Alexander Valentinovich Novak (Russian: Александр Валентинович Новак; born 23 August 1971 in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, Soviet Union) is a Russian politician who is a current Deputy Prime Minister of Russia since November 2020.

Alexander Novak
Александр Новак
Novak in 2019
Deputy Prime Minister of Russia
for Fuel Energy Complex
Assumed office
10 November 2020
Prime MinisterMikhail Mishustin
Minister of Energy
In office
21 May 2012 – 10 November 2020
Prime MinisterDmitry Medvedev
Mikhail Mishustin
Preceded bySergei Shmatko
Succeeded byNikolay Shulginov
Personal details
Born (1971-08-23) 23 August 1971 (age 53)
Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, Soviet Union
Political partyUnited Russia
Children2
Alma materMoscow State University (2009)

Previously, he was the Minister of Energy of Russia between 2012 and 2020, before being replaced in November 2020 by the general director of RusHydro, Nikolay Shulginov.

Career

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In 1993, he graduated from Norilsk Industrial Institute as a specialist on Economy and Management in Metallurgy.

Between 1993 and 1997, he was Head of the Financial Bureau of the Accounting Department of the Norilsk Mining and Smelting Complex. In 1997 to 1999, he headed the tax planning department of the complex.[1]

Entry into local and regional politics (2000–2008)

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From 2000 to 2002, he was Norilsk Deputy Mayor for economics and finance, Norilsk's first Deputy Mayor.[2] Between 2002 and 2007, he was head of the Main Finance Management of the Krasnoyarsk Krai Administration, Deputy Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Krai and Head of the Main Finance Authority of the Krasnoyarsk Krai.

Federal civil servant (2008–2012)

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From September 2008 to May 2012, he was the Deputy Finance Minister of the Russian Federation.

Federal politician (2012–present)

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Novak, Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev and Ukrainian PM Mykola Azarov, 27 June 2012

In May 2012, he was appointed as the Energy Minister in Dmitry Medvedev's Cabinet.

On 15 January 2020, Medvedev resigned his cabinet after President Vladimir Putin delivered the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly, in which the latter proposed several amendments to the constitution.[3]

On 21 January 2020, he obtained the position Energy Minister in Mikhail Mishustin's Cabinet.[4]

On 10 November 2020, Mishustin exchanged his Energy Ministry post for the Deputy Prime Minister for the Fuel–Energy Complex.[5]

Novak was a keynote speaker at the 2022 Russian Energy Week forum, which was held in Moscow from 12–14 October.[6]

On 16 March 2023, Novak met with Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Prince, Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to discuss continued Saudi-Russian cooperation within OPEC+.[7]

In May 2023, Novak and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited Beijing and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Novak said that Russian energy supplies to China will increase by 40 percent year-on-year in 2023.[8]

Sanctions

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In September 2022, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Novak in relation to the Russian annexation of four Ukrainian Oblasts, including his own native Donetsk.[9]

Personal life

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On 18 August 2020, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced that Novak tested positive for COVID-19.[10]

Awards, honours and directorships

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In 2004, he was distinguished by the Governor of Krasnoyarsk Krai. In 2006, he was rewarded with the medal "For Distinguished Service in Organizing the All-Russia Agricultural Census 2006" of the Russian Federal Statistics Service.[11]

Since July 2010, he has been a member of United Aircraft Corporation Board of Directors.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Новак Александр Валентинович — Министр энергетики Российской Федерации. Бывший премьер-министр Красноярского края / Досье / Справка". newslab.ru. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Alexander Novak". The Russian Government. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  3. ^ Carroll, Oliver (15 January 2020). "Russian PM resigns in shock move as Putin announces dramatic constitutional shake-up". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Foreign, Defense and Energy Ministers Keep Their Position in New Russian Cabinet". The Moscow Times. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Оперативное совещание с вице-премьерами". Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Russian Energy Week". Russian Energy Week. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Saudi energy minister discusses global oil markets with Russian deputy PM". Arab News. 16 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Russia, China sign new agreements, defying Western criticism". Al Jazeera. 24 May 2023.
  9. ^ "U.S. cracks down on top Russian officials with new sanctions". Politico. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Russian energy minister Alexander Novak tests positive for coronavirus". Daily Sabah. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Новак Александр Валентинович — Министр энергетики Российской Федерации. Бывший премьер-министр Красноярского края / Досье / Справка". newslab.ru. Retrieved 12 September 2019.