Roman Yevgenyevich Konoplev is a Russian political and public figure, strategist, publicist, writer, now resident in Portugal.
Biography, political activity and views
Roman Konoplev was born on September 4, 1973 in Bryansk Oblast, Russian SFSR. In 1978 Roman and his parents moved to the town of Dnestrovsc, Moldavian SSR. In October 1992 he moved to Russia. He graduated from International Institute of Economics and Law in Moscow in 1996, with a bachelor's degree in Constitutional law. He earned an engineer's degree in IT in 2003 from BryanskState Technical University. Russian conservative social and political journalism just before the USSR fell apart played a significant role when Konoplev's political view was being formed. Political consequences of military conflict in Moldova, as well as human rights violations in the republics of the former Soviet Union, were a sort of arguments for Konoplev to become member of the opposition to Boris Eltsin. On May 9, 1993 Roman Konoplev became a member of the Russia's opposition movement. On September 24, 1993 Roman joined the defenders of the House of Councils who formed Militia commandant's platoon of the Russian Supreme Council. He left the House of Councils together with other defenders on the day of the attack on October 4, 1993 at 5 p.m. Roman Konoplev was the leader of Bryansk regional department of the National Bolshevik Party and a member of Central Committee of the party. In the December 2000 he took part in the Bryansk local elections. Roman Konoplev organized a mass meeting near Moldova's embassy in Moscow to support international recognition of Transnistria. on July 15, 2002. His career as a publicist started at the age of 16. Since 1998 Konoplev cooperated with Russian analytical Internet portals "APN", "Russian Journal", etc. He supported the ideas of conservative liberalism. In the summer of 2002 Konoplev returned to Pridnestrovie. Roman Konoplev was the political columnist of the weekly "Transnistrian Courier". He was the editor and columnist of Transnistriannews agency"Lenta PMR". In 2006 Roman Konoplev travelled in Scandinavia. Hid sketch book "Norwegian papers", first published in Russia, was later reprinted by several foreign media. Konoplev introduced the idea of holding a demonstration "Russian March" in Tiraspol on November 4, 2006, and was the head of the organizing committee.. He was a political adviser, strategist of Transnistrian Party "Proriv!", editor of newspaper "Russian Proriv!". Roman Konoplev was the owner of news agency "DNIESTER". In 2012 Konoplev moved to European Union, his news agency was blocked by Transnistrian authorities.
Target for criticism
Criticism from Moldavian communists
Konoplev was called "Transnistrian Goebbels" and "ideologist of Transnistrian separatism" by governmental Media of Moldova when Vladimir Voronin was the president of the country. After Moldavian Communist Party was removed from power in 2009 Konoplev was also criticized by communists of Moldova and Transnistria who accused him of separatism, "attempts to rend Moldavia away from Russia" and of "libel on Transnistrian people" and of "sympathizing with Mihai Ghimpu".
Criticism from Romanian nationalists
Nicolae Dabija, chief editor of Chisinau newspaper "Literatura şi Arta", accused Roman Konoplev of Russian chauvinism. In particular, Dabija said: "I think that it is necessary to recall his accreditation and to expel him from the Republic of Moldova".
Criticism in Transnistrian press
In his article, published in the governmental Transnistrian information agency "Olvia Press", political analyst V. Nikitin, characterized Konoplev's views as "right" and "pro-European". The article claims: "In Konoplev's opinion, to become a successful country Transnistria has to overcome Soviet era heritage, to demount monuments to Lenin, to clamp down communist parties and governmental media, to introduce private land ownership, to bring liberal economy with the help of European Union and to introduce European-based legal system. Konoplev, like Moldavian politician Oazu Nantoi, has his own three "D" – "deradicalization, demilitarization and desovietization of information stream". It means that the author of the report wants to say that any mentioning of Transnistria as "USSR fraction" and "Russian empire fortress" should disappear from information streams and at the same time the information has to become more tolerant to EU politicies… The proposal to demount monuments to Lenin and to clamp down communist organizations do not much comport with European practice, but smells like Mihai Ghimpu and extremism…".
Criticism in Moldavian press
Moldavian analysts have an opinion that Konoplev is the popularizer of supporting radical pro-Romanian dynamics in Moldova, so that Transnistria will get recognition as soon as possible. The article also says that Konoplev is promoting a very unpopular scenario in Transnistria – "the building of absolutely independent state, a characterful "Transnistrian Switzerland". After Valeriy Litskay, ex-foreign minister of Transnistria left his position, this idea had not many supporters in Transnistria, with the exception of outcasts such as Roman Konoplev. Most people understand that Transnistria won't have a chance to survive as an independent state especially introducing multiple-vector policies".
Writer
Roman Konoplev is the author of novels "The Gospel according to extremist", "Dromomania" and "Defeat".
Private life
Family
Married.
Hobbies and interests
His interests focus on such fields as: constitutional law, economics, ethno-politics, unrecognized states, media wars.
Literature
Roman Konoplev is the author of more than 500 journalistic and op-ed pieces.
