Anton Herashchenko

When Arsen Avakov became the Minister of Internal Affairs in 2014, Herashchenko became his adviser.[1] In this role, Herashchenko briefed journalists about the formation of the Donbas Battalion,[5] the Azov Battalion,[6] and the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.[7][8]

Herashchenko was elected to parliament in the 26 October 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election, representing the People's Front in a multi-mandate nationwide district.[3] He was secretary of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement.[3]

Herashchenko was one of the founders of a database called "Peacemaker". This is the main Ukrainian and international database used for searching for terrorists. He is also known for open anti-Russian views.[4]

In January 2017, it was announced that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) had prevented an assassination attempt against Herashchenko.[4] The SBU had had the two assassins under surveillance for over a month and arrested them in the act with an explosive device in their possession. The SBU stated that the assassins had been in prison in the Russian-occupied Crimea, until they agreed to assassinate Herashchenko. The SBU claim that the assassins were coordinated by Andrey Tikhonov. Tikhonov currently lives in Belgorod in Russia, and used to be a Ukrainian citizen, who had fought against Ukraine on the side of the Luhansk People's Republic.[4]

After the July 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election Herashchenko did not return to parliament.[1] On 25 September 2019 the Cabinet of Ministers appointed him one of six or seven deputy ministers at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.[1][2] The minister was Arsen Avakov.[1]