Index Kl-Ky

Klaauw

Klasnic

Klaauw, Chris(toph Albert) van der (b. Aug. 13, 1924, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands - d. March 16, 2005, The Hague), foreign minister of the Netherlands (1977-81). He was afterwards ambassador to Belgium (1981-86) and Portugal (1986-89).

Klaic, Marijan (b. June 23, 1963, Donja Mahala, near Orasje, Bosnia and Herzegovina), premier of Posavina (2015-19).

Klak, Jan (b. Sept. 19, 1942, Podivín, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), finance minister of Czechoslovakia (1992).

Klarner, Czeslaw (Romuald) (b. Feb. 7, 1872, Plonsk, Poland - d. June 23, 1957, Warsaw, Poland), finance minister of Poland (1925, 1926). He was also minister of industry and commerce (1925).

Klasnic, Waltraud, née Tschiltsch, name by adoption Mlinaritsch (b. Oct. 27, 1945, Graz, Steiermark, Austria), Landeshauptmann of Steiermark (1996-2005).

Klassen, E(lmer) T(heodore) (b. 1908, Hillsboro, Kan. - d. March 6, 1990, Palm Harbor, Fla.), U.S. postmaster general (1972-75).

Klassou

Klassou, Komi Selom (b. Feb. 10, 1960, Notsé, Togo), prime minister of Togo (2015-20). He was also minister of culture, youth, and sports (2000-03) and primary and secondary education (2003-07).

J. Klaus

Klaus, Josef (b. Aug. 15, 1910, Mauthen, Kärnten, Austria - d. July 25, 2001, Vienna), chancellor of Austria (1964-70). He began his political career as Landeshauptmann of Salzburg (1949-61), then became finance minister (1961-63). As chairman (1963-70) of the centre-right Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), he governed in an uneasy coalition with the Socialist Party for two years (1964-66), but after the ÖVP won a narrow parliamentary majority in 1966, he served at the head of the country's first post-World War II single-party government (1966-70). He was notable for his financial reforms and for forging improved ties with Western European nations. He focused much of his energy on securing a free trade agreement with the European Community. This was not realized until 1972, when Austria gained associate membership status with the Community, but it was largely his sustained efforts that wore down resistance among the Socialist opposition. His frequent meetings with other members of the European Free Trade Association also helped to clear the way for Austria's inclusion. Klaus also reached a détente with Italy in 1970 over the question of South Tirol, which has been under Italian rule since 1919, guaranteeing the linguistic and cultural rights of its German-speaking Austrian population. At the same time, Klaus maintained good relations with countries in Eastern Europe. He met Tito in Yugoslavia and through visits to Hungary and Romania helped to bring about the relaxation of the border curbs that had been in place since 1945, leading to increased trade and tourism. Klaus was criticized, though, for his unwillingness to pursue former Nazis. His chancellorship ended in 1970 when the Socialists gained a narrow electoral victory.

V. Klaus

Klaus, Václav (b. June 19, 1941, Prague, Bohemia and Moravia [now in Czech Republic]), prime minister (1992-97) and president (2003-13) of the Czech Republic. He started his political career after the end of Communist rule and became finance minister of Czechoslovakia in December 1989. In October 1991, he was also appointed deputy prime minister of the federation. In October 1990, he became chairman of what was then the strongest political entity in the country, the Civic Forum. After its demise in April 1991, he co-founded the Civic Democratic Party, and was its chairman from the outset until December 2002. He won the parliamentary elections with this party in 1992 and became prime minister of the Czech Republic. In this position he took part in the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia and the establishment of an independent Czech Republic (Jan. 1, 1993). As a proponent of a "market economy without adjectives," he oversaw radical economic reforms. In 1996, he successfully defended his position as prime minister in the elections to the Chamber of Deputies, but he resigned after the breakup of the government coalition in November 1997. After the early elections of 1998, which brought the Social Democrats to power, he became speaker of the Chamber of Deputies for a four-year term. In 2003 he was elected as the second president of the Czech Republic, succeeding his longtime rival Václav Havel. He often polarized Czech society as a vociferous right-wing conservative, notably by his positions on the EU and on climate change. Days before he left office, the Senate - largely symbolically - accused him of high treason. In January 2013 he had freed more than 6,000 prison inmates and halted the prosecutions of some prominent business executives and officials who were charged with fraud. Czechs across the country, which has grappled with endemic corruption, reacted with anger, tearing his portrait from the walls of schools and offices.

Klauson, Valter (Ivanovich) (b. Jan. 2, 1914 [Dec. 20, 1913, O.S.], in present Tolmachevo, Leningrad oblast, Russia - d. Dec. 5, 1988, Tallinn, Estonian S.S.R.), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Estonian S.S.R. (1961-84). He was also minister of automobile transport and highways (1953-54) and first deputy premier (1954-61).

Klebanov

Klebanov, Ilya (Iosifovich) (b. May 7, 1951, Leningrad, Russian S.F.S.R. [now St. Petersburg, Russia]), plenipotentiary of the president in Severo-Zapadny federal district (2003-11). He was a deputy prime minister (1999-2002) and minister of industry, science, and technology (2001-03) of Russia.

Klebelsberg de Thumburg, Kunó (Imre Aurél Ferenc) gróf (b. Nov. 13, 1875, Magyarpécska, Hungary [now part of Pecica, Romania] - d. Oct. 11, 1932, Budapest, Hungary), interior minister of Hungary (1921-22). He was also minister of religion and education (1922-31).

Kleemola, Kauno (Antero) (b. July 5, 1906, Kelviå [now part of Kokkola], Finland - d. March 12, 1965, Kannus, Finland), defense minister of Finland (1953). He was also minister of commerce and industry (1956-57) and transport and public works (1959-62), deputy prime minister (1961), and speaker of parliament (1962-65).

Kleffens

Kleffens, Eelco (Nicolaas) van (b. Nov. 17, 1894, Heerenveen, Friesland, Netherlands - d. June 17, 1983, Almocageme, near Sintra, Portugal), foreign minister of the Netherlands (1939-46). A career diplomat, he worked with the League of Nations and joined the Dutch foreign ministry in 1922. He was appointed foreign minister in August 1939 and retained the post after escaping to Britain following the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940. During this time, though a strong advocate of the Atlantic alliance, he defended the rights of European nations to order their own affairs under any postwar settlement. In 1946-47 he was minister without portfolio and in 1947 he was appointed ambassador to Washington and also served as the Netherlands' representative at the UN. He was president of the UN General Assembly in 1954-55. He served as ambassador to Portugal (1950-56), representative (1956-58) at NATO and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and then as representative (1958-67) in London of the European Coal and Steel Community. After his retirement he went to live in Portugal.

Kleib, Hasan, Indonesian diplomat. He was chargé d'affaires (2009-10) and permanent representative (2010-11) to the United Nations.

Klein, Christian Sophus (b. Aug. 17, 1824, Copenhagen, Denmark - d. Jan. 9, 1900, Copenhagen), justice minister of Denmark (1872-75). He was also minister for Iceland (1874-75).

Klein, Jacques Paul (b. 1939, Colmar, Alsace, France), UN administrator of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Sirmium (1996-97). A retired major general of the United States Air Force, he was also head of the UN missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1999-2002) and Liberia (2003-05).

Klein, Ralph (Phillip) (b. Nov. 1, 1942, Calgary, Alta. - d. March 29, 2013, near Calgary), mayor of Calgary (1980-89) and premier of Alberta (1992-2006).

Klein, Roberto Pinheiro (b. Dec. 19, 1926 - d. July 11, 2015), governor of Roraima (1987-88).

Kleindienst, Richard G(ordon) (b. Aug. 5, 1923, near Winslow, Ariz. - d. Feb. 3, 2000, Prescott, Ariz.), U.S. attorney general (1972-73). In 1953, he became the youngest member of the Arizona state House of Representatives. A member of a group of Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater's supporters known as the "Arizona Mafia," he became national director of field operations of the Goldwater for President Committee. After helping win Goldwater's nomination in 1964, he resigned from the senator's staff to mount his own campaign for the governorship of Arizona but was defeated by Democrat Sam Goddard. He resumed his political activities in 1966, when he directed John R. Williams' successful bid for the governorship. He assisted with Richard Nixon's presidential campaign in 1968, then stayed on as deputy attorney general, eventually replacing Attorney General John Mitchell, who left in 1972 to head the Committee to Re-elect the President - the organization at the heart of Watergate. He was sworn in in June 1972, just before the incident at Democratic headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington. Less than a year into his term, he resigned amid allegations that White House staffers were trying to obstruct justice in the investigation of the widening scandal. He stepped down (April 1973) along with aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman and White House counsel John Dean. Kleindienst denied any knowledge of the scandal. He never spoke to Nixon again. He pleaded guilty - an act he said he regretted - in 1974 to a misdemeanour charge for failing to fully testify at his Senate confirmation hearing about the so-called ITT affair, a major scandal that came shortly before the Watergate break-in. He was sentenced to 30 days and a $100 fine, and both were suspended.

Kleine, Norman, finance and planning minister of Suriname (1985).

Kleiner

Kleiner(-Schläpfer), Marianne, née Schläpfer (b. May 29, 1947, Gossau, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland), Landammann of Appenzell Ausserrhoden (1997-2000) and acting president of the Liberal-Democratic Party of Switzerland (2004-05).

Kleinubing, Vilson Pedro (b. Sept. 9, 1944, Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - d. Oct. 23, 1998, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil), governor of Santa Catarina (1991-94). He was also mayor of Blumenau (1989-90).

Kleis

Kleist

Kleis, Birgit (b. Nov. 3, 1956, Hellerup, Denmark), high commissioner of the Faeroe Islands (2001-05).

Kleist, (Jakob Edvard) Kuupik (Vandersee) (Vandersee is wife's name added on marriage in 2012) (b. March 31, 1958, Qullissat, Greenland), prime minister of Greenland (2009-13). He was also minister of housing (1991-92) and public works and transport (1992-95).

Klemencic, Goran (b. May 28, 1972, Kranj, Slovenia), justice minister of Slovenia (2014-18).

Klemencic, Vlado, byname of Vladimir Klemencic (b. July 10, 1926, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia [now in Slovenia]), finance minister of Yugoslavia (1983-86).

Kleppa, Magnhild Meltveit (b. Nov. 12, 1948, Fister, Rogaland, Norway), governor of Rogaland (2013-19). She was also Norwegian minister of social affairs (1997-2000), local government and regional development (2007-09), and transport and communications (2009-12).

Kleppe, Johan (b. Sept. 29, 1928, Bjørnskinn [now part of Andøy municipality], Nordland, Norway - d. May 17, 2022), defense minister of Norway (1972-73).

Kleppe, Per (Andreas Hildhe) (b. April 13, 1923, Oslo, Norway - d. March 10, 2021), finance minister of Norway (1973-79) and secretary-general of the European Free Trade Association (1981-88). He was also minister of commerce and shipping (1971-72).

Klepsch, Egon (Alfred) (b. Jan. 30, 1930, Podmokly [Bodenbach], Czechoslovakia [now part of Decín, Czech Republic] - d. Sept. 17/18, 2010, Koblenz, Germany), president of the European Parliament (1992-94).

Klerck, Jonkheer Guillaume Jean Gérard (b. Feb. 13, 1825, Liége, Netherlands [now Liège, Belgium] - d. Jan. 17, 1884, The Hague, Netherlands), war minister of the Netherlands (1876). He was also minister of water management, trade, and industry (1879-83).

Kleshchov, Aleksey (Yefimovich) (b. Feb. 25 [Feb. 12, O.S.], 1905, Mikhnovich, Minsk province, Russia [now in Belarus] - d. Dec. 13, 1968, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Belorussian S.S.R. (1948-53). He was also first secretary of the party committees of Pinsk (1944-46), Polotsk (1946-48), and Kokchetav (1955-60) oblasti.

Klestil

Klestil, Thomas (b. Nov. 4, 1932, Vienna - d. July 6, 2004, Vienna), president of Austria (1992-2004). He became an economic adviser to the government in 1957. His political career began in earnest in 1959 when he became a member of the Austrian delegation to the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). He went on to work in Austria's embassy in Washington in 1962 but came back in 1966 to serve as secretary to Chancellor Josef Klaus, before returning to the United States as consul-general in Los Angeles (1969-74). In 1978 he became ambassador to the United Nations in New York, before returning to Washington as ambassador in 1982. From 1987 until his nomination for the presidency by the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) in 1992, he served as secretary-general for foreign affairs - the highest-ranking diplomat in Austria's Foreign Ministry. He was elected president with 56.9% of the vote in 1992 and with 63.4% in 1998. He restored the country's credibility following revelations that predecessor Kurt Waldheim served in Germany's Nazi military. He spoke out numerous times against Austria's Nazi complicity during World War II, expressing sympathy for Holocaust victims during a visit to Israel in November 1994. He was opposed to letting the rightist Freedom Party (FPÖ) join the ÖVP in forming a coalition government in 2000; he backed off, but front-page photos of a stone-faced Klestil swearing in members of the FPÖ to government posts spoke volumes about his opposition to letting those linked to anti-foreigner and past anti-Jewish sentiment share government responsibility. He died two days before the end of his second term.

Kleygels, Nikolay (Vasilyevich) (b. Dec. 7 [Nov. 25, O.S.], 1850, St. Petersburg, Russia - d. Aug. 2 [July 20, O.S.], 1916, Petrograd [St. Petersburg]), governor-general of Kiev, Podolia, and Volyn (1904-05).

Kleynmikhel, Graf Pyotr (Andreyevich) (b. Dec. 11 [Nov. 30, O.S.], 1793, St. Petersburg, Russia - d. Feb. 15 [Feb. 3, O.S.], 1869, St. Petersburg), Russian official. He was head of the Chief Administration of Communications and Public Buildings (1842-55). He became Graf (count) in 1839.

Klibi, Chedli, Arabic al-Shadhili al-Qilibi (b. Sept. 6, 1925, Tunis, Tunisia - d. May 13, 2020, Carthage, Tunisia), secretary-general of the Arab League (1979-90). He was cultural affairs minister (1961-70, 1971-73, 1976-78) and information minister (1961-64, 1966-69, 1971-73, 1978-79) of Tunisia and mayor of Carthage (1963-90).

Klich, Bogdan (Adam) (b. May 8, 1960, Kraków, Poland), defense minister of Poland (2007-11).

Klickovic

Klima

Klickovic, Gojko (b. March 25, 1955, Bosanska Krupa, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia), prime minister of the Republika Srpska (1996-98).

Klikovac, Uros (b. 1935, Bijelo Polje, near Podgorica, Yugoslavia [now in Montenegro] - d. 2004), justice minister of Yugoslavia (1994-96).

Klima, Viktor (b. June 4, 1947, Vienna, Austria), finance minister (1996-97) and chancellor (1997-2000) of Austria. He was also minister of public economy and transport (1992-96) and chairman of the Social Democratic Party (1997-2000).

Klimas, Petras (b. Feb. 23, 1891, Kusliskiai, Russia [now in Lithuania] - d. Jan. 16, 1969, Kaunas, Lithuanian S.S.R.), acting foreign minister of Lithuania (1921). He was also minister to Italy (1923-25) and France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, and Portugal (1925-40).

Kliment, secular name Vasil (Nikolov) Drumev (b. Dec. 5 [Nov. 23, O.S.], 1841, Sumnu, Ottoman Empire [now Shumen, Bulgaria] - d. July 23 [July 10, O.S.], 1901, Sofia, Bulgaria), prime minister (1879-80, 1886) and regent (1886) of Bulgaria. Besides being known as a writer, he was also education minister (1879-80) and Orthodox metropolitan of Turnovo (1884-1901).

Klimkin

Klimmt

Klimkin, Pavlo (Anatoliyovych) (b. Dec. 25, 1967, Kursk, Russian S.F.S.R.), foreign minister of Ukraine (2014-19). He was ambassador to Germany in 2012-14.

Klimmt, Reinhard (b. Aug. 16, 1942, Berlin, Germany), minister-president of Saarland (1998-99). He was also German minister of transportation and construction (1999-2000).

Klimov, Ivan (Frolovich) (b. Sept. 10, 1903, Kostyukovka, Mogilyov province, Russia [now in Belarus] - d. Oct. 9, 1991, Minsk, Belarus), deputy chairman (1968-74) and joint acting chairman (1971) of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Belorussian S.S.R. He was also first secretary of the party committees of Vileyka/Molodechno (1940-51) and Baranovichi (1952-53) oblasti, first deputy premier (1953-62), minister of food reserves (1961), and a deputy premier (1962-68).

Klímová, Rita, née Budínová (b. Dec. 10, 1931, Iasi, Romania - d. Dec. 30, 1993, Prague, Czech Republic), Czechoslovak diplomat; wife (1956-67) of Zdenek Mlynár. She was a prominent figure in the 1989 "velvet revolution" (she coined the term) and ambassador to the United States (1990-92).

Klimovski

Klimovski, Savo (b. June 13, 1947, Skopje, Macedonia [now North Macedonia]), acting president of Macedonia (1999). He was speaker of the Sobranie (parliament) in 1998-2000.

Kling, (Erik) Herman (b. July 12, 1913, Västanfors, Västmanland, Sweden - d. June 13, 1985), justice minister of Sweden (1959-69). He was also Swedish ambassador to Denmark (1969-73) and Portugal (1973-79).

Klingenberg, Aleksandr (Mikhailovich) (b. 1865 - d. June 13 [May 31, O.S.], 1909, Yekaterinoslav, Russia [now Dnipro, Ukraine]), governor of Yekaterinoslav (1906-09); son of Mikhail Klingenberg; brother of Nikolay Klingenberg.

Klingenberg, Mikhail (Karlovich) (b. Sept. 21 [Sept. 9, O.S.], 1821, St. Petersburg, Russia - d. Dec. 15 [Dec. 3, O.S.], 1873, St. Petersburg), governor of Ryazan (1858-59) and Vyatka (1859-63).

Klingenberg, Nikolay (Mikhailovich) (b. Feb. 15 [Feb. 3, O.S.], 1853 - d. May 15 [May 2, O.S.], 1917, Petrograd [now St. Petersburg], Russia), governor of Kovno (1890-96), Vyatka (1896-1901), Vladimir (1901-02), and Mogilyov (1902-05); son of Mikhail Klingenberg.

Klingenberg, Odd (Sverressøn) (b. June 8, 1871, Trondhjem [now Trondheim], Norway - d. Nov. 3, 1944, Trondheim), governor of Sør-Trøndelag (1921-40) and acting justice minister of Norway (1923). He was also mayor of Trondhjem (1911-16) and minister of social affairs (1920-21, 1923-24).

Klingspor, Wilhelm Mauritz greve (b. Dec. 7, 1744, Karlstorp socken, Jönköping, Sweden - d. May 15, 1814, Stockholm, Sweden), governor of Stockholm city (1809-10). He was raised from friherre (baron) to greve (count) in 1799.

Klinte, Bent (b. May 1, 1939, Humble, Denmark - d. July 16, 2021), high commissioner of the Faeroe Islands (1988-95).

Klinteberg, Wilhelm friherre af (b. March 15, 1759, Härslöv, Malmöhus [now in Skåne], Sweden - d. June 19, 1829, Malmö, Sweden), governor of Malmöhus (1812-29). He was ennobled in 1807 and made friherre (baron) in 1815.

G. Kliridis

Kliridis, Glafkos (Ioannou), also spelled Glafkos Klerides, or Glafcos Clerides (b. April 24, 1919, Nicosia, Cyprus - d. Nov. 15, 2013, Nicosia), president of Cyprus (1993-2003). He was a gunner in the British Royal Air Force when his plane was shot down over Germany in 1942 during a bomber raid on Hamburg. He was taken prisoner, escaped twice, but was recaptured and remained interned until 1945. He broke ranks with his father, Ioannis Kliridis, who ran against Archbishop Makarios, the island's first president, in 1960. Kliridis managed Makarios's election campaign and became the first president of the House of Representatives after independence (1960-76). In that role, he deputized for Makarios from July to December 1974 while Makarios was exiled abroad after the Greek-led coup that provoked the Turkish invasion of the northern third of the island. His close relations with Makarios cooled when critics accused Kliridis of overstepping his authority. He founded the right-wing Democratic Rally party in 1976, leading it from strength to strength until it became the largest party in parliament. Seen as a moderate right-winger, he was worshipped by his supporters. For leftists, he was the man they loved to hate. Leftists would never forgive him for harbouring right-wingers in his party who they accused of involvement in the 1974 coup. An affable, sharp-witted politician who loves to tell jokes, he was widely regarded as the best match for Rauf Denktas, the Turkish Cypriot leader in the north, who was known as a fierce defender of his community's independence. Kliridis was a staunch supporter of the island's unity under a federal umbrella. But his administration forged closer defense ties to Greece, ordered surface-to-air missiles from Russia which Turkey strongly opposed, and built a new western military airbase.

Kliridis, Takis (b. Aug. 21, 1951, Nicosia, Cyprus), finance minister of Cyprus (1999-2003).

Kljusev

Kljusev, Nikola (b. Oct. 2, 1927, Stip, Yugoslavia [now in North Macedonia] - d. Jan. 16, 2008, Skopje, Macedonia [now North Macedonia]), prime minister (1991-92) and defense minister (1998-2000) of Macedonia.

Klobuchar, Amy (Jean) (b. May 25, 1960, Plymouth, Minn.), U.S. politician. She has been a senator from Minnesota (2007- ) and a candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

Klobukowski, Antony (Wladislas) (b. Sept. 23, 1855, Auxerre, Yonne, France - d. April 24, 1934, Paris, France), governor-general of French Indochina (1908-11); son-in-law of Paul Bert. He was also French minister to Siam (1901-03), Peru (1903-06), Ethiopia (1907-08), and Belgium (1911-18).

Klochkov, Igor (Yevgenyevich) (b. July 30, 1939, Rostov-na-Donu, Russian S.F.S.R.), Russian politician. He was chairman of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (1990-93).

Klochkova, Valentina (Alekseyevna) (b. Aug. 17, 1924, Sorochino, Belorussian S.S.R. [now in Vitsebsk voblasts, Belarus]), joint acting chairwoman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Belorussian S.S.R. (1967-68, 1971).

Klofác, Václav (b. Sept. 21, 1868, Nemecký Brod, Austria [now in Czech Republic] - d. July 10, 1942, Dobríkov, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), defense minister of Czechoslovakia (1918-20). He was also chairman of the Senate (1926).

Klompé, Marga(retha Albertina Maria) (b. Aug. 16, 1912, Arnhem, Netherlands - d. Oct. 28, 1986, The Hague, Netherlands), Dutch politician. The first woman to serve as a minister in the Dutch government, she was minister of social work (1956-63), acting minister of education, arts, and sciences (1961-62, 1963), and minister of culture, recreation, and social work (1966-71).

Klose, Hans-Ulrich (b. June 14, 1937, Breslau, Germany [now Wroclaw, Poland] - d. Sept. 6, 2023), first mayor of Hamburg (1974-81) and president of the Bundesrat (1979-80).

Klotz, Louis Lucien (b. Jan. 1, 1868, Paris, France - d. June 15, 1930, Paris), finance minister (1910-11, 1911-13, 1917-20) and interior minister (1913) of France.

Klug, Gerald (b. Nov. 13, 1968, Graz, Austria), defense minister of Austria (2013-16). He was also minister of transport, innovation, and technology (2016).

Klusák, Milan (b. June 8, 1923, Starec, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic] - d. Nov. 19, 1992, Prague, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), Czechoslovak politician. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1965-68) and culture minister of the Czech Socialist Republic (1973-88).

Klushin, Pavel (Nikolayevich) (b. 1814, Oryol province, Russia - d. Oct. 4, 1886, St. Petersburg, Russia), governor of Perm (1854-55), Volyn (1855-56), Vitebsk (1858-61), and Kherson (1861-68); son-in-law of Knyaz Pyotr Gorchakov.

Klutse

Klutse, Kwassi (b. July 29, 1945, Agbélouvé [now in Zio prefecture], Togo - d. May 19, 2024), prime minister of Togo (1996-99). He was also minister of planning and territorial development (1995-96).

Klutznick

Klutznick, Philip M(orris) (b. July 9, 1907, Kansas City, Mo. - d. Aug. 14, 1999, Chicago, Ill.), U.S. commerce secretary (1980-81). He took a job supervising slum clearance and urban renewal in Omaha, Neb., then moved on to become assistant U.S. attorney general for public lands to fulfill some of the same tasks. During World War II, Klutznick was in charge of building temporary housing for defense workers, and his hastily assembled self-contained towns housed scientists and engineers developing the atomic bomb in Oak Ridge, Tenn. In Chicago, Klutznick developed one of the early post-World War II suburbs for returning American soldiers looking for low-priced homes. He also built some of the city's most successful shopping malls, including the vertical shopping mall called Water Tower Place. A Democrat, he served in various government posts for five presidents, becoming commerce secretary in Jimmy Carter's administration in 1980. Earlier he used his financial skills to help friend and UN Ambassador Adlai Stevenson in his drive for Third World redevelopment. He also served as president of the World Jewish Congress (1977-79) and in retirement cajoled his numerous contacts to raise millions of dollars for Israel.

Kluza, Stanislaw (b. June 2, 1972, Lubliniec, Poland), finance minister of Poland (2006). He was also chairman of the Financial Supervision Authority (2006-11).

Klyavin, Kh. (D.), Latvian Klavins, president of the Pamir Bureau of the Communist Party (1926).

Klychev, Annamukhamed (b. May 10, 1912, Cheleken, Russia [now Hazar, Turkmenistan] - d. ...), chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Turkmen S.S.R. (1963-78). He was also mayor of Krasnovodsk (1951-53) and Ashkhabad (1960-63) and first secretary of the party committees of Cheleken city (1955-57) and Nebit-Dag city (1957-60).

Klychev, Chary (Bayramovich), Turkmen Çary (Baýramowiç) Gylyjow (b. 1974, Sandykgachi, Mary oblast, Turkmen S.S.R. [now Mary velayat, Turkmenistan]), a deputy prime minister of Turkmenistan (2018-22). He was also chairman of the Supreme Control Chamber (2016-18).

Klychko, Vitaliy (Volodymyrovych), in the West spelled Vitali Klitschko (b. July 19, 1971, Belovodskoye, Kirgiz S.S.R.), Ukrainian politician. Formerly a famous heavyweight boxing champion (along with his brother Volodymyr Klychko [Wladimir Klitschko]), he was elected mayor of Kiev in 2014 (reelected 2020).

Klychkov

Klychkov, Andrey (Yevgenyevich) (b. Sept. 2, 1979, Kaliningrad, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Oryol oblast (2017- ).

Klymenko, Ihor (Volodymyrovych) (b. Oct. 25, 1972, Kiev, Ukrainian S.S.R.), interior minister of Ukraine (2023- ). He was also head of the National Police (2019-23).

Klympush, Orest (Dmytrovych) (b. Feb. 14, 1941, Yasinya, Zakarpatskaya oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R. [now Zakarpattya oblast, Ukraine]), Ukrainian politician. He was minister of transport (1992-94) and ambassador to Hungary and Slovenia (1997-2002).

Klympush-Tsintsadze, Ivanna (Orestivna) (b. July 5, 1972, Kiev, Ukrainian S.S.R.), a deputy prime minister of Ukraine (2016-19); daughter of Orest Klympush.

Klyuyev, Andriy (Petrovych) (b. Aug. 12, 1964, Donetsk, Ukrainian S.S.R.), a deputy prime minister (2003-04, 2006-07) and first deputy prime minister (2010-12) of Ukraine. He was also minister of economic development and trade (2010-12), secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (2012-14), and head of the presidential administration (2014).

Kmec, Peter (b. Nov. 11, 1966, Nitra, Czechoslovakia [now in Slovakia]), Slovak diplomat/politician. He has been ambassador to Sweden (2007-12) and the United States (2012-18) and a deputy prime minister and minister of European Union subsidies and the Recovery Plan (2023- ).

Kmezic, Nikola (b. Dec. 7, 1919, Vrhovine, Yugoslavia [now in Croatia] - d. March 9, 2009, Belgrade, Serbia), chairman of the Executive Council of Vojvodina (1974-82). He was president of the Council of the Republic and Provinces (lower house) of the Federal Assembly of Yugoslavia in 1982-84.

Kmonícek, Hynek (b. Oct. 22, 1962, Pardubice, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), Czech diplomat. He has been permanent representative to the United Nations (2001-06) and ambassador to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, and Sri Lanka (2006-09), Australia (2011-13), New Zealand, Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Tonga (2012-13), the United States (2017-22), and Vietnam (2022- ).

Knackfuss

Knackfuss, Friedrich (b. Aug. 17, 1887 - d. Oct. 7, 1945), head of the civil administration of the German-occupied Channel Islands (1941-44).

Knaggs, Sir Samuel William (b. Dec. 25, 1856 - d. Dec. 31, 1924), acting commissioner of Tobago (1897); knighted 1920.

Knapen

Knapen, Ben, byname of Hubertus Petrus Maria Knapen (b. Jan. 6, 1951, Kaatsheuvel, Loon op Zand municipality, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands), foreign minister of the Netherlands (2021-22).

Knapp, Lyman E(nos) (b. Nov. 5, 1837, Somerset, Vt. - d. Oct. 9, 1904, Seattle, Wash.), governor of Alaska (1889-93).

Knappstein, Karl Heinrich (b. April 15, 1906, Bochum, Germany - d. May 6, 1989, Bad Homburg, West Germany), West German diplomat. He was ambassador to Spain (1956-58) and the United States (1962-69) and permanent observer to the United Nations (1960-62).

Knazko, Milan (b. Aug. 28, 1945, Horné Plachtince, Velký Krtís district, northern Slovakia), deputy prime minister (1992-94) and foreign minister (1992-93) of Slovakia. He was also culture minister (1998-2002) and a presidential candidate (2014).

Kneip, Richard F(rancis) (b. Jan. 7, 1933, Tyler, Minn. - d. March 9, 1987, Sioux Falls, S.D.), governor of South Dakota (1971-78). He was also U.S. ambassador to Singapore (1978-80).

Kneissl

Kneissl, Karin (b. Jan. 18, 1965, Vienna, Austria), foreign minister of Austria (2017-19).

Knezevic, Momcilo, justice minister of Montenegro (1991-92).

Knezínek, Jan (b. May 8, 1979, Jihlava, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), justice minister of the Czech Republic (2018-19).

Knight, Goodwin J(ess) (b. Dec. 9, 1896, Provo, Utah - d. May 22, 1970, Inglewood, Calif.), governor of California (1953-59).

Knight, Sir Henry Foley (b. Jan. 19, 1886 - d. July 8, 1960), acting governor of Madras (1946); knighted 1944.

K.D. Knight

Knight, Keith Desmond (St. Aubyn) (b. May 12, 1941, Brompton, Jamaica), foreign minister of Jamaica (2001-06). He was also minister of national security (1989-2001) and justice (1991-2001).

Knight, Nehemiah R(ice) (b. Dec. 31, 1780, Cranston, R.I. - d. April 20, 1854, Providence, R.I.), governor of Rhode Island (1817-21).

Knipping Victoria, Eladio (b. June 28, 1933, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic), Dominican Republic diplomat. He was ambassador of Honduras (1974-78, 2001-07), Barbados, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago (1990-95, non-resident), Haiti (1995-97), and Panama (1997-2001) and permanent representative to the OAS (1979-83, 1987-95) and the UN (1983-87).

Knoche, E(nno) Henry (b. Jan. 14, 1925, Charleston, W.Va. - d. July 9, 2010, Denver, Colo.), acting CIA director (1977). He was appointed deputy CIA director by Pres. Gerald Ford on April 22, 1976, confirmed by the Senate on June 30, and sworn in July 7. He served in that position until Aug. 1, 1977. He was acting CIA director from George Bush's departure as CIA director on Jan. 20, 1977, until Stansfield Turner was sworn in on March 9, 1977.

Knollys, Sir (Clement) Courtenay (b. March 24, 1849 - d. Dec. 16, 1905), governor of the Leeward Islands (1904-05); knighted 1897.

Knollys, Edward George William Tyrwhitt Knollys, (2nd) Viscount, Baron of Caversham (b. Jan. 16, 1895 - d. Dec. 3, 1966), governor of Bermuda (1941-43). He succeeded as viscount in 1924.

Knollys, Sir William (Thomas) (b. Aug. 1, 1797 - d. June 23, 1883, London, England), lieutenant governor of Guernsey (1854-56); knighted 1867. He was also Black Rod (1877-83).

Knorinsh, Vilgelm (Georgiyevich), Latvian Vilis Knorins (b. Aug. 29 [Aug. 17, O.S.], 1890, Ligatne, Livonia province, Russia [now in Latvia] - d. [executed] July 29, 1938), chairman (1920), executive secretary (1921-22), and first secretary (1927-28) of the Communist Party of the Belorussian S.S.R. He was also chairman of the party committee of Minsk province (1920).

Knorring, Anton (Leonard) von (b. May 24, 1853, Helsingfors [now Helsinki], Finland - d. July 21, 1926, Helsinki), governor of Mikkeli (1905-09).

Knorring, (Mats) Johan von (b. Jan. 11, 1965, Jönköping, Sweden), acting governor of Uppsala (2016).

Knotek, Ivan (b. Aug. 26, 1936, Senica, Czechoslovakia [now in Slovakia] - d. March 11?, 2020), prime minister of the Slovak Socialist Republic (1988-89). He was also a deputy premier of Czechoslovakia (1988-89).

Knott, J(ames) Proctor (b. Aug. 29, 1830, near Lebanon, Ky. - d. June 18, 1911, Lebanon), governor of Kentucky (1883-87).

Knous, William Lee (b. Feb. 2, 1889, Ouray, Colo. - d. Dec. 11, 1959, Denver, Colo.), governor of Colorado (1947-50).

T. Knowles

Knowles, Tony, byname of Anthony Carroll Knowles (b. Jan. 1, 1943, Tulsa, Okla.), governor of Alaska (1994-2002). He served in the Anchorage assembly in 1975-79 and was mayor of Anchorage in 1982-87. A Democrat, he first ran for governor in 1990, losing to Walter Hickel. In 1994, the Republican nomination went unopposed to Jim Campbell; Democrats picked Knowles over former lieutenant governor Steve McAlpine. Lieutenant Governor Jack Coghill, whose manoeuvrings got Hickel into the race in 1990, ran on the Alaska Independence ticket. Campbell started out with big leads and popular issue stands but squandered them with two foolish tactics. The first was a telephone poll which stated that Knowles supported gay marriage and adoption - though he had never done so. The second was an ad in which Campbell said, "I was watching the news last night and I noticed something - President Bill Clinton is tall, has a shy smile, good hair. Some women tell me he's really good-looking. And then I noticed Tony Knowles - tall, shy smile, good hair - same thing with women. But it doesn't stop there. Bill Clinton wants more environmental restrictions in Alaska. Tony Knowles says he thinks we need more environmental restrictions in Alaska. Coincidence? Or is this always the way it is when a guy's handsome and has good hair. Jim Campbell doesn't have good hair, but he says Tony Knowles is wrong." The "same thing with women" line was baseless innuendo, and shifted the focus from development, on which Campbell's stand was popular, to campaign tactics. Knowles surged to a big lead in polls but on election day won by only 41.1%-40.8%, with 13% for Coghill - a 536-vote margin after all the ballots were in. Knowles had huge leads in the bush and Juneau, but ran behind in urban areas. In 1998 he was reelected with 51% of the vote against a besmirched Republican nominee, John Lindauer, and a conservative Republican write-in, Robin Taylor, supported by the Republican Party. He unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004 and for governor again in 2006.

Knowles, Warren P(erley) (b. Aug. 19, 1908, River Falls, Wis. - d. May 1, 1993, Black River Falls, Wis.), governor of Wisconsin (1965-71).

Knox, Sir Geoffrey George (b. March 11, 1884, Double Bay, New South Wales - d. April 6, 1958, Carnbee, Trinidad and Tobago), president of the Commission of Government of the Saargebiet (1932-35); knighted 1935. He was also British minister to Hungary (1935-39) and ambassador to Brazil (1939-41).

Knox, Henry (b. July 25, 1750, Boston, Massachusetts Bay [now Mass.] - d. Oct. 25, 1806, Thomaston, Mass. [now in Maine]), U.S. secretary at war (1785-89) and secretary of war (1789-94).

Knox, Philander Chase (b. May 6, 1853, Brownsville, Pa. - d. Oct. 12, 1921, Washington, D.C.), U.S. attorney general (1901-04) and secretary of state (1909-13).

Knox, Stuart George (b. Oct. 7, 1869 - d. Dec. 11, 1956), British political agent in Kuwait (1904-09) and Bahrain (1910-11), political agent and consul in Muscat and Oman (1911-14), and acting political resident in the Persian Gulf (1914, 1915).

Knudsen, Dan M(ichael) (b. March 2, 1962, Vejle, Denmark), high commissioner of the Faeroe Islands (2008-17).

G. Knudsen

Knudsen, Gunnar, byname of Aanon Gunerius Knudsen (b. Sept. 19, 1848 - d. Dec. 1, 1928), finance minister (1905, 1908-10, 1919-20) and prime minister (1908-10, 1913-20) of Norway. He was also president of the Storting (1906-07, 1907, 1907, 1913-14, 1921-22) and agriculture minister (1913-19).

Knudsen, Hans R(ynkeby) (b. Nov. 12, 1903, Løgstør, Denmark - d. Nov. 4, 1962, Nykøbing Mors, Denmark), interior minister (1960-61) and finance minister (1961-62) of Denmark.

Knudsen, Kai Birger (b. June 25, 1903, Vardø, Finmarkens amt [now Finnmark fylke], Norway - d. March 3, 1977), defense minister of Norway (1954-55). He was also acting minister of justice and police (1952-54).

Knüsel, (Melchior Joseph) Martin (b. Nov. 16, 1813, Luzern, Switzerland - d. Jan. 14, 1889, Luzern), president of Switzerland (1861, 1866). He was also Schultheiss of Luzern (1853, 1855) and minister of finance (1855-56, 1862-63), trade and customs (1857, 1859-60), justice and police (1858, 1864-65, 1867-73), and interior (1874-75).

Knutsen, Konrad B(irger) (b. Sept. 21, 1925, Voss, Hordaland [now in Vestland], Norway - d. Oct. 2?, 2012), governor of Rogaland (1973-81).

Knutsson, (Marie) Helene Hellmark, née Valtersson (b. Sept. 12, 1969, Stockholm, Sweden), governor of Västerbotten (2020- ). She was also Swedish minister of higher education and research (2014-19).

Knyazev, Leonid (Mikhailovich) (b. June 21, 1851 - d. 1929), governor of Tobolsk (1896-1901), Vologda (1901-02), Kostroma (1902-05), and Courland (1905-10) and governor-general of Irkutsk (1910-16).

Knyazev, Oleg (Anatolyevich) (b. Feb. 8, 1968, Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the government of Astrakhan oblast (2021-24).

Knyazhevich, Aleksandr (Maksimovich) (b. Oct. 22 [Oct. 11, O.S.], 1792, Ufa, Russia - d. March 14 [March 2, O.S.], 1872, St. Petersburg, Russia), finance minister of Russia (1858-62).

Knyazhevich, Nikolay (Antoninovich) (b. Jan. 31 [Jan. 19, O.S.], 1871 - d. March 4, 1950, Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, Seine-et-Oise [now in Essonne], France), governor of Tavrida (1914-17); grandnephew of Aleksandr Knyazhevich.

Knyazhnin, Boris (Yakovlevich) (b. Sept. 1 [Aug. 21, O.S.], 1777 - d. April 10 [March 29, O.S.], 1854), military governor of Kiev (1829-32).

Knyazkov, Aleksandr (Lvovich) (b. Oct. 22, 1962, Yaroslavl, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the government of Yaroslavl oblast (2012-16).

Koanapo (Rasou), Johnny, finance minister of Vanuatu (2020-22, 2023).

