Igor Plotnitsky

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Igor Plotnitsky
Ihor Plotnytskiy.jpg
2nd Head of the Luhansk People's Republic
Assumed office
14 August 2014
Preceded by Valery Bolotov
Personal details
Born (1964-06-25) 25 June 1964 (age 51)
Luhansk or Kelmentsi, Ukrainian SSR, USSR
Political party Peace for Luhansk Region[1]
Religion Russian Orthodox Church or protestant[2]
Signature
Military service
Allegiance  Soviet Union
Flag of the Lugansk People's Republic.svg Luhansk People's Republic
Years of service 1982-1991, 2014-
Rank Major

Igor Venediktovich Plotnitsky (Russian: И́горь Венеди́ктович Плотни́цкий; IPA: [ˈigərʲ vʲɪnʲɪˈdʲiktəvʲɪtɕ plɐtˈnʲitskʲɪj], Ukrainian: Ігор Венедиктович Плотницький), born 26 June 1964 either in Luhansk[3] or in the town of Kelmentsi,[4] Chernivtsi Oblast.[5]

He is the Head of the unrecognized Luhansk People's Republic, in eastern Ukraine.[6]

Biography[edit]

Plotnitsky was born either in Luhansk or in the town of Kelmentsi to Benyamin and Nina Plotnitsky.[5][3] He also has a brother Mykhailo Plotnitsky who resides in Kiev.[5] According to one of his classmates Plotnitsky went to live in Luhansk in 1982, when he joined the army.[5]

Plotnitsky was a reserve officer of the Soviet Army and started to dedicate himself to business activities after the fall of Soviet Union. In 2004, he joined the Regional Inspectorate of Consumer Rights.[7]

Anti-Semitism[edit]

In June 2015, Plotnitsky told an audience at a Russian university that Ukraine]s Euromaidan revolution was masterminded by a cabal of Jews, and that the name "Euromaidan" was really "Evreimaidan", which translates from Russian to 'Jewmaidan.' He also referred to President Poroshenko as "Valtzman," which was his father's surname. He also said: "I have nothing against the Jews as a people" Jewish leaders commenting on his remarks agreed they were anti-Semitic. The Anti-Defamation League also condemned Plotnitsky. [8]

Luhansk People's Republic[edit]

After the declaration of independence of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, Plotnitsky pledged support to the separatists and became, on May 21, the Defense Minister of the republic.[7] On 14 August 2014 Valery Bolotov, the president of the LPR, announced his resignation and his replacement by Igor Plotnitsky.[6]

Plotnitsky won the 2014 Luhansk Presidential Election with 63% of the vote.[9]

Plotnitsky challenged Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to a duel (possibly to be broadcast live on TV) in an open letter published on 19 November 2014 in which he proposes "Whoever wins will dictate their terms to the opposing side".[10] In the letter Plotnitsky pledged that if he won the duel he would first end all military action in Eastern Ukraine, then force "all legal, half-legal, paralegal and illegal armed groups" into exile.[10]

References[edit]