Aivaras Abromavičius

Aivaras Abromavičius
Айварас Абромавічус
15th Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine
In office
2 December 2014 – 14 April 2016[1]
Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk
Preceded by Oleksandr Shlapak
Succeeded by Stepan Kubiv
Personal details
Born (1976-01-21) 21 January 1976
Vilnius, Lithuania
Political party unaffiliated
Spouse(s) Jekaterina
Children 3
Alma mater Concordia International University Estonia

Aivaras Abromavičius (Ukrainian: Айварас Абромавічус, born 21 January 1976) is a Lithuanian-born Ukrainian investment banker and politician. He was Ukraine's Minister of Economy and Trade since December 2014. Abromavičius announced his resignation on 3 February 2016. He did not retain his post in the Groysman Government that was installed in 14 April 2016.[1]

Biography

Abromavičius was educated in Soviet Lithuania, obtaining a BA in international management from the private Concordia International University Estonia.[2] He worked for Hansabank before becoming a partner and fund manager at the East Capital asset management group.

In 2004 Abromavičius married a Ukrainian woman from Donetsk[3][4] and in 2008 they settled in Kiev where their three children were born.[4][5]

Abromavičius remained a Lithuanian citizen until being appointed to the Poroshenko government. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko granted citizenship to Abromavičius, Natalie Jaresko and Alexander Kvitashvili on 2 December 2014 to allow them to serve as ministers in the Second Yatsenyuk Government.[6][7] Ukrainian law does not allow for dual-citizenship.[8]

Abromavičius does not speak Ukrainian[8] but is fluent in Lithuanian, English and Russian.[2]

Abromavičius is a proponent of austerity, advocating "radical spending cuts"[8] as well as deregulation and privatisation.[8][9]

On 3 February 2016, Abromavičius announced his resignation, he claimed that the key reason was a conflict with Ihor Kononenko, who is the deputy head of the Bloc of Petro Poroshenko parliamentary faction.[10] According to Abromavičius Kononenko was trying to install a new deputy in the economy ministry to further his own interests.[11] On the same day, Kononenko stated he was ready to give up his parliamentary mandate should his faction would ask him to do so.[12] Abromavicius also stated that Ukrainian politicians insisted that he appointed at state companies people he did not want to and resisted the economic reforms. He also mentioned that corruption in Ukraine was too strong, and he was not willing to serve cover for corruption.[13] Nine Western ambassadors signed a statement (published on the official website of the Embassy of Sweden) on 3 February 2016 that stated they were "deeply disappointed by the resignation" because Abromavičius delivered real reform results for Ukraine.[14] He was finally relieved from his post when the Groysman Government was installed in 14 April 2016.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 New Cabinet formed in Ukraine, UNIAN (14 April 2016)
  2. 1 2 Aivaras Abromavicius profile - East Capital Management, retrieved 28 Jan 2015
  3. ↑ Jokūbaitis, Marius (4 December 2014). "Pilietybės netenkantis lietuvis: "Ukrainai manęs reikia labiau"" [On losing his Lithuanian citizenship: "I'm needed more in Ukraine"]. Lietuvos rytas (in Lithuanian).
  4. 1 2 Bonner, Brian; Verstyuk, Ivan (15 December 2014). "New economy minister stands for austerity, deregulation, privatization". Kyiv Post.
  5. ↑ Bigg, Claire (3 December 2014). "Who Are Ukraine's New Foreign-Born Ministers?". RFERL.
  6. ↑ "Poroshenko orders to grant citizenship to Jaresko, Kvitashvili and Abromavicius". Interfax-Ukraine. 2 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Foreign technocrats given Ukrainian citizenship before cabinet vote". Reuters. 2 December 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Can This Man Save Ukraine's Economy? - Bloomberg, 5 January 2015
  9. ↑ New economy minister stands for austerity, deregulation, privatization - Kyiv Post, Dec 15 2014
  10. ↑ Ukraine Economy Minister decides to resign, UNIAN (3 February 2016)
  11. ↑ REFORMING UKRAINE AFTER THE REVOLUTIONS, The New Yorker (5 September 2016 issue)
  12. ↑ Kononenko says ready to let go of his mandate, UNIAN (3 February 2016)
  13. ↑ Choursina, Kateryna (3 February 2015). "Ukrainian Economy Minister Quits as Cracks in Government Widen". Bloomberg Business. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  14. ↑ Western envoys react harshly to Abromavicius resignation, UNIAN (3 February 2016)
    Pyatt says Abromavicius "one of great champions of reform", UNIAN (3 February 2016)
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