Viktor Baloha
People's Deputy of Ukraine
Assumed office
15 December 2012[1]
Emergency Minister of Ukraine
In office
12 November 2010 – 20 November 2012[2]
PresidentViktor Yanukovych
Prime MinisterMykola Azarov
Preceded byMykhaylo Bolotskykh
Succeeded byMinistry of Defense[3]
Head of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine
In office
15 September 2006 – 19 May 2009
PresidentViktor Yushchenko
Preceded byOleh Rybachuk
Succeeded byVira Ulianchenko
Emergency Minister of Ukraine
In office
27 September 2005 – 5 October 2006
PresidentViktor Yushchenko
Prime MinisterYuriy Yekhanurov
Preceded byDavyd Zhvania
Succeeded byNestor Shufrych
Governor of Zakarpattia
In office
4 February 2005 – 27 September 2005
PresidentLeonid Kuchma
Preceded byIvan Rizak
Succeeded byOleh Gavashi
In office
5 May 1999 – 1 June 2001
Preceded bySergiy Ustych
Succeeded byHennadiy Moskal
Mayor of Mukachevo
In office
10 April 1998 – 5 May 1999
Preceded byVasil Yitio
Succeeded byYosyp Kull
Personal details
Born (1963-06-15) 15 June 1963
Zavydovo, Мukachevo District, Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Political partyUnited Centre (2008–present)
Our Ukraine (2007–2008)
Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united) (1997–2000)
Alma materLviv Commercial Academy (The Lviv institute of trade and economics)
Signature

Viktor Ivanovych Baloha (Ukrainian: Віктор Іванович Балога, born 15 June 1963, Zavydovo) is a Ukrainian politician and the former emergency situations minister.[4][2]

Early life and education

Viktor Baloha was born on 15 June 1963 in the village Zavydovo, Mukachevo district, Zakarpattia Oblast,[5] to Ivan Pavlovych Baloha and Mariya Vasilivna Baloha. He has two brothers, Ivan and Pavlo Ivanovych.

Baloha graduated from the secondary school of the village Zahattya of Іrshava district in 1980, which he attended after having finished the eight-year school in the village Zavydovo in 1978. He then enrolled at the Lviv institute of trade and economics and graduated with a degree in "Commodity science and food products trade organization" in 1984.[5]

Career

Following his compulsory military service in the Soviet Army,[5] Baloha worked as a senior commodity expert in Beregovo Regional Consumer Society in the city of Beregovo. He continued to work as a commodity expert in various cities, rising to the position of the Chairman of the management board of LLC "Barva" in Mukachevo in 1997.[5]

On 10 April 1998, Baloha was elected the Mayor of the city of Мukachevо and worked as a Mayor till 5 May 1999,[6] when on 5 May 1999 he was appointed as Zakarpattia Regional State Administration Chairman.[7]

Being against the resignation of the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, Baloha resigned and was subsequently discharged from the position of the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration Chairman on 1 June 2001, according to his letter of resignation.[8] He briefly reprises his role as the Chairman of the management board of LLC "Barva".[5]

Rejoining politics, Baloha was elected the Mayor at municipal elections and simultaneously the People's Deputy at parliamentary election on 3 April 2002. He chose to work in the Verkhovna Rada.[9]

From 2002 to 2005, he was th People's Deputy of Ukraine for electoral district No.71,[9] and was the member of the "Our Ukraine"(Ukrainian: Наша Україна, Nasha Ukrayina) parliamentary faction. He also was a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on the issues of economic policy, administration of national economy, property and investments.[10]

In May 2004 Baloha stood for Mukachevo city Mayor Election as one of the main candidates but lost the vote. Elections were declared invalid due to electoral fraud.

During the presidential campaign Baloha became the election agent of Viktor Yushchenko in Zakarpattia, electoral district No.71.[11] On 4 February 2005, after being elected president, Viktor Yushchenko appointed Viktor Baloha to the position of Zakarpattia Regional State Administration Chairman.[12]

On 8 September 2005 the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine terminated the powers of Baloha V.I. as the People's Deputy of Ukraine ahead of time according to his personal statement of resignation.[13] Baloha was then released of his post as Zakarpattia Regional State Administration Chairman in September 2005 by president Viktor Yushchenko.[14] He was then appointed Minister of Emergencies and Affairs of Population Protection from the Consequences of the Chernobyl Catastrophe of Ukraine,[15][16] followed by being appointed to the position of the Head of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine in 2006.[17]

On 5 October 2006 Viktor Baloha resigned from the position of the Minister of Emergencies and Affairs of Population Protection from the Consequences of the Chernobyl Catastrophe of Ukraine.[18] He also filed his resignation from the position of the Head of Secretariat of the President of Ukraine on Baloha's own accord and was released in May 2009.[19] Viktor Baloha cited as the main reason for his resignation his disagreement with the decision of Yushchenko to run for president for a second term.[20] Baloha also argued that his role had become pointless given the apathy of the President.[21]

