Denys Monastyrsky
Denys Anatoliiovych Monastyrsky (Ukrainian: Денис Анатолійович Монастирський; 12 June 1980 – 18 January 2023) was a Ukrainian lawyer and politician who served as Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs from 16 July 2021, until his death in a helicopter crash in January 2023.[1][2][3] He was very close to Volodymyr Zelenskyy from day one of his presidential campaign.[4]
Denys Monastyrsky | |
|---|---|
Денис Монастирський | |
Official portrait, 2021 | |
| 12th Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine | |
| In office 16 July 2021 – 18 January 2023 | |
| President | Volodymyr Zelenskyy |
| Prime Minister | Denys Shmyhal |
| Preceded by | Arsen Avakov |
| Succeeded by | Ihor Klymenko (acting) |
| People's Deputy of Ukraine | |
| 9th convocation | |
| In office 29 August 2019 – 16 July 2021 | |
| Constituency | Servant of the People |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 June 1980 Khmelnytskyi, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Died | 18 January 2023 (aged 42) Brovary, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine |
| Cause of death | Helicopter crash |
| Political party | Servant of the People |
| Spouse | Zhanna |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Khmelnytskyi University of Management and Law |
| Military service | |
| Years of service | 2021–2023 |
| Commands | Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine |
| Battles/wars | |
Biography
Denys Anatoliiovych Monastyrsky was born in Khmelnytskyi, in what was then the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic of the Soviet Union, on 12 June 1980.[5] He was a graduate of Faculty of Law of the Khmelnytskyi University of Management and Law.[5] Monastyrsky was also a former student at the Koretsky Institute of State and Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.[5] He had a PhD in law.[5]
In 2007 Monastyrsky started his career as a lawyer.[5] He also headed the department of lawmaking and scientific expertise of the research part of the Khmelnytskyi University of Management and Law, where he worked as an associate professor.[6]
Monastyrsky was a co-founder and a member of the board of the Podolia Youth Cultural Association "Into the Future through Culture".[5][6]
Between 2014 and 2019, Monastyrsky was an assistant-consultant to Anton Herashchenko.[6]
In the run-up to the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election Monastyrsky was presented as an expert of presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskyy's "team" on law enforcement reform.[6] Zelenskyy won the election and was inaugurated as President of Ukraine on 20 May 2019.[7]
Monastyrsky was a candidate for Servant of the People in the 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election.[5] He was placed No. 19 on the national election list and elected to the Ukrainian parliament.[5][8]
In parliament he became head of the parliamentary Committee on Law Enforcement Affairs[5]. According to an analysis by Civil movement "Chesno" he was one of the people's deputies who submitted the most legislative initiatives.[6]
After Interior Minister Arsen Avakov had submitted his resignation as Interior Minister on 12 July 2021,[9] Monastyrsky was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs by 271 MPs on 16 July 2021.[1][2] Anton Herashchenko became one of his official advisors at the Ministry.[10]
In September 2022, Monastyrsky participated in the largest prisoner exchange operation between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, when 215 Ukrainian defenders returned home, including more than 100 fighters and commanders of the Azov Regiment.[11]
Throughout the war, Monastyrsky was among the top security officials who remained in Kyiv, the capital, with Zelenskyy in the first days of the war as Russia's army bore down on the city.[12] As Ukraine's minister for internal affairs, he helped shape Ukraine's wartime goals and oversaw the country's National Police, State Emergency Service and the State Border Guard Service.[13]
Death
Monastyrsky, along with his deputy Yevhen Yenin, and Secretary of State of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Yurii Lubkovych, were killed in a helicopter crash on 18 January 2023, in Brovary, an eastern suburb of the capital Kyiv. The helicopter hit a kindergarten as it crashed, and a child was among the 14 killed. At least 25 others were injured.[3]
Kyrylo Tymoshenko said at a briefing that the officials were heading to one of the hot spots of the war front.[14] The Security Service of Ukraine has started an investigation into the cause of the crash in Brovary.[15]
Monastyrsky's friend and MP Maria Mezentseva said it was "a tragedy for everyone" as Mr Monastyrsky's ministry was playing a key role in Ukraine's response to the invasion. He was also very close to Zelenskyy from day one of his presidential campaign, she told the BBC.[16]
Awards
- Order of Merit, 3rd class (2022).[17]
References
- ^ a b Parliament appoints Monastyrsky as Ukraine's interior minister 20 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Ukrinform (16 July 2021)
- ^ a b "Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the presentation of the Minister of Internal Affairs: Trust and respect for law enforcement agencies is the most important thing for the new minister". president.gov.ua. from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Ukraine crash: Ministers killed as helicopter comes down near nursery". BBC News. 18 January 2023. from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Who was Ukrainian minister Denys Monastyrsky?". BBC News. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Consideration of motion on appointment of Monastyrsky as Interior Minister to take place on July 16 20 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (14 July 2021)
- ^ a b c d e (in Ukrainian) Electoral history and small biography of Denys Monastyrsky 19 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Civil movement "Chesno"
- ^ "Ukraine's New President Vows To Dissolve Parliament As PM, Other Key Officials Resign". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. from the original on 20 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^ CEC counts 100 percent of vote in Ukraine's parliamentary elections 21 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Ukrinform (26 July 2019)
(in Russian) Results of the extraordinary elections of the People's Deputies of Ukraine 2019 19 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Ukrayinska Pravda (21 July 2019) - ^ Avakov resigns from post of Interior Minister of Ukraine 20 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (13 July 2021)
- ^ (in Ukrainian) Herashchenko continues to work in the Ministry of Internal Affairs with Monastyrsky 20 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Ukrayinska Pravda (30 August 2021)
- ^ "Полонені українці думали, що їдуть на етап чи чергове судилище – Монастирський". www.ukrinform.ua. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ Kramer, Andrew E. (18 January 2023). "Ukraine Minister Killed in Helicopter Crash Oversaw Some Security Forces". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ Kramer, Andrew E. (18 January 2023). "Ukraine Minister Killed in Helicopter Crash Oversaw Some Security Forces". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ "3 members of Ukrainian government die in helicopter crash". POLITICO. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ "3 members of Ukrainian government die in helicopter crash". POLITICO. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ "Who was Ukrainian minister Denys Monastyrsky?". BBC News. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ "Decree of the President of Ukraine № 593/2022". Office of the President of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
External links
- Quotations related to Denys Monastyrsky at Wikiquote
- Media related to Denys Monastyrskyi at Wikimedia Commons