Serhiy_Knyazev
Serhiy Knyazev (Ukrainian: Сергій 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]
Serhiy Knyazev | |
|---|---|
| 2nd Chief of National Police of Ukraine | |
| In office 8 February 2017 – 25 September 2019 | |
| President | Petro Poroshenko Volodymyr Zelensky |
| Prime Minister | Volodymyr Groysman |
| Preceded by | Khatia Dekanoidze |
| Succeeded by | Ihor Klymenko[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1971-10-18) 18 October 1971 (age 52) Mstyora, Vladimir Oblast, RSFSR, USSR |
| Citizenship | Ukraine |
| Residence(s) | Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Ukraine |
| Branch/service |  Ministry of Internal Affairs |
| Years of service | Since 1992 |
| Rank | .png){kind=small} Third division general |
| Commands |  National Police of Ukraine |
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]
Knyazev divorced Viktoriya in 2012.[2] She is the mother of their three children.[8]
- (in Ukrainian) Storming of a supermarket in Mariupol: the head of the National Police threatened with immediate punishment, Ukrayinska Pravda (16 April 2020)
- Cabinet appoints Knyazev as National Police chief, Kyiv Post (8 February 2017)
- Experienced staff, who is the new head of the police Knyazev?, BBC Ukrainian (8 February 2017)
- Ukraine's police chief resigns, UNIAN (24 September 2019)
- "Chief of Ukraine's National Police resigns". Kyiv Post. 24 September 2017.
- Biography (in Ukrainian) on "VSE"-website (dated 5 April 2016)