Zoryan Shkiryak
Ukrainians began talking about Zorian Shkiryak, a political figure like him, last year when, as acting head of the State Emergency Service, he flew to evacuate compatriots from Nepal after the earthquake. However, he did so five days after the disaster and with his common-law wife, Kateryna Khramova, aboard a military aircraft, although she does not work for the State Emergency Service. Shkiryak himself explained that Khramova's presence was due to her knowledge of "Eastern practices" and her "civic stance." The "mission" lasted seven days instead of the planned one and a half days and cost the state 6 million hryvnias. After the "Indian vacation," as the rescue operation was popularly dubbed, Shkiryak resigned.
Today, Zorian Shkiryak is at the center of events: he has become an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov (Read more about it in the article Arsen Avakov: The criminal past of the Minister of Internal Affairs) for the second time, actively participates in high-profile political affairs, and is an ardent supporter of a healthy lifestyle.
Family history
Zorian Nestorovich Shkiryak looks older than his years, although he is quite young – he was born on November 14, 1970, in Uzhgorod to a family of doctors. His father, Nestor Nikolaevich Shkiryak, was a phthisiologist who worked at the F.G. Yanovsky Institute of Phthisiology and Pulmonology and in the clinics of the All-Union Scientific Center for Radiation Medicine of Ukraine. He died in 1989. His mother, Zoreslava Antonovna Shkiryak-Nizhnyk, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Medical and Psychosocial Problems of Family Health at the Institute of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Professor at the P.L. Shupik National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Deputy Chair of the Bioethics Committee under the Presidium of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, member of the Steering Committee on Bioethics of the Council of Europe, member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman Treatment or Punishment (ECPT). In 2003, she received a Certificate of Gratitude from the President of Ukraine "For significant personal contribution to the development of the Ukrainian state." Zoreslava Antonivna is a hereditary physician. She was born into the legendary Brashchaykiv dynasty. Her parents, Maria and Anton Brashchaykiv, received medical education at the Sorbonne University. Upon returning to Ukraine, Anton Brashchaykiv became the chief physician of the Uzhgorod Patients' Fund, and his wife, Maria, worked as a pediatrician.
The Shkiryak family has equally distinguished relatives. Their grandfather's brothers, Mykhailo and Yuliy Brashchaykiv, were renowned socio-political figures in Transcarpathia in the 20th century and served in Avgustyn Voloshin's government in Carpatho-Ukraine. One of Uzhgorod's central streets is named after them. Their grandmother's brothers, Ostap and Roman Selyansky, were doctors. Ostap Selyansky, a surgeon by profession, was for a long time the personal physician of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky, living and working in Lviv and Dresden, and Roman, a cardiologist, lived in Poland.
Zoryan Nestorovich has a brother, Anton Shkiryak, a military engineer by education, a major in the anti-aircraft missile forces, currently living in the city of Uzhgorod, an entrepreneur, a representative of the company "Wellstar" (Germany-Hungary).
Incidentally, Zoryan Shkiryak's family bears the "Amicus" ("friend") coat of arms and was awarded the title of count. These honors were earned thanks to the knight Myroslav Volyansky (of the line of Maria Braszczaikiv), who carried King Bolesław's dying brother from the battlefield. By royal decree, the entire family was honored.
Golden Youth, Europe, Director
Zorian Shkiryak didn't live long in Uzhhorod. When he was three years old, the entire family moved to Kyiv. The young man finished school in the town of Lyuboml in the Volyn region. There, he found work as an orderly at the Central District Hospital, while simultaneously enrolling in medical school. After several months of work and study, the young man enlisted in the Soviet Army. This was a strange move for a member of the gilded youth such as Shkiryak.
A year after his discharge, he found a job at the Ukrainian Language and Information Center as a manager, and two years later, he transferred to a similar position at the Sileks private enterprise. This was followed by a series of private companies, where Zorian Nestorovich held senior positions and earned a good salary: from 1994 to 2000, he was deputy general director for marketing at ATM, and from 2000 to 2003, deputy general director of Tiras LLC. In 2003, he opened his own business – the Svitlozir pharmacy chain (he served as general director), which he successfully sold to further his political career. From 2006 to 2010, he was executive director of Till-2002 LLC.
