Oleksandr Onyshchenko
Oleksandr Onyshchenko in 2015
Born (1969-03-31) March 31, 1969
Matveev-Kurgan, Rostov Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Occupation(s)Politician, show jumper
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Political partySocialist Party of Ukraine
Childrendaughter (born in 1994), son (born in 2002), son (born in 2017), daughter (born in 2021 in Ankum, Germany)

Oleksandr Romanovych Onyshchenko (Ukrainian: Олександр Романович Онищенко, born March 31, 1969) is a Ukrainian ex-politician, show jumping rider and patron. Onyshchenko was previously a member of the Ukrainian Parliament and a member of pro-Russian Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of Regions.[1][2] In the summer of 2016, while a member of Parliament, Onyshchenko fled Ukraine after he was stripped of immunity by the Parliament of Ukraine and the General Prosecutor Office expressed intention to arrest him due to charges related to alleged corruption and money laundering. In May 2020 Prosecutor's office of Ukraine extradition request was denied by the German court. Since 2016, he has resided in European Union. As of 2019, Onyshchenko was reportedly residing in Spain.[2][3]

In January 2021, Onishchenko, as a member of the Russian network of influence, was personally sanctioned in the United States in connection with his interference in the American elections and the distribution of edited audio recordings of conversations between former American and Ukrainian officials in order to spread false allegations of corruption in Ukraine.[4][5]

Early life

Oleksandr Onyshchenko was born on March 31, 1969.[6] Some Ukrainian media claim that previously Onyshchenko carried a different family name - Oleksandr Radzhabovych Kadyrov.[7][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.[6]

His father was Rajab Kadyrov was a high-ranking official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR, and later was the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan.[8]

Business career

Onyshchenko started his career in 1990, where he worked in the oil and gas industry.[6] Onyshchenko still owns oil and gas distribution company "GK Gazovy Alyans".[9] Onyshchenko has also been implicated in running a fraud and money laundering scheme that traded approximately US$1.5 billion in illicit assets.[2][10] Onyshchenko was named as part of the Quickpace deal between Onyshchenko , Pavel Fuchs, and “Prontoservus,” reportedly a front for Serhiy Kurchenko.[11] No investigation ever been launched by the law enforcement agencies following the news publications.

While in exile, Onyshchenko reportedly bought a horse stud farm with intentions to host invitational equestrian tournaments. However, Onyshchenko failed to receive the necessary visa and work permits required to operate such a tournament within Germany.[12] As of 2022 all immigration formalities were cleared in Germany.

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).[13] He was first elected as a member of the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) in the 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election.[14] In 2012 he was elected to parliament in electoral district 93 (located in Kyiv Oblast) for Party of Regions.[15] In 2014 he was re-elected in the same district as an independent candidate.[15] In parliament he became a member of the parliamentary faction People's Will.[15]

Exile

In 2016, Onyshchenko was accused of corruption by President Petro Poroshenko,[14] whom he accused of corruption.[16] People's Will expelled him in June 2017.[15] His parliamentary immunity was stripped in July 2016.[17]

In Ukraine the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine has charged Onyschenko as the founder and head of a criminal organization, allegedly whose members in the period from January 2014 to June 2016 stole funds during the production and sale of natural gas under joint venture agreements with UkrGasVydobuvannya.[18]

Onyshchenko initially fled to the United Kingdom, then to Germany, and finally Spain, where he reportedly currently resides.[19][2] In May 2020, Germany refused extradition of Onyshchenko.[18] A court ruling stated it was "likely" that his extradition "would not meet minimum standards of international law on conditions of detention", including the European Convention on Human Rights.[18]

On 11 January 2021, Onyshchenko was put on the US Sanctioned Persons list due to attempt to influence U.S. Presidential elections.[20][21]

Show jumping and philanthropy

Onyshchenko became a professional show jumping rider in 2000,[13] when he acquired a stud farm in Belgium.[6] He subsequently purchased another stud farm in Germany.[6] He was the president of the Equestrian Federation of Ukraine from 2002 to 2013.[13] 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.[13]

In 2013, Onyshchenko bought FC Arsenal Kyiv[22][23] 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".[13] The Top Ukraine organizes such events as Miss Ukraine and Miss Ukraine Universe.[24]

Personal life

Onyshchenko has two children.[6] Onyshchenko was married to Miss Ukraine 1997 Kseniya Kuzmenko until mid 2009, living mostly in Belgium, and has a child Олександр Olexandr or Sasha (b. 2002) with her.[15][25] (According to Ukrainian media) in 2009 he was engaged to Ukrainian model Snejana Onopka, but the couple didn't marry.[15] Onyshchenko was dating Ganna Rizatdinova, an Olympic award-winning Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast, who is 24 years younger than him.[26][27][28][29] In 2017 their son Roman was born.[28] In 2018, Onyshchenko and Rizatdinova separated.[30]

In August 2016, Onyshchenko moved to London, UK because he feared for his life claiming "president (Petro Poroshenko) organises everything to kill me."[17] He later moved to Spain.[31]

In the Russian register of companies Onyshchenko appears in a February 2021 registration documents as a citizen of Russia.[18]

In October 2021, a daughter was born in Ankum, Germany.

