KIEV (JTA) — A prominent Ukrainian Jewish leader was appointed a deputy mayor of Kiev.
Yevgeny Chervonenko, a prominent Jewish leader and an aide to Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, was appointed Thursday as a first deputy mayor responsible for preparations and hosting the Euro 2012 European football finals in the capital city.
Chervonenko, 48, is a former chairman of the Ukrainian National Agency for Euro 2012, which was created in August 2007 but was liquidated Nov. 19 by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. A coordination bureau will be set up within the Cabinet Secretariat.
He is a member of board of trustees of the World Jewish Congress; a special envoy of the European Jewish Congress for matters related to cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe; a vice president of the United Jewish Community of Ukraine; and a vice president of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress.
Chervonenko has never been shy about his Jewish heritage: As a former transportation minister, he was the first Jewish official in Ukraine to affix a mezuzah to his government office in 2005.
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