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Andrii Leonidovych Derkach (also known as Andrei Leonidovich Derkach) is a Russian citizen and former Ukrainian politician, businessman, and military personnel born on August 19, 1967, in Dnipropetrovsk (now Dnipro), Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. He served as a member of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada for seven consecutive terms from 1998 until January 2023, initially elected with the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united) and later aligning with pro-Russian factions, including as an independent. Derkach hails from an influential family; his father, Leonid Derkach, was a Soviet KGB general and briefly headed Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) in the 1990s. Early in his career, Derkach worked in business, founding companies in media and energy sectors, such as the cable television operator Infoks, and served in the Ukrainian military during the Soviet era. He was involved in various parliamentary committees on national security and defense, often promoting narratives critical of Western influence in Ukraine.
Derkach's political activities drew international scrutiny for alleged ties to Russian intelligence. In 2020, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned him as a Russian agent, accusing him of election interference by spreading disinformation about Joe Biden and his son Hunter's business dealings in Ukraine, including meetings with Rudy Giuliani to promote conspiracy theories. Ukraine's authorities investigated him for treason, money laundering, and financing terrorism, leading to his designation as a suspect in absentia. In September 2022, amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada stripped Derkach of his Ukrainian citizenship, effectively making him a Russian national. He has been criticized for undermining Ukrainian sovereignty, with reports linking him to Kremlin-backed operations to destabilize the country.
Post-sanctions, Derkach has resided in Russia, continuing to engage in pro-Russian media commentary and business. He faces ongoing legal troubles, including Interpol notices and asset freezes in multiple countries. His actions have been condemned by Ukrainian officials and Western governments as part of broader Russian influence networks, though he denies the allegations, claiming political persecution.