Andrey Turchak

{{Short description|Russian politician (born 1975)}}

{{family name hatnote|Anatolyevich|Turchak|lang=Eastern Slavic}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}

{{Infobox Officeholder

| name = Andrey Turchak

| image = Andrey Turchak (2018-07-10).jpg

| office = Head of the Altai Republic

| term_start = 3 October 2024
Acting: 4 June 2024 – 3 October 2024

| term_end =

| predecessor = Oleg Khorokhordin

| office1 = Senator from Pskov Oblast

| term_start1 = 2 November 2017

| term_end1 = 4 June 2024

| predecessor1 = Aleksandr Borisov

| successor1 =

| term_start2 = 6 July 2007

| term_end2 = 16 February 2009

| predecessor2 = Nikolay Medvedev

| successor2 = Aleksandr Borisov

| office3 = Secretary of the General Council of the United Russia

| term_start3 = 12 October 2017

| term_end3 = 15 June 2024

| predecessor3 = Sergey Neverov

| successor3 = Vladimir Yakushevhttps://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/news/2024/06/15/1044017-naznachil Медведев назначил полпреда Якушева врио секретаря генсовета «Единой России»

| 1blankname3 = Chairman

| 1namedata3 = Dmitry Medvedev

| office4 = 5th Governor of Pskov Oblast

| term_start4 = 27 February 2009

| term_end4 = 12 October 2017

| predecessor4 = Mikhail Kuzentsov

| successor4 = Mikhail Vedernikov

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|12|20|df=y}}

| birth_place = Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = United Russia

| alma_mater = Saint Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation

| profession =

| signature =

| native_name = {{nobold|Андрей Турчак}}

| native_name_lang = ru

| caption = Turchak in 2018

}}

Andrey Anatolyevich Turchak ({{langx|ru|Андрей Анатольевич Турчак}}; born 20 December 1975) is a Russian politician who currently serves as Head of the Altai Republic since 3 October 2024. He has also served as Secretary of the General Council of United Russia from 12 October 2017 to 15 June 2024.{{Cite news|title=the acting Secretary of the General Council "United Russia" became Turchak|url=http://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/59df4bfa9a7947b5442f4302|work=RBC|access-date=12 October 2017}}

Previously, he was the fifth Governor of Pskov Oblast (2009–2017) and Senator from Pskov Oblast (2017–2024, 2007–2009), as well as First Vice Speaker of the Federation Council (2020–2024).[http://www.mk.ru/politics/2017/11/02/turchaka-nadelili-polnomochiyami-chlena-soveta-federacii.html Турчака наделили полномочиями члена Совета Федерации][http://newsru.com/russia/27feb2009/turchak.html Губернатором Псковской области стал Андрей Турчак] By being appointed as Governor at the age of 33, he became one of Russia's youngest governors.[http://www.fontanka.ru/2014/09/15/130/ Результаты выборов губернаторов-2014 в Волгоградской, Псковской, Тюменской областях и в Ставропольском крае: уже известно, кто победил] Фонтанка.ру

In 2013, Alexei Navalny released documents showing that Turchak had neglected to declare a $1.7 million villa that he had purchased in France, an illegal omission under Russian law.{{cite news |title=Pskov Governor Didn't Declare French Villa, Navalny Says |url=https://themoscowtimes.com/news/pskov-governor-didnt-declare-french-villa-navalny-says-22103 |work=The Moscow Times |date=6 March 2013}}

In 2015, journalist Oleg Kashin accused Turchak of ordering an attack which left Kashin in a coma with a fractured skull. Kashin alleged that Turchak arranged the attack in response to a critical blog post. In this blog post, in particular, Kashin called him "shitty Turchak".{{cite news |last1=Roth |first1=Andrew |title=Journalist Oleg Kashin knows who tried to kill him |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/09/18/journalist-oleg-kashin-knows-who-tried-to-kill-him/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=18 September 2015}}

Turchak has been an ardent supporter of Vladimir Putin. In March 2022, Turchak accused former Russian Vice Premier and current President of FIDE Arkady Dvorkovich of 'national betrayal' and called for his “immediate dismissal in disgrace”, saying: "This is nothing but the very national betrayal, the behavior of the fifth column, which the president [of Russia] spoke about today”, after Dvorkovich had criticized the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and said his thoughts are 'with Ukrainian civilians'.{{Cite web |last=King |first=Daniel |title=The ex-Kremlin deputy who openly opposed the war in a Mother Jones exclusive has been forced to resign |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/03/former-kremlin-dvorkovich-forced-resignation-opposing-putins-war/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=Mother Jones |language=en-US}}

In early May 2022, Turchak visited the Russian-occupied city of Mariupol, taking part in the unveiling of a statue of an old woman holding the Soviet flag.{{cite news |title=Top Kremlin Official Unveils Pro-War Statue in Ukraine's Mariupol |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/05/05/top-kremlin-official-unveils-pro-war-statue-in-ukraines-mariupol-a77590 |work=The Moscow Times |date=11 May 2022}}{{cite news |title=Ukrainian Hailed 'Hero' by Kremlin Reportedly Loses Home to Russian Bombs |url=https://www.newsweek.com/ukrainian-hailed-hero-kremlin-reportedly-loses-home-russian-bombs-1703979 |work=Newsweek |date=5 May 2022}}

In May 2022, he visited occupied Kherson and said: "I would like, once again, to say to residents of the Kherson region that Russia is here forever. There should be no doubt about that."{{cite news |title='Here forever' – or not Russian leadership announces retreat from Kherson. The latest. |url=https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/11/09/here-forever-or-not |work=Meduza |date=9 November 2022}} Ukrainian forces recaptured Kherson in early November 2022.{{cite news |title=A 'military necessity' and an 'invitation to negotiate' What's behind Russia's retreat from Kherson? |url=https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/11/09/a-military-necessity-and-an-invitation-to-negotiate |work=Meduza |date=9 November 2022}}

In July 2022, Turchak visited the eastern Ukrainian city of Kupiansk, which had recently been captured by Russian troops. “Clearly, Russia is here forever,” Turchak said, speaking to the camera. Ukrainian forces recaptured Kupiansk in early September 2022.{{Cite news |date=2022-09-13 |title=Russian army hobbled by shortage of soldiers |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/534b68ce-66eb-4446-8997-c2430b5890ec |access-date=2022-09-13}}

On 7 September 2022, Turchak stated that it "would be right and symbolic" to hold the annexation referendums in Russian-occupied Ukraine on 4 November, Russia's Unity Day.{{cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/09/07/russia-ruling-party-proposes-nov-4-annexation-votes-for-occupied-ukraine-a78738|title=Russia Ruling Party Proposes Nov. 4 Annexation Votes For Occupied Ukraine|website=The Moscow Times|date=9 September 2022}}