Evgeny Kovalenko
Evgeny Kovalenko | |
|---|---|
Kovalenko in 2025 | |
| Minister of Justice | |
| Assumed office 22 April 2024 | |
| President | Alexander Lukashenko |
| Prime Minister | Roman Golovchenko |
| Preceded by | Sergei Khomenko |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 June 1980 |
| Education | |
| Awards | Medal "For Labour Merits" |
Evgeny Iosifovich Kovalenko (Russian: Евгений Иосифович Коваленко; born 26 June 1980) is a Belarusian politician serving as minister of justice since 2024.[1] From 2014 to 2015, he served as deputy minister of justice.[2]
Early life and education
Evgeny Kovalenko was born on 26 June 1980 in Borzya, Russian SFSR, into a military family.[2][3]
In 2002, he obtained a law degree from Belarusian State Economic University. Three years later, he obtained an English language degree from Minsk State Linguistic University. In 2008, he obtained a PhD in law by defending a thesis titled "Protection of foreign investments in Belarus in accordance with international treaties". His final degree was from the Academy of Public Administration in 2012.[2]
Career
Kovalenko started his career as a marketer in Bobruisk in 2002. Upon obtaining a law degree two years later, he moved to the Ministry of Justice. There Kovalenko worked at the department for regulatory activities, rising to the position of head of the division that worked on civil, ecological, and foreign economic relations. Before his departure from the Ministry, Kovalenko spent one year as head of the department of legal review.[3]
In 2010, Kovalenko was appointed as the deputy head of the legal department of the Administration of the President. He briefly returned to the Ministry in 2014 to serve as deputy head and was appointed chairman of the National Center of Legal Information in 2015. In 2020, he returned to the Administration of the President to serve as head of the legal department.[3]
On 22 April 2024, Kovalenko was appointed as the Minister of Justice of Belarus. Alexander Lukashenko, commenting on the appointment, said that Kovalenko already performed similar functions at the Administration. First Deputy Head of the Administration Maxim Ryzhenkov praised him for his speedy handling of legal issues in 2020.[1] Kovalenko was introduced as the new minister by the First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov.[4] Kovalenko said that in his role he would continue enforcement of the constitutional amendments adopted in 2022.[5]
Kovalenko serves as Deputy Head of the Belarusian Lawyers Union.[5]
Personal life
Evgeny Kovaleno is married and has two children.[2]
Awards
- Medal "For Labour Merits" (Belarus, 2021)[6]
References
- ^ a b "Lukashenko to new Justice Minister: unreliable person won't be able to work there". Belarus Today. 22 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Многодетный отец родом из Читы. Что известно о новом министре юстиции Евгении Коваленко" [A father of many children, a native of Chita. What is known about the new minister of justice, Evgeny Kovalenko?]. Nasha Niva (in Russian). 22 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Лукашенко назначил нового министра юстиции" [Lukashenko appointed a new minister of justice]. BelTA (in Russian). 22 April 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ^ "Важно работать над простотой и однозначностью прочтения и исполнения юридических документов – Снопков" ["It's important to work on the simplicity and unambiguous interpretation and execution of legal documents," said Snopkov]. Belarus Today (in Russian). 22 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Минюст нацелен на дальнейшее приведение законодательства в соответствии с Конституцией" [The Ministry of Justice is focused on further bringing legislation into compliance with the Constitution]. Belarus Today (in Russian). 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Аб узнагароджанні" [On awarding]. pravo.by (in Belarusian). President of Belarus. 23 December 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024.