Roman Yevgenyevich Konoplev (Russian: Роман Евгеньевич Коноплёв, Romanian: Roman Conopliov) is a Russian and Transnistrian political and public figure, strategist, publicist, writer, now resident in Portugal.[1]
Roman Konoplev | |
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![]() Roman Konoplev. Lisbon. December 22, 2013 | |
Born | Roman Yevgenyevich Konoplev (1973-09-04) September 4, 1973 (age 48) Pochep, Bryansk Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
Nationality | Russian |
Citizenship | Soviet (1973–1991) Russian (1992–present) Transnistrian (2001–present) Portuguese (2019–present) |
Alma mater | International Institute of Economics and Law Bryansk State Technical University |
Occupation | politician, political analyst, strategist, publicist, writer |
Years active | 1992–present |
Spouse(s) | Dina Konopleva |
Roman Konoplev was born on September 4, 1973 in Bryansk Oblast, Russian SFSR to the family of a Soviet engineers. In 1978 Roman and his parents moved to the town of Dnestrovsc, Moldavian SSR. In October 1992 he moved to Russia.
He graduated from International Institute of Economics and Law in Moscow in 1996, with a bachelor's degree in Constitutional law. He earned an engineer's degree in IT in 2003 from Bryansk State Technical University.
Russian conservative social and political journalism just before the USSR fell apart played a significant role when Konoplev's political view was being formed. Political consequences of military conflict in Moldova, as well as human rights violations in the republics of the former Soviet Union, were a sort of arguments for Konoplev to become member of the opposition to Boris Eltsin.[2]
On May 9, 1993 Roman Konoplev became a member of the Russia's opposition movement. On September 24, 1993 Roman joined the defenders of the House of Councils who formed Militia commandant's platoon of the Russian Supreme Council. He left the House of Councils together with other defenders on the day of the attack on October 4, 1993 at 5 p.m.
In the December 2000 he took part in the Bryansk local elections.
His career as a publicist started at the age of 16 (his first publication was in the newspaper "Power engineer"). Since 1998 Konoplev cooperated with Russian analytical Internet portals of the National Strategy Institute "APN", "Russian Journal", etc.
Roman Konoplev was the political columnist of the weekly "Dnestrovsky Courier" (2002-2008) in Transnistria (also known as Pridnestrovie). He was the editor and columnist of news agency "Lenta PMR" (2004-2008). Editor of newspaper "Russian Proriv!" (2007-2008), also he was a strategist and political adviser.[3]
In 2006 Roman Konoplev travelled in Scandinavia. Hid sketch book "Norwegian papers", first published in Russia, was later reprinted by several foreign media.
Roman Konoplev was the owner and editor of news agency "DNIESTER" (2009-2017).[4][5][6][7] He also acquired Portuguese citizenship by naturalization.
Konoplev was called "Transnistrian Goebbels" and "ideologist of Transnistrian separatism"[8] by governmental Media of Moldova when Vladimir Voronin was the president of the country. After Moldavian Communist Party was removed from power in 2009 Konoplev was also criticized by communists of Moldova and Transnistria who accused him of separatism, "attempts to rend Moldavia away from Russia" and of "libel on Transnistrian people" and of "sympathizing with Mihai Ghimpu".[9]
Nicolae Dabija, chief editor of Chisinau newspaper "Literatura şi Arta", accused Roman Konoplev of Russian chauvinism.[10] In particular, Dabija said: "I think that it is necessary to recall his accreditation and to expel him from the Republic of Moldova".[11]
In his article, published in the governmental Transnistrian information agency "Olvia Press", political analyst V. Nikitin, characterized Konoplev's views as "right" and "pro-European". The article claims: "In Konoplev's opinion, to become a successful country Transnistria has to overcome Soviet era heritage, to demount monuments to Lenin, to clamp down communist parties and governmental media, to introduce private land ownership, to bring liberal economy with the help of European Union and to introduce European-based legal system. Konoplev, like Moldavian politician Oazu Nantoi, has his own three "D" – "deradicalization, demilitarization and desovietization of information stream". It means that the author of the report wants to say that any mentioning of Transnistria as "USSR fraction" and "Russian empire fortress" should disappear from information streams and at the same time the information has to become more tolerant to EU politicies… The proposal to demount monuments to Lenin and to clamp down communist organizations do not much comport with European practice, but smells like Mihai Ghimpu and extremism…".[12]
Moldavian analysts have an opinion that Konoplev is the popularizer of supporting radical pro-Romanian dynamics in Moldova, so that Transnistria will get recognition as soon as possible. The article also says that Konoplev is promoting a very unpopular scenario in Transnistria – "the building of absolutely independent state, a characterful "Transnistrian Switzerland". After Valeriy Litskay, ex-foreign minister of Transnistria left his position, this idea had not many supporters in Transnistria, with the exception of outcasts such as Roman Konoplev. Most people understand that Transnistria won't have a chance to survive as an independent state especially introducing multiple-vector policies".[13]
Roman Konoplev is the author of novels "The Gospel according to extremist",[14][15] "Dromomania" and "Defeat".
Married.
His interests focus on such fields as: constitutional law, economics, ethno-politics, unrecognized states, media wars.
Roman Konoplev is the author of more than 500 journalistic and op-ed pieces.