Sergei Kapkov

After Kapkov reforms and all his battles, regional administrations across the country have suddenly become interested in the renovation of parks and the rejuvenation of public space. In Moscow, many of the positive changes to the fabric of the city are hard to undo, whatever happens. Many people worry there are changes in the air, but hope is far from lost – with some suggesting that if the Europeanisation of Moscow is over, the end of this copycat urban development may not be such a bad thing anyway.

Former Minister of Moscow Government, head of Moscow City Department of Culture (30 September 2011 - 10 March 2015), head of the National Academy of Football Fund, highly supported by Roman Abramovich. The Fund under Kapkov leadership was the one who hired Guus Hiddink as the chief coach of the Russian national team.

In 2011 Sergei Kapkov stepped down from the position of the State Duma deputy to start magic renovation and revival of Central Moscow park - Gorky park. Almost in months park was free of old and out of date amusement attractions and old-style cafes. Instead of these park visitors and city guests received sensitive customer-service approach trendy outdoor activities and fully renovated park with a waterfront.

Sergei Kapkov was the force behind the transformation and revival of Moscow's culture. As Moscow's Minister of Culture (2011-2015), he undertook major urban regeneration initiatives and introduced radically new cultural policies. Under his watch, many public spaces, parks, and riverside areas were revitalized, and new pedestrian zones, street fairs, exhibitions, and music and arts festivals were created.

In April 2006 he was offered a Vice-presidentcy of Russian Football Union. Sergei Kapkov pushed the decision to invite Guus Hiddink to become a chief coach of the Russia national soccer team. Hiddink led Russia to win the third place at UEFA Euro 2008, and has been credited with inspiring a football revival in Russia. Pre-Hiddink, Russia had failed to get out of their group at every major tournament they had qualified for.

In June 2004 he became Chief of the board of directors at National Football Academy. The main purpose of this organization was improving infrastructure and setting up new training centers for talented players at a national level. The annual budget of the Fund was almost $30 million. Within 5 years the Fund invested in Russian soccer sports development around $100 million.

In 2003 Sergei Kapkov was elected as a deputy in the lower house State Duma. He was a member of the lower house Committee for civil, criminal, arbitration and procedural legislation. In 2007 Sergei Kapkov took another turn in the State Duma when Vladimir Putin declined his invitation to become a deputy in Russia's new parliament and handed over his seat to Sergei Kapkov, who became deputy head of the State Duma Committee for Information Policy, Technology and Communication.

In 2003 Sergei Kapkov was one of the initiators of Russian Soccer revival. He stood in the roots of National Football Academy foundation side by side with his close friend Roman Abramovich.

In 2001 Sergei Kapkov became the head of Public relations and Digital media Department at Chukotka region. The same year he take over the Department of culture, sport, tourism and young population policy and became one of the youngest Ministers at Chukotka region. He stood behind couple modernization in the region, such as first regional radio (radio “Purga” – “Snowstorm”) and first independent TV-channel “Belyi Veter” ( White Wind).

In 2000 he became the Head of governor election campaign at Chukotka region for Mr. Abramovich. Roman Abramovich won the election with more than 90% of electoral votes.

In 1999 Mr. Kapkov took part in Abramovich election campaign to the State Duma. After the successful campaign, Kapkov became a primary assistant of Roman Abramovich in the Duma. News media describe Mr. Kapkov as “ one of the leading managers in charge of media relations and public outreach”.

Sergei Alexandrovich Kapkov (Russian: Серге́й Алекса́ндрович Капко́в; born 10 December 1975) is a Russian politician, Head of the Culture and Urban Development Center, School of Economics, Moscow State University. Married, has two kids.