It's worth noting that Shkiryak joined the army at 18, began working as a manager at 21, and became deputy general director at 24. So the logical question arises: when did he receive his higher education? And Zoryan Nestorovich has a brilliant one: the young man graduated from several educational institutions. First on the list was the Commercial College in Kyiv, where he received a law degree. Then Shkiryak went to Austria (Graz) to study at the School of Business, where he completed a degree in insurance management. He then enrolled at the European University. He didn't stay in Europe, despite the bright career prospects it offered, but returned to his homeland.
Most likely, Zorian Nestorovich studied and worked simultaneously. Fortunately, his directorial positions allowed for this. Incidentally, Shkiryak graduated from his last alma mater, the Kyiv Institute of Political Science, in 2010. He graduated with a master's degree in political science.
There's a very interesting fact in the biography of Zoryan Nestorovich that's not widely known. A certain Shkiryak Zoryan Nestorovich, born in 1970, appeared in court twice in 1986—the first time for hooliganism, the second for robbery. Moreover, in the Ministry of Internal Affairs database, a person with this surname is listed as a criminal authority associated with the leadership of the Levoberezhnaya organized crime group. This gang was credited with controlling several markets in the capital, including the Troyeshchyna market. Whether 16-year-old Zoryan Shkiryan could have been a member of the organized crime group is unknown. However, judging by his meteoric and rapid career, nothing can be ruled out.
The path to big politics
Economist and lawyer Shkiryak's political career began quite by accident. In 2002, he became a member of Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi District Council. The position was minor, likely solely necessary for his mandate.
The Orange Revolution turned everything upside down. Shkiryak quickly found his bearings and joined the People's Union "Our Ukraine" in 2005. Incidentally, that same year he sold his business, a chain of pharmacies. Afterward, he was entrusted with the leadership of the executive committee of the Shevchenkivskyi district organization of this political party in the capital. In the 2006 snap elections, Shkiryak won a seat on the party list in the Kyiv City Council, where he served until 2008. He combined his political career with entrepreneurial activity, but no one paid attention.
In 2007, Zoryan Nestorovich was beaten by unknown assailants. Three young men attacked the deputy as he was returning from a business meeting. They began insulting him, then resorted to fists and brass knuckles. According to the official, the assailants waved prosecutor's office documents and his deputy's ID at him. The incident, as was said at the time, stemmed from Shkiryak's political views, specifically his opposition to Kyiv Mayor Chernovetsky.Read more about it in the article Leonid Chernovetsky: How "Lenya Kosmos" robbed Kyiv and moved to Georgia) and the desire to take his position.
Zoryan Nestorovich's political views changed dramatically in 2009. This occurred just after the pre-New Year's congress of the Our Ukraine party. Amendments were made to the charter to legitimize Yushchenko's leadership of the party. For example, the Our Ukraine party introduced the position of "head of the party council," who would be elected not by the congress, but by the party council, and who would exercise day-to-day leadership of Our Ukraine. Zoryan Nestorovich was categorically opposed. He began to criticize the actions of President Viktor Yushchenko, even claiming that the President had personally destroyed the party with his spineless policy of double standards and illogical actions. Furthermore, Shkiryak was outraged that, on Yushchenko's personal orders, members of Our Ukraine's Kyiv branch began being summoned for questioning by the Prosecutor General's Office in connection with the infamous "poisoning" case. From all this, it becomes clear that Zorian Nestorovich did not become the party leader and could not come to terms with it. Disagreements led to Shkiryak leaving the Our Ukraine party that same year.
"New Kyiv," a new party, and corruption
However, Zorian Nestorovich didn't remain idle for long and in 2009 founded the civic association "New Kyiv." He decided to use this as a way to fight the government. Shkiryak distinguished himself with his unorthodox actions and statements, which achieved absolutely nothing.
Attacks on Chernovetsky. The politician's first act was to closely monitor the activities of his longtime "friend," Leonid Chernovetskyi. Together with Oleksandr Bryhynets, a former Kyiv City Council member from the BYuT, he organized an unsuccessful fight against the developers of Andriyivskyy Descent.
