Valeriy Draganov State Duma deputy Date of Birth: 22.04.1951 Country: Ukraine

Biography of Valery Draganov

Valery Gavrilovich Draganov, a member of the State Duma, was born on April 22, 1951, in Izmail, Ukraine. He studied international law at the Kiev State University (KSU) but was expelled due to a fight with a foreign national. He later graduated from the Tartu State University.

Draganov began his career as an apprentice bricklayer at SU-438 Kievgorstroy. He also played football for the teams "Arsenal" and "Bolshevik". He later worked as a machine operator at the cellulose-carton combine. He served in the Strategic Missile Forces during his military service. In 1973, he joined the customs authorities, serving as an inspector at the Izmail Customs, Chief of the Khasan Customs, and the Novotallinsk Customs.

He held various positions within the Customs Committee of the USSR, including Deputy Chief of the Main Directorate of the State Customs Committee (SCC) under the Council of Ministers of the USSR and First Deputy Chairman of the SCC. On December 14, 1992, he became the Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Customs Committee (RSCC). From May 8, 1998, to March 12, 1999, he served as the Chairman of the RSCC. On May 21, 1998, he also became the Chairman of the Council of Customs Service Leaders of the CIS member states. On June 24, 1998, he was included in the Government Commission of the Russian Federation on operational issues. In November 1998, Draganov replaced the leaders of four Moscow customs offices and 27 mid-level managers.

He played a significant role in the development and implementation of new economic and customs policies in the USSR and Russia. He was one of the authors of the state decisions aimed at decentralizing foreign economic activity and transitioning the entire economy to new customs clearance conditions in accordance with international standards. Under his direct involvement, a new classification of goods was adopted, and their declaration was introduced according to a single global standard. He also developed new customs tariffs, established the basis for delineating the economic and law enforcement functions of customs authorities, and created a system to ensure the security of customs activities.

In 1999, Draganov was relieved of his position as Chairman of the RSCC and subsequently voluntarily resigned from the customs authorities, retiring after 30 years of service. In March 1999, he became the head of the "Customs Policy" Fund. On December 19, 1999, he was elected as a member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

In December 2003, he was elected as a member of the State Duma of the fourth convocation. He currently serves as the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism.

In addition to his legislative work, Draganov is actively involved in teaching and research activities. He oversees the sector of customs law at the Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences and delivers lectures at Moscow State University and other universities in the country. He is also working on a series of books on philosophy, law, economics, and customs policy against the backdrop of its thousand-year history.

He is a Vice President of the Russian Football Union and holds the title of "State Advisor of the Customs Service 1st Class". He has been awarded the honorary title of "Honorary Customs Officer of Russia".

Valery Gavrilovich Draganov is a member of the Government and State Duma teams and is known for his technical skills. He is also a connoisseur of music, with a musical education and proficiency in playing the accordion. Among his other interests and hobbies, he enjoys cinema and theater. He has written several screenplays, provided consultancy for two films, and even acted in movies.

He is married to Tatiana and has three sons: Oleg, Maxim, and Vyacheslav.