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Oleksii Arestovych

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In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Mykolaiovych and the family name is Arestovych.

Oleksii Arestovych
Олексій Арестович
Arestovych in 2022
Adviser to the
Office of the President of Ukraine
In office
1 December 2020 – 17 January 2023[1]
PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy
Speaker of the
Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine
In office
28 October 2020 – 22 February 2022
Personal details
Born
Alexey Nikolaevich Arestovich

(1975-08-03) 3 August 1975 (age 49)
Dedoplistsqaro, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
(now Georgia)
NationalityUkrainian
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		Brotherhood (2005–2010)
SpouseAnastasia Hrybanova
Childrendaughters Aelita and Veronika, son Alexander
Alma materOdesa Military Academy
OccupationUkraine's Presidential Office adviser, intelligence officer, actor, blogger, analyst, translator, politician
Awards
WebsiteHis YouTube channel
Military service
AllegianceUkrainian Armed Forces
Branch/service1) Chief Directorate of Intelligence
2) 72nd Mechanized Brigade
Years of service1994–2005, 2018–2019
RankLieutenant Colonel

Oleksii Mykolaiovych Arestovych[a][2] (Ukrainian: Олексій Миколайович Арестович; born 3 August 1975) is a Ukrainian political advisor, former military officer, and columnist. He is also a theologian and the founder of the Apeiron School. Arestovych was a speaker for the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine. He worked as a Strategic Communications Adviser for the Office of the President of Ukraine from December 2020 to January 2023.[3]

He is an active blogger, with almost 830,000 followers on Facebook and more than 1.71 million on YouTube, as of December 2023. Arestovych was among the top 100 bloggers in Ukraine in a poll published by Fakty ICTV in 2019.[4][5]

Early life

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Oleksii Arestovych was born in Dedoplistsqaro, Georgia.[6] He is the third child of Nikolai Arestovich, a Belarusian Pole and Tamara Arestovich, a Russian from Voronezh Oblast.[7][8] After graduating from school No. 178 in Kyiv, Arestovych entered the Faculty of Biology at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv in 1992. In 1993, Arestovych began to perform in the modern Kyiv studio Black Square Theater.[9]

In the 2000s, Arestovich was friends with right-wing politician Dmytro Korchynsky and later became his deputy. Together they traveled to Moscow to attend a conference of the Eurasian Movement of Aleksandr Dugin.[10]

Arestovych began conducting online seminars in 2000. In 2003 he entered the author's school "Man among People" created by psychologist Avesalom Podvodny, from which he graduated in 2010.[11][12]

Arestovych also studied theology at the Superior Institute of Religious Sciences of St. Thomas Aquinas.[13]

Family

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Married Anastasiya Arestovich. Father of three children.[14]

Religion

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Arestovych is a Christian Orthodox. He has developed a diverse and comprehensive understanding of religious beliefs and theology. His journey into the domains of various religious philosophies and interest in theology from a psychological perspective reflects a nuanced view of spirituality and faith. Arestovych has delved into a wide range of religious literature, analyzing prominent texts in Sufism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity. His studies at Kyiv Superior Institute of Religious Sciences furthered his interest in theology and led to him developing a progressive set of ethics and spiritual values.[13][15]

Military career

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From 1994 to 1998, Oleksii attended Odesa Military Academy, from which he graduated as an Officer with a specialization in battle application of mechanized units and a minor in Military Translation. From 1999 to 2005 he worked in the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and is a reserve lieutenant colonel.[16][17][18][19]

From April 2014 to August 2015 Arestovich was leading a volunteer military unit Militia Men in the East of Ukraine. He was also preparing combat units and was one of the organizers of a charity fund to support this initiative.

