Vadim Rabinovich
Vadim Rabinovich | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 4, 1953 Kharkiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, politician, Jewish community leader |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Known for | Head of Opposition Platform — For Life, People's Deputy of Ukraine (8th and 9th convocations), founder of Media International Group |
| Notable work | Founder of Opposition Platform — For Life, co-founder of 1+1 TV channel, president of All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress |
Vadim Zinovyevich Rabinovich (born 4 August 1953) is a businessman and Jewish community figure with Israeli citizenship and a background as a Ukrainian oligarch. He was the head of the banned Opposition Platform — For Life party, unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Ukrainian presidential election, and held a seat as a People's Deputy of Ukraine during the 8th and 9th convocations of the Verkhovna Rada. His parliamentary tenure included representation of the Opposition Bloc from 2014 to 2019 and Opposition Platform — For Life from 2019 until his dismissal due to his pro-Russian stance amid the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Originating from Kharkiv, Rabinovich endured seven years in Soviet incarceration for charges related to embezzlement and illicit market dealings. He relocated to Israel in the early 1990s, obtaining Israeli citizenship by 1999. Besides leading Ukraine's Jewish community and engaging in philanthropic efforts within Israel, he is recognized for promoting pro-Russian political agendas in Ukraine, founding Opposition Platform — For Life, and actively participating in national elections.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Rabinovich departed Ukraine, publicly attributing blame to Western nations and Ukrainian authorities via social media platforms. Subsequently, in March 2022, Opposition Platform — For Life revoked his parliamentary mandate. The Ukrainian government later categorized him among 111 individuals accused of treason, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy annulled his citizenship in July 2022 alongside other oligarchs. On 3 November 2022, the Verkhovna Rada officially terminated his mandate due to loss of citizenship.
Early life and career
Rabinovich completed his studies at Kharkiv Secondary School No. 45 in 1970 before enrolling at Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University. Between 1973 and 1975, he fulfilled military service within the Soviet Army's Air Defense forces. After his conscription, he took on a foreman role within the repair and construction department of the Kharkiv City Council.
On 20 January 1980, he was detained on accusations of "embezzlement of state funds in especially large amounts," though he was released following a nine-month inquiry. From 1980 until 1982, he managed workshops producing wooden doors.
In early 1982, Rabinovich faced arrest once again on comparable charges. On 10 February 1984, the Kharkiv Oblast court sentenced him to fourteen years in a forced labor camp, confiscated his property, and imposed a five-year professional activity ban. He served seven years in Soviet penal institutions and has maintained that these allegations were fabricated.
After an early release in 1986, Rabinovich partnered with Andrii Alioshyn to establish the Pinta company specializing in metal trading.
Activities in Israel
During the early 1990s, Rabinovich emigrated to Israel through aliyah and secured citizenship by 1999. Holding dual residences in Ukraine and Israel, he remains active in both countries.
His philanthropic contributions exceed toward the restoration of the Hurva Synagogue. As recognition for his support, a square adjacent to the synagogue was named after him; however, this designation was overturned by the Supreme Court of Israel in 2012 due to regulations prohibiting public places from bearing names of living persons. Additionally, he has supported the installation of a golden menorah at Jerusalem’s Temple Institute.
Some members of the Jewish community have expressed concern that Rabinovich’s charitable endeavors serve to mitigate adverse perceptions stemming from his financial dealings and political involvement.
Activities in Ukraine
In 1993, Rabinovich was appointed as the Ukrainian agent for the Austrian firm Nordex, although his reputation was impacted by the notoriety of Nordex's president, Grigory Luchansky, who was linked to the Russian mafia. In 1995, Rabinovich’s U.S. visa was revoked, reportedly due to associations with arms trafficking.
By 1997, Rabinovich had co-established the 1+1 TV channel alongside Alexander Rodnyansky and Boris Fuksman. From 1996 onward, he served as chairman of the Israeli-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and directed Stolichnye Novosti publishing between 1997 and 2009. He initiated the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress but dissolved it in 1999 to form and lead the United Jewish Community of Ukraine. Additionally, he acquired ownership of the NewsOne TV channel in 2008.