Kobakhia, Aslan (Alekseyevich) (b. March 23, 1960, Lykhny, Gudauta rayon, Abkhaz A.S.S.R., Georgian S.S.R.), interior minister of Abkhazia (2016-17). He was also chairman of the State Customs Committee (1995-2002).

Kobakhia, Valerian (Osmanovich) (b. 1929 - d. 1992), first secretary of the Communist Party committee (1965-75) and chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1978-90) of the Abkhaz A.S.S.R.

Kobakhidze

Kobakhidze, Irakli (b. Sept. 25, 1978, Tbilisi, Georgian S.S.R.), prime minister of Georgia (2024- ). He was also speaker of parliament (2016-19) and chairman of Georgian Dream (2021-24).

Kobas, Pavo (b. April 1, 1948, Vidovice [now in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]), governor of Posavina (1996-98).

Kobayashi, Seizo (b. Oct. 1, 1877, Hiroshima prefecture, Japan - d. July 4, 1962), governor-general of Taiwan (1936-40).

Kobayashi, Takeji (b. Aug. 28, 1899, Nagano prefecture, Japan - d. Oct. 12, 1988), governor of Shizuoka (1947-51) and justice minister of Japan (1970-71). He was also minister of health and welfare (1963-64) and posts and telecommunications (1966-68).

Kobbekaduwa, Tikiri (Banda) (b. Dec. 19, 1955), governor of Central (2005-15) and Sabaragamuwa (2019-23) provinces, Sri Lanka.

Kobelt, Karl (b. Aug. 1, 1891, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland - d. Jan. 5, 1968, Bern, Switzerland), president of Switzerland (1946, 1952). He was also Landammann of Sankt Gallen (1936-37) and military minister (1941-54).

Kobia, Samuel (b. March 20, 1947, Miathene division, Meru North district, Kenya), general secretary of the World Council of Churches (2004-09). He is an ordained minister in the Methodist Church in Kenya. He has diplomas from St. Paul's United Theological Collage in Kenya and from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. He has served as general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Kenya and helped reorganize the Zimbabwe Christian Council after independence. He chaired peace talks for Sudan in 1991 and the following year headed Kenya's National Election Monitoring Unit. He also has written books on social and theological issues in Kenya and on the future of Africa. He was elected general secretary of the WCC on Aug. 28, 2003.

Kobozev, Pyotr (Alekseyevich) (b. Aug. 25 [Aug. 13, O.S.], 1878, Pesochnya [now in Ryazan oblast], Russia - d. Jan. 4, 1941, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the Central Executive Committee (1918, 1919) and chairman of the Communist Party (1919) of the Turkestan S.F.R. and chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Far-Eastern Republic (1922). He was also Russian people's commissar of communications (1918).

Kobro, Jens Isak de Lange (b. Aug. 20, 1882, Vestre Moland, Nedenes amt [now part of Lillesand, Agder fylke], Norway - d. 1967, Lillesand), defense minister of Norway (1933-35). He was also mayor of Tromsø (1929-32, 1945).

Kobylkin

Kobzev

B. Koch

Kobylkin, Dmitry (Nikolayevich) (b. July 7, 1971, Astrakhan, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Yamalo-Nenets autonomous okrug (2010-18). In 2018-20 he was Russian minister of natural resources and ecology.

Kobzev, Igor (Ivanovich) (b. Oct. 29, 1966, Voronezh, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Irkutsk oblast (2019- ).

Koc, Adam (Ignacy) (b. Aug. 31, 1891, Suwalki, Poland - d. Feb. 3, 1969, New York City), finance minister of Poland (in exile, 1939). He was also president of the Bank Polski (1936).

Kocárník, Ivan (b. Nov. 29, 1944, Trebonín, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), finance minister and a deputy prime minister of the Czech Republic (1992-97).

Koças, Sadi (b. 1919, Ermenek, Ottoman Empire [now in Karaman province, Turkey] - d. Jan. 12, 1998, Istanbul, Turkey), a deputy prime minister of Turkey (1971).

Kocatas, Necmeddin Molla, until Jan. 1, 1935, Necmeddin Molla Bey (b. 1875, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey] - d. Feb. 6, 1949, Istanbul), justice minister of the Ottoman Empire (1909-11). He was also governor of Baghdad (1908) and head of the Council of State (1910-11).

Koch, Bernhard (b. Jan. 16, 1949, Zihlschlacht, Thurgau, Switzerland), president of the government of Thurgau (2003-04, 2008-09, 2013-14).

Ed Koch

Koch, Ed(ward Irving) (b. Dec. 12, 1924, Bronx, New York City - d. Feb. 1, 2013, New York City), mayor of New York City (1978-90). He entered New York City Democratic politics in 1962. Prior to his election as mayor, Koch served on the city council (1967-68) and as a member of Congress (1969-77). Known for his brash, colourful manner, he maintained his popularity despite New York's problems of unemployment, steadily declining services, and cutbacks necessitated by successful efforts to balance the city's budget. He was reelected in 1981, running as a Republican-Democratic fusion candidate, and again in 1985, overwhelming his Republican opponent. In 1982 he lost a bid for the Democratic nomination for governor. His support slipped among many minority voters, and by 1989, after 12 years of hearing Koch ask New Yorkers, "How am I doing?" the voting populace - apparently tiring of the city's problems - seemed to answer, "Not too well." On Sept. 12, 1989, he was defeated in the Democratic primary election by David Dinkins. Since leaving City Hall, he has worked, among other things, as a radio talk-show host, a newspaper columnist, and an arbitrator on TV's People's Court.

Koch, Erich (b. June 19, 1896, Elberfeld [now part of Wuppertal], Germany - d. Nov. 12, 1986, Barczewo, Poland), German Reichskommissar of the Ukraine (1941-43) and Ostland (1944). He joined the Nazi party in the early 1920s, and shortly after Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, he was appointed party leader and governor of East Prussia. Following the Nazi invasion of the U.S.S.R., he was appointed Reichskommissar of the Ukraine. At the end of the war he avoided capture by fleeing first to Denmark and later to the British zone of occupied Germany, where he lived near Hamburg under an assumed name. After his true identity was discovered in 1949, Koch was extradited to Poland by the British authorities the following year; he came to trial in Warsaw in 1958. He was said to have attempted to starve himself to death in the intervening period. He was convicted in 1959 of complicity in the killing of over 300,000 Polish people, two-thirds of them Jewish, during the war. Apart from the war crimes for which he was convicted, Koch was held responsible for the deaths of some four million people in the Ukraine and the deportation to Nazi labour camps of some two million others. The death sentence passed on him was commuted to life imprisonment through the exercise of a Polish law preventing execution of the sick, and he spent the remainder of his life in Barczewo Prison, within the territory he had once administered.

Koch (Krefft), Osvaldo (b. Dec. 30, 1896, Santiago, Chile - d. April 15, 1963, Santiago), justice minister (1928-30, 1954-55), interior minister (1953-54), and foreign minister (1955) of Chile; son-in-law of Carlos Ibáñez del Campo.

R. Koch

Koch, Roland (b. March 24, 1958, Frankfurt am Main), minister-president of Hessen (1999-2010).

Koch, Walter (Franz) (b. May 18, 1870, Chemnitz, Saxony [Germany] - d. Dec. 26, 1947, Dresden, Germany), German politician. He was interior minister of Saxony (1918) and minister to Czechoslovakia (1921-35).

Koch-Weser, Erich (Friedrich Ludwig), until 1927 Erich Koch (b. Feb. 26, 1875, Bremerhaven, Germany - d. Oct. 19, 1944, Rolândia, Paraná, Brazil), interior minister (1919-21), vice chancellor (1920), and justice minister (1928-29) of Germany. He was mayor of Delmenhorst (1901-09), city director of Bremerhaven (1909-13), and mayor of Kassel (1913-19). After World War I he was a leader of the German Democratic Party and served in the Constituent National Assembly (1919-20). He was frequently a leader in attempts to bring stable government to postwar Germany. In 1925 when Pres. Paul von Hindenburg asked him to form a cabinet, he found himself hopelessly deadlocked by the Social Democrats' rejection of his platform and had to retire. He remained a member of the Reichstag until 1930, when the growing power of the National Socialists caused him to withdraw permanently. After Adolf Hitler's rise to power, he fled from Germany in 1933. A book in which he had expressed his political views had been burned by the Nazis eight days after its publication. His grandson Caio Koch-Weser (b. July 25, 1944, Rolândia) was a high-ranking official at the World Bank and in the German finance ministry; in 2000 he was the EU's candidate for the post of managing director of the International Monetary Fund, but was vetoed by the U.S. because he did not meet "the criteria of maximum stature who would be able to command support from around the world."

Kocharyan

Kocharyan, Robert (Sedraki) (b. Aug. 31, 1954, Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous oblast, Azerbaijan S.S.R.), president of Armenia (1998-2008). As a key leader of the self-determination movement of Nagorno-Karabakh, Kocharyan in 1989 became one of the founders of the Miatsum (Unification) non-governmental organization and served as advisor to the chairman of the Executive Committee of Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1989, he was elected deputy to the Supreme Soviet (parliament) of Armenia - the Nagorno-Karabakh representative. In 1992, he was appointed prime minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, while also heading the State Committee on Defense. He organized the Nagorno-Karabakh self-defense forces, thereby establishing defense and security infrastructures for Nagorno-Karabakh. These defense forces achieved successive victories against Azerbaijan, securing the de facto independence of Nagorno-Karabakh. In May 1994, a ceasefire between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan was negotiated. In 1994, by an overwhelming majority, Kocharyan was elected the first president of Nagorno-Karabakh. Kocharyan's appeal that "a nation tested by the ordeals of war must pass the test of peace" marked the beginning of a large-scale social and economic rehabilitation of Nagorno-Karabakh. Under his leadership, Nagorno-Karabakh became a negotiating member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for the settlement of the conflict. He also became the first Karabakh representative to negotiate directly on behalf of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh in international forums. In 1997, he was appointed prime minister of Armenia. He tackled issues of corruption and intensified efforts to institutionalize a free-market economy. In April 1998 he was elected the second president of Armenia; he was reelected in 2003.

Kochemasov, Vyacheslav (Ivanovich) (b. Sept. 18, 1918, Gagino, Nizhny Novgorod province, Russia - d. 1998, Moscow, Russia), Soviet politician. He was a deputy premier of the Russian S.F.S.R. (1966-83) and Soviet ambassador to East Germany (1983-90).

Kochergin, Sergey (Alekseyevich) (b. July 1899, Moscow, Russia - d. March 1959), first secretary of the Communist Party committee of the Mordovian A.S.S.R. (1945-48). He was also chairman of the Executive Committee of Molotov oblast (1942-44).

Kochetov, Andrey (Alekseyevich) (b. Nov. 3, 1914, Yelets-Malanino, Voronezh province [now in Lipetsk oblast], Russia - d. Dec. 20, 1999, Petrozavodsk, Karelia, Russia), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Karelian A.S.S.R. (1967-84).

Kochinyan, Anton (Yervandovich) (b. Oct. 25 [Oct. 12, O.S.], 1913, Shagali, Russia [now Vahagni, Armenia] - d. April 5, 1989, Yerevan, Armenian S.S.R.), chairman of the Council of Ministers (1952-66), foreign minister (1954-58), and first secretary of the Communist Party (1966-74) of the Armenian S.S.R.

Kochlamazashvili, Iosif (Dmitriyevich) (b. 1906 - d. June 1969, Tbilisi, Georgian S.S.R.), first secretary of the Communist Party committee of the Adzhar A.S.S.R. (1937-38). He was also chairman of the Supreme Soviet (1938-47), deputy premier (1943-46), and minister of animal husbandry (1946-47), meat and dairy industry (1947-48), and commerce (1953-...) of the Georgian S.S.R. and mayor of Tbilisi (1938-43).

Kochman, Mohammed Nassim (b. Oct. 25, 1932), Mauritanian diplomat. He was chargé d'affaires at the United Nations (1964) and ambassador to the United States (1976-78).

Kochubey, Arkady (Vasilyevich) (b. Feb. 20 or 25 [Feb. 9 or 14, O.S.], 1790 - d. March 16 [March 4, O.S.], 1878), governor of Oryol (1830-37); second nephew of Knyaz Viktor Kochubey.

Kochubey, Knyaz (Prince) Viktor (Pavlovich) (b. Nov. 22 [Nov. 11, O.S.], 1768 - d. June 15 [June 3, O.S.], 1834, Moscow, Russia), interior minister of Russia (1802-07, 1819-23). He was also minister to the Ottoman Empire (1792-97), acting president of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs (1801-02), and chairman of the Imperial State Council (1827-34) and of the Committee of Ministers (1827-32). He was made a count in 1799 and a prince in 1831.

Koçi, Petro (Vasil) (b. Feb. 15, 1961, Vlorë, Albania), public order minister of Albania (1998-99).

Kock, Hendrik Merkus baron de (b. May 25, 1779, Heusden, Staats-Brabant [now Noord-Brabant], Netherlands - d. April 12, 1845, The Hague, Netherlands), lieutenant governor of the Netherlands East Indies (1826-30) and interior minister of the Netherlands (1836-41). He was made baron in 1835.

Kocvara, Stefan (b. Dec. 25, 1896, Miava, Hungary [now Myjava, Slovakia] - d. Oct. 17, 1973, Washington, D.C.), a deputy premier of Czechoslovakia (1947-48).

Koda

Koda, Madhu (b. Jan. 6, 1971, Patahatu, Singhbhum district, Bihar [now in West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand], India), chief minister of Jharkhand (2006-08).

Kodaki, Akira (b. July 1, 1904, Shimane prefecture, Japan - d. May 28, 1958), director-general of the Defense Agency of Japan (1957).

Kodama, Gentaro, in full Shishaku (Viscount) Gentaro Kodama (b. April 14 [intercalary Feb. 25, lunar calendar], 1852, Tokuyama [now in Yamaguchi prefecture], Japan - d. July 23, 1906, Tokyo, Japan), governor-general of Taiwan (1898-1906) and army minister (1900-02) and home affairs minister (1903) of Japan. He was also minister of education (1903) and chief of the general staff (1906). He was made baron (1895) and viscount (1906) and posthumously count.

Kodama, Hideo, in full Hakushaku (Count) Hideo Kodama (b. July 19, 1876, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan - d. April 7, 1947, Tokyo, Japan), governor-general of Kwantung (1923-27); son of Gentaro Kodama; son-in-law of Masatake Terauchi. He was also Japanese chief of the cabinet secretariat (1916-18), minister of overseas affairs (1934-36), communications (1937), home affairs (1940), and education (1945), and a minister of state (1944-45).

Kodera, Hiroyuki (b. Oct. 3, 1940 - d. Dec. 21, 2010), governor of Gunma (1991-2007).

Kodheli, Mimi (Pjetër) (b. Sept. 11, 1964, Tiranë, Albania), defense minister of Albania (2013-17). She was also prefect of Tiranë district (2005).

Koditsa, Ivan (Sergeyevich) (b. May 1 [April 19, O.S.], 1899, Korzhevo, Russia [now in Moldova] - d. May 9, 1980, Kishinev, Moldavian S.S.R. [now Chisinau, Moldova]), chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian S.S.R. (1951-63). He was also minister of local industry (1950-51).

Kodituwakku, (Arachchige) Karunasena (b. March 21, 1945), governor of North Western province, Sri Lanka (1993-94). He was also ambassador to Japan and South Korea (1988-91), China (2015-20), and Mongolia (2016-20) and minister of human resource development, education, and cultural affairs (2001-04).

A. Kodjo

Kodjo, (Gabriel Messan) Agbéyomé (b. Oct. 12, 1954, Tokpli, Yoto prefecture, Togo - d. March 3, 2024, Tema, Ghana), prime minister of Togo (2000-02). He was also minister of youth, sports, and culture (1988-91) and territorial administration and security (1992-93) and speaker of the National Assembly (1999-2000). On June 27, 2002, he was dismissed as prime minister and expelled from the ruling Togolese People's Rally. In response, he fiercely criticized Pres. Gnassingbé Eyadéma and his family for corruption, embezzlement, and torture and went into exile in France. Eyadéma's government then charged Kodjo with embezzlement. Kodjo was arrested on April 8, 2005, after he sneaked into the country from neighbouring Benin. He was freed on June 8 following the cancellation of the proceedings instituted against him for breach of trust in his management of the port of Lomé. He then returned to France but in September co-founded a new opposition party, the Democratic Alliance for the Motherland. He was a presidential candidate in 2020.

E. Kodjo

Kodjo, Edem, byname of Edouard Kodjovi Kodjo (b. May 23, 1938, Sokodé, Tchaoudjo prefecture, northern Togo - d. April 11, 2020, Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, France), finance minister (1973-76), foreign minister (1976-78), and prime minister (1994-96, 2005-06) of Togo and secretary-general of the Organization of African Unity (1978-83).

Kodjovi, Akanyi Awunyo, Togolese politician. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1976-80) and justice minister (1980-82).

Koefoed, Andreas Michael (b. Dec. 27, 1867, Rønne, Denmark - d. Aug. 20, 1940, Copenhagen, Denmark), finance minister of Denmark (1920).

Koeiman

Koenders

Koeiman, Hensley (Felix) (b. May 21, 1956), prime minister of Curaçao (2016-17). He was also minister of social development, labour, and welfare (2010-12).

Koenders, Bert, byname of Albert Gerard Koenders (b. May 28, 1958, Arnhem, Netherlands), foreign minister of the Netherlands (2014-17). He was also minister for development cooperation (2007-10) and UN special representative for Côte d'Ivoire (2011-13) and Mali (2013-14).

Koenig, (Marie) Pierre (b. Oct. 10, 1898, Caen, Calvados, France - d. Sept. 2, 1970, Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, France), French military governor of Germany (1945-49) and defense minister of France (1954, 1955).

Koerber

Koerber, Ernest von (b. Nov. 6, 1850, Trient, Austria [now Trento, Italy] - d. March 5, 1919, Baden, near Vienna, Austria), prime minister of Austria (1900-04, 1916). Entering the Austrian administration in 1874, he served as minister of commerce (1897-98) and interior (1899) before becoming prime minister in 1900 (additionally holding the portfolios of interior and, from 1902, justice). Unable to obtain a majority in parliament, he governed by emergency decrees. A popular figure, he encouraged industry and commerce and introduced laws guaranteeing individual rights. Nationality crises in Bohemia and Hungary, however, caused his fall in 1904. During World War I he served as joint Austro-Hungarian minister of finance (1915-16) and then again as Austrian prime minister; his tenure was brief though due to differences with the new emperor, Karl I.

Koern, August (b. April 27, 1900 - d. Jan. 11, 1989), foreign minister of the Estonian government in exile (1964-81). He was also Estonian chargé d'affaires in Denmark (1939-40).

Kofe

Koffigoh

Kofod

Kofe, Simon (b. 1984?), foreign (and justice and communication) minister of Tuvalu (2019-23). He has also been minister of transport, energy, communication, and innovation (2024- ).

Koffigoh, Joseph Kokou (b. December 1948, Kpélé-Dafo village, near Kpalimé, Togo), prime minister (1991-94) and foreign minister (1998-2000) of Togo. He was also minister of regional integration (2000-02).

Kofod, Jeppe (Sebastian) (b. March 14, 1974, Copenhagen, Denmark), foreign minister of Denmark (2019-22).

Kofoed, Kristian Hansen (b. March 11, 1879, Østermarie, Denmark - d. May 14, 1951, Gentofte, Denmark), finance minister of Denmark (1942-45).

Kogalniceanu

Kogalniceanu, Mihail (Ilie) (b. Sept. 6, 1817, Iasi, Moldavia [now in Romania] - d. July 1, 1891, Paris, France), prime minister of Moldavia (1860-61) and Romania (1863-65). A lecture on national history he gave at Iasi in 1843 greatly influenced Romanian students in Paris and the 1848 generation. But in 1844 his history course was suspended and his passport was revoked during a trip to Vienna, where he was as the secret emissary of the opposition to discuss with Austrian Foreign Minister Klemens von Metternich the possible ouster of Mihai Sturza, the prince of Moldavia. He was in Western Europe in 1845-47 but in 1848 was drawn into the mainstream of Romanian nationalist politics. After he wrote several anti-Sturza pamphlets, a reward was offered for his apprehension "dead or alive," and he was forced to seek temporary refuge in Bukovina (then belonging to Austria). In exile he became the chief spokesman of the Moldavian Central Revolutionary Committee. When in 1849 Grigore Ghica was named prince of Moldavia by the sultan, Kogalniceanu and other 1848ers returned to Iasi and were installed in Ghica's administration. He became the principal leader in the movement for unification of Moldavia and Walachia, and was appointed prime minister under the first prince of united Romania, Alexandru Ioan Cuza, in 1863. He helped carry out reformist measures including the expropriation of monastic properties and the great land and social reforms of the Agrarian Law of 1864. Disagreements with the prince and the landed aristocracy, however, led to his resignation in 1865. He was elected to the Romanian Academy in 1868. He was also interior minister (1863-65, 1868-70, 1878, 1879-80) and foreign minister (1869, 1876, 1877-78) and represented Romania at the Congress of Berlin (1878). Later he served at the Romanian legation in Paris. He was also president of the Romanian Academy (1887-90).

Kogda, Der (b. 1961, Kolinka, Upper Volta [now Burkina Faso]), Burkinabe diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (2011-14).

Kogler, Werner (b. Nov. 20, 1961, Hartberg, Steiermark, Austria), vice chancellor of Austria (2020- ). He has also been speaker of the Greens (2017 [jointly acting], 2017- ) and minister of art, culture, civil service, and sport (2020- ) and social affairs, health, care, and consumer protection (acting, 2021).

Kogui N'Douro, Issifou, defense minister of Benin (2006-12). He was also minister of presidential affairs (2012-13) and a minor presidential candidate (2016).

Koh, Tommy (Thong Bee) (b. Nov. 12, 1937, Singapore), Singaporean diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1968-71, 1974-84), high commissioner to Canada (1969-71, 1974-84), and ambassador to Mexico (1974-84) and the United States (1984-90).

Kohan, Alberto (Antonio) (b. April 21, 1946, San Lorenzo, Santa Fe, Argentina), health minister of Argentina (1990-91).

Kohl

Kohl, Helmut (Josef Michael) (b. April 3, 1930, Ludwigshafen, Bayern [now in Rheinland-Pfalz], Germany - d. June 16, 2017, Ludwigshafen), chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (1982-98). He was elected in 1959 to the Rheinland-Pfalz state legislature and four years later became his party's parliamentary floor leader there. He became state chairman of his party in 1966. In 1969 he became the state's minister-president and also the CDU's national deputy chairman, and in 1973 he was elected chairman of the party. He resigned from the state premiership in 1976 to devote himself to federal politics. As the chancellor candidate of the CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), he lost the 1976 election to the coalition of Helmut Schmidt's Social Democratic Party and Free Democratic Party (FDP). Kohl became the CDU-CSU's parliamentary floor leader in the Bundestag. In 1982 the FDP decided to change coalition partners in midterm, and the combined forces of CDU-CSU and FDP passed a vote of no confidence against Schmidt on Oct. 1, 1982, simultaneously electing Kohl as new chancellor. The CDU-CSU-FDP coalition won early federal elections in 1983 and was reelected in 1987. After the fall of the Communist government of East Germany in 1989, Kohl led the drive for German reunification. He obtained the assent of the Western Allies as well as the Soviet Union, and on Oct. 3, 1990, Germany was reunified. On Dec. 2, 1990, the first free all-German elections since 1932 took place, and Kohl's coalition won a large majority. In 1994 he won the fourth time, though with a slim majority. In 1996 he surpassed Konrad Adenauer's record and became the longest-serving chancellor of the Federal Republic. He finally lost the 1998 election, whereupon he resigned as CDU chairman. His reputation was tarnished in 1999-2000 in a party financing scandal. He remained in the Bundestag until 2002.

Köhler, Fredrik friherre von (b. Dec. 13, 1728 - d. July 25, 1810, Skramstad, Kalmar, Sweden), acting governor of Kalmar (1788-90).

Köhler, Heinrich (Franz) (b. Sept. 29, 1878, Karlsruhe, Germany - d. Feb. 6, 1949, Karlsruhe), state president of Baden (1923-24, 1926-27) and finance minister of Germany (1927-28).

Horst Köhler

Köhler, Horst (b. Feb. 22, 1943, Heidenstein [now Skierbieszów], Poland), president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (1998-2000), managing director of the International Monetary Fund (2000-04), and president of Germany (2004-10). As the Soviet army advanced into German-occupied Poland during World War II, his family fled to what became East Germany; they moved to the West in 1953. As a member of the Finance Ministry, he played an important role in the economic planning for German reunification and was Germany's lead official in the difficult negotiations that led to the Maastricht Treaty in 1991, which formed the foundation of European financial and monetary union. In 1993 he became the head of the national association of German savings banks. As head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, he helped shift its priorities away from large infrastructure projects and toward support for small businesses. He also succeeded in improving the bank's finances. On March 23, 2000, after months of international wrangling, he was named the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). German chancellor Gerhard Schröder was determined that - for the first time - a German should head the IMF. Schröder's first choice, Caio Koch-Weser, was rejected by the United States. Undaunted, Schröder embarked on a vigorous and ultimately successful campaign to persuade other European nations, some of which had their own candidates for the post, to line up behind Köhler. In the post, he faced many critics of former IMF policies. He sought an improved dialogue with critics of globalization and with developing countries. In 2004 he was elected German president with the votes of Christian Democrats and Free Democrats in the Federal Assembly. Reelected in 2009, he resigned in 2010 over comments he made supporting military action abroad in order to protect German economic interests. In 2017 he was appointed UN secretary-general's personal envoy for Western Sahara.

Köhler, Salomon (Christoffer) friherre von (b. July 28, 1742 - d. April 12, 1814, Malmö, Sweden), governor of Blekinge (1783-89).

Kohler, Walter J(odok) (b. March 3, 1875, Sheboygan, Wis. - d. April 21, 1940, Riverbend estate, near Kohler, Wis.), governor of Wisconsin (1929-31).

Kohler, Walter J(odok), Jr. (b. April 4, 1904, Sheboygan, Wis. - d. March 21, 1976, Sheboygan), governor of Wisconsin (1951-57); son of Walter J. Kohler.

Kohli, Amolak Rattan (b. Nov. 3, 1942), governor of Mizoram (2001-06).

Kohli, Dalip Rai (b. June 7, 1919, Talagang, Punjab, India [now in Pakistan] - d. Nov. 13, 2007, Delhi, India), lieutenant governor of Manipur (1970-72) and Delhi (1977-80).

O.P. Kohli

Kohout

Kohli, Om Prakash (b. Aug. 9, 1935, Delhi, India - d. Feb. 20, 2023, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India), governor of Gujarat (2014-19), Goa (2014), Maharashtra (2014), and Madhya Pradesh (2016-18).

Kohli, S(ourendra) N(ath) (b. June 21, 1916, Amritsar, India - d. Jan. 21, 1997), lieutenant governor of Mizoram (1981-83). Admiral Kohli was also Indian chief of naval staff (1973-76).

Kohn, Maurice (b. Jan. 31, 1881, Diekirch, Luxembourg - d. March 22, 1929, Luxembourg, Luxembourg), interior minister of Luxembourg (1917-18).

Kohona, Palitha T(ikiri) B(andara) (b. March 24, 1948, Matale, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]), Sri Lankan diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (2009-15).

Kohout, Jan (b. March 29, 1961, Plzen, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), foreign minister (2009-10, 2013-14) and a deputy prime minister (2009-10) of the Czech Republic. He has also been permanent representative to the European Union (2004-08) and ambassador to Italy (2023- ).

Koht, Halvdan (b. July 7, 1873, Tromsø, Norway - d. Dec. 12, 1965, Bærum, Akershus, Norway), foreign minister of Norway (1935-41). He was also a historian and chairman of the Norwegian Historical Association (1912-27, 1932-36).

Koibla, Djimasta (b. 1950 - d. Jan. 30, 2007), interior minister (1992-93) and prime minister (1995-97) of Chad. He was also minister of health and social affairs (1982-85).

Koijam, Radhabinod (b. Feb. 1, 1943, Imphal, Manipur, India), chief minister of Manipur (2001).

Koike, Yuriko (b. July 15, 1952), defense minister of Japan (2007) and governor of Tokyo (2016- ). She was also environment minister (2003-06), minister of state for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs (2004-06), and national security adviser (2006-07).

Koimanrea, Francis (b. Dec. 25, 1954 - d. December 2019), governor of East New Britain (1995-2000). He was also Papua New Guinean minister of health (1992-94).

Koinange

Koinange, (Peter) Mbiyu (b. 1907 - d. Sept. 2, 1981), foreign minister of Kenya (1966-67, 1969). He was also minister of pan-African affairs (1963-64), education (1964-66), and provincial administration (1967-69).

Koirala, Bishweshwar Prasad (b. Sept. 8, 1914, Benares [Varanasi], India - d. July 21, 1982, Kathmandu, Nepal), prime minister of Nepal (1959-60). He joined the Indian Congress party, and, with India becoming independent, in 1947 formed the Nepali National Congress (from 1950, Nepali Congress). He was home minister in 1951. He led the Nepali Congress (of which he was president in 1952-56 and from 1957 to his death) to victory in the country's first democratic election in 1959, and he became prime minister. His policy of good relations with China led to accusations of Communist sympathies. He was dismissed in 1960 when King Mahendra seized power and dissolved the government. The reason for his dismissal was that his reforms would have established Nepal as a constitutional monarchy, severely limiting the power of the king. With the help of the army, the king overthrew the government, and Koirala was imprisoned. Under Mahendra's successor, King Birendra, he suffered further imprisonment, exile, and trial for treason. Amnestied, in 1980 he campaigned for restoration of the multiparty system, which was, however, rejected by a 55% majority in that year's referendum.

G.P. Koirala

Koirala, Girija Prasad (b. July 4, 1924, Tadi, Saharsha district, Bihar, India - d. March 20, 2010, Mandikhatar, near Kathmandu, Nepal), prime minister and defense minister (1991-94, 1998-99, 2000-01, 2006-08) and foreign minister (1991-94, 1998-99) of Nepal. Two of Koirala's elder brothers, Matrika Prasad Koirala and Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, were prime ministers in the 1950s. Koirala founded the kingdom's first trade union movement when he organized a strike by jute mill workers in 1947. He was jailed for over seven years for fighting against the king's absolute powers. Koirala became prime minister in 1991 after his centrist Nepali Congress party, which struggled for and won multiparty democracy, was voted into power. But three years later, disputes between then Congress president Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Koirala brought down the government. Bhattarai's supporters accused Koirala of sabotaging a parliamentary by-election contested by Bhattarai. Bhattarai lost the election and his supporters abstained during a crucial parliamentary vote. Koirala's government lost the vote and he was forced to call early elections. Koirala took over the Nepali Congress from Bhattarai in 1996 and vowed to restore the party as a major political force. He was again named prime minister in 1998, replacing a former royalist, Surya Bahadur Thapa of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). He is regarded in the party as a staunch anti-Communist and an uncompromising leader. On Feb. 1, 2005, he was placed under house arrest along with the leaders of other major parties when King Gyanendra took over the government; he was released on April 1. When street protests forced the king to end his personal rule in April 2006, Koirala was unanimously chosen to be prime minister by the seven main political parties. He was also acting head of state in 2007-08 during the transition from monarchy to republic.

Koirala, Matrika Prasad (b. Jan. 1, 1912 - d. Sept. 11, 1997, Kathmandu, Nepal), prime minister (1951-52, 1953-55) and foreign minister (1951-52, 1953-54) of Nepal. He was the eldest of three brothers who were prime ministers of Nepal at various times; the others were Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala and Girija Prasad Koirala. Matrika was the first ordinary Nepalese to become prime minister in 1951. Prior to this, all Nepalese prime ministers had come from the Rana family which had kept the kings virtual prisoners and were de facto rulers of Nepal. Koirala, who had also taken part in the Indian freedom struggle and was imprisoned there between 1930 and 1931, headed the Nepali Congress party (1950-52) during its later armed struggle to end the power of the Ranas. In 1953 he founded his own party, the Rastriya Janata Parishad (National People's Council), and remained its president until his death. He was ambassador to the United States and permanent representative to the United Nations in 1961-64.

Koirala, Prakash (b. 1946), Nepalese politician; son of Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala. He was minister of forestry and soil conservation (2001) and environment, science, and technology (2005-06).

Sujata Koirala

Sushil Koirala

Koirala, Sujata (b. Feb. 9, 1954, Biratnagar, Nepal), foreign minister (2009-11) and deputy prime minister (2009-11) of Nepal; daughter of Girija Prasad Koirala.

Koirala, Sushil (b. Aug. 12, 1939, Dumja village, Sindhuli district [or Biratnagar, Morang district], Nepal - d. Feb. 9, 2016, Kathmandu, Nepal), prime minister of Nepal (2014-15); nephew of Girija Prasad Koirala. He was president of the Nepali Congress party from 2010 to his death.

Koiso, Kuniaki (b. March 22, 1880, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan - d. Nov. 3, 1950, Tokyo, Japan), governor-general of Korea (1942-44) and prime minister of Japan (1944-45). He was also minister of colonization (1939, 1940).

Koivisto

Koivisto, Mauno (Henrik) (b. Nov. 25, 1923, Turku, Finland - d. May 12, 2017, Helsinki, Finland), finance minister (1966-68, 1972), prime minister (1968-70, 1979-82), and president (1982-94) of Finland. That Koivisto was the first Finnish president to emerge from the left seemed merely incidental. He was always remote from the grinding apparatus of his party, the Social Democrats, and he was obviously bored with simplistic "isms." Pragmatism was his guideline throughout his terms as prime minister and central bank governor (1968-82), and he was not afraid to impose draconian measures when other politicians dithered. Koivisto himself had sometimes appeared vacillating, but he could act decisively when necessary - as when his opponents used the services of his predecessor, the ailing Pres. Urho Kekkonen, in an abortive attempt to dislodge him as prime minister in April 1981. Had Koivisto quit then, he might never have become president in the election forced by Kekkonen's premature resignation, but he invoked the constitutional prerogatives bestowed on parliament. Koivisto was eager to reactivate parliament's role in the foreign policy debate. This was a departure, since Juho Kusti Paasikivi (president in 1946-56) and Kekkonen, whose personalities remained synonymous with Finland's neutral line, had exercised their responsibilities in this field to the fullest. The freer atmosphere resulting from this attempt to devolve part of the great power constitutionally bestowed on any Finnish president led to some confusion. However, there was no immediate effect on Finland's international position. Though primarily an economist, he was quick to grasp the workings of diplomacy and this, coupled with Finland's innate stability, made the change after 25 years of Kekkonen's presidency remarkably undramatic.

J. Koizumi

Koizumi, Junichiro (b. Jan. 8, 1942, Yokosuka, Kanagawa prefecture, eastern Japan), prime minister of Japan (2001-06). His grandfather (Matajiro Koizumi) and father (Junya Koizumi) were members of parliament. After his father died in 1969, he ran for his seat but lost by 4,000 votes. He then worked as a junior secretary to Takeo Fukuda, who later became prime minister. He prowled his father's former district and made himself known to the constituents there. His link to Fukuda helped, too, and three years after his defeat, he won the seat (1972). He became minister of health and welfare (1988-89, 1996-98) and of posts and telecommunications (1992-93). He ran for president of the Liberal-Democratic Party in 1995 and 1998 and was successful on his third attempt, in 2001, following the resignation of Yoshiro Mori, and consequently succeeded Mori as prime minister as well. He rose to the top of the party by exploiting his bad-boy image within a political organization whose rank-and-file members, like the public at large, were longing for a plain-spoken leader with charisma and a vision; Koizumi had those qualities in abundance. He stood solidly behind Prime Minister Mori in the fall of 2000 when the scandal-tainted leader was challenged by one of Koizumi's closest political allies, Koichi Kato. Later, however, he resigned from his faction in the party, decrying factional politics. Koizumi was able to combine his status as a high-ranking party insider with his sizeable public appeal, something Japan's recent prime ministers had lacked. His outspokenness and frank manner were a refreshing change from the bland vagaries of most senior politicians. He pledged to scrap political convention, appointing cabinet members based on expertise and merit rather than on which faction of the party they belong to.

Koizumi, Junya, original surname Samejima (b. 1904 - d. Aug. 10, 1969), Japanese politician. He was director-general of the Defense Agency (1964-65).

Koizumi, Matajiro (b. Aug. 1, 1865, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan - d. Sept. 24, 1951), Japanese politician. He was minister of communications (1929-31).

Koizumi, Ryuji (b. Sept. 17, 1952, Tokyo, Japan), justice minister of Japan (2023-24).

Koizumi, Shinjiro (b. April 14, 1981, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan), Japanese politician; son of Junichiro Koizumi. He was environment minister (2019-21).

Kojima, Tetsuzo (b. Sept. 29, 1899, Hyogo prefecture, Japan - d. Jan. 10, 1988), justice minister of Japan (1960).

Kojong

Kojong (temple name), personal name Yi Hyong, era name 1896-97 Konyang, imperial era name Kwangmu (b. Sept. 8, 1852, Seoul, Korea [now in South Korea] - d. Jan. 21, 1919, Seoul), king (1864-97) and emperor (1897-1907) of Korea. During the first years of his reign, his father Taewon-gun acted as regent and attempted to revitalize the country. Kojong's wife, Queen Min, who opposed all modernization efforts, dislodged Taewon-gun in 1873 and Kojong assumed power under the shadow of his wife. The 1882 Chemulpo Treaty with the U.S. was largely engineered by her. In 1895 she was assassinated by the Japanese. Two years later, in an effort to save the country, Kojong proclaimed himself emperor and changed the name of the country to Taehan ("Great Han"), actions symbolic of his independence from China. During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, however, Japan invaded Korea and forced the emperor to sign a treaty allowing the Japanese to use the country as a military base and to place advisers in the government. After the war Japan set up a protectorate in Korea. Japan and the U.S. had signed an agreement in 1904 by which Japan agreed to accept the U.S. presence in Hawaii and the Philippines, in exchange for which Japan was given a free hand in Korea. Unaware of this agreement, Kojong sought in vain for U.S. aid under the Chemulpo Treaty. In 1907, he was forced to abdicate in favour of his son. Three years later Japan officially annexed Korea.

Kok, Adam, III (b. Oct. 16, 1811, southern Africa - d. Dec. 31, 1875, near Mzimkulu, Cape Colony [now in South Africa]), Griqua chieftain. He was appointed to the Griqua Council at an early age. When his father, Adam Kok II, died in 1835, there was a succession dispute between him and his older brother Abraham. The missionaries supported him, but Abraham had broader support in the community. In 1837 he managed to expel Abraham (who died soon after) from Philippolis and became the ruler of the Griqua nation of Dutch-speaking former slaves and Africans of mixed descent. He was friendly to the British administration in the Cape Colony and his territorial claims were recognized in an 1843 agreement with the Cape governor. But conflict arose with the Boer (Dutch) trekkers who established the Orange Free State, and Kok accepted a British offer (1861) to resettle the Griquas in the eastern section of the Cape Colony. He led his people on a long trek over the Drakensberg to found the nation of Griqualand East, where a new town, Kokstad, was built. Although he aided the British in a campaign to subdue the rebellious Hlubi tribe in Natal in 1873, they decided in October 1874 to annex his country to the Cape Colony. He died in an accident a year later.

W. Kok

Kok, Wim, byname of Willem Kok (b. Sept. 29, 1938, Bergambacht, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands - d. Oct. 20, 2018, Amsterdam, Netherlands), prime minister of the Netherlands (1994-2002). In 1961 he began a career of more than two decades in labour union administration. Starting as an adviser or assistant international officer for the construction workers' union, he rose to the position of staff member for economic affairs in 1965 and union secretary in 1967. In 1969 he transferred from the construction union to the executive board of the Netherlands Federation of Trade Unions, first as secretary, then as deputy chairman in 1972 and chairman from 1973 to 1985. In 1979-82 he also chaired the European Trade Union Confederation. As the top labour leader in the Netherlands, Kok was instrumental in negotiating an agreement between labour unions and employers in 1982 according to which unions would not demand pay increases of more than 2% per year, and employers in return would provide shorter work weeks and more jobs. That agreement set the model for the Dutch style of collaborative economic planning. Kok left trade union work in the mid-1980s for politics as a member of the Labour Party. He became a member of parliament and Labour Party leader in 1986. Three years later, the same year in which he was elected deputy chairman of the Socialist International, he entered the cabinet in a coalition government headed by Christian Democrat prime minister Ruud Lubbers. For nearly five years beginning on Nov. 7, 1989, Kok was deputy prime minister and minister of finance. When no party won a majority in May 1994 elections, Kok and his Labour Party took several months to negotiate a coalition with the Liberals and the Democrats 66. The Christian Democrats were left out of the government for the first time in their history. Kok's government was reelected in 1998. He remained party leader until 2001.

