchenko, 30 August 2011

On 22 August 2011, Georgy Poltavchenko was appointed Acting Governor of St. Petersburg.[3] On 27 August 2011, the United Russia party supported Poltavchenko's candidacy for the post of governor of St. Petersburg. On 30 August, President Dmitry Medvedev approved Poltavchenko's candidacy as governor of St. Petersburg.[4]

On 31 August 2011, the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg was endowed with the powers of the Governor of St. Petersburg. 37 deputies supported his candidacy, while five abstained from voting, and none voted against it.[5] On the same day, he took office as governor of St. Petersburg.[6] He retained his membership in the Security Council in his new position.[7]

From 28 July 2012 to 22 February 2013, Poltavchenko was a Member of the Presidium of the State Council of the Russian Federation.[8][9]

In the early elections of the governor of St. Petersburg in 2014, Poltavchenko won 79.3% of the vote and retained his position.[10] Poltavchenko used the Strategy for the Economic and Social Development of St. Petersburg until 2030, adopted in May 2014, as his election program.[11] At the same time, critics noted that the elections were virtually uncontested since the leading opposition candidate, Oksana Dmitriyeva, a representative of the A Just Russia party, could not overcome the municipal filter.[12] In this regard, the A Just Russia and Yabloko parties announced their non-recognition of the election results and the legitimacy of the elected governor.[13]

In June 2016, Poltavchenko signed a decree on the erection of the Akhmad Kadyrov Bridge in St. Petersburg.

In December 2016, Poltavchenko transferred St. Isaac's Cathedral to the Russian Orthodox Church.[14] Currently, the transfer process of the cathedral is frozen.

During Poltavchenko's term in St. Petersburg, five stations of the St. Petersburg metro were opened, and the city's highest number of churches in recent history was built.[15]

One of the main reforms for which the citizens of St. Petersburg are grateful to Poltavchenko is the rejection of reagents on the roads in the winter. The streets of the northern capital were no longer sprinkled with salt, which allowed the city to maintain its grand appearance and remain snow-white throughout the winter. The reagents were replaced by granite chips: they do not corrode shoes and are much cheaper for the city. Petersburgers note that winter in the city has become much brighter and more elegant.[15] In 2021, the reagents returned to the city streets due to an abnormally snowy winter.

Poltavchenko solved the issue of heating supply, which warmed the houses of St. Petersburg. According to the old regulations, waiting until the air temperature rose above 8°C for five days was necessary. Now, heating is supplied to houses according to the weather.[15]

Poltavchenko proclaimed the policy of preserving the industrial potential of St. Petersburg. From 2012 to 2018, more than 100 new industries were created in St. Petersburg, and the city reached a significant growth rate of industrial production, which continues to grow even now (more than 5% annually).[16] Decisions were made regarding preserving industries within the city, and many measures were agreed upon to support the domestic industry, which became most relevant in 2014 when retaliatory sanctions came into force.

Poltavchenko brought city holidays to a new level. For example, on the Day of the City, Petersburgers are now accustomed to the generally accessible beauty. Classics on Palace Square is a unique format that allows everyone to enjoy the performance of world opera and ballet stars for free.[17]

On 3 October 2018, by decree of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Poltavchenko was dismissed from the post of Governor of St. Petersburg in connection with the transfer to another job: Georgy Poltavchenko was invited to head the board of directors of the United Shipbuilding Corporation. On 25 December 2018, he was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the United Shipbuilding Corporation.

Controversy

LGBT Dispute

In March 2012, Poltavchenko drew the ire of the LGBT community in Russia after he approved a controversial law penalizing the propaganda of homosexuality. In retaliation, the LGBT community in Russia sent letters to the United States, the European Union, Australia and Canada asking them to ban entry for city officials behind the controversial gay propaganda ban.

Plagiarism

In May 2013, according to examination of his doctoral thesis made by Dissernet, Poltavchenko was accused of plagiarism: an overwhelming part of the text had been copy-pasted from several other doctoral theses and books.[18][19]

Awards

Russian
Dynastic orders

References

  1. ↑ "О присвоении квалификационного разряда Полтавченко Г.С.". Decree No. 712 of 18 June 2001 (in Russian). President of Russia.
  2. ↑ The Associated Press (3 October 2018). "Putin replaces St Petersburg governor as part of reshuffle". Retrieved 3 October 2018 – via National Post.
  3. ↑ "Дмитрий Медведев подписал Указ «О досрочном прекращении полномочий губернатора Санкт-Петербурга»" [Dmitry Medvedev signed the Decree "On the early termination of the powers of the Governor of St. Petersburg"]. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  4. ↑ "Президент выбрал на пост губернатора Санкт-Петербурга своего полпреда в ЦФО и дал ему задания" [The President chose his plenipotentiary in the Central Federal District for the post of governor of St. Petersburg and gave him tasks]. Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  5. ↑ "Георгий Полтавченко стал губернатором Санкт-Петербурга" [Georgy Poltavchenko became governor of St. Petersburg]. Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  6. ↑ Георгий Полтавченко вступил в должность губернатора Санкт-Петербурга on REGNUM News Agency
  7. ↑ "Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 4 сентября 2011 года № 1141 «О внесении изменения в состав Совета Безопасности Российской Федерации, утверждённый Указом Президента Российской Федерации от 25 мая 2008 года № 836»" [Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of 4 September 2011, No. 1141 "On introducing changes to the composition of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, approved by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of 25 May 2008 No. 836"]. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  8. ↑ "Распоряжение Президента Российской Федерации от 28.07.2012 г. № 343-рп «О президиуме Государственного совета Российской Федерации»" [Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of 28 July 2012 No. 343-rp “On the Presidium of the State Council of the Russian Federation”]. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  9. ↑ "Распоряжение Президента Российской Федерации от 22.02.2013 г. № 65-рп «О президиуме Государственного совета Российской Федерации»" [Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of 22 February 2013 No. 65-rp “On the Presidium of the State Council of the Russian Federation”]. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  10. ↑ "В Петербурге завершился подсчёт всех голосов на губернаторских выборах" [Petersburg completed the counting of all votes in the gubernatorial elections]. Archived from the original on 15 January 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  11. ↑ Полтавченко назвал своей предвыборной программой стратегию развития города до 2030 года
  12. ↑ "Оксана Дмитриева сошла с дистанции" [Oksana Dmitriyeva left the race]. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "«Яблоко» и «СР»: Петербургская власть прикрывает глаза на беспредел во время муниципальных выборов" ["Yabloko" and "SR": the St. Petersburg authorities close their eyes to lawlessness during the municipal elections]. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Возвращение святого Исаакия" [Return of Saint Isaac]. Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  15. 1 2 3 "Чем запомнился Георгий Полтавченко на посту губернатора Петербурга?" [How is Georgy Poltavchenko remembered as governor of St. Petersburg?]. spb.aif.ru (in Russian). 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  16. ↑ "Итоги развития промышленности Санкт-Петербурга за 2018 год" [Results of the development of industry in St. Petersburg for 2018] (PDF) (in Russian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  17. ↑ Sebeleva, Irina (3 October 2018). "Семь лет у власти: Чем запомнился Георгий Полтавченко на посту губернатора Санкт-Петербурга" [Seven years in power: How Georgy Poltavchenko is remember as governor of St. Petersburg]. spb.kp.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  18. ↑ Published results of the expertise of Georgy Poltavchenko’s thesis on Dissernet server
  19. ↑ Russian authorities to put an end to ‘cribbing’ in theses
  20. ↑ List of recipients: Order of St. Anna. Saintanna.ru.
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