Losing the Pink Elephant. The most amusing protest was the 2010 protest against the Tax Code. Entrepreneurs protested the law, which they believed would destroy small and medium-sized businesses. They set up a tent camp on the Maidan. They were joined by the New Kyiv NGO and, of course, Zorian Shkiryak. The protest lasted a week, then the tents were dismantled by court order. It then became clear that the NGO had lost its inflatable pink elephant. New Kyiv activists had launched the toy during the protest as a symbol of the government's unfulfilled promises. They had hoped to use this tool of political influence again, but someone had stolen it. Shkiryak appealed to law enforcement agencies to find the elephant.
In 2010, Zoryan Nestorovich was elected chairman of the Social-Christian Party of Ukraine. The party hadn't distinguished itself in any significant way, and its leader was more involved in public activities within his NGO, "New Kyiv."
In 2011, Shkiryak decided to take revenge on his former boss, Yushchenko, and support the suffering Yulia Tymoshenko, who was under investigation in the "gas case." Zorian Nestorovich appealed to the Prosecutor General's Office, specifically to Viktor Pshonka, asking them to open a criminal case against Viktor Yushchenko for giving false testimony in Kyiv's Pechersky District Court against former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. At the time, the former president claimed that Tymoshenko had thwarted the signing of lucrative contracts with Russia. Viktor Andreevich testified that he had no authority and did not recall the Ukrainian delegation from negotiations with Russia on gas supplies to Ukraine, which took place in Moscow in late 2008. According to Shkiryak, Yushchenko, a secret ally of the Party of Regions and President Viktor Yanukovych, should be in the dock. The prosecutor's office accepted the statement, but found no evidence of a crime.
Judge Rodion Kireyev of the "gas trial" also fell under Zoryan Nestorovich's thumb. After the judge removed Shkiryak from the courtroom for allegedly applauding Tymoshenko's new lawyer, he decided to sue the offender.
Incidentally, in 2016, the politician cooled toward Yulia Vladimirovna and stated that she was under the direct influence of the Kremlin, which clearly outlined her objectives in Ukraine. This is most likely related to Zoryan Nestorovich's new political direction.
In 2011, Shkiryak became a member of the Council of Entrepreneurs of Ukraine.
In 2012, the Social-Christian Party took a decisive step – they joined the united Ukrainian opposition under the leadership of Oleksandr Turchynov (Read more about it in the article Oleksandr Turchynov: Skeletons in the Closet of Ukraine's "Bloody Pastor"), which included Yulia Tymoshenko's Batkivshchyna (who was then in prison) and Arseniy Yatsenyuk's Front of Change. The goal was to fight the Yanukovych regime. However, their efforts were unsuccessful: Viktor Yanukovych remained president, and Shkiryak dropped out of political life – he stopped attending shows, and New Kyiv's rallies fizzled out.
Zorian Shkiryak could have continued to play the role of a crystal-clear politician if not for an incident that occurred in 2013. At the time, the politician was a trusted person of a people's deputy. Dmitry Iosifovich Andrievsky From the Batkivshchyna faction. Zorian Nestorovich Andrievskyi knew him from the People's Union "Our Ukraine," but Dmitry Iosifovich left the political party a year before Shkiryak, in 2008.
So, Zorian Nestorovich failed the "Groshi" program's honesty test. Journalists decided to find out whether it was possible to "push" a bill through Parliament and how much it would cost. They asked Shkiryak to lobby for a housing and utilities bill from public figure Tatyana Montyan. The politician proved experienced in this matter and agreed, naming a price of $5000 (40 hryvnias in 2013). Incidentally, an interesting fact: a hotel room in Paris, where Dmitry Andrievskyi likes to vacation, also costs $5000 per night. Apparently, Shkiryak worked so his "employer" could relax.
After this awkward situation, the politician went underground. No one heard from him for about six months.
Maidan and career growth
The Euromaidan revolution brought many politicians to power: some corrupt officials replaced others. And Zorian Shkiryak is no exception.
After the bloody Berkut crackdown on students on the Maidan, Zorian Nestorovich realized the moment had come and immediately became an activist. He called on all citizens to come to Euromaidan and protect the youth. Shkiryak was, as always, emotional. "Men who have balls, come to the square," the politician shouted during Svoboda's Oleksandr Aronets's online broadcast.
