Nils Ušakovs: Difference between revisions

| image native_name = NilsНил UšakovsВалерьевич 2012-03-22.jpgУшаков

| term_startimage = 20191721738921491 20240723 EP-171120A PB9 179.jpg

| office1caption = [[MayorUšakovs ofin Riga]]2024

| term_start2 = 7 November 2006

| birth_place = [[Riga]], Latvia<!-- Per [[LatvianWikipedia SSRtalk:Manual of Style/Baltic states-related articles]], [[there is no consensus for references to the USSR and Soviet Union]]republics as birthplaces in Baltic-related articles.-->

| citizenship = [[USSR]] (until 19911976–1991)<br /> [[non-citizens (Latvia)|statelessStateless]] (1991—1998)<br /> [[Latvia]] (since 1998)

| nationalityparty = [[LatvianSocial RussianDemocratic Party "Harmony"|RussianHarmony]] (2010–present)

| father occupation = Valērijs Ušakovs{{hlist|Politician|journalist}}

| motherotherparty = [[National Harmony Party]] = Ludmila Ušakova(2005–2010)

'''Nils Ušakovs ''' ({{lang-ru|Нил Валерьевич Ушаков}}, ''|translit=Nil Valeryevich Ushakov'')}}; (born 8 June 1976) is a [[Latvian Russian[[politician]] politician, former [[Riga City Council|mayor of Riga]] and former journalist. He has beenwas the board chairman of the [[left-wing politics|left-wing]] party alliance [[Harmony Centre]] (2005–2014) and afterwards board chairman of the [[Social Democratic Party "Harmony"]] (2014–2019). In 2009 Ušakovs was elected the [[Mayor of Riga]], becoming the first Riga[[Russians Mayorin ofLatvia|ethnic Russian]] descentRiga Mayor since Latvia's restoration of sovereignty in 1991,<ref name="10 facts">{{cite web |last=Khairulina |first=Damira |title = "Russian" Mayor of Riga: language laws "breaker", cat-lover and supporter of "eurosabantuy" |publisher=[[Realnoe Vremya]] |url=https://realnoevremya.com/articles/1423-10-facts-about-mayor-of-riga-nils-uakovs |date=2 May 2017 |access-date=24 March 2011}}</ref> a position he continuously held until his dismissal in 2019.

Ušakovs seessaw strengthening of ties with Russia, particularly in the realms of freight transit through the Riga [[free port]] and tourism, as a solution to Riga's economic troubles, as Latvia was hit especially hard by the [[financial crisis of 2007–2010]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Nil Ushakov: We will do everything to keep Russian schools in Riga |publisher=[[RIA Novosti]] |url = http://www.rian.ru/interview/20090706/176426292.html |date = 6 June 2009 |access-date = 6 July 2009 |language=ru}}</ref> During his campaign for the Riga's City Council, Ušakovs also argued for more emphasis on education of Latvia's population and protection of vital local industries.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rizga |first=Kristina |title=Latvia's Tiger Economy Loses Its Bite |publisher=[[The Nation]] |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/latvias-tiger-economy-loses-its-bite/ |date=28 October 2009 |access-date=25 May 2011}}</ref> On 23 November 2010 Ušakovs was elected in the [[Freeport of Riga]] Board.<ref>{{cite news |title=Riga Mayor elected in Freeport of Riga Board |publisher=[[Baltic News Network]] |url=https://bnn-news.com/riga-mayor-elected-freeport-riga-board-9022 |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=1 April 2012}}</ref>

