{{Short description|8th governor of Irkutsk Oblast}} {{family name hatnote|Ivanovich|Kobzev|lang=Eastern Slavic}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Igor Kobzev | native_name = {{nobold|Игорь Кобзев}} | image = Igor Kobzev (2019).jpg | caption = Kobzev in 2019 | office = 8th Governor of Irkutsk Oblast | term_start = 18 September 2020 | term_end = | predecessor = Sergey Levchenko | successor = | office2 = Acting Governor of Irkutsk Oblast | term_start2 = 12 December 2019 | term_end2 = 18 September 2020 | predecessor2 = | successor2 = | office3 = | term_start3 = | term_end3 = | predecessor3 = | successor3 = | office4 = | term_start4 = | term_end4 = | predecessor4 = | successor4 = | office5 = | term_start5 = | term_end5 = | predecessor5 = | successor5 = | office6 = | term_start6 = | term_end6 = | predecessor6 = | successor6 = | birth_name = Igor Ivanovich Kobzev | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|10|29|df=y}} | birth_place = Voronezh, Soviet Union | alma_mater = | spouse = | children = | party = | profession = | native_name_lang = ru }}
'''Igor Ivanovich Kobzev''' ({{langx|ru|Игорь Иванович Кобзев}}; born 29 October 1966), is a Russian statesman and former army officer, who is the incumbent 8th Governor of Irkutsk Oblast since 18 September 2020. He had previously been the acting governor, since 12 December 2019.
Since 2019 he holds the rank of {{ill|Colonel General of the Internal Service|ru|Генерал-полковник внутренней службы (СССР и Россия)}}.
==Biography==
Igor Kobzev was born on 19 October 1966 in Voronezh.<ref name="mchsgovru">{{cite web|url=https://www.mchs.gov.ru/ministerstvo/sostav-ministerstva/persons/889|title=Кобзев Игорь Иванович|publisher=Ministry of Emergency Situations (Russia)|date=|accessdate=12 December 2019|archive-date=12 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212160210/https://www.mchs.gov.ru/ministerstvo/sostav-ministerstva/persons/889|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="kommer">{{cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4190335|title=Чем известен Игорь Кобзев|publisher=Коммерсантъ|date=12 December 2019|accessdate=12 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="ria">{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20191212/1562327012.html|title=Биография Игоря Кобзева|publisher=РИА Новости|date=12 December 2019|accessdate=12 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="tass">{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/info/7335893|title=Биография врио губернатора Иркутской области Игоря Кобзева|publisher=ТАСС|date=12 December 2019|accessdate=12 December 2019}}</ref> From a family with a long military tradition, his grandfather participated in the Eastern Front and was awarded the Order of Glory, 3rd class.<ref>{{cite web|author=Яна Лисина|url=https://www.irk.kp.ru/online/news/3743620/|title=Дед и дядя стали примером: Игорь Кобзев грезил о военной службе с 8 класса|publisher=Комсомольская правда|date=24 January 2020|accessdate=11 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="irkru">{{cite web|author=Галина Солонина, Анна Суркова|url=https://www.irk.ru/news/tarticles/20200529/interview/|title=Игорь Кобзев: Я – человек государственный, Родине служу|publisher=Ирк.ру|date=29 May 2020|accessdate=11 August 2020}}</ref>
In 1988, Kobzev graduated from the {{ill|Zhukovsky and Gagarin Military Aviation Academy|ru|Военно-воздушная академия имени профессора Н. Е. Жуковского и Ю. А. Гагарина (Воронеж)|lt=Voronezh Higher Military Aviation Engineering School}}. From August 1988 to August 1989, he served as assistant chief of staff of the 936th separate battalion of aerodrome technical support of the 60th Anniversary of the USSR Syzran Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, and then was assistant to the head of the personnel department of the school. Between February 1992 and December 1999, he served as head of the personnel department and combat unit of the 146th separate mobile mechanized civil defense brigade. In 1999, as part of the Territorial Administration of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, he took part in the Second Chechen War. And from December 1999 to August 2000, he was a senior assistant to the chief of staff for personnel and combat units of the 847th rescue center. Between August 2000 and December 2003, he held the post of head of the Department for Civil Defense and Emergencies of the {{ill|Zheleznodorozhny District, Voronezh|ru|Железнодорожный район (Воронеж)|lt=Zheleznodorozhny District}} of Voronezh - Deputy Head of Civil Defense in Voronezh.<ref name="mchsgovru" /><ref name="kommer" /><ref name="ria" /><ref name="tass" />