According to an old tradition, wherever a civic association is being formed, in this case, a parliamentary one, Zorian Nestorovich is there. So, when the formation of the "Maidan" people's association was announced, Shkiryak immediately became an active member. The self-proclaimed organizing committee, hastily assembled on the basis of ambition, did not allow anyone "not on the list" to speak at the microphone. Deputies arrived by the hour for their own speeches and paid a fee for their speeches.
After Yanukovych's escape, Shkiryak was offered a position in the State Migration Service, but he declined. Of course, Zorian Nestorovich was thinking about the future—the 2014 elections were looming. The politician submitted documents to the Central Election Commission as a self-nominated candidate for President of Ukraine. In his documents, Shkiryak indicated that he was temporarily unemployed, a member of the All-Ukrainian Union "Maidan," and resided in Kyiv (unhealthy ambitions!). And then came the shock! Shkiryak turned out to be the poorest presidential candidate. His asset declaration for 2013 was published. According to it, the politician and his family members did not earn a penny for the year. At the same time, he spent 16,2 UAH on loan repayments and over 5 UAH on interest, and contributed 75,7 UAH of authorized capital to an organization. Furthermore, Shkiryak indicated that he owned a 74-square-meter apartment. m, and two cars—a 2005 Toyota Camry XLE and a 2003 Nissan Primera. Voters wondered: with such a meager income for a deputy, where would Shkiryak get the money to pay the registration fee for his presidential candidacy?
Moreover, the political battle for the presidential seat reached its climax when the Communist Party of Ukraine and his opponent, Petro Symonenko, filed a lawsuit against Zoryan Shkiryak. The lawsuit stemmed from Shkiryak's remarks about the Communist Party during the Shuster LIVE program. On air, the presidential candidate called the Communists a mouthpiece for the Kremlin. The politician failed to appear in court, and the case was hushed up.
A week and a half after submitting his documents to the Central Election Commission, Zorian Shkiryak changed his mind and withdrew them. However, a curious incident occurred during the presidential election. Zorian Nestorovich's name was still on the ballot, and 0,02% of Ukrainians voted for him.
In the summer of 2014, Zoryan Shkiryak was awaiting a new position. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov appointed him as his advisor. His responsibilities included organizing the safe evacuation of people from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where armed clashes were taking place between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics.
Apparently, Shkiryak liked the position so much that he withdrew his candidacy as a majoritarian candidate in Kyiv's constituency No. 217 during the 2014 snap parliamentary elections. He gave the "spot" to Andriy Biletsky, commander of the Azov volunteer battalion and head of the Patriot of Ukraine organization, who ran as an independent candidate in the same constituency. The politician also became Biletsky's confidant.
Zorian Shkiryak and Andriy Biletsky
After all this, Zorian Shkiryak left for the ATO zone. He regularly updated his Twitter account and posted photos, as well as sent news from the field. The most telling was that Putin had ordered Shkiryak's capture. At the height of the conflict in Donbas, Zorian Nestorovich stated that militants intended to capture several high-ranking security officials or civil servants in the ATO zone, clearly hinting at himself. The source of this information is unknown.
Extraordinary and unsuccessful affairs
On March 25, 2015, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed Zoryan Nestorovich as acting head of the State Emergency Service. The politician "owed" this new position to the agency's corrupt leadership, Serhiy Bochkovsky and his deputy, Vasyl Stoetsky, who were detained on suspicion of embezzlement of budget funds on an especially large scale. They were arrested (lustrated) live in front of cameras, as had become fashionable since the Maidan. The officials were accused of organizing opaque tenders and purchasing fuel for the Ministry of Emergency Situations at inflated prices. The kickbacks went to Bochkovsky and Stoetsky's Cypriot accounts. The charges were later dropped due to insufficient evidence. Serhiy Bochkovsky was charged with extortion. He allegedly demanded a monthly tribute of 50 to 150 hryvnias from the heads of the regional Emergency Ministry departments. Vasyl Stoyetskyi was released altogether.
