Vadym Zinovievich Rabinovych – businessman, people’s deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of the VIII and IX convocations, leader of the party “Opposition Platform-For Life” (2016 – 2022).
Place of Birth, Education
He was born on August 4, 1953 in Kharkiv.
In 1970, he became a student of the Kharkiv Automobile Road Institute, but did not complete his studies, as he was expelled in the fourth year. In the period from 1973 to 1975, he served in the air defense units near Kharkiv.
Career
Since 1975, he worked as a foreman in the repair and construction department of the Kharkiv City Council.
In early 1983, he was sentenced to 9 years in prison for theft on an especially large scale. During the investigation, he simulated mental illness and repeatedly underwent forensic medical examinations.
In 1995, together with Alexander Rodnyansky and Boris Fuchsman, he founded the 1+1 TV channel. A year before that, he created the Media International Group, and from 1997 to 2009 he headed the CN-Capital News Publishing House as president.
In 2008, he became the owner of the News One TV channel, and since 2013 he has been managing the News Network media group.
Since 1997, he has served as president of the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress, and since 2001 he has headed the Forum of Christians and Jews “Step to Unity”.
In the period from 2007 to 2013, he was the president of the football club Arsenal Kyiv. Since 2011, he has been a co-chair of the European Jewish Parliament.
Political Activities
In 2014, he ran for the post of President of Ukraine. On March 25 of the same year, he submitted documents to the Central Election Commission (CEC) for registration as an independent candidate. According to the results of the elections, he received 2.25% of the vote.
He headed the political party “All-Ukrainian Union “CENTER”. During the early parliamentary elections held in 2014, he was elected to the Rada of Ukraine at No. 4 on the list of the Opposition Bloc party. In the parliament, he served as secretary and chaired the subcommittee on human rights of the Council Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations.
In August 2015, he decided to run for the post of mayor of Odesa, but in the end he did not submit documents for registration as a candidate.
On May 13, 2016, he announced his withdrawal from the Opposition Bloc.
In July of the same year, together with Yevhen Murayev, he presented the political party “For Life”, created on the basis of the “CENTER” party.
On November 9, 2018, together with Yuriy Boyko, he signed an agreement on the formation of the “Opposition Platform – For Life”. On May 27, 2019, its members unanimously elected Vadym Rabinovych and Yuriy Boyko as co-chairs of the party.
During the parliamentary elections of 2019, he was elected to the Rada of the IX convocation under No. 2 on the list of the Opposition Platform – For Life party. On August 29 of the same year, he became co-chairman of the parliamentary faction of the political force.
On April 14, 2022, the Verkhovna Rada decided to suspend the activities of the Opposition Platform – For Life faction, which was due to the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of March 20 to ban the activities of a number of political parties during martial law. On May 12, 2022, the parliament announced its dissolution.
On July 18, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decided to deprive Vadym Rabinovych of Ukrainian citizenship. On November 3 of the same year, the Rada prematurely terminated his deputy powers.
Criminal cases
On July 26, 2023, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) announced suspicion of treason against Rabinovich. He is accused of spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda among the countries of the European Union (EU).
Marital Status
He is married to Iryna Igorevna. The couple has two sons: Oleg and Yakov, as well as a daughter Kateryna.
