Sergey Kuzhugetovich Shoygu (Russian: Серге́й Кужуге́тович Шойгу́, Tuvan: Сергей Күжүгет оглу Шойгу; born 21 May 1955) is a Russian politician who has served in the government of Russia as Minister of Defence since 2012. Previously he was Minister of Emergency Situations from 1991 to 2012 and briefly served as Governor of Moscow Oblast in 2012. He holds the military rank of General of the Army. He is also the President of the International Sport Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers.[1]
Early life and education
Shoygu was born in Chadan, Tuva, to a Tuvan father and a Russian mother.[2] During his youth, he acquired the nickname Shaitan (Satan), due to the various stunts he engaged in.[3] In 1977, Shoygu graduated from the Krasnoyarsk Polytechnic Institute with a degree in civil engineering. Following graduation in 1977, he worked in the construction projects worldwide for the next decade, advancing from low levels to become an executive. In 1988 he became a minor functionary in the Abakan branch of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and then in Komsomol for a couple of years. In 1990 he moved to Moscow from Siberia and was appointed Deputy Chief of State Architecture and Construction Committee of the Russian Federation.[4]
Ministry of Emergency Situations
In 1991, he was appointed the head of Rescuer Corps, which was later given more responsibilities and renamed first to the State Committee on Emergencies, and eventually to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, making Shoygu a government minister. He became popular because of his hands-on management style and high visibility during emergency situations, such as floods, earthquakes and acts of terrorism. In 1999 he became one of the leaders of the Russian pro-government party Unity. He was awarded Russia's most prestigious state award – Hero of the Russian Federation – in 1999.
Governor of Moscow Oblast
In March 2012, he was announced as one of the potential candidates for the Governor of Moscow Oblast.[5][6] On 5 April 2012, he was elected by Moscow Oblast Duma (legislature) as the 3rd Governor of Moscow Oblast, and took office on 11 May 2012.[7]
Minister of Defence
On 6 November 2012, Shoygu was appointed Minister of Defence[8] when Putin ousted his longtime ally, Anatoly Serdyukov. According to expert Sergey Smirnov, the so-called "Petersburg group” siloviki of Sergei Ivanov, Sergey Chemezov and Viktor Ivanov wanted one of its associates to take Serdyukov’s place at the Defense Ministry. But Putin didn’t want to strengthen them, so he took the neutral figure Shoygu.[9]
On 7 November 2012, the minister decided to resurrect the tradition of Suvorov and Nakhimov cadets participating in the 9 May parade. On July 2013 Shoygu ordered commanders to begin every morning in the barracks with a rendition of the Russian Anthem, to compile an obligatory military-patriotic book reading list and take the preparation of demob albums under their control.[10] On August that year he ordered to dress all Defense Ministry civilian workers, other staff and management employees in so-called "office suits".[11]
Shoygu stated on 26 February 2014 that Russia planned to sign agreements with Vietnam, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, the Seychelles, Singapore and several other countries either to house permanent military bases and/or to house airplane refuel stations in those countries.[12]
In July 2014 Ukraine opened a criminal case against Shoygu; he was accused of helping to form “illegal military groups” in Eastern Ukraine who at the time fought against the Ukrainian army.[13]
Personal life
Sergey Shoygu is married to Irina Shoygu, and has two daughters (Yuliya, born 1977, and Kseniya, born 1991).[4] In his spare time, Shoygu enjoys sports such as football, horseback riding, and enjoys music of Vanessa Mae and The Ramones. He speaks nine languages, including English, Japanese, Chinese, and Turkish.[14] He also has the largest collection of ancient samurai swords in Russia, worth over $40 million.
Russian scientist Viktor Petrik attempted to use Shoygu's name to market his water filters. Shoygu has requested that Petrik cease using his name to market products.[15]
On 16 May 2011, Shoygu fired his personal driver because of the driver's threat to shoot a motorist made during a row on the Moscow Ring Road.[16]
Awards
- Order of St Andrew with swords
- Hero of the Russian Federation
- Order of Merit for the Fatherland 2nd class
- Order of Merit for the Fatherland 3rd class
- Order of Honour
- Order for Personal Courage (USSR)
- Medal "For the Return of Crimea"
- Medal Defender of a Free Russia
- Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow"
- Medal "In Commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg"
- Medal "In Commemoration of the 1000th Anniversary of Kazan"
- Three Medals "For Strengthening Military Cooperation" (Ministry of Defence)
- Medal "For Diligence in Engineering Tasks" (Ministry of Defence)
- Medal "200 Years of the Ministry of Defence" (Ministry of Defence)
- Medal "200 Years of the Ministry of Internal Affairs" (MVD)
- Medal "For Merit of the Stavropol Territory"
- Honoured Rescue Worker of the Russian Federation
- Order of "Merit of the Altai Territory"
- Honorary Citizen of the Kemerov Oblast
- Order "Danaker" (Kyrgyzstan)
- Order of the Serbian flag 2nd class
References
- ^ "General information about Federation"
- ^ Шойгу Сергей. "Эхо Москвы :: Без дураков: Сергей Шойгу". Эхо Москвы. Retrieved 8 December 2015. horizontal tab character in
|title=at position 12 (help) - ^ "Russia’s Sergei Shoigu: Master of emergencies". The Economist. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- ^ a b 0divider. "Сергей Шойгу · Биография". Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ Shoigu Tipped as Next Moscow Region Governor, The Moscow Times.
- ^ Emergencies Minister shortlisted for Moscow region governance, Russia Today.
- ^ "Murmansk Governor Out, New Moscow Region Governor In - News". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ "Putin sacks Defense Minister amid embezzlement probe, replaces with ex-Emergencies Minister Shoigu". RT English. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ "Министр обороны Сергей Шойгу на новом посту рискует растерять свой высокий рейтинг". Газета.Ru. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ "Ъ-Огонек - Новая летопись военного строительства". Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ Golts on Shoygu’s Tenure (Part II), September 2014, Russian Defense Policy Blog.
- ^ Sputnik (26 February 2014). "Russia Seeks Several Military Bases Abroad – Defense Minister". Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ "Ukraine calls businessman and Russian defense minister ‘accomplices of terrorists’". WQAD.com. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ "siberian times". Siberian times. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ Inventor in Hot Water Over Use of Shoigu's Name Alexander Bratersky, Moscow Times. 15 February 2010.
- ^ Sputnik (16 May 2011). "Russian minister's driver fired over threat to shoot motorist". Retrieved 8 December 2015.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Position established |
Ministry of Emergency Situations 1991–2012 |
Succeeded by Vladimir Puchkov |
| Preceded by Boris Gromov |
Governor of Moscow Oblast 2012 |
Succeeded by Ruslan Tsalikov Acting |
| Preceded by Anatoliy Serdyukov |
Minister of Defence 2012–present |
Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| New office | Leader of United Russia 2001–2005 |
Succeeded by Boris Gryzlov |
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