Of course, after such a public outcry, the agency should have been headed by a politician with a crystal-clear reputation and an ardent Maidan activist. Shkiryak has at least some connection to the latter, but by the former criterion, given his activities, he has absolutely nothing. Nevertheless, Zorian Nestorovich, a lawyer and political scientist with no relevant education, who has never worked as a rescuer, has joined the State Service. It's worth noting the "betrayal"—after the demonstrative and open arrest of senior officials at the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the appointment of the acting head of the agency took place behind closed doors, without even the presence of journalists. The day after his appointment, Zorian Shkiryak declared a total lustration and signed 300 dismissal notices. However, a month later, it turned out that only 50 people, and even then only minor officials, had been dismissed.
It became clear that Zorian Nestorovich was far from being a rescuer when a massive fire broke out in Chernobyl. The fire engulfed 320 hectares and spread toward the Chernobyl power plant and Kyiv. Everyone feared a radiation release, but fortunately, none occurred. It took four days to extinguish the fire.
The fires in the exclusion zone had barely died down when a new disaster struck: an earthquake in Nepal. The president signed a decree dispatching a plane to Kathmandu to evacuate Ukrainians from the disaster zone. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there were approximately 200 Ukrainian citizens there. Chief Rescuer Shkiryak led the operation, bringing along journalists and his girlfriend.
And then the epic drama began, watched live by all Ukrainians. Rescuers departed five days after the incident. The plane broke down en route to Kathmandu. A special flight urgently delivered a necessary part from Kyiv, which also turned out to be faulty. Another parcel had to be sent. Then the team couldn't obtain permission to land in Kathmandu, so they landed in Delhi. The journey was dragging on. Shkiryak decided to fly to Kathmandu on a regular flight. Once in the Nepalese capital, it turned out the journalists had run out of money, and as Ukrainian citizens, they had to submit applications asking for assistance. The rescue team had to spend the night at the Ukrainian consul's residence, along with citizens awaiting evacuation. On the return flight, back at Delhi airport, the plane's tire blew, and the people spent hours waiting, lying on the tarmac near the runway.
The operation lasted a week. Fortunately, the "star" landing force, as Zoryan Nestorovich's team was nicknamed, returned to Ukraine.
The result of the operation was that it would have been much cheaper to rescue everyone using scheduled flights. And most importantly, a week later, the Cabinet of Ministers dismissed Zoryan Shkiryak as Chairman of the State Emergency Service and appointed Mykola Chechetkin as Chairman. Before his departure, the politician distributed certificates and awards to all the rescuers.
However, Zorian Nestorovich wasn't left without a job. Arsen Avakov stepped in. He offered Shkiryak a position as his advisor. "Zorian Shkiryak is our blood and blood... and he will work for the department if he so desires," Avakov declared.
Oh, by the way, he never managed to learn how to be an "EMChESnik." Watch the following video. It shows the former Minister of Emergency Situations, Mr. Shkiryak, flicking a cigarette butt into the dry grass behind his back. During a fire safety and firefighting drill!
Income, love and hobbies
Zoryan Nestorovich's new income declaration for 2015 is not as dismal as the one from 2013. Last year, the politician earned 1,149,000 hryvnias. He owns one apartment (117 square meters) and drives a 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero SUV.
Zorian Nestorovich was married for 19 years; he divorced several years ago. He is raising two daughters, Zoreslava-Maria and Khristina-Sofia. His ex-wife moved abroad and remarried there. Her younger daughter, Khristina-Sofia, went with her. Shkiryak's eldest daughter, Zoreslava-Maria, remains with him.
Today Shkiryak has a new love – yoga instructor Ekaterina Khramova.
Zorian Shkiryak and Ekaterina Khramova
Zorian Shkiryak, a longtime fitness and judo enthusiast, regularly boasts photos from the gym on social media. As it turns out, back in 2007, he weighed 105 kg, but he lost 30 kg in seven months. Since then, Zorian Nestorovich has been going to the gym, eating only healthy foods, increasing protein and low-fat dairy products, and giving up bread, potatoes, and fried foods.
Moreover, under the influence of his beloved woman, Shkiryak became interested in yoga.
Arina Dmitrieva, for SKELET-info
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