Serhiy Knyazev

Serhiy Knyazev
Сергій Князєв
2nd Chief of National Police of Ukraine
In office
8 February 2017 – 25 September 2019
PresidentPetro Poroshenko
Volodymyr Zelensky
Prime MinisterVolodymyr Groysman
Preceded byKhatia Dekanoidze
Succeeded byIhor Klymenko[1]
Personal details
Born (1971-10-18) 18 October 1971 (age 53)
Mstyora, Vladimir Oblast, RSFSR, USSR
CitizenshipUkraine
Residence(s)Kyiv, Ukraine
Military service
Allegiance Ukraine
Branch/service Ministry of Internal Affairs
Years of serviceSince 1992
Rank Third division general
Commands National Police of Ukraine

Serhiy Mykolaiovych Knyazev (Ukrainian: Сергій Миколайович Князєв; born 18 October 1971) is a Ukrainian official who served as Chief of Ukraine's National Police from 8 February 2017 until 25 September 2019.[2][3]

Career

In 1992 Knyazev started working for the police in his birthplace Bila Tserkva.[4] In 1995 he switched to the criminal police there and became its head in 2008.[4] Knyazev was promoted to leading the criminal investigation department of the Kyiv metropolitan region in 2008.[4]

After the start of the War in Donbass in 2014 Knyazev was transferred to Donetsk.[4] In November 2014 he became deputy chief of Donetsk Oblast Police Region and head of the criminal police.[4] He took part in the Battle of Debaltsevo.[4] In December 2014 he was awarded the Order of Danylo Halytsky "for courage and heroism in defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."[4]

After the July 2015 Mukacheve shootout between the police and Right Sector Knyazev was transferred to lead the Zakarpattia Oblast Police.[4] From April until November 2016 he was transferred to Rivne Oblast to combat illegal amber mining.[4] Starting in November 2016 Knyazev was appointed head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine. On 8 February 2017 he was appointed as the overall head of the National Police of Ukraine.[2] Knyazev tendered his resignation on 24 September 2019 during a press conference,[5] one day after his ex-wife was caught at the Polish border with her employer Vadym Kahan and 500,000 euros.[6]

On 26 September 2019 Knyazev was appointed an official adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Arsen Avakov.[7]

Personal life

Knyazev divorced Viktoriya in 2012.[2] She is the mother of their three children.[8]

References

  1. ^ (in Ukrainian) Storming of a supermarket in Mariupol: the head of the National Police threatened with immediate punishment, Ukrayinska Pravda (16 April 2020)
  2. ^ a b c Cabinet appoints Knyazev as National Police chief, Kyiv Post (8 February 2017)
  3. ^ "Уряд призначив нового Голову Національної поліції України (ФОТО, ДОДАНО ВІДЕО)".
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Experienced staff, who is the new head of the police Knyazev?, BBC Ukrainian (8 February 2017)
  5. ^ Ukraine's police chief resigns, UNIAN (24 September 2019)
  6. ^ "Chief of Ukraine's National Police resigns". Kyiv Post. 24 September 2017.
  7. ^ Князєва лишили в МВС радником Авакова
  8. ^ Голова Нацполіції пояснив історію з екс-дружиною та "пидарас" на кордоні
  • Biography (in Ukrainian) on "VSE"-website (dated 5 April 2016)