Shcherban Vladimir
1972-1976 – studies at Donetsk Institute of Foreign Trade. He got the diploma in economics. Candidate of economic sciences.
After graduation he worked as the head of several trade enterprises and processors in Chernovcy and Donetsk.
1992-1994 - deputy chairman of Donetsk City Executive Committee. He was a deputy of the Donetsk City Council. Vladimir Shcherban was a Ukraine MP for three times. For the first time he was elected to the parliament in 1994.
1995 - July 1996 – governor of Donetsk region.
July 1994 - October 1996 – heads Donetsk Region Council.
As a Donetsk region Governor Vladimir Shcherban was striking for more independence of the region from Kiev in the economic sphere, redistribution of tax payments in favor of the region budget. According to some sources he was a co-owner of a store and restaurant chain and controlled a number of enterprises. It is considered that former prime-minister Lazarenko laid his hand to the resignation of Shcherban from the governor post who was afraid of the competition from the Donetsk elite (formal reason for the resignation was the worsening of the situation on coal enterprises and reduction of the region’s socio-economic indicators).
Spring 1998 – Vladimir Shcherban becomes Ukraine MP for the second time. In a year president Leonid Kuchma appoints him the Governor of the Sumy region.
2002 - Vladimir Shcherban becomes Ukraine MP again. He got into the parliament as a member of the Our Ukraine block. But practically in a month he moved to United Ukraine. In one of the interviews he said: "I didn’t leave Our Ukraine – I was thrown out..." after liquidation of the party he entered the deputy group People’s choice. In connection with the election to the parliament in May 2002 Vladimir Shcherban was fired from the post of the Governor. But in November of the same year Leonid Kuchma again appoints him the governor of the Sumy region. He left the post after the Orange revolution.
Awarded with the Order of Merit (III degree) and the title Honored land manager of Ukraine. Was honored by the Ministry of culture for the "considerable personal contribution into the development of the Ukrainian culture and revival of her spiritual values".
However, Vladimir Shcherban is more famous for the scandals he was involved in. "Typical representative of kuchmism era" (these are his words: "I’m a soldier of the President’s army") was a constant object for critics. He was blamed for authoritarian style of governing Sumy region, abuse of power in the sphere of economics, zealous and illegal support of the presidential candidates (Leonid Kuchma and Victor Yanukovich on 1999 and 2004 elections). After 2002 parliament elections he managed to combine the posts of Ukraine MP and governor in spite of Litvin’s reference to the court. According to mass media he was just ignoring the calls from the court.
After the Orange revolution he ran away from the country. He was accused in numerous crimes: abuse of office and power, extortion, fraud with financial resources and many others.
In October 2005 the ex-governor was found in Florida. He was deported to Ukraine where he stated that he had come of his own accord, that he committed no crimes, that his conscience is clear, that he’s planning to continue his career in big politics where he’s got lots of friends (Rinat Ahmetov, Viktor Yanykovich and many other famous persons). Prosecutor General's Office freed him on bail. Criminal prosecution had no consequences for him (at least yet).
Vladimir Shcherban is married. His wife Irina heads Sumy Region Charity Fond "Vichnist" (Eternity) which finances "spiritual revival of the region". His son Artem Shcherban is a Ukraine MP, member of the Party of Regions.