In 2011 Ušakovs signed a petition for Russian as a second official language in Latvia, despite the fact that both Harmony and Ušakovs had previously stated that they do not support it. He released a statement saying that he had been angered by [[National Alliance (Latvia)|National Alliance]] voting against the allocation of funds for such a [[2012 Latvian constitutional referendum|referendum]] and went on to argue that it is not a move against the [[Latvian language]], but in the name of dignity.<ref>{{cite news|last=Petrova|first=Alla|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/legislation/?doc=48372|title=Riga Mayor Usakovs signs petition for making Russian second official language|date=8 November 2011|publisher=[[The Baltic Course]]|access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://bnn-news.com/ushakov-supports-referendum-russian-official-language-40788|title=Ushakov supports referendum on Russian as official language|date=8 November 2011|publisher=[[Baltic News Network]]|access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/29933/|title=Usakovs pulls an about-face|date=9 November 2011|publisher=[[The Baltic Times]]|access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Ozoliņš|first=Uldis|url=https://latviansonline.com/by-supporting-russian-language-usakovs-shows-he-cannot-be-trusted/|title=By supporting Russian language, Ušakovs shows he cannot be trusted|date=17 November 2011|publisher=Latvians Online|access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref> After that other deputies, local government representatives and public officials from Harmony Centre began to sign it as well,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://bnn-news.com/hc-representatives-local-governments-sign-referendum-russian-language-41340|title=HC representatives at local governments sign for referendum on Russian language|date=15 November 2011|publisher=[[Baltic News Network]]|access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref> including MP [[NikolaiNikolajs Kabanov (politician)|Nikolai KabanovKabanovs]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://bnn-news.com/kabanovs-punished-support-referendum-russian-42967|title=Kabanovs punished for support to referendum on Russian|date=7 December 2011|publisher=[[Baltic News Network]]|agency=[[LETA]]|access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref>

On 3 December 2013, two demonstrations were organized in the [[Riflemen Square|Latvian Riflemen Square]] near the City Council to both express support and criticism of Ušakovs for not resigning in the Zolitūde shopping centre roof collapse aftermath. They were attended by several hundred people, many of the supporters being [[Rīgas Satiksme]] employees who were allowed to take a day off to participate in the demonstration. Asked for comment Ušakovs responded by asking to point a single person brought to the demonstration by force.<ref>{{cite news |title=Protest act in front of Riga City Council: hundreds of people come, including Rīgas satiksme employees |publisher=[[Baltic News Network]] |agency=[[LETA]] |url=https://bnn-news.com/protest-act-front-riga-city-council-hundreds-people-come-including-rigas-satiksme-employees-106854 |date=3 December 2013 |access-date=15 December 2015}}</ref> An investigation was launched by the [[Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau]] on the alleged misappropriation of taxpayers’ money and use of said money to finance the public demonstration in support of Ušakovs.<ref>{{cite news |title=CPCB to determine who paid for the demonstration in support of Riga Mayor |publisher=[[Baltic News Network]] |agency=[[LETA]] |url=https://bnn-news.com/cpcb-determine-paid-demonstration-support-nil-ushakov-108430 |date=13 January 2014 |access-date=15 December 2015}}</ref>

On 20 February 2015, during another visit in Moscow Ušakovs received the International Public Orthodox Peoples Unity Award for "strengthening Christian principles within society" from Patriarch Kirill, as well as 10,000 [[US dollar]]s that Ušakovs donated towards the renovation of St. Nicholas Nikolai's Orthodox chapel in Spīķeri, Riga.<ref>{{cite news |title = Riga mayor honored by Russian Patriarch |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]] |url = https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/politics/riga-mayor-honored-by-russian-patriarch.a118629/ |date = 20 February 2015 |access-date = 28 May 2017}}</ref>

On Sunday 22 May 2011 Ušakovs collapsed after consuming an [[energy drink]] while taking part in the [[Riga Marathon]] [[half marathon]] event. He was immediately placed in intensive care at [[Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital]] with signs of severe [[hyperthermia]]. Ušakovs was placed in an [[induced coma]] state.<ref>{{cite news |title = Usakovs hospitalized at Riga marathon |publisher=[[The Baltic Times]] |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/28736/ |date=23 May 2011 |access-date=6 July 2009}}</ref> On 24 May he was transported to [[Berlin]] for further treatment at the [[Charité|Charité Hospital]]. The Latvian medical authorities had previously declared his condition "serious but stable."<ref>{{cite news |last=Kolyako|first=Nina|title = Riga Mayor Usakovs to be transported to Germany for further medical treatment |publisher=[[The Baltic Course]] |url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/baltic_states/?doc=41332 |date=24 May 2011 |access-date=1 April 2012}}</ref>