Kobzev graduated from Voronezh State University in 2001. From December 2003 to January 2005, he was assistant to the head of the Main Directorate (for the organization of the security service of the military and internal service). Between January 2005 and January 2008, he held the position of head of the personnel department, educational work, vocational training and psychological support. He graduated from the Voronezh Institute of Economics and Social Management in 2006. From January 2008 to May 2010, he held the post of First Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the Russian Emergencies Ministry for the Voronezh Oblast. Between 2009 and 2012, he passed refresher courses at the Civil Defense Academy of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. From May 2010 to April 2016, he was the head of the Main Directorate of the Russian Emergencies Ministry in the Voronezh Oblast.<ref name="mchsgovru" /><ref name="kommer" /><ref name="ria" /><ref name="tass" />
On 13 December 2012, Kobzev was promoted to Major General of the Internal Service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kremlin.ru/acts/bank/36499|title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 13.12.2012 г. № 1655 «О присвоении воинского звания высшего офицера военнослужащим Министерства Российской Федерации по делам гражданской обороны, чрезвычайным ситуациям и ликвидации последствий стихийных бедствий и специальных званий высшего начальствующего состава сотрудникам федеральной противопожарной службы Государственной противопожарной службы»|publisher=Президент Российской Федерации|date=13 December 2012|accessdate=12 December 2019}}</ref>
From April 2016 to August 2017, he was the first deputy head of the Central Regional Center of the EMERCOM of Russia, and also served as the acting head of the Central Regional Center. In 2017, he graduated from the magistracy of the {{ill|Academy of the State Fire Service of the Ministry of Emergencies|ru|Академия государственной противопожарной службы МЧС России}} of Russia. In August 2017, he took the post of Director of the HR Policy Department of the Ministry of Emergencies of Russia, and in August 2018, became Acting Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Emergencies of Russia.<ref name="mchsgovru" /><ref name="kommer" /><ref name="ria" /><ref name="tass" />
On 12 December 2018, he was awarded the special rank of lieutenant general of the internal service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kremlin.ru/acts/bank/43849|title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 12.12.2018 г. № 709 «О присвоении воинских званий высших офицеров и специальных званий высшего начальствующего состава»|publisher=Президент Российской Федерации|date=12 December 2018|accessdate=12 December 2019}}</ref> thumb|right|Kobzev as a lieutenant-general of the Internal Service
Kobzev was engaged in the resolution of a number of major emergencies, particularly in the consequences of the 2011 Garbuzovo Antonov An-148 crash in Belgorod Oblast, he participated in the dispatch of a convoy with humanitarian aid to the territory of South Ossetia during the Russian-Georgian War, took part in extinguishing natural fires in the Voronezh Oblast in 2018, led the operation to receive refugees from Ukraine in the Voronezh region in 2014, and dealt with the consequences of the Saratov Airlines Flight 703 crash in Moscow Oblast in 2018.<ref name="mchsgovru" /><ref name="kommer" /><ref name="ria" />
On 1 May 2019, he was appointed Deputy Minister of the EMERCOM of Russia - the chief state inspector of the Russian Federation for fire supervision.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kremlin.ru/acts/bank/44235|title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 01.05.2019 г. № 202 «Об освобождении от должности, назначении на должность и присвоении специального звания в некоторых федеральных государственных органах»|publisher=Президент Российской Федерации|date=1 May 2019|accessdate=12 December 2019}}</ref> On November 4 of the same year, he was reappointed in the same position.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201911040019|title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 04.11.2019 № 541 «Об освобождении от должности и назначении на должность в некоторых федеральных государственных органах»|publisher=Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации|date=4 November 2019|accessdate=12 December 2019}}</ref>
