Juri Bogutskij

Biography of Juri Bogutskij

Date of Birth: 24.09.1952

Place of Birth. Education. Born in the village of Nikolaevka in the Welykoalexandriwka district of the Kherson region. In 1975, he graduated from the Kyiv State Institute of Culture with a focus on directing a theater collective.

Career. He worked as a director at the Palace of Culture of Textile Workers of Kherson before switching to Komsomol work. From 1984, he worked in party structures: first in the culture department of the Kyiv city committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, then as the first secretary of the Lenin district Communist Party committee in Kyiv.

In 1991-1992, Bogutskij served as Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine, and from 1992 to 1994, he was an advisor to the President of Ukraine on issues of spiritual revival. From 1995 to 1999, he worked as an advisor and assistant to the Prime Minister of Ukraine. Since 1999, he has been the head of the humanitarian affairs department of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine, and since January 2001, he has led the main department of the Presidential Administration for domestic policy.

In May 2001, Bogutskij was appointed Minister of Culture and Arts of Ukraine and remained in this position after the 'Orange Revolution'. Before being reappointed as the head of the Ministry of Culture, Bogutskij worked as the Deputy Head of the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament. On November 1, 2006, he was appointed head of the State Committee of Ukraine for National Minorities and Religion. At the same time, on July 16 of the same year, he was dismissed from his position as an advisor to the president 'due to new employment'.

On December 24, 2010, Bogutskij was dismissed from the position of Chairman of the State Committee for Religious Affairs by order of President Yanukovych and on the same day was appointed first Deputy Minister of Culture by Mikhail Kulinyak. On February 5, 2013, President Yanukovych dismissed Bogutskij from his position as first Deputy Minister of Culture and appointed him the same day as advisor to the President of Ukraine - Head of the Main Department for Humanitarian Development of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine.

On September 16, 2014, President Petro Poroshenko appointed Juri Bogutskij as an advisor to the president. Poroshenko relieved Bogutskij of his position as an advisor to the president - Head of the Main Department for Humanitarian Development of the Presidential Administration and appointed him in another decree as an advisor to the president.

Views and Assessments. During his work in the first government of Yanukovych, he advocated for the development of patronage in Ukraine, calling for tax benefits for patrons and representatives of certain fields in art and culture. He supported strengthening ties with non-state creative organizations and associations and the establishment of public expert councils. He was confident that in Ukrainian cinema, there would certainly be its own versions of 'Barber from the Province' and 'Fire and Sword'. He emphasized the need for state support for young creatives.

From his interviews in the Kyiv Telegraph, one can gain a rough impression of his preferences: 'I agree that Poplawski strengthened the material and technical base of the cultural university and made it strong. But I disagree with Poplawski when he sings, dances, and hosts shows.'

The former Minister of Culture supported the creation of various projects related to Ukrainian culture. At the same time, he said: 'But I do not want to support the 'art of a nation'.'

Titles and Awards. Bogutskij is a professor, Doctor of Philosophy, and honored artist of Ukraine. He was awarded the Order of 'For Merit' of the III class.

Family. The politician is married. He raised two daughters.

Death. On May 14, 2019, Juri Bogutskij passed away after a long illness.

17.09.2019