Kokh, Alfred (Reingoldovich) (b. Feb. 28, 1961, Zyryanovsk, Vostochno-Kazakhstan oblast, Kazakh S.S.R.), a deputy prime minister of Russia (1997). He was also chairman of the State Committee for Management of State Property (1996-97).

Kokje

Kokje, Vishnu Sadashiv (b. Sept. 6, 1939, Dahi village, Dhar district [now in Madhya Pradesh], India), governor of Himachal Pradesh (2003-08).

Köknel, Ihsan (b. 1904, Nallihan, Ottoman Empire [now in Ankara province, Turkey] - d. Feb. 2, 1990, Ankara, Turkey), justice minister of Turkey (1965). He was also president of the Supreme Court (1959-60).

Kokorev, Pavel (Antonovich) (b. Jan. 28 [Jan. 15, O.S.], 1907, Stary Teshtelim, Tambov province [now in Mordovia republic], Russia - d. June 22, 1981, Saransk, Mordovian A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Mordovian A.S.S.R. (1950-54). He was also minister of culture (1956-62).

Kokorin

K. Kokov

Yu. Kokov

Kokorin, Aleksey (Gennadiyevich) (b. March 1, 1961, Shadrinsk rayon, Kurgan oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Kurgan oblast (2014-18). He was also mayor of Shadrinsk (1996-2014).

Kokorwe, Gladys (Theresa Keitumetse) (b. Nov. 28, 1947, Cape Town, South Africa), Botswanan politician. She was minister of youth, sports, and culture (2008-09), ambassador to Zimbabwe and high commissioner to Malawi, Mozambique, and Mauritius (2009-14), and speaker of the National Assembly (2014-19).

Kokoshkin, Fyodor (Fyodorovich) (b. July 26 [July 14, O.S.], 1871, Kholm, Lublin province, Russia [now Chelm, Poland] - d. Jan. 20 [Jan. 7, O.S.], 1918, Petrograd [now St. Petersburg], Russia), Russian state comptroller (1917). He was also a member of the State Duma (1906). Arrested in 1917, he was killed in hospital with Andrey Shingarev.

Kokov, Fyodor (Gappoyevich) (b. 1900, Tulatovo, Terek oblast [now Beslan, North Ossetia-Alania republic], Russia - d. [executed] July 23, 1939), first secretary of the Communist Party committee of the North Ossetian A.S.S.R. (1937).

Kokov, Kazbek (Valeryevich) (b. July 20, 1973, Lesken-II, Kabardino-Balkar A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R.), head of the republic of Kabardino-Balkariya (2018- ); son of Valery Kokov.

Kokov, Valery (Mukhamedovich) (b. Oct. 18, 1941, Tyrnyauz, Kabardino-Balkar A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R. - d. Oct. 29, 2005, Moscow, Russia), first secretary of the Communist Party committee (1990), chairman of the Supreme Soviet (1990-91), and president (1992-2005) of Kabardino-Balkariya.

Kokov, Yury (Aleksandrovich) (b. Aug. 13, 1955, Nalchik, Kabardian A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R.), head of the republic of Kabardino-Balkariya (2013-18).

Kokovtsov, Graf (Count) Vladimir (Nikolayevich) (b. April 18 [April 6, O.S.], 1853, Novgorod [now Veliky Novgorod], Russia - d. Jan. 29, 1943, Paris, France), finance minister (1904-05, 1906-14) and prime minister (1911-14) of Russia. He was also secretary of state (1902-04). He became a count on Feb. 12, 1914.

Kokoyev, Zurab (Revazovich) (b. Feb. 14, 1960, Staliniri [now Tskhinvali], South Ossetian autonomous oblast, Georgian S.S.R.), acting prime minister of South Ossetia (2005). He was also mayor of Tskhinvali (2002-04), first deputy prime minister (2003-05), and acting chairman of parliament (2011-12).

Kokoyty

Kokoyty, Eduard (Dzhabeyevich), Russian Eduard Kokoyev (b. Oct. 31, 1964, Tskhinvali, South Ossetian autonomous oblast, Georgian S.S.R.), president of South Ossetia (2001-11).

Kokrekbayev, Karim (Nasbekovich) (b. July 28, 1957, Chu [now Shu], Dzhambul [now Zhambyl] oblast, Kazakh S.S.R.), head of Zhambyl oblast (2013-18). He was also Kazakh ambassador to Kyrgyzstan (2018-19).

Koksharov, Viktor (Anatolyevich) (b. Aug. 1, 1964, Kamensk-Uralsky, Sverdlovsk oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the government of Sverdlovsk oblast (2007-09).

Kolak, Rudi (b. Nov. 4, 1918, Gornji Ribnik, near Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria-Hungary [now in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina] - d. Dec. 22, 2004, Belgrade), chairman of the Executive Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1965-67). He was also vice president of the Federal Executive Council (1967-69) and president of the Economic Chamber (1969-74) of Yugoslavia.

Kolarov

Kolarov, Vasil (Petrov) (b. July 28 [July 16, O.S.], 1877, Shumen, Bulgaria - d. Jan. 23, 1950, Sofia, Bulgaria), Bulgarian politician. He joined the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party in 1897 and six years later was one of the organizers of its "narrow" or revolutionary wing. In 1913 he was elected deputy to the Bulgarian Sobranye (National Assembly), and again in 1920. When in 1919 the "narrow" Social Democrats reorganized themselves as the Bulgarian Workers' (Communist) Party, he became its secretary-general. He attended all the Comintern congresses from 1920, was elected a member of the executive committee, and, later, became secretary-general. In September 1923 he attempted, with Georgi Dimitrov, to organize a Kremlin-sponsored uprising which, however, failed; escaping to Moscow, he remained there for more than two decades, becoming a Soviet citizen. He returned to Bulgaria in September 1944. He was a member of both Sobranyes elected in November 1945 and October 1946. As provisional president of the republic (September 1946-December 1947), in November 1946 he appointed Dimitrov prime minister, and in December 1947 assumed the duties of minister of foreign affairs in the second Dimitrov cabinet. When Dimitrov died on July 2, 1949, Kolarov was neither among the few prominent Communists who went to Moscow to bring the body back to Sofia nor did he attend the burial ceremonies in the Bulgarian capital. On July 20 the Sobranye unanimously elected him prime minister and foreign minister but he was not present. On August 6 the cabinet was reconstituted and Vladimir Poptomov succeeded Kolarov as foreign minister.

Kolawolé

Kolawolé, Antoine Idji (b. 1946, Illikimou, near Kétou, Dahomey [now Benin]), foreign minister of Benin (1998-2003). He was president of the National Assembly in 2003-07. He was a presidential candidate in 2006, but won only 3.2% of the vote.

Kolbin, Gennady (Vasilyevich) (b. May 7, 1927, Nizhny Tagil [now in Sverdlovsk oblast], Russian S.F.S.R. - d. Jan. 15, 1998, Moscow, Russia), first secretary of the Communist Party of the Kazakh S.S.R. (1986-89). He was also first secretary of the party committees of Nizhny Tagil city (1964-70) and Ulyanovsk oblast (1983-86) and chairman of the U.S.S.R. Committee of People's Control (1989-90).

Kolby, Ole Peter (b. Oct. 24, 1939, Oslo, Norway), Norwegian diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1998-2003) and ambassador to Denmark (2004-07).

Kolchak, Aleksandr (Vasilyevich) (b. Nov. 16 [Nov. 4, O.S.], 1874, St. Petersburg, Russia - d. [executed] Feb. 7, 1920, Irkutsk, Russia), supreme governor of Russia ("White" government) (1918-20). He was also commander of the Black Sea Fleet (1916-17).

Kolegov, Nikolay (Stepanovich) (b. 1897, Vizing region, Vologda province, Russia - d. 1983), executive/first secretary of the Communist Party committee of Komi autonomous oblast (1930-32).

Koleka, Spiro (b. July 8, 1908, Vuno, near Himarë, Ottoman Empire [now in Albania] - d. August 2001), a deputy premier of Albania (1950-53, 1955-66, 1968-76). He was also minister of public works (1944-48), communications (acting, 1948-50), and industry and construction (1953-54) and chairman of the State Planning Commission (1948-50, 1954-58, 1966-68).

B. Kolélas

Kolélas, Bernard (Bakana) (b. June 12, 1933, Mboloki, Kinkala district, Pool region, Middle Congo [now Congo (Brazzaville)] - d. Nov. 12, 2009, Paris, France), Congo (Brazzaville) politician. The anti-Communist opposition leader was the runner-up to Pascal Lissouba in 1992 presidential elections. His Ninja militia clashed with Lissouba loyalists in 1993-94. A Protestant Christian, he suffered jail, torture, and exile through a long career of opposition to Communism in the Central African nation. Like Lissouba, a fellow southerner, he was jailed in the late 1970s. He too was freed by Denis Sassou-Nguesso but jailed again under Sassou for four years. He became mayor of Brazzaville in 1994 and planned to contest the July 1997 presidential election. When fighting between Sassou's and Lissouba's forces started in June 1997, he initially tried to broker a peaceful settlement as a national mediator but in September he accepted an offer from Lissouba to form a national unity government, in which he left portfolios open for Sassou's side. Sassou rejected his appointment. Kolélas's Ninja militia rallied to Lissouba in October. But Sassou's forces won, and Kolélas lost the premiership. Thereafter he lived in exile in various countries including Côte d'Ivoire and (from December 2003) Mali and made several attempts to return to his country. He was sentenced to death in absentia on May 4, 2000, for several crimes allegedly committed during the civil war, including torture and rape of prisoners. He eventually returned to Brazzaville on Oct. 14, 2005, for his wife's funeral after having obtained an authorization from the Congolese authorities. President Sassou-Nguesso decided to initiate an amnesty proceeding in his favour for "humanitarian reasons." Parliament voted an amnesty law overturning his death sentence on December 6.

Kolélas, Euloge Landry (b. March 14, 1964, Brazzaville, Congo), Congo (Brazzaville) politician; son of Bernard Kolélas. He was minister of external trade and consumption (2015-17).

Kolélas, Guy Brice Parfait (b. Aug. 6, 1959, Brazzaville, Congo - d. March 22, 2021, Paris, France), Congo (Brazzaville) politician; son of Bernard Kolélas. He was minister of marine and inland fishing (2007-09) and civil service (2009-15) and a presidential candidate (2016, 2021).

Kölemen, Abdullah, until Jan. 1, 1935, Abdullah Pasha (b. 1846, Trebizond, Ottoman Empire [now Trabzon, Turkey] - d. April 25, 1937, Izmir, Turkey), war minister of the Ottoman Empire (1918). He was also governor of Mosul (1896).

Kolesnikov, Borys (Viktorovych) (b. Oct. 25, 1962, Zhdanov [now Mariupol], Donetsk oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R.), a deputy prime minister of Ukraine (2010-12). He was also minister of infrastructure (2010-12).

Kolesnikov, Mikhail (Petrovich) (b. June 30, 1939, Yeysk, Krasnodar kray, Russian S.F.S.R. - d. March 26, 2007, Moscow, Russia), chief of joint staff of the armed forces (1992-96) and acting defense minister (1996) of Russia.

Kolesov, Fyodor (Ivanovich) (b. June 1 [May 20, O.S.], 1891, Uralsk, Russia [now in Kazakhstan] - d. July 29, 1940, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Turkestan S.F.R. (1917-18).

N. Kolesov

Kolesov, Nikolay (Aleksandrovich) (b. Dec. 17, 1956, Kazan, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Amur oblast (2007-08).

Kolettis, Ioannis (Nikolaou) (b. 1774, Sirako, Ottoman Empire [now in Greece] - d. Sept. 12 [Aug. 31, O.S.], 1847, Athens, Greece), member of the Government Commission (1832-33) and prime minister (1834-35, 1844-47) of Greece. He was also governor of Samos (1828-29), minister of war (1829), marine (1833), interior (1833-35, 1844-47), the royal house and foreign affairs (1844-47), ecclesiastical affairs and public education (1844-47), and justice (1846 [provisional], 1847 [provisional]), and ambassador to France (1835-44).

Kolfschoten, Hans, byname of Henri Anthony Melchior Tieleman Kolfschoten (b. Aug. 17, 1903, Arnhem, Netherlands - d. Aug. 2, 1984, The Hague, Netherlands), justice minister of the Netherlands (1945-46). He was also mayor of Eindhoven (1946-57) and The Hague (1957-68).

Kolga, Margus (b. May 1, 1966, Tallinn, Estonian S.S.R.), Estonian diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (2010-15) and ambassador to Sweden (2019-22).

Kolgeci, Remzi (Albanian), Serbian Remzi Koljgeci (b. May 3, 1947, Vraniq [Vranic] village, near Suhareka [Suva Reka], Kosovo - d. March 9, 2011, Pristina, Kosovo), president of the Presidency (1988-89) and acting secretary of the Central Committee of the League of Communists (1988-89) of Kosovo.

Kolíková, Mária (b. Aug. 29, 1974, Dunajská Streda, Slovakia), justice minister of Slovakia (2020-21, 2021-22).

A. Kolingba

Kolingba, André (Dieudonné) (b. Aug. 12, 1936, Bangui, Oubangui-Chari [now Central African Republic] - d. Feb. 7, 2010, Paris, France), president of the Central African Republic (1981-93); also defense minister for most of that period. Before his country became independent, he served with the French Army, notably in Indochina and in Cameroon. In terms of ethnic origin he came from the same people as Pres. Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire. He was ambassador to Canada (1975-79) and was appointed to serve in West Germany when David Dacko took over from Emperor Bokassa; he then returned to his country and was appointed chief of staff of the armed forces. On Sept. 1, 1981, General Kolingba succeeded Dacko as president. In July Dacko had promoted him to the highest military rank at a time when continuing internal unrest had forced the authorities in Bangui to proclaim a state of siege and order Kolingba to apply it strictly. He had won Dacko's confidence after playing a signal role in reorganizing the army, a task that he helped to accomplish after the collapse of the former empire of Jean-Bédel Bokassa. It was this element of trust in the relationship between the two men that, among other things, led to the belief that they were in agreement on the transfer of power that was to result in Kolingba's accession to the presidency. After the transfer a Military Committee of National Recovery was formed with Kolingba as chairman. In an interview shortly after his accession he said that, providing the necessary conditions were fulfilled, there would be a progressive return to democratic government. However he remained in power for 12 years until he allowed presidential elections in 1993 in which he was defeated. He was accused of leading a coup attempt in May 2001; he then fled to Uganda, was condemned to death in August 2002, but amnestied in April 2003. He returned on Oct. 5, 2003, to take part in a "national dialogue," during which he apologized for the errors of his government and his role in the failed coup attempt. The following month he left for France for health reasons but he returned on Feb. 27, 2005, for his presidential campaign. He finished third with 16.4% of the votes.

Kolingba, Désiré (Nzanga Bilal) (b. Aug. 19, 1956, Bangui, Oubangui-Chari [now Central African Republic] - d. April 25, 2021, Kinshasa, Congo [Kinshasa]), Central African Republic politician; son of André Kolingba. He was minister of youth, sports, arts, and culture (2004-09), minister in charge of the secretariat-general of the government and relations with parliament (2009-11), and a presidential candidate (2015).

Kolingba, Guy (Rufin Simplice) (b. Aug. 5, 1960, Brazzaville, Congo), Central African Republic politician; son of André Kolingba; brother of Désiré Kolingba. He was minister of youth, sports, arts, and culture (2003-04).

Kolisevski, Lazar (b. Feb. 12, 1914, Sveti Nikole, Serbia [now in North Macedonia] - d. July 6, 2000, Skopje, Macedonia [now North Macedonia]), Yugoslav politician. In Macedonia he was secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (1941-63), prime minister (1945-53), and president of the People's Assembly (1953-62), and, following Tito's death, he was the first president of the new rotating presidency of Yugoslavia (1980).

Kolkman, Maximilien Joseph Caspar Marie (b. March 9, 1853, Dordrecht, Netherlands - d. Feb. 19, 1924, The Hague, Netherlands), finance minister of the Netherlands (1908-13).

Kollek, Teddy, byname of Theodor Kollek (b. May 27, 1911, Nagyvázsony, Hungary - d. Jan. 2, 2007, Jerusalem), mayor of Jerusalem (1965-93).

A. Koller

Koller, Arnold (b. Aug. 29, 1933, Appenzell, Switzerland), defense minister (1987-89), justice and police minister (1989-99), and president (1990, 1997) of Switzerland.

Koller, Edwin (b. May 28, 1921, Uzwil, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland - d. Aug. 5, 2005, Oberuzwil, Sankt Gallen), Landammann of Sankt Gallen (1967-68, 1974-75, 1979-80, 1986-87).

Kolley, Abdou (b. Jan. 1, 1970, Kembujeh, The Gambia), finance minister of The Gambia (2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2015-17). He was also minister of trade, industry, and employment (2007-09), trade, regional integration, and employment (2010, 2011-12, 2013-15), and fisheries and water resources (2012).

Kollias, Konstantinos (b. 1901, Stylia, Greece - d. July 13, 1998), prime minister (1967) and acting foreign minister (1967) of Greece.

Kölliker

Kölliker, Stefan (b. Sept. 9, 1970), president of the government of Sankt Gallen (2013-14, 2018-19, 2023-24).

Kollontay

Kollontay, Aleksandra (Mikhailovna), née Domontovich (b. March 31 [March 19, O.S.], 1872, St. Petersburg, Russia - d. March 9, 1952, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), Russian revolutionary. The daughter of a high officer in the Imperial Russian Army, she married a general of engineers, Vladimir Mikhailovich Kollontay. However, she abandoned her privileged social position in 1898, became affiliated with the Russian Social-Democratic Workers' Party, and spread revolutionary propaganda among women workers. From 1908 she lived in exile. In 1916 she visited 81 cities in the United States on a lecture tour. She returned to Russia on the outbreak of the February Revolution in 1917, and after the October Revolution she became people's commissar for social welfare, holding the post until March 24, 1918, when she resigned in protest against the Brest-Litovsk peace. In 1920 she affiliated with the Workers' Opposition, a group that demanded greater democracy within the Bolshevik party; this won her popularity among the general party membership but prompted the Central Committee to attempt her expulsion from the party. From 1922 she was effectively in exile as a diplomat, being first appointed a councillor in the commercial delegation of the Soviets in Norway, then in 1923 plenipotentiary representative of the Soviet Union, and in 1924, after the recognition of the Soviet Union by Norway, as minister to Norway, becoming the first accredited woman envoy in modern history. Later she was minister to Mexico (1926-27), to Norway again (1927-30), and to Sweden (1930-45); from 1943 she held the rank of ambassador. In 1940 she helped to end the conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland, and she carried out the negotiations for the armistice between the two countries in 1944.

Kolmakov, Nikolay (Klavdiyevich) (b. Nov. 16, 1858 - d. 19...), acting governor of Zakaspiyskaya oblast (1916-17). He was also mayor of Tashkent (1907-11).

Kolo

Kolo, (Christophe Laurent) Roger (b. Sept. 3, 1943, Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar), prime minister of Madagascar (2014-15).

Kolobov, Yuriy (Volodymyrovych) (b. April 8, 1973, Pavlograd, Dnepropetrovsk oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R. [now Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk oblast, Ukraine]), finance minister of Ukraine (2012-14).

Kolodeznikov

Kolodeznikov, Aleksey (Zasimovich) (b. Jan. 1, 1974, Dzhebariki-Khaya, Yakut A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R. [now Sakha republic, Russia]), acting prime minister of Sakha (2016, 2020).

Kolodko, Grzegorz (Witold) (b. Jan. 28, 1949, Tczew, Poland), finance minister (and a deputy prime minister) of Poland (1994-97, 2002-03).

Kolodziejczyk, Piotr (Franciszek) (b. June 8, 1939, Poznan, Poland - d. Sept. 2, 2019), defense minister of Poland (1990-91, 1993-94).

Kolokolkin, Ivan (Terentyevich) (b. 1905 - d. 1969, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), first secretary of the Communist Party committee of the Mari A.S.S.R. (1945-48).

Kolokoltsev, Vladimir (Aleksandrovich) (b. May 11, 1961, Nizhny Lomov, Penza oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), interior minister of Russia (2012- ). He was also police commissioner of Moscow city (2009-12).

Kolokotronis, Gennaios, byname of Ioannis (Theodorou) Kolokotronis (b. 1806 - d. 1868), prime minister and interior minister of Greece (1862); son of Theodoros Kolokotronis. He received the nickname Gennaios ("Brave") during the war of independence.

T. Kolokotronis

Kolokotronis, Theodoros (Konstantinou) (b. April 1770, Messenia, Ottoman Empire [now in Greece] - d. Feb. 15, 1843, Athens, Greece), Greek political leader. He served in the English army and returned to Morea (Peloponnese) on the eve of the Greek revolution. Due to his military experience and knowledge he became the leading figure in organizing the Greek fighters during the War of Independence (1821-30). He was a member of the revolutionary society Philiki Etaireia. He is most famous for his role in the defeat of Mahmud Dramali's Ottoman army in August 1822. He was imprisoned in a monastery on Hydra for defying the central government but was released in 1825 to help defend the Morea against the Egyptians under Ibrahim Pasha. Applying guerrilla tactics against them, Kolokotronis inflicted major blows to Ibrahim's army. He signed the Greek demand for British protection and invited Sir Richard Church to be Greek commander-in-chief. In 1828 he supported the president, Count Ioannis Kapodistrias, and became one of the leaders of the pro-Russian party. After the count's assassination on Oct. 9, 1831, Kolokotronis set up a rival administration favouring 17-year-old Prince Otto of Bavaria for the newly created Greek throne, and he later tried to overthrow the young king's regency, composed largely of Bavarians. For this, Kolokotronis was condemned to death on June 7, 1834. The king commuted the sentence to 10 years in prison, and in 1835 he was fully reprieved.

Kololo, Jean-Blaise (b. 1952? - d. April 28, 1999, Kinshasa, Congo), foreign minister of Congo (Brazzaville) (1991-92).

Kolone

Kolstad

Kolone, (Afioga) Va'ai (b. Nov. 11, 1911, Vaisala, Samoa - d. April 20, 2001, Apia, Samoa), prime minister and foreign minister of Western Samoa (1982, 1985-88). One of the founders of the Human Rights Protection Party, he entered parliament in 1967.

Kolontay, Zoya (Leonidovna) (b. 1952, Minsk, Belorussian S.S.R.), Belarusian diplomat. She was chargé d'affaires at the United Nations (2011-12).

Kolopaking, Soemitro (b. June 14, 1887, Papringan, Netherlands East Indies [now in Jawa Tengah, Indonesia] - d. Oct. 23, 1976), Indonesian politician. He was appointed defense minister in 1951 but did not accept office.

Kolopaking, Sunario (b. Oct. 15, 1906, Banjarnegara, Netherlands East Indies [now in Jawa Tengah, Indonesia] - d. 1972), finance minister of Indonesia (1945); half-brother of Soemitro Kolopaking.

Koloso Sumaili (d. Jan. 19, 2019, Kinshasa, Congo [Kinshasa]), governor of Maniema (2004-07).

Kolowrat(-Liebsteinsky), Franz Anton Graf von (count of) (b. Jan. 31, 1778, Prague, Austria [now in Czech Republic] - d. April 4, 1861, Vienna, Austria), prime minister of Austria (1848). He was also Oberstburggraf of Bohemia (1809-26) and minister of state (1826-48).

Kolpakovsky, Gerasim (Alekseyevich) (b. March 16 [March 4, O.S.], 1819, Kharkov province, Russia [now in Ukraine] - d. May 5 [April 23, O.S.], 1896, St. Petersburg, Russia), governor-general of the Steppes (1882-89). He was also governor of Semipalatinsk oblast (1865-67) and Semirechye oblast (1867-82).

Kolstad, Peder Ludvik (b. Nov. 28, 1878, Borge, Smaalenenes amt [now Østfold fylke], Norway - d. March 5, 1932, Oslo, Norway), prime minister (1931-32) and finance minister (1931-32) of Norway.

Koltsov, Anton (Viktorovich) (b. June 24, 1973, Cherepovets, Vologda oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the government of Vologda oblast (2017-22) and Zaporozhye oblast (2022-24).

Kõlvart, Mihhail (b. Nov. 24, 1977, Kzyl-Orda, Kazakh S.S.R. [now Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan]), Estonian politician. He has been mayor of Tallinn (2019-24) and leader of the Centre Party (2023- ).

Kolybanov, Anatoly (Georgiyevich) (b. 1904, Yekaterinoslav, Russia [now Dnipro, Ukraine] - d. 1978), first secretary of the Communist Party committee of the Tatar A.S.S.R. (1942-43). He was also first secretary of the party committee of Odessa oblast (1939-45).

Kolyubakin, Aleksey (Mikhailovich) (b. June 22, 1851 - d. May 13, 1917), governor of Primorye oblast (1903-05) and Terek oblast (1905-08).

Kolyubakin, Mikhail (Petrovich) (b. 1806, Volyn province, Russia [now in Ukraine] - d. Jan. 31 [Jan. 19, O.S.], 1872, Baku, Russia [now in Azerbaijan]), governor of Baku (1863-72).

Kolyubakin, Nikolay (Petrovich) (b. 1810 [according to other sources, 1811], Moscow, Russia - d. Oct. 27 [Oct. 15, O.S.], 1868, Moscow), military governor of Kutaisi (1860-63); brother of Mikhail Kolyubakin.

Komakhidze, Revaz (Muradovich) (b. 1911 - d. November 1968), chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Adzhar A.S.S.R. (1955-68). Earlier he was minister of culture and justice.

Komara

Komara, Kabiné (b. March 8, 1950), prime minister of Guinea (2009-10).

Komárek, Valtr (b. Aug. 10, 1930, Hodonín, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic] - d. May 16, 2013, Prague, Czech Republic), a first deputy premier (1989-90), joint acting interior minister (1989), and a deputy premier (1990) of Czechoslovakia.

Komarnicki, Waclaw (Tytus) (b. July 29, 1891, Warsaw, Poland - d. March 19, 1954, London, England), justice minister of Poland in exile (1942-44).

Komarov, Aleksandr (Vissarionovich) (b. Sept. 5 [Aug. 24, O.S.], 1830 - d. Oct. 10 [Sept. 27, O.S.], 1904), head of Zakaspiyskaya oblast (1883-90).

I. Komarov

Komarov, Igor (Anatolyevich) (b. May 25, 1964, Engels, Saratov oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), plenipotentiary of the president in Privolzhsky federal district (2018- ). He was also director of the Russian space agency (2015-18).

Komarov, Konstantin (Vissarionovich) (b. Oct. 17 [Oct. 5, O.S.], 1832 - d. Dec. 31 [Dec. 18, O.S.], 1912), governor of Batum oblast (1878-81); brother of Aleksandr Komarov.

Komarov, Yevgeny (Borisovich) (b. April 10, 1942), head of the administration of Murmansk oblast (1991-96). He was also chairman of the Russian S.F.S.R. State Committee for Social and Economic Development of the North (1990-91).

Komarova

Komarova, Natalya (Vladimirovna) (b. Oct. 21, 1955, Pskov oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Khanty-Mansi autonomous okrug (2010-24). She was also mayor of Novy Urengoy (1994-2000).

Komarovsky, Yury (Vladimirovich) (b. July 18, 1952), head of the administration of Nenets autonomous okrug (1991-96).

Komatina, Miljan (b. Aug. 22, 1922, Berane, Yugoslavia [now in Montenegro]), Yugoslav diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1978-82).

Kombani, Celina (Ompeshi) (b. June 19, 1959 - d. Sept. 24, 2015, India), Tanzanian politician. She was minister of justice and constitutional affairs (2010-12).

M.T. Kombo

Kombo, Mahmoud Thabit (b. July 8, 1970), foreign minister of Tanzania (2024- ). He was also minister of health (2016-17) and information, tourism, and heritage (2017-20) of Zanzibar and ambassador to Italy (2021-24).

Kombo Yaya

Kombos

Kombo Yaya, Dieudonné, foreign minister of the Central African Republic (2008-09). He was also president of the National Elections Authority (2013-15).

Komboïgo, (Wend-Venem) Eddie (Constance Hyacinthe) (b. Sept. 11, 1964, Ouagadougou, Upper Volta [now Burkina Faso]), Burkinabe presidential candidate (2020).

Kombos, Konstantinos (b. Oct. 17, 1976, Limassol, Cyprus), foreign minister of Cyprus (2023- ).

Kombot-N.

Kombot-Naguemon, Nestor (b. Nov. 14, 1934, Yaoundé, Cameroon - d. Oct. 26, 2004, Paris, France), foreign minister of the Central African Republic (1969-70). He served as a minister and an ambassador several times, under all leaders from Jean-Bédel Bokassa to François Bozizé. He was minister of information (1968), development (1968-69), and development and tourism (1969), minister of state for foreign affairs and international cooperation (1970) and for relations with parliament (1994-96), president of the Supreme Court (1970-71), state comptroller (1971-72), and ambassador to Japan and South Korea (1972-74), the Benelux countries (also permanent representative to the EEC; 1974-80), Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea (1980-82), and West Germany and Austria (1984-89). He was also head of the Liberal Democratic Party, a small party which backed Ange-Félix Patassé after he became president in 1993. Kombot-Naguemon, who was ambassador to France since 2001 and to Italy since 2002, committed suicide by throwing himself from the 6th floor of his Parisian residence.

Komendant, Pyotr (Vasilyevich) (b. June 18, 1932), foreign minister of the Moldavian S.S.R. (1981-89). He was also Soviet/Russian ambassador to Rwanda (1990-94).

Komender, Zenon (b. Oct. 21, 1923, Czestochowa, Poland - d. April 12, 1993, Warsaw, Poland), a deputy premier of Poland (1982-85). He was also minister of internal trade and services (1981-82).

Komisarenko, Serhiy (Vasylovych) (b. July 9, 1943, Ufa, Bashkir A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R. [now Bashkortostan, Russia]), Ukrainian politician. Also known as a biochemist, he was a deputy prime minister (1990-92), ambassador to the United Kingdom (1992-98) and Ireland (1995-98), and a minor presidential candidate (2004).

Komo, Dauda (Musa), administrator of Rivers (1993-96).

Komodromos, Epaminondas (b. May 1912, Drousha village, Paphos district, Cyprus - d. 1996), interior and defense minister of Cyprus (1968-72).

Komolowski, Longin (b. Jan. 5, 1948, Czaplinek, Poland - d. Dec. 30, 2016, Warsaw, Poland), a deputy prime minister of Poland (1999-2001). He was also minister of labour and social policy (1997-2001).

Komorowski, Bronislaw (Maria Karol) (b. June 4, 1952, Oborniki Slaskie, Poland), defense minister (2000-01), acting president (2010), and president (2010-15) of Poland. He was marshal of the Sejm in 2007-10.

Komposch

Komposch, Cornelia (b. Dec. 10, 1963), president of the government of Thurgau (2018-19, 2022-23).

Komproe

Komproe, Ben, byname of Bernhard Komproe (b. Oct. 22, 1942, Curaçao - d. Oct. 11, 2004, Willemstad, Curaçao), prime minister of the Netherlands Antilles (2003). He headed the first government led by the FOL party, whose leader Anthony Godett could not become prime minister because he was under investigation and Komproe held the fort for a while until Anthony's sister Mirna Louisa-Godett took over. Komproe then became justice minister (August 2003). Opposition claims that he acted illegally in allowing a convicted FOL member, Nelson Monte, to stay in a first-class wing of a hospital rather than be jailed led to his resignation in April 2004 and the fall of the Louisa-Godett government. He was arrested on Sept. 6, 2004, on suspicions of fraud, professional corruption, and participation in a criminal organization. He allegedly gave a residence permit to dozens of Dominican Republic and Colombian prostitutes working in the open-air brothel Campo Alegre, in exchange receiving funds for the FOL from Campo Alegre owner Giovanni van Ierland. While detained, he fell ill, and after an emergency operation remained unconscious until his death.

Komsic

Komsic, Zeljko (b. Jan. 20, 1964, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina), chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2007-08, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2013-14, 2019-20, 2021-22, 2023-24). He was also ambassador to Yugoslavia (2001-03).

Komstadius, Avgust (Fyodorovich) (b. 1777 - d. Aug. 15 [Aug. 3, O.S.], 1856), governor of Kherson (1821-28); grandson-in-law of Ivan Seletsky.

Komstedt, (Paul Lennart) Wiggo (b. April 17, 1937, Rörum, Kristianstad [now in Skåne], Sweden - d. Nov. 28, 2010), governor of Kronoberg (1995-2002).

Komura, Jutaro, in full Koshaku (Marquess) Jutaro Komura (b. Nov. 5, 1855, Hyuga, Japan - d. Nov. 26, 1911, Hayama, Japan), foreign minister of Japan (1901-05, 1905, 1906, 1908-11). He was also chargé d'affaires in China (1893-94), minister to Korea (1895-96), the United States (1898-1900), Russia (1900), and China (1901), and ambassador to the United Kingdom (1906-08). He was made baron in 1902, count in 1907, and marquess in 1911.

M. Komura

Komura, Masahiko (b. March 3, 1942, Yamaguchi prefecture, western Honshu, Japan), foreign minister of Japan (1998-99, 2007-08). He followed in family footsteps as a politician, "inheriting" his constituency from his father. Running under the slogan "Fresh and Clean," he first won election to the more-powerful lower house of parliament in 1980 and quickly became known as an expert on commerce and defense issues. During a long government career, Komura headed the Economic Planning Agency and was deputy minister at the defense, finance, and foreign ministries. In the Foreign Ministry's number two post, he was one of the key players in brokering a Cambodian peace plan that allowed Prince Norodom Ranariddh to return to the country and contest July 1998 elections, and he visited Iran and Pakistan earlier that year on diplomatic missions. In July 1998 he was named foreign minister, taking up the post that had been held by Keizo Obuchi, who became prime minister. Later he became justice minister (2000-01), defense minister (2007), then again foreign minister.

Komyakhov, Vasily (Grigoryevich) (b. March 18, 1911, Slavyansk, Yekaterinoslav province, Russia [now Slovyansk, Ukraine] - d. Oct. 16, 1966, Kiev, Ukrainian S.S.R.), first secretary of the Communist Party committee of Crimea oblast (1955-61). He was also chairman of the executive committee of Kirovograd oblast (1949-53) and first secretary of party committees of Sumy (1953-55) and Poltava (1961-62) oblasti.

Konakovic

Konakovic, Elmedin (b. Sept. 3, 1974, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina), premier of Sarajevo canton (2015-18) and foreign minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2023- ).

Konan Koffi, Léon (b. Nov. 16, 1928, Grand-Lahou, Ivory Coast [now Côte d'Ivoire] - d. Aug. 29, 2017, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire), interior minister (1981-90) and defense minister (1990-95) of Côte d'Ivoire.

Konaré

Konaré, Alpha Oumar (b. Feb. 2, 1946, Kayes, Mali), president of Mali (1992-2002) and chairman of the Commission of the African Union (2003-08). He was minister of youth (1978-79) and sports, arts, and culture (1978-80). In 1980 he resigned from government and began working with the underground democracy movement. Throughout that decade he became increasingly outspoken in his criticism of Pres. Moussa Traoré. He founded two publications - the cultural quarterly Jamana and the newspaper Les Echos - that raised the bar for independent journalism in the country in terms of outspokenness, and in 1986 he took part in founding the National Popular Democratic Front, a pro-democracy organization. In 1991 he helped found the Alliance for Democracy in Mali and in 1992 he won a solid victory to become Mali's first democratically elected president. He was immediately tested by a growing Tuareg insurrection; in 1995 he reached an accord with the rebels. The 1997 parliamentary elections were plagued by irregularities; much of the opposition then boycotted the presidential elections, so that he won an overwhelming majority. Nevertheless, he was often hailed as a model African democrat. He made freedom of the press a high priority, and instituted a national public forum in which ordinary citizens were given the chance to address members of the government on television with their complaints and concerns. He was prevented by the constitution from serving a third term. At the second summit of the African Union in 2003 he was elected chairman of the Commission. In 2010 he was appointed by the UN secretary-general as co-chairman of an Eminent Persons Group to advise on support for least developed countries; it released its report in 2011.

Konaté, Tiéoulé (Mamadou) (b. Feb. 21, 1933, Bamako, French Sudan [now Mali] - d. [car crash] Oct. 27, 1995, between Markala and Niono, southwestern Mali), finance minister of Mali (1973-75) and secretary-general of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (1976-79). He was a presidential candidate in 1992; he received 31% of the vote against 69% for Alpha Oumar Konaré in the second round.

Könberg, Bo (Göran) (b. Oct. 14, 1945, Stockholm, Sweden), governor of Södermanland (2006-12).

Koncke, Gonzalo (b. May 27, 1970, Montevideo, Uruguay), Uruguayan diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (2014-15).

Koncki, Tadeusz (b. Dec. 13, 1878, Landshut, Galicia, Austria [now Lancut, Poland] - d. May 2, 1924), governor of Slaskie województwo (1924).

Kondakov, Aleksandr (Andreyevich) (b. May 5 [April 22, O.S.], 1908, Maydakovo, Vladimir province, Russia - d. Dec. 20, 1954, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), first secretary of the Communist Party of the Karelo-Finnish S.S.R. (1950). He was also chairman of the Executive Committee of Yaroslavl oblast (1937-38) and first secretary of the party committee of Kostroma oblast (1944-46).

Konde Vila Kikanda, (Désiré) Bonaventure (b. Feb. 24, 1939, Boma, Léopoldville province, Belgian Congo [now in Kongo Central province, Congo (Kinshasa)] - d. Nov. 13, 2020, Brussels, Belgium), governor of Haut-Zaïre (1976-78), Kasaï Occidental (1978-80), Bandundu (1981-85), Kasaï Oriental (1985), Kinshasa (1987-88), Nord-Kivu (1988-90), and Katanga (1990-91).

Konder, Adolpho (b. Feb. 16, 1884, Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil - d. Sept. 24, 1956, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), governor (1926-28) and president (1928-30) of Santa Catarina.

Kondov

Kondov, Ivan (Iliev) (b. Aug. 10, 1968), foreign minister of Bulgaria (2023, 2024- ). He was also ambassador to Spain (2017-21).

Kondratenko, Nikolay (Ignatovich) (b. Feb. 16, 1940, Plastunovskaya, Krasnodar kray, Russian S.F.S.R. - d. Nov. 23, 2013), chairman of the Executive Committee (1987-90) and head of the administration (1997-2001) of Krasnodar kray. One of Russia's most notorious anti-Semites, he was well known for publicly accusing Jews of everything from destroying the U.S.S.R. to "inventing" homosexuality.

Kondratyev, Aleksandr (Andreyevich) (b. Aug. 24, 1947, Penza, Russian S.F.S.R. - d. Sept. 18, 2017), head of the administration of Penza oblast (1991-93).

Kondratyev, Grigory (Ivanovich) (b. Jan. 21 [Jan. 8, O.S.], 1912 - d. April 14, 1993), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars/Ministers (1945-48, 1954-64) and first secretary of the Communist Party committee (1948-51) of the Mari A.S.S.R.

V. Kondratyev

Kondratyev, Veniamin (Ivanovich) (b. Sept. 1, 1970, Prokopyevsk, Kemerovo oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), head of the administration of Krasnodar kray (2015- ).