On 18 November 2019, Kobzev was included in the Heraldic Council under the President of the Russia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kremlin.ru/acts/bank/44847|title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 18.11.2019 г. № 561 «Вопросы Геральдического совета при Президенте Российской Федерации»|publisher=Президент Российской Федерации|date=18 November 2019|accessdate=27 July 2020}}</ref>
On 12 December 2019, Kobzev was appointed the acting Governor of Irkutsk Oblast, following the resignation of Sergey Levchenko.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kremlin.ru/acts/news/62312|title=Игорь Кобзев назначен врио губернатора Иркутской области|publisher=Президент Российской Федерации|date=12 December 2019|accessdate=12 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201912130003|title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 12.12.2019 № 600 «О досрочном прекращении полномочий Губернатора Иркутской области»|publisher=Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации|date=12 December 2019|accessdate=12 December 2019}}</ref> After that, he attended a working meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/politika/7335359|title=Путин освободил Левченко с поста губернатора Иркутской области. Врио стал Кобзев|publisher=ТАСС|date=12 December 2019|accessdate=12 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20191212/1562328255.html|title=Медведев встретился с врио губернаторов ЕАО и Иркутской области|publisher=РИА Новости|date=12 December 2019|accessdate=12 December 2019}}</ref> The appointment was supported by the Minister of Emergency Situations Yevgeny Zinichev.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20191212/1562327920.html|title=Бывший замминистра МЧС возглавил Иркутскую область|publisher=РИА Новости|date=12 December 2019|accessdate=12 December 2019}}</ref> On the same day, he was promoted to Colonel-General of Internal Service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201912130002|title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 12.12.2019 № 599 «О присвоении специального звания Кобзеву И. И.»|publisher=Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации|date=12 December 2019|accessdate=12 December 2019}}</ref> As to Levchenko's departure from the post of governor, it had occurred against the backdrop of problems and confusion with dealing with the consequences of the 2019 {{ill|2019 Irkutsk Oblast floods|ru|Наводнение в Иркутской области (2019)|lt=floods in Irkutsk Oblast}}, the heaviest in the past 180 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ru/politics/19/07/2019/5d3200879a794715d77c87b1|title=Путин раскритиковал иркутские власти после наводнения в регионе. Паводки могут ударить по планам губернатора Левченко переизбраться|publisher=РБК|date=19 July 2019|accessdate=30 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ru/politics/29/09/2019/5d90d0209a79474763095b2c|title=В Кремле запланировали отставку губернатора Иркутской области. Рейтинги коммуниста упали из-за проблем с ликвидацией последствий наводнения|publisher=РБК|date=19 July 2019|accessdate=30 July 2020}}</ref>
{{quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote=You know, I don’t want to throw stones at the person [Levchenko] who has already left. He, of course, especially at the first stage of his work, tried and so on. But, of course, in these conditions, a specialist is needed who is well versed in the issues that need to be resolved. I think that the person we have now chosen, the Deputy Minister for Emergency Situations, will cope with this task, especially with the support of the federal center, which is allocating serious money for this.|source=—Vladimir Putin's interview with Channel 5 on 19 December 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62366|title=Большая пресс-конференция Владимира Путина|publisher=Президент Российской Федерации|date=19 December 2019|accessdate=21 December 2019}}</ref>}}
