KIEV—Following the events of the past weekend, as a result of which Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovich was stripped of his powers, the Ukrainian Parliament elected opposition lawmaker Arsen Avakov as interior minister on Saturday until the formation of a new coalition government.

 

Avakov takes over the powerful post after lawmakers on Friday dismissed Vitaly Zakharchenko, an ally of embattled President Viktor Yanukovich, following two days of carnage in the capital, Kiev.

Arsen Avakov was born on January 2, 1964 in Kirova town (Kirovskiy district which is now Binagadinskiy district) of Baku (Azerbaijan) into a military family and is of Armenian ethnicity.

Since 1966 Avakov has been permanently residing in Ukraine.

From 1981 to 1982 Arsen Avakov worked as a laboratory assistant at the Chair for Automated Control Systems in Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute.

In 1988 he graduated from Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute as a systems engineer with a major in automated control systems.

From 1987 to 1990 Avakov was employed by All-Union Scientific-Research Institute on Water Protection (Kharkiv) as an engineer.

In 1990 Arsen Avakov founded and headed “Investor” JSC, аnd “Basis” Commercial Bank later in 1992.

In 2002 Avakov was elected a Member of the Executive Committee of Kharkiv City Council.

On February 4, 2005 by the Decree of the President of Ukraine Arsen Avakov was appointed the Head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration [ and resigned from the position of the Head of “Investor” JSC and “Basis” Commercial Bank Supervisory Board.

On March 26, 2006 he was elected a Deputy of Kharkiv Regional Council of the 6th convocation, a member of the Standing Committee on Budgetary Issues.

On October 31, 2010 Arsen Avakov was elected a Deputy of Kharkiv Regional Council of the 6th convocation, a member of the Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Historical Heritage, Intellectual Wealth and National Minorities.