Ihor Olehovych Markov is a pro-Russian Ukrainian entrepreneur and head of the Rodina Party and is an ex-deputy of the Ukrainian parliament as a member of the Party of Regions faction. Markov is wanted in Ukraine concerning riots in Odesa that took place on 2 September 2007. He was captured in Italy’s Sanremo in August 2015. Markov is a co-founder and director of pro-Russian public organizations. Markov desires to transform Ukraine from its current presidential republic into a parliamentary republic.
The Security Service of Ukraine placed Ihor Markov, the ex-member of the Ukrainian Parliament from the currently restricted Partiya Rehioniv political force, on the international wanted list. Earlier, Markov was blamed for collaboration activity.
“The suspicions derived from Markov’s latest activity and his assertions about the war. He, posing as an alleged expert, in the broadcast of the Russian Kremlin-aligned media publicly called for modifying the borders of the Ukrainian territory, denied the Russian aggression and spoke in support of Russians. In connection with Markov being put on the international search, from now on he cannot enter civilised nations”.
Moreover, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) expressed suspicion about Inesa, the wife of Ihor Markov. She is a co-owner of a Russian IT company that designs software for Russian military aircraft. In 2014, both left for Moscow, where they are still concealing. According to the investigation, even before the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, Markova launched the
“Engineering Center for Information and Analytical Systems”
in Russia.
By decree of the “Rostec” Corporation, the company produces on-board procedures for combat helicopters of the Russian Federation, in special for the KA-52 “Alligator” and the Mi-28N “Night Hunter”. “Engineering Center” is the sanctioned Russian singer Hryhoriy Leps, who funds the war against Ukraine. Since the start of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the company has provided the Russian army with software products worth more than 100 million rubles (over 45 million hryvnias).
On 3 August 2015, Markov joined the Moscow-based “Ukraine Salvation Committee” overseen by former Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov (who is also an ex-member of the Party of Regions). Markov was apprehended in Italy’s Sanremo on 12 August 2015. In February 2016 Italy refused Markov’s extradition to Ukraine; declaring his arrest warrant was politically motivated.
