1. Early Life and Background
Valery Vladimirovich Kan's early life was shaped by his birth in the Soviet Union and his family's heritage.
1.1. Birth and Family Background
Kan was born on August 21, 1978, in Tashkent, then part of the Uzbek SSR in the Soviet Union, which is now Uzbekistan. He was born to Koryo-saram parents, a term referring to ethnic Koreans in the post-Soviet states.
1.2. Move to Ussuriysk
In 1994, Kan and his parents relocated from Tashkent to Ussuriysk, a city located in Primorsky Krai, Russia.
2. Political Career
Valery Vladimirovich Kan's political journey saw him rise through local and regional governmental bodies within Russia.
2.1. Entry into Politics
Kan formally entered the political arena in 2003, when he became affiliated with the United Russia party, one of the dominant political parties in Russia.
2.2. Local Political Activities
Following his entry into politics, Kan was elected as a deputy of the urban Duma of Ussuriysk. At the time of his election, he was 25 years old, making him the youngest member of that legislative body.
2.3. Regional Political Activities
Building on his local political experience, Kan was elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Primorsky Krai in 2007. This position marked his progression to a regional level of governance within the Russian Federation.
3. Major Activities and Projects
Throughout his public career, Valery Vladimirovich Kan undertook various initiatives, particularly focusing on international economic relations.
3.1. Activities to Promote Economic Cooperation
Valery Vladimirovich Kan has been actively involved in efforts to foster and promote economic ties and cooperation between the city of Ussuriysk in Russia and South Korea. These activities aimed to strengthen bilateral economic relations and potentially facilitate trade and investment opportunities.
4. Controversies
Valery Vladimirovich Kan's public career has included at least one significant incident that garnered media attention and led to controversy.
4.1. Soulfly Incident
On April 29, 2005, Valery Vladimirovich Kan was involved in an incident on a flight from Moscow to Vladivostok that drew accusations from the Brazilian heavy metal band Soulfly. The band alleged that Kan, while reportedly intoxicated, harassed Roxanne, the stepdaughter of Soulfly's lead singer Max Cavalera. According to reports, Kan approached Roxanne and her mother as they were boarding the plane, which led to a dispute. Personnel associated with Soulfly subsequently contacted the police. However, when law enforcement officers arrived, they were reportedly unable to intervene in the altercation due to Kan's status as an elected official, which granted him immunity from arrest. Kan, in his defense, asserted to journalists that his intention was merely to engage in a friendly conversation. Following this incident, Soulfly publicly cited the encounter as the reason behind their decision to cancel their scheduled concert in Vladivostok that same evening.