Gennady Gudkov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gennady Gudkov
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Геннадий Гудков
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Gudkov in 2021
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| Member of the State Duma | |
| In office 2001 – 14 September 2012 |
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| Born |
Gennady Vladimirovich Gudkov
15 August 1956 Kolomna, Moscow Oblast, RSFSR, Soviet Union |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Political party | Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1979-1991) People's Party of the Russian Federation (2004—2007) A Just Russia (2006—2013) Alliance of Greens and Social Democrats (2014-present) |
| Children | Dmitry and Vladimir |
| Alma mater | Kolomna State Pedagogical Institute (1978) |
| Occupation | politician, businessman |
| Known for | opposition to Vladimir Putin, expulsion from State Duma |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union Russia |
| Branch/service | Committee for State Security (KGB) Federal Security Service (FSB) |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
Gennady Vladimirovich Gudkov (born 15 August 1956) is a Russian politician and businessman. He became well-known for being a strong critic of President Vladimir Putin. In 2012, a newspaper called The Moscow Times described him as one of the most outspoken critics in the Russian parliament.
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Early Life and Career
Gennady Gudkov studied languages at the Kolomna State Pedagogical Institute. He graduated in 1978, becoming an English specialist. He can speak both English and German.
After college, he joined the Soviet Army from 1978 to 1980. During this time, he also became a member of the Communist Party. After his army service, he worked for the Communist Party in his hometown of Kolomna.
In 1981, he joined the KGB, which was the main security agency of the Soviet Union. He worked there for ten years and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel. After leaving the KGB, he started his own security company called Oskord in 1992.
Time in the Duma
Gudkov was first elected to the State Duma in 2001. The State Duma is like the parliament or main law-making body in Russia. He won his seat again in the elections of 2003 and 2007.
While in the Duma, he served as a deputy chairman on the Committee on Security. He often spoke about the importance of strong security forces for the country.
Speaking Out Against Putin
Over time, Gennady Gudkov became a strong voice against President Vladimir Putin. He moved from one political party to another, eventually joining the "A Just Russia" party, which had many members who disagreed with Putin's policies.
He often said that Russia was becoming a one-party state, meaning one political party had too much control. He believed that there wasn't enough free discussion or debate in the government.
In 2011, Gudkov warned that if elections were not fair, people might protest in the streets. He said that Russian elections often involved "falsification," meaning they were not honest. A video of his speech became very popular online.
Over the next year, Gudkov took part in many public protests against Putin. He argued that laws making it harder to protest would lead to more serious problems in Russia. His actions, like speaking out strongly in parliament, were seen as very brave acts of defiance.
Because of his opposition, his private security company, Oskord, faced many investigations. This made it hard for his business to operate normally.
Leaving the Duma
In August 2012, a special committee in the Duma started looking into claims that Gudkov was making money from a construction company while also being a member of parliament. This was against the rules.
On 15 September 2012, the Duma voted to remove Gudkov from his seat. The vote was 291 to 150. Gudkov said that this was not fair and that it was "a reprisal," meaning he was being punished for speaking out. Other politicians also called his removal "unlawful revenge." Many people saw this as part of a larger effort to silence critics of President Putin.
In 2019, Gudkov moved to Varna, Bulgaria. He said this was a "precautionary measure," suggesting he felt safer living outside Russia.
Family Life
Gennady Gudkov is married and has two sons, Dmitry and Vladimir. His son Dmitry also became a member of the State Duma in 2011. Like his father, Dmitry was part of the opposition group that disagreed with Putin. This group was sometimes called the Swamp after a square in Moscow where protests happened. Dmitry was not reelected in 2016. In 2021, Dmitry Gudkov also left Russia and said he planned to join his parents in Bulgaria.
