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Sergey KaplinUkrainian politician, people's deputy
Date of Birth: 15.12.1979
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Executive Career
- Political Career
- Second Term: BPP and Committee Leadership
- "Party of Ordinary People" and Rebranding
- Departure from BPP and Russian Sanctions
- Scandals
- Election as Chairman of the Socialist Party of Ukraine
- Personal Life
Early Life and Education
Sergey Kaplinwas born in the village of Opryshky, Ukraine, in 1974. His father, who had worked as a liquidator at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, passed away from cancer. Kaplin graduated from the Ukrainian State University of Food Technology with a degree in Business Economics. In 2011, he enrolled in the Legal Faculty of the Kyiv National Economic University named after V. Hetman.
Executive Career
Kaplin's professional career began in 2003 as the Executive Director of Kremchug Leather and Saddlery Plant. From 2005 to 2010, he served as the Director of the Ecological Resources Corporation. He also founded and headed the public organization "Union of Contributors" from 2006 to 2013. From 2008 to 2011, Kaplin was the Director of the Institute of Problems of Water and Energy Conservation. During the same period, he established and led the "Ukrainian League of Young Entrepreneurs."
Political Career
Entry into Politics and First Term in ParliamentIn 2012, Kaplin joined Vitali Klitschko's "UDAR" party. He stood as a candidate for mayor of Poltava in the 2012 parliamentary elections, winning the seat as a member of the "UDAR" faction. In the parliament, he served as Secretary of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense.
Second Term: BPP and Committee Leadership
In the 2014 snap parliamentary elections, Kaplin successfully ran as a candidate for the "Petro Poroshenko Bloc" in the same Poltava constituency. Within the parliament, he became a member of the "Petro Poroshenko Bloc" faction and First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Social Policy, Employment, and Pension Provision.
"Party of Ordinary People" and Rebranding
On January 27, 2015, Kaplin became the leader of the "Party of Ordinary People." The party's primary goals were to combat oligarchs and corruption. However, the party faced criticism from the "Chesno" Public Movement for alleged connections to corrupt individuals, including Kaplin's own business ties to former President Viktor Yanukovych's associate Serhiy Lyovochkin. The party was also accused of having ties to the Kremlin.
On September 6, 2016, Kaplin announced the renaming of the "Party of Ordinary People" to the "Social Democratic Party." He justified this move by stating that the new party would work closely with trade unions, as he was a representative of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine in the Parliament.
Departure from BPP and Russian Sanctions
On February 23, 2016, Kaplin announced his departure from the "Petro Poroshenko Bloc" faction and the "European Ukraine" coalition, citing the failure of a vote to dismiss the government of Arseniy Yatsenyuk. In November 2018, Kaplin was included in a list of 322 Ukrainian citizens sanctioned by Russia.
Scandals
Throughout his political career, Kaplin has been involved in several controversies. In 2014, he was investigated for allegedly threatening a judge during a hearing related to the Euromaidan protests. In the same year, he used an ax to break down the door of the mayor of Poltava's office during a protest demanding the completion of a building. In 2017, he engaged in a physical altercation with another parliamentarian outside a court building. Additionally, he and another MP were arrested for vandalism after allegedly breaking into the Ministry of Justice building.
Election as Chairman of the Socialist Party of Ukraine
In September 2017, Kaplin was elected as Chairman of the Socialist Party of Ukraine at a national party congress. However, the Ministry of Justice recognized a different leadership that contradicted the party's own decision. Despite Kaplin's election, the party's leadership remained contested.
Personal Life
Sergey Kaplin has three minor children from previous marriages. He is currently married to a woman from Poltava.
