Vadim Novinsky

Vadim Novinsky (born 3 June 1963 in Staraya Russa) is a Ukrainian (since May 2012) businessman, owner of Smart Holding Group, and politician. According to Forbes Novinsky's Net Worth in March 2013 was $1.9 billion.

Novinsky was born 3 June 1963 in Staraya Russa (then USSR, now Russia). In 1985 he graduated from the Leningrad Academy of Civil Aviation in engineering management systems.

From 1985 till 1986 he worked for various companies in Russia. Novinsky worked in Ukraine since 1996 starting with Lukoil North West and then buying Ukrainian metallurgy companies.

On 29 May 2012 Novinsky obtained Ukrainian citizenship "for distinguished services to the country" under the order of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Novinsky lives in Kiev. He also has a residence in Saint Petersburg (Russia).

The general public better known him as a Russian oligarch, who made his major fortune in the "dashing 90-e" on privatization of many Ukrainian enterprises. He received Ukrainian passport in 2012 from the hands of the fugitive President Viktor Yanukovich for "the services rendered to Ukraine”. Probably Yanukovich considered as the services Novinsky`s membership in the hunting club "Cedar" which is on 100 acres of the protected forest lands next to the residence of Mezhygorye famed for its stunning luxury which has become a symbol of corruption and waste today. In February 2014 a video appeared Ukrainian in which President Petro Poroshenko called Novinsky "an Orthodox slut. He supports Russian interests in Ukraine in particular the Ukrainian branch of the Russian Orthodox Church -- often considered a Russian "Fifth Column" in Ukraine. He is on record as involved in semi-criminal or outright criminal activities

As an independent Novinsky won the 7 July 2013 by-election in constituency 224 in Sevastopol (located in the southwestern region of the Crimean Peninsula) with 53.41% with a turnout of 23.91%. Before the election Novinsky had stated he would join the Party of Regions if he won. He did so on 5 September 2013. After the (controversial) March 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia Novinsky was banned from entering the peninsula by the Russian-appointed Crimean authorities.

In the October 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election Novinsky was again re-elected into parliament; this time after placing 11th on the electoral list of Opposition Bloc.

Since May 2014 Novinsky is under criminal investigation for "unlawful imprisonment or kidnapping by a conspiracy" and "abuse of power or authority" for allegedly helping President Yanukovych in 2013 to take control of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (by trying to get loyalists appointed). On 8 December 2016 parliament deprived Novinsky of his parliamentary immunity.

With partner and fellow billionaire, Andrei Klyamko Novinsky owns Ukraine's Smart Holding Group. In 2006 they united their Ukrainian metallurgy companies into Smart Holding Group. In 2007 they exchanged them for a stake in Metinvest. Smart Holding Group has a 23.75% stake in iron ore producer Metinvest. Smart Holding also owns large assets in the oil and gas sector, shipbuilding, development, agriculture and its controlling Unex Bank and BM Bank. Its revenues in 2011 stood at $14.2 billion.

Novinsky also has stakes in oil and gas company Regal Petroleum and supermarket chain Amstor.

Novinsky is actively involved in various charitable project and is Honorary President of FC Sevastopol. Smart Holding Group supports several sports teams.

Novinsky is married and has four children.