Alexey Kostusev Mayor of Odessa since November 6, 2010. Date of Birth: 29.06.1954 Country: Ukraine

Biography of Alexey Kostusev

Alexey Kostusev is the former Mayor of Odessa, a position he held from November 6, 2010. He was born in the city of Nevelsk, Sakhalin, in a military family. In 1975, he graduated from the Odessa Institute of National Economy and became an Honored Economist of Ukraine and a Doctor of Economic Sciences.

Kostusev started his career as a teacher and later became the head of the "Scientific Communism" department at the Odessa Institute of Maritime Fleet Engineers. He also served as the Deputy Secretary of the Committee of the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League at the Odessa Institute of Maritime Fleet Engineers, as well as the Chief of Department and Deputy Head of the Executive Committee of the Kiev district of Odessa. He also served as the Chairman of the Odessa City Committee on Privatization.

In 1998, Kostusev became a Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, representing the "SPU-SelPU" bloc. From February 2000, he headed the Committee on Economic Policy, National Economy Management, Property, and Investments in the Ukrainian Parliament.

In June 2001, Kostusev was appointed as the Chairman of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU), a position he held for 7 years. From 2004, he became the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Council on Antimonopoly Policy of the CIS member states. In June 2008, Alexander Melnichenko was appointed as the Acting Chairman of the AMCU, but Kostusev returned to the position on April 1, 2010.

Kostusev has been a member of several political parties, including the "Labor Ukraine" party, Chairman of the "Union" party (2004-2005), and joined the Party of Regions in November 2005. Since 2008, he has been a member of the Presidium of the Party of Regions. On October 31, 2010, he was elected as the Mayor of Odessa.

Kostusev's tenure as Mayor was not without controversy. He expressed a desire to conduct City Council meetings and read documents in Russian, which received political criticism. In January 2011, he was involved in the "garbage war," which drew attention from the President and the German Embassy in Ukraine. The city's poor condition was criticized by President Viktor Yanukovych during his visit in February 2011.

Kostusev's decision to grant himself a salary increase also attracted public attention. When questioned about this by President Yanukovych, Kostusev defended the increase, stating that it was in accordance with existing legislation.

Throughout his career, Kostusev has authored over 150 scientific and educational works, including monographs on politics and political science. He has been the recipient of several awards, including the Order "For Merit" (I, II, III degrees) and the Order of St. Vladimir (II and III degrees).

Despite his accomplishments, Kostusev has faced criticism and controversy during his tenure as Mayor of Odessa. His handling of certain issues and public statements have garnered both support and opposition.