Ivan Savvidi
Encyclopedia
Ivan Ignatyevich Savvidi, (b. March 27, 1959 in Santa, Tsalka District
, Georgia
), is a Russia
n businessman and politician of Greek Pontian
descent.
, Savvidi was educated at Rostov Institute of National Economy. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Savvidi was employed in various positions at the Don State Tobacco Factory. In 1992, the tobacco factory was privatised and renamed CJSC Donskoy Tabak; in the following year Savvidi was appointed as its General Director. Savvidi's wife, Kyriaki Savvidi, is now formally the majority shareholder of Donskoy Tabak, the largest Russian tobacco company.
Between 2002 and 2005, Savvidi was President of FC Rostov
. Since 2005, Savvidi has been Chairman of FC SKA Rostov-on-Don
.
in 1998 and 2003. In 2003, Savvidi was elected as a Deputy in the State Duma
; he subsequently served as the Deputy Chairman of the Budget and Taxes Committee during that Parliament. In 2007, Savvidi was elected as a Deputy in the State Duma as a member of the United Russia
party; he subsequently served as a member of the International Affairs Committee, as coordinator of Interparliamentary Relations with the Hellenic Parliament
and as Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Russia-Belarusian Union.
Savvidi is President of the Federation of Greek Communities of Russia, and was a key figure in pushing for the newly created region by SAE – World Council of Hellenes Abroad for the Greeks of the diaspora in the Black Sea
countries.
Tsalka District
Tsalka is a district of Georgia, in the region of Kvemo Kartli. Its main town is Tsalka.Population: 20,888 Area: 1,051 km²- External links :* , Statoids.com...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
), is a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n businessman and politician of Greek Pontian
Pontic Greeks
The Pontians are an ethnic group traditionally living in the Pontus region, the shores of Turkey's Black Sea...
descent.
Professional biography
After serving in the Soviet ArmySoviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
, Savvidi was educated at Rostov Institute of National Economy. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Savvidi was employed in various positions at the Don State Tobacco Factory. In 1992, the tobacco factory was privatised and renamed CJSC Donskoy Tabak; in the following year Savvidi was appointed as its General Director. Savvidi's wife, Kyriaki Savvidi, is now formally the majority shareholder of Donskoy Tabak, the largest Russian tobacco company.
Between 2002 and 2005, Savvidi was President of FC Rostov
FC Rostov
FC Rostov is a Russian football club based in Rostov-on-Don, Rostov Oblast. The club are currently members of the Russian Premier League and play at the Olimp – 2 stadium.-History:...
. Since 2005, Savvidi has been Chairman of FC SKA Rostov-on-Don
FC SKA Rostov-on-Don
FC SKA Rostov-on-Don is a Russian association football club based in Rostov-on-Don. The club's rich history includes becoming runners-up of the Soviet Top League in 1966 and winning the Soviet Cup in 1981.-History:...
.
Political career
Savvidi was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Rostov OblastRostov Oblast
Rostov Oblast is a federal subject of Russia , located in the Southern Federal District. Rostov Oblast has an area of and a population of making it the sixth most populous federal subject in Russia...
in 1998 and 2003. In 2003, Savvidi was elected as a Deputy in the State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
; he subsequently served as the Deputy Chairman of the Budget and Taxes Committee during that Parliament. In 2007, Savvidi was elected as a Deputy in the State Duma as a member of the United Russia
United Russia
United Russia is a centrist political party in Russia and the largest party in the country, currently holding 315 of the 450 seats in the State Duma. The party was founded in December 2001, through a merger of the Unity and Fatherland-All Russia parties...
party; he subsequently served as a member of the International Affairs Committee, as coordinator of Interparliamentary Relations with the Hellenic Parliament
Hellenic Parliament
The Hellenic Parliament , also the Parliament of the Hellenes, is the Parliament of Greece, located in the Parliament House , overlooking Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece....
and as Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Russia-Belarusian Union.
Personal life and community service
Savvidi is married to Kyriaki Savvidi, with whom he has two sons, Giorgos and Nikos Savvidi.Savvidi is President of the Federation of Greek Communities of Russia, and was a key figure in pushing for the newly created region by SAE – World Council of Hellenes Abroad for the Greeks of the diaspora in the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
countries.