Taras Kozak


Taras Kozak is a Ukrainian politician, state servant, businessman, media proprietor. People's Deputy of the 8th convocation, elected in 2014 from the Opposition Bloc party. People's Deputy of Ukraine of 9th convocation from the Opposition Platform — For Life party.
In June 2019, he created Novyny holding, which includes ZIK, NewsOne and 112 Ukraine TV channels. The activities and rhetoric of the deputy, the party and the media holding are considered to be very biased and pro-Russian. In July 2019, employees of the ZIK TV channel, a number of newspapers, NGOs and institutions, a coalition of NGOs "Reanimation Package of Reforms", as well as public figures, journalists and public opinion leaders called on the state to take measures to prevent monopolization of media space by pro-Russian forces.
He voted against the Law on Recognition of Ukrainian Sovereignty over the Occupied Territories of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.

Career

In 1993-2003 Kozak worked in the State Tax Administration and in 2003-2010 he worked in the State Customs Service. In 2005 he was a member of political party Russko-Ukrainskiy Soyuz that ran for parliament as part of the Natalia Vitrenko Bloc. In 2010 he became a deputy in the Lviv Oblast council and in 2014 Kozak became a people's deputy representing Opposition Bloc. And after the 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election for Opposition Platform — For Life.
Taras Kozak is a member of political organization "Ukrainskiy vybor" led by Viktor Medvedchuk. At the end of 2018 the Ukrainian politician official acquired several important Ukrainian television media such as NewsOne and 112 Ukraine. In June 2019 Kozak also bought television channel ZIK. After acquiring of ZIK by Kozak, journalists en masse left the company in protest.

Scandals

In an electronic declaration, Kozak hid his wife's oil business in Russia. The People's Deputy is also involved in the case of tax evasion by Tedis company.
After the acquisition of ZIK TV channel, the CEO left and most of the other employees resigned. The reason was the person of the new owner.
Taras Kozak took part in a fraudulent scheme to sell anthracite from the occupied Donbass under the guise of coal from South Africa.

Awards

In 2002 Kozak was awarded Order of Merit, 3rd degree.