Eduard Yosypovych Hurvits (; ; born 30 January 1948) is a Ukrainian politician who served as the 71st mayor of
Odesa
Odesa, also spelled Odessa, is the third most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city and List of hromadas of Ukraine, municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern ...
on two occasions; first from July 1994 to 26 May 1998, and then from 5 April 2005 to 6 November 2010. He also served as a
People's Deputy of Ukraine
A people's deputy of Ukraine (, ) is a member of parliament and legislator elected by Direct election, popular vote to the Verkhovna Rada, the parliament of Ukraine. They are often referred to simply as "deputies". Prior to 1991, the Verkhovna R ...
on two occasions, from 27 March 1994 to 26 March 2006 and from 28 October 2012 to 26 October 2014.
Born into a Jewish family in
western Ukraine
Western Ukraine or West Ukraine (, ) refers to the western territories of Ukraine. There is no universally accepted definition of the territory's boundaries, but the contemporary Ukrainian administrative regions ( oblasts) of Chernivtsi, I ...
, Hurvits served in the
Soviet Army
The Soviet Ground Forces () was the land warfare service branch of the Soviet Armed Forces from 1946 to 1992. It was preceded by the Red Army.
After the Soviet Union ceased to exist in December 1991, the Ground Forces remained under th ...
for one year before becoming a construction foreman in the southwestern Soviet Union. A participant in Odesan politics since 1990, Hurvits became both mayor of Odesa and a People's Deputy of Ukraine as a member of the
People's Movement of Ukraine
The People's Movement of Ukraine () is a Ukraine, Ukrainian political party and one of the first Opposition (politics), opposition parties in Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Ukraine.The first officially registered opposition politica ...
. As mayor, Hurvits clashed frequently with
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
*'' Præsident ...
Leonid Kuchma
Leonid Danylovych Kuchma (, ; born 9 August 1938) is a Ukrainian politician who was the second president of Ukraine, serving from 19 July 1994 to 23 January 2005. The only president of Ukraine to serve two terms, his presidency was marked by demo ...
, and was removed following his re-election in 1998.
Remaining in the
Verkhovna Rada
The Verkhovna Rada ( ; VR), officially the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is the unicameralism, unicameral parliament of Ukraine. It consists of 450 Deputy (legislator), deputies presided over by a speaker. The Verkhovna Rada meets in the Verkhovn ...
(Ukraine's parliament), Hurvits became an early supporter of
Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Andriiovych Yushchenko (, ; born 23 February 1954) is a Ukrainian politician who was the third president of Ukraine from 23 January 2005 to 25 February 2010. He aimed to orient Ukraine towards Western world, the West, European Union, and N ...
and the
Orange Revolution
The Orange Revolution () was a series of protests that led to political upheaval in Ukraine from late November 2004 to January 2005. It gained momentum primarily due to the initiative of the general population, sparked by the aftermath of the ...
, and was re-elected as mayor in April 2005. Hurvits' second term, however, ended in an unsuccessful attempt at re-election, with the failed attempt to host
UEFA Euro 2012
The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2012 or simply Euro 2012, was the 14th UEFA European Championship, European Championship for List of men's national association football teams#UEFA (Europe), men's ...
in the city being a key reason for Gurvits' removal. Hurvits subsequently re-entered the Verkhovna Rada as a member of the
Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform
The Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform of Vitali Klitschko (, using the acronym UDAR Vitali Klitschko () translates to "strike" or "punch", ) is a political party in Ukraine headed by retiredRevolution of Dignity
The Revolution of Dignity (), also known as the Maidan Revolution or the Ukrainian Revolution, took place in Ukraine in February 2014 at the end of the Euromaidan protests, when deadly clashes between protesters and state forces in the capit ...
.
Biography
Eduard Yosypovych Hurvits was born on 30 January 1948 in
Mohyliv-Podilskyi
Mohyliv-Podilskyi (, ) is a city in Vinnytsia Oblast, Ukraine. It serves as the administrative center of Mohyliv-Podilskyi Raion within the oblast. It is located in the historic region of Podolia, on the border with Bessarabia, Moldova, along th ...
, in the
Vinnytsia Oblast
Vinnytsia Oblast (, ), also referred to as Vinnychchyna (), is an oblasts of Ukraine, oblast in central Ukraine. Its capital city, administrative center is Vinnytsia. The oblast has a population of
History
Vinnytsia Oblast, first established on ...
of the
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, abbreviated as the Ukrainian SSR, UkrSSR, and also known as Soviet Ukraine or just Ukraine, was one of the Republics of the Soviet Union, constituent republics of the Soviet Union from 1922 until 1991. ...
, Soviet Union. He attended the Leningrad Engineering and Construction Institute and graduated as an Engineer of Communications. Hurvits was drafted into the
Soviet Army
The Soviet Ground Forces () was the land warfare service branch of the Soviet Armed Forces from 1946 to 1992. It was preceded by the Red Army.
