Hazret Sovmen

Hazret Medzhidovich Sovmen Хазре́т Меджи́дович Совмен Шъоумэн Хьазрэт Меджидэ ыкъор
250px Hazret Sovmen (left) in a meeting with Vladimir Putin
2nd President of the Republic of Adygea
In office 13 January 2002 – 12 January 2007
Preceded by	Aslan Dzharimov
Succeeded by	Aslan Tkhakushinov
Personal details
Born	(1937-05-01) May 1, 1937 Afipsip, Takhtamukaysky District, Adyghe AO, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Adyghe
Political party	United Russia
Spouse(s)	None
Profession	Businessman, Professor
Religion	Sunni Islam
Awards	Order of Merit for the Fatherland Order of the Badge of Honour Order of Honour and Glory of Abkhazia

Hazret Medzhidovich Sovmen (Adyghe: Шъэумэн Хьазрэт [ʂawman ħaːzrat]; Russian: Хазре́т Меджи́дович Совмен; born May 1, 1937) was the second President of the Republic of Adygea, Russia, having succeeded Aslan Dzharimov at the post. Sovmen is a university professor from Maykop. Before becoming President, Hazret Sovmen had been a successful businessman (with links to Russian entrepreneurs in Siberia), having started off as a bulldozer driver in a gold mine in Chukotka. He is the founder of Polyus Gold, Russia's leading gold-mining company.

Early life

Sovmen was born in the aul of Afipsip in Takhtamukaysky District of Adyghe Autonomous Oblast in the Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. He did his military service in the Black Sea Fleet and graduated from the Saint Petersburg Mining Institute. He started working at a gold mine in Chukota in 1961 and also worked on mines in the Krasnoyarsk Krai and Magadan Oblast. He became manager of the Polyus Mine in 1981. During his time as president, he was the only regional head without any spouse.

Political career

Sovmen was elected to the office of President on January 13, 2002 by direct suffrage. He was faced with the challenges of leading one of a Russia's poorest republics, officially declared bankrupt by the Government of Russia. Sovmen was involved in political activities with the Slavic people Union, Adygeya's principal opposition party. Russian president Vladimir Putin is believed to have supported Sovmen. In 1997, Russian President Yeltsin awarded him with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland 3rd class. On January 13, 2007 he was succeeded as Adygean President by Aslan Tkhakushinov.

He is a member of the United Russia party.

Personal life

Sovmen's interests include hunting and fishing.

References

Preceded by Aslan Dzharimov

President of the Republic of Adygea 8 February 2002 – 13 January 2007

Succeeded by Aslan Tkhakushinov