Konduchalova, Kuluipa (Konduchalovna) (b. June 15, 1920, Kara-Zhygach village, Russia [now in Chuy oblast, Kyrgyzstan] - d. Sept. 7, 2013, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan), foreign minister of the Kirgiz S.S.R. (1953-63). She was also minister of culture (1958-80).

Kondylis

Kondylis, Georgios (Themistokleous) (b. 1879, Proussos, Greece - d. Jan. 31, 1936, Athens, Greece), prime minister of Greece (1926, 1935). He began his military career in 1896, joining the Cretan insurgents who were in arms against Turkish rule. Later he fought in both Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913, in Macedonia during World War I, and in Asia Minor in the Greek-Turkish war. Promoted to general in 1922, he resigned from the army in July 1923 to be a candidate for parliament, but when a royalist revolt broke out in October 1923 he was asked to take command of a division of troops loyal to the revolutionary government. He won the nickname "Thunderbolt" for his effectiveness in suppressing the revolt. He helped to depose King George II, formed his own party, the National Republicans, and served as minister of war (1924) and minister of the interior (1924-25). In August 1926 he overthrew the military dictator Theodoros Pangalos in a bloodless coup d'état and became prime minister and minister of war and marine; to the surprise of many he handed over the administration after the elections of November to Alexandros Zaimis, dissolved his party, and retired from politics. But in May 1927 he called his National Republicans together again and re-entered politics. He served as minister of war (1932-33, 1933-35) and deputy prime minister (1935) in the governments of Panagis Tsaldaris and suppressed a revolt initiated at Salonika by Eleftherios Venizelos in March 1935. Kondylis then announced that the republic had failed and advocated the restoration of the monarchy. In a coup in October he made himself prime minister and regent and he effected the king's return on November 25. He had hoped to remain prime minister but as George II intended to rule as a constitutional monarch with a neutral cabinet, Kondylis was forced to resign.

Koné, Amadou (b. Aug. 24, 1966, Bouaké, Ivory Coast [now Côte d'Ivoire]), Ivorian politician. He has been minister of tourism and crafts (2005-07), African integration (2007-10), and transport (2017- ).

Koné, Jean-Marie (b. 1913, Sikasso, French Sudan [now Mali] - d. May 15, 1988, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire), prime minister (1957-59) and foreign minister (1968-69) of Mali. He was also minister of justice (1960-62) and planning and coordination of economic and financial affairs (1962-68).

Koné, Lancina (b. 1916, Mahalé, Ivory Coast [now Côte d'Ivoire]), Ivorian politician. He was minister of labour and social welfare (1963-68).

Koné, (René) Lompolo (b. 1921, Tengrela, southwestern Upper Volta [now Burkina Faso] - d. June 2, 1974, Ouagadougou, Upper Volta), foreign minister of Upper Volta (1960-66). He was also known as a writer.

Koné, Mamadou (b. Sept. 18, 1952, Boundiali, Ivory Coast [now Côte d'Ivoire]), justice minister of Côte d'Ivoire (2005-10). He has also been president of the Supreme Court (2011-15) and the Constitutional Council (2015- ). He is not to be confused with another Mamadou Koné (b. March 15, 1957), who was minister of scientific research (2003-05).

Koné, Moriba Alain, justice minister of Guinea (2022). He was appointed ambassador to South Africa in 2023.

Konelios, Michael M(aika) (b. 1946?), Marshall Islands politician. Having earlier served as secretary of finance and secretary of resources and development, in 2000 the first-term senator from Maloelap Atoll became minister of finance; in 2002 he was shifted to transportation and communications. Leaving the government in 2008, he returned as minister of resources and development in 2012-16.

Konev, Ivan (Stepanovich) (b. Dec. 28, 1897, Lodeyno, Vyatka province [now in Kirov oblast], Russia - d. May 21, 1973, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), Soviet high commissioner of Austria (1945-46) and commander-in-chief of the Warsaw Treaty Organization (1955-60).

Konevska-Trajkovska, Gabriela (b. 1971, Skopje, Macedonia [now North Macedonia] - d. Feb. 10, 2010), a deputy prime minister of Macedonia (2006-08).

Konfourou, Issa (b. Jan. 1, 1970), Malian diplomat. He has been permanent representative to the United Nations (2016- ).

Kong Geng

Kong Geng (b. 1876, Xishui, Hubei, China - d. February 1950, Wuchang [now part of Wuhan], Hubei), civil governor of Hubei (1927). He studied abroad in the Japanese College of Army Commanders in 1908, when he joined the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance. After his return, he started to serve in the Shanxi Provincial Army, being a chief of staff and a brigade commander. He was sent to his home province of Hubei in 1921, serving as a delegate of Sun Yat-sen's southern government. He began holding his top posts in Hubei from 1927, when the Kuomintang army took over Wuhan, the capital of the province, serving as head of the Construction Bureau as well as civil governor. He became a member of the Legislative Yuan (parliament) during the war against the Japanese. Believing in his "fate," he refused to go to Taiwan in 1949 and stayed on the mainland.

Kong Korm (b. April 6, 1941), foreign minister of Cambodia (1986-87). He was also ambassador to Vietnam (1980-81) and Mongolia (1981-82) and minister of the state affairs inspectorate (1988-92).

Kong Sam Ol, Samdech (Chaufea Veang) (b. Nov. 1, 1936, Kangkor, Kandal province, Cambodia - d. Sept. 2, 2024), Cambodian politician. He was minister of agriculture (1981-86), agriculture, forestry, and fisheries (1993-94), and the royal palace (1993-2023) and a deputy prime minister (1987-93, 1993-2023).

Kong Xiangxi

Kong Xiangxi (Pinyin), Wade-Giles K'ung Hsiang-hsi, name for Western use H.H. Kung (b. Sept. 11, 1880, Taigu, Shanxi, China - d. Aug. 15, 1967, New York City), premier of China (1938-39); brother-in-law of Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek (see Song Qingling). He ran business in his family's private bank until 1901, when he was sent to the U.S. to study. He became an adviser of Shanxi governor Yan Xishan after the revolution in 1911. In 1924 he moved to the south and was named finance minister. He later took up the enterprise ministry in the National Government of Wuhan (led by Wang Jingwei) in 1927. After the Wuhan government was incorporated into the one in Nanjing, he continued his career as cabinet minister, serving as finance minister in 1933-44. He was also the president of the Central Bank as well as the Bank of China. He stayed in the U.S. after his trip there to apply for loans in 1948.

Konga, Nakikus (b. Aug. 25, 1950), home affairs minister (1994-95) and finance minister (1997) of Papua New Guinea and governor of East New Britain (2017-22). He was also minister of commerce and industry (1995-97).

Kongantiyev, Moldomusa (Tashbolotovich) (b. March 31, 1958, Mayli-Say, Dzhalal-Abad oblast, Kirgiz S.S.R. [now Mayluu-Suu, Jalal-Abad oblast, Kyrgyzstan] - d. Feb. 12, 2022, Osh, Kyrgyzstan), interior minister of Kyrgyzstan (2008-10).

Kongo-Doudou

Kongo-Doudou, Toussaint, foreign minister of the Central African Republic (2014-15).

Koniar, Modest (Mavrikiyevich) (b. 1827 - d. 1890), governor of Arkhangelsk (1880-81) and Bessarabia (1881-83).

Konica, Mehmet Bej (b. 1881, Konitsa, Greece - d. 1948), foreign minister of Albania (1920, 1943-44). He was also minister to the United Kingdom (1922-25).

Konie, Gwendoline (Chomba) (b. Oct. 9, 1938, Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia [now Zambia] - d. March 15, 2009, Lusaka), Zambian politician. She was ambassador to Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland (1974-77) and Germany (1992-97), permanent representative to the United Nations (1978-79), and a minor presidential candidate (2001).

Konieczny, Jerzy (Marian) (b. 1950), interior minister of Poland (1995-96). He was also head of the State Protection Office (1992-93).

König (Velásquez), Abraham (b. 1846, Ancud, Chiloé, Chile - d. Aug. 10, 1925, Santiago, Chile), war and marine minister of Chile (1889). He was also minister to Bolivia (1899-1901).

König, Heinrich, Russian Genrikh (Genrikhovich) Kenig (b. 1894, Berlin, Germany - d. [executed] 1938), executive secretary of the Communist Party committee of the Volga German Workers' Commune/A.S.S.R. (1921-28).

Koning, Jan de (b. Aug. 31, 1926, Zwartsluis, Overijssel, Netherlands - d. Oct. 8, 1994, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands), interior minister of the Netherlands (1987). He was also minister without portfolio (development cooperation) (1977-81) and minister of agriculture and fisheries (1981-82), Netherlands Antilles affairs (1982-89), and social affairs and employment (1982-87, 1987-89).

Konjanovski, Zoran (b. March 3, 1967, Bitola, Macedonia), defense minister of Macedonia (2008-11). He was also minister of local self-government (2006-07).

Konjevic, Rasko (b. April 12, 1979, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina), interior minister (2012-16), finance minister (2016), and defense minister and a deputy prime minister (2022) of Montenegro. He was also leader of the Social Democratic Party (2021-23).

Konjicija, Abdulah (b. 1928, Fojnica [now in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina] - d. Jan. 18, 2004, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina), acting chairman of the Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992).

Konjufca

Konjufca, Glauk (b. July 25, 1981, Pristina, Kosovo, Serbia), foreign minister (2020) and acting president (2021) of Kosovo. He has been president of the Assembly (2019-20, 2021- ).

Konkov

Taro Kono

Y. Kono

Konkov, Pavel (Alekseyevich) (b. Sept. 19, 1958, Ivanovo, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Ivanovo oblast (2013-17).

Kono, Hironaka (b. Aug. 24 [July 7, lunar calendar], 1849, Miharu domain, Mutsu province [now in Fukushima prefecture], Japan - d. Dec. 29, 1923), Japanese politician. He was speaker of the House of Representatives (1903) and minister of agriculture and commerce (1915-16).

Kono, Kenzo (b. May 14, 1901, Odawara, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan - d. Oct. 16, 1983, Kanagawa prefecture), Japanese politician. He was president of the House of Councillors (1971-77).

Kono, Shunji (b. Sept. 8, 1964), governor of Miyazaki (2011- ).

Kono, Taro (b. Jan. 10, 1963, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan), foreign minister (2017-19) and defense minister (2019-20) of Japan; son of Yohei Kono. He was also chairman of the National Public Safety Commission (2015-16), minister in charge of administrative reform (2015-16, 2020-21), and minister of digital affairs (2022-24).

Kono, Togama, in full (from 1893) Shishaku (Viscount) Togama Kono (b. Nov. 29 [Oct. 20, lunar calendar], 1844 - d. April 24, 1895), home affairs minister of Japan (1892). He was also minister of agriculture and commerce (1892), justice (1892), and education (1892-93).

Kono, Yohei (b. Jan. 15, 1937, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan), foreign minister of Japan (1994-96, 1999-2001); cousin of Seiichi Tagawa. He was also chief cabinet secretary (1992-93), deputy prime minister (1994-96), and speaker of the House of Representatives (2003-09).

Konoe

Konoe, Fumimaro, in full Koshaku (Duke, or Prince) Fumimaro Konoe, Konoe also spelled Konoye (b. Oct. 12, 1891, Tokyo, Japan - d. Dec. 16, 1945, Tokyo), prime minister of Japan (1937-39, 1940-41). He was born into the Fujiwara family that had been connected with the imperial house since the dawn of modern Japanese history (the name Konoe itself means "imperial guard"). By virtue of his rank as prince he entered the House of Peers, the upper house of the Diet, and became its vice president in 1931 and president in 1933. He opposed Fascism and the interference of the army in foreign affairs. He declined to form a cabinet when asked to by the emperor in 1936, but in June 1937 he agreed to form a nonparty cabinet. In July Chinese and Japanese forces clashed near Beiping (Beijing) and a vast campaign of aggression ensued, not led by Konoe but by the army taking things into its own hands. His cabinet fell in January 1939. He was appointed head of the Privy Council and was given a cabinet post in the Kiichiro Hiranuma cabinet. In June 1940 he was called back to form his second cabinet. During his tenure, in September 1940, Japan entered a military alliance with Germany and Italy. In October 1941 he resigned over differences with the army minister, Hideki Tojo, who succeeded him as prime minister and widened the war with the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. In 1944 Konoe cooperated with other leading political figures to bring about the collapse of the Tojo cabinet. After the war, in 1945, he became deputy minister of national affairs in the Naruhiko Higashikuni cabinet. Later that year he was served with an arrest warrant by the occupation army on suspicion of being a war criminal, and on the day he was to report, he took his life with poison.

Konomi, Manol (b. 1910, near Gjirokastër, Ottoman Empire [now in Albania] - d. June 3, 2002), justice minister of Albania (1944-51).

Kononov, Vitaliy (Mykolayovych) (b. April 2, 1950, Kobuleti, Adzhar A.S.S.R., Georgian S.S.R.), Ukrainian politician. He was chairman of the Green Party of Ukraine (1992-2006) and a minor presidential candidate in 1999; in 2004 he withdrew before the election.

Konovalov, Aleksandr (Ivanovich) (b. Sept. 29 [Sept. 17, O.S.], 1875, Moscow, Russia - d. Jan. 28, 1949, Paris, France), Russian politician. He was a member of the State Duma (1912-17), minister of commerce and industry (1917, 1917), and deputy premier (1917).

A.(V.) Konovalov

Konovalov, Aleksandr (Vladimirovich) (b. June 9, 1968, Leningrad, Russian S.F.S.R. [now St. Petersburg, Russia]), plenipotentiary of the president in Privolzhsky federal district (2005-08) and justice minister of Russia (2008-20).

V. Konovalov

Konovalov, Valentin (Olegovich) (b. Nov. 30, 1987, Okhotsk, Khabarovsk kray, Russian S.F.S.R.), head of the republic - chairman of the government of Khakassia (2018- ).

Konovnitsyn, Pyotr (Petrovich) (b. 1743 - d. Feb. 22, 1796, Petergof [now part of St. Petersburg], Russia), governor of Tambov (1782-84), Novgorod (1784-85), and St. Petersburg (1785-93) and governor-general of Arkhangelsk and Olonets (1793-96).

Konovnitsyn, Pyotr (Petrovich) (b. Oct. 9 [Sept. 28, O.S.], 1764, Pskov, Russia - d. Sept. 9/10 [Aug. 28/29, O.S.], 1822, Petergof district, St. Petersburg province [now in St. Petersburg city], Russia), war minister of Russia (1815-19); son of the above.

Konow, Fredrik Ludvig (b. June 23, 1864, Bergen, Norway - d. Aug. 14, 1953, Bergen), finance minister of Norway (1912-13, 1926-28).

Konow, Henri (b. Feb. 7, 1862, Copenhagen, Denmark - d. Jan. 18, 1939, Copenhagen), governor-general of the Danish West Indies (1916-17) and foreign and defense minister of Denmark (1920).

Konow, Wollert (b. Aug. 16, 1845, Fana [now part of Bergen], Norway - d. March 15, 1924, Fana), prime minister of Norway (1910-12). He was also president of the Storting (1888) and minister of agriculture (1910) and auditing (1910-12). He came to be known as Wollert Konow (S.B.) - S.B. for Søndre Bergenhus - to be distinguished from his cousin (see below).

Konow, Wollert (b. May 24, 1847, Bergen, Norway - d. Oct. 25, 1932, Oslo, Norway), interior minister of Norway (1891-93). He was also minister of agriculture and auditing (1900-03). He came to be known as Wollert Konow (H.) - H. for Hedmark - to be distinguished from his cousin (see above).

Konrote

Konrote, Jioji (Konousi) (b. Dec. 26, 1947), president of Fiji (2015-21). He was also high commissioner to Australia and ambassador to Singapore (2002-06).

Konsbruck, Guillaume, byname Guill Konsbruck (b. Sept. 3, 1909, Hostert, Luxembourg - d. 1983), Luxembourg politician. He was minister of agriculture, commerce, industry, trades, and rehabilitation (1945) and rehabilitation and economic affairs (1945-46).

Konstantin (Nikolayevich), Veliky Knyaz (Grand Duke) (b. Sept. 21 [Sept. 9, O.S.], 1827, St. Petersburg, Russia - d. Jan. 25 [Jan. 13, O.S.], 1892, Pavlovsk, St. Petersburg province, Russia), viceroy of Poland (1862-63) and chairman of the Imperial State Council of Russia (1865-81); brother of Aleksandr II; son of Nikolay I.

Konstantin (Pavlovich), Veliky Knyaz (Grand Duke) (b. May 8 [April 27, O.S.], 1779, Tsarskoye Selo [now Pushkin, part of St. Petersburg], Russia - d. June 27 [June 15, O.S.], 1831, Vitebsk, Russia [now Vitsebsk, Belarus]), emperor (proclaimed) of Russia (1825); son of Pavel I; brother of Aleksandr I.

Konstantin III, secular name Konstantin (Grigoryevich) Dyakov (b. June 2 [May 21, O.S.], 1871, Chernigov province, Russia [now in Ukraine] - d. Nov. 10, 1937), metropolitan of Kiev (1934-37). He was also bishop of Sumy (1924-27) and archbishop (1927-32) and metropolitan (1932-34) of Kharkov.

Konstantinos I (b. Aug. 2, 1868, Athens, Greece - d. Jan. 11, 1923, Palermo, Italy), king of Greece (1913-17, 1920-22); son of Georgios I.

Konstantinos

Konstantinos II (b. June 2, 1940, Psychiko, near Athens, Greece - d. Jan. 10, 2023, Marousi, near Athens), king of Greece (1964-73). The son of Crown Prince Pavlos and Princess Frederika, he spent World War II in exile in South Africa and returned to Greece in 1946. When his father became king in 1947, Konstantinos became crown prince (as such winning a gold medal in sailing at the 1960 Summer Olympics) and he succeeded to the throne upon Pavlos' death on March 6, 1964. In July 1965 he clashed with Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou over control of the armed forces; he eased Papandreou out of power and appointed interim premiers until April 21, 1967, when a military coup forestalled the election he was planning for May of that year. He attempted a counter-coup from northern Greece on Dec. 13, 1967, but had few sympathizers and almost immediately fled to Rome with his family. The military regime at first retained the monarchy and appointed a regent in Konstantinos' place, granting the king a free return if he so desired. On June 1, 1973, however, the regime proclaimed a republic. This was confirmed in a referendum on July 29, 1973. After the election of a civilian government in November 1974, another referendum on the monarchy was conducted on December 8. The monarchy was rejected by a majority of about two to one, and Konstantinos, who had protested the vote of 1973, accepted the result. Married since Sept. 18, 1964, to Anne-Marie (b. Aug. 30, 1946, Copenhagen), daughter of King Frederik IX of Denmark, their children are Alexia (b. July 10, 1965, Mon Repos, Corfu, Greece), Pavlos (b. May 20, 1967, Athens), Nikolaos (b. Oct. 1, 1969, Rome), Theodora (b. June 9, 1983, London), and Philippos (b. April 26, 1986, London). He returned to Greece from his London exile in 2013.

Konstantinov, Tikhon (Antonovich) (b. Aug. 13 [Aug. 1, O.S.], 1898, Khorosheye, Yekaterinoslav province, Russia [now in Luhansk oblast, Ukraine] - d. Jan. 20, 1957, Kishinev, Moldavian S.S.R. [now Chisinau, Moldova]), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (1940-45) and people's commissar of foreign affairs (1944-45) of the Moldavian S.S.R. He was also acting chairman of the Central Executive Committee (1938), chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1938-40), and chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (1940) of the Moldavian A.S.S.R.

Konstantinova, Kalina (Borislavova) (b. May 18, 1984, Sofia, Bulgaria), a deputy prime minister of Bulgaria (2021-22).

Konstantinovich, Aleksandr (Petrovich) (b. Sept. 6 [Aug. 25, O.S.], 1832 - d. Sept. 25 [Sept. 12, O.S.], 1903), governor of Turgay oblast (1878-83) and Bessarabia (1883-99).

Konstantopoulos, Konstantinos (b. 1832, Mantineia [now part of Tripoli], Greece - d. 1910, Athens, Greece), prime minister and interior minister of Greece (1892). He was also president of the Vouli (1890-91) and and provisional finance minister (1892).

Konstantynov

Konstantynov, Volodymyr (Andriyovych) (b. Nov. 19, 1956, Moldavian S.S.R.), chairman of parliament of the Crimea (2010-14).

Kontagora, Aminu Isah (b. April 20, 1956, Shadadi village [now in Niger state], Nigeria - d. Jan. 10, 2021, Abuja, Nigeria), administrator of Benue (1996-98) and Kano (1998-99).

Kontagora, Mamman (Tsoho) (b. April 20, 1944, Kontagora [now in Niger state], Nigeria - d. May 29, 2013, Abuja, Nigeria), Nigerian politician; minister of the Federal Capital Territory (1998-99).

Konthi Suphamongkhon (b. Aug. 3, 1916 - d. Dec. 27, 2011), secretary-general of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (1964-65). He was also Thailand's ambassador to Australia (1956-59), New Zealand (1956-59), West Germany (1965-70), Finland (1967-70), and the U.K. (1970-76).

Kontic, Radoje (b. May 31, 1937, Niksic, Montenegro), chairman of the Executive Council of Montenegro (1989-91) and prime minister of Yugoslavia (1993-98).

Kontogeorgis, Georgios (b. Nov. 21, 1912, Tinos, Greece - d. November 2009), Greek politician. He was a minister without portfolio (1977-81), European commissioner for transport, fisheries, and tourism (1981-85), and minister of economy and tourism (1989, 1990).

Kontorovsky Artola, José Ramón (b. Nov. 6, 1943), defense minister of Nicaragua (2000).

Konuk, (Osman) Nejat (b. 1928, Nicosia, Cyprus - d. Dec. 31, 2014, Istanbul, Turkey), prime minister of North Cyprus (1976-78, 1983-85). He was also minister of justice and internal affairs in the Turkish Cypriot Executive Council (1969-75) and president of the Legislative Assembly (1981, 1982-83).

Konwar

Konwar, Devanand (b. 1935?, Tinsukia, Assam, India - d. April 25, 2020, Guwahati, Assam), governor of Bihar (2009-13), West Bengal (2009-10), and Tripura (2013-14).

Kony, Mohamed Awad al- (b. 1906 - d. ...), Egyptian diplomat. He was ambassador to the Soviet Union (1955-61) and the United Kingdom (1961-64) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1964-69).

Kónya, Imre (b. May 3, 1947, Budapest, Hungary), interior minister of Hungary (1993-94).

Kooijmans, Pieter (Hendrik) (b. July 6, 1933, Heemstede, Noord-Holland, Netherlands - d. Feb. 13, 2013), foreign minister of the Netherlands (1993-94). In 1997-2006 he was a judge of the International Court of Justice.

Kook

Kook, Hillel (b. 1915, Lithuania - d. Aug. 18, 2001, Kfar Shmaryahu, near Tel Aviv, Israel), Jewish militia leader. He immigrated with his family to Palestine in 1925, joining his uncle Abraham Isaac Kook, who became the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Israel. After a brief spell in the Haganah underground, the forerunner of the Israeli army, Kook joined the more radical Irgun militia, fighting local Arabs and the forces of Britain, which ruled at the time under a mandate of the League of Nations. In 1937 he was sent on behalf of the Revisionist movement to Poland to help smuggle Jews to Palestine. There he adopted the name Peter Bergson. As Bergson he traveled to the United States in 1940, initially to help Revisionist leader Zeev Jabotinsky's efforts to raise funds for the formation of a Jewish army to fight the Nazis. Later Kook shifted focus and launched a campaign in the U.S. to publicize the Nazi extermination of Europe's Jews. About 6 million Jews were killed in the Nazi Holocaust. He returned home when Israel declared independence in 1948 and was arrested by the new government for his Irgun activities. He was soon released and became a member of Israel's first parliament. Disillusioned by squabbles within the right and by the state's hostility to Irgun veterans, he returned to the United States, where he built a successful financial career. He came back to Israel on his retirement in 1970.

Kool, Arthur (b. Feb. 21, 1841, Maastricht, Netherlands - d. March 24, 1914, The Hague, Netherlands), war minister of the Netherlands (1901).

Koolen, Dionysius Adrianus Petrus Norbertus (b. Jan. 21, 1871, Rijswijk, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands - d. March 24, 1945, Voorschoten, Zuid-Holland), Dutch politician. He was chairman of the Second Chamber (1920-25) and minister of labour, trade, and industry (1925-26).

Kooli, Ali (b. Aug. 20, 1964, Tunis, Tunisia), economy, finance, and investment support minister of Tunisia (2020-21).

Koolman

Kopacz

Koolman, Olindo (b. 1942), governor of Aruba (1992-2004).

Koolmees, Wouter (b. March 20, 1977, Capelle aan den IJssel, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands), a deputy prime minister of the Netherlands (2019-20). He was also minister of social affairs and employment (2017-22).

Koonjul, Jagdish (Dharamchand) (b. April 14, 1952), Mauritian diplomat. He has been permanent representative to the United Nations (2001-06, 2015- ), chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States (2002-05), and ambassador to Belgium (2011-15).

Kopac, Janez (b. July 28, 1961, Ljubljana, Slovenia), finance minister of Slovenia (1992).

Kopacz, Ewa (Bozena) (b. Dec. 3, 1956, Skaryszew, Poland), prime minister of Poland (2014-15). In 2011-14 she was marshal of the Sejm.

Kopal, Robert (b. 1964, Rijeka, Croatia), acting interior minister of Croatia (2017).

Kopasis, Andreas, Turkish Andreas Kopasis Efendi (b. 1856, Crete, Ottoman Empire [now in Greece] - d. [assassinated] March 22, 1912, Vathy, Samos, Ottoman Empire [now in Greece]), governor of Samos (1908-12).

Kopec, Aleksander (b. Oct. 12, 1932, Wasowiczówka, Poland [now in Ukraine] - d. Nov. 28, 2015), a deputy premier of Poland (1980-81). He was also minister of engineering industry (1975-80).

Kopecký, Václav (b. Aug. 25, 1897, Kosmonosy, Austria [now in Czech Republic] - d. Aug. 5, 1961, Prague, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), a deputy premier of Czechoslovakia (1953-61). He was also minister of information (1945-53) and culture (1953-54).

Kopekov, Danatar (Abdyevich) (b. May 12, 1933, Ashkhabad, Turkmen S.S.R. [now Ashgabat, Turkmenistan] - d. Sept. 21, 2011), defense minister of Turkmenistan (1992-98). He was also chairman of the Committees for State Security (1991) and National Security (1991-92).

Kopf, Hinrich Wilhelm (b. May 6, 1893, Neuenkirchen, near Otterndorf, Prussia [now in Niedersachsen], Germany - d. Dec. 21, 1961, Göttingen, Niedersachsen, West Germany), minister-president of Hannover (1946) and Niedersachsen (1946-55, 1959-61).

Kopin

Kopin, Roman (Valentinovich) (b. March 5, 1974, Kostroma, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Chukotka autonomous okrug (2008-23).

Koplenig, Johann (b. May 15, 1891, Jadersdorf [now part of Gitschtal], Kärnten, Austria - d. Dec. 13, 1968, Vienna, Austria), Austrian politician. He was general secretary/chairman of the Communist Party (1924-65) and minister without portfolio (functionally a vice chancellor, 1945). He was in exile in 1934-45.

Kopliku, Bashkim (Bahri) (b. July 15, 1943, Shkodër, Albania - d. Nov. 21, 2020), public order minister of Albania (1992-93). He was also a deputy prime minister (1992-94).

Kopp, (Anna) Elisabeth, née Iklé (b. Dec. 16, 1936, Zürich, Switzerland - d. April 7, 2023, Zumikon, near Zürich), justice and police minister of Switzerland (1984-89). She was the first woman elected to the Federal Council.

Koprivica, Momo (b. Niksic, Montenegro), a deputy prime minister of Montenegro (2023- ).

Köprülü, (Mehmet) Fuat (b. Dec. 5, 1890, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey] - d. June 28, 1966, Istanbul), foreign minister (1950-55, 1955-56) and acting defense minister (1955) of Turkey. He was also a minister of state (1955) and a deputy prime minister (1955).

Koraea, Sir Thomas (b. Oct. 11, 1941), premier (1987-89) and governor (1995-97) of Gulf province; knighted 1993. He was also Papua New Guinean minister of media and broadcasting (1977-78), works and supply (1978-79), and justice (1979-80).

Korah, Lucky Harry (b. May 24, 1952, Makassar, Sulawesi [now in Sulawesi Selatan], Indonesia), acting governor of Sulawesi Utara (2005).

Koraltan, (Bekir) Refik, until Jan. 1, 1935, Refik Bey (b. 1889, Divrigi, Ottoman Empire [now in Turkey] - d. June 17, 1974, Istanbul, Turkey), Turkish politician. He was speaker of the Grand National Assembly (1950-60).

Korányi de Tolcsva, Frigyes báró ("de Tolcsva" from 1884, báró [baron] from 1908) (b. June 21, 1869, Pest [now part of Budapest], Hungary - d. Dec. 26, 1935, Budapest), finance minister of Hungary (1919-20, 1924, 1931-32). He was also ambassador to France (1923-24).

Korbel, Josef, originally Körbel (b. Sept. 20, 1909, Kysperk, Austria [now in Czech Republic] - d. June 18, 1977, Denver, Colo.), Czechoslovak diplomat. He was minister (1945-46) and ambassador (1946-48) to Yugoslavia.

Korbonski, Stefan (b. March 2, 1901, Praszka, Poland - d. April 23, 1989, Washington, D.C.), Polish politician. He became a member of the underground government of Poland during World War II and was chief of civil resistance against the Germans from 1941 to 1944. He took part in the preparations for the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. For him and his colleagues, the rising represented a way of gaining control of Warsaw ahead of the Soviets and thereby creating "a fait accompli for the postwar status of a liberated Poland." When the rising was crushed by the Germans, the Soviets did not help the insurgents. In March 1945, after the Soviets arrested the underground government's delegate among other underground leaders, Korbonski became acting government's delegate. He was himself arrested a few weeks later but subsequently released. In early 1947, he was elected chairman of the Warsaw district of the Polish Peasant Party. He became a member of parliament, but later that year, when the Communists gained firm control of Poland, he feared renewed arrest, fled to Sweden, and then moved to the United States. He was several times chairman of the Assembly of Captive European Nations.

Korbut, Mikalay (Piatrovich) (b. Nov. 1, 1948, Gutnitsa, Minsk oblast, Belorussian S.S.R.), finance minister of Belarus (1997-2008).

Korcák

Korcák, Josef (b. Dec. 17, 1921, Holstejn, Blansko district, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic] - d. Oct. 5, 2008), prime minister of the Czech Socialist Republic (1970-87).

Korcok

Korcok, Ivan (b. April 4, 1964, Banská Bystrica, Czechoslovakia [now in Slovakia]), foreign minister of Slovakia (2020-21, 2021-22). He was also ambassador to Germany (2005-09) and the United States (2018-20) and a presidential candidate (2024).

Kordan, Ali (b. November 1958, near Sari, northern Iran - d. Nov. 22, 2009, Tehran, Iran), interior minister of Iran (2008).

Kore, Dashamir (Bejtash), justice minister of Albania (1991).

Koren, Daniel Bremer Juell (b. March 12, 1858, Mandal, Lister og Mandal amt [now in Agder fylke], Norway - d. July 10, 1948, Kristiansand, Vest-Agder [now in Agder] fylke), governor of Lister og Mandal amt/Vest-Agder fylke (1907-28).

Koren, Petter Mørch (b. Jan. 22, 1910, Edinburgh, Scotland - d. Nov. 14, 2004), justice minister of Norway (1963, 1972-73) and governor of Oslo and Akershus (1965-79).

Korf, Baron Andrey (Fyodorovich), German Heinrich Ulrich Kasimir Freiherr von Korff (b. May 12, 1765, Würzau, Courland [now Vircava, Latvia] - d. Nov. 30 [Nov. 18, O.S.], 1823, St. Petersburg, Russia), Russian official. He was Prussian chargé d'affaires in Sweden (1792-97) before entering Russian service, becoming president of the Collegium of Justice for Livonian and Estonian Affairs (1804-19) and a senator (1819-23).

Korf, Andrey (Nikolayevich) (b. July 22 [July 10, O.S.], 1831, Libava, Courland, Russia [now Liepaja, Latvia] - d. Feb. 19 [Feb. 7, O.S.], 1893, Khabarovsk, Russia), governor-general of Priamurye (1884-93).

Korf, Graf Modest (Andreyevich) (b. Sept. 23 [Sept. 11, O.S.], 1800, St. Petersburg, Russia - d. Jan. 14 [Jan. 2, O.S.], 1876, St. Petersburg), Russian secretary of state (1834-43); son of Baron Andrey Korf. He was raised from Baron to Graf (count) in 1872.

Korfanty, Wojciech (b. April 20, 1873, Siemianowice, Germany [now in Poland] - d. Aug. 17, 1939, Warsaw, Poland), prime minister of Poland (1922). He was also deputy prime minister (1923). He was known as a Polish nationalist leader in German Upper Silesia, where he led a rebellion in 1921 to induce the Allies to set the new German-Polish border along a line more favourable to Poland.

Korhonen, Keijo (Tero) (b. Feb. 23, 1934, Paltamo, Finland - d. June 6, 2022, Tucson, Ariz.), foreign minister of Finland (1976-77). He was also permanent representative to the United Nations (1983-88).

Kori, Yuichi (b. March 16, 1902, Tokyo, Japan - d. Dec. 28, 1983), justice minister of Japan (1972). He was also minister of state (director-general of the Autonomy Agency) (1957-58) and minister of posts and telecommunications (1965-66).

Korichev, Sergey (Andreyevich) (b. Oct. 1, 1890, Mozhary, Kazan province [now in Chuvashia republic], Russia - d. May 12, 1961, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the Executive Committee of the Chuvash autonomous oblast (1921-24) and chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Chuvash A.S.S.R. (1926).

Korizis, Alexandros (Georgiou) (b. April 15, 1885, Poros, Greece - d. [suicide] April 18, 1941, Athens, Greece), prime minister and foreign minister of Greece (1941). He was also minister of finance (1933), state hygiene and assistance (1936-39), national education and religious affairs (1941), military (1941), aviation (1941), and marine (1941) and governor of the National Bank of Greece (1939-41).

Korkmasov, Dzhalaleddin (Aselderovich) (b. Oct. 1, 1877, Kurtomkala, Dagestan oblast [now republic], Russia - d. [executed] Sept. 27, 1937), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Dagestan A.S.S.R. (1921-31). He was also chairman of the Military-Revolutionary Committee (1918), the Executive Committee (1918), the Communist Party committee (1919-20), and the Revolutionary Committee (1920, 1920-21) of Dagestan autonomous oblast.

Kormilitsyn, Mikhail (Nikolayevich) (b. June 22 [June 10, O.S.], 1835 - d. April 2 [March 21, O.S.], 1892), governor of Vologda (1882-92); son-in-law of Nikolay Boldarev.

Kornazhev, Petur (Zahariev) (b. Aug. 23, 1930, Sofia, Bulgaria - d. Oct. 23, 2002), justice minister of Bulgaria (1993-94).

Korneliou, Kornelios (S.) (b. June 29, 1963, Nicosia, Cyprus), Cypriot diplomat. He has been ambassador to Austria (2005-08), France (2010-11), and Israel (2023- ) and permanent representative to the United Nations (2017-19).

Körner

Körner, Theodor, title before 1919 Edler von Siegringen (b. April 24, 1873, Komárom, Hungary - d. Jan. 4, 1957, Vienna), president of Austria (1951-57). He followed his father, a captain in the artillery, into the Austro-Hungarian Army. A colonel at the outbreak of World War I, he was appointed chief of staff of the Austrian forces fighting on the Isonzo front in May 1915 and successfully helped to stem Italian offensives along the Italian-Slovenian border. After the war he was appointed inspector general of the new republican army and was largely responsible for its organization. In 1924 he retired and joined the Social Democratic Party. He was a member of the Vienna municipal assembly and a member of the Bundesrat, the upper house of the federal parliament, between 1925 and 1934; he was chairman of the Bundesrat in 1933-34, the last before Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss dissolved the chamber. He was also military adviser for the Schutzbund, a Socialist paramilitary organization. Despite the increasingly rightward drift of Austrian politics in the early 1930s, he steadily counseled against violent action. He was nonetheless imprisoned for his Schutzbund activities in 1934. On his release he retired from public life, resisting Nazi offers to re-enter military service after the Anschluss of 1938. At the end of World War II, he was appointed mayor of Vienna by the Soviet occupation authorities. In May 1951 he was elected president of the second Austrian republic, defeating the People's Party candidate Heinrich Gleissner. He died in office.

Kornily, secular name Konstantin Titov (b. Aug. 1, 1947, Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Moscow oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, head of the Russian Orthodox Old Believers Church (2005- ). He became bishop of Kazan and Vyatka on May 8, 2005.

Kornilyev, Vasily (Igorevich) (b. 1977, Astrakhan, Russian S.F.S.R.), acting chairman of the government of Astrakhan oblast (2017).

Korniyets

Korniyets, Leonid (Romanovich) (Russian), Ukrainian Leonid (Romanovych) Korniyets (b. Aug. 21 [Aug. 8, O.S.], 1901, Bobrinets, Yelizavetgrad district, Kherson province, Russia [now Bobrynets, Kirovohrad oblast, Ukraine] - d. May 29, 1969, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the Central Executive Committee (1938) and of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1938-39) and chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (1939-44) of the Ukrainian S.S.R. He was also a Ukrainian deputy premier (1944-46, 1950-53) and first deputy premier (1946-50) and Soviet minister of agricultural procurement (1953-56) and grain production (1956-58) and chairman of the State Committees for Grain Production (1958-61) and Food Reserves (1963-69).

Korolev, Oleg (Petrovich) (b. Feb. 23, 1952), head of the administration of Lipetsk oblast (1998-2018).

Korolevska, Nataliya (Yuriyivna) (b. May 18, 1975, Krasny Luch [Krasnyy Luch], Ukrainian S.S.R.), Ukrainian politician. She was minister of social policy (2012-14). She declared a presidential candidacy in 2014 but withdrew before the election.

Korolkov, Nikolay (Ivanovich) (b. Jan. 9, 1838 [Dec. 28, 1837, O.S.] - d. Feb. 26 [Feb. 13, O.S.], 1906), governor of Fergana oblast (1887-93) and Syrdarya oblast (1893-1905).

Korologos, Ann McLaughlin, née Lauenstein, during second marriage known as Ann D(ore) McLaughlin (b. Nov. 16, 1941, Newark, N.J. - d. Jan. 30, 2023, Salt Lake City, Utah), U.S. labor secretary (1987-89). Her second husband (1975-92) was talk-show host John McLaughlin and her third (from 2000) Tom Korologos, U.S. ambassador to Belgium (2004-07).

Korom, Mihály (b. Oct. 9, 1927, Mindszent, Hungary - d. Oct. 3, 1993, Budapest, Hungary), justice minister of Hungary (1966-78).

Koroma, Abdul G(adire) (b. Sept. 29, 1943, Freetown, Sierra Leone), Sierra Leonean diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1981-85, 1992-94) and ambassador to Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands (1985-88) and Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia (1988-92).

Koroma, Abdul Karim (b. Sept. 25, 1944, Mabonto, Tonkolili district, Sierra Leone - d. July 1, 2021, Freetown, Sierra Leone), foreign minister of Sierra Leone (1985-91). He was education minister in 1977-82.

E.B. Koroma

Koroma, Ernest Bai (b. Oct. 2, 1953, Makeni, northern Sierra Leone), president of Sierra Leone (2007-18).

