Igor Sevchenko

Igor Vladimirovich Secvhenko (born 7 June 1950) is a former Sakhalinian politician, who has served as the Prime Minister of Sakhalin for three consecutive terms from 1994 until 2008. He subsequently served as the President of Sakhalin for a single term from 2008 until 2015. On 3 May 2015 he announced his retirement from politics, and returned as a private citizen on 30 May 2015.

Entry in politics
During the communist regime, Sevchenko was highly critical of the government. He participated in various opposition groups and eventually became a spokesman of the democratic opposition.

In 1991, he created the Liberal Party and began negotiations with other opposition leaders who desired to create their own political movements. The negotiations lasted from January until February 1991, and were successful. When a General Election was called for later that year, Sevchenko announced he would represent the Liberal Party and declared his party would contest all Congress constituencies, however the Labour Party led by former Communist leader Krasnoyarov won. His government didn't last long, as he faced growing discontent from the people and tenacious opposition from Congress.

Prime Minister of Sakhalin
Sevchenko once again led the party into victory in the 1994 General Elections, obtaining a majority in both chambers. He immediately reorganized the government, abolished useless laws and began economic liberalization, which was successful as the markets were looking for a new country to invest in after the 1991 chaos which involved multiple countries.

Sevchenko was also instrumental in unification negotiations with the Republic of Hokkaido, Stravopol Krai and Kamkatcha. These efforts culminated in the Treaty of Novikovo where the three republics unified with Sakhalin to form a federal nation.

As his approval rates were high, he comfortably won the 1998 and 2003 General Elections with also voters from new territories approving him. In 2008, he annunced he would not be candidate for a fourth term.

President of Sakhalin
Party Secretary Gerasimov (who won the 2008 elections and subsequently served as Prime Minister) proposed Sevchenko as the candidate for the Presidency of the Union. Other parties also agreed, except the Labour Party who voted for another candidate. Sevchenko was elected with over 700 MP votes.

Later life
He announced his retirement from politics in 2009. He lives in Hokkaido City.

Political views
Sevchenko is the creator of the "Far East Conservatism" which seeks to implement both economic neoliberalism and conservatism in regions where traditionalism and montainous people reject any new views other than primitive policies.