On 12 November 2010 the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych appointed Viktor Baloha to the position of the Minister of Emergencies and Affairs of Population Protection from the Consequences of the Chernobyl Catastrophe of Ukraine.[22]

On 9 December 2010, Yanukovych discharged Baloha from that role and instead appointed him to the position of the Minister of Emergencies of Ukraine.[23][24]

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine subsequently authorized Baloha to be the Head on Ukrainian part of several joint intergovernmental commissions for cooperation issues. Baloha headed various intergovernmental commissions for cooperation with the Czech Republic, Israel and Slovakia.[25]

On 20 November 2012 Baloha resigned as emergencies minister because he preferred to take in the seat in the Ukrainian Parliament he had won in the October 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election when he won a single-seat constituency in Zakarpattia Oblast for United Centre.[2][26]

In the October 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election, he won the same single-seat constituency (#69) as in the 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election, but this time as an independent candidate, and thus returned to parliament.[27]

In July 2015, Baloha was implicated in violent clashes in Zakarpattia with fellow MP Mikhail Lanyo, relating to the control of cigarette smuggling in the region.[28][4]

In the 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election Baloha was reelected as a candidate for United Centre again in constituency 69 (in Zakarpattia Oblast).[29][27][30] In parliament he joined the For the Future faction.[31] He left this faction on 20 December 2023.[32]

On 1 July 2021 United Centre was renamed Andriy Baloha's Team and it became headed by Viktor Baloha's son (and mayor of Mukachevo) Andriy Baloha.[33]

In February 2023 Baloha was banned to entry of Hungary.[34] Baloha claimed this was done because In October 2022 a Turul (a national symbol of Hungary) located on Mukachevo's Palanok Castle was replaced by a Tryzub (a national symbol of Ukraine).[34][35]

Public activity

In 1997 he joined the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united). In 1998 during parliamentary electoral campaign Baloha was the campaign chief of the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united) in Zakarpattia region: the Social Democratic Party (united) received the fifth part of its votes in Zakarpattia.

Viktor Baloha supports the national movement of Rusyns (Carpatho-Rusyns), in particular he stands for recognition of Rusyns as a separate nationality in Ukraine.

In 2000 V. Baloha initiated "de-partisation" in the region and withdrew his membership in the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united). This initiative was supported by the then President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and the Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko.

In 2007 Baloha was elected as the head of Political Council of the People's Union "Our Ukraine" party.

On 15 February 2008 Baloha declared that he withdraws the membership in the presidential People's Union "Our Ukraine". The politician stressed that "notwithstanding the circumstances" his participation in politics would be connected with the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko – "a person of high principles and noble aims".

In June 2008 Viktor Baloha joined the party United Centre. Since July 2008 he is the member of the Presidium of United Centre. Since August 2010 he is the Leader of United Centre. Since 2010 up to now he is the Deputy of Zakarpattia Regional Council.

Family involvement in politics

In the 2012 and 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election Viktor Baloha's two brothers Ivan and Pavlo won parliamentary seats after winning as independent candidates constituencies in Zakarpattia Oblast.[36][37] After having failed to do so in 2012, distant relative Vasyl Petiovka also won a parliamentary seat this way in 2014,[36][37] meaning that the Baloha family won four out of the six single mandate constituencies of Zakarpattia Oblast.[37] In the 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election only Viktor Baloha and Petiovka were re-elected (Petiovka in Zakarpattia's constituency 72).[30][38]

In the 2015 Ukrainian local elections Baloha's son Andriy Baloha was elected Mayor of Mukachevo.[39][40] He was reelected in 2020.[41] On 1 July 2020 Viktor Baloha's United Centre (political party) was renamed Andriy Baloha's Team and it became headed by Andriy Baloha.[33] In January 2022 Andriy Baloha joined (former parliamentary speaker) Dmytro Razumkov's new political project.[42]

Awards and honours

Decorated by the awards of Ukrainian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate:

  • The Order of the Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir of the first degree;[43]
  • The Order of the Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir of the second degree;[44]
  • The jubilee order "2000 years of the Nativity of Christ" of the first degree.[45]
  • On 23 February 2012 by state decoration of Vatican – the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Sylvester Pope and Martyr.[46]