On 17 November 2011, founder and editor of the Russian-language news website ''Kompromat'' [[Leonīds Jākobsons]] began publishing e-mail correspondence from 2008 to 2009 between Ušakovs and advisor of the Russian embassy in Riga Alexander Hapilov, an alleged Russian intelligence agent, concerning funding of [[2009 Latvian municipal elections]].<ref>{{cite web |title = An echo of Soviet-era censorship and meddling in Latvia? |author=Juris Kaža |publisher=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |url = https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2013/0315/An-echo-of-Soviet-era-censorship-and-meddling-in-Latvia |date = 15 March 2013 |access-date = 15 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = A Summary of Police Contacts with Media in Latvia |author=Juris Kaža |publisher=[[Re:Baltica]] |url = https://en.rebaltica.lv/2014/01/a-summary-of-police-contacts-with-media-in-latvia/ |date = 1 January 2014 |access-date =15 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = The Baltic and the Bear |publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] |url = https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2015/07/baltic-bear-150726085956123.html |date=29 July 2015 |access-date=1 April 2012}}</ref>

Ušakovs filed a complaint against Jēkabsons and on 23 November 2011, a criminal process was launched against Jēkabsons for "violation of confidentiality of correspondence and information transmitted over telecommunications networks". In December 2011, the [[State Police (Latvia)|State Police]] arrested Jākobsons and searched his apartment, confiscating multiple data storage devices and two computers.<ref name="cleared">{{cite web |title = Jakobsons is cleared of all charges in criminal case about Ushakov's e-mail correspondence |publisher=[[Baltic News Network]] |agency=[[LETA]] |url = https://bnn-news.com/jakobsons-is-cleared-of-all-charges-in-criminal-case-about-ushakov-s-e-mail-correspondence-151485 |date = 20 September 2016 |access-date = 28 May 2017}}</ref> The arrest was strongly condemned by [[Reporters Without Borders]].<ref>{{cite web |title = Website editor arrested after publishing emails linking mayor to spying and corruption |publisher=[[Reporters Without Borders]] |url = https://rsf.org/en/news/website-editor-arrested-after-publishing-emails-linking-mayor-spying-and-corruption |date = 16 December 2011 |access-date = 1 April 2012}}</ref> On 29 May 2011 Jēkabsons was beaten, burned and slashed in the face with a sharp object by two unidentified attackers, who Jēkabsons believed were linked to his recent publications about Ušakovs. After the incident, Ušakovs voiced his support for Jākobsons on [[Twitter]], addingending with "I have an alibi [[Emoticon|:)]]". The phrase was publicly condemned as cynical.<ref>{{cite web |first=Andris |last=Strautmanis |title = Muckraking website's editor wounded; Rīga mayor slammed for comment |publisher=Latvians Online |url = https://latviansonline.com/muckraking-websites-editor-wounded-riga-mayor-slammed-for-comment/ |date = 29 March 2012 |access-date = 1 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = Investigative journalist badly injured in targeted attack |publisher=[[Reporters Without Borders]] |url = https://rsf.org/en/news/investigative-journalist-badly-injured-targeted-attack |date = 30 March 2012 |access-date = 1 April 2012}}</ref> In 2016 Jākobsons was cleared of all charges, in regard to publication of Ušakovs' correspondence.<ref name="cleared"/>

Two weeks before the [[2017 Latvian municipal elections]] on 3 June a documentary titled ''Pārgājiens'' (Walkabout) on Ušakovs' road to becoming the Riga Mayor premiered at the [[Splendid Palace]] cinema. Producer and sports organizer Raimonds Elbakjans claimed the film was not a political advertisement but a genuine inspirational "documentary",; however, the [[Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau]] later found that "Harmony" had partially financed it (i.e. the film making, broadcasting and pre-release) and classified it as a "pre-election campaigning", fining "Harmony" for 250 euros.<ref>{{cite news |title = Riga mayor Ušakovs under fire over self-promotion spending |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]] |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/politics/riga-mayor-usakovs-under-fire-over-self-promotion-spending.a271840/ |date=19 March 2018 |access-date=19 March 2018}}</ref>

[[Category:Russian male journalists]]