J.P. Koroma

Koroma, Johnny Paul (b. May 9, 1960, Tombodu, Kono district, eastern Sierra Leone - d. c. June 1, 2003, Foya Kamala, Lofa county, Liberia), Sierra Leonean coup leader. He received military training in Nigeria and in Britain. He was a northern Limba, the same ethnic group as former president Joseph Saidu Momoh. Koroma was arrested in 1996 in western Sierra Leone (where he was commanding troops deployed to deter rebel attacks), in connection with an alleged coup attempt in September of that year, in which Pres. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was to have been killed. Koroma was in jail on treason charges until soldiers stormed Freetown's Pademba Road prison on May 25, 1997. By the end of the day he had gone on state radio to present himself as head of state and leader of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and demand the return of rebel leader Foday Sankoh to join the government. Many northerners resented what they saw as domination of the civilian government by southern Mendes like Kabbah. The army was also angered by Kabbah's reliance on civilian Kamajor militias to protect mining areas in the southeast. In his first radio broadcast, Koroma said he had seized power because the government had failed to consolidate a peace deal with Sankoh's rebels and the political situation had been nurturing tribal conflict. In February 1998, he was ousted by forces of the Economic Community of West African States. On Jan. 19, 2003, he was declared a wanted man, being linked to a "conspiracy to destabilize the security situation of the country." On March 10 he was indicted in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity by a UN-backed court. He sought refuge in neighbouring Liberia, where he was reportedly killed either by his own men or by Liberian rebel forces.

Koroma, Momodu (b. Sept. 12, 1956), foreign minister of Sierra Leone (2002-07). He was also minister of presidential affairs (1998-2002) and energy and power (acting, 2000-01).

Koroma, Sorie Ibrahim (b. Jan. 30, 1930, Port Loko, Maforki chiefdom [now in Port Loko district], Sierra Leone - d. April 30, 1994, Freetown, Sierra Leone), prime minister (1971-75), interior minister (1971-73, 1981-82), finance minister (1975-78), vice president (1971-78), and first vice president (1978-85) of Sierra Leone. He was also minister of trade and industry (1968-69) and agriculture and natural resources (1969-71).

Koromilas, Lampros (A.) (b. 1854, Athens, Greece - d. 1923, Washington, D.C.), finance minister (1910-12) and foreign minister (1912-13) of Greece. He was also minister to the United States (1907-10) and ambassador to Italy (1913-20).

Koronevsky, Valentyn (Maksymovych) (b. April 19, 1950, Izmail, Izmail oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R. [now in Odessa oblast, Ukraine]), finance minister of Ukraine (1996-97).

Körösi, Csaba (b. 1958, Szeged, Hungary), Hungarian diplomat. He was ambassador to Greece (2002-06), permanent representative to the United Nations (2010-15), and president of the UN General Assembly (2022-23).

Korostovets, Izmail (Vladimirovich) (b. Aug. 1, 1863 - d. March 17, 1933, Poznan, Poland), governor of Estonia (1907-15).

Korotchenko

Korotchenko, Demyan (Sergeyevich) (Russian), Ukrainian Demyan (Serhiyovych) Korotchenko (b. Nov. 29 [Nov. 17, O.S.], 1894, Pogrebki village, Novgorod-Siversky district, Chernigov province, Russia [now Korotchenkove, Shostka district, Sumy oblast, Ukraine] - d. April 7, 1969, Kiev, Ukrainian S.S.R.), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (1938-39) and of the Council of Ministers (1947-54) and chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1954-69) of the Ukrainian S.S.R. He was also first secretary of the party committees of Zapadnaya oblast (Russian S.F.S.R.) (1937) and Dnepropetrovsk oblast (1937-38).

Korotkov, Leonid (Viktorovich) (b. Jan. 10, 1965), governor of Amur oblast (2001-07).

Korowi, Sir Wiwa (b. July 7, 1948, Komali village, Papua [now in Southern Highlands province, Papua New Guinea]), governor-general of Papua New Guinea (1991-97); knighted 1991. He was also minister of health (1977-79), public utilities (1979-81), and minerals and energy (1981-82).

Korsæth, Knut (Villy) (b. Jan. 19, 1932, Halden, Østfold, Norway - d. July 15, 2022), governor of Oppland (1981-2001).

Korsah, Sir (Kobina) Arku (b. April 3, 1894 - d. Jan. 25, 1967), acting governor-general of Ghana (1957); knighted 1955. He was chief justice of Gold Coast (1956-57) and Ghana (1957-63).

Korsak, Wladyslaw (b. Dec. 23, 1890, Slavuta, Russia [now in Ukraine] - d. Dec. 30, 1949, New York City), governor of Stanislawowskie (1926-27) and Kieleckie (1927-30) województwa.

Korshunov, Lev (Aleksandrovich) (b. Feb. 13, 1946), head of the administration of Altay kray (1994-96). He was also mayor of Rubtsovsk (1987-91) and rector of Altay State Technical University (2007-12).

Korte, Rudolf (Willem) de (b. July 8, 1936, The Hague, Netherlands - d. Jan. 9, 2020), interior minister of the Netherlands (1986). He was also deputy prime minister and minister of economic affairs (1986-89).

Kortenhorst, Leonardus Gerardus (b. Nov. 12, 1886, Weesp, Noord-Holland, Netherlands - d. Jan. 13, 1963, The Hague, Netherlands), Dutch politician. He was chairman of the Second Chamber (1948-63).

Korth, Fred(erick Herman) (b. Sept. 9, 1909 - d. Sept. 14, 1998), U.S. secretary of the Navy (1962-63). He joined the military in World War II and was discharged after the war as a lieutenant colonel. Pres. Harry Truman later appointed him assistant secretary of the Army (1952-53). Under Pres. John F. Kennedy, he became the secretary of the Navy. In a 1966 El Paso Times article, Korth was described as becoming "a hero to the Navy in 1963 when he resigned his cabinet post in protest over a top-level Pentagon decision against buying atomic engines for a new aircraft carrier."

Korthals, Benk, byname of Albertus Hendrikus Korthals (b. Oct. 5, 1944, Voorschoten, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands), justice minister (1998-2002) and defense minister (2002) of the Netherlands; son of Henk Korthals.

Korthals, Henk, byname of Hendrik Albertus Korthals (b. July 3, 1911, Dordrecht, Netherlands - d. Nov. 3, 1976, Tarrytown, N.Y.), deputy prime minister of the Netherlands (1959-63). He was also minister of overseas affairs (acting, 1959), Suriname and Netherlands Antilles affairs (1959-63), and transport and water management (1959-63).

Korthals Altes, Frits, byname of Frederik Korthals Altes (b. May 15, 1931, Amsterdam, Netherlands), justice minister (1982-89) and acting interior minister (1986) of the Netherlands. He was also chairman of the First Chamber (1997-2001).

Kortmann, Constant(inus Nicolaas Maria) (b. July 12, 1908, Weert, Limburg, Netherlands - d. Dec. 14, 1997, Mook, Limburg, Netherlands), queen's commissioner of Noord-Brabant (1959-73). He was also mayor of Weert (1946-50) and Breda (1952-59).

Kortright, Sir Cornelius Hendericksen (b. Dec. 26, 1817, London, England - d. Dec. 23, 1897, Barrie, Ont.), president of the British Virgin Islands (1854-57), lieutenant governor of Grenada (1857-64) and Tobago (1865-72), administrator of Gambia (1873-75), and governor of Sierra Leone (1875-77) and British Guiana (1877-81); knighted 1882.

F. Korutürk

Korutürk, Fahri (Sabit) (b. Aug. 3, 1903, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey] - d. Oct. 12, 1987, Istanbul), president of Turkey (1973-80). A career naval officer, he was appointed to the intelligence department of the general staff in 1934 and served as military attaché in Berlin (1935), Rome (1936), and Berlin and Stockholm (1942-43). He subsequently held various executive commands and became commander of the Navy and a full admiral in 1957. Retired after the military coup of May 1960, Korutürk served as Turkey's ambassador to Moscow (1960-64) and to Madrid (1964-65). He was in parliament as an independent senator from 1968. He attained the presidency as a compromise candidate following 14 inconclusive ballots in which no contestant had gained the necessary majority. Following the expiration of his term of office in 1980, parliament failed to elect a successor; there were fresh political disturbances and, five months later, another military coup.

Korutürk, Osman (Taney) (b. Nov. 22, 1944, Istanbul, Turkey), Turkish diplomat; son of Fahri Korutürk. He was ambassador to Iran (1996-97), Norway (1998-2000), Germany (2000-03), and France (2005-09).

Korutürk, (Hüseyin) Selah (b. 1949), Turkish diplomat; son of Fahri Korutürk; brother of Osman Korutürk; husband of Zergün Korutürk. He was ambassador to Tunisia (2001-05) and Finland (2009-13).

Korutürk, Zergün (b. 1948, Ankara, Turkey), Turkish diplomat. She was ambassador to Portugal (2002-07) and Sweden (2009-13).

Korvald

Korvald, Lars (b. April 29, 1916, Nedre Eiker, Buskerud, Norway - d. July 4, 2006), prime minister of Norway (1972-73) and governor of Østfold (1981-86). He served in the Storting (parliament) from 1961 to 1981 and was president of the Lagting (upper house) in 1969-72. He was chairman of the Christian People's Party in 1967-75 and 1977-79. He became the first Christian Democratic prime minister of Norway when he formed a three-party minority coalition in 1972; his government resigned when the opposition socialists won a majority in the 1973 parliamentary elections.

Korwin-Mikke, Janusz (Ryszard) (b. Oct. 27, 1942, Warsaw, Poland), Polish politician. He was a minor presidential candidate (1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015) and a member of the European Parliament (2014-18), where he was notorious for expressing far-right views like "women must earn less than men, because they are weaker, they are smaller, they are less intelligent."

Korwin-Sokolowski, Adam Ludwik (b. July 22, 1896, Zachorzów, Poland - d. Aug. 12, 1979, Warsaw, Poland), governor of Nowogródzkie województwo (1935-39).

Korzhova, Natalya (Artemovna) (b. April 8, 1958, Sarkand, Taldy-Kurgan oblast [now in Almaty oblast], Kazakh S.S.R.), finance minister of Kazakhstan (2006-07). She was also minister of labour and social protection (1996-99).

Korzycki, Antoni (b. Nov. 7, 1904, Podkonice Duze, Poland - d. June 9, 1990), a deputy premier of Poland (1947-52).

Kos, Marta (b. June 28, 1965, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia), Slovenian politician. She has been ambassador to Germany and Latvia (2013-17) and Switzerland and Liechtenstein (2017-21) and European commissioner for enlargement (2024- ).

Kós, Péter, original name (until 1938) Leó Raab, then (until 1952) Leó Konduktorov (b. Aug. 15, 1921, Perovo, near Moscow, Russia), Hungarian diplomat. He was minister to India (1953-56), Indonesia (1956), and the United States (1956-57), permanent representative to the United Nations (1956-57), and ambassador to Ghana (1961-64), Dahomey (1963-64), India (1967-72), Nepal, Ceylon, Burma, and Cambodia (1968-72), Singapore (1971-72), Japan (1976-82), and Thailand and the Philippines (1977-82).

Kosagovsky, Vladimir (Andreyevich), also spelled Kosogovsky (b. Jan. 26 [Jan. 14, O.S.], 1857 - d. [shot] September 1918, Novgorod province, Russia), military governor of Zakaspiyskaya oblast (1905-08).

Kosaka, Zentaro (b. Jan. 23, 1912, Nagano, Japan - d. Nov. 26, 2000, Tokyo, Japan), foreign minister of Japan (1960-62, 1976). He was also minister of labour (1953-54).

Kosal (b. 1904, Cochinchina, French Indochina [now southern Vietnam] - d. ...), justice minister of Cambodia (1949-50).

Koschnick, Hans (Karl-Heinrich) (b. April 2, 1929, Bremen, Germany - d. April 21, 2016), mayor of Bremen (1967-85) and president of the German Bundesrat (1970-71, 1981-82). In 1994-96 he was EU administrator of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Koscinski, Tadeusz (b. Dec. 9, 1956, London, England), finance minister of Poland (2019-22).

Kosciusko-Morizet, Jacques (b. Jan. 31, 1913, Paris, France - d. May 15, 1994, Saint-Nom-la-Breteche, Yvelines, France), French diplomat. He was ambassador to Congo (Léopoldville/Kinshasa) (1963-68) and the United States (1972-77) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1970-72).

Kosciuszko

Kosciuszko, Tadeusz (Andrzej Bonawentura), English Thaddeus Kosciusko (b. Feb. 4, 1746, Mereczowszczyzna, Poland [now in Belarus] - d. Oct. 15, 1817, Solothurn, Switzerland), Polish revolutionary. In 1776 he went to America, where he joined the colonial forces fighting for independence from the British. At the end of the war he was given U.S. citizenship and was made a brigadier general in the U.S. Army. In 1784 he returned to Poland. In 1792 Russia invaded Poland in an attempt to end Polish internal reforms designed to liberate the nation from Russian influence. In the ensuing war he rose to fame as a division commander during the bloody Battle of Dubienka (July 18). For this he was raised to the rank of general lieutenant by King Stanislaw II August Poniatowski, and the new revolutionary government in Paris granted him honorary French citizenship. But, when the Polish king, fearing defeat, defected from the liberal cause, Kosciuszko prepared to resume fighting. An uprising was started on March 12, 1794, and he arrived in Cracow on March 24 and, amid an enormous assembly of people, solemnly swore an act of national uprising against the occupying powers - chiefly Russia and Prussia. Undertaking all political responsibility and military leadership, he set up an insurgent administration and military force. The defense of Warsaw, besieged by Prussian and Russian armies for about two months, remains his greatest military success. He suffered his greatest defeat at Maciejowice, where he was wounded and taken prisoner. Without its leader, the uprising collapsed, and the Third Partition of Poland ended the existence of the country. Kosciuszko was imprisoned in the Peter-Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg until 1796 and then remained in exile.

Kosev, Konstantin (Dimitrov) (b. Aug. 15, 1937, Dupnitsa, Bulgaria - d. Nov. 26, 2020), Bulgarian politician. He was a deputy premier and minister of education (1990).

Koshanov, Yerlan (Zhakanovich) (b. Aug. 14, 1962, Shet district, Karaganda oblast, Kazakh S.S.R.), head of Karaganda oblast (2017-19). He has also been head of the presidential administration (2019-22) and chairman of the Mazhilis (2022- ) of Kazakhstan.

Kosherbayev, Yermek (Bedelbayevich) (b. May 2, 1965, Alma-Ata, Kazakh S.S.R. [now Almaty, Kazakhstan]), head of Vostochno-Kazakhstan oblast (2023- ).

Koshin

Koshin, Igor (Viktorovich) (b. Aug. 27, 1974, Usinsk, Komi A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Nenets autonomous okrug (2014-17).

Koshis, Nikos (b. May 20, 1933), interior and defense minister (1974-75) and justice minister (1997-2002) of Cyprus.

Koshiyari

Koshiyari, Bhagat Singh, also spelled Koshyari (b. June 17, 1942, Almora [now in Uttarakhand], India), chief minister of Uttaranchal (2001-02) and governor of Maharashtra (2019-23) and Goa (2020-21).

Koshman, Nikolay (Pavlovich) (b. April 5, 1944, Mironovka village, Kirovograd oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R.), prime minister (1996) and representative of the federal government (1999-2000) of Chechnya. He was also a Russian deputy prime minister (1999-2000) and chairman of the State Committee for Construction, Architecture, and Housing Policy (2002-04).

Koshoyev, Temirbek (Khudaybergenovich) (b. Aug. 1, 1931, Kichi-Kemin, Kirgiz A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R. [now in Chuy oblast, Kyrgyzstan] - d. June 23, 2009, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan), chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirgiz S.S.R. (1981-87). He was also chairman of the Executive Committee (1966-78) and first secretary of the party committee (1978-81) of Osh oblast.

Kosiniak-Kamysz, Wladyslaw (Marcin) (b. Aug. 10, 1981, Kraków, Poland), defense minister and a deputy prime minister of Poland (2023- ).

Kosior, Stanislav (Vikentevich), Ukrainian Stanislav (Vikentiyovych) Kosior (b. Nov. 18 [Nov. 6, O.S.], 1889, Vengerov, Russia [now Wegrów, Poland] - d. [executed] Feb. 26, 1939), general secretary/first secretary of the Communist Party of the Ukrainian S.S.R. (1928-38). He was also first secretary of the party committee of Sibir kray (1924-26) and chairman of the Commission of People's Control of the U.S.S.R. (1938).

Koski, Heikki (Juhani) (b. June 24, 1940, Salo, Finland - d. Dec. 4?, 2024), interior minister of Finland (1975) and governor of Länsi-Suomi (1997-2003).

Koskinen, (Hannu Erkki) Johannes (b. Dec. 10, 1954, Janakkala, Finland), justice minister of Finland (1999-2005).

Koskull, Anders friherre (b. July 25, 1677, Bocksjöholm, Skaraborg [now in Västra Götaland], Sweden - d. Dec. 19, 1746, Växjö, Kronoberg, Sweden), governor of Kronoberg (1729-46). He became friherre (baron) in 1719.

Koskull, Georg Adolf friherre (b. April 17, 1780, Gällaryd, Jönköping, Sweden - d. April 10, 1829, Ängaholm, Kronoberg, Sweden), governor of Norrbotten (1816-21).

Kosmo, Jørgen (Hårek) (b. Dec. 5, 1947, Fauske, Nordland, Norway - d. July 24, 2017), defense minister of Norway (1993-97). He was also minister of labour and administration (2000-01), president of the Storting (2001-05), and auditor general (2005-13).

Kosor

Kosor, Jadranka (b. July 1, 1953, Pakrac, Croatia), prime minister of Croatia (2009-11). She was also a deputy prime minister and minister of family, veterans' affairs, and intergenerational solidarity (2003-09).

Kosovac, Dragutin (b. Jan. 10, 1924, Sarajevo, Yugoslavia [now in Bosnia and Herzegovina] - d. Jan. 22, 2012, Sarajevo), chairman of the Executive Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1969-74). He was also Yugoslav trade minister (1963-65) and health minister (1965-67).

Kosoy, Mikhail (Grigoryevich) (b. Aug. 17, 1967, Tselinograd, Kazakh S.S.R. [now Astana, Kazakhstan]), chairman of the government of Penza oblast (2014-15).

Kossa, István (b. March 31, 1904, Balatonlelle, Hungary - d. April 9, 1965, Budapest, Hungary), finance minister of Hungary (1949-50, 1956-57). He was also minister of industry (1948-49), metallurgical and machine industry (1952), general machine industry (1952-53), and transport and posts (1957-63).

Kosso, Ali (b. 1922, N'Tiona, Chad), justice minister of Chad (1962-63).

Kossuth (de Udvard et Kossuthfalva), Ferenc (Lajos Ákos) (b. Nov. 16, 1841, Pest [now part of Budapest], Hungary - d. May 25, 1914, Budapest), Hungarian politician; son of Lajos Kossuth. He was minister of commerce (1906-10).

L. Kossuth

Kossuth (de Udvard et Kossuthfalva), Lajos (b. Sept. 19, 1802, Monok, Zemplén county, Hungary - d. March 20, 1894, Turin, Italy), prime minister (1848-49) and governor-president (1849) of Hungary. In 1832 he was sent to the Diet of Pozsony (now Bratislava) as the proxy of a magnate, thus having a deliberative voice but no vote. At this time a struggle to reassert Hungarian national identity began to emerge. The publication of the debates of the Diet was severely restricted, but Kossuth issued letters combining extracts from the debates with his own comments. After the government attempted in vain to suppress the letters, he was finally arrested in May 1837 and brought to trial for treason. This caused an outburst of indignation, his cause was taken up throughout Europe, and he was released in 1840. He became editor of the Pesti Hirlap, which became the regular organ of the liberals. At the election of 1847 he was chosen for Pest, and through his eloquence established himself as the leader of the liberals. When the news came of the French revolution of 1848, he seized the opportunity and prepared an address to Emperor Ferdinand, calling for an independent Hungarian government. Soon afterwards there was an insurrection in Vienna, and Kossuth followed up the news with a departure for Vienna, his address in hand, where he was received with the honours of a liberator. His demands were granted, and one of his companions, Lajos Batthyány, formed a Hungarian ministry with Kossuth as finance minister. When a Croat army invaded Hungary in September, Batthyány resigned and Kossuth became virtual dictator. In April 1849 the Diet proclaimed the dethronement of the Habsburgs and elected Kossuth governor-president of Hungary, but the arrival of Russian armies forced him to resign in August and go into exile.

Kostadinov, Kostadin (Todorov) (b. April 1, 1979, Varna, Bulgaria), Bulgarian politician. He has been leader of the Revival party (2014- ) and a minor presidential candidate (2021).

Kostadinova, Deyana (Georgieva) (b. March 26, 1971, Burgas, Bulgaria), Bulgarian politician. She was a deputy prime minister and minister of labour and social policy (2013).

Kostandov, Leonid (Arkadyevich) (b. Nov. 27 [Nov. 14, O.S.], 1915, Kerki, Russia [now in Turkmenistan] - d. Sept. 5, 1984, Leipzig, East Germany), Soviet politician. He was minister of chemical industry (1965-80) and a deputy premier (1980-84).

Kostanyan, Aykaz (Arkadyevich) (b. 1898, Tiflis, Russia [now Tbilisi, Georgia] - d. [executed] April 21, 1938), first secretary of the Communist Party of the Armenian S.S.R. (1928-30) and executive secretary of the Communist Party committee of Crimea (1930). He was also people's commissar of labour and social welfare of the Armenian S.S.R. (1920-21).

Kostek-Biernacki, Waclaw (b. Sept. 28, 1884, Lublin, Poland - d. May 25, 1957, Warsaw, Poland), governor of Nowogródzkie (1931-32) and Poleskie (1932-39) województwa. He was also Polish chief civilian commissioner (1939).

Kostelka, Miroslav (b. Jan. 31, 1951, Frantiskovy Lázne, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), defense minister of the Czech Republic (2003-04). He was also ambassador to Russia (2005-09).

Kostenko, Yuriy (Ivanovych) (b. June 12, 1951, Novaya Obodovka [Nova Obodivka], Vinnitsa [Vinnytsya] oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R.), Ukrainian politician. He was minister of environment (1992-98) and a minor presidential candidate (1999, 2010).

Köster, Adolf (b. March 8, 1883, Verden an der Aller, Prussia [now in Niedersachsen], Germany - d. Feb. 18, 1930, Belgrade, Yugoslavia [now in Serbia]), foreign minister (1920) and interior minister (1921-22) of Germany. He was also minister to Latvia (1923-28) and Yugoslavia (1928-30).

B. Koster

Koster, Bruno (b. Sept. 11, 1958), Regierender Landammann of Appenzell Innerrhoden (2002-04, 2006-08).

Koster, Hans de, byname of Henri Johan de Koster (b. Nov. 5, 1914, Leiden, Netherlands - d. Nov. 24, 1992, Wassenaar, Netherlands), defense minister of the Netherlands (1971-73).

Köster, Oskar (b. Dec. 20, 1890, Laimjala parish, Saaremaa island, Russia [now in Estonia] - d. Aug. 2, 1941, Tallinn, Estonia), defense minister of Estonia (1929-31). He was also minister of agriculture (1926-28, 1932) and transport (1928-29, 1933).

Kostic, Branko (b. Aug. 28, 1939, Rvasi, Yugoslavia [now in Montenegro] - d. Aug. 20, 2020, Podgorica, Montenegro), president of the Presidency of Montenegro (1989-90) and acting president of the Presidency of Yugoslavia (1991-92). He was also a Montenegrin deputy premier (1986-89) and presidential candidate (1992-93).

Kostic, Petar (b. May 28, 1928, Suvodol, near Smederevo, Yugoslavia [now in Serbia]), finance minister of Yugoslavia (1978-82).

Kosto, Aad, byname of Arie Kosto (b. Jan. 9, 1938, Oegstgeest, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands), justice minister of the Netherlands (1994).

Kostopoulos, Stavros (b. Sept. 14, 1900, Kalamata, Greece - d. June 23, 1968, Athens, Greece), foreign minister of Greece (1964-65). He was also minister of national economy (1932, 1947, and [provisional] 1950), supply and distribution (1948), coordination (1950, 1950, and [provisional] 1965), mercantile marine (1950), finance (1950-51), commerce (provisional, 1951), interior (1963), and national defense (1965-66) and a minister without portfolio (1950).

Kostov, Dimitur (Ivanov) (b. Sept. 22, 1957, Vidin, Bulgaria), finance minister of Bulgaria (1995-97).

Kostov, Dimitur (Tsvetkov) (b. 1932, Staroseltsi, Bulgaria), Bulgarian diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1990-91).

H. Kostov

I. Kostov

Kostov, Hari (b. Nov. 13, 1959, Pisnica village, near Probistip, northeastern Macedonia), interior minister (2002-04) and prime minister (2004) of Macedonia.

Kostov, Ivan (Yordanov) (b. Dec. 23, 1949, Sofia), finance minister (1990-92) and prime minister (1997-2001) of Bulgaria.

Kostov (Dzhunev), Traycho (b. June 17, 1897, Sofia, Bulgaria - d. [executed] Dec. 16, 1949, Sofia), a deputy premier of Bulgaria (1946-49). He was also political secretary of the Bulgarian Communist Party (1944-48) and minister of electrification, water, and natural resources (1946).

Kostovic, Ivica (b. June 7, 1943, Zagreb, Croatia), a deputy prime minister of Croatia (1993-98). He was also minister of science and technology (1995-98) and chief of staff of the president's office (1998-2000).

Kostres, Bojan (b. Aug. 25, 1974, Zrenjanin, Vojvodina, Serbia), president of the Assembly of Vojvodina (2004-08).

Kostunica

Kostunica, Vojislav (b. March 24, 1944, Belgrade, Serbia), president of Yugoslavia (2000-03) and prime minister of Serbia (2004-08). Never a member of the Communist party, he founded, with opposition leader Zoran Djindjic, the Democratic Party in 1989. After a split in the party, the moderate nationalist founded the Democratic Party of Serbia in December 1992. He was a member of the Serbian parliament from 1990 to 1997. Although he opposed the policies of Pres. Slobodan Milosevic, Kostunica denounced NATO for its bombing of Serbia in 1999 and criticized the international tribunal at The Hague, which had indicted Milosevic and other Serbian leaders for war crimes, as an instrument of U.S. foreign policy. He was considered to be one of the few Serbian politicians whose past was not marred with financial scandals or links with Milosevic's regime. He won the Sept. 24, 2000, presidential elections as candidate of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) alliance. Milosevic was initially unwilling to accept defeat, but as it became clear that he was being abandoned by government agencies, including the police, he announced on October 6 that he would step down. Upon taking office (October 7), Kostunica rejected vindictive moves against Milosevic and his supporters. On October 16 his government reached a power-sharing agreement with Milosevic's Socialist Party of Serbia, which would continue to control that republic's parliament until elections were held on December 23. When the Yugoslav federation was set to be replaced by a looser union he chose to run for the presidency of Serbia rather than of the new union; he won the vote in 2002 but the turnout was too low. Instead he became prime minister in 2004, in a government backed by the Socialist Party. In 2012 he ran again for the presidency, winning only 8% of the vote.

Kosturkov, Stoyan (Penchev) (b. Nov. 25, 1866, Panagyurishte, Ottoman Empire [now in Bulgaria] - d. Dec. 17, 1949, Sofia, Bulgaria), Bulgarian politician. He was minister of education (1918-19, 1945-46) and railways, posts, and telegraphs (1931-34).

Kostyuk, Mariya (Fyodorovna) (b. March 2, 1977, Smidovich, Yevreyskaya autonomous oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), acting head of the administration of Yevreyskaya autonomous oblast (2024- ).

Kosumi

Kosumi, Bajram (b. March 20, 1960, Tuxhec, Kamenica municipality, eastern Kosovo), prime minister of Kosovo (2005-06). He was also minister of information (1999-2000, Thaçi government) and environment and spatial planning (2004-05).

Kosutic, Budimir (Petra) (b. Nov. 23, 1941, Srpski Itebej, Serbia), a deputy prime minister of Serbia (1991).

Kosyachenko, Grigory (Petrovich) (b. Jan. 6, 1901 [Dec. 24, 1900, O.S.] - d. 1983), chairman of the State Planning Committee of the Soviet Union (1953).

Kosygin

Kosygin, Aleksey (Nikolayevich) (b. March 5 [Feb. 21, O.S.], 1904, St. Petersburg, Russia - d. Dec. 18, 1980, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), premier of the Soviet Union (1964-80). He volunteered for the Red Army in 1919 and served two years in the Russian Civil War. He joined the Communist Party in 1927. In 1938 he was designated mayor of Leningrad and in 1939 he moved into the cabinet as people's commissar for the textile industry and became a member of the party's Central Committee. From 1940 to 1953 he was deputy chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (called Council of Ministers after 1946). In 1943-46 he was premier of the Russian S.F.S.R. He next served as Soviet minister of finance (1948), light industry (1948-53), and consumer goods industry (1953-54). He became an alternate member of the Politburo in 1946 and a full member in 1948. He was demoted to an alternate member when the Politburo was reorganized as the Presidium in 1952. After Iosif Stalin died (March 1953), he lost his position on the Presidium completely and was temporarily removed from his government post. Reinstated as deputy premier in December 1953, he was removed again in December 1956. In June 1957, as a supporter of Nikita Khrushchev, he was readmitted to the Presidium as an alternate member and was reinstated as deputy premier. He served as chairman of Gosplan, the Soviet economic planning agency, from March 1959 to May 1960, when he was made a full member of the Presidium and a first deputy premier. In 1964 he replaced Khrushchev as premier, although his role in Khrushchev's ouster is obscure. From the late 1960s he shared the power of governing with Leonid Brezhnev and Nikolay Podgorny, but by the early 1970s Brezhnev had become the leading figure. In October 1980 he retired because of ill health.

Kosztowniak, Andrzej (Tomasz) (b. March 31, 1976, Radom, Poland), finance minister of Poland (2023).

Kot, Stanislaw (b. Oct. 22, 1885, Ruda, Germany [now Ruda Slaska, Poland] - d. Dec. 26, 1975, London, England), interior minister of Poland in exile (1940-41). He was also ambassador to the Soviet Union (1941-42) and Italy (1945-47) and minister of information (1943-44).

Kotaite, Assad (b. Nov. 6, 1924, Hasbaya, Lebanon - d. Feb. 27, 2014, Montreal, Que.), secretary-general (1970-76) and president of the Council (1976-2006) of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Kotek

Kotek, Tina, byname of Christine Kotek (b. Sept. 30, 1966, York, Pa.), governor of Oregon (2023- ).

Kotelawala, Sir John (Lionel) (b. April 4, 1897, Attygalle, near Piliyandala, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka] - d. Oct. 2, 1980, Colombo, Sri Lanka), prime minister, foreign minister, and defense minister of Ceylon (1953-56); knighted 1948. He was also minister of communications and works (1936-47) and transport and works (1947-54).

Kotelo, Tokonye (Edwin) (b. June 24, 1929 - d. March 14, 2021, Maseru, Lesotho), foreign minister of Lesotho (1992-93). He was also ambassador to Mozambique (1984-86) and high commissioner to Zimbabwe and Botswana (1986-90) and Kenya (1990-92).

Koterec, Milos (b. Oct. 11, 1962, Partizánske, Czechoslovakia [now in Slovakia]), Slovak diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (2009-12).

Kothen, Magnus Adolf friherre von (b. Dec. 28, 1704 - d. April 9, 1775, Umeå, Västerbotten, Sweden), governor of Västerbotten (1769-75). He was made friherre (baron) in 1771.

Kotoko, Ahmed (b. Oct. 18, 1918, Goulfey, Cameroon - d. Oct. 7, 1988, Kousseri, Cameroon), finance minister of Chad (1960). He was also minister of education (1959-60) and speaker of parliament (1960-61); in 1961 he was purged and deported to his country of origin, Cameroon, for which he became chargé d'affaires in Saudi Arabia (1966-72) and ambassador to Equatorial Guinea (1977-82).

Kotromanovic, Ante (b. May 8, 1968, Potravlje, Croatia), defense minister of Croatia (2011-16).

Kotsebu, Ernest (Karlovich), German Ernst Paul von Kotzebue (b. April 19 [April 7, O.S.], 1838, Riga, Russia [now in Latvia] - d. Sept. 3 [Aug. 21, O.S.], 1914), Russian diplomat; nephew of Graf Pavel Kotsebu and Vasily Kotsebu. He was minister to Württemberg and Baden (1892-95), Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1893-95), and the United States (1895-97).

Kotsebu, Graf (Count) Pavel (Yevstafyevich), German Paul (Demetrius) Graf von Kotzebue (b. Aug. 10, 1801, Berlin, Prussia [now in Germany] - d. May 1 [April 19, O.S.], 1884, Reval, Russia [now Tallinn, Estonia]), governor-general of Novorossiya and Bessarabia (1862-74) and Warsaw (1874-80). A son of the writer August von Kotzebue, he was made a count in 1874.

Kotsebu, Vasily (Yevstafyevich), German Wilhelm von Kotzebue (b. March 19 [March 7, O.S.], 1813, Reval, Russia [now Tallinn, Estonia] - d. Nov. 5 [Oct. 24, O.S.], 1887, Reval), Russian diplomat; brother of Graf Pavel Kotsebu. He was chargé d'affaires in Baden (1865-69) and minister to Saxony and Saxe-Altenburg (1869-78) and Switzerland (1878-79).

Kotsev, Venelin (Todorov) (b. April 28, 1926, Litakovo, Bulgaria - d. Aug. 16, 2002, Sofia, Bulgaria), a deputy premier of Bulgaria (1972-74). He was also ambassador to Algeria (1974-76), Mauritania (1975-76), Italy (1976-84), Malta (1977-82), and Hungary (1986-88).

Kotsokoane, Joseph (Riffat Larry), byname Joe Kotsokoane (b. Oct. 19, 1922, Hebron, near Pretoria, South Africa - d. July 25, 2004), foreign minister of Lesotho (1974-75). He was also high commissioner to the United Kingdom (1967-69) and Kenya (1972-74), minister of education (1975-76) and agriculture (1976-78), permanent representative to the United Nations (1978), and minister of education, sports, and culture (1984-85).

Kotval, S(ohrab) P(eshotan) (b. Sept. 27, 1910, Nagpur, India - d. March 6, 1987), acting governor of Maharashtra (1969-70). He was chief justice of the Bombay High Court (1966-72).

Koty (Yacoub), Abbas (b. 1952, Dourène, Chad - d. Oct. 21, 1993, N'Djamena, Chad), defense minister of Chad (1991). He was also minister of public works and transport (1991-92). He later became a rebel leader; days after signing an agreement with the government to end his rebellion, he was killed by security forces, allegedly when he resisted arrest following the discovery of a coup plot (denied by his supporters).

Kotyukov

Kotzias

Kotyukov, Mikhail (Mikhailovich) (b. Dec. 21, 1976, Krasnoyarsk, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Krasnoyarsk kray (2023- ). He was also Russian minister of science and higher education (2018-20).

Kotzias, Nikos (b. Dec. 21, 1950, Athens, Greece), foreign minister of Greece (2015, 2015-18).

Kou Abhay (Og Long) (b. Dec. 7, 1892, Khong, Champasak [now in Laos] - d. April 1964), prime minister of Laos (1960).

Kou Xia (b. 1884, Pucheng, Shaanxi, China - d. Sept. 6, 1953, Xian, Shaanxi), Chinese minister of agriculture and commerce (1925-26). He became a revolutionary activist and was nominated as vice-speaker of the Shaanxi Provisional Council. He became a member of the House of Representatives upon the founding of the republic. He participated in the anti-Yuan Shikai movement in 1916 (the Republic Salvation Movement when Yuan claimed the throne). A year later as Duan Qirui refused to restore the abolished constitution, Kou moved south and joined Sun Yat-sen's Extraordinary Congress in Guangzhou. He participated in the Beijing Coup of 1924 and entered the cabinet upon its success; he became an adviser of the Shaanxi provincial government after leaving the cabinet. He was elected a member of the Shaanxi People's Government after 1949.

Kouadio-A.

Kouandété

Kouadio-Ahoussou, Jeannot, also called Jeannot Ahoussou-Kouadio (b. March 6, 1951, Raviart, Ivory Coast [now Côte d'Ivoire]), prime minister of Côte d'Ivoire (2012). He was also minister of industry (2002-05) and justice (2010-12) and president of the Senate (2018-23).

Kouandété, (Iropa) Maurice (b. Sept. 22, 1932, Natitingou, Dahomey [now Benin] - d. April 7, 2003, Natitingou), prime minister of Dahomey (1967-68); also member of the Directory (1969-70) responsible for economic affairs, finance, and cooperation. He was arrested in February 1972 for his role in a coup attempt, was sentenced to death in May, but granted an amnesty and released in December.

Kouandi Angba, Nicolas (b. Dec. 6, 1945, Grand-Yapo, Ivory Coast [now Côte d'Ivoire] - d. June 30, 1995, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire), Ivorian politician. He was minister of trade (1983-95).

Kouassi, (Edmond) Kwam, Togolese diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1985-87).

Kouchner

Kouchner, Bernard (Jean) (b. Nov. 1, 1939, Avignon, France), administrator of Kosovo (1999-2001) and foreign minister of France (2007-10). Known as co-founder (1971) of Médecins Sans Frontières, he was also minister of health and humanitarian action (1992-93).

Kouka, Harou (b. 1922, Zinder, Niger - d. Aug. 10, 2008, Niamey, Niger), Nigerien politician. He was minister of labour (1958-63), social affairs (1959-60), health (1960-63), national education (1963-72), and public works, transport, and urban planning (1972-74).

Ab. Koulamallah

Ah. Koulamallah

Koulibaly

Koulamallah, Abderaman (b. Feb. 4, 1955), foreign minister of Chad (2024- ); son of Ahmad Koulamallah. He was also minister of communications (2021-22, 2024) and national reconciliation and social cohesion (2022-24).

Koulamallah, Ahmad (b. Feb. 11, 1912, Massenya, Chad - d. Sept. 5, 1995, N'Djamena, Chad), president of the provisional government of Chad (1959).

Koulibaly, Mamadou (b. April 21, 1957, Azaguié, north of Abidjan, Ivory Coast), finance minister (2000-01) and president of the National Assembly (2001-12) of Côte d'Ivoire. He was also minister of budget (2000).

Koumakoye

Koumakoye, (Nouradine) Delwa Kassire, also spelled Coumakoye (b. Dec. 31, 1949, Bongor, Chad), prime minister of Chad (1993-95, 2007-08). He was a presidential candidate in 1996 and 2001, winning about 2% of the vote each time, in 2006, winning 15.1%, and in 2016, winning less than 1%. He was also minister of justice (1981-82, 1988-89, 1993), public works, housing, and urban planning (1987-88), post and telecommunications (1989-90), higher education and scientific research (1990), communications (1993), and urban planning and regional development (2006-07).

Koumbassa, Djébel, Guinean diplomat. He was ambassador to Ethiopia (1978?-80?) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1980-83).

Koumoundouros, Alexandros (b. 1814, Selitsa, Ottoman Empire [now Eratyra, Greece] - d. March 10 [Feb. 26, O.S.], 1883, Athens, Greece), prime minister of Greece (1865, 1865, 1866-68, 1870-71, 1875-76, 1876-77, 1877, 1878, 1878-80, 1880-82). He was also minister of finance (1856-60, 1863, 1865), justice (1862-63, 1864, 1865, 1866-67, 1876-77, 1877, 1878-79), ecclesiastical affairs and public education (1864, 1881, 1881), interior (1864-65, 1865, 1865, 1866-68, 1870-71, 1876, 1876-77, 1877-78, 1878-80), foreign affairs (1865, 1877, 1880-82), and the military (1870-71) and president of the Vouli (1855-56, 1875).

Koumtog, Laotegguelnodji (b. 1946, Pandzangue, Chad), Chadian politician. He was minister of communication (1994-98) and permanent representative to the United Nations (2000-05).

Koun Wick (b. Nov. 10, 1917 - d. Dec. 27, 1999, London, England), foreign minister of Cambodia (1964-65, 1970-72); cousin of Samdech Chau Sen Cocsal Chhum. He was also ambassador to Indonesia (1962-64), Yugoslavia (1965-70), Ivory Coast (1972-74), and Japan (1974-75).

