Gennady Gudkov

Gudkov received a degree in languages, an English specialist,{{cite web |url=http://perebezhchik.ru/person/gudkov-gennadiy-vladimirovich/ |title=Гудков Геннадий Владимирович |trans-title=Gudkov Gennady Vladimirovich |work=Перебежчик (Defector) |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-date=6 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606001053/http://perebezhchik.ru/person/gudkov-gennadiy-vladimirovich/ |language=Russian}} from Kolomna State Pedagogical Institute in 1978. He speaks both English and German.{{cite news |url=https://ria.ru/20130313/927147607.html |title=Биография Геннадия Гудкова |trans-title=Biography Gennady Gudkov |agency=RIA Novosti |date=13 March 2013 |access-date=17 December 2019 |language=Russian}} After graduation, he served in the Soviet Army from 1978 until 1980 and during his enlistment, he joined the Communist Party. After his service in the Soviet Army, he returned to Kolomna and worked with the Kolomna city Communist Party as an instructor in Komsomol and later as the head of operational and defense-mass work department ({{langx|ru|заведующим отделом оперативной и оборонно-массовой работы}}). He joined the KGB, the Soviet Union's national security agency, in 1981, working there for the next decade and finishing at the rank of lieutenant colonel.{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2012/09/russian-politics |title=Why Gennady Gudkov was expelled from the Duma |author=J.Y. |date=17 September 2012 |newspaper=The Economist |archivedate=23 October 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023134700/http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2012/09/russian-politics |accessdate=27 October 2012 |url-status=live }} He was KGB for Kolomna city until 1989 when he worked in the Office of Counterintelligence Operations for KGB at Moscow city and Moscow oblast (region) ({{langx|ru|Службе контрразведывательных операций УКГБ по Москве и области}}). In 1989, he graduated from the Red Banner Institute. Yu. V. Andropov. In 1992, after he resigned from the Russian Bureau of Criminal Procedure in Moscow and the Moscow Region as a major working as an operative officer, he formed his Oskord security company ({{langx|ru|«Оскордъ»}}) employing many siloviki ({{langx|ru|Силовики}}). From 1997 until 2001, he held a post in the Federal Security Service on an advisory board with other heads of private security companies.{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/russia-expels-anti-putin-lawmaker-whos-next-113639782.html |title=Russia expels anti-Putin lawmaker; who's next? |author=Nataliya Vasilyeva |date=14 September 2012 |agency=Associated Press |archivedate=5 March 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305023646/http://news.yahoo.com/russia-expels-anti-putin-lawmaker-whos-next-113639782.html |accessdate=27 October 2012 |url-status=live }} He was active with UNESCO and was elected to vice-president of the Moscow International Fund for the Promotion of UNESCO in 1999.

Gudkov was first elected to the State Duma in a by-election of the Kolomna 106th District on 18 March 2001, joining the People's Party of the Russian Federation. Gudkov won the seat again in the 2003 and 2007 legislative elections.

Gudkov was serving as deputy chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Security during the 2002 Moscow theater hostage crisis, in which 40-50 Chechen Islamist separatists took over a theater holding 850 people.{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-68949717.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125061043/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-68949717.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 January 2013 |title=Rebels Threaten Hostages in Moscow |author=Eric Engleman |date=24 October 2002 |publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=27 October 2012}} He blamed the failure of security forces to prevent the attack on a systematic destruction of state security institutions following the fall of the Soviet Union.{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-392403.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308212958/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-392403.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 March 2016 |title=Putin Takes Hard Line on Terror, Stays Silent on Use of Deadly Gas; Russian Leader Vows to Pursue Chechens' Sponsors and Financial Backers |author=Peter Baker and Susan B. Glasser |date=29 October 2002 |newspaper=The Washington Post |publisher= |accessdate=27 October 2012}}

