Aleksei Mikhailovich Chaly (Russian: Алексей Михайлович Чалый; born 13 June 1961) is a businessman and the former de facto mayor of Sevastopol in 2014.
Aleksei Chaly | |
|---|---|
Алексей Чалый | |
 Chaly in 2014 | |
| Mayor of Sevastopol | |
| In office 23 February 2014 – 1 April 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Position established Volodymyr Yatsuba (de facto) |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished Himself (as governor) |
| Governor of Sevastopol Acting | |
| In office 1 April 2014 – 14 April 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Position established by Russia Himself (de facto) |
| Succeeded by | Sergey Menyaylo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 June 1961 Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union[1] |
| Political party | United Russia |
| Alma mater | Sevastopol National Technical University |
| Profession | CEO and CTO |
He declared himself as mayor in February 2014, amidst the Crimean crisis, after the resignation of Volodymyr Yatsuba, the mayor appointed by Viktor Yanukovych.[2] With Chaly as mayor, Sevastopol participated in the March 2014 referendum, which was followed by the formal annexation of Crimea by Russia. On 1 April 2014, he was appointed as the governor of Sevastopol by Russia. On 14 April, he was replaced by Sergey Menyaylo.[3]
Biography
editChaly was born on 13 June 1961 in Moscow to students of the Moscow Power Engineering Institute. Parents: inventor and scientist Michail Chaly, mother Alevtina Chalaya, Candidate of Engineering, university professor. Grandson to Soviet vice-admiral Vasily Chaly, hero of the Great Patriotic War, Commander-In-Chief of the Black Sea Squadron (1956–1961). The family moved to Sevastopol, Ukrainian SSR when he was one year old.[1] Chaly graduated from the Sevastopol National Technical University.[1] Since 1987 he has been the head of "Tavrida Electric", producing switchgear and anti-wreck technology. At the moment of political crisis in Ukraine in 2014 he had Russian citizenship.
He was involved with restoration of the memorials of the World War II, producing the documentary series "Sevastopol Tales". In 2011 he received the international award "For faith and fidelity" as a symbol of recognition of his contribution to the Motherland.[citation needed]
During the Crimean crisis
editOn 23 February 2014, a meeting of citizens opposed to the Euromaidan movement that ousted the Ukrainian government from power in Kyiv led to Chaly being proclaimed as "mayor" of Sevastopol. The Sevastopol City Council handed power to Chaly on 24 February, following the resignation of Volodymyr Yatsuba as the city administrator appointed by the president of Ukraine (at the time the city had no elected mayor).[2][4]
On 26 February, Chaly declared that Sevastopol would not submit to orders of the acting leader of the Ukrainian home office, Arsen Avakov. Simultaneously, he invited officers of the officially disbanded Berkut riot police unit to the city. He said that they can become a basis for future defence groups in the city.
Chaly visited the Kremlin in Moscow on 18 March 2014 to sign the Treaty on Accession of the Republic of Crimea to Russia together with Russian president Vladimir Putin and Crimean prime minister Sergey Aksyonov.[5]
In March 2014, the Security Service of Ukraine has announced an investigation into Chaly for allegedly steering some ₴23.9 million from his charitable organisation to bankroll anti-Ukraine activity.[6]
On 1 April 2014, he was appointed as acting governor of Sevastopol City by Russia and occupied this position till 14 April 2014, when he resigned and was replaced by Sergey Menyaylo.[7]
Sanctions
editChaly was sanctioned by the British government in 2014 as a result of the annexation of Crimea.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c Юлия Гутова (2014). Серьезный разговор с Алексеем Чалым и другими людьми, которые сохранили русский Севастополь (in Russian). Русский репортёр.
- ^ a b "Ukraine: Sevastopol installs pro-Russian mayor as separatism fears grow". The Guardian. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ^ Владимир Путин подписал указ о назначении временно исполняющих обязанности главы Республики Крым и Севастополя (in Russian). Echo of Moscow. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ^ Contemporary Ukraine: Dynamics of Post-Soviet Transformation by Taras Kuzio, M.E. Sharpe, 1998, ISBN 978-0-7656-0224-4 (page 44)
- ^ Ukraine crisis: Putin signs Russia-Crimea treaty, BBC, 18 March 2014
- ^ Launched investigation concerning the "people's mayor" of Sevastopol – SBU. UNIAN. 18 March 2014
- ^ (in Ukrainian) Putin ignored the "People's Mayor" Sevastopol and appoint to the post a Russian Admiral, Espreso TV (14 April 2014)
- ^ "CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK" (PDF). Retrieved 16 April 2023.
External links
edit- Biography of Chaly at the Sevastopol News
- The Sevastopol city council