Aleksei Mikhailovich Chaly (; born 13 June 1961) is a Russian political and public figure, and a businessman. He was the deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Sevastopol from 2014 to 2019.
He became Chairman of the coordinating Council for the organization of the Sevastopol City Administration for ensuring the city's vital activity in February 2014, amidst after the resignation of Volodymyr Yatsuba, the mayor appointed by Viktor Yanukovych. With Chaly as mayor, Sevastopol participated in the March 2014 referendum. On 1 April 2014, he was appointed as the acting governor of Sevastopol. On 14 April, he was replaced by Sergey Menyaylo.
Biography
Chaly was born on 13 June 1961 in Moscow to students of the Moscow Power Engineering Institute. Parents: inventor and scientist Michail Chaly, mother Alevtina Chalaya, Candidate of Engineering, university professor. Grandson to Soviet vice-admiral Vasily Chaly, hero of the Great Patriotic War, Commander-In-Chief of the Black Sea Squadron (1956–1961). The family moved to Sevastopol, Ukrainian SSR when he was one year old. Chaly graduated from the Sevastopol National Technical University. Since 1987 he has been the head of "Tavrida Electric", producing switchgear and anti-wreck technology. At the moment of political crisis in Ukraine in 2014 he had Russian citizenship.
He was involved with the restoration of the memorials of the World War II, producing the documentary series "Sevastopol Tales". In 2011 he received the international award "For faith and fidelity" as a symbol of recognition of his contribution to the Motherland.
During the Crimean crisis
On 23 February 2014, a meeting of citizens opposed to the Euromaidan movement that ousted the Ukrainian government from power in Kyiv led to Chaly being proclaimed as "mayor" of Sevastopol. The Sevastopol City Council handed power to Chaly on 24 February, following the resignation of Volodymyr Yatsuba as the city administrator appointed by the president of Ukraine (at the time the city had no elected mayor).Contemporary Ukraine: Dynamics of Post-Soviet Transformation by Taras Kuzio, M.E. Sharpe, 1998, (page 44)
On 26 February, Chaly declared that Sevastopol would not submit to orders of the acting leader of the Ukrainian home office, Arsen Avakov. Simultaneously, he invited officers of the officially disbanded Berkut riot police unit to the city. He said that they could become a basis for future defence groups in the city.
Chaly visited the Kremlin in Moscow on 18 March 2014 to sign the Treaty on Accession of the Republic of Crimea to Russia together with Russian president Vladimir Putin and Crimean prime minister Sergey Aksyonov.Ukraine crisis: Putin signs Russia-Crimea treaty, BBC, 18 March 2014
In March 2014, the Security Service of Ukraine announced an investigation into Chaly for allegedly steering some ₴23.9 million from his charitable organisation to bankroll anti-Ukraine activity.Launched investigation concerning the "people's mayor" of Sevastopol – SBU. UNIAN. 18 March 2014
On 1 April 2014, he was appointed as acting governor of Sevastopol City by Russia and occupied this position till 14 April 2014, when he resigned and was replaced by Sergey Menyaylo. Putin ignored the "People's Mayor" Sevastopol and appoint to the post a Russian Admiral, Espreso TV (14 April 2014)
Sanctions
Chaly was sanctioned by the British government in 2014 as a result of the annexation of Crimea.
References
External links Biography of Chaly at the Sevastopol News The Sevastopol city council