Koungou Edima, Ferdinand (b. June 30, 1928, Komassi, French Cameroons [now in Cameroon] - d. Dec. 30, 2012, Yaoundé, Cameroon), territorial administration minister of Cameroon (2000-02). He was also prefect of the départements of Nkam (1963), Haut-Nkam (1963-64), Lekié (1964-65), Dja-et-Lobo (1965-68, 1986-91), Moungo (1968-69), and Haut-Nyong (1969-72) and governor of the provinces of Sud (1991-92) and Littoral (1992-98).

Kountché

Kountché, Seyni (b. July 1, 1931, Fandou, Niger - d. Nov. 10, 1987, Paris, France), president of Niger (1974-87). He joined the French colonial army in 1949 and served in Indochina and Algeria, becoming a sergeant in 1957. After his country became independent (1960), he transferred to the Niger army (1961). Kountché studied at the officers' training school in Paris (1965-66) and became deputy chief of staff of the Niger armed forces (1966-73) and then chief of staff (1973). He assumed power when he ousted Pres. Hamani Diori in a military coup. He frequently reshuffled his governments and himself was minister of development (1974-76), interior (1974-76, 1981-87), and defense (1974-76, 1977-87). He ruled with paternalistic rigour and managed to make his country self-sufficient in grain while increasing its wealth by developing uranium mining. He survived a number of attempted coups. He visited China and the U.S. (1984) and maintained good relations with France.

Kountouriotis, Georgios (Andreou) (b. 1782, Hydra, Ottoman Empire [now in Greece] - d. 1858, Athens, Greece), president of the Executive (1823-26) and prime minister (1848) of Greece. He was also president of the Senate (1844-47) and minister of marine (1848).

Kountouriotis, Pavlos (Theodorou) (b. April 1855, Hydra, Greece - d. Aug. 22, 1935, Palaio Faliro, near Athens, Greece), regent (1920, 1923-24), provisional governor (1924-25), provisional president (1925-26, 1926-29), and president (1929) of Greece; grandson of Georgios Kountouriotis. He was also minister of marine (1915-16, 1917-19) and vice-president of the government (Thessaloniki government, 1916-17).

Kouomegni

Koupaki

Kouomegni, Augustin Kontchou (b. 1945, Nkongsamba, French Cameroons [now in Littoral province, Cameroon]), foreign minister of Cameroon (1997-2001). He was also minister of information and culture (1990-92) and communications (1992-97).

Koupaki, Pascal (Irénée), also spelled Koukpaki (b. May 18, 1951, Ouidah, Dahomey [now Benin]), finance minister (2006-07) and prime minister (2011-13) of Benin. He was a presidential candidate in 2016.

Koutché, Komi (b. Sept. 4, 1976), finance minister of Benin (2014-16). He was also minister of communication and information technologies (2013-14).

Koutsogiorgas, Agamemnon, byname Menios Koutsogiorgas (b. May 10, 1922, Rodini, Greece - d. April 18, 1991, Athens, Greece), interior minister (1984, 1984-85, 1985-87) and justice minister and a deputy prime minister (1987-88) of Greece. He was also minister of the presidency of the government (1981-84, 1988-89) and acting finance minister (1982).

L. Kouyaté

M. Kouyaté

Kouyaté, Lansana (b. July 15, 1950, Koba, French Guinea [now Guinea]), executive secretary of the Economic Community of West African States (1997-2002) and prime minister of Guinea (2007-08). He was also ambassador to Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey (1987-92) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1992-94).

Kouyaté, Morissanda (b. Nov. 19, 1951, Kouroussa, French Guinea [now Guinea]), foreign minister of Guinea (2021- ).

M. Kovác

Kovác, Michal (b. Aug. 5, 1930, Lubisa, eastern Slovakia - d. Oct. 5, 2016, Bratislava, Slovakia), president of Slovakia (1993-98). A member of the centre-left nationalist Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), he was finance minister of Slovakia (1989-91) and speaker of the Federal Assembly of Czechoslovakia (1992) and, after the "velvet divorce" of January 1993, became independent Slovakia's first president. Immediately after his election he said he would resign his membership of the HZDS "as a signal that we are ready to put the general interests of the country above partisan interests." From 1995 his relations with his prime minister, Vladimír Meciar, became strained over allegations of Meciar's intent to oust him. In May 1995 a parliamentary no-confidence vote against Kovác was passed, but without the required three-fifths majority. In August 1995 Kovác's son was kidnapped and taken to Austria where he was arrested on an international arrest warrant issued by Germany in connection with corruption investigations; the Slovak Intelligence Service, controlled by Meciar, almost certainly was responsible for the abduction.

M. Kovac

Kovac, Miro (b. Sept. 20, 1968, Split, Croatia), foreign minister of Croatia (2016). He was also ambassador to Germany (2008-13).

Kovac, Oskar (b. Dec. 28, 1937, Zrenjanin, Yugoslavia [now in Vojvodina, Serbia] - d. Nov. 7, 2021, Belgrade, Serbia), finance minister and a deputy prime minister of Yugoslavia (1992). He was also a minister without portfolio of Yugoslavia (1986-88) and minister of ownership and economic transformation of Serbia (2000-01).

Kovác, Roman (b. Sept. 10, 1940, Bratislava, Slovakia), a deputy prime minister of Slovakia (1992-94). He was also minister of state audit (acting, 1992-94), education (acting, 1993), and health (2000-02).

Kovacevic, Sreta, byname of Sreten Kovacevic (b. 1920, Golubinci, Yugoslavia [now in Vojvodina, Serbia] - d. March 10, 1995, Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia), president of the People's Assembly of Vojvodina (1973-74).

Kovacevski

L. Kovács

Kovacevski, Dimitar (b. July 24, 1974, Kumanovo, Macedonia [now North Macedonia]), prime minister of North Macedonia (2022-24).

Kovacheva, Diana (Petrova) (b. July 16, 1975, Sofia, Bulgaria), justice minister of Bulgaria (2011-13). She was also ombudsman (2019-24).

Kovacic, Ivan (b. April 25, 1974, Split, Croatia), Croatian politician. He was a deputy prime minister and minister of public administration (2016-17).

Kovács, Béla (b. May 12, 1910, Mátranovák, Hungary - d. June 14, 1980, Budapest, Hungary), justice minister of Hungary (1953).

Kovács, László (b. July 3, 1939, Budapest, Hungary), foreign minister of Hungary (1994-98, 2002-04). He was also EU commissioner for taxation and customs union (2004-10).

Koval, Mykhailo (Volodymyrovych) (b. Feb. 26, 1956, Izyaslav, Khmelnitsky [Khmelnytskyi] oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R.), acting defense minister of Ukraine (2014).

Koval, Nikolay (Grigoryevich) (b. Dec. 19, 1904, Kamenka, Podolia province, Russia [now Camenca, Moldova] - d. Jan. 15, 1970, Kishinev, Moldavian S.S.R. [now Chisinau, Moldova]), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars/Ministers and people's commissar/minister of foreign affairs (1945-46) and first secretary of the Communist Party (1946-50) of the Moldavian S.S.R. He was also people's commissar of agriculture (1940-45), chairman of the State Planning Committee (1960-67), and a deputy premier (1965-67).

Kovalchuk, Yegor (Viktorovich) (b. March 28, 1973, Chelyabinsk, Russian S.F.S.R.), prime minister of the Lugansk People's Republic (2024- ).

Kovalenko, Georgy (Yefremovich) (b. 1909, Belaya Berozka farm, Oryol province, Russia - d. 1992, Grozny, Chechnya, Russia), chairman of the Executive Committees of Bryansk (1944-46), Grozny (1949-57), and Vladimir (1957-60) oblasti.

Kovalenko, Oleksandr (Mykolayovych) (b. May 9, 1935, Novolyubimivka, Zaporozhye [Zaporizhzhya] oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R. - d. June 29, 2021), finance minister of Ukraine (1990-91). He was also governor of the Ukraina bank (1992-96).

Kovalev, Afanasy (Fyodorovich), Belarusian Afanasiy (Fyodaravich) Kavalyow (b. Dec. 15 [Dec. 2, O.S.], 1903 - d. July 20, 1993), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Belorussian S.S.R. (1937-38).

Kovalev, Aleksandr (Yakovlevich) (b. Sept. 13, 1942, Vorobyovka, Voronezh oblast, Russian S.F.S.R. - d. April 7, 2024), head of the administration of Voronezh oblast (1992-96). He was also mayor of Voronezh (2000-03).

Kovalev, Fyodor (Gavrilovich) (b. 1895 - d. Dec. 17, 1961, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), Soviet politician. He was a deputy premier of the Russian S.F.S.R. (1942-44).

Kovalev, Georgy (Samoylovich), governor of Yelizavetpol (1908-16). He was also acting mayor of Baku (1916-17).

Kovalev, Ivan (Ivanovich) (b. Sept. 6, 1951, Khasavyurt, Dagestan A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the government of Stavropol kray (2013).

Kovalev, Mikhail (Vasilyevich) (b. Aug. 16, 1925, Dubrovitsy, Belorussian S.S.R. [now in Mahilyow voblasts, Belarus] - d. July 5, 2007), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Belorussian S.S.R. (1986-90). He was also mayor of Minsk (1967-77), a deputy premier (1978-84), and first deputy premier (1984-86).

O. Kovalev

Kovalev, Oleg (Ivanovich) (b. Sept. 7, 1948, Vannovka village, Krasnodar kray, Russian S.F.S.R. - d. May 11, 2020), governor of Ryazan oblast (2008-17).

Kovalev, Valentin (Alekseyevich) (b. Jan. 10, 1944, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukrainian S.S.R. [now Dnipro, Ukraine]), justice minister of Russia (1995-97).

Kovalev, Vladimir (Aleksandrovich) (b. June 17, 1954, Rossiyka, Krasnoyarsk kray, Russian S.F.S.R. - d. April 29, 2022, Yaroslavl, Russia), chairman of the government of Yaroslavl oblast (1996-2001).

Kovalev, Yevgeny (Alekseyevich) (b. 1962, Tulsky, Maykopsky rayon, Adygey autonomous oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), acting prime minister of Adygeya (2006).

Kovalevsky, Pyotr (Ivanovich) (b. 1766 - d. 1827), Russian ruler of Georgia (1802-04).

Kovalevsky, Yevgraf (Petrovich) (b. Dec. 21 [Dec. 10, O.S.], 1790, Yaroshovka, Kharkov province, Russia [now Yaroshivka, Ukraine] - d. March 30 [March 18, O.S.], 1867, St. Petersburg, Russia), governor of Tomsk (1830-35) and education minister of Russia (1858-61); son of Pyotr Kovalevsky.

Kovalyov: see under Kovalev.

Kovanda, Karel (b. Oct. 5, 1944, Gilsland, England), Czech diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1993-97).

Kovárová, Daniela (b. Nov. 17, 1964, Ostrava, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), justice minister of the Czech Republic (2009-10).

Kove

Kove, Daur (Vadimovich) (b. March 15, 1979, Sukhumi, Abkhaz A.S.S.R., Georgian S.S.R.), foreign minister of Abkhazia (2016-21).

Kövér

Kovind

Kovtun

Kövér, László (b. Dec. 29, 1959, Pápa, Hungary), acting president of Hungary (2012, 2024). He has been minister without portfolio (in charge of civilian national security services) (1998-2000) and president of the National Assembly (2010- ).

Kovind, Ram Nath (b. Oct. 1, 1945, Paraunkh, United Provinces [now in Uttar Pradesh], India), governor of Bihar (2015-17) and president of India (2017-22).

Kovlyagin, Anatoly (Fyodorovich) (b. Jan. 11, 1938, Blokhin village, Penza oblast, Russian S.F.S.R. - d. Oct. 3, 2009), chairman of the executive committee (1989-91) and head of the administration (1993-98) of Penza oblast.

Kovtun, Marina (Vasilyevna) (b. March 10, 1962, Murmansk, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Murmansk oblast (2012-19).

Kowalczyk, Edward, pseudonym Mruk (b. May 25, 1924, Warsaw, Poland - d. July 7, 2000, Warsaw), a deputy premier of Poland (1981-85). He was also minister of communications (1969-80).

Kowalczyk, Henryk (b. July 15, 1956, Zabianka, Poland), a deputy prime minister of Poland (2021-23). He has also been a minister without portfolio (2015-18, 2023- ) and minister of environment (2018-19) and agriculture and rural development (2021-23).

Kowalczyk, Stanislaw (b. Dec. 12, 1924, Pabianice, Poland - d. Jan. 30, 1998, Warsaw, Poland), interior minister (1973-80) and a deputy premier (1980-81) of Poland.

Kowalikowski, Wladyslaw (b. Dec. 25, 1860, Kraków, Austria [now in Poland] - d. af. 1935), governor of Krakowskie województwo (1923-26).

Kowalski, Wladyslaw (b. Aug. 26, 1894, Paprotnia [now in Lódzkie województwo], Poland - d. Dec. 14, 1958, Warsaw, Poland), Polish politician. He was minister of culture (1945-47) and marshal of the Sejm (1947-52).

Koy Thuon (b. 1933, Kompong Cham, Cambodia - d. [executed] April? 1977), economy and finance minister of Cambodia (1974-76, in exile government to 1975).

Koyagialo

Koyagialo (Ngbase te Gerengbo), Louis (Alphonse Daniel) (b. March 23, 1947, Yakoma, Nord-Ubangi district, Équateur province, Belgian Congo [now Congo (Kinshasa)] - d. Dec. 14, 2014, South Africa), governor of Shaba (1986-90), Nord-Kivu (1990), and Équateur (2013-14) and acting prime minister of Congo (Kinshasa) (2012). He was deputy prime minister and minister of posts and new communication technologies in 2011-12.

Koyama, Matsukichi (b. Nov. 1 [Sept. 28, lunar calendar], 1869, Mito [now in Ibaraki prefecture], Japan - d. March 27, 1948, Tokyo, Japan), justice minister of Japan (1932-34). He was also prosecutor-general (1924-32).

Koyama, Shoju (b. Jan. 28, 1876, Komoro, Nagano prefecture, Japan - d. Nov. 25, 1959), Japanese politician. He was speaker of the House of Representatives (1937-41).

Koyamba, Alphonse (b. Aug. 2, 1941, Fort-Rousset, French Congo [now Owando, Congo (Brazzaville)] - d. May 5, 1998, Strasbourg, France), finance minister (1972-73, 1974-75, 1976-77, 1979-80), a deputy prime minister (1976), and first deputy prime minister (1976-80) of the Central African Republic/Empire.

Koyambounou

Koyambounou, Gabriel (Jean Édouard) (b. 1947, Bangui, Oubangui-Chari [now Central African Republic]), prime minister of the Central African Republic (1995-96). He was also minister of posts and telecommunications (2001-03). After François Bozizé's coup in 2003 he went into hiding in the Nigerian embassy; on June 8, while he was outside meeting with other leaders from the former ruling party, he and the others were arrested, being accused of organizing "subversive meetings" to destabilize the new administration. They were released the next day, but the Nigerian embassy refused to allow Koyambounou back. He declared that he had been maltreated by armed elements led by the nephew of President Bozizé. On August 21 he was again arrested for "diversion of public monies." He was accused of having diverted more than 100 million CFA francs in 2000, but he was acquitted by a court of appeals on Dec. 7, 2004.

Koyana, Digby (Sqhelo) (b. July 8, 1934, Tsomo, Cape province [now in Eastern Cape], South Africa - d. Dec. 24, 2020), foreign minister of Transkei (1976-78). He was also minister of justice and police (1978-80).

Koyara, Marie-Noëlle (Ande) (b. Dec. 14, 1955, Nanga Boguila, Ouham, Oubangui-Chari [now Central African Republic]), defense minister of the Central African Republic (2015, 2017-21). She was also minister of social action and promotion of women's rights (1993-95), women's affairs and national solidarity (1995-96), rural promotion (1996), rural development (2013-14), and public works, equipment, and planning (2014-15).

Koyassoum-Doumta, Léa (b. Nov. 25, 1956, Bouca, Oubangui-Chari [now Central African Republic]), justice minister of the Central African Republic (2004-05). She was also minister of families, social affairs, and national solidarity (2003-04) and public health and population (2005-06).

Köymen, Ahmet Hulusi (b. 1891, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey] - d. July 12, 1965), defense minister of Turkey (1951-52). He was also minister of labour (1950-51).

Koyshibayev, Galymzhan (Telmanovich) (b. April 12, 1968, Kzyl-Orda, Kazakh S.S.R. [now Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan]), a deputy prime minister of Kazakhstan (2023-24). He has also been ambassador to Lithuania (2008-12), Latvia (2009-12), and Finland and Estonia (2009-16) and head of the Government Apparatus (2023- ).

Koyushev, Ivan (Grigoryevich) (b. 1901, Dodz, Vologda province [now in Komi republic], Russia - d. 1993, Syktyvkar, Komi, Russia), chairman of the Executive Committee of Komi autonomous oblast (1929-30, 1933-35).

Kozachko

Kozak

Kozakou-M.

Kozachko, Anatoly (Vasilyevich) (b. June 4, 1949), prime minister of Kalmykia (2003-07).

Kozadra, Muhamed (b. Dec. 1, 1957, Rogatica [now in Republika Srpska], Bosnia and Herzegovina), acting premier of Sarajevo canton (2014-15).

Kozak, Dmitry (Nikolayevich) (b. Nov. 7, 1958, Kirovograd oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R.), plenipotentiary of the president in Yuzhny federal district (2004-07). In 2007-08 he was Russian minister of regional development and in 2008 he became a deputy prime minister, in charge of the preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and later responsible for energy, serving until 2020.

Kozakiewicz, Mikolaj (b. Dec. 24, 1923, Albertyn, near Slonim, Poland [now in Belarus] - d. Nov. 22, 1998, Warsaw, Poland), Polish politician. He was marshal of the Sejm (1989-91).

Kozakou-Markoulli, Erato (b. Aug. 3, 1949, Limassol, Cyprus), foreign minister of Cyprus (2007-08, 2011-13). She was also ambassador to Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (1996-98), the United States, Canada, Brazil, Guyana, and Jamaica (1998-2003), and Lebanon and Jordan (non-resident, 2005-07) and minister of communications and works (2010-11).

Kozayev, Vladimir (Dmitriyevich) (b. 1917), chairman of the Executive Committee (1954-56) and first secretary of the Communist Party committee (1959-62) of the South Ossetian autonomous oblast.

Kozhara

Kozhemyako

Kozhara, Leonid (Oleksandrovych) (b. Jan. 14, 1963, Poltava, Ukrainian S.S.R.), foreign minister of Ukraine (2012-14). He was ambassador to Sweden in 2003-04.

Kozhemyako, Oleg (Nikolayevich) (b. March 17, 1962, Chernigovka, Chernigovsky rayon, Primorsky kray, Russian S.F.S.R.), acting governor of Koryak autonomous okrug (2005-07) and governor of Amur oblast (2008-15), Sakhalin oblast (2015-18), and Primorsky kray (2018- ).

Kozhin, Aleksey (Nikitich) (b. 1737 - d. March 1805 or March 1807), governor of Pskov (1781-85). He was also president of Russia's Collegium of State Income (1799-1801).

Kozhin, Pavel (Sergeyevich) (b. 1801 - d. July/August 1851, Ryazan, Russia), governor of Ryazan (1843-51); grandson of Aleksey Kozhin; nephew of Knyaz Pyotr Volkonsky.

Kozhuharov, Iliya (Ivanov) (b. Oct. 31, 1893, Gabrovo, Bulgaria - d. June 12, 1994, Sofia, Bulgaria), justice minister of Bulgaria (1938). He was also mayor of Gabrovo (1923-32, 1934-35) and minister of commerce, industry, and labour (1938-39).

Kozic, Dusan (b. Dec. 8, 1958, Ljubinje [now in Republika Srpska], Bosnia and Herzegovina), prime minister of the Republika Srpska (1994-95).

Kozikov, Andrey (Yakovlevich) (b. 1893, Kekino, Nizhny Novgorod province, Russia - d. [executed] May 23, 1938), chairman of the Executive Committee of Mordovian autonomous oblast (1931-34) and chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Mordovian A.S.S.R. (1934-37).

Kozinc, Miha (b. June 24, 1952), justice minister of Slovenia (1992-94).

Koziol, Józef (b. Feb. 26, 1939, Szalowa, Poland - d. June 30, 2023), a deputy premier of Poland (1985-88). He was also minister of environmental protection and natural resources (1988-89).

Kozlík, Sergej (b. July 27, 1950, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia [now in Slovakia]), a deputy prime minister (1992-94, 1994-98) and finance minister (1994-98) of Slovakia.

A. (A.) Kozlov

A. (P.) Kozlov

Kozlov, Aleksandr (Aleksandrovich) (b. Jan. 2, 1981, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Sakhalin oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Amur oblast (2015-18). He has also been mayor of Blagoveshchensk (2014-15) and Russian minister of development of the Far East (2018-20) and natural resources and ecology (2020- ).

Kozlov, Aleksandr (Petrovich) (b. May 2, 1949, Sentovo village, Tatar A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R. - d. Feb. 6, 2021, Moscow, Russia), governor of Oryol oblast (2009-14).

Kozlov, Frol (Romanovich) (b. Aug. 18 [Aug. 5, O.S.], 1908, Loshchinino [now in Ryazan oblast], Russia - d. Jan. 30, 1965, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Russian S.F.S.R. (1957-58). He was also first secretary of the party committees of Leningrad city (1950-52) and oblast (1953-57) and Soviet first deputy premier (1958-60).

Kozlov, Grigory (Andreyevich) (b. 1885, Dubrovka, Vladimir province, Russia - d. 1975), executive secretary of the Communist Party committee of Komi autonomous oblast (1927-29).

M. Kozlov

Kozlov, Mikhail (Sergeyevich) (b. Oct. 27, 1951, Pechora, Komi A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R.), acting head of the administration of Altay kray (2005).

Kozlov, Nikolay (Kuzmich) (b. Jan. 28 [Jan. 16, O.S.], 1893, Kostroma, Russia - d. Aug. 29, 1973, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), executive secretary of the Communist Party committee of Crimea (1929-30). He was also chairman (1918-20) and executive secretary (1920-21) of the party committee of Kostroma province and chairman of the executive committees of Kostroma (1920) and Arkhangelsk (1922-24) provinces and Nizhnyaya Volga (1931-33) and Saratov (1934) kraya.

Kozlov, Vasily (Ivanovich) (b. Feb. 18 [Feb. 5, O.S.], 1903, Zagradye, Mogilyov province, Russia [now in Belarus] - d. Dec. 2, 1967, Minsk, Belorussian S.S.R.), chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Belorussian S.S.R. (1948-67). He was also first secretary of the party committee of Minsk oblast (1942-48) and chairman of the Supreme Soviet (1947-48).

Kozlovic, Lilijana (b. Oct. 30, 1962, Koper, Slovenia), justice minister of Slovenia (2020-21).

Kozlovskis, Rihards (b. May 26, 1969, Riga, Latvian S.S.R.), interior minister of Latvia (2011-19, 2023- ).

Kozlovsky, Pavel (Pavlovich) (b. March 9, 1942, Volkovo, Brest oblast, Belorussian S.S.R.), defense minister of Belarus (1992-94).

Kozlowski, Krzysztof (Jan) (b. Aug. 18, 1931, Przybyslawice, near Kraków, Poland - d. March 26, 2013, Kraków), interior minister of Poland (1990-91). He was also head of the State Protection Office (1990).

Kozlowski, Leon (Tadeusz) (b. June 6, 1892, Rembieszyce, near Kielce, Poland - d. May 11, 1944, Berlin, Germany), prime minister of Poland (1934-35). He was also minister of agrarian reform (1930-32) and interior (1934).

Kozma (de Leveld), Miklós vitéz (b. Sept. 5, 1884, Nagyvárad, Hungary [now Oradea, Romania] - d. Dec. 8, 1941, Ungvár, Hungary [now Uzhhorod, Ukraine]), interior minister of Hungary (1935-37). He was also governor of Carpatho-Ukraine (1940-41).

Kozodavlev, Osip (Petrovich) (b. April 9 [March 29, O.S.], 1754, St. Petersburg, Russia - d. Aug. 5 [July 24, O.S.], 1819), interior minister of Russia (1810-19); great-grandson-in-law of Graf Pyotr (Matveyevich) Apraksin.

Kozonguizi, Fanuel (Jariretundu) (b. Jan. 26, 1932, Windhoek, South West Africa [now Namibia] - d. Feb. 1, 1995, Windhoek), chairman of the Transitional Government of National Unity of Namibia (1986). He was also minister of justice, information, and posts and telecommunications (1985-88) and information and justice (1988-89) and ombudsman (1992-95).

Kozovski, Ferdinand (Todorov) (b. Jan. 27, 1892, Knezha, Bulgaria - d. Sept. 12, 1965, Sofia, Bulgaria), Bulgarian politician. He was minister to Hungary (1948-49) and Poland (1949-50) and chairman of the National Assembly (1950-65).

Kozyrev, Andrey (Vladimirovich) (b. March 27, 1951, Brussels, Belgium), foreign minister of Russia (1990-96).

Kozyrev, Semyon (Pavlovich) (b. April 15, 1907 - d. Aug. 15, 1991), Soviet diplomat. He was minister to Egypt (1950-53) and ambassador to Italy (1957-66).

Kpado, Louis (b. 1940, Pouloubou, Oubangui-Chari [now Central African Republic]), interior minister of the Central African Republic (1970-71). He was also mayor of Bangui (1970-71).

Kpatamango, Marcien Aubin, Central African Republic diplomat. He was chargé d'affaires at the United Nations (2020-22).

Kpayedo, (Franck) Kokou (b. Sept. 27, 1961), Togolese diplomat. He was ambassador to Canada (2014-16) and permanent representative to the United Nations (2016-22).

Kpognon, Stanislas (Yedomon) (b. May 3, 1933, Cotonou, Dahomey [now Benin]), economy and finance minister of Dahomey (1968-70).

Kpomakpor, David (Dower), name also reported as Kpormakpor (b. Sept. 28, 1935, Bomi territory [now Bomi county], Liberia - d. Aug. 19, 2010, New York City), chairman of the Council of State of Liberia (1994-95).

Kpongo, Ambroisine (b. Nov. 11, 1951, Oubangui-Chari [now Central African Republic]), Central African Republic diplomat. She was permanent representative to the United Nations (2014-20).

Kpotsra, Roland (Yao) (b. Feb. 20, 1947, Lomé, Togo), foreign minister of Togo (2002-03). He was also Togo's chargé d'affaires in Zimbabwe (1990-91), permanent representative to the United Nations (1996-2002, 2007-09), and minister for democracy and rule of law promotion (2003-05).

Kraag, Johan(nes Samuel Petrus) (b. 1913 - d. May 24, 1996), president of Suriname (1990-91). He was also chairman of the Staten (parliament) (1958-63) and minister of social affairs (1963-67) and labour and social affairs (1967-69).

Kraag-Keteldijk

Kraag-Keteldijk, Lygia (Louise Irene) (b. June 18, 1941, Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana [now Suriname]), foreign minister of Suriname (2005-10).

Krabbe, Carl Fredrik (b. March 11, 1738, Ruokolax socken, Finland - d. Jan. 24, 1811, Vasa [Vaasa], Finland), governor of Vasa (1794-1805).

Krabbe, Christopher (b. July 20, 1833, Holgershåb, Falster, Denmark - d. May 22, 1913, Hellerup, Denmark), defense minister of Denmark (1909-10). He was also speaker of the Folketing (1870-83).

Krabbe, Nikolay (Karlovich) (b. Sept. 1 [Aug. 20, O.S.], 1814, Kveshi, Russia [now in Georgia] - d. Jan. 15 [Jan. 3, O.S.], 1876, St. Petersburg, Russia), Russian navy minister (1860-76).

Kracun

H. Kraft

Kracun, Davorin (b. Oct. 31, 1950, Maribor, Slovenia), foreign minister of Slovenia (1996-97). He was also minister of planning (1992-93) and economic relations and development (1993-95) and ambassador to the United States (2000-04).

Kræmer, Robert Fredrik friherre von (b. Aug. 20, 1791, Lampi socken, Nyland och Tavastehus, Finland - d. May 25, 1880, Uppsala, Sweden), governor of Uppsala (1830-62). He was made friherre (baron) in 1837.

Kraft, Hannelore, née Külzhammer (b. June 12, 1961, Mülheim an der Ruhr, West Germany), minister-president of Nordrhein-Westfalen (2010-17).

Kraft, Ole Bjørn (b. Dec. 17, 1893, Copenhagen, Denmark - d. Dec. 2, 1980, Frederiksberg, Denmark), defense minister (1945) and foreign minister (1950-53) of Denmark.

Krag (Kristensen), Astrid (b. Nov. 17, 1982, Vejle, Denmark), interior minister of Denmark (2019-21). She was also minister of health and prevention (2011-14), social affairs (2019-22), and the elderly (2021-22).

J.O. Krag

Krag, Jens Otto (b. Sept. 15, 1914, Randers, Denmark - d. June 22, 1978, Skiveren, Denmark), prime minister of Denmark (1962-68, 1971-72). He joined the Social Democratic Party's youth organization in 1930 and quickly rose in the ranks of the party. In 1940, he joined the Danish directorate of supply and served as coordinator of the labour movement's economic council. Elected to parliament in 1947, he became minister of commerce and supported Denmark's change from neutrality to a strong defense policy. But deciding that he needed to learn more both of the world and of the English language, he asked for a post at the Danish embassy in Washington, D.C., where he worked as economic adviser (1950-52). He re-entered parliament in 1952 and was appointed minister without portfolio and then minister of the new department of foreign economic affairs (1953-58) and foreign minister (1958-62, 1966-67). During Krag's terms as prime minister he worked toward the goal of European economic cooperation. He was awarded the Charlemagne Prize at Aachen, West Germany, in 1966 for his services to European unity. He astounded his countrymen when he resigned as prime minister after Denmark voted in 1972 to join the European Economic Community (EEC). The campaign over membership was bitterly fought and Krag explained that he had been looking for an opportunity to leave politics. The passions roused by his campaign never completely died down. In 1976 a nude statue of Krag was shown at a Copenhagen art exhibition with the title "The Man Who Sold Us to the EEC." In 1974-75 he was the Common Market's chief representative in the United States.

Krag, Oluf (Christian) (b. Sept. 23, 1870, Hals, Denmark - d. Sept. 10, 1942, Copenhagen, Denmark), interior minister of Denmark (1921-24, 1926-29).

Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs, Christian Emil (lensgreve) (b. Dec. 8, 1817, Frijsenborg, Denmark - d. Oct. 12, 1896, Boller, Denmark), prime minister and foreign minister of Denmark (1865-70).

Krahelski, Jan (b. May 28, 1884 - d. Jan. 23, 1960, Gdansk, Poland), governor of Poleskie województwo (1926-32).

Kraigher, Boris, also spelled Krajger (b. Feb. 14, 1914, Sveta Trojica, Austria [now in Slovenia] - d. [car accident] Jan. 4, 1967, Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia), chairman of the Executive Council of Slovenia (1953-62). He was also a deputy premier of Yugoslavia (1963-67).

Kraigher, Sergej (b. May 30, 1914, Postojna, Slovenia - d. Jan. 17, 2001, Ljubljana, Slovenia), Yugoslav politician. He was governor of the National Bank of Yugoslavia (1951-53), president of the People's Assembly (1967-74) and of the Presidency (1974-79) of Slovenia, and president of the Presidency of Yugoslavia (1981-82).

Krainer, Josef (b. Feb. 16, 1903, St. Lorenzen, Steiermark, Austria - d. Nov. 28, 1971, St. Lorenzen), Landeshauptmann of Steiermark (1948-71).

Krainer, Josef (b. Aug. 26, 1930, Graz, Austria - d. Dec. 30, 2016, Graz), Landeshauptmann of Steiermark (1980-96); son of the above.

Krajci, Gustáv (b. May 19, 1951, Filakovo, Czechoslovakia [now in Slovakia]), interior minister of Slovakia (1996-98).

Krajcír, Frantisek (b. June 12, 1913, Vienna, Austria - d. May 18, 1986, Prague, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), a deputy premier of Czechoslovakia (1963-68). He was also minister of internal trade (1948-59) and external trade (1959-63) and ambassador to East Germany (1969-71).

Krajina, Borislav (b. Sept. 24, 1930, Doboj, Yugoslavia [now in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina]), justice minister of Yugoslavia (1982-86).

Krajisnik

Krajisnik, Momcilo (b. Jan. 20, 1945, Zabrdje village, near Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina - d. Sept. 15, 2020, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Bosnian politician. He became speaker of the assembly in the Yugoslav republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1990 but left that position to serve as speaker of the Bosnian Serb assembly (1991-95). He was the main power broker in the Serb republic, a man with more clout than even Pres. Radovan Karadzic as a result of his tight control over police and local authorities and alleged contacts with war profiteers. In 1996 Krajisnik won the Serb seat on the new central government collective Presidency. But Krajisnik and his party suffered a serious blow in the 1997 power struggle with the Serb republic's Pres. Biljana Plavsic whose supporters eventually took over the police and the Bosnian Serb television with the help of NATO troops. After the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) and its ally the Radical Party failed to secure a majority in the entity's parliamentary vote in November 1997, the hardliners suffered another setback with the election of a moderate government under Prime Minister Milorad Dodik. A number of former high-ranking government officials and SDS members were eventually prosecuted for corruption. Krajisnik himself was accused of being involved in the August 1998 murder of a pro-Plavsic senior police officer in the hardliners' stronghold of Pale. He was arrested on charges including genocide, crimes against humanity, murder, and extermination on April 3, 2000. His trial before the UN war crimes tribunal began in February 2004. He was convicted and sentenced to 27 years in prison for crimes against humanity, but cleared of genocide, on Sept. 27, 2006. Following an appeal, his sentence was reduced to 20 years in prison in March 2009. He was released in September 2013.

Kramár

Kramár, Karel (b. Dec. 27, 1860, Vysoké nad Jizerou [now in northern Czech Republic] - d. May 26, 1937, Prague), chairman of the National Council (1918) and prime minister (1918-19) of Czechoslovakia.

Kramer, Bryan (Jared) (b. March 11, 1975), Papua New Guinean politician. He has been minister of police (2019-20), justice (2020-22), immigration and citizenship (2022), and labour and immigration (2022- ).

Kramp-K.

Kramplová

Kramp-Karrenbauer, Annegret ("AKK"), née Kramp (b. Aug. 9, 1962, Völklingen, Saarland, West Germany), minister-president of Saarland (2011-18) and defense minister of Germany (2019-21). She was also general secretary (2018) and chairman (2018-21) of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany.

Kramplová, Zdenka (b. Aug. 7, 1957, Krupina, Czechoslovakia [now in Slovakia]), foreign minister of Slovakia (1997-98). In 2007-08 she was agriculture minister.

Kranenburg, Ferdinand Jan (b. April 1, 1911, Tiel, Gelderland, Netherlands - d. Nov. 15, 1994, The Hague, Netherlands), queen's commissioner of Noord-Holland (1964-76); son of Roelof Kranenburg.

Kranenburg, Roelof (b. Sept. 8, 1880, Groningen, Netherlands - d. Dec. 28, 1956, The Hague, Netherlands), Dutch politician. He was president of the First Chamber (1946-51).

Kranich, Heiki (b. Oct. 9, 1961, Haapsalu, Estonian S.S.R.), finance minister of Estonia (1994). He was also environment minister (1999-2003).

Kranjec, Marko (b. April 12, 1940, Novo Mesto, Yugoslavia [now in Slovenia]), finance minister of Slovenia (1990-91). He was also governor of the Bank of Slovenia (2007-13).

Krantz, (Charles) Camille (Julien) (b. Aug. 24, 1848, Dinozé, Vosges, France - d. April 30, 1924, Paris, France), French war minister (1899). He was also minister of public works (1898-99).

Krantz, Jules (François Émile) (b. Dec. 29, 1821, Givet, Ardennes, France - d. Jan. 25, 1914, Toulon, France), acting governor of Cochinchina (1874) and marine and colonies minister (1888-89) and marine minister (1889) of France.

Krapez, Alojz (b. June 2, 1958, Otlica, western Slovenia), defense minister of Slovenia (1998).

Krapovic, Dragan (b. 1976), defense minister of Montenegro (2023- ).

Krasae

Krasae Chanawongse (b. March 1, 1934, Khon Kaen, Thailand), foreign minister of Thailand (1995). He was also minister of university affairs (1994-95).

Kraschel, Nelson G(eorge) (b. Oct. 27, 1889, Macon, Ill. - d. March 15, 1957, Harlan, Iowa), governor of Iowa (1937-39).

Krasheninnikov, Pavel (Vladimirovich) (b. June 21, 1964, Polevskoy, Sverdlovsk oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), justice minister of Russia (1998-99).

Krasic, Stjepan (b. Dec. 21, 1965, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina), acting premier of Herzegovina-Neretva (2015).

Krasin, Leonid (Borisovich), in English often rendered Krassin (b. July 27 [July 15, O.S.], 1870, Kurgan, Russia - d. Nov. 24, 1926, London, England), Soviet politician. He was people's commissar of trade and industry (1918-20), railways (1919-20), and external trade (1920-23) of the Russian S.F.S.R. and Soviet people's commissar of external trade (1923-24) and ambassador to France (1924-25) and the United Kingdom (1925-26).

Krasko, Wincenty (b. June 1, 1916, Kotovichi, Russia [now in Belarus] - d. Aug. 10, 1976, Koszalin, Poland), a deputy premier of Poland (1971-72). He was also first secretary of the party committee of Poznanskie województwo (1956-60).

Krasnoselsky

Krasnoselsky, Vadim (Nikolayevich) (b. April 14, 1970, Dauriya, Chita oblast [now in Zabaykalsky kray], Russian S.F.S.R.), president of Transnistria (2016- ).

Krasnoshchekov, Aleksandr (Mikhailovich), original name Abram (Moiseyevich) Krasnoshchek (b. Oct. 10, 1880, Chernobyl, Kiev province, Russia [now in Ukraine] - d. [executed] Nov. 26, 1937), chairman of the Government (1920-21) and of the Council of Ministers (1920) and foreign minister (1920-21) of the Far-Eastern Republic.

Krasnov, Nikolay (Fyodorovich) (b. Aug. 22, 1922, Shakhty, Don oblast [now in Rostov oblast], Russia - d. Dec. 27, 1990, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), Soviet politician. He was a deputy premier and chairman of the State Committee for Scientific Research Coordination of the Russian S.F.S.R. (1962-63).

Krasnoyarov, Yevgeny (Alekseyevich) (b. Nov. 24, 1939), head of the administration of Sakhalin oblast (1993-95).

Krastins, Andrejs (b. May 6, 1951, Riga, Latvian S.S.R. - d. May 19, 2008), defense minister (1995-97) and interior minister (1998) of Latvia.

Krastins, Edmunds (b. May 7, 1958, Ogre, Latvian S.S.R.), finance minister of Latvia (1999-2000). He was also minister of state for state property (1993-94).

Krasts

Krasts, Guntars (b. Oct. 16, 1957, Riga, Latvian S.S.R.), prime minister (1997-98) and acting defense minister (1998) of Latvia. He became economy minister in late 1995 and was chosen as prime minister following the resignation of Andris Skele in 1997. He was a member of the nationalist group For Fatherland and Freedom, which was the third-largest party in parliament.

Krasucki

Krasucki, Henri (b. Sept. 2, 1924, Wolomin, near Warsaw, Poland - d. Jan. 24, 2003, Paris, France), French union leader. Two years after his birth he was brought to France by his parents, both Jewish Communists fleeing persecution in Poland. Captured by the Nazis in 1943 because of his work in the French resistance, which he joined at the age of 15, Krasucki was deported to Buchenwald and Auschwitz concentration camps but survived to return to France. He became a French citizen in 1947. Krasucki joined the Communist Party's central committee in 1956, as France's hardline Communists stayed loyal to Moscow despite the uproar over the Soviet invasion of Hungary that year. A metalworker by training, he belonged to its politburo from 1964 to 1996. He led France's biggest trade union, the Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT), from 1982 to 1992.