From September 2018 to September 2019, he served as an intelligence officer in the 72nd Mechanized Brigade at Svetlodarskaya Duga, he also served at Ukrainian Ground Forces Intelligence Office.[20][21]

Political career and positions

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In June 2009, he was appointed deputy head of the Prymorskyi District Administration of the Odesa City Council,[22] but he was dismissed after three months at his own request.[23]

On 28 October 2020, Arestovych was appointed by Leonid Kravchuk as Adviser on Information Policy[24][25][26] and official speaker of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine at the Minsk talks on resolving the war in Donbas.[25][27][28] On 1 December 2020, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak appointed Oleksiy Arestovych his unpaid[29] adviser on strategic communications in the field of national security and defense.[3][30][31] Kravchuk, the head of the Trilateral Contact Group, noted that Arestovych's candidacy was chosen because of his military experience and the presence of a vision and position on issues that are the subject of the Trilateral Contact Group.[32]

After the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Arestovych became known for his correct prediction in 2019, that Russia would invade Ukraine between 2022 and 2024.[33][34] From the start of the invasion on 24 February 2022, he held daily briefings on the situation, as an adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.[35][36] These videos garnered him a significant following.[37]

He also held informal daily conversations covering the invasion on lawyer Mark Feygin's YouTube channel.[38] On 13 August 2023 Feygin wrote on his Telegram channel that they will no longer hold their talks.[39]

Arestovych is an organizer of psychological seminars and trainings and a charity fund for psychological support to the military.[40]

In August 2022, Arestovych announced that he plans to run for the presidency of Ukraine if Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not run for a second term.[41][42]

On 14 January 2023, Arestovych made a comment that a Russian Kh-22 missile had destroyed a multi-story residential building in Dnipro after the missile had been hit by a Ukrainian air defence counterattack.[43][44] On 16 January 2023 Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Arestovych's 14 January explanation about what happened in Dnipro was plausible and put the blame for the destruction on the Ukrainian side. Following the outrage regarding Arestovich's comments, he apologized and resigned on 17 January 2023. Despite his resignation, Arestovych remained active in international forums, discussing Ukraine's geopolitical situation and emphasizing the importance of thinking about regime change in Russia rather than hoping for its disintegration.[45][1][43]

In November 2023 Arestovych argued that next Ukrainian elections should be conducted in March 2024 despite the ongoing war in order to legitimize the leadership of the country.[46] He previously criticized Volodymyr Zelensky and his administration of making inadequate decisions and strategic mistakes during the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.[47] On October 2, 2023, People's Deputy of Ukraine Oleg Dunda called to arrest Oleksii upon his return to Ukraine. According to the Secretary of National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksiy Danilov, Arestovych is being suspected by the Ukrainian Security Service for being a Russian spy. Arestovych later left Ukraine saying that he feared being arrested.[46][48]

Political prosecution

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Belarus

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On 17 March 2022, the General Prosecutor's Office of Belarus opened a criminal case against Arestovych, under Part 3 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code of Belarus “for calls for terrorist attacks” at the facilities of the Belarusian Railway.[49] On 27 July, Arestovych’s pages on social networks were included in the Belarusian list of extremist materials by decision of the Leninsky District Court of Mogilev.[50]

Russia

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On 11 May 2023, Rosfinmonitoring included Arestovych on the country's list of terrorists and extremists.[51] On 3 October, Arestovych was put on the wanted list by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.[52]

Ukraine

[edit]

Due to a complaint from People's Deputy of Ukraine Inna Sovsun, an investigation has been opened into Arestovych for comments that allegedly promoted violence against women in a video published on his YouTube channel on 25 September 2023.[47][53] On November 16, a second investigation was opened into Arestovych for "knowingly filing a false report of a crime"; Arestovych had previously filed a complaint with Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation about "incitement to national hatred and enmity on the basis of language" by MP Nataliya Pipa due to her criticism of a teenager singing Russian-language songs in Lviv.[54]

Educational platform

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Oleksiy Arestovych began teaching in 2000. He founded Apeiron School for Leadership Development in 2013, enrolling students from more than 30 countries with a diverse range of backgrounds: corporate executives, IT professionals, healthcare and social workers, journalists, educators, as well as political and civic leaders. The school has been offering a focused curriculum to equip the leaders of the future with practical tools in psychology and philosophy. Students learn logical and strategical thinking, decision-making, and negotiating skills. He helps students achieve a solid foundation in self-discipline, and promotes the idea of uniting people into a global community. The leadership courses awaken students' inner potential to take active control of their lives and contribute to the evolution of human society.[55]