On 13 December, Kobzev was introduced by the plenipotentiary representative in the Siberian Federal District, Sergey Menyaylo, to members of the government and deputies of the Legislative Assembly of Irkutsk Oblast.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://irkobl.ru/news/848977/|title=Игорь Кобзев: Главной своей задачей я вижу повышение уровня качества жизни людей Иркутской области|publisher=Правительство Иркутской области|date=13 December 2019|accessdate=13 December 2019|archive-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213140802/https://irkobl.ru/news/848977/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sfo.gov.ru/press/novosti/10810/|title=Полпред представил депутатам Законодательного Собрания и членам Правительства Иркутской области врио главы региона Игоря Кобзева|publisher=Полномочный представитель президента Российской Федерации в Сибирском федеральном округе|date=13 December 2019|accessdate=13 December 2019}}</ref> Assessing the appointment, experts pointed out that in the future elections of the governor of the Irkutsk Oblast, Kobzev, as a typical "Varangian", may face competition from local elites.<ref>{{cite web|author=Андрей Перцев|url=https://meduza.io/feature/2019/12/13/irkutskiy-gubernator-sergey-levchenko-ushel-v-otstavku|title=Иркутский губернатор Сергей Левченко ушел в отставку. Четыре года назад он выиграл выборы вопреки желанию Кремля — а теперь не устоял перед его атакой|publisher=Meduza|date=13 December 2019|accessdate=13 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Елена Мухаметшина, Светлана Бочарова, Анастасия Корня|url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2019/12/13/818609-otstavka-irkutskogo-gubernatora|title=Отставка иркутского губернатора может обернуться для властей проблемами на следующих выборах|publisher=Ведомости|date=13 December 2019|accessdate=13 December 2019}}</ref>
On 20 May 2020, Kobzev announced that he had decided to participate as a self-nominated candidate in the {{ill|2020 Irkutsk gubernatorial election|ru|Выборы губернатора Иркутской области (2020)}}, which were scheduled for 13 September of the same year.<ref>{{cite web|author=Екатерина Еременко, Андрей Винокуров|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4350005|title=Беспартийный против коммунистов. Врио губернатора Иркутской области Игорь Кобзев сможет участвовать в выборах как самовыдвиженец|publisher=Коммерсантъ|date=20 May 2020|accessdate=21 May 2020}}</ref> The possibility of Kobzev winning the elections in the first round was assessed rather skeptically, despite the fact that he is a protégé of the federal center and enjoys the support of the Kremlin's political strategists.<ref>{{cite web|author=Андрей Перцев|url=https://meduza.io/feature/2020/08/05/sibiryaki-takogo-ne-lyubyat|title=Сибиряки такого не любят. Почему выборы иркутского губернатора стали проблемой для Кремля. Репортаж Андрея Перцева из одного из самых протестных регионов России|publisher=Meduza|date=5 August 2020|accessdate=11 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Андрей Перцев|url=https://meduza.io/feature/2020/09/10/putevoditel-po-vyboram-2020-kak-ni-stranno-est-prichiny-za-nimi-sledit|title=Путеводитель по выборам-2020. Как ни странно, есть причины за ними следить. В нескольких регионах происходит что-то похожее на настоящую политику|publisher=Meduza|date=10 September 2020|accessdate=9 September 2020}}</ref> Nevertheless, Kobzev won 60% of the vote, ahead of the Communist Party candidate and State Duma deputy Mikhail Shchapov with 26%, against whom a "spoiler" with a surname close to confusion was put forward.<ref name="Наталия Анисимова">{{cite web|author=Наталия Анисимова|url=https://www.rbc.ru/society/27/10/2020/5f97aeb99a79470b427b796d|title=Губернатора Иркутской области госпитализировали с коронавирусом|publisher=РБК|date=27 October 2020|accessdate=29 October 2020}}</ref><ref name="РИА Новости">{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20201027/kobzev-1581692378.html|title=Главу Приангарья Кобзева госпитализировали с коронавирусом|publisher=РИА Новости|date=27 October 2020|accessdate=29 October 2020}}</ref> The turnout in the Irkutsk elections was the lowest in Russia and amounted to about 32%. The inauguration ceremony of Kobzev took place on 18 September at a meeting of the Legislative Assembly of Irkutsk Oblast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irk.gov.ru/events/news/detail.php?ID=31549|title=Инаугурация губернатора Иркутской области состоялась на заседании 33-й сессии областного парламента|publisher=Законодательное собрание Иркутской области|date=18 September 2020|accessdate=27 September 2020|archive-date=22 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022012021/http://irk.gov.ru/events/news/detail.php?ID=31549|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://irkobl.ru/news/1022083/|title=Игорь Кобзев вступил в должность Губернатора Иркутской области|publisher=Официальный портал Иркутской области|date=18 September 2020|accessdate=27 September 2020|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203647/https://irkobl.ru/news/1022083/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On