Sergei Kapkov

After a bright start of the politician career, Sergei met Roman Abramovich, one of the main shareholder of Sibneft that time. These fast acquaintance transformed in long-term relations.

In 1999 Mr. Kapkov took part in Abramovich election campaign to the State Duma. After the successful campaign, Kapkov became a primary assistant of Roman Abramovich in the Duma.[8] News media describe Mr. Kapkov as “ one of the leading managers in charge of media relations and public outreach”.[9]

In 2000 he became the Head of governor election campaign at Chukotka region for Mr. Abramovich. Roman Abramovich won the election with more than 90% of electoral votes.[10]

In 2001 Sergei Kapkov became the head of Public relations and Digital media Department at Chukotka region.[11] The same year he take over the Department of culture, sport, tourism and young population policy and became one of the youngest Ministers at Chukotka region.[12] He stood behind couple modernization in the region, such as first regional radio (radio “Purga” – “Snowstorm”) and first independent TV-channel “Belyi Veter” (White Wind).[13]

In 2003 Sergei Kapkov was elected as a deputy in the lower house State Duma. He was a member of the lower house Committee for civil, criminal, arbitration and procedural legislation. In 2007 Sergei Kapkov took another turn in the State Duma when Vladimir Putin declined his invitation to become a deputy in Russia's new parliament and handed over his seat to Sergei Kapkov,[14] who became deputy head of the State Duma Committee for Information Policy, Technology and Communication.[15]

In 2011 Sergei Kapkov stepped down from the position of the State Duma deputy to start magic renovation and revival of Central Moscow park - Gorky park. Within months, the park was free of old, dated amusement attractions and old-style cafés. Instead of these park visitors and city guests received sensitive customer-service approach trendy outdoor activities and fully renovated park with a waterfront.[16]

“What I was doing, I regarded as a priority for the people of Moscow and the foundation for personal freedoms, personal space and the urban environment"[17]

Sergei Kapkov was the force behind the transformation and revival of Moscow's culture. As Moscow's Minister of Culture (2011-2015), he undertook major urban regeneration initiatives and introduced radically new cultural policies. Under his watch, many public spaces, parks, and riverside areas were revitalized, and new pedestrian zones, street fairs, exhibitions, and music and arts festivals were created.[18]

Sergei Kapkov brought Moscow to a new level of recognition. The city appearance changed dramatically.

• After the Gorky park success, Sergei Kapkov continued developing Moscow recreation by renovation of 13 other parks, settling down park infrastructure standards, bringing outdoor activities to a new level
• Development and implementation of "friendly old city" by starting pedestrian zones program.

Park Goncharovsky, Moscow, I love Moscow stand

• Promotion of Moscow brand "I love Moscow". Many Russian cities copied the theme
• He gave a start for a new World known Contemporary Theatre "Gogol Center" by investing the reconstruction of the old building, renovation of theater equipment and giving a Theatre in hands of Kiril Serebrennikov
• Sergei Kapkov settled a new level for city events organizing. It had a quick feedback from citizens. In 2013 the international event The Long Night of Museums was the most popular in Europe. More than 240 cultural institutions took part and almost 1.5 million people visited it. It was the most popular annual Night of Museums within seven years of its history.
• Bicycle movement in Moscow and then in Russia
• Built a bridge between the City authorities and creative class by setting down contemporary art festivals. Before Kapkov took over the Moscow culture there was no street art and all graffiti works were under a ban. In 2013 the Festival “Best city on the earth” gave an opportunity to talented artist express themselves at the City level.

After Kapkov reforms and all his battles, regional administrations across the country have suddenly become interested in the renovation of parks and the rejuvenation of public space. In Moscow, many of the positive changes to the fabric of the city are hard to undo, whatever happens. Many people worry there are changes in the air, but hope is far from lost – with some suggesting that if the Europeanisation of Moscow is over, the end of this copycat urban development may not be such a bad thing anyway.[19]