After the Soviet Union ceased to exist in December 1991, the Ground Forces remained under th ...
in 1971, where he served as a private in the
Strategic Rocket Forces
The Strategic Rocket Forces of the Russian Federation or the Strategic Missile Forces of the Russian Federation (RVSN RF; ) is a military branch, separate combat arm of the Russian Armed Forces that controls Russia's land-based intercontinenta ...
. After leaving the army in 1972, he worked as a master
construction foreman
A construction foreman is the worker or skilled tradesperson who is in charge of a construction crew. This role is generally assumed by a senior worker who is seasoned and competent in their field, but also capable of project leadership (oversigh ...
in
Moldova
Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. ...
and
Odesa
Odesa, also spelled Odessa, is the third most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city and List of hromadas of Ukraine, municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern ...
. In 1987, he created and headed one of the first Soviet manufacturing co-operatives, the Experimental and Creative Studio 'Ekopolis'. In May 1990 he was elected head of Odesa's Zhovtnevy district council, and in 1991 became the head of the Zhovtnevy district executive committee. In April 1994, Hurvits was elected as a
People's Deputy of Ukraine
A people's deputy of Ukraine (, ) is a member of parliament and legislator elected by Direct election, popular vote to the Verkhovna Rada, the parliament of Ukraine. They are often referred to simply as "deputies". Prior to 1991, the Verkhovna R ...
to the
Verkhovna Rada
The Verkhovna Rada ( ; VR), officially the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is the unicameralism, unicameral parliament of Ukraine. It consists of 450 Deputy (legislator), deputies presided over by a speaker. The Verkhovna Rada meets in the Verkhovn ...
(Ukraine's parliament) from the 294th electoral district, and in July 1994, was elected
Mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...
of
Odesa
Odesa, also spelled Odessa, is the third most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city and List of hromadas of Ukraine, municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern ...
.
In March 1998, Hurvits was re-elected as mayor, by a margin of 70,000 votes. Due to pressure by then-
President of Ukraine
The president of Ukraine (, ) is the head of state of Ukraine. The president represents the nation in international relations, administers the foreign political activity of the state, conducts negotiations and concludes international treaties. ...
Leonid Kuchma
Leonid Danylovych Kuchma (, ; born 9 August 1938) is a Ukrainian politician who was the second president of Ukraine, serving from 19 July 1994 to 23 January 2005. The only president of Ukraine to serve two terms, his presidency was marked by demo ...
, the
Kropyvnytskyi
Kropyvnytskyi (, ) is a city in central Ukraine, situated on the Inhul, Inhul River. It serves as the administrative center of Kirovohrad Oblast. Population:
Over its history, Kropyvnytskyi has changed its name several times. The settlement ...
Regional Court of Appeal declared the elections void. The same court barred Gurvits from participating in further election. It is speculated that these events were influenced by Gurvits' support of former Prime Minister
Pavlo Lazarenko
Pavlo Ivanovych Lazarenko (; born 23 January 1953) is a Ukraine, Ukrainian convicted criminal, international fugitive, and a former politician who served as Prime Minister of Ukraine from 1996 to 1997.
Born in 1953 to a peasant family in southe ...
.
In 1999, he supported the renaming of Griboyedov Lane into
Roman Shukhevych
Roman-Taras Osypovych Shukhevych (, also known by his pseudonym, Tur and Taras Chuprynka; 30 June 1907 – 5 March 1950) was a Ukrainian nationalism, Ukrainian nationalist and a military leader of the nationalist Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) ...
Street, saying:
We renamed Griboyedov Lane into Shukhevych Street — an enemy of the
KGB
The Committee for State Security (, ), abbreviated as KGB (, ; ) was the main security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 to 1991. It was the direct successor of preceding Soviet secret police agencies including the Cheka, Joint State Polit ...
who fought with KGB agents in
Western Ukraine
Western Ukraine or West Ukraine (, ) refers to the western territories of Ukraine. There is no universally accepted definition of the territory's boundaries, but the contemporary Ukrainian administrative regions ( oblasts) of Chernivtsi, I ...
. And now our SBU is at the corner of Shukhevych and Jewish
treets
Treets were a brand of confectionery sold by Mars Limited in the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
The original product consisted of peanuts coated in milk chocolate with an outer shell of dark brown glazed c ...
Hurvits survived two assassination attempts and two of his close associates - Ihor Svoboda and Serhiy Varlamov - were kidnapped. (The body of Varlamov was recovered in 2005). Also in 1998, Hurvits was re-elected to the Verkhovna Rada, this time from the 136th electoral district.
In 2002, Hurvits participated in new mayoral elections, but lost to
Rouslan Bodelan
Rouslan Borysovych Bodelan (, ; born 4 April 1942) is a Ukrainian politician.