Krauchenka, Petr (Kuzmich) (b. Aug. 13, 1950, Smolevichi, Minsk oblast, Belorussian S.S.R.), foreign minister of Belarus (1990-94). He was also ambassador to Japan (1998-2002) and the Philippines (1999-2002).

Krause (Gonçalves Sobrinho), Gustavo (b. June 19, 1946, Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco, Brazil), acting governor of Pernambuco (1986-87) and finance minister of Brazil (1992-93). He was also mayor of Recife (1979-82) and minister of environment (1995-99).

Krause, Paul (Georg Christof) von (b. April 4, 1852, Karbowo, Prussia [now in Poland] - d. Dec. 17, 1923, Berlin, Germany), justice minister of Germany (1917-19).

Krause, Rudolf (b. Feb. 19, 1939, Neissgrund, Silesia, Prussia, Germany [now Podtynie, Poland]), Regierungsbevollmächtigter of Leipzig (1990) and Landesbevollmächtigter of Sachsen (1990).

Krauss (Valle), (Gabriela) Alejandra (Ingeborg) (b. 1956), Chilean politician; daughter of Enrique Krauss Rusque. She was minister of planning and cooperation (2000-02) and labour and social security (2016-18).

Krauss Rusque, (Juan) Enrique (Fernando) (b. Jan. 8, 1932, Valdivia, Chile), interior minister of Chile (1990-94). He was also minister of economy, development, and reconstruction (1968-69), president of the Christian Democratic Party (1997-99), and ambassador to Spain (2002-06), Ecuador (2006-09), and the Czech Republic (2009-10).

Krautheimer, Jean-Félix (b. Dec. 3, 1874 - d. Jan. 7, 1943), administrator of Kwangchowan (1919-22, 1922-23) and governor of Cochinchina (1929-34).

Kravchenko

Kravchenko, Yuriy (Fedorovych) (b. March 5, 1951, Aleksandriya, Kirovograd oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R. - d. March 4, 2005, Konche-Zaspa, near Kiev, Ukraine), interior minister of Ukraine (1995-2001). He was also head of the State Customs Committee (1994-95) and State Tax Administration (2002-04) and governor of Kherson oblast (2001-02). He apparently committed suicide on the day he was due to be questioned about the 2000 murder of investigative reporter Heorhiy Gongadze.

Kravchuk

Kravchuk, Leonid (Makarovych) (b. Jan. 10, 1934, Zytyn Wielki, Poland [now Velykyi Zhytyn, Ukraine] - d. May 10, 2022), president of Ukraine (1991-94). In 1958 he joined the Communist Party. He began a political career, becoming head of the agitation and propaganda departments, first (in the 1960s) of the Chernovtsy oblast committee of the Ukrainian Communist Party, and later of the Central Committee of the Ukrainian party. During 1988-90 he served as head of the ideology department and as second secretary of the Central Committee. In 1989 he became a candidate member and in 1990 a member of the Ukrainian Politburo. He became chairman of the Ukrainian Supreme Soviet in July 1990, and as such he soon became the effective leader of the republic. As the central government in Moscow grew weaker, he began to warm to the Ukrainian independence movement. He left the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in August 1990. After the failure of the coup attempt by Soviet Communist hardliners in August 1991, he expressed unqualified support for independence. He was elected president in December 1991 but lost reelection to Leonid Kuchma in July 1994. He remained a deputy of the Supreme Council until 2006, joining the United Social Democratic Party in 1998 and heading its parliamentary group in 2002-06; in 2009 he left the party again, disagreeing with its decision to form a bloc with other parties including the Communist Party to participate in the presidential elections.

Kravtsov, Boris (Vasilyevich) (b. Dec. 28, 1922, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), Soviet politician. He was prosecutor of the Russian S.F.S.R. (1971-84) and justice minister of the U.S.S.R. (1984-89).

Krecheuski, Pyotr (Antonavich) (b. Aug. 7, 1879 - d. March 8, 1928), chairman of the Rada of the Belorussian People's Republic in rebellion (1919-20) and in exile (1920-28).

Kreisky

Kreisky, Bruno (b. Jan. 22, 1911, Vienna, Austria-Hungary - d. July 29, 1990, Vienna, Austria), chancellor of Austria (1970-83). He joined the Socialist youth movement in 1926; the Socialist Party was outlawed in 1934, and in 1935 he was arrested and imprisoned for 18 months. In 1938, after the Nazi takeover, he was again arrested for political activities, but escaped to Sweden. Returning after the war, he joined the Foreign Service and was assigned back to Sweden to serve at the Austrian legation in Stockholm (1946-50). After serving in the federal president's office (1951-53) he became secretary of state in the foreign ministry (1953-59) and then foreign minister (1959-66). From 1956 he was a member of parliament, and in 1959 he was elected deputy chairman of the Socialists. After the party's decisive defeat in the 1966 election, he took the lead in an intraparty reform movement. He was narrowly elected chairman of the Socialists in 1967, and he became chancellor when the Socialists emerged from the 1970 elections as the strongest party; in 1971 they acquired an absolute majority, and this was preserved in elections in 1975 and 1979. He was credited with successfully pursuing a policy of "active neutrality," smoothing relations with neighbouring Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia and seeking cooperation with other nonaligned nations. In 1976 he became vice-president of the Socialist International, in which capacity he undertook contacts with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). In 1980 he sparked an international debate and antagonized Israel by offering formal recognition to the PLO. In 1983 the Socialist Party lost its majority, and he speedily fulfilled a pledge to resign rather than lead a coalition. He remained honorary party chairman until 1987.

Kreituse, Ilga, née Grava, during first marriage Ilga Gore (b. July 5, 1952, Tervete, Dobele district, Latvian S.S.R.), Latvian politician; wife of Aivars Guntis Kreituss. She was speaker of the Saeima (1995-96).

Kreituss, Aivars Guntis (b. Sept. 21, 1945, Riga, Latvian S.S.R.), finance minister of Latvia (1995-96). He was also minister of economic reform (1993).

Krejcí, Jaroslav (b. June 27, 1892, Kremenec, Austria [now in Czech Republic] - d. May 18, 1956, Prague, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), justice minister (1939-45) and prime minister (1942-45) of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. He was also head of the Constitutional Court (1938-39) and justice minister (1938-39) of Czechoslovakia.

Krejcí, Josef (b. Jan. 29, 1912, Pochvalov, Austria [now in Czech Republic] - d. July 30, 1989), a deputy premier of Czechoslovakia (1965-68, 1969-70). He was also minister of metallurgical industry (1962-65) and heavy industry (1965-68) and chairman of the Committee for Industry (1969-70).

Krek, Miha (b. Sept. 28, 1897, Leskovica, Austria [now in Slovenia] - d. Nov. 18, 1969, Cleveland, Ohio), a deputy prime minister of Yugoslavia (1941-43; from 1941 in exile). He was also a minister without portfolio (1935-38) and minister of construction (1938-39), public works (1939, 1942-43), and education (1939-41).

Kremers, Sjeng, byname of Johan Kremers (b. May 10, 1933, Nieuwenhagen, Limburg, Netherlands), queen's commissioner of Limburg (1977-90).

Krenz

Krenz, Egon (b. March 19, 1937, Kolberg, Germany [now Kolobrzeg, Poland]), chairman of the Council of State of East Germany (1989). He served in a succession of senior posts from 1973 until 1989, when he replaced East Germany's long-serving leader Erich Honecker, who was ousted amid mounting demonstrations demanding reforms and freedom to travel. Krenz allowed the historic opening of the Berlin Wall during a brief seven weeks in power. His leadership was replaced in December 1989 by a reform-oriented caretaker government led by Hans Modrow, a moderate Communist who ran the country until its first democratic elections in March 1990. In August 1997 Krenz was convicted for manslaughter, being held partly responsible for the shooting deaths of East Germans trying to flee to the West at the Berlin Wall and other heavily fortified stretches of Germany's former east-west border. He maintained that stopping citizens from leaving the country broke no East German law. He began serving a 6½-year work-release sentence in January 2000 after a series of failed appeals. The European Court of Human Rights also rejected Krenz' illegal-trial argument in 2001. He was paroled in December 2003 after serving nearly four years at Berlin's Plötzensee prison.

Kresal, Katarina (b. Jan. 28, 1973, Ljubljana, Slovenia), interior minister of Slovenia (2008-11).

Kresalja Rosselló, Baldo (Juan José) (b. Sept. 11, 1941, Lima, Peru), justice minister of Peru (2004).

Kress, Viktor (Melkhiorovich) (b. Nov. 16, 1948), head of the administration (1991-95) and governor (1995-2012) of Tomsk oblast.

Krestinsky, Nikolay (Nikolayevich) (b. Oct. 25, 1883, Mogilyov, Russia [now in Belarus] - d. [executed] March 15, 1938, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), Soviet politician. He was people's commissar of finance of the Russian S.F.S.R. (1918-22) and Soviet ambassador to Germany (1922-30).

Krestyanishin, Fyodor (Stepanovich), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Moldavian A.S.S.R. (1937).

Kretschmann

Kretschmer

Kretschmann, Winfried (b. May 17, 1948, Spaichingen, Württemberg-Hohenzollern [now in Baden-Württemberg], Germany), minister-president of Baden-Württemberg (2011- ). He is the first Green head of a German state government.

Kretschmer, Michael (b. May 7, 1975, Görlitz, East Germany [now in Sachsen, Germany]), minister-president of Sachsen (2017- ).

Kretser, David (Morritz) de (b. April 27, 1939, Colombo, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]), governor of Victoria (2006-11).

Krgovic, Ljubisa (b. 1957, Mojkovac, Montenegro), a deputy prime minister of Montenegro (2000-01). He was also president of the Central Bank (2001-10).

Kriangsak

Kriangsak Chomanan (b. Dec. 17, 1917, Mahachai district, Samut Sakorn province, Siam [now Thailand] - d. Dec. 23, 2003, Bangkok), prime minister of Thailand (1977-80). In 1940-43 he was a platoon leader in a brief war against French Indochina. In 1973 he became a full general, in 1974 army chief of staff, and in 1976 supreme commander of the military. He was part of a military faction that took power after right-wing political power-brokers provoked mobs to lynch left-wing student protesters at Bangkok's Thammasat University on Oct. 6, 1976. The junta appointed a civilian prime minister, Thanin Kraivichien, but his ultraconservative policies exacerbated the rifts in Thai society. With broad military support, another coup was staged in October 1977 and Kriangsak was appointed prime minister. He moved to temper Thanin's repressive policies, which had strengthened a Communist insurgency. An amnesty program for former members of the Communist Party eventually helped quash the insurgency. His government promulgated a constitution in 1978 setting up a timetable for the restoration of democracy, beginning with a 1979 election. He was also minister of interior (1977-78), defense (1978-79), and finance and agriculture (1979-80). He resigned in 1980 after losing the support of an influential faction of independent-minded army officers known as the Young Turks. In 1981, he successfully ran for a seat in parliament at the helm of his own National Democracy Party. When he was caught with other retired military officers at the headquarters of the plotters of a failed 1985 coup, he claimed he had been awoken in the middle of the night and brought to the coup-plotters' headquarters with no knowledge of what was going on. He and other retired generals went on trial in 1987, but all benefited from a general amnesty in 1988 before any verdict was reached.

Kridelka, Philippe (b. May 18, 1960, Charleroi, Belgium), Belgian diplomat. He has been ambassador to Singapore and Brunei (2002-05) and Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar (2017-20) and permanent representative to the United Nations (2020- ).

Krieger, Andreas Frederik (b. Oct. 4, 1817, Kolbjørnsvik, Denmark - d. Sept. 27, 1893, Copenhagen, Denmark), interior minister (1856-58, 1859), finance minister (1858-59, 1872-74), and justice minister (1870-72) of Denmark.

Krieger Vasena, Adalbert (b. Feb. 11, 1920, Buenos Aires, Argentina - d. June 15, 2000, Buenos Aires), finance minister (1957-58) and economy minister (1967-69) of Argentina.

Kriel, Hernus, byname of Hermanus Jacobus Kriel (b. Nov. 14, 1941, Kakamas, Cape province [now in Northern Cape], South Africa - d. July 5, 2015, Cape Town, South Africa), premier of Western Cape (1994-98). He was also South African minister of planning and provincial affairs (1989-91) and law and order (1991-94).

Krieps, Robert (Ernest) (b. Oct. 16, 1922, Dalheim, Luxembourg - d. Aug. 1, 1990, Paris, France), justice minister of Luxembourg (1974-79, 1984-89). He was also minister of education (1974-79), culture (1974-79, 1984-89), and environment (1984-89).

Kriezis, Antonios (Georgiou) (b. 1796, Hydra, Ottoman Empire [now in Greece] - d. April 1, 1865, Athens, Greece), prime minister of Greece (1849-54). He was also minister of marine (1836-43, 1849-54).

Kriezis, Dimitrios (Antoniou), Greek politician; son of Antonios Kriezis. He was minister of marine (1895).

Kriezis, Epaminondas (Antoniou) (b. 1834 - d. 1894), Greek politician; son of Antonios Kriezis. He was minister of military (provisional, 1893) and marine (1893).

Kriger, Grigory (Aleksandrovich) (b. 1820 - d. March 27, 1881, St. Petersburg, Russia), governor of Kovno (1861-63) and Yekaterinoslav (1863-65).

Kriger-Voynovsky, Eduard (Bronislavovich) (b. April 18 [April 6, O.S.], 1864, Maykop, Russia - d. Jan. 3, 1933, Berlin, Germany), Russian minister of communications (1917).

Krinitsky, Aleksandr (Ivanovich) (b. Sept. 9 [Aug. 28, O.S.], 1894, Tver, Russia - d. [executed] Oct. 30, 1937), executive/first secretary of the Communist Party of the Belorussian S.S.R. (1924-27) and the Transcaucasian S.F.S.R. (1929-30). He was also chairman of the party committees of Tver (1918) and Vladimir (1919) provinces, executive secretary of the party committees of Omsk (1922-23) and Donetsk (1923-24) provinces, and first secretary of the party committees of Saratov kray/oblast (1934-37) and Saratov city (1935-37).

Kripalani, M(otiram) K(hushiram) (b. Aug. 15, 1901 - d. ...), chief commissioner of Ajmer (1954-56) and Pondicherry (1956-58).

Kripalani, Sucheta, née Mazumdar (b. June 25, 1908, Ambala, Punjab, India - d. Dec. 1, 1974), chief minister of Uttar Pradesh (1963-67).

Kris Sivara (b. March 25, 1914, Bangkok, Siam [now Thailand] - d. April 23, 1976, Bangkok), defense minister of Thailand (1976). He was also industry minister (1972-73) and commander-in-chief of the army (1973-75).

Krishna

Krishna, S(omanahalli) M(allaiah) (b. May 1, 1932, Somanahalli, Mandya district, Mysore [now Karnataka], India), chief minister of Karnataka (1999-2004), governor of Maharashtra (2004-08), and foreign minister of India (2009-12).

Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavsinhji (Gohil), Sir (b. May 19, 1912, Bhavnagar, India - d. April 1, 1965, Bombay [now Mumbai], Maharashtra, India), Maharaja Rao of Bhavnagar (1919-47), acting rajpramukh of Saurashtra (1948), and governor of Madras (1948-52). He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India on June 9, 1938.

Krishnamachari, T(iruvallur) T(hattai) (b. Nov. 26, 1899, Madras [now Chennai], India - d. March 7, 1974, Madras), finance minister of India (1956-58, 1963-65). He was also minister of commerce and industry (1952-56), iron and steel (1955-57), and economic and defense coordination (1962-63).

Krishnamurthy, K. Jana (b. May 24, 1928, Madurai, Madras province [now Tamil Nadu state], India - d. Sept. 25, 2007, Chennai, Tamil Nadu), law and justice minister of India (2002-03).

Krishnan, Natarajan (b. Oct. 6, 1928, Mayuram [now Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu], India - d. Sept. 15, 2020, Bengaluru, India), Indian diplomat. He was chargé d'affaires in Cambodia (1956-57) and Argentina (1959-62), ambassador to Yugoslavia (1976-79), and permanent representative to the United Nations (1981-86).

Krishnatry, Surendra Mohan (b. June 13, 1921, Sikandrabad, United Provinces [now in Uttar Pradesh], India), chief commissioner of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1975-79).

Kriste, Petar (b. Jan. 5, 1936, Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia [now in Croatia]), defense minister of Croatia (1990). He was also minister of trade (1990-92).

Kristensen, Henrik Dam (b. Jan. 31, 1957, Vorbasse, Denmark), Danish politician. He was minister of agriculture and fisheries (1994-2000), food (1996-2000), social affairs (2000-01), transport (2011-13), and employment (2014-15), speaker of the Folketing (2019-22), and president of the Nordic Council (2011, 2016).

Kristensen, Knud (b. Oct. 26, 1880, Ringkøbing, Denmark - d. Sept. 29, 1962, Hillerød, Denmark), prime minister of Denmark (1945-47). Entering parliament in 1920, he became a leader of the Venstre (Liberal) Party. In 1940 he became minister of the interior of Thorvald Stauning's coalition government under the German occupation but resigned after Stauning's death in 1942, when Erik Scavenius, who sought accommodation with the Germans, became prime minister. After the German surrender in 1945 he returned to the ministry for a short time. In October 1945 he became prime minister in a Liberal-Agrarian coalition. His government, supported by the great majority in parliament, told the United Kingdom, then the occupying power in Schleswig-Holstein, that the issue of South Schleswig, a province in contention for centuries between the Danes and the Germans, ought to depend upon an initiative from the local population. But a half-million Danes petitioned the government in 1946 to take over the area and Kristensen, who maintained that South Schleswig was "historically an Old Danish province," went on a personal campaign advocating the return of the province. Parliament censured this attitude as incompatible with the premiership, and his government fell in 1947. He split with his party in the 1953 constitutional referendum, campaigning against the provision that changed Denmark's bicameral legislature into a unicameral one. The same year he formed the small Independent Party, which advocated a return of southern Schleswig to Denmark and repeal of most social welfare legislation. It failed to win any seats in the new legislature, and Kristensen largely retired from political life (the party won six seats in 1960, however).

Kristensen, Thorkil (b. Oct. 9, 1899, Fløjstrup, Vejle amt [now in Syddanmark region], Denmark - d. June 26, 1989), finance minister of Denmark (1945-47, 1950-53) and secretary-general of the Organization for European Economic Cooperation/Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (1960-69).

Kristensson, Astrid (Margareta), née Zetterstrand (b. Jan. 7, 1917, Stockholm, Sweden - d. Jan. 10, 2000), governor of Kronoberg (1977-82).

Kristensson, (Gustaf) Filip (Natan) (b. June 17, 1898, Osby, Kristianstad [now in Skåne], Sweden - d. Jan. 26, 1980), governor of Västerbotten (1957-65).

Kristersson

Kristersson, Ulf (Hjalmar Ed) (Ed is wife's surname, added in 2020) (b. Dec. 29, 1963, Lund, Sweden), prime minister of Sweden (2022- ). He has also been minister of social security (2010-14) and leader of the Moderate Party (2017- ).

Kristev, Todor (b. Nov. 8, 1865, Perushtitsa, Ottoman Empire [now in Bulgaria] - d. July 22, 1914), justice minister of Bulgaria (1908-10). He was also minister of commerce and agriculture (1910-11).

Kristi, Grigory (Ivanovich) (b. Oct. 1 [Sept. 19, O.S.], 1856 - d. March 30 [March 17, O.S.], 1911, St. Petersburg, Russia), governor of Oryol (1901-02) and Moscow (1902-05); nephew of Aleksandr Nelidov.

Kristiansen, Kåre (Gulbrand) (b. March 11, 1920, Bergen, Norway - d. Dec. 3, 2005), Norwegian politician. He was chairman of the Christian People's Party in 1975-77 and 1979-83 and minister of oil and energy in 1983-86. He resigned from the Nobel Peace Prize Committee in 1994 to protest the decision to award the prize that year to Yasir Arafat. In 1997, he led a group of political and religious leaders in Norway in submitting a petition to the Foreign Ministry, demanding that the Norwegian embassy in Israel be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In 2005 he expressed his opposition to the Gaza Strip disengagement as "giving in to Arab terrorist pressure."

Kristioglo, Ivan (b. June 1, 1952), acting chairman of the Executive Committee of Gagauzia (2002).

Kristjánsdóttir, Hanna Birna (b. Oct. 12, 1966, Reykjavík, Iceland), interior minister of Iceland (2013-14). She was also mayor of Reykjavík (2008-10).

Kristjánsson, Björn (b. Feb. 26, 1858, Hreidurborg, Iceland - d. Aug. 13, 1939, Reykjavík, Iceland), finance minister of Iceland (1917).

Kristjánsson, Magnús (Júlíus) (b. April 18, 1862, Akureyri, Iceland - d. Dec. 8, 1928), finance minister of Iceland (1927-28).

Kristo

Kristo, Borjana (b. Aug. 13, 1961, Livno [now in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]), president of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2007-11) and prime minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2022- ). She was also chairman of the House of Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21).

Kristoffersen, Gerd Janne (b. Nov. 18, 1952, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag [now in Trøndelag], Norway), acting governor of Nord-Trøndelag (2017).

Kristopans

Kristopans, Vilis (b. June 13, 1954, Omsk oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), prime minister of Latvia (1998-99). He was transport minister in 1995-98. In 1998 elections his centrist Latvia's Way party came second to Andris Skele's People's Party. Despite topping the poll with 24 of the 100 seats in parliament, the newly formed People's Party was frozen out of coalition talks, mainly because of animosities over Skele's confrontational style. Kristopans quickly filled the void, persuading the nationalist Fatherland and Freedom, with 17 seats, and centrist New Party, with 8, to form the core of any government with Latvia's Way, which won 21 seats. In contrast to Skele "the Big Vilis," as the lanky politician was known, got strong reviews from all sides for his work as transport minister in the old government. He was credited with introducing an entrepreneurial spirit to his ministry, and was promoted to shake up the moribund state revenue service. Though the antithesis of Skele in character, Kristopans was not without his detractors. In early 1998 he faced a minor scandal for remaining on several boards of directors even after becoming a minister. He was also taken to task for calling his opponents "provincial" and referred to Latvia as "the land of fools" when being investigated for a conflict of interest over the board positions.

Kristovskis

Kristovskis, Girts Valdis (b. Feb. 19, 1962, Ventspils, Latvian S.S.R.), interior minister (1993-94), defense minister (1998-2004), and foreign minister (2010-11) of Latvia.

Kriulin, Gleb (Aleksandrovich) (b. Feb. 4, 1923 - d. April 19, 1988, Minsk, Belorussian S.S.R.), Soviet politician. He was chairman of the Executive Committee (1962-64) and first secretary of the party committee (1964-74) of Mogilyov oblast, Soviet ambassador to North Korea (1974-82), and minister of social welfare of the Belorussian S.S.R. (1983-88).

Krivchenko, Albert (Arkadyevich) (b. Dec. 22, 1935, Komsomolsk-na-Amure, Dalnevostochny kray [now in Khabarovsk kray], Russian S.F.S.R. - d. May 31, 2021, Novinka, Amur oblast, Russia), head of the administration of Amur oblast (1991-93).

R. Krivokapic

Z. Krivokapic

Krivokapic, Ranko (b. Aug. 17, 1961, Kotor, Montenegro), foreign minister of Montenegro (2022). He was also president of the Skusptina (2003-16).

Krivokapic, Zdravko (b. Sept. 2, 1958, Niksic, Montenegro), prime minister of Montenegro (2020-22). He was also acting justice minister (2021, 2022).

Krivorukov, Ivan (Nikolayevich) (b. Jan. 18 [Jan. 6, O.S.], 1883, Kishinev, Russia [now Chisinau, Moldova] - d. [executed] 1937), chairman of the Interim Council of People's Commissars (1919) and people's commissar of internal affairs (1919) of the Bessarabian S.S.R.

Krivoshein, Aleksandr (Vasilyevich) (b. July 31 [July 19, O.S.], 1857, Warsaw, Poland - d. Oct. 28, 1921, Berlin, Germany), head of government of Crimea (1920) and chairman of the Government of the South of Russia (1920). He was also head of the Chief Administration of Land Organization and Agriculture of Russia (1908-15).

Krivoshein, Apollon (Konstantinovich) (b. Dec. 19, 1833, Nikolayev, Russia [now Mykolayiv, Ukraine] - d. Nov. 12, 1902, Shklov, Mogilyov province, Russia [now Shklow, Mahilyow voblasts, Belarus]), Russian minister of communications (1892-94).

Krivoshein, Dmitry (Aleksandrovich) (b. 1905, Kirsanov, Tambov province, Russia - d. 1979), chairman of the Executive Committee of Crimea oblast (1946-49). He was also people's commissar of state farms of the Russian S.F.S.R. (1939-43) and chairman of the executive committee of Amur oblast (1949).

Krivov, Yury (Ivanovich) (b. Aug. 7, 1962, Nikolsk, Penza oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the government of Penza oblast (2011 [acting], 2012-14). He was also mayor of Penza (2014-15).

Krivtsov, Nikolay (Ivanovich) (b. Jan. 21 [Jan. 10, O.S.], 1791, Timofeyevskoye, Oryol province, Russia - d. Sept. 12 [Aug. 31, O.S.], 1843, Lyubichi, Tambov province, Russia), governor of Tula (1823-24), Voronezh (1824-26), and Nizhny Novgorod (1826-27); grandson-in-law of Graf Ivan Chernyshev.

Krizanic, Franci (b. Dec. 4, 1954, Ljubljana, Slovenia), finance minister of Slovenia (2008-12).

Krizanovic

Krizanovic, Jozo (b. July 28, 1944, Vitez [now in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina] - d. Dec. 2, 2009, Zagreb, Croatia), chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2001-02).

Krizinauskas, Algimantas (b. April 28, 1958, Prienai, Lithuanian S.S.R.), finance minister of Lithuania (1996).

Krkobabic, Jovan (b. Feb. 27, 1930, Koljane, Yugoslavia [now in Croatia] - d. April 22, 2014, Belgrade, Serbia), a deputy prime minister of Serbia (2008-14). He was also acting president of the National Assembly (2008) and minister of labour and social policy (2012-14).

Krkobabic, Milan (b. Oct. 12, 1952, Kacarevo, Serbia), Serbian politician; son of Jovan Krkobabic. He has been a minister without portfolio (2016-20) and minister of rural welfare (2020- ).

Krkoska

Krkoska, Jan (b. Feb. 13, 1976, Krnov, Czechoslovakia [now in Moravskoslezský kraj, Czech Republic]), governor of Moravskoslezský kraj (2023-24).

Krndelj, Ivan (b. Jan. 17, 1959, Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina), acting mayor of Brcko (2003).

Krnjevic, Juraj (b. Feb. 19, 1895, Ivanic-Grad, Hungary [now in Croatia] - d. Jan. 9, 1988, London, England), a deputy prime minister (and minister of posts, telegraphs, and telephones) of Yugoslavia (1941-43; from 1941 in exile). He was also president of the Croatian Peasant Party in exile (1964-88).

Kroebl, Adam (b. Dec. 13, 1880, Kraków, Austria [now in Poland] - d. May 9, 1950, Kraków), acting governor of Kieleckie województwo (1923, 1927).

Kroes, Neelie, during first marriage (1965-91) Neelie Smit-Kroes (b. July 19, 1941, Rotterdam, Netherlands), Dutch politician; former wife (1991-2003) of Bram Peper. She was minister of transport and water management (1982-89), EU commissioner for competition (2004-10) and digital agenda (2010-14), and a vice president of the European Commission (2010-14).

Krofta, Kamil (b. July 17, 1876, Plzen, Austria [now in Czech Republic] - d. Aug. 16, 1945, Písek, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), foreign minister of Czechoslovakia (1936-38). He was also minister to the Vatican (1920-21), Austria (1921-25), and Germany (1925-27).

Krog, Jørn Aksel (b. April 11, 1948, Trondheim, Norway - d. March 3, 2015, Trondheim), governor of Sør-Trøndelag (2011-15).

Krog, Wilhelm Frimann (b. May 10, 1767 - d. April 16, 1825), governor of Stavanger amt (1814-24).

Krogh, Johan Caspar (b. Sept. 23, 1776, Daviken, Nordre Bergenhus amt [now in Vestland fylke], Norway - d. Sept. 18, 1831, Bergen, Norway), governor of Finmarkens amt (1814-28).

Krohg, Hilmar Meincke (b. Jan. 1, 1776, Trondhjem [now Trondheim], Norway - d. Aug. 13, 1851, Molde, Romsdals amt [now Møre og Romsdal fylke], Norway), governor of Finmarkens amt (1806-11), Nordre Bergenhus amt (1811), and Romsdals amt (1811-40).

Krohn, Ulrik (Fredrik Cappelen) (b. Feb. 27, 1867, Laurvig [now Larvik], Norway - d. Jan. 20, 1944), governor of Jarlsberg og Larvik amt (1905-08).

Krokidas, Sotirios (b. 1852, Vasiliko [now Sikyona], Greece - d. July 29, 1924, Perigiali, Greece), prime minister and interior minister of Greece (1922).

Kronacker, Paul (Georges Marie), baron (b. Nov. 5, 1897, Antwerp, Belgium - d. Feb. 3, 1994, Antwerp), Belgian politician. He was minister without portfolio (1944-45), minister of supply (1945-46) and imports (1946-47), and chairman of the Chamber of Representatives (1958-61). He was made baron in 1949.

Kronfol, Sami (Omar) (b. 1941, Beirut, Lebanon), Lebanese diplomat. He was ambassador to Morocco (1992-94) and Egypt (2000-03) and permanent representative to the United Nations (2003-07).

Krönmark, Eric (Allan) (b. June 2, 1931, Näfstad, Kalmar, Sweden - d. Jan. 12, 2024), defense minister of Sweden (1976-78, 1979-81) and governor of Kalmar (1981-96).

Kroon, Ciro Dominico (b. Jan. 31, 1916, Curaçao - d. 2001), prime minister of the Netherlands Antilles (1968-69). He was also minister of social affairs, economic affairs, and public health (1957-68) and economic affairs, sport, culture, and recreation (1973-75).

Kropotkin, Knyaz (Prince) Dmitry (Nikolayevich) (b. Jan. 20 [Jan. 8, O.S.], 1836 - d. [assassinated] Feb. 21 [Feb. 9, O.S.], 1879, Kharkov, Russia [now Kharkiv, Ukraine]), governor of Grodno (1868-70) and Kharkov (1870-79).

P. Kropotkin

Kropotkin, Peter, Russian in full Knyaz (Prince) Pyotr Alekseyevich Kropotkin (b. Dec. 21 [Dec. 9, O.S.], 1842, Moscow, Russia - d. Feb. 8, 1921, Dmitrov, near Moscow), Russian revolutionary; grandson of Nikolay Sulima; cousin of Knyaz Dmitry Kropotkin. He served as an aide to Emperor Aleksandr II for a year and as an army officer in Siberia in 1862-67. In 1871 he renounced his aristocratic heritage and dedicated his life to the cause of social justice. During his Siberian service he had already begun his conversion to anarchism and in 1872 a visit to the Swiss watchmakers of the Jura Mountains, whose voluntary associations of mutual support won his admiration, confirmed him in his beliefs. On his return to Russia he joined a revolutionary group that disseminated propaganda among the workers and peasants of St. Petersburg and Moscow. Caught in a police dragnet, he was imprisoned in 1874 but made a sensational escape two years later, fleeing to western Europe, where his name soon became revered in radical circles. The next few years he spent mostly in Switzerland until he was expelled at the demand of the Russian government after the assassination of Aleksandr II by revolutionaries in 1881. He moved to France but was arrested and locked up for three years on trumped-up charges of sedition. Released in 1886, he settled in England, where he remained for the next 30 years, writing a number of influential works such as Mutual Aid (1902). The revolution of 1917 allowed him to return to Russia. He was offered the ministry of education in the provisional government but declined. He felt that the appearance of communes and soviets might form the basis of a stateless society, but the Bolshevik seizure of power turned his earlier enthusiasm to bitter disappointment.

Kröyer, Haraldur (b. Jan. 9, 1921, Svínárnes, Iceland - d. Oct. 17, 1995, Reykjavík, Iceland), Icelandic diplomat. He was ambassador to Sweden, Finland, and Austria (1970-73), the United States and Canada (1973-76), Brazil (1974-78), Mexico (1974-76), Cuba (1975-76), Tanzania (1977-81), Egypt (1978-80), Kenya (1978-81), the Soviet Union, East Germany, and Bulgaria (1980-85), Romania and Hungary (1981-85), Mongolia (1982-85), France and Spain (1985-89), Portugal (1985-90), Cape Verde (1986-89), Norway (1989-91), and Poland and Czechoslovakia (1990-91) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1972-73).

Krshivitsky, Konstantin (Faddeyevich) (b. Oct. 8 [Sept. 26, O.S.], 1840 - d. March 6 [Feb. 21, O.S.], 1910), governor-general of Vilna, Kovno, and Grodno (1906-09).

Krstic, Svetozar (b. Nov. 4, 1960, Odzaci, Serbia), a deputy prime minister of Serbia (1994-98).

Krsticevic, Damir (b. July 1, 1969, Vrgorac, Croatia), deputy prime minister and defense minister of Croatia (2016-20).

Krueger, Anne (Osborn) (b. Feb. 12, 1934, Endicott, N.Y.), acting managing director of the International Monetary Fund (2004).

Kruel, Amaury (b. April 11, 1901, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - d. Aug. 23, 1996, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), war minister of Brazil (1962-63). He was also head of the military cabinet (1961, 1962).

Kruger, Jimmy, byname of James Thomas Kruger (b. Dec. 20, 1917, Bethlehem, Orange Free State [now Free State], South Africa - d. May 8, 1987), South African politician. He was minister of justice, police, and prisons (1974-79) and president of the Senate (1979-80).

Kruger, Paul, byname of Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, byname Oom ("Uncle") Paul (b. Oct. 10, 1825, Cradock district, Cape Colony [now in Eastern Cape, South Africa] - d. July 14, 1904, Clarens, Switzerland), state president of the South-African Republic (1883-1902). In 1835 he left the Cape Colony with his family as a young Voortrekker (pioneer), eventually settling near Rustenburg, Transvaal, in 1841. He played a leading role in the unification of the Transvaal and, as commandant-general from 1864, in the subjugation of black chiefdoms. During the British occupation of the Transvaal (1877-81), he emerged as the leader of a resistance movement and negotiated with the British after their defeat at Majuba in 1881. He was elected president of the restored republic in 1883 and was reelected in 1888, 1893, and 1898. His chief opponent each time was Piet Joubert, the victor of Majuba. He maintained close ties with the other Boer republic, the Orange Free State, concluding defensive alliances with it in 1889 and 1897. Kruger's frontier policy was limited chiefly to incorporating border areas of Boer settlement and avoiding British encirclement. The London Convention of 1884 confirmed the independence of his republic but also British control over its external affairs. Barred by the convention from expanding to the west or east, he sponsored the formation of satellite republics: Stellaland and Goshen to the west, which Britain prevented him from annexing, and the New Republic (including much of Zululand) to the southeast, which he was able to incorporate in 1888. He aimed to preserve the essential characteristics of rural Boer society but also tried to draw upon the wealth of the gold mines on the Witwatersrand, which were opened in 1886. Suspicious of the Uitlanders (foreigners) who came to exploit the country's resources, in 1890 he denied them the right to vote until they had lived in the Transvaal for 14 years. By taxing the mines heavily to finance his administration, he provoked the British-supported Rand capitalists into attempting to overthrow his government by force in the 1895 Jameson Raid. A British ultimatum led to war breaking out in October 1899. Although the Boers scored early victories, the British captured Pretoria on June 5, 1900. He then went to Europe to seek (in vain) alliances against Britain; he remained there after the Boers at last submitted to British authority in 1902.

Krugers, Xavier Henri Charles Marie (b. Dec. 5, 1896, Willemstad, Curaçao - d. July 22, 1986, The Hague, Netherlands), deputy administrator of Saba (1927-30, 1933-35) and Sint Eustatius (1930-33), subadministrator of Saba (1939-43), and administrator of Bonaire (1943-52).

Kruisinga, Roelof (Johannes Hendrik) (b. Aug. 27, 1922, Grijpskerk [now part of Westerkwartier], Groningen, Netherlands - d. Dec. 7, 2012, Wassenaar, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands), defense minister of the Netherlands (1977-78).

Kruk, Oleg (Pavlovich) (b. Nov. 24, 1967, Kazakh S.S.R.), acting head of Pavlodar oblast (2022).

Krumova, Malina (Valentinova) (b. 1976), a deputy prime minister of Bulgaria (2017).

Krünes, Helmut (b. March 30, 1941, Vienna, Germany [now in Austria]), defense minister of Austria (1986-87).

Krunic, Bosko (b. Oct. 21, 1929, Prhovo, near Pecinci, Yugoslavia [now in Vojvodina, Serbia] - d. Jan. 22, 2017), chairman of the Vojvodina Provincial Committee (1981-82, 1984-85) and president of the Presidium (1987-88) of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia.

Krunic, Spasoje (b. Oct. 23, 1939, Niksic, Yugoslavia [now in Montenegro] - d. May 5, 2020, Belgrade, Serbia), Serbian politician. He was president of the Executive Board of Belgrade (1997-2000) and a deputy prime minister (2000-01).

Krupski, Czeslaw (b. Dec. 31, 1889, Zasule, Russia [now in Belarus] - d. af. 1939), acting governor of Nowogródzkie województwo (1921).

Krustevich, Gavril (Baev), byname Gavril Pasha (b. 1820 - d. Nov. 16, 1898, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]), governor-general of Eastern Rumelia (1884-85).

Krylenko, Nikolay (Vasilyevich) (b. May 14 [May 2, O.S.], 1885, Bekhteyevo, Smolensk province, Russia - d. [executed] July 29, 1938), Soviet politician. He was prosecutor (1928-31) and people's commissar of justice (1931-36) of the Russian S.F.S.R. and people's commissar of justice of the U.S.S.R. (1936-38).

Krym, Solomon (Samoilovych) (b. July 7 [June 25, O.S.], 1867, Feodosiya, Tavrida province, Russia [now in Crimea republic] - d. Sept. 9, 1936, near Toulon, France), prime minister of Crimea (1918-19).

Kryukova, Kapitolina (Nikolayevna) (b. Feb. 23, 1914, Velsk [now in Irkutsk oblast], Russia - d. May 11, 2002, Almaty, Kazakhstan), acting chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh S.S.R. (1960-61).

Kryzhanivsky, Viktor (Volodymyrovych) (b. Dec. 21, 1961, Zhitomir, Ukrainian S.S.R. [now Zhytomyr, Ukraine] - d. Oct. 16?, 2021, Kiev, Ukraine), Ukrainian diplomat. He was chargé d'affaires at the United Nations (2006-07) and ambassador to Estonia (2010-17).

Kryzhanovsky, Sergey (Yefimovich) (b. Sept. 10 [Aug. 29, O.S.], 1862, Kiev, Russia [now in Ukraine] - d. Jan. 12, 1935, Paris, France), Russian secretary of state (1911-17); son-in-law of Ippolit Shcherbatskoy.

Krzak, Marian (Wiktor) (b. June 26, 1931, Krynica [now Krynica-Zdrój], Poland - d. Feb. 8, 1996), finance minister of Poland (1980-82). He was also ambassador to Austria (1983-88).

Krzaklewski, Marian (b. Aug. 23, 1950, Kolbuszowa, near Rzeszów, Poland), Polish presidential candidate (2000). He was chairman of the Solidarity trade union (1991-2002) and of Solidarity Electoral Action (1996-2001).

Krzakowski, Jan (b. 1883, Pilica [now in Slaskie województwo], Poland - d. Feb. 16, 1936, Bialystok, Poland), governor of Wolynskie województwo (1921).

