Vadym Merikov

Vadym Ivanovych Merikov (Ukrainian: Вадим Іванович Меріков; born on 23 February 1976 ) is a Ukrainian politician. He is a former People's Deputy of Ukraine and served as the governor of the Mykolaiv Oblast from July 28, 2014, to June 29, 2016.

Biography
Vadym Merikov was born in the village of Mishkovo-Pohorilove, on 23 February 1976. In 1993, he graduated from Pogorelov High School, after which he enrolled in the Mykolaiv State Pedagogical Institute at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, who graduated in 1997 with a degree in Physical Education. He received the title of Master of Sports of Ukraine in kickboxing, as well as the title of Honored Boxing Coach.

After graduation, he entered Odesa University. He graduated in 2005 with the Faculty of Law, and has received a lawyer qualification.

Political activity
In 2005, he was elected deputy of the fifth convocation of the Mykolaiv City Council from the "Bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko".

In March 2010, he became the head of the parliamentary group "Front of Change" in the Mykolaiv City Council.

In October 2010, he was elected a deputy of the Mykolaiv Regional Council (the first list of the party "Front of Change").

At the next election in 2012, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine headed the electoral headquarters of the United Opposition in Mykolaiv Oblast and was included in the electoral list of Batkivshchyna under No. 66.

June 14, 2013, in connection with the decision to liquidate the Front of Change party, Vadym Merikov joined the party "Batkivshchina". He was elected a member of the political council of the party.

March 15, 2014 Vadym Merikov received the powers of the people's deputy of Ukraine after the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) terminated the powers of the people's deputies Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Stepan Kubiv, who received positions in the Cabinet of Ministers.

He was a member of interparliamentary groups with Switzerland, France, Norway, the United Kingdom, Austria, and the United States.

Governor of Mykolaiv Oblast
On July 28, 2014, by the decree No. 629 of the President of Ukraine, Vadym Marikov was appointed Governor of Mykolaiv Oblast by Petro Poroshenko.

In mid-August 2014, the media, citing sources in the Security Service of Ukraine, reported the detention of a group of five people who were preparing to assassinate Governor Merikov and his family. According to the siloviki, it is connected with the Donetsk People's Republic, whose interaction with its Mykolaiv like-minded officials previously opposed.

June 15, 2016, Merikov resigned as the Governor of Mykolaiv Oblast. On June 24, 2016, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine accepted the decision.

On June 29, 2016, he was dismissed by President Poroshenko.