Biography
Soviet times
Rouslan Bodelan started his career in 1959 as a sports coach/teacher in a secondary school. In 1961, he began his work at the "Odessilbud" ...
. Later, in 2005, the Prymorskyi district court of Odesa declared the elections invalid and proclaimed Gurvits as Mayor of Odesa. During the 2006 elections, Hurvits was formally elected Mayor of Odesa. He supported the pro-President
Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Andriiovych Yushchenko (, ; born 23 February 1954) is a Ukrainian politician who was the third president of Ukraine from 23 January 2005 to 25 February 2010. He aimed to orient Ukraine towards Western world, the West, European Union, and N ...
political bloc, Eduard Hurvits's Bloc ''Our Odesa'', during simultaneous elections in the Odesa City Council.
After the failure of Odesa to become one of the host city's for
UEFA Euro 2012
The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2012 or simply Euro 2012, was the 14th UEFA European Championship, European Championship for List of men's national association football teams#UEFA (Europe), men's ...
, President of the
Ukrainian Association of Football
The Ukrainian Football Association (, ; UAF) is the governing body of football (soccer), football in Ukraine. Before 2019, it was known as the Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU; ). As a subject of the International Olympic Movement, UAF is a me ...
Hryhoriy Surkis
Hryhoriy Mykhailovych Surkis (; born 4 September 1949) is a Ukrainian businessman, one of five vice-presidents of UEFA since 24 May 2013. Surkis was the president of Football Federation of Ukraine until September 2012.
stated (in mid-December 2009) that "The Odesa mayor promised a lot and did little". Hurvits in 2010 was running for election for the party Front for Change. But lost these elections with 30.8 percent of the votes.
Hurvits returned to national politics as number 16 on the party list of
Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform
The Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform of Vitali Klitschko (, using the acronym UDAR Vitali Klitschko () translates to "strike" or "punch", ) is a political party in Ukraine headed by retired2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Ukraine on 28 October 2012.Parli ...
Ukrainska Pravda
''Ukrainska Pravda'' is a Ukrainian socio-political online media outlet founded by Heorhii Gongadze in April 2000. After Gongadze’s death in September 2000, the editorial team was led by co-founder Olena Prytula, who remained the editor-in ...
(11 November 2012) In the
2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election
Fourteen or 14 may refer to:
* 14 (number), the natural number following 13 and preceding 15
* one of the years 14 BC, AD 14, 1914, 2014
Music
* 14th (band), a British electronic music duo
* ''14'' (David Garrett album), 2013
*''14'', an un ...
, Hurvits tried to again win a seat, placed at No. 96 of the electoral list of the
Petro Poroshenko Bloc
European Solidarity (, ; , YeS) is a political party in Ukraine. It has its roots in a parliamentary group called Solidarity dating from 2000 and has existed since in various forms as a political outlet for Petro Poroshenko. The party with its the ...
. However, the Petro Poroshenko Bloc won no more than 63 seats, and thus Hurvits did not return to the Verkhovna Rada.Poroshenko Bloc to have greatest number of seats in parliament ,
Interfax-Ukraine
Interfax-Ukraine () is a Ukrainian news agency. Founded in 1992, the company publishes in Ukrainian, Russian, English and German.
The company owns a 50-seat press centre.
The staff of the agency is 105 people (as of the end of February 2022)
...
Interfax-Ukraine
Interfax-Ukraine () is a Ukrainian news agency. Founded in 1992, the company publishes in Ukrainian, Russian, English and German.
The company owns a 50-seat press centre.
The staff of the agency is 105 people (as of the end of February 2022)
...
Ukrainska Pravda
''Ukrainska Pravda'' is a Ukrainian socio-political online media outlet founded by Heorhii Gongadze in April 2000. After Gongadze’s death in September 2000, the editorial team was led by co-founder Olena Prytula, who remained the editor-in ...
(30 September 2020)
Private life
Hurvits is divorced. He has two children: a daughter, Yevgenia, born in 1975, who lives in
Kyiv
Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2, ...
and a son, Stanislav, born in 1983, who lives in
Haifa
Haifa ( ; , ; ) is the List of cities in Israel, third-largest city in Israel—after Jerusalem and Tel Aviv—with a population of in . The city of Haifa forms part of the Haifa metropolitan area, the third-most populous metropolitan area i ...
,
Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
. He also has two grandchildren: Masha, born in 1996, and Misha, born in 1999, who are living together with their parents in Kyiv.
See also
*
List of mayors of Odesa, Ukraine
Throughout Odesa, Ukraine's history, the office of Novorossiya Governor and Odesa mayor was closely aligned and often was held by the same leader.
List of Mayors
See also
* Timeline of Odesa
References
{{Reflist, 2
Mayors of Odesa,
Lists ...