On 24 June 1999, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) imposed a five-year entry ban on Rabinovich, attributing it to economic harm caused by his business dealings. Reports in the media connected this action to his disclosure of information regarding Ukraine’s arms exports to Yugoslavia, which violated an embargo.
Rabinovich played a key role in organizing a Kyiv monument dedication in 2005 honoring terrorism victims, an event attended by President Viktor Yushchenko and diplomats from the United States and Russia. Since 1997, he has held the presidency of the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress and led the Step Towards Unity Forum for Christians and Jews starting in 2001. In collaboration with oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi in 2011, he co-founded the European Jewish Union (now known as the European Jewish Parliament), serving as its co-chair. He owned FC Arsenal Kyiv football club from 2007 until its dissolution in 2013.
In March 2013, Rabinovich survived an assassination attempt when an explosive device was hurled at his vehicle near Kyiv's Klovska metro station.
2014 Ukrainian presidential and parliamentary election
On 25 March 2014, Rabinovich entered the Ukrainian presidential race as an independent candidate, positioning himself against allegations of antisemitism within the new government. He emphasized his intention to unify Ukraine and challenge perceptions of widespread antisemitism. Ultimately, he secured 2.25% of votes nationwide, with his strongest backing emerging from Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions. Later that year, he successfully gained a seat in the Verkhovna Rada as fourth on the pro-Russian Opposition Bloc’s party list.
In July 2016, Rabinovich suspended his membership in Opposition Bloc and co-founded Opposition Platform — For Life with former member Yevhen Murayev. Despite this shift, he maintained his parliamentary faction affiliation within Opposition Bloc to preserve his status as a People's Deputy. On 15 November 2018, he declared he would not pursue a presidential bid in 2019 but intended to lead his party’s list for that year’s parliamentary elections.
In 2021, Rabinovich made an unsuccessful attempt to impeach President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following the shutdown of three pro-Russian television channels.
2022 denunciation and revocation of citizenship
On 14 February 2022, Rabinovich posted on Facebook stating "the war has started," attributing blame to both Western countries and Ukraine itself. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he fled Ukrainian territory.
On 17 March 2022, his political party Opposition Platform — For Life terminated his mandate as People's Deputy due to his pro-Russian stance. Subsequently, on 6 September 2022, Rabinovich appealed to the Supreme Court of Ukraine seeking annulment of this decision on grounds of procedural irregularities.
In April 2022, organizations Chesno and the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption (NAPC) identified Rabinovich as a "collaborator" and pro-Russian politician accused of treason.
By July 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree stripping Rabinovich of Ukrainian citizenship. On 3 November 2022, parliament officially terminated his role as People's Deputy due to loss of citizenship.
In July 2023, the State Bureau of Investigation (Ukraine) announced that Rabinovich was wanted on treason charges related to making statements undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and security while supporting Russian military and political aims.
Political positions
Rabinovich supports maintaining Ukraine's non-aligned stance, pursuing administrative reforms, and implementing extensive decentralization that grants significant authority to local governments. Nevertheless, according to assessments by OPORA, he has refrained from endorsing decentralization legislation, arguing that these proposals conflict with his vision of decentralization. Instead, he suggested holding a referendum to eliminate the office of the President of Ukraine and to introduce a new Constitution featuring federalization—though he deliberately avoids using the term "federalization" because of its unfavorable associations.
Personal life
Vadim Rabinovich is married to Irina Rabinovich and is the father of three children: his son Oleh (born 1973), daughter Katerina (born 1994), and son Jacob (born 2008).
Media holdings
In 2000, Rabinovich established Media International Group (MIG), which includes the Stolichnye Novosti publishing house, as well as the newspapers MIGnovosti and MIGnews distributed in Ukraine and Israel, along with the business weekly Delovaya Nedelya. MIG further grew by acquiring Novoe Russkoe Slovo—the oldest Russian-language newspaper in the United States—along with the radio station Narodnaia Volna, the political weekly CN-Stolichnye Novosti, and the daily newspaper Stolichka. From 2011 until its shutdown in 2014, he was a co-owner of Jewish News One.