Vadim Novinski

A Russian-Ukrainian businessman. At the end of the 1990s, he founded the Smart Group company in Ukraine. Ukraine has become its main area of activity over time. He is the business partner of the richest Ukrainian Rinat Akhmetov. In 2012, his estimated net worth was US$ 4.4 billion. In 2012, he received Ukrainian citizenship from President Viktor Yanukovych for Distinguished Service to Ukraine. Interestingly, the official request was made by the then Minister of Economy, Petro Poroshenko. Nowinski has been the deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine since 2013. First, he was in the Party of Regions faction. Currently he is the vice-president of the Opposition Block faction. In 2016, his immunity was removed in connection with the investigation against him. Officially, it was not disclosed what was it exactly about. The Ukrainian media wrote Novinsky was suspected of the unlawful deprivation of liberty of Oleksandr Drabynka secretary. Drabynka has been a Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). During the time of the President Yanukovych, Nowinski was famous for his close and excellent relationships with the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). It has not changed, he is still called the “most Orthodox” oligarch in Ukraine.

Kiev wants an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church

The President Petro Poroshenko officially asked the Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, to issue of Autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported Poroshenko, whose unexpected move caused numerous comments. The President’s critics claim it was all politically motivated. Less than a year remained till the next presidential election and Poroshenko losses […]