Valery Kokov - Early Life and Political Career

Early Life and Political Career

Kokov was born in Tyrnyauz, Kabardino-Balkaria. He was the leader of Kabardino-Balkaria from 1990 to 2005. He was chairman of the republic's supreme Soviet from 1990 to 1991 and was elected President for the first time in 1992.

He effectively neutralized opposition and was re-elected twice in landslide victories; in 1997 with 98% of the vote and in 2002 with 87% of the vote. He successfully maintained stability in the republic though it is close to the war-torn republic of Chechnya. Kokov suffered from cancer for several years before his death. On September 16, 2005, he announced his resignation.

Read more about this topic:  Valery Kokov

Famous quotes containing the words early, life, political and/or career:

    “An early dew woos the half-opened flowers”
    —Unknown. The Thousand and One Nights.

    AWP. Anthology of World Poetry, An. Mark Van Doren, ed. (Rev. and enl. Ed., 1936)

    “Adolescence is a tough time for parent and child alike. It is a time between: between childhood and maturity, between parental protection and personal responsibility, between life stage- managed by grown-ups and life privately held.”
    —Anna Quindlen (20th century)

    “Most of the money given by rich people in “charity” is made up of conscience money, “ransom,” political bribery, and bids for titles.... One buys moral credit by signing a cheque, which is easier than turning a prayer wheel.”
    —George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)

    “I’ve been in the twilight of my career longer than most people have had their career.”
    —Martina Navratilova (b. 1956)