Philanthropy

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Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, Oleksey Arestovich has supported the army by fundraising and advocating on behalf of Ukrainian soldiers. The following is a list of brigades and divisions that he helped fund: 28, 30, 117 Mechanized Brigades; 47, 53, 59, 82, 93, 110, and А2227 brigades; second mortar battery of the Presidential brigade; “Felix” combat unit; 132nd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion; 5th Tank Brigade (Ukraine).[56]

Military Awards

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Oleksiy Aresovych holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

The list of awards:[57]

  • Commemorative badge of the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (July 2014);
  • Commemorative award of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs “Yevhen Berezniyak”
  • Medal of the Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces “For Special Service” (July 2019);
  • Distinction of the President of Ukraine “For participation in the anti-terrorist operation”;
  • Breastplate “Badge of Honor” (May 2019).

Notes

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  1. ^ Also spelled as Oleksiy.

References

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  1. ^ a b "President's office dismisses Arestovych from adviser position". Ukrainska Pravda. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  2. ^ ROMANIZATION OF UKRAINIAN. BGN/PCGN 2019 Agreement.
  3. ^ a b "Керівник Офісу Президента призначив Олексія Арестовича позаштатним радником з питань стратегічних комунікацій у сфері нацбезпеки та оборони". ПРЕЗИДЕНТ УКРАЇНИ ВОЛОДИМИР ЗЕЛЕНСЬКИЙ Офіційне інтернет-представництво. Офіс Президента України. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  4. ^ Про роботу в ТКГ, Зеленського і «таємниці, які нікому не розказував»: Олексій Арестович у «Рандеву»[dead link‍] [dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Факти ICTV запускають голосування ТОП-100 блогерів України 2019". ФАКТИ ICTV (in Ukrainian). 6 September 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  6. ^ #UKRAINERUSSIAWAR. The thousand faces of Zelenskiy’s military adviser: Oleksiy Nikolaevich Arestovich, news agc communication. Aprile 12, 2022
  7. ^ «Мы ня хочам страляць у беларусаў», — дарадца кіраўніка Офісу Зяленскага Аляксей Арастовіч ["We don't want to shoot at Belarusians", says adviser to the Office of Zelensky, Oleksiy Arestovych] - Radio Svaboda, 2 March 2022
  8. ^ Арестович LIVE № 10. Психологія, філософія // Alexey Arestovych. — 1:07:40—1:08:10. (in Russian)
  9. ^ "Black Square (Черный Квадрат)". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Алексей Арестович. Главное успокоительное воюющей Украины". www.opendemocracy.net. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Об авторе - Авессалом Подводный". www.podvodny.ru. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Увернуться от укуса кобры — DSnews.ua". www.dsnews.ua (in Russian). 25 July 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Who is Oleksiy Arestovych". Open Democracy. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Арестович відвів сина в школу та заселфився з дружиною. ФОТО". ТаблоID (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  15. ^ Alexey Arestovych (6 October 2022). Арестович: Бог - найпрекрасніше, що є у Вашому житті. Retrieved 16 May 2024 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ "Новий спікер української делегації у ТКГ: Хто такий Олексій Арестович і що про нього відомо". Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  17. ^ "Спікером української делегації з питань Донбасу став Арестович". Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  18. ^ Олексій Арестович (речник ТКГ) у Рандеву з Яніною Соколовою, Ютуб, 21 листопада 2020
  19. ^ "Арестовичу присвоили звание подполковника". www.unian.net (in Russian). Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  20. ^ ""Є свідки": Арестович заявив про 33 свої бойові виходи у зоні ООС, але розкрити подробиці відмовився". nv.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  21. ^ Як «янголи Тайри» рятують життя на передовій: розповідь легендарного парамедика
  22. ^ "Замглавы Приморской райадминистрации Одессы стал человек с говорящей фамилией". Timer-Odessa. 4 June 2009. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022.
  23. ^ "Order of the Odesa Mayor No. 1146/K-01". omr.gov.ua. 8 September 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022.
  24. ^ Арестовича призначили радником делегації у ТКГ з інформаційної політики
  25. ^ a b Арестович заявив, що його призначили радником української делегації в ТКГ з інформполітики
  26. ^ Prisyazhnyuk, Vladislava (28 October 2020). "Радником делегації з інформаційної політики в ТКГ призначили Арестовича". Crimea.suspilne.media. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  27. ^ "Арестович став офіційним речником української делегації в ТКГ". 28 October 2020.
