Vadim Rabinovich

Vadim Rabinovich
'ודים רבינוביץ
Rabinovich outdoors, in an open-necked shirt
Rabinovich in 2009
Personal details
Born Vadim Zinov'evich Rabinovich
Вадим Зіновійович Рабинович
(1953-08-04) 4 August 1953
Ukraine
Citizenship
  • Ukraine
  • Israel
Nationality Ukrainian
Political party For life
Children 1 daughter, 2 sons
Residence Bitan Aharon, Israel
Occupation
Known for

Vadim Zinovyevich Rabinovich (sometimes spelled Vadym Rabynovych (Ukrainian: Вадим Зіновійович Рабинович; Russian: Вади́м Зино́вьевич Рабино́вич; Hebrew: ודים רבינוביץ'‎), born 4 August 1953 in Kharkiv, USSR, is a Ukrainian businessman, politician, president of the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress, leader of the For life party, presidential candidate in the 2014 elections and former deputy of the Ukraine VIII faction of the Opposition Bloc.

Life

In 1970, Rabinovich graduated from Kharkiv Secondary School 45 and entered the Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University. Incomplete higher education. Enters the Kharkiv Road Institute in 1974 Rabinovych expelled from Komsomol and the institute for immoral conduct.[1] From 1973 to 1975, he performed mandatory military service in the Soviet Army's Air Defense Army. After leaving the army, Rabinovich was a foreman in the repair and construction department of the Kharkiv City Council.

On January 20, 1980, arrested for embezzlement of state funds in especially big amount. Released after a nine-month investigation.[2]

In 1980-1982 heads wooden door production workshops.

Early in 1982 arrested for embezzlement of state fund in especially big amount.[3]

On February 10, 1984, sentenced to 14 years in forced-labor camp by the Kharkiv regional court. Assets confiscated and professional activity prohibited for 5 years. Then in the camp Rabinovych enrolledthe KGB, nickname Zholud.[4]

In early 1986, he began operating a business. Nine years later, Rabinovich founded the 1+1 TV channel with Alexander Rodnyansky and Boris Fuksman. In 1996, he was appointed chairman of the Israeli-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce. A naturalized Israeli citizen, Rabinovich maintains homes in Ukraine and Israel.[5] He had his visa to the United States revoked in 1995, reportedly due to his links to arms dealers.[6] From 1997 to 2009, Rabinovich was president of the Stolichnye Novosti publishing company.

Rabinovich created and led the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress in 1997.[6] He dissolved the organization in April 1999 and created the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, which elected him its leader.[6] In 2008, Rabinovich acquired the News One TV channel.

He also donated over ₪10 million to the restoration of the Hurva Synagogue.[7][8] According to some Jewish leaders, the businessman is trying to buy positive publicity to make up for the negative publicity generated by his financial and political activities.[6]

Rabinovich donated funds to help finance the reconstruction of Jerusalem's Old City Hurva Synagogue in a square named after him. Councilwoman Rachel Azaria petitioned[9] the Supreme Court of Israel to rescind the naming of the square, saying that Rabinovich was mistakenly though to be deceased. The high court agreed, revoking the naming of the square; Israeli law forbids the naming of streets and public venues in Jerusalem after living people.[10] Rabinovich supports Jewish charitable organisations, and is a benefactor of the golden menorah in Jerusalem's Temple Institute.

With help from Rabinovich, a monument to victims of terrorism was dedicated in Kiev by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, US Ambassador John E. Herbst and Russian Ambassador Viktor Chernomyrdin on 11 September 2005. Since 1997 he has been president of the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress. In 2001, Rabinovich became head of the Step Towards Unity Forum of Christians and Jews and co-chair of the European Jewish Parliament. From 2007 to 2013, he was a president of the Arsenal Kiev football club.

On 25 March 2014, Rabinovich registered with the Central Election Commission as a self-nominated candidate for the presidency of Ukraine.[11] He received 2.25 percent of the overall vote,[12] with his best showing in Dnipropetrovsk and the Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv and Odessa regions. Rabinovich was elected to Parliament that year, after placing fourth on the Opposition Bloc electoral list.[13][14] In July 2016, Rabinovich suspended his membership with the party[15] and together with ex-Opposition Bloc member Yevhen Murayev created the Za Zhyttia party (For life party, Ukrainian: За життя, the former Center Party)[16] though he did not leave the Opposition Bloc faction in order not to lose his MP mandate.[17]

Business

Being released Rabinovych along with Andrii Alioshyn establishes the Pinta firm engaged in trading in metal.