Following the 2004 Nazran raid, in which Chechen rebels killed 90 people at police facilities in Ingushetia, Gudkov supported President Vladimir Putin's firings of top military officials, stating, "[t]he general staff made serious mistakes regarding the military structures' actions in Chechnya."{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-96576425.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125052257/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-96576425.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 January 2013 |title=Russian President Shakes Up Top Military |author=Maria Danilova |date=19 July 2004 |publisher=Associated Press |accessdate=28 October 2012}} He stated that "This will go on until we ourselves learn how to prevent terrorist acts, until we learn how to carry out effective operations to destroy terrorists"{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-199818.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313222318/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-199818.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 March 2016 |title=Chechen Conflict Now Rages Beyond Russia's Expectations |author=David E. Hoffman |date=28 October 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post |publisher= |accessdate=28 October 2012}} and called for better pay for security forces to attract better quality personnel and prevent corruption, stating that the latter may have contributed to the Beslan school hostage crisis.{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-100393466.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409173726/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-100393466.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 April 2016 |title=Analysis: Inefficiency and corruption bedevil attempts to prevent more terrorist attacks in Russia |author=Robert Siegel |date=28 October 2012 |publisher=National Public Radio |accessdate=28 October 2012}} He also supported a law allowing undercover security officers to commit illegal acts such as buying guns or drugs in the course of their duties.{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-102261039.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315092115/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-102261039.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 March 2016 |title=Bill Lets Undercover Police to Break the Law |author=Oksana Yablokova |date=9 November 2004 |work=St. Petersburg Times |publisher= |accessdate=28 October 2012}}

In March 2004, following a weak performance by the People's Party in the recent legislative elections, Gudkov succeeded {{Interlanguage link multi|Gennady Raikov|2=ru|3=Райков, Геннадий Иванович|preserve=1}} as chairman of the party.{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-93035818.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414045157/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-93035818.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 April 2016 |title=Unsuccessful Parties Turn on Leaders |author=Oksana Yablokova |date=31 March 2004 |work=The Moscow Times |publisher= |accessdate=27 October 2012}} Gudkov later became a member of Putin's United Russia party, before switching in 2007 to the populist A Just Russia party, many of whose members opposed Putin.{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-302699576.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018205051/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-302699576.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 October 2016 |title=Russian Duma expels anti-Putin lawmaker. Sign of a coming crackdown? |author=Fred Weir |date=14 September 2012 |work=The Christian Science Monitor |publisher= |accessdate=28 October 2012}} In September of that year, he criticized a bill supported by United Russia allowing Gazprom, Transneft, and other corporations to train and arm private security forces, calling it a Pandora's box.{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-169310021.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018203025/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-169310021.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 October 2016 |title=Moscow's mercenaries |date=1 September 2007 |work=Foreign Policy |publisher= |accessdate=28 October 2012}} In October, he complained that United Russia "will not allow opponents" and that Russia was becoming a one-party state,{{cite web |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-169843507 |title=Power To The Party |author=Owen Matthews and Anna Nemtsova |date=22 October 2007 |work=Newsweek |publisher=}}{{dead link|date=July 2021}} and in December 2008, he sought to amend and clarify a Duma bill greatly expanding the definition of treason.{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-159354047.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416010500/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-159354047.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 April 2016 |title=Familiar fear as Russia redefines treason Law could silence government critics |author=Michael Schwirtz |date=22 December 2008 |work=International Herald Tribune |publisher= |accessdate=28 October 2012}} In March 2009, he criticized legislation by Dmitry Medvedev to ban political parties with less than a 7% nationwide vote from parliament, saying that "only an incorrigible optimist could consider that a pro-democracy move".{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1A1-D976EC7G2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407043636/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1A1-D976EC7G2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 April 2016 |title=Minor parties may get nominal Duma seats |date=27 March 2009 |publisher=Associated Press |accessdate=28 October 2012}}

In October 2011, Gudkov said that due to lack of free debate, "a huge negative energy among the public ready to explode any moment".{{cite web |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-269453816 |title=Back to the U.S.S.R |author=Owen Matthews and Anna Nemtsova |date=17 October 2011 |work=Newsweek |publisher= }}{{dead link|date=July 2021}} He aligned himself with the "swamp opposition" ({{langx|ru|"болотных оппозиционеров"}}), which held anti-Putin sentiments. The following month, he broke ranks with his party's moderate criticism of Putin and warned that major street protests could result if United Russia committed electoral fraud in the impending election. In the speech, Gudkov stated that "our elections are a mix of abuse of administrative resources and work going ahead at full speed to ensure falsification". Footage of the speech became a popular video on Russian blogs.{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-30139976.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125053752/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-30139976.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 January 2013 |title=Shocked Putin greeted with boos and jeers at the big fight |date=22 November 2011 |work=The Independent |publisher= |accessdate=28 October 2012}}