  28. ^ Речником української делегації в ТКГ призначили Олексія Арестовича
  29. ^ "Public registry of income and property declarations. Arestovych Oleksii Mykolaiovych". National Agency on Corruption Prevention. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  30. ^ Єрмак призначив Арестовича своїм позаштатним радником з питань стратегічних комунікацій у сфері оборони
  31. ^ "Єрмак призначив Арестовича своїм позаштатним радником". Pravda.com.ua. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  32. ^ Кравчук о назначении Арестовича: «Я не знаю, кто первый сказал А, но знаю, что никто не возражал»
  33. ^ "Zelenskyi's spokesperson: soldier, actor, psychologist, propagandist". openDemocracy. 26 April 2022.
  34. ^ "Oleksiy Arestovych and his prediction of Russian aggression (2019) - EN subtitles". YouTube. 17 March 2022.
  35. ^ "Servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other law enforcement agencies do not yield to the Russian troops and oppose them - Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President". president.gov.ua. Office of the President of Ukraine. 24 February 2022.
  36. ^ "Russia-Ukraine fail to reach deal on cease-fire; UN says civilian deaths are climbing". cnbc.com. CNBC. 10 March 2022.
  37. ^ "LGBT People Demand the Release of Arestovich for His Homophobic Remarks. Video". Tablo ID (in Ukrainian). 21 June 2022.
  38. ^ "Feygin Live - Youtube Channel". YouTube.com. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  39. ^ "Арестович и Фейгин больше не будут делать традиционных совместных эфиров. Что случилось?". Nasha Niva. 19 August 2023.
  40. ^ Справа Шеремета та зустріч Зеленського з Путіним — Прогнози Арестовича
  41. ^ Новости, Р. И. А. (11 August 2022). "Арестович заявил о намерении идти в президенты Украины". РИА Новости (in Russian). Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  42. ^ "Арестович заявил о готовности баллотироваться в президенты Украины (видео)". ФОКУС (in Russian). 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  43. ^ a b "Arestovich apologized for the words about the explosion in Dnieper through the Ukrainian air defense, but dismissed the apology". Ukrainian News Agency (in Ukrainian). 15 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  44. ^ "The Prosecutor General's Office named the unit of the Russian Federation, which launched a rocket at home in Dnipro". Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 15 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  45. ^ "Арестович звільняється з ОП після скандального коментаря про ракету у Дніпрі". ipress.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  46. ^ a b "'I don't want them to turn Ukraine into Putin's Russia' Oleksii Arestovych is gearing up to run for the Ukrainian presidency, promising voters peace with Moscow". Meduza. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  47. ^ a b Kilner, James (15 October 2023). "Ukraine's counter-offensive is a 'disaster', says former Zelensky adviser". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  48. ^ Court, Elsa (1 February 2024). "Military intelligence denies granting Arestovych right to leave Ukraine". Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  49. ^ "В Белоруссии завели дело против советника главы офиса Зеленского" [Belarus announces a criminal case against the adviser of Zelensky]. РБК. 17 March 2022. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  50. ^ "В Беларуси признали соцсети Арестовича экстремистскими" [Belarus announces social media of Arestovych as extremist material]. Novoye Vremya. 3 August 2022. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  51. ^ Araz Salekhov (11 May 2023). "Арестович включен в перечень террористов" [Arestovych included in the list of terrorists]. Vechernyaya Moskva. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  52. ^ "Российские власти объявили в розыск Алексея Арестовича" [Russian authorities have announced Oleksii Arestovych as wanted]. Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  53. ^ "В Киеве возбудили уголовное дело в отношении Арестовича, предложившего «душить женщин»". Meduza.
  54. ^ "Police probing former Zelenskyy advisor Arestovych over false crime report". Yahoo News. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  55. ^ "Арестович подал заявки на регистрацию торговых марок со своим именем (фото)". ФОКУС (in Russian). 13 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  56. ^ "Alexey Arestovych - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  57. ^ "- Короче говоря, Бутусов и его хозяева,... - Олексій Арестович | Facebook". Facebook. 29 December 2020. Archived from the original on 29 December 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
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