In fall 1993, Rabinovych appointed as Ukrainian representative of Austrian-based Nordex company. Reputation of Nordex president and a USSR descent and Russian mafia baron Grigory Luchansky affects image of Rabinovych.[18]

In 1999, Rabinovych naturalizes in the State of Israel.[19]

On June 24, 1999, the Security Service of Ukraine bans Rabinovych from entering Ukraine for the period of 5 years. According to the SBU press service, the decision is taken as Rabinovych's activity causes considerable damage to the economy of Ukraine. Later media report that the SBU decision is related to the fact that Rabinovych leaks information about the sale of ammunition by Ukraine to Yugoslavia despite then effective international embargo.[20]

Media holdings

Rabinovich founded Media International Group (MIG), which included the Stolichnye Novosti publishing company, the MIGnovosti and MIGnews newspapers in Ukraine and Israel, respectively, and the Delovaya Nedelya business weekly, in 2000. MIG later purchased Novoe Russkoe Slovo (The New Russian Word, the oldest Russian newspaper in the US), the Narodnaia Volna radio station, the CN-Stolichnye Novosti political weekly and the Stolichka daily newspaper. Rabinovich co-owned Jewish News One from 2011 until its closure in 2014.

2014 presidential campaign

Map of Ukraine, color-coded to indicate support for Rabinovich
Support for Rabinovich in the 2014 Ukrainian presidential election

On 28 March 2014, the Kyiv Post reported that Rabinovich had registered as a self-nominated candidate for the 2014 Ukrainian presidential election. This was partly to counter the characterization of the new Ukrainian government as anti-Semitic. After registering, Rabinovich said: "I want to destroy the myth about an anti-Semitic Ukraine which is spreading around the world. Probably I'm the most fortunate candidate. Today unification is needed, and I'm a unifying candidate. I have no maniacal thirst for power, I just want to help the country".[11] In the election, he received 2.25 percent of the vote.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Вадим Рабинович". 112.ua (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  2. ↑ "Вадим Рабінович: нардеп із двома судимостями". Політека (in Ukrainian). 2017-08-30. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  3. ↑ "Журналисты вспомнили темные пятна из жизни Вадима Рабиновича" (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  4. ↑ "Вадим Рабинович". 112.ua (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  5. ↑ http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=67110 Archived 26 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Rabinovich rallies his supporters, Kyiv Post (8 April 1999)
  7. ↑ "Hurva Synagogue restoration nears completion". Archived from the original on 3 April 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2016. , Jerusalem Post, 28 March 2008.
  8. ↑ From ruin to reconstruction, the Hurva Synagogue is completed – again, Jewish Journal, 9 March 2010.
  9. ↑ Naming of Old City plaza after oligarch stirs debate, Jerusalem Post, 1 June 2012. Archived 17 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ Why was Old City square named after Ukrainian oligarch, 500 years before his time?, The Time of Israel, 1 May 2012
  11. 1 2 http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/197738.html
  12. 1 2 "Poroshenko wins presidential election with 54.7% of vote - CEC". Radio Ukraine International. 29 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
    (in Russian) Results election of Ukrainian president, Телеграф (29 May 2014)
  13. ↑ Poroshenko Bloc to have greatest number of seats in parliament, Ukrinform (8 November 2014)
    People's Front 0.33% ahead of Poroshenko Bloc with all ballots counted in Ukraine elections - CEC, Interfax-Ukraine (8 November 2014)
    Poroshenko Bloc to get 132 seats in parliament - CEC, Interfax-Ukraine (8 November 2014)
  14. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Full electoral list of Opposition Bloc, Ukrayinska Pravda (19 September 2014)
  15. ↑ http://ukropnews24.com/from-the-opposition-bloc-goes-rabinovich/
  16. ↑ "Party 'the Center' received a new name". Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  17. ↑ "ХТО КОМУ РАБІНОВИЧ". umoloda.kiev.ua. 2018-02-07.
  18. ↑ "Отсидка, коррупция и поставка оружия террористам". from-ua.com. 2017-08-03.
  19. ↑ "Журналист опубликовал справку об израильском гражданстве депутата Рабиновича". ukranews.com. 2017-11-13.
  20. ↑ "ХТО КОМУ РАБІНОВИЧ". umoloda.kiev.ua. 2018-02-07.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.