Alexander Verkhovskiy (Russian: Александр Григорьевич Верховский) (b. August 23, 1956, in Leningrad, USSR) is a Russian entrepreneur, ranked #185 in the Forbes list of high-net-worth businessmen in Russia (2021). A former member of the Federation Council of Russia (2010—2017).[1]
Alexander Verkhovskiy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Federation Council of Russia | |
| In office 2010–2017 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Александр Григорьевич Верховский August 23, 1956 Leningrad, USSR |
| Education | Military Engineering-Technical University (1978) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Biography
editAlexander Verkhov was born on August 23, 1956 in Leningrad, USSR. After receiving a Specialist degree in military construction from the Military Engineering-Technical University (1978), he served in the Red Army. Within 13 years, he worked in Moscow, Leningrad, and the Kuril Islands. In 1991, he resigned from the rank of lieutenant colonel.[2]
Entrepreneurship
editIn 1991, Verkhovskiy, along with two partners, founded Hydrostroy (Russian: Гидрострой), which worked both in fishing and fish processing. To construct fish processing plants on Itrup Island of Kuril Islands, he employed his former army subordinates to work as engineers and constructors. The company closely cooperated with the local authorities, which provided infrastructure and constructed roads to the Hydrostroy facilities.[3]
Over 30 years, Hydrostroy expanded both its fishing and construction business. It has assembled its fishing fleet, constructed aquaculture facilities, built numerous processing plants, and established a bank. The company's construction projects in the Russian Far East included roads, bridges, hospitals, cultural centers, and geothermal plants. By 2010, Hydrostroy received a quarter of the government contracts to develop the Kuril Islands. It effectively became the backbone enterprise of the Kuril District of the Sakhalin Oblast.[2][3][4]
Politics
editVerkhovskiy was elected to the parliament of the Kuril District three times: in 1997, 2001, and 2005. From 2010 to 2017, he was a Federation Council of Russia member, representing Sakhalin Oblast. He participated in the work of the committees responsible for the agriculture policy, the fishing industry, and the use of natural resources. In 2012, he was also the leading candidate on United Russia's list in the regional elections to the Sakhalin Duma.[3][2]
Awards
edit- II Degree Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" (1998)[2]
- The Russian Government Award in Science and Engineering (2007)[2]
Personal life
editAlexander Verkhovskiy is married with two children.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "Alexander Verkhovskiy". Forbes. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Alexander Grigorievich Verkhovskiy". Encyclopedia TASS. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ^ a b c Igor Popov (October 17, 2023). "This man is an island. The story of Alexander Verkhovskiy, the fish tycoon and so-called "King of Kuril Islands"". Forbes. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ^ Dmitry Yakovenko (July 10, 2018). ""The king of Kuril Islands." The man behind the fish". Forbes. Retrieved November 20, 2023.