References

  1. ↑ You Scratch My Back, and I’ll Scratch Yours, The Ukrainian Week (26 September 2012)
  2. 1 2 3 Baloha resigns as emergencies minister, Kyiv Post (2 November 2012)
  3. ↑ Yanukovych appoints new Cabinet of Ministers, Kyiv Post (24 December 2012)
  4. 1 2 Shurkhalo, Dmytro; Sindelar, Daisy (14 July 2015). "Has The War in Ukraine Moved to a Second Front?". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Baloha Viktor Ivanovych. Biography (Ukrainian: Балога Віктор Іванович. Біографія) Archived 4 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Baloha Viktor Ivanovych. Biography (Ukrainian: Балога Віктор Іванович. Біографія) Archived 27 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ The Decree of the President of Ukraine No.477/99 dated 05.05.1999 "On appointment of V. Baloha as Zakarpattia Regional State Administration Chairman" (Ukrainian: Указ Президента України від 05.05.1999 №477/99 «Про призначення В. Балоги головою Закарпатської обласної державної адміністрації»)
  8. ↑ The Decree of the President of Ukraine L.D. Kuchma No.393/2001 dated 01.06.2001 "On resignation of V.Baloha from the position of Zakarpattia Regional State Administration Chairman" (Ukrainian: Указ Президента України 01.06.2001 №393/2001 «Про звільнення В. Балоги з посади голови Закарпатської обласної державної адміністрації»)
  9. 1 2 Information card on the People’s Deputy of Ukraine performance on the official web-site of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Інформаційна картка про діяльність народного депутата України IV скликання Балоги В.І. Офіційний веб-сайт Верховної Ради України)
  10. ↑ Іnformation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the draft laws submitted by the subject with the right of legislative initiative (Ukrainian: Інформація Верховної Ради України про законопроекти, подані суб'єктом права законодавчої ініціативи)
  11. ↑ The Central Election Commission of Ukraine. Presidential elections in Ukraine 31 October 2004. Transcarpathian region. Candidate for President Viktor Yushchenko. Trustee candidate TERRITORIAL yzbyratelnom district № 73 - Baloha Viktor Ivanovich) (Ukrainian: Центральна виборча комісія України. Вибори Президента України 31 жовтня 2004 року. Закарпатська область. Кандидат на пост Президента Ющенко Віктор Андрійович. Довірена особа кандидата в териториальном избирательном округе № 73 — Балога Віктор Іванович)
  12. ↑ Указ Президента України від 04.02.2005 №173/2005 The Decree of the President of Ukraine No.173/2005 dated 04.02.2005 "On appointment of V. Baloha as Zakarpattia Regional State Administration Chairman" (Ukrainian: «Про призначення В. Балоги головою Закарпатської обласної державної адміністрації»)
  13. ↑ The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Resolution No. 2837-IV dated 08.09.2005 "On early termination of powers of Baloha V.I. as the People’s Deputy of Ukraine" (Ukrainian: Постанова Верховної Ради України від 08.09.2005 №2837-IV «Про дострокове припинення повноважень народного депутата України Балоги В. І.»)
  14. ↑ (Ukrainian: Указ Президента України від 27.09.2005 №1349/2005 «Про звільнення В. Балоги з посади голови Закарпатської обласної державної адміністрації»)
  15. ↑ Указ Президента України від 27.09.2005 №1350/2005 Decree of the President of Ukraine No.1350/2005 dated 27.09.2005 "On appointment of V. Baloha as the Minister of Emergencies and Affairs of Population Protection from the Consequences of the Chernobyl Catastrophe of Ukraine" (Ukrainian: «Про призначення В. Балоги Міністром України з питань надзвичайних ситуацій та у справах захисту населення від наслідків Чорнобильської катастрофи»)
  16. ↑ The history of development of the Ministry of Emergencies of Ukraine. Biographies of all the Heads of the Ministry of Emergencies of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Історія становлення Міністерства надзвичайних ситуацій України. Біографії усіх керівників МНС України) Archived 29 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ↑ Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 758/2006 dated 15.09.2006 "On appointment of V. Baloha as the Head of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine" (Ukrainian: Указ Президента України від 15.09.2006 №758/2006 «Про призначення В. Балоги Главою Секретаріату Президента України»)
  18. ↑ The Resolution Verkhovna Rada No.201-V dated 05.10.2006 "On resignation of Baloha V.I. from the position of the Minister of Emergencies and Affairs of Population Protection from the Consequences of the Chernobyl Catastrophe of Ukraine" (Ukrainian: Постанова Верховної Ради України від 05.10.2006 №201-V «Про звільнення Балоги В.І. з посади Міністра України з питань надзвичайних ситуацій та у справах захисту населення від наслідків Чорнобильської катастрофи»)
  19. ↑ Decree of the President of Ukraine No.337/2009 dated 19.05.2009 "On resignation of V. Baloha from the position of the Head of Secretariat of the President of Ukraine" (Ukrainian: Указ Президента України від 19.05.2009 №337/2009 «Про звільнення В. Балоги з посади Глави Секретаріату Президента України»)
