Andrey Turchak

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Anatolyevich and the family name is Turchak.

Andrey Turchak
Андрей Турчак
Turchak in 2018
Head of the Altai Republic
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 October 2024
Acting: 4 June 2024 – 3 October 2024
Preceded byOleg Khorokhordin
Senator from Pskov Oblast
In office
2 November 2017 – 4 June 2024
Preceded byAleksandr Borisov
In office
6 July 2007 – 16 February 2009
Preceded byNikolay Medvedev
Succeeded byAleksandr Borisov
Secretary of the General Council of the United Russia
In office
12 October 2017 – 15 June 2024
ChairmanDmitry Medvedev
Preceded bySergey Neverov
Succeeded byVladimir Yakushev[1]
5th Governor of Pskov Oblast
In office
27 February 2009 – 12 October 2017
Preceded byMikhail Kuzentsov
Succeeded byMikhail Vedernikov
Personal details
Born (1975-12-20) 20 December 1975 (age 48)
Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Political partyUnited Russia
Alma materSaint Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation

Andrey Anatolyevich Turchak (Russian: Андрей Анатольевич Турчак; born 20 December 1975) is a Russian politician who currently serves as Head of the Altai Republic since 3 October 2024. He has also served as Secretary of the General Council of United Russia from 12 October 2017 to 15 June 2024.[2]

Previously, he was the fifth Governor of Pskov Oblast (2009–2017) and Senator from Pskov Oblast (2017–2024, 2007–2009), as well as First Vice Speaker of the Federation Council (2020–2024).[3][4] By being appointed as Governor at the age of 33, he became one of Russia's youngest governors.[5]

In 2013, Alexei Navalny released documents showing that Turchak had neglected to declare a $1.7 million villa that he had purchased in France, an illegal omission under Russian law.[6]

In 2015, journalist Oleg Kashin accused Turchak of ordering an attack which left Kashin in a coma with a fractured skull. Kashin alleged that Turchak arranged the attack in response to a critical blog post. In this blog post, in particular, Kashin called him "shitty Turchak".[7]

Turchak has been an ardent supporter of Vladimir Putin. In March 2022, Turchak accused former Russian Vice Premier and current President of FIDE Arkady Dvorkovich of 'national betrayal' and called for his “immediate dismissal in disgrace”, saying: "This is nothing but the very national betrayal, the behavior of the fifth column, which the president [of Russia] spoke about today”, after Dvorkovich had criticized the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and said his thoughts are 'with Ukrainian civilians'.[8]

In early May 2022, Turchak visited the Russian-occupied city of Mariupol, taking part in the unveiling of a statue of an old woman holding the Soviet flag.[9][10]

In May 2022, he visited occupied Kherson and said: "I would like, once again, to say to residents of the Kherson region that Russia is here forever. There should be no doubt about that."[11] Ukrainian forces recaptured Kherson in early November 2022.[12]

In July 2022, Turchak visited the eastern Ukrainian city of Kupiansk, which had recently been captured by Russian troops. “Clearly, Russia is here forever,” Turchak said, speaking to the camera. Ukrainian forces recaptured Kupiansk in early September 2022.[13]

On 7 September 2022, Turchak stated that it "would be right and symbolic" to hold the annexation referendums in Russian-occupied Ukraine on 4 November, Russia's Unity Day.[14]

  1. ^ https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/news/2024/06/15/1044017-naznachil Медведев назначил полпреда Якушева врио секретаря генсовета «Единой России»
  2. ^ "the acting Secretary of the General Council "United Russia" became Turchak". RBC. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  3. ^ Турчака наделили полномочиями члена Совета Федерации
  4. ^ Губернатором Псковской области стал Андрей Турчак
  5. ^ Результаты выборов губернаторов-2014 в Волгоградской, Псковской, Тюменской областях и в Ставропольском крае: уже известно, кто победил Фонтанка.ру
  6. ^ "Pskov Governor Didn't Declare French Villa, Navalny Says". The Moscow Times. 6 March 2013.
  7. ^ Roth, Andrew (18 September 2015). "Journalist Oleg Kashin knows who tried to kill him". The Washington Post.
  8. ^ King, Daniel. "The ex-Kremlin deputy who openly opposed the war in a Mother Jones exclusive has been forced to resign". Mother Jones. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Top Kremlin Official Unveils Pro-War Statue in Ukraine's Mariupol". The Moscow Times. 11 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Ukrainian Hailed 'Hero' by Kremlin Reportedly Loses Home to Russian Bombs". Newsweek. 5 May 2022.
  11. ^ "'Here forever' – or not Russian leadership announces retreat from Kherson. The latest". Meduza. 9 November 2022.
  12. ^ "A 'military necessity' and an 'invitation to negotiate' What's behind Russia's retreat from Kherson?". Meduza. 9 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Russian army hobbled by shortage of soldiers". Financial Times. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Russia Ruling Party Proposes Nov. 4 Annexation Votes For Occupied Ukraine". The Moscow Times. 9 September 2022.