Oleksandr Onyshchenko

Oleksandr Onyshchenko (Ukrainian: Олександр Романович Онищенко, born March 31, 1969) is a Ukrainian politician, show jumping rider and patron, and philanthropist. In summer of 2016 Onyshchenko fled Ukraine after the General Prosecutor Office expressed its suspicion of corruption against and intention to arrest him. Moreover, in December 2016 the Security Service of Ukraine is suspecting him of treason.

Oleksandr Onyshchenko
Oleksandr Onyshchenko in 2015
Born (1969-03-31) March 31, 1969
Matveev-Kurgan, Rostov Oblast, Russian SFSR
OccupationPolitician, show jumper
Political partySocialist Party of Ukraine

Early life

Oleksandr Onyshchenko was born on March 31, 1969.[1] In some Ukrainian media is a claim that previously Onyshchenko carried a different family name.[2]

He was educated at the Kharkiv Military College of the Rear of the Soviet Ministry of Interior (today the National Academy of the National Guard of Ukraine) and graduated from the National Transport University.[1]

Business career

Onyshchenko started his career in 1990, where he worked in the oil and gas industry.[1]

Onyshchenko still owns oil and gas distribution company "GK Gazovy Alyans".[3]

Political career

In 2007 Onyshchenko was appointed as an assistant Minister for Emergencies and affairs in protection of population from the consequences of the Chernobyl Catastrophe (today State Emergency Service of Ukraine).[4] He has served as a member of the Verkhovna Rada since 2012.[5] In 2012 he was elected to parliament in electoral district 93 (located in Kiev Oblast) for Party of Regions.[6] In 2014 he was re-elected in the same district as an independent candidate.[6] In parliament he became a member of the parliamentary faction People's Will.[6]

In 2016, he was accused of corruption by President Petro Poroshenko,[5] whom he accused of corruption.[7] People's Will expelled him in June 2017.[6] His parliamentary immunity was stripped in July 2016.[8]

Show jumping and philanthropy

Onyshchenko became a professional show jumping rider in 2000,[4] when he acquired a stud farm in Belgium.[1] He subsequently purchased another stud farm in Germany.[1] He was the president of the Equestrian Federation of Ukraine from 2002 to 2013.[4] In 2008, he as the president of the Equestrian Federation presented the national team of Ukraine for the first time in the Olympics and competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics (jumping event), the 2012 Summer Olympics (jumping event), and the 2014 Show Jumping World Championships.[4]

In 2013 Onyshchenko bought FC Arsenal Kyiv[9][10] which at the end of the same year was announced as bankrupt and was withdrawn from the football competitions (see 2013-14 Ukrainian Premier League).

Onyshchenko is the founder and director of "Top Ukraine", a charity to promote "sport, fashion, art and culture in Ukraine".[4] The Top Ukraine organizes such events as Miss Ukraine and Miss Ukraine Universe.[11]

Personal life

Onyshchenko has two children.[1] Onyshchenko was married to Miss Ukraine 1997 Kseniya Kuzmenko.[6] (According to Ukrainian media) in 2009 he was engaged to Ukrainian model Snejana Onopka, but the couple didn't marry.[6] Onyshchenko was married to Ganna Rizatdinova (who is 24 years younger than him[12]).[13][14] In 2017 their son Roman was born.[13]

In August 2016 Onyshchenko moved to London, UK because he feared for his life claiming "president (Petro Poroshenko) organises everything to kill me."[8] He later moved to Spain.[15]

See also

References
  1. "Oleksandr ONYSHCHENKO". International Federation for Equestrian Sports. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  2. What do the passports of politicians conceal (Що приховують паспорти політиків). Comments.ua. 30 July 2012
  3. The company of MP Onyshchenko will be delivering gas to Metinvet and ArcelorMittal Kryvoi Rog (Компания депутата Онищенко будет поставлять газ "Метинвесту" и "ArcelorMittal Кривой Рог"). Interfax-Ukraine. 20 June 2013
  4. "Oleksandr Onyshchenko". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  5. Cuckson, Pippa (July 6, 2016). "Ukraine showjumping mogul denies corruption allegations ahead of Rio". Horse & Hound. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  6. (in Russian)/(website has automatic Google Translate option) Short bio, LIGA
  7. "Ukrainian President Rejects Fugitive Lawmaker's Corruption Accusations, But Shock Waves Extend Abroad". RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty. December 7, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  8. Cole, Brendan (August 22, 2016). "Showjumping Ukrainian MP facing embezzlement charges flees to London". International Business Times. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  9. MP Onyshchenko bought FC Arsenal for $20 million and has intentions to compete against FC Dynamo Kyiv (Нардеп Онищенко купил ФК «Арсенал» за $ 20 млн и намерен побороться с киевским «Динамо»). Argumentua. 6 February 2013
  10. MP Onyshchenko will return to Arsenal its name at the times of the Soviet Union (Нардеп Онищенко вернет «Арсеналу» его название времен СССР). Argumentua. 18 June 2013
  11. MP-regionalist Oleksandr Onyshchenko acquired FC Arsenal Kyiv (Нардеп-регионал Александр Онищенко приобрел киевский ФК "Арсенал"). Mirror Weekly from TCH. 6 February 2013
  12. "Онищенко підтвердив, що є батьком первістка Різатдінової".
  13. "Різатдінова зібралася в Раду разом із Онищенком".
  14. "Чому Скороход образилася на фракцію "Слуга народу", хто її чоловік-банкір з Росії, та до чого тут Онищенко, Фукс і Коломойський". Українська правда.
  15. "Ситник розповів, коли Онищенка можуть екстрадувати до України". m.tyzhden.ua. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Vadim Rabinovich		 President of FC Arsenal Kyiv
2013–2013		 Succeeded by
club went bankrupt
Preceded by
I.Musiyenko		 President of the Equestrian Federation of Ukraine
2002–2013		 Succeeded by
Yuriy Chertkov
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