Valeriy Hnatenko

Valerii Serhiiovych Hnatenko (; born 3 February 1967) is a Ukrainian politician currently serving as a People's Deputy of Ukraine in the 9th Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (parliament). Hnatenko is people's deputy for Ukraine's 49th electoral district, representing the city of Druzhkivka. He was previously mayor of Druzhkivka. Early life and career In 1993, he graduated from Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University with a specialisation in law. In 1999, he graduated from the , specialising in finance. Hnatenko worked as criminal intelligence investigator in the Economic Crimes Department of Druzhkivka's Town Department of Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ukraine). From 1996 to 2006, he was head of the Tax Inspection Police in Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka, and the head of Kramatorsk Tax Inspection Department. In 2010, he became head of Tax Inspection Police of the State Tax Inspection Administration in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Political career From 26 March 2006 to 29 August 2019, he was mayor of Druzhkivka. During his tenure, Hnatenko achieved notoriety for his early support of the Donetsk People's Republic, and gave a speech in support of the 2014 Donbas status referendums. According to local activists, Hnatenko cooperated with separatist forces and raised the flag of Russia over the city in 2014. When asked about his position on the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in 2018, Hnatenko confronted reporters, accusing them of aggression and shoving a cameraman.