Borys Kolesnikov

Borys Kolesnikov Wiktorowytsch (Ukrainian Борис Вікторович Колесніков; Russian Борис Викторович Колесников; born October 25, 1962 in Mariupol, Ukrainian SSR ) is a Ukrainian businessman and politician. From 11 March 2010 to December 24, 2012, he was Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov at the Cabinet of.

Since end of March 2014 Kolesnikov is chairman of the Party of Regions.

Life

Kolesnikov graduated from the University in Donetsk a study of economics and was in the Soviet Union in leadership positions of commercial and industrial enterprises operate. Since his youth, he is friends with Rinat Akhmetov.

As of 1991, Kolesnikov was employed in senior positions with companies in the Ukrainian food industry. At times, he was CEO of the second largest confectionery manufacturer of Ukraine, the continent group. Kolesnikov still keeps hold larger stakes in several companies in the Ukrainian food industry and is considered one of the richest men in the country.

Kolesnikov is married and has a son and a daughter. He is vice president of the football club Shakhtar Donetsk.

Policy

Kolesnikov began his political activities in 1999. After he was first deputy governor of the Donetsk Oblast, he was elected in 2001 as chairman of the regional parliament and remained in that office until 2006. Since 2003 he was also chairman of the party of regions in the Donetsk Oblast. Already at that time he was considered one of the closest confidants of Viktor Yanukovych he also assisted in the presidential elections of 2004.

After the election of Viktor Yushchenko as President of Ukraine Kolesnikov was accused in April 2005 in connection with the sale of shares at a Donetsk department store of extortion and temporarily detained. He was also accused of having called during the election campaign to a secession of the southern Ukraine in case of electoral success of Yushchenko. The charges against Kolesnikov were dropped in August 2005.

In the parliamentary elections of 2006 and 2007, he was selected for the Party of Regions in the Verkhovna Rada. Kolesnikov is a member of the Presidium of the party.

After the election victory of Yanukovych in the 2010 presidential election Kolesnikov was initially as a candidate to the post of prime minister, then was on 11 March 2010 but the Deputy Prime Minister and to the person responsible for the implementation of the 2012 European Football Championship appointed. Since December 2010, he held the office of Minister of Infrastructure.

After the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych by the Euromaidan Kolesnikov was elected on March 29, 2014 as Chairman of the Party of Regions.