Kua, Kerenga (b. Oct. 15, 1962), justice minister of Papua New Guinea (2012-14). He has also been minister of petroleum (2019- ), labour and industrial relations (acting, 2020), and energy (2022- ).

Kuandykov, Bolatbek (Bayanovich) (b. Feb. 14, 1969, Kashkansusky, Kzyl-Orda [now Kyzylorda] oblast, Kazakh S.S.R.), head of Kyzylorda oblast (2008-13).

Kuartei

Kuartei, Billy (Godfried), minister of state of Palau (2013-17).

Kubadinski, Pencho (Penev) (b. July 27, 1918, Loznitsa, Bulgaria - d. May 22, 1995, Sofia, Bulgaria), a deputy premier of Bulgaria (1962-74). He was also minister of transport and communications (1962-66) and construction and architecture (1968-71).

Kubar, Abdul Majid (b. May 9, 1909, Tripoli, Ottoman Empire [now in Libya] - d. Oct. 4, 1988), foreign minister (1957, 1958-60) and prime minister (1957-60) of Libya. He was also speaker of the Chamber of Deputies (1952-55, 1956-57), deputy prime minister (1955-56, 1957), and communications minister (1955-56).

Kubarev, Eduard (Alekseyevich) (b. Sept. 28, 1939, Kozlovka, Chuvash A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R. - d. March 28, 2018), chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Chuvashia (1991-94).

Kubat, (Hasan) Ferit (b. 1919, Diyarbakir, Ottoman Empire [now in Turkey] - d. Oct. 6, 1987, Istanbul, Turkey), interior minister of Turkey (1971-73). He was also governor of Edirne (1964-67), Hatay (1967-70), and Mus (1970-71).

Kube, (Richard Paul) Wilhelm (b. Nov. 13, 1887, Glogau, Prussia, Germany [now Glogów, Poland] - d. [assassinated] Sept. 22, 1943, Minsk, Belorussian S.S.R.), Oberpräsident of Grenzmark Posen-Westpreussen (1933-36) and German Generalkommissar of Belorussia (1941-43).

Kubel, Alfred (b. May 25, 1909, Braunschweig, Germany - d. May 22, 1999, Bad Pyrmont, Niedersachsen, West Germany), minister-president of Braunschweig (1946) and Niedersachsen (1970-76).

Kubice, Jan (b. Oct. 3, 1953), interior minister of the Czech Republic (2011-13).

Kubicki, Leszek (Mariusz) (b. May 19, 1930, Pruszków, Poland), justice minister and prosecutor-general of Poland (1996-97).

Kubilius

Kubilius, Andrius (b. Dec. 8, 1956, Vilnius, Lithuanian S.S.R.), prime minister of Lithuania (1999-2000, 2008-12). In 1988 he was already seen among activists of the pro-national Sajudis movement, holding the post of executive secretary. He was elected to the Seimas in 1992. For some time, Kubilius headed the faction of the conservative Homeland Union in the parliament. After the triumph of the conservatives in the 1996 parliamentary polls, Kubilius was appointed as first deputy chairman of the Seimas. He also was chairman of the parliamentary European committee. In 2003-15 he was chairman of the Homeland Union (from 2008 Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats). In 2024 he became European commissioner for defense and space.

Kubis

Kubis, Ján (b. Nov. 12, 1952, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia [now in Slovakia]), secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (1999-2005) and foreign minister of Slovakia (2006-09). He was also UN special representative for Tajikistan (1998-99), executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (2009-11), head of the UN assistance missions in Afghanistan (2011-15) and Iraq (2015-18), UN special coordinator for Lebanon (2019-21), and head of the UN support mission in Libya (2021).

Kubitschek

Kubitschek de Oliveira, Juscelino ("JK") (b. Sept. 12, 1902, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil - d. Aug. 22, 1976, near Resende, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), president of Brazil (1956-61); cousin of João Kubitschek de Figueiredo. He represented Minas Gerais in the Federal Chamber of Deputies (1934-37, 1946-50) and was mayor of Belo Horizonte (1940-45), which he transformed into a thriving city with avenues and a garden suburb, and governor of Minas Gerais (1951-55), where he concentrated on highway construction and agricultural and industrial development. Elected president in 1955, his slogan was "Fifty years' progress in five." He built the futuristic new inland capital, Brasília (inaugurated April 21, 1960), and was responsible for the construction of a 1,450-km highway that cut through the Amazon jungle and linked the new capital to Belém at the mouth of the Amazon River. His term was marked by unprecedented industrial growth, but it also generated high rates of inflation, brought under control only in the mid-1960s. Vast sums had to be spent for the rehabilitation of the drought-afflicted northeast. Elected to the Senate in 1962, he was nominated for president by the Partido Social Democrático in 1964, but the military junta that took power that year forced him into exile. He returned to Brazil in 1967. He died in an automobile crash. In August 2000 Congress proclaimed his death may have involved foul play. At the time of his death, he was one of the most outspoken opponents of the military dictatorship. Two other leaders of his opposition movement Frente Amplo ("Broad Front") also died during 1976/77 - possibly at the orders of military rulers: ex-president João Goulart, who died of a heart attack in his sleep in Argentina, and former Guanabara governor Carlos Lacerda, who died after injecting a flu-shot.

Kubiv, Stepan (Ivanovych) (b. March 19, 1962, Mshanets, Zborovsky rayon, Ternopol oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R. [now Zborivsky rayon, Ternopil oblast, Ukraine]), first deputy prime minister of Ukraine (2016-19). He was also chairman of the National Bank (2014) and minister of economic development and trade (2016-19).

Kubo, Wataru (b. Jan. 15, 1929, Kagoshima prefecture, Japan - d. June 24, 2003, Kagoshima city), deputy prime minister and finance minister of Japan (1996).

Kubota, Enji (b. Aug. 23, 1903, Gunma prefecture, Japan - d. Feb. 1, 1998), director-general of the Defense Agency of Japan (1979-80).

Kubrakov, Oleksandr (Mykolayovych) (b. Aug. 20, 1982, Pershotravensk, Dnepropetrovsk oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R. [now Dnipropetrovsk oblast, Ukraine]), a deputy prime minister of Ukraine (2022-24). He was also minister of infrastructure (2021-24) and development of communities and territories (2022-24).

I. Kubuabola

Kubuabola, Ratu Inoke (b. June 16, 1948, Cakaudrove, Fiji), foreign minister (2009-16) and defense minister (2016-18) of Fiji; brother of Ratu Jone Kubuabola. He has also been minister of information (1987-88), information, broadcasting, television, and telecommunication (1988-92), regional development and multiethnic affairs (1995-97), works, infrastructure, and transport (1996-97), communication, works, and energy (1997-99), and information and communication (2000-01), high commissioner to Papua New Guinea (2002-06; also accredited to Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste) and New Zealand (2022- ), and ambassador to Japan and South Korea (2006-09).

Kubuabola, Ratu Jone (Yavala) (b. Sept. 11, 1946 - d. Sept. 16, 2018), finance minister of Fiji (2000-06).

Kucan

Kucan, Milan (b. Jan. 14, 1941, Krizevci, Croatia), president of Slovenia (1990-2002). He joined the Communist Party (later League of Communists) of Slovenia in 1958 and was president of its Youth League in 1968-69. He served as chairman of the republican parliament in 1978-86, became one of Slovenia's two representatives in the Presidium of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia in 1982, and was secretary of the Central Committee of the League of Communists of Slovenia in 1986-89. He resisted pressure from Belgrade to stifle the emergence of opposition parties in his republic, long the most liberal in the Yugoslav federation. In 1990, after the Slovenes held the first free elections anywhere in Yugoslavia since World War II, he was elected as non-party head of state (president of the Presidency) of Slovenia. He declared Slovenia's secession from the Yugoslav federation in June 1991. With the backing of Serbia's president, Slobodan Milosevic, Yugoslav federal army units attacked Slovenia, but after 10 days Milosevic was obliged to withdraw. Serious bloodshed was avoided because, of all the Yugoslav republics, Slovenia was the most ethnically homogeneous. Under a new constitution, he was elected president in 1992 and reelected in 1997. He became one of the most outspoken central European leaders, favouring opening western Europe more and more to central and eastern states. In 1996 Slovenia became an associate member of the European Union, and in 1997 it was invited to start entry negotiations toward full membership.

Kucera, Bohuslav (b. March 26, 1923, Lomnice nad Popelkou, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic] - d. March 11, 2006), justice minister of Czechoslovakia (1968-69). He was also a minister without portfolio (1969-71).

Kucharski, Wladyslaw (b. Sept. 23, 1884, Kraków, Austria [now in Poland] - d. Dec. 27, 1964, Kraków), finance minister of Poland (1923). He was also minister of former Prussian districts (1920-21) and industry and commerce (1923).

Kucharzewski, Jan (b. May 27, 1876, Wysoko Mazowieckie, Poland - d. July 4, 1952, New York City), prime minister of Poland (1917-18 and [acting] 1918).

Kuchava, Mitrofan (Ionovich) (b. June 6 [May 24, O.S.], 1906 - d. Nov. 6, 1999), foreign minister of the Georgian S.S.R. (1954-62).

Kuchcinski, Marek (Tadeusz) (b. Aug. 9, 1955, Przemysl, Poland), Polish politician. He was marshal of the Sejm (2015-19).

Kucherenko, Vladimir (Alekseyevich) (b. July 18 [July 5, O.S.], 1909, Lozovoy, Yekaterinoslav province, Russia [now in Ukraine] - d. Nov. 26, 1963, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), Soviet politician. He was a deputy premier (1955-56) and chairman of the State Committee for Construction (1955-61).

Kucherov, Vasily (Maksimovich) (b. 1907, Cheryomushka, Tula province, Russia - d. ...), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Yakut A.S.S.R. (1956-63). He was also deputy premier of the Buryat-Mongol A.S.S.R. (1952-56).

Kuchkarov, Anvar (Marasulovich) (b. 1916), foreign minister of the Uzbek S.S.R. (1951-53). He was also minister of culture (1953-57, 1970-73) and education (1966-70) and Soviet ambassador to Togo (1961-66) and Dahomey (1963-66).

Kuchkarov, Jamshid (Anvarovich) (b. 1964, Kattakurgan, Samarkand oblast, Uzbek S.S.R.), a deputy prime minister (2017- ) and finance minister (2017-20, 2023- ) of Uzbekistan. He was also minister of economic development and poverty reduction (2020).

Küchler-Flury

Küchler-Flury, Maria (b. Jan. 26, 1941), Landammann of Obwalden (2003-04).

Kuchma

Kuchma, Leonid (Danylovych) (b. Aug. 9, 1938, Chaykino village, Chernigov oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R. [now Chaykyne, Chernihiv, Ukraine]), prime minister (1992-93) and president (1994-2005) of Ukraine. He was elected a people's deputy in the Ukraine in 1990. In October 1992 he was appointed prime minister by Leonid Kravchuk, Ukraine's first democratically elected president. Kuchma clashed with Kravchuk over economic policies and resigned from the post in September 1993. He was appointed chairman of the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in December 1993. In the July 1994 presidential elections, Kuchma defeated the incumbent Kravchuk, a nationalist, by reaching out to former Communists, sweeping the industrial cities of eastern Ukraine and the Crimea and dividing the vote in central Ukraine. During the campaign he persistently advocated closer ties with Russia, a policy that alienated him from the major nationalist centres of western Ukraine. Though Russian was his native tongue, Kuchma was able to demonstrate an adequate command of the Ukrainian language in his campaign speeches. He did not deliver the sweeping rights for Ukraine's large Russian-speaking population and pursued ambivalent foreign policies, balancing between Europe and Russia but failing to choose a clear direction. His popularity steadily declined as his reforms failed to improve the country's economy. In November 1999 he was reelected, though observers alleged voting irregularities. In 2000 he was implicated in the disappearance of a journalist, which led to a further erosion of his support. He did not run for reelection in 2004.

Kuchynsky, Valeriy (Pavlovych) (b. Oct. 25, 1944, Kiev, Ukrainian S.S.R.), Ukrainian diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (2001-06) and ambassador to Jamaica (2002-06) and Trinidad and Tobago (2003-06).

Kucinich

Kucinich, Dennis (John) (b. Oct. 8, 1946, Cleveland, Ohio), U.S. politician. His political career began as soon as he was old enough to vote. He served in the city council of Cleveland and was elected clerk of courts before winning a close race for mayor in November 1977. He campaigned against the big business "special interests" and won despite the opposition of his own Democratic Party. He was the youngest person ever to become mayor of a major American city. Cleveland was beset by economic and social problems on a massive scale, and Kucinich had promised to reverse the decline of what had once been a prosperous industrial city. He began to veto city council development programs and insisted that private enterprise be responsible for saving the city's disintegrating central business district. Most of his major appointments were highly controversial including that of Police Chief Richard D. Hongisto. When the police staged a "sickout" in a contract dispute, Kucinich ordered Hongisto to patrol the streets personally and later charged that the police force was corrupt. The firing of Hongisto after he publicly accused Kucinich of trying to force him to commit "unethical acts" catalyzed an unprecedented recall election in August 1978, which Kucinich barely survived, winning by fewer than 300 votes. The city's financial plight grew worse, and on Dec. 15, 1978, he found himself presiding over the first major U.S. city to default on its obligations since the 1930s. He was defeated in his reelection bid in 1979 by George Voinovich. In 1984, he again won a seat on the city council. In 1994 he became the only Democrat to defeat an incumbent Republican when he won a state Senate seat, and in 1996 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a minor candidate for the 2004 and 2008 Democratic presidential nominations. He unsuccessfully proposed the impeachment of Vice Pres. Dick Cheney (2007) and Pres. George W. Bush (2008). After redistricting of the Cleveland area, he lost a primary contest to Rep. Marcy Kaptur in 2012. In 2018 he unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for governor of Ohio.

Kucinskis

I. Küçük

Kucinskis, Maris (b. Nov. 28, 1961, Valmiera, Latvian S.S.R.), prime minister (2016-19) and interior minister (2022-23) of Latvia. He was also minister of regional development and local government (2004-06).

Küçük, Fazil (b. March 14, 1906, Nicosia, Cyprus - d. Jan. 15, 1984, London, England), vice president of Cyprus (1960-73).

Küçük, Irsen (b. 1940, Nicosia, Cyprus - d. March 10, 2019, Cyprus), prime minister of North Cyprus (2010-13); nephew of Fazil Küçük. He was also minister of agriculture, natural resources, and energy (1976-81, 1982-83), health, social insurance, and labour (1981-82), and agriculture and forestry (1998-2004) and leader of the National Unity Party (2010-13).

Kuczynski

Kuczynski (Godard), Pedro Pablo ("PPK") (b. October 1938, Lima, Peru), finance minister (2001-02, 2004-05), prime minister (2005-06), and president (2016-18) of Peru. He was also minister of energy and mines (1980-83) and an unsuccessful presidential candidate (2011).

Kudabayev, Abu (Yerzhanovich) (b. 1899, Perovsk district, Syrdarya oblast, Russia [now in Kazakhstan] - d. [executed] October 1938), chairman of the Interim Revolutionary Committee (1924-25) and the Executive Committee (1925) and first secretary of the Communist Party committee (1925-27) of the Karakalpak autonomous oblast. He was also chairman of the Executive Committee of Amudarya oblast (1924).

Kudayev, Cherim (Karamurzovich) (b. 1909, Chegem I, Terek oblast [now in Kabardino-Balkariya republic], Russia - d. ...), chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kabardian A.S.S.R. (1944-52).

Kudbiyev, Sherzod (Davlyatovich) (b. 1981, Fergana oblast, Uzbek S.S.R.), economy and finance minister of Uzbekistan (2022-23). He has also been minister of employment and labour relations (2018-19) and chairman of the State Tax Committee (2020-22, 2023- ).

Kudrick, John M(ichael) (b. Dec. 23, 1947, Lloydell, Pa.), administrator of the Byzantine Catholic Church in America (2001-02).

Kudrin, Aleksey (Leonidovich) (b. Oct. 12, 1960, Dobel, Latvian S.S.R.), finance minister of Russia (2000-11). He steered through sweeping tax changes and presided over a steady decline in external debt with the country sticking assiduously to a repayment schedule that peaked in 2003. He also reined in inflation while the economy boomed. His stewardship of the economy was rewarded in October 2003 when credit risk rating agency Moody's granted Russia coveted investment grade status for the first time. He was also a deputy prime minister in 2000-04 and 2007-11. He left the cabinet after a public falling out with Pres. Dmitry Medvedev. In 2018-22 he was chairman of the Audit Chamber.

Kudrna, Josef (b. Sept. 1, 1920, Ostredek, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic] - d. May 15, 1989, Prague, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), interior minister of Czechoslovakia (1965-68).

Kudryashev, Aleksandr (Maksimovich) (b. April 6, 1942, Soliskes [now in Kaisiadorys district], Lithuania), chairman of the Supreme Old Believer Council (Pomorian Church in Vilnius) (1998-2002).

Kudryashov, Viktor (Vladislavovich) (b. Nov. 2, 1971, Salekhard, Tyumen oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the government of Samara oblast (2019-23).

Kudryavtsev, Aleksandr (Vasilyevich) (b. 1906, Poskon, Kaluga province, Russia - d. 1971?), first secretary of the Communist Party committees of the Kabardino-Balkar A.S.S.R. (1938-39) and the Buryat-Mongol A.S.S.R. (1943-51).

Kudryavtsev, Sergey (Aleksandrovich) (b. 1903, Niva, Tver province, Russia - d. [executed] April 25, 1938), executive secretary of the Communist Party committee of South Ossetia (192...-30). He was also first secretary of the party committees of Kharkov (1936-37) and Kiev (1937) oblasti.

Kudsi

Kudsi, Nazim al-, also spelled Nazim al-Qudsi (b. Feb. 14, 1906, Aleppo, Ottoman Empire [now in Syria] - d. Feb. 6, 1998, Amman, Jordan), foreign minister (1949, 1950-51), prime minister (1949, 1950-51), speaker of parliament (1951, 1954-57), and president (1961-63) of Syria. He began his political career in 1932. He was a member of the then-influential Arab nationalist movement known as the National Bloc. He was Syria's first ambassador to the United States (1945-47) and climbed the political ladder. He ruled Syria as president after the dissolution of the short-lived union between Egypt and Syria. In 1962, he survived disturbances by army factions that fought for power. He was sacked in 1963 in a bloodless coup led by Col. Ziad Hariri, an army officer, aided by the Arab Ba`th Socialist Party. He moved to Lebanon, where he lived until 1986, when he moved to Jordan.

Kudyashev, Yury (Petrovich) (b. Jan. 16, 1939, Lekshur, Udmurt A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R. - d. 2004), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Udmurt A.S.S.R. (1978-88). He was also deputy premier (1976-78).

Kudzhiashvili, Ivan (Petrovich) (b. 1906, Tiflis, Russia [now Tbilisi, Georgia] - d. ...), first secretary of the Communist Party committee of the South Ossetian autonomous oblast (1953-54). He was also chairman of the Executive Committee of Tbilisi oblast (1951-53).

Kudzhiyev, Vasily (Mikhailovich) (b. Jan. 5, 1890 [Dec. 24, 1889, O.S.] - d. 1976), executive secretary of the Communist Party committee of the Karelian workers' commune (1921-22). He was also acting executive secretary of the party committee of Arkhangelsk province (1926).

Kufuor

Kufuor, John (Kofi) Agyekum (b. Dec. 8, 1938, Kumasi, Gold Coast [now Ghana]), president of Ghana (2001-09). He is from the once-dominant Ashanti tribe in Ghana's gold- and cocoa-producing economic heartland. He was city manager and chief legal officer of Kumasi City Council in 1967-69. He served as a junior foreign minister in a 1969-72 civilian government sandwiched between two periods of military rule and was a member of constituent assemblies that wrote new constitutions in 1969 and 1979. He served briefly in Jerry John Rawlings' administration in 1982, with a local government brief, but resigned after seven months over political differences. He made his political comeback several years after Ghana's return to multiparty democracy in the early 1990s. He was the presidential candidate of his New Patriotic Party in 1996 and was praised at home and abroad for congratulating Rawlings on his victory in the election. Rawlings did not take part in the 2000 presidential race, and Kufuor, whom Rawlings once predicted would never win power, polled 48.4% against 44.8% for Vice President John Atta Mills, candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress. All five candidates eliminated in the first round rallied to Kufuor. In the runoff, he won 56.7%. Kufuor, himself a Christian, chose a Muslim running mate, Aliu Mahama, to bolster support in the north. He and his party tapped a vein of discontent among the young and up-and-coming business people thriving on free market reforms brought in by Rawlings. Instead of the popstar-like appeal to the masses of the boisterous, impulsive, and passionate Rawlings, he came across as avuncular and level-headed - if a touch aloof. Kufuor, under whose leadership Ghana's inflation rate had dropped from 40.5% to 12.5%, was reelected in 2004. He was also chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (2003-05) and of the African Union (2007-08). In 2013 he was named a special envoy of the UN secretary-general on climate change.

Kühlmann, Richard von (b. May 17, 1873, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey] - d. Feb. 16, 1948, Ohlstadt, Bayern, Germany), foreign minister of Germany (1917-18). He was also minister to the Netherlands (1915-16) and ambassador to the Ottoman Empire (1916-17).

Kühn, Heinz (b. Feb. 18, 1912, Cologne, Germany - d. March 12, 1992, Cologne), minister-president of Nordrhein-Westfalen (1966-78).

Kühn, Hermann (b. May 17, 1851, Schlawe, Prussia [now Slawno, Poland] - d. Feb. 26, 1937, Berlin, Germany), finance minister of Germany (1912-15).

Kuhn, Robert T. (b. April 5, 1937, Saint Paul, Minn.), president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (2001).

Kühnl, Karel (b. Sept. 12, 1954, Prague, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), defense minister of the Czech Republic (2004-06). He was also ambassador to the United Kingdom (1993-97) and Croatia (2007-12), minister of industry and trade (1997-98), and chairman of the Freedom Union (2000-01).

Kuhnmunch, Michel (Eugène Georges) (b. Oct. 6, 1921, Paris, France - d. March 8, 1999, Paris), administrator-superior of Wallis and Futuna (1984-85).

Kuindwa, Fares (Michael) (b. September 1949, Coast province, Kenya - d. March 11, 2003, Nairobi, Kenya), Kenyan diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1999-2001).

Kujovic, Dragan (b. Nov. 4, 1948, Mioska, near Kolasin, Montenegro - d. May 1, 2010, Podgorica, Montenegro), joint acting president of Montenegro (2003). He was minister of education and science (1996-2001) and a deputy president (2002-06) and joint acting president (2003) of the Skupstina.

Kukan

Kukan, Eduard (b. Dec. 26, 1939, Trnovec nad Váhom, western Slovakia - d. Feb. 9, 2022, Bratislava, Slovakia), foreign minister (1994, 1998-2006) and acting defense minister (2003) of Slovakia. He was a vice-chairman of Mikulás Dzurinda's Slovak Democratic Coalition (SDK). He was a Czechoslovak diplomat in Zambia (1968-73), the United States (1977-81), and Ethiopia (ambassador 1985-88) and permanent representative to the United Nations (for Czechoslovakia 1990-92, then Slovakia 1993-94). He was strongly in favour of integration into NATO and the EU. He was the candidate of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) in the presidential elections of April 3, 2004, but only won third place.

Kukharuk

Kukharuk, Ruslan (Nikolayevich) (b. May 8, 1979, Uray, Khanty-Mansi autonomous okrug, Tyumen oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Khanty-Mansi autonomous okrug (2024- ). He was also mayor of Tyumen (2018-24).

Kukiel, Marian (Wlodzimierz) (b. May 15, 1885, Dabrowa Tarnowska, Austria [now in Poland] - d. Aug. 15, 1973, London, England), defense minister of Poland (in exile, 1942-49).

Kukies, Jörg (b. Feb. 21, 1968, Mainz, West Germany), finance minister of Germany (2024- ).

Kukiz, Pawel (Piotr) (b. June 24, 1963, Paczków, Poland), Polish presidential candidate (2015). He was earlier famous as a punk-rock musician.

Kukk, Juhan (b. April 13, 1885, Salla municipality, Russia [now in Estonia] - d. Dec. 4, 1942, Arkhangelsk oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), state elder of Estonia (1922-23). He was also minister of finance (1918-20) and commerce and industry (1920-21), speaker of the Riigikogu (1921-22), and director of the Bank of Estonia (1924-26). He was arrested in 1940 and died later in a Soviet prison camp.

Kukoc del Carpio, Yerko (Andrés) (b. March 6, 1954, Potosí, Bolivia - d. June 25, 2011, Miami, Fla.), interior minister of Bolivia (2003). He was also prefect of Potosí (1993-97).

Kul-Mukhammed, Mukhtar (Abraruly) (b. Dec. 12, 1960, Tacheng, Xinjiang, China), head of Kyzylorda oblast (2007-08). He was also Kazakh minister of culture and information (2001-03, 2008-10, 2013-14) and culture (2010-12) and secretary of state (2012-13).

Kulaga, Eugeniusz (b. Nov. 1, 1925, Auby, Nord, France - d. 1990), Polish diplomat. He was ambassador to Ghana (1962-65) and France (1980-84) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1969-75).

Kulagin, Sergey (Vitalyevich) (b. Sept. 8, 1952, Atbasar, Akmolinsk [now Akmola] oblast, Kazakh S.S.R.), head of Torgay (1992-93), Akmola (1998-2004, 2014-17), and Kostanay (2004-12) oblasti. He was also agriculture minister (1993-94, 1998) and a deputy prime minister (1993-94) of Kazakhstan.

Kulakov

Kulakov, Vladimir (Grigoryevich) (b. April 23, 1944, Komsomolsk-na-Amure, Khabarovsk kray, Russian S.F.S.R.), head of the administration of Voronezh oblast (2000-09).

Kulatov, Turabay (Kulatovich) (b. Jan. 10, 1908 [Dec. 28, 1907, O.S.], Kyzyl-Bulak, Semirechye oblast, Russia [now in Osh oblast, Kyrgyzstan] - d. 1984, Frunze, Kirgiz S.S.R. [now Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan]), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (1938-45) and chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1945-78) of the Kirgiz S.S.R.

Kulchitsky, Nikolay (Konstantinovich) (b. Jan. 28 [Jan. 16, O.S.], 1856, Kronshtadt [now part of St. Petersburg], Russia - d. Jan. 30, 1925, Oxford, England), education minister of Russia (1917).

Kulcsár, Kálmán (b. June 27, 1928, Erdötelek, Hungary - d. Sept. 4, 2010, Budapest, Hungary), justice minister of Hungary (1988-90). He was also ambassador to Canada (1990-93).

Kulczynski, Stanislaw (Leon) (b. May 9, 1895, Kraków, Austria [now in Poland] - d. July 12, 1975, Warsaw, Poland), joint acting chairman of the Council of State of Poland (1964). He was rector of the universities of Lwów (1936-38) and Wroclaw (1945-51) and a deputy chairman of the Council of State (1956-69).

D. Kuleba

Kuleba, Dmytro (Ivanovych) (b. April 19, 1981, Sumy, Ukrainian S.S.R.), foreign minister of Ukraine (2020-24); son of Ivan Kuleba. He was also a deputy prime minister (2019-20).

Kuleba, Ivan (Dmytrovych) (b. July 11, 1953, Pogarshchina, Poltava oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R.), Ukrainian diplomat. He was ambassador to Egypt (1997-2000), the Czech Republic (2004-09), Kazakhstan (2018-19), and Armenia (2019-21).

Kuleba, Oleksiy (Volodymyroyvch) (b. Aug. 8, 1983, Kiev, Ukrainian S.S.R.), a deputy prime minister (and minister of community development) of Ukraine (2024- ). He was also governor of Kyiv oblast (2022, 2022-23).

Kuleshov, Anatoly (Nilovich), Belarusian Anatol Kulyashou (b. July 25, 1959, Ali-Bayramly, Azerbaijan S.S.R. [now Shirvan, Azerbaijan]), interior minister of Belarus (2009-12).

Kulesza, Józef (b. March 21, 1919, Warsaw, Poland - d. April 30, 1985), a deputy premier of Poland (1970-71). He was also chairman of the Planning Commission (1968-70).

Kulev, Todor (Genov) (b. Oct. 9 [Sept. 27, O.S.], 1878, Gabrovo, Ottoman Empire [now in Bulgaria] - d. Nov. 23, 1942, Sofia, Bulgaria), justice minister of Bulgaria (1926-30).

Kulginov, Altay (Seydirovich) (b. Jan. 15, 1978, Saryagash district, Yuzhno-Kazakhstan oblast, Kazakh S.S.R. [now in Turkistan oblast, Kazakhstan]), head of Zapadno-Kazakhstan oblast (2016-19) and Nur-Sultan/Astana city (2019-22). He was also mayor of Uralsk (2013-16) and a deputy prime minister of Kazakhstan (2022-23). In 2024 he was appointed ambassador to Estonia.

Kulhánek

Kulhánek, Jakub (b. June 30, 1984, Melník, Czech Socialist Republic [now Czech Republic]), foreign minister of the Czech Republic (2021). He has also been permanent representative to the United Nations (2022- ).

Kulik, Gennady (Vasilyevich) (b. Jan. 20, 1935, Zhelamskoye, Zapadnaya oblast, Russian S.F.S.R. [now in Pskov oblast, Russia] - d. June 16, 2023), a deputy prime minister of Russia (1998-99). He was also chairman of the State Committee for the Agro-Industrial Complex (1989-90), minister of agriculture and food (1990-91), a first deputy premier (1990-91), and a deputy premier (1991) of the Russian S.F.S.R.

Kulikov, Anatoly (Sergeyevich) (b. Sept. 4, 1946, Aigursky, Stavropol kray, Russian S.F.S.R.), interior minister (1995-98) and a deputy prime minister (1997-98) of Russia.

Kulikov, Georgy (Viktorovich) (b. Sept. 13, 1950, Samarkand, Uzbek S.S.R.), acting justice minister of Russia (1997).

Kulikov, Vasily (Pavlovich) (b. Dec. 17, 1892, Bushuikha, Vologda province [now oblast], Russia - d. Aug. 16, 1941), executive secretary of the Communist Party committee of Mari autonomous oblast (1926-29). He was also chairman of the Executive Committee of Sakhalin oblast (1937).

Kulikov, Viktor (Georgiyevich) (b. July 5, 1921, Verkhnyaya Lyubovsha village [now in Oryol oblast], Russian S.F.S.R. - d. May 28, 2013, Moscow, Russia), commander-in-chief of the Warsaw Treaty Organization (1977-89). He became a marshal on Jan. 14, 1977.

Kulishev (Gugov), Georgi (b. 1885 - d. Sept. 27, 1974), foreign minister (1946) and deputy chairman of the Presidium of the National Assembly (1954-71) of Bulgaria.

A. Kuliyev

Kuliyev, Avdy (Ovezkuliyevich) (b. July 30, 1936, Ashkhabad, Turkmen S.S.R. - d. April 10, 2007, Oslo, Norway), foreign minister of Turkmenistan (1990-92). He was Soviet chargé d'affaires in Qatar and Oman in 1987-88. He resigned as foreign minister after he and Pres. Saparmurat Niyazov quarreled about the course the country should take. He then went into exile in Moscow and became a prominent opposition leader and head of the United Turkmen Opposition, formed in 2002.

Kuliyev, Teimur (Imam Kuli ogly) (b. Nov. 25, 1888, Dzhebrail, Yelizavetpol province, Russia [now in Azerbaijan] - d. Nov. 18, 1965), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars/Ministers of the Azerbaijan S.S.R. (1937-53, 1953-54). He was also chairman of the Supreme Court (1936-37) and first deputy premier (1953).

Kulkarni, B(idesh) T(ukaram) (b. July 15, 1909, Bolwad [now in Sangli district, Maharashtra], India - d. 1988), lieutenant governor of Pondicherry (1976-80).

Kulkov, Mikhail (Maksimovich) (b. May 8 [April 26, O.S.], 1891, Konstantinovo, Tver province, Russia - d. [executed] Feb. 25, 1939), first secretary of the Communist Party committee of the Kirgiz A.S.S.R. (1929-30).

Kulla, Pëllumb (b. Jan. 10, 1940, Zemblak, Albania), Albanian diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1993-97).

Kulmakhanov, Shalbay (Kulmakhanovich) (b. Jan. 20, 1946, Kuigan, Alma-Ata [now Almaty] oblast, Kazakh S.S.R.), head of Aktobe oblast (1992-93), Almaty city (1994-97), and Almaty oblast (2001-05). He was also chairman of the Executive Committee of Severo-Kazakhstan oblast (1989-92) and Kazakh minister of emergency situations (2005-07).

Kulmuni, Katri (Briitta Ilona) (b. Sept. 4, 1987, Tornio, Finland), deputy prime minister and finance minister of Finland (2019-20). She was also leader of the Centre Party (2019-20).

Kulomzin, Anatoly (Anatolyevich) (b. 1870 - d. May 1941, Paris, France), Russian official; son of Anatoly (Nikolayevich) Kulomzin. He was appointed governor of Saratov in 1913, but did not take office.

Kulomzin, Anatoly (Nikolayevich) (b. Jan. 15 [Jan. 3, O.S.], 1838, Kornilovo, Kostroma province, Russia - d. Aug. 25, 1923, Marseille, France), Russian official; son-in-law of Dmitry Zamyatnin. He was chairman of the Imperial State Council (1915-17).

Kulongoski, Ted, byname of Theodore Ralph Kulongoski (b. Nov. 5, 1940, Washington county, Mo.), governor of Oregon (2003-11).

F. Kulov

Kulov, Feliks (Sharshenbayevich) (b. Oct. 29, 1948, Frunze, Kirgiz S.S.R. [now Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan]), interior minister (1991-92), vice president (1992-93), national security minister (1997-98), and prime minister (2005-07) of Kyrgyzstan, governor of Chuy oblast (1993-97), and mayor of Bishkek (1998). Arrested in 2000, he was sentenced in January 2001 to seven years in jail for abuse of office and in May 2002 to ten more years for embezzlement. Human rights groups said the charges were either fabricated for political motivations, or would not warrant imprisonment. The United States and the European Union agreed that Kulov was a political prisoner and called for his release. He was freed during the revolution of March 24, 2005, and was appointed coordinator of the country's law-enforcement agencies; he resigned from that post a week later, saying he had fulfilled his mission of restoring law and order. The Supreme Court overturned the guilty verdicts on the charge of abuse of office on April 6 and on the embezzlement charge on April 11; this gave Kulov, the leader of the Ar-Namys (Dignity) party, the opportunity to run for president in July. On May 12, however, he signed an agreement with Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiyev to form an alliance for the election. In case of Bakiyev's victory, Kulov would be appointed prime minister. On May 16 Kulov was already appointed acting first deputy prime minister. In December 2006 he resigned as prime minister just before the passing of a new, revised constitution that restored many powers to the presidency. Bakiyev renominated him in January 2007, but parliament disapproved. In February he broke with Bakiyev and allied his party with other opposition groups in the United Front for a Worthy Future for Kyrgyzstan.

Kulov, Kubadi (Dmitriyevich) (b. 1907, Kadat, Terek oblast [now in North Ossetia-Alania republic], Russia - d. 1980, Ordzhonikidze, North Ossetian A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R. [now Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia-Alania, Russia]), acting chairman of the Executive Committee (1938), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (1938-44), and first secretary of the Communist Party committee (1944-53) of the North Ossetian A.S.S.R.

Kulubayev

D. Kulumbegov

Kulubayev, Jeenbek (Moldokanovich) (b. April 5, 1963, Chyrpykty, Kirgiz S.S.R. [now in Issyk-Kul oblast, Kyrgyzstan]), foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan (2022- ). He was also ambassador to Malaysia (2007-09), China (2009-13), Mongolia and Singapore (2010-13), and Kazakhstan (2018-21).

Kulukhov, Ilya (Davidovich) (b. 1901, Ioncha, Tiflis province, Russia [now in Georgia] - d. ...), chairman of the Executive Committee of the South Ossetian autonomous oblast (1948-53).

Kulumbegov, Domenti (Sardionovich) (b. Jan. 4, 1955, Tkhinala, Gori district, Georgian S.S.R.), prime minister of South Ossetia (2014-17).

Kulumbegov, Torez (Georgiyevich) (b. Sept. 2, 1938 - d. Oct. 1, 2006), chairman of the Supreme Soviet of South Ossetia (1990-91, 1992-93).

Kulumbetov, Uzakbay (Dzhelderbayevich) (b. 1891, Amankol volost, Turgay oblast, Russia [now in Kazakhstan] - d. [executed] March 21, 1938), chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Kazak A.S.S.R./Kazakh S.S.R. (1933-37).

Külz, Wilhelm (b. Feb. 18, 1875, Borna, Sachsen, Germany - d. April 10, 1948, Berlin, Germany), interior minister of Germany (1926-27). He was also lord mayor of Dresden (1931-33) and chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (1945-48).

Kuma, Harry, finance minister of Solomon Islands (2019-24). He has also been minister of commerce, industries, labour, and immigration (2024- ).

Kumagai, Kiichiro (b. 1866, Tokyo, Japan - d. 19...), governor of Karafuto (1905-07). He was also governor of Yamanashi (1908-13) and Ishikawa (1914-15).

Kumagai, Toshihito (b. Feb. 18, 1978), governor of Chiba (2021- ).

Kumalic, Ismet (b. April 9, 1951, Sanski Most [now in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]), premier of Una-Sana (2004-05).

Kumalo, Dumisani (Shadrack) (b. Sept. 16, 1947 - d. Jan. 20, 2019), South African diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1999-2009).

A. Kumar (1950-2020)

Nikhil Kumar

Nitish Kumar

Kumar, Ashwani (b. Nov. 15, 1950 - d. [apparent suicide] Oct. 7, 2020, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India), governor of Nagaland (2013-14) and Manipur (2013). He was also director of India's Central Bureau of Investigation (2008-10).

Kumar, Ashwani (b. Oct. 26, 1952, Delhi, India), law and justice minister of India (2012-13).

Kumar, Meira (b. March 31, 1945, Patna, Bihar, India), Indian politician; daughter of Jagjivan Ram. She was minister of social justice and empowerment (2004-09) and water resources (2009) and speaker of the Lok Sabha (2009-14).

Kumar, Nikhil (b. July 15, 1941, Hajipur, Bihar, India), governor of Nagaland (2009-13) and Kerala (2013-14); son of Satyendra Narayan Sinha.

Kumar, Nitish (b. March 1, 1951, Bakhtiarpur, Patna district, Bihar, India), chief minister of Bihar (2000, 2005-14, 2015- ). He was also Indian minister of railways (1998-99, 2001-04), surface transport (1999), and agriculture (1999-2000, 2000-01).

P. Kumar

V. Kumar

Kumar, Prabhat (b. Oct. 5, 1940), governor of Jharkhand (2000-02). He resigned following controversy over his alleged acceptance of hospitality from a tainted businessman.

Kumar, Vijay (b. July 16, 1970), administrator of Lakshadweep (2015-16).

Kumaramangalam, P(hanindranath) R(angarajan) (b. May 12, 1952, Tiruchengode, Madras [now Tamil Nadu], India - d. Aug. 23, 2000, New Delhi, India), law and justice minister of India (1999). He was also minister of power (1998-2000), parliamentary affairs (1999), non-conventional energy sources (1999), and mines and minerals (2000).

Kumaraswamy

Kumaraswamy, H(aradanahalli) D(evegowda) (b. Dec. 19, 1959), chief minister of Karnataka (2006-07, 2018-19); son of H.D. Deve Gowda. In 2006 he changed his name to Kumaaraswamy to make it "numerologically correct," but he did not insist it to be spelled that way, and the old spelling remained in general use. He has also been Indian minister of heavy industries and steel (2024- ).

Kumaratunga

Kumaratunga, Chandrika (Bandaranaike) (b. June 29, 1945, Colombo, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]), prime minister (1994) and president (1994-2005) of Sri Lanka; daughter of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike. She became vice president (1984) and president (1986) of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party (SLMP) but in 1992 rejoined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and in 1993 became chief minister of the Western