In May 2022 Onyshchenko was granted Macedonian citizenship.[32] The government of North Macedonia decided to revoke this decision (to grant citizenship to Onishchenko) early December 2022.[33]

References

  1. ↑ "Pro-Russia Oligarch Onyshchenko Could Help Destabilize Ukraine – Times Square Chronicles". 18 May 2018. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Onyshchenko is protected by Russian Special Forces, - reports US media". ukranews_com. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  3. ↑ "After 3 years in exile, scandalous millionaire to return to Ukraine, face charges - Nov. 27, 2019". KyivPost. 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  4. ↑ Treasury Takes Further Action Against Russian-linked Actors // U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, 11 января 2021
  5. ↑ США запровадили санкції проти «слуги народу» Дубінського та соратників Деркача // НВ, 11 января 2021
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Oleksandr ONYSHCHENKO". International Federation for Equestrian Sports. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  7. ↑ What do the passports of politicians conceal (Що приховують паспорти політиків). Comments.ua. 30 July 2012
  8. ↑ "В секретной базе VIP-преступников журналисты нашли фамилию скандального нардепа Онищенко". ТСН.ua (in Russian). 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  9. ↑ 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
  10. ↑ Unit, Al Jazeera Investigative. "The Oligarchs". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  11. ↑ "DocumentCloud". www.documentcloud.org. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  12. ↑ "After 3 years in exile, scandalous millionaire to return to Ukraine, face charges - Nov. 27, 2019". KyivPost. 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Oleksandr Onyshchenko". Global Champions Tour. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  14. 1 2 Cuckson, Pippa (July 6, 2016). "Ukraine showjumping mogul denies corruption allegations ahead of Rio". Horse & Hound. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 (in Russian) /(website has automatic Google Translate option) Short bio, LIGA
  16. ↑ "Ukrainian President Rejects Fugitive Lawmaker's Corruption Accusations, But Shock Waves Extend Abroad". RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty. December 7, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  17. 1 2 Cole, Brendan (August 22, 2016). "Showjumping Ukrainian MP facing embezzlement charges flees to London". International Business Times. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  18. 1 2 3 4 WACS arrested Onishchenko's stable in Germany, Ukrayinska Pravda (30 December 2021)
  19. ↑ "After 3 years in exile, scandalous millionaire to return to Ukraine, face charges - Nov. 27, 2019". KyivPost. 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  20. ↑ "Treasury Takes Further Action Against Russian-linked Actors | U.S. Department of the Treasury". home.treasury.gov. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  21. ↑ Notice of OFAC Sanctions Actions (PDF). U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY. 2021. p. 2.
  22. ↑ 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
  23. ↑ 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
  24. ↑ MP-regionalist Oleksandr Onyshchenko acquired FC Arsenal Kyiv (Нардеп-регионал Александр Онищенко приобрел киевский ФК "Арсенал"). Mirror Weekly from TCH. 6 February 2013
  25. ↑ «Мисс Украина»: 7 победительниц — с олигархами, 4 — не у дел (фото): 1997. Ксения Кузьменко by Медведева Алена (23 December 2010) from СЕГОДНЯ.ua
  26. ↑ "Онищенко підтвердив, що є батьком первістка Різатдінової".
  27. ↑ "After 3 years in exile, scandalous millionaire to return to Ukraine, face charges - Nov. 27, 2019". KyivPost. 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  28. 1 2 "Різатдінова зібралася в Раду разом із Онищенком".
  29. ↑ "Чому Скороход образилася на фракцію "Слуга народу", хто її чоловік-банкір з Росії, та до чого тут Онищенко, Фукс і Коломойський". Українська правда.
  30. ↑ "After 3 years in exile, scandalous millionaire to return to Ukraine, face charges - Nov. 27, 2019". KyivPost. 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  31. ↑ "Ситник розповів, коли Онищенка можуть екстрадувати до України". m.tyzhden.ua. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  32. ↑ "Fugitive Ukraine Politician Under US Sanctions Wins North Macedonia Citizenship". Balkan Insight. 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  33. ↑ "North Macedonia canceled the decision to grant citizenship to fugitive ex-deputy Onishchenko". Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
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