Kokov, Valery Mukhamedovich

President of Kabardino-Balkar Republic, deputy of the Federation Council of first and second convocations (1993-1996, 1996-...), deputy chairman of the Federation Council (since 1996).

Born on October 18, 1941, in the village of Tyrnyauz of Kabardino-Balkaria; Kabardin by nationality. Son of Mukhamed Kokov - ex-secretary of County Committee of KPSS (Communist Party of the Soviet Union).

In 1964, graduated from the Department of Economics of Kabardino-Balkar State University. In 1966, entered the graduate school of USSR Scientific and Research Institute of Agriculture; graduated in 1970. In 1978, graduated from Rostov Higher Party School. Master of Economics (kandidat ekonomicheskikh nauk).

Was the member of KPSS since 1966 until its prohibition in August 1991.

In 1964, started working as agronomist-in-chief of Working Highlander kolkhoz (kolkhoz "Trudovoy Gorets"), Baksansky County, Kabardino-Balkaria.

Upon finishing the graduate school, worked as a head economist, head of the labor and salary department of Ministry of Agriculture of Kabardino-Balkaria from 1970 till 1972.

In 1972 thru 1974, was the director of Leskensky sovkhoz, Urvansky County, Kabardino-Balkaria.

In 1974 thru 1983, was first secretary of Urvansky County Committee of KPSS.

Since 1975, was a deputy of Supreme Council of Kabardino-Balkaria.

In 1983 thru 1985, was the chairman of Kabardino-Balkaria's State Committee for Manufacturing and Technical Procurement of Agriculture.

In 1985 thru 1988, was the secretary of Kabardino-Balkar Regional Committee of KPSS for Agriculture; in 1988 thru 1990, was the second secretary of the Regional Committee, continuing to preside the Agriculture Commission; from February 21, 1990, until September 1, 1990, was the first secretary of Kabardino-Balkar Regional Committee (starting spring 1990 - Republican Committee) of KPSS.

In 1990, was nominated the candidate for people's deputies of RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic) in Baksansky constituency no. 818; was the only candidate. On March 4, 1990, was elected in the first round collecting 89.7% of votes. On the same day, March 4, 1990, was elected the deputy of Kabardino-Balkar ASSR (Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic) Supreme Council in Tsagovsky constituency no. 84. Joined the Legislation Commission of Supreme Council of Kabardino-Balkar ASSR.

On March 30, 1990, was elected the chairman of Kabardino-Balkaria's Supreme Council with no rival candidates running.

At the Congress of People's deputies of RSFSR was a member of the Sovereignty and Equality faction. Was a member of RSFSR's Constitutional Commission.

From July 1990 till August 1991, was a member of the Central Committee of KPSS.

Initiated the adoption of State Sovereignty Declaration at the session of Supreme Council of Kabardino-Balkar ASSR on January 31, 1991, according to which Kabardino-Balkaria refused the status of an autonomous republic and proclaimed itself a Republic of the USSR directly.

On August 18 thru 20, 1991, during the coup-d'йtat attempt by the GKChP (State Emergency Committee), was in Moscow together with other officials of the Republic, where he met Gennady Yanaev. On August 29, 1991, V. Kokov turned in his resignation. From September 29, 1991, till January 1992, was the first deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic.

In October 1991, ran for presidency of Kabardino-Balkar SSR (established by the Decree of the Republican Supreme Council of August 27, 1991). In the first round of the election of December 22, 1991, 53.6% of the voters took part in the election; V. Kokov received 39.3% of the votes. In the second round, on January 5, 1992, 53.8% of the voters showed up; 88.96% voted for V. Kokov, 11.1% voted against him. V. Kokov's opponents stated that the election results were falsified and that as much as 80% of the Republic's citizen did not participate in voting. On January 9, 1992, V. Kokov was sworn in as a president.

In October 1993, supported "Yeltsin's project" of the new Constitution of the Russian Federation.

On December 1993, was elected the deputy of Federation Council in the two-mandate Kabardino-Balkar consistency No. 7; the second mandate was obtained by G. Cherkesov.

From January 1994 till January 1996, was a member of Federation Council Committee for international affairs.

In 1994, committed a minor hajj to Mecca within a governmental delegation. The hajj was organized by Islamic Cultural Center of Russia, ICCR, under the guidance of Abdul-Vakhed Niyazov.

In April 1995, joined the organization committee of the Nash Dom - Rossiya (Our Home Is Russia) movement, NDR; at the Constituent Assembly of NDR on May 12, 1995, was elected the member of NDR Council. At the 4th congress of NDR on April 19, 1997, was elected the member of NDR Political Council.

Since January 1996, was the member of the Federation Council of the second convocation due to his position. On January 24, 1996, was one of the four deputy chairpersons of the Federation Council of the new convocation.

On January 12, 1997, was reelected the President of Kabardino-Balkar Republic with no other candidates running, receiving 99.35% of votes of participating voters, that is 97.35% of votes of the total number of registered voters.

Since March 1997, was the deputy chairman of the Federal Commission for Chechnya Issues.

On April 16, 1997, was a member of the Russian Federation's President's Commission for Interaction of Federal Executive Bodies and Regional Governmental Bodies for the conduction of constitutional and legislative reform in the Regions of the Russian Federation.

In October 1997, was a member of the President's Commission for Counteraction to Political Extremism.

On March 6, 1998, was appointed a member of the Governmental Commission for realization of the Concept of Federal Nationalities Policy.

On October 18, 1999, by the Russian Federation's President's decree, was re-appointed a member of the Russian Federation's President's Commission for Interaction of Federal Executive Bodies and Regional Governmental Bodies for the conduction of constitutional and legislative reform in the Regions of the Russian Federation.

In March 2001, was appointed a member of the Presidium of the State Council of Russian Federation.

Awarded the order of October Revolution (orden Oktyabrskoy Revolutsii), the order of Labor Red Banner (orden Trudovogo Krasnogo znameni), and the order of Nations' Friendship (orden Druzhby narodov).

Wife: Violetta Taubievna, two children: a son and a daughter, has a granddaughter. Wife and daughter are medical doctors; son works at a plant in Nalchik.

Interviews:

Parlamentskaya Gazeta (Parliament's Newspaper). November 24, 2000. p. 2