the same day, Kobzev was included in the subgroup in the direction of "Higher education" of the working group "Education and Science" as part of the State Council of Russia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://irkobl.ru/news/1022100/|title=Игорь Кобзев вошел в состав рабочей группы Госсовета при Президенте РФ по направлению "Образование и наука"|publisher=Официальный портал Иркутской области|date=18 September 2020|accessdate=27 September 2020|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201650/https://irkobl.ru/news/1022100/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://rg.ru/2020/09/18/reg-sibfo/igor-kobzev-voshel-v-sostav-rabochej-gruppy-gossoveta.html|title=Игорь Кобзев вошел в состав рабочей группы Госсовета|publisher=Российская газета|date=18 September 2020|accessdate=27 September 2020}}</ref> On 23 September, he made a reshuffle in the government, in particular, he appointed {{ill|Konstantin Zaitsev (politician)|ru|Зайцев, Константин Борисович|lt=Konstantin Zaitsev}} and {{ill|Dmitry Berdnikov|ru|Бердников, Дмитрий Викторович}} as his deputies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://irkobl.ru/news/1022698/|title=Губернатор Иркутской области Игорь Кобзев сообщил о назначениях в региональном Правительстве|publisher=Официальный портал Иркутской области|date=23 September 2020|accessdate=27 September 2020}}{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4502734|title=Игорь Кобзев произвел кадровые назначения в правительстве региона|publisher=Коммерсантъ|date=24 September 2020|accessdate=27 September 2020}}</ref>
On 26 October, Kobzev was hospitalized with coronavirus,<ref name="Наталия Анисимова"/><ref name="РИА Новости"/> and on 6 November, he was discharged from the hospital and continued to work.<ref>{{cite web|author=Андрей Синьков|url=https://www.irk.kp.ru/daily/2171204/4317004/|title=Переболевший коронавирусом губернатор Иркутской области Игорь Кобзев выписан из больницы|publisher=Комсомольская правда|date=6 November 2020|accessdate=8 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.interfax.ru/russia/735877|title=Заболевшего коронавирусом иркутского губернатора выписали из больницы|publisher=Интерфакс|date=6 November 2020|accessdate=8 January 2021}}</ref>
Since 21 December 2020, Kobzev is a member of the {{ill|Presidium of the State Council|ru|Президиум Государственного совета Российской Федерации}} of Russia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202012210003|title=Распоряжение Президента Российской Федерации от 21.12.2020 № 310-рп «Об утверждении состава Президиума Государственного Совета Российской Федерации»|publisher=Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации|date=21 December 2020|accessdate=8 January 2021}}</ref> He was reelected as governor in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-15 |title=Pro-Kremlin Incumbents Sweep to Victory in Russia's Regional Elections |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/09/15/pro-kremlin-incumbents-sweep-to-victory-in-russias-regional-elections-a90524 |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life==
===Family===
Kobzev is married with four children.<ref name="mchsgovru" /><ref name="ria" />
===Hobbies===
Kobzev is fond of wrestling and swimming, loves to read fiction.<ref name="irkru" /><ref>{{cite web|author=Яна Лисина|url=https://www.irk.kp.ru/online/news/3743654/|title=Игорь Кобзев: У меня четверо детей, двое из них приедут в Иркутск|publisher=Комсомольская правда|date=24 January 2020|accessdate=11 August 2020}}</ref>
==Income== As of 2019, Kobzev declared an annual income of 10 million rubles, three land plots, one residential building, four apartments, two garages, two cars - a VAZ 21093 and a BMW X6, recorded in the name of his wife, who had no income.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://declarator.org/person/39057/|title=Кобзев Игорь Иванович|publisher=Declarator.org|date=|accessdate=12 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="tass" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/info/9448523|title=Биография избранного губернатора Иркутской области Игоря Кобзева|publisher=ТАСС|date=14 September 2020|accessdate=14 September 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kobzev, Igor}} Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:People from Voronezh Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 2nd class Category:Voronezh State University alumni Category:Russian colonel generals Category:Governors of Irkutsk Oblast