Sergey Aleksandrovich Kapkov (born December 10, 1975, Gorky) is a Russian statesman and politician. He is best known as head of the Moscow Department of Culture from 2011 to 2015, during which a large-scale reform of Moscow's parks and cultural institutions was carried out. A native of Nizhny Novgorod, he graduated from the Volgo-Vyatskaya Gosudarstvennoy Sluzhby Academy.[1]
Nizhny Novgorod Roots
Kapkov was born in the city of Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod) on December 10, 1975. In 1998 he graduated from the Volgo-Vyatskaya Gosudarstvennoy Sluzhby Academy (later the Nizhny Novgorod Institute of Management), after which he continued his studies as a postgraduate at the academy, specializing in "social philosophy." Even as a student, he took part in the campaign headquarters of a number of gubernatorial candidates, including Boris Nemtsov, as well as in the work of the electoral association "Our Home — Russia."[1]
Political Career
After finishing his studies, Kapkov took a job at the company Sibneft. In 1999 and 2000 he ran Roman Abramovich's election campaigns — first for the State Duma, then for the gubernatorial election in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. From January 2000 to January 2001 he served as an assistant to State Duma deputy Abramovich.[1]
From 2001 he worked as deputy governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, heading the regional department of culture, youth, sports, tourism, and information policy. In March 2002 he founded the Chukotka regional branch of the United Russia party and joined its General Council. In 2003 he was elected a State Duma deputy from United Russia, serving on the committee on civil, criminal, arbitration, and procedural legislation. In 2007 he was reelected to the Duma, becoming first deputy chairman of the committee on information policy, information technology, and communications.[1]
Alongside his work as a deputy, from 2004 to 2013 Kapkov chaired the board of the National Football Academy foundation, and from 2006 to 2014 he served as vice president of the Russian Football Union.[1]
Running Moscow's Culture
In March 2011 Kapkov was appointed director of Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure in Moscow, and as a result gave up his seat as a deputy. In August 2011 he became deputy head of the Moscow Department of Culture, and in September of the same year he took over as head of the department. On May 29, 2012, he was appointed a minister of the Moscow government and head of the Department of Culture; in September 2013 he was reappointed to the post.[1]
Sources
- Kommersant (Volga Region) — What Sergey Kapkov Is Known For