Taras Kozak

Taras Kozak (Ukrainian: Тарас Романович Козак; b. 6 April 1972, Lviv) is a Ukrainian politician, state servant, businessman, media proprietor. People's Deputy of the 8th convocation, elected in 2014 from the Opposition Bloc party. People's Deputy of Ukraine of 9th convocation from the Opposition Platform — For Life party.

In June 2019, he created Novyny holding (“News holding”), which includes ZIK, NewsOne and 112 Ukraine TV channels. The activities and rhetoric of the deputy, the party and the media holding are considered to be very biased and pro-Russian.[1][2] In July 2019, employees of the ZIK TV channel, a number of newspapers, NGOs and institutions, a coalition of NGOs "Reanimation Package of Reforms" (more than 70 organizations), as well as public figures, journalists and public opinion leaders called on the state to take measures to prevent monopolization of media space by pro-Russian forces.[3]

He voted against the Law on Recognition of Ukrainian Sovereignty over the Occupied Territories of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.[4]

Career

In 1993-2003 Kozak worked in the State Tax Administration and in 2003-2010 he worked in the State Customs Service.[5][6] In 2005 he was a member of political party Russko-Ukrainskiy Soyuz that ran for parliament as part of the Natalia Vitrenko Bloc.[7] In 2010 he became a deputy in the Lviv Oblast council[5] and in 2014 Kozak became a people's deputy representing Opposition Bloc.[5][8] And after the 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election for Opposition Platform — For Life.[9]

Taras Kozak is a member of political organization "Ukrainskiy vybor" led by Viktor Medvedchuk.[10] At the end of 2018 the Ukrainian politician official acquired several important Ukrainian television media such as NewsOne (from Yevhen Muraev)[11] and 112 Ukraine.[12] In June of 2019 Kozak also bought television channel ZIK.[13] After acquiring of ZIK by Kozak, journalists en masse left the company in protest.[14]

Scandals

In an electronic declaration, Kozak hid his wife's oil business in Russia.[15] The People's Deputy is also involved in the case of tax evasion by Tedis company.[16]

After the acquisition of ZIK TV channel, the CEO left and most of the other employees resigned.[17][18] The reason was the person of the new owner.

Taras Kozak took part in a fraudulent scheme to sell anthracite from the occupied Donbass under the guise of coal from South Africa.[19]

Awards

In 2002 Kozak was awarded Order of Merit, 3rd degree.[20]

References
  1. "Russia-friendly lawmaker Kozak buys ZIK TV channel, journalists resign | KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice". KyivPost. 2019-06-14. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  2. "Parties' Funding: How Pro-Russian Oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk Is Regaining Power in Ukraine". en.hromadske.ua. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  3. "We call on the prevention of the creeping Occupation of the media space by Russia. A statement by former ZIK employees, Mediarukh and NGOs". Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  4. "Офіційний портал Верховної Ради України". w1.c1.rada.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 2018-01-21. Retrieved 2018-01-21. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (help)
  5. People's Deputy Taras Kozak received as a gift Audi A8 (Нардеп Тарас Козак отримав у подарунок Audi A8). Nashi Groshi. 13 December 2016
  6. Taras Kozak: In the oblast council I am a single warior in a field (Тарас Козак: В облраді я – один у полі воїн). Vgolos. 20 October 2011
  7. Taras Kozak. Chesno.
  8. Taras Kozak. Verkhovna Rada.
  9. https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/616804.html
  10. Taras Kozak (Тарас Козак). Ukrainskiy vybor.
  11. Churylova, K. Taras Kozak became an owner of the NewsOne channel. Zaxid. 5 October 2018
  12. Taras Kozak bought "112 Ukraina" for 73 million hryvnia (Тарас Козак купив "112 Україна" за 73 мільйони гривень). Ukrayinska Pravda. 17 December 2018
  13. The Medvedchuk's companion bought Ukrainian TV channel: details (Соратник Медведчука купив український телеканал: подробиці). Obozrevatel. 14 June 2019
  14. Top managers and journalists have resigned en masse out of the "Medvedchuk's" ZIK (С "медведчуковского" ZIKа массово увольняются топ-менеджеры и журналисты). Ukrayinska Pravda. 14 June 2019
  15. "«У бізнесі тільки дівчата»: як соратник Медведчука депутат Козак «забув» задекларувати цивільну дружину з бізнесом у РФ". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  16. "ГПУ вийшла на компанію з орбіти Медведчука у справі тютюнового монополіста". Bihus.Info (in Ukrainian). 2017-07-05. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  17. "Генеральний директор медіахолдингу ZIK звільнився". detector.media (in Ukrainian). 2019-06-14. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  18. "Низка топ-менеджерів медіахолдингу ZIK звільняється через нового власника". detector.media (in Ukrainian). 2019-06-14. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  19. "Операція "Легалізація". Як Медведчук і Ко "вПАРюють" вугілля Україні" (PDF). line feed character in |title= at position 42 (help)
  20. Presidential ukase. About distinguishing officials of Tax Service of Ukraine with state awards of Ukraine (Про відзначення державними нагородами України працівників податкової служби України). Verkhovna Rada. 31 October 2002
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