Over the next year, Gudkov became a frequent participant and leader in public protests against Putin. In January 2012, a secret recording of a conversation between Gudkov and politician Vladimir Ryzhkov was released in which the two appeared to discuss how to undermine other anti-Putin forces; the two called it a plot to sow distrust between opposition groups.{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-30530249.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031061011/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-30530249.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 October 2017 |title=Putin in broadside against his critics and opponents |author=Daniel McLaughlin |date=20 January 2012 |newspaper=The Irish Times |publisher= |accessdate=28 October 2012}} In June, Gudkov's son Dmitry Gudkov, also a Duma deputy, led a filibuster against a bill allowing large fines for anti-government protesters.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/world/europe/ponomarev-works-to-change-russia-from-the-inside.html?_r=0 |title=Working Russia's Streets, and Its Halls of Power |author=David M. Herszenhorn |date=23 June 2012 |work=The New York Times |archivedate=5 January 2013 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130105040955/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/world/europe/ponomarev-works-to-change-russia-from-the-inside.html?_r=1& |accessdate=22 October 2012 |url-status=live }} Gennady Gudkov also spoke against the bill, stating that by removing outlets for protest, the legislation was putting Russia on "a sure path to a civil war".{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1A1-9b5ad90168d0473fae9f0ecbb1a96462.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325060353/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1A1-9b5ad90168d0473fae9f0ecbb1a96462.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 March 2016 |title=Russian parliament approves harsh bill on protests |author=Vladimir Isachenkov |date=5 June 2012 |publisher=Associated Press |accessdate=28 October 2012}} The Economist described the filibuster as "the most striking act of parliamentary defiance in the Putin era".

Following Gudkov's opposition, his private security firm, Oskord, became the target of "a campaign of raids and investigations from a variety of bodies, from the fire department to the Moscow architectural committee". Permission for its guards to carry firearms was revoked, making its usual security operations difficult. Gudkov estimated in July that he had lost 40% of his business.{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-295314886.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018204955/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-295314886.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 October 2016 |title=Gudkovs, bad cops; Russian politics |date=7 July 2012 |newspaper=The Economist |publisher= |accessdate=28 October 2012}}

In August 2012, a special committee of the Duma was formed to investigate allegations that Gudkov had violated parliamentary rules by making money from the construction firm Kolomensky Stroitel while also holding his seat.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-sep-15-la-fg-russia-opposition-20120915-story.html |title=Russian opposition lawmaker ousted from parliament |author=Sergei L. Loiko |date=27 October 2012 |work=Los Angeles Times |archive-date=31 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031165800/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/sep/15/world/la-fg-russia-opposition-20120915 |access-date=27 October 2012 |url-status=live }} The Prosecutor General and Investigative Committee presented evidence that Gudkov had broken anti-corruption laws, and the minutes of a Kolomensky Stroitel meeting with Gudkov's signature was given as evidence of his business activity.

On 15 September 2012, Gudkov was stripped of his seat in the Duma by a vote of 291 to 150. Gudkov called the vote a farce, saying "This is a reprisal. It is not a court."{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19601752 |title=Russian Duma expels anti-Putin MP Gennady Gudkov |date=14 September 2012 |work=BBC News |archivedate=19 April 2013 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130419180116/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19601752 |accessdate=27 October 2012 |url-status=live }} A Just Russia party leader Sergey Mironov described Gudkov's expulsion as "unlawful revenge". United Russia Deputy Andrei Isayev stated that Gudkov had to be stripped of his seat, arguing, "People expect fairness: Everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. We cannot undermine that hope of our people." Analysts described the vote as part of a broader crackdown against Putin's critics, noting the recent charges against anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny.{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/unlikely-putin-foe-faces-ouster-russia-assembly-093756790.html |title=Unlikely Putin foe faces ouster from Russia assembly |author=Alissa de Carbonnel |agency=Reuters |date=6 September 2012 |publisher=Yahoo! |archivedate=10 September 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910045631/http://news.yahoo.com/unlikely-putin-foe-faces-ouster-russia-assembly-093756790.html |accessdate=27 October 2012 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/world/europe/anti-putin-protesters-march-in-moscow-russia.html?_r=1 |title=Undaunted by Arrests, the Opposition Marches Against Putin |author1=Ellen Barry |authorlink=Ellen Barry (journalist) |author2=David Herszenhorn |date=15 September 2012|work=The New York Times|accessdate=22 September 2012}} The Economist wrote that "like, in a way, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the question is not whether Mr Gudkov ran afoul of Russian law but rather why Russian law seems to matter so little to his peers who keep themselves in the Kremlin’s better graces."

