Askhat Abdurakhmanovich Kayumov (born 20 September 1961, Gorky) is a Soviet and Russian ecologist, public figure, human rights activist, and leader of the Volga Region environmental movement.[1] He graduated from the biology faculty of Lobachevsky University in 1983.[1]

Environmental Activities

Before beginning his public work, Kayumov served as a senior hydrochemical engineer at the Gorky Fish Processing Plant, senior instructor at the regional council of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation, and taught biology at school.[1] In 1989 he founded and headed the Dront ecological center.[1] In 2011, Kayumov was recognized with an honorary certificate from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation as director of the Dront ecological center, which addresses environmental and socio-environmental problems and consolidates the activities of environmental NGOs in the region.[1] In 2016, the organization was entered by the Ministry of Justice into the register of NGOs performing the functions of a "foreign agent."[1] From 1989 to 1992, Kayumov served as coordinator of the Council of the Nature Conservation Brigades Movement.[1] He is one of the organizers of the Volga Region public environmental movement «Help the River».[1]

Since the organization's founding in December 1988, Kayumov has been a member of the International Social-Ecological Union; from 1993 to 2003 and from October 2010, he has served as a member of the organization's Council.[1] Since 1991 he has been co-chair of the Rapid Response Council of the Russian Social-Ecological Union; from 2008 to 2010 and from 2013, co-chair of the Russian Social-Ecological Union.[1] He is one of the founders of the newspaper Bereginya.[1] He is a member of the central council of the Russian Bird Conservation Union.[1]

In 1993, at the proposal of Nemtsov, Kayumov organized and headed the Department for Nature Protection and Natural Resource Management in the regional administration. He resigned from the administration in 1998.[1]

Kayumov is the author of more than 350 publications in mass media and around 50 academic works.[1] Among his principal works are "Environmentally Clean Energy" (Gorky, 1990), Cheboksary Hydroelectric Power Plant» (2013), "Environmental and Social Consequences of Mark 68" (2018), and the collective monograph «The Current State of Biodiversity in Nizhny Novgorod Region» (Nizhny Novgorod, 1999).[1]

Public and Political Activities

In June 2016, Kayumov, together with Slavina Irina and Andrey Khomov, headed the Yabloko party list for elections to the Regional Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Region.[1] In 2017, he served as coordinator of the "Ecology" platform at the 5th All-Russian Civil Forum "The Future of Russia: Federation, Regions, Cities," held in Moscow.[1] Since 2017 he has been a member of the Public Chamber of Nizhny Novgorod; at the preliminary selection stage he topped the list of candidates by the commission's score.[2][1] The Chamber was constituted on 25 August 2017 at the inaugural Forum of Urban Communities "Aktivny Nizhny"; it comprises 33 activists.[2] In 2018, he became a member of the expert commission for selecting candidates for the post of Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Nizhny Novgorod Region.[1]

Awards and Recognition

  • The title "Honorary Nature Conservation Worker," with the presentation of a badge.[1]
  • The Nizhny Novgorod Region Prize for Environmental Protection named after V. V. Naydenko — for making a significant contribution to the development of the regional economy, cultural and public life.[1]
  • Honorary Certificate of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation for many years of fruitful nature conservation activity (2011).[1]
  • Honorary Certificate of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Region.[1]

Links

Sources

  1. Wikipedia (ru) — Kayumov, Askhat Abdurakhmanovich (archive)
  2. V Gorode N — Members of the Public Chamber approved in Nizhny Novgorod (archive)
  3. Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Region (archive)
  4. FederalPress (archive)