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Valery Bolotov
Valery Bolotov proclaims Lugansk People's Republic independence on May 12, 2014
Valery Bolotov (center) proclaims the Act of Independence of the Lugansk People’s Republic,
May 12, 2014, 18:15:51 MSK[1]
1st Head of the Lugansk People's Republic

In office
May 18, 2014 – August 14, 2014
Preceded by Aleksandr Kharitonov
Succeeded by Ihor Plotnytskiy
Personal details
Born 13 February 1970(1970-02-13) (age 54)
Taganrog, Rostov oblast, Russian SFSR, USSR
Signature Signature of Valeryi Bolotov
Military service
Allegiance Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union
Flag of the Lugansk People's Republic Lugansk People's Republic
Service/branch USSR Airborne troots emblem1 1991 Airborne Troops
Years of service 1988–90, 2014–present
Rank Rank insignia of старший сержант of the Soviet Air Force Senior sergeant (see staff sergeant)

Valery Dmitrievitch Bolotov (Russian: Вале́рий Дми́триевич Бо́лотов, Ukrainian: Вале́рій Дми́трович Бо́лотов) is a political figure in eastern Ukraine and former leader of the unrecognized Lugansk People's Republic. The Security Service of Ukraine processes evidences that Bolotov's actions were coordinated through the Federal Security Service of Russian Federation.[2]

Biography[]

Bolotov was born in Russia’s southern port city of Taganrog on 13 February 1970.[3] Bolotov moved to Stakhanov in the Luhansk Oblast (province) of eastern Ukraine in 1974.[4] According to the Russia Today, he has two university degrees.[5]

Bolotov claims to be a senior sergeant of the Soviet Airborne Troops in Vitebsk (presumably the 103rd Guards Airborne Division)[lower-alpha 1] and between 1989-90 participated in number of conflicts including Tbilisi,[lower-alpha 2] Yerevan and Karabakh.[lower-alpha 3][6] He later became the head of the airborne veterans group, while no one of the Luhansk Oblast group cell can confirm it.[6] Bolotov has a wife and two children.[6]

Bolotov has worked as manager and director at a meat factory and used to run a small business.[4]

Before the pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine, Bolotov was a representative of Oleksandr Yefremov who supervised illegal mining in the region.[2]

In 2014, Bolotov became a leader of an armed group during the 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine. On May 13, 2014, Bolotov survived an assassination attempt as assailants fired automatic weapons towards his car, wounding the militants leader.[7] Bolotov was then briefly captured by the Ukrainian army on May 17 after he attempted to re-enter Lugansk after receiving treatment for his injury at a hospital in Russia.[8] However, armed supporters of the Lugansk People's Republic attacked the Ukrainian army checkpoint where Bolotov was being held shortly afterwards and successfully freed the "People's Governor".[8]

Lugansk People's Republic's parliament elected Bolotov head of the republic on 18 May 2014.[5]

Bolotov resigned on 14 August 2014.[9]

Notes[]

  1. During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (also known as the Soviet war in Afghanistan) and until fall of the Soviet Union, the division was under direct jurisdiction of the Soviet KGB
  2. April 9 tragedy
  3. Nagorno-Karabakh War

References[]

  1. "feature"%3A"390145"%7D/ "Библиотека изображений "РИА Новости" :: Галерея". http://visualrian.com/ru/site/gallery/index/id/2428105/context/%7B"feature"%3A"390145"%7D/. Retrieved 9 February 2015. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Former chief of Luhansk SBU Petrulevych: The terrorists groups of Russian GRU is already in Kiev and anticipating a signal. Gordon. 2 July 2014
  3. Video on YouTube
  4. 4.0 4.1 http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=505915
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic elects head, passes constitution". May 19, 2014. http://rt.com/news/159840-lugansk-elects-head-constitution/. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Кто они, "народные губернаторы": Харьков возглавил автослесарь, а Луганск – десантник ("Who are the People's Governors? In Kharkov- a mechanic, In Lugansk - a paratrooper")" (in Russian). Komsomolskaya Pravda. 2014-04-23. http://www.kp.by/daily/26224.3/3106364/. Retrieved 2014-05-26. 
  7. "Pro-Russian Separatist Leader Survives Assassination Attempt in Ukraine". Mashable.com. 2014-05-13. http://mashable.com/2014/05/13/ukraine-luhansk-assassination-valery-bolotov/. Retrieved 2014-05-13. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Separatists recapture their leader on the eve of peace talks in Ukraine". Reuters. 2014-05-17. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/17/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA4G02F20140517. Retrieved 2014-05-26. 
  9. "Ukraine fighting: Rebel official resigns; shells fall on Donetsk". 2014-08-14. http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/14/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/. Retrieved 2014-08-14. 
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