Among Russian politicians, this man occupies a special place. Being at the very helm of the country and being Putin's old comrade from the St. Petersburg party, Dmitry Kozak is distinguished by his amazing modesty, balanced words and deeds, and unique diplomatic skill. Very few scandals are associated with his name - they can literally be counted on the fingers of one hand. He does not stick out, does not look for trouble, but simply calmly does his job as Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. And, probably, slowly but surely is fixed on the political Olympus.
Childhood
Dmitry Kozak's nationality may come as a big surprise to many. He is Ukrainian, although he lived a long life in Russia. The future statesman of a large caliber was born in the small village of Bandurovo, in the Kirovograd region. This remarkable event for parents took place on a no less joyful day for all Soviet citizens - November 7th. It was a distant year 1958…
They say that long before the birth of a child, Dmitry's mother predicted his gender, the "red" date of appearance onlight, as well as great career success.
And the father - Nikolai Kozak - willingly or unwittingly contributed to the realization of the last point of the mother's prophecy. He brought up his eldest son in particular severity and demanded more from him than from the younger. As a result, Dmitry Kozak proved to be an excellent student at school and remained so until the tenth grade.
Youth
School teachers recommended that a promising graduate be sure to leave Bandurovo for Vinnitsa and enroll in some university. For example, in the Polytechnic, where Dmitry's abilities in exact sciences would be useful.
He heeded their advice and entered the recommended institute. True, this happened after military service, which Dmitry Kozak trumpeted “from bell to bell.”
But you can't say the same about studying at the Vinnitsa Polytechnic University. Absolutely unexpectedly for those around him (and maybe even for himself), the young man decides to drastically change his life and try his luck in Leningrad - at the Faculty of Law of the State University.
Assuming that his parents did not share his fuse, he did not tell them about his idea until he received a student card from the most prestigious university in the USSR. And no persuasion from the teachers of the Polytechnic Institute, where Kozak managed to prove himself brilliantly, could keep him at home … Northern Palmyra beckoned and called.
In 1985, a native of the village of Bandurovo, Dmitry Nikolaevich Kozak, received a diploma from Leningrad State University of Law.
Career start
And again a high start for the nextjump. An excellent graduate was assigned to work in the Leningrad city prosecutor's office, where, from 1985 to 1989, he worked first as an intern, then as a prosecutor, and then as a senior prosecutor.
For all the time of his service, Dmitry Kozak has proved himself to be a competent and scrupulous employee. He did not welcome the "blat", so common in the late eighties, and repeatedly openly condemned the leadership, entering into sharp conflicts with him. One of the situations when Kozak spoke negatively about the distribution of departmental housing to "godfathers" cost him his position. A young and ardent lawyer with progressive views could not stand the blatant injustice and put a letter of resignation on the boss's desk.
Then it looked like the collapse of a career. But time has shown otherwise. Who knows who Dmitry Kozak would be today, whose photo presents the image of a modest and completely outrageous person, if not for that case. Perhaps he would have risen to the rank of chief prosecutor Peter and that’s all … But how are things really?
After a high-profile departure from the prosecutor's office, Kozak worked as the head of the legal department of a concern called Monolit-Kirovstroy, provided legal advice to the Association of Sea Trade Ports, and even headed the personal firm Neva-Yust.
Coming into politics
In 1990, Anatoly Sobchak, who at that time chaired the Leningrad City Council, persuaded his acquaintance, Dmitry Kozak, to return to civil service. And he agreestake the position of head of the legal department of the City Council. This event can be considered the beginning of his political career.
Having plunged headlong into the management of the city, Kozak ran in 1994 for the deputies of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg and passed. And then everything goes like clockwork. The post of chairman of the city hall’s legal committee (1994-1999), the position of vice-governor of St. Petersburg (1996-1999), the creation of a city charter and a high reward for this … Strong friendship with Sobchak, acquaintance with Putin … And Dmitry Nikolayevich’s prospects become even brighter.
Moving to Moscow
After the late 90s. Sobchak lost the gubernatorial election to his former deputy Vladimir Yakovlev, his team led by Putin defiantly retires and slowly "flows" to Moscow.
Dmitry Kozak, whose biography has already become closely intertwined with St. Petersburg, remains in this city for some time and even occupies high positions. But soon he leaves for the capital.
In August 1999, he was appointed to the post of first deputy head of the government apparatus, and literally a week later he was already the head. When the presidential election race began, in which an old St. Petersburg comrade, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, took part, Kozak, naturally, could not stand aside and headed his friend's headquarters.
Their victory has become common. Putin received the main seat of the country, and Kozak - almost limitless opportunities for growth. It all started with the replacement of the headpresidential administration and at the moment it has already reached the vice-premiership.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak: promotion
In March 2008, Dmitry Medvedev became President of Russia, and Vladimir Putin became Prime Minister. The latter chose Kozak as his deputy. So Dmitry Nikolayevich became the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, in charge of housing and communal services, socio-economic development of regions and other important areas.
One of Kozak's "high-profile" tasks was to restore order in the North Caucasus. No less significant was his contribution to the implementation of judicial and administrative reforms. Dmitry Nikolayevich retained his post even after Putin returned to the presidential apartments in 2012, remaining in this position to this day.
Olympics, Crimea, sanctions…
Another important task entrusted to the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, of course, can be considered the preparation for the Olympic Games in Sochi.
Having successfully completed the task, Kozak receives the following - to supervise the "newly minted" subject of the Russian Federation - Crimea. Having accepted the post, a native of Ukraine took upon himself the "fire" - in the middle of spring 2014, he was included in the sanctions list of the EU and the USA. But he still deals with Crimean issues today.
Private life
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation tied the knot during his student days. Dmitry Kozak's wife, Lyudmila, gave him two sons: Alexei (b. 1984) and Alexander (b. 1987). Having matured, they both became managers, having graduated from the capital's Higher School of Economics. BUTLyudmila Kozak heads the Family for Every Child charity foundation.
Unfortunately, in 2008, this very strong family broke up, and soon the politician entered into a second marriage. Whom did Kozak Dmitry Nikolaevich choose as a new life partner? The wife, whose photo is often flashed on the pages of the media, is a very successful lawyer. Her name is Natalya Kvacheva.
Friends speak of the Deputy Prime Minister as a person who is family to the marrow and appreciates family ties. The same is true of his actions. Kozak took his elderly parents to Moscow long ago, and helped his younger brother, who was always notable for frivolity and worked as a driver in Bandurovo, to build a brilliant career in the capital.
During his political activity, Dmitry Kozak managed to do a lot for the country. But he has more to come!