Gudkov relocated to Varna (Bulgaria) in 2019 in what he claimed to be "a precautionary measure."[https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-critic-dmitry-gudkov-says-his-russia-exit-is-a-tactical-retreat-2021-06-07/ Kremlin critic Dmitry Gudkov says his Russia exit is ‘a tactical retreat’], Reuters (7 June 2021)

On 14 March 2013, he formed the Social Democrats of Russia (SDR) ({{langx|ru|«Социал-демократов России»}}) and merged it with the Alliance of Greens — People’s Party on 25 January 2014 to become a co-chairmen of the Alliance of Greens and Social Democrats.{{cite news |url=https://tass.com/russianpress/716385 |title=Russia's Greens and Social Democrats united in common alliance: Oppositionist Gennady Gudkov and billionaire Gleb Fetisov became last weekend co-chairmen of the Alliance of Greens and Social Democrats |agency=TASS |date=26 January 2014 |access-date=17 December 2019}} On 8 October 2014, he resigned from his co-chairmanship and was forced from the party.{{cite news |url=http://politrussia.com/opozitsiya/geniy-diskreditatsii-270/ |title=Гений дискредитации |trans-title=Genius Discredited |work=politrussia.com |access-date=17 December 2019 |language=Russian}}{{efn|This party changed its name to the Green Alliance on 12 December 2015.{{cite news |url=http://freenews-en.tk/2015/12/12/green-alliance-was-elected-the-new-leader-and-changed-the-name-of-the-party/ |title="Green Alliance" was elected the new leader and changed the name of the party |work=freenews-en.tk |date=12 December 2015 |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-date=4 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604063714/http://freenews-en.tk/2015/12/12/green-alliance-was-elected-the-new-leader-and-changed-the-name-of-the-party/}}}}

Gudkov is married and has two sons, Dmitry and Vladimir. First elected in 2011, Dmitry was also a State Duma deputy (formerly also for the Just Russia party).{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/world/europe/russian-legislator-accused-of-treason-after-us-visit.html |title=Russian Legislator Accused of Treason After U.S. Visit |work=The New York Times |last=Herszenhorn |first=David M. |date=15 March 2013 |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-date=18 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318104751/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/world/europe/russian-legislator-accused-of-treason-after-us-visit.html}} In the Duma, Dmitry was a member of the opposition to Putin known as the Swamp ({{langx|ru|"болотный"}}, named after a square in Moscow where anti-Putin opposition held mass protests). Dmitry was not reelected in the 2016 Russian legislative election.{{cite web |url=https://www.znak.com/2016-09-19/kak_proigryvala_oppoziciya_v_tushinskom_okruge_moskvy |title=Репортаж краха надежд |author=Екатерина Винокурова |date=19 September 2016 |publisher=Znak |access-date=2021-06-07 |archive-date=2022-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126220744/https://www.znak.com/2016-09-19/kak_proigryvala_oppoziciya_v_tushinskom_okruge_moskvy |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.mk.ru/politics/2016/09/19/dmitriy-gudkov-rasskazal-chto-stanet-delat-posle-dumy.html |title=Дмитрий Гудков рассказал, что станет делать после Думы |author=Алексей Обухов |date=19 September 2016 |publisher=Московский комсомолец}} In June 2021 Dmitry Gudkov also left Russia and stated on Ukrainian television that he intended join his parents in Bulgaria.

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• [http://www.gudkov.ru/ Official website of Gennady Gudkov] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224200128/https://gudkov.ru/ |date=2021-02-24 }} {{in lang|ru}}

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Category:1956 births

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