Mayor of Odesa
Trukhanov was elected as the mayor of Odesa three times,securing the position in 2014,2015,and 2020. [15] [1] He first became mayor of Odesa in 2014,immediately after the Euromaidan. [3] In the 2015 Mayoral election of Odesa Trukhanov was reelected in the first round of the election with 52.9% of the vote. [16]
In the 2020 Odesa local election Trukhanov was again a candidate for mayor of Odesa (nominated by Trust Deeds). [17] Trukhanov defeated Mykola Skoryk of Opposition Platform —For Life in the second round of the mayoral election on 15 November 2020,54.28% of the voters voted for him. [18]
During Trukhanov's tenure,a moratorium on coastal development in Odesa was imposed. [19] In 2014,Gennadiy Trukhanov imposed a moratorium on the dismantling of kiosks. [20]
During Gennadiy Trukhanov's tenure,electric transport in Odesa was revitalized. In 2016,the municipal enterprise "Odesmiskelektrotrans" modernized tram cars and repair workshops,developed the "Odissey" cabin tram,updated public transport stops,and installed electronic signs to inform about the arrival of trams and trolleybuses. Additionally,a portal for tracking municipal electric transport was developed. [21] [22] [23] In 2015 Trukhanov supported creation of a new preschool educational institution. [24] A new school,the European Lyceum,was built in Odesa, [25] new stadiums were opened at schools,and a "buffet" system for school meals was introduced. [26] A children's clinic was built in the Peresyp district with 83 offices,over 100 specialists,and a capacity of serving 550 patients per shift. [27]
As part of the investigation,Trukhanov was detained upon his arrival in Ukraine,at Ukraine's Boryspil International Airport on 14 February 2018 suspected of embezzlement of property through abuse of power. [28] He was later released on bail. In July 2019,the Odesa District Court found Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov and other defendants not guilty. [29] [30] [31]
In 2018,Trukhanov opened the Center for Integrated Social Services,where city residents can receive social services,certificates,or consultations. [32]
Gennadiy Trukhanov led the Ukrainian Muay Thai Boxing Federation. [33] In 2018,he initiated the creation of the High School Students' Parliament,representing the interests of students and implementing charitable,environmental,national-patriotic,intellectual,and creative projects. [34] That same year,he helped implement the Odesa School Basketball League project,involving 80 teams from 50 schools. [35]
In 2019,an Inclusive Resource Center was opened,adapted for people with disabilities and serving 300 individuals. [36]
Trukhanov supported the restoration of several architectural monuments,including the Potemkin Stairs,the Russov House,the Falz-Fein House,the Skarzhynsky income house and others. [37] [38] [39] [40] Existing and new parks were also modernized and built,including the Istanbul Park—a joint project of Trukhanov and Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas—and the Greek Park,supported by the Greek diaspora. [41] [42]
In 2020,Gennadiy Trukhanov opened an overpass at the 10th station of the Big Fountain,connecting two parts of the "Health Route." The route's total length is 15 kilometers,making it the largest bicycle-pedestrian path in Ukraine. From 2021 to 2023,over 130 kilometers of bike lanes and paths were arranged in Odesa. [43] [44]
After the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began,Trukhanov created a working group of historians with diverse perspectives on historical facts. The Odesa city government negotiated with the head of the UNESCO World Heritage Center,Lazare Eloundou Assomo,to form a working group including members of Italy's Ministry of Culture,researchers from the Polytechnic University of Turin,members of the UNESCO nomination committee,and Odesa historians,cultural experts,and architects. This collaboration led to Odesa receiving UNESCO heritage status. [45] [46] [47]
Open civil society
In 2017,the "Public Budget" appeared in Odesa –"a process of interaction between the Odesa City Council and executive bodies with the public,aimed at attracting business entities,public organizations,and city residents to participate in the budget process by submitting projects and holding open public voting. [48] [49]
In April 2017,the Odesa City Council,headed by Gennady Trukhanov,presented the "Socially Active Citizen" platform. [50]
In 2018,on the initiative of the Odesa mayor Gennady Trukhanov,a parliament of high school students appeared,the main activities of which are representing the interests of students in their educational institutions and implementing projects in the charitable,environmental,national-patriotic,intellectual and creative spheres. [51]
By order of the Odesa mayor,a Youth Council under the mayor was created. The Youth Council under the Odesa City Mayor is an advisory body on youth policy issues,created for the purpose of interaction between the executive bodies of the Odesa City Council and the youth of the city of Odesa and ensuring coordination of actions to resolve issues related to the life of young people and their participation in all spheres of public life of the city. [52] [53]
On the initiative of Gennady Trukhanov,the Council of the "Odesa Union of Nationalities" was created under the Odesa mayor. In recent years,working relations have developed with diplomatic missions accredited in Odesa.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Since the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine,the city authorities of Odesa have focused on the construction of fortifications. The priority of the budget policy was to help the Armed Forces and territorial defence units. [63] [64]
On the night of July 23,Russia launched a missile strike against the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa. There was a direct hit at the altar,and as a result of the attack the cult structure of the cathedral was partially destroyed. [65] Trukhanov addressed the occupiers in Russian: [66] [67] [68]
If only you knew how much Odesa hates you. Not only hates, but also despises. You are fighting with small children. With Orthodox churches. What can I say - your missiles even fly into the cemetery. During this war, you were called by different names. Russians, orcs, scum and nits. However, it is still affectionate. And you are just creatures without clan and tribe, morality and values. And without a future. You know us, Odesa residents, very bad. You won't break us, but you'll make us even angrier. The strength of our defenders, multiplied by the rage and pain of ordinary people, will be your verdict. Glory to Ukraine!
Odesa receives humanitarian aid from all over the world. Despite the full-scale invasion, Mayor of Odesa Gennadiy Trukhanov was focused on maintaining social standards and helping vulnerable populations. Four humanitarian centers to help refugees have been created in all districts of the city. [69] [70]
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, City officials have been assisting in housing, feeding and finding employment for IDPs who were forced to leave their homes. [71] Since the introduction of martial law, as of January 1, 2024, 85.5 thousand people applied to the regional departments of social protection of the population of the city of Odesa and received certificates of registration of internally displaced persons. [72]
An important direction in the policy of social protection of forced migrants is providing them with jobs. On June 3, 2022, the Municipal Center for Promotion of Employment for Internally Displaced Persons began its work. [73] The Center's activities provide assistance to the integration of internally displaced persons into the local labour market and provide work to the city's utility companies.
For the purpose of social adaptation and rehabilitation of military personnel, the city authorities created the "HAB Veteran" Service Center to ensure the implementation of the rights and freedoms of veterans and families of military personnel. The city authorities of Odesa cooperate with all military structures that protect Ukraine from Russian occupiers. [74]