  20. ↑ Балога про Ющенка і Тимошенко: Ви обоє маєте піти
  21. ↑ ""You have no moral right to run for president again," Viktor Baloha tells Yushchenko", ZIK, 19 May 2009, retrieved 1 November 2012
  22. ↑ Указ Президента України від 12.11.2010 №1021/2010 Decree of the President of Ukraine No.1021/2010 dated 12.11.2010 "On appointment of V. Baloha as the Minister of Emergencies and Affairs of Population Protection from the Consequences of the Chernobyl Catastrophe of Ukraine" (Ukrainian: «Про призначення В. Балоги Міністром України з питань надзвичайних ситуацій та у справах захисту населення від наслідків Чорнобильської катастрофи»)
  23. ↑ Указ Президента України від 09.12.2010 №1091/2010 Decree of the President of Ukraine No.1091/2010 dated 09.12.2010 "On resignation of V. Baloha from the position of the Minister of Emergencies and Affairs of Population Protection from the Consequences of the Chernobyl Catastrophe of Ukraine" (Ukrainian: «Про звільнення В. Балоги з посади Міністра України з питань надзвичайних ситуацій та у справах захисту населення від наслідків Чорнобильської катастрофи»)
  24. ↑ Указ Президента України від 09.12.2010 №1110/2010 Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 1110/2010 dated 09.12.2010 "On appointment of V.Baloha as the Minister of Emergencies of Ukraine" Указ Президента України від 09.12.2010 №1110/2010 (Ukrainian: «Про призначення В. Балоги Міністром надзвичайних ситуацій України»)
  25. ↑ Ordinance of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No.1084-p dated 02.11.2011 "On authorization of the Heads on Ukrainian part of joint intergovernmental commissions for cooperation issues" (Ukrainian: Розпорядження Кабінету Міністрів України від 02.11.2011 №1084-р «Про затвердження голів Української частини спільних міжурядових комісій з питань співробітництва»
  26. ↑ (in Ukrainian) Список депутатів нової Верховної Ради, Ukrayinska Pravda (11 November 2012)
  27. 1 2 (in Russian)/(website has automatic Google Translate option) Short bio, LIGA
  28. ↑ "Here's How to Make Sense of the Violence in Western Ukraine: Follow the Money". Atlantic Council. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  29. ↑ CEC counts 100 percent of vote in Ukraine's parliamentary elections, Ukrinform (26 July 2019)
    (in Russian) Results of the extraordinary elections of the People's Deputies of Ukraine 2019, Ukrayinska Pravda (21 July 2019)
    Extraordinary elections of People's Deputies of Ukraine 2019 - Single-mandate Constituency # 69, Central Election Commission of Ukraine
  30. 1 2 "З трьох братів Балогів у нове скликання Ради потрапив тільки один". 22 July 2019.
  31. ↑ (in Ukrainian) A group of three people: "For the Future" Palitsa, Kolomoisky and Avakov, Ukrayinska Pravda (18 August 2021)
  32. ↑ "The council was replenished with a new natdep" (in Ukrainian). Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  33. 1 2 "Партію "Єдиний центр" перейменовано: Віктор Балога більше не є її керівником". PMG.ua (in Ukrainian). 27 July 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  34. 1 2 "Hungary has banned the entry of Baloha". Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  35. ↑ "Trident was placed in the Palanok Castle instead of the Hungarian tour". Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  36. 1 2 Sindelar, Daisy (31 October 2012). "New Ukrainian Parliament Keeps Politics a Family Affair". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
  37. 1 2 3 "Zakarpattia – together, but separated". 30 September 2015.
  38. ↑ "Велика рідня-2019. Хто кому кум, брат, син і донька у новій Верховній Раді".
  39. ↑ "Andriy Baloha wins Mukacheve mayoral election at first round".
  40. ↑ "Andriy Baloha wins Mukacheve mayoral election at first round". kyivpost.com. KyivPost. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  41. ↑ "In Ukraine, local elections legitimise a new political system - and the old faces behind it". www.opendemocracy.net. openDemocracy. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  42. ↑ (in Ukrainian) The youngest Baloha and the Ukrainian who conquered Everest joined the Razumkov Team, Ukrayinska Pravda (24 January 2022)
  43. ↑ The Order of the Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir of the first degree (Ukrainian: Орден святого рівноапостольного князя Володимира I ступеня)
  44. ↑ The Order of the Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir of the second degree (Ukrainian: Орден святого рівноапостольного князя Володимира II ступеня)
  45. ↑ The jubilee order "2000 years of the Nativity of Christ" of the first degree (Ukrainian: Ювілейний орден «Різдво Христове – 2000» I ступеня)
  46. ↑ The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Sylvester Pope and Martyr (Latin: Ordo Sanctus Silvestri Papae, Italiano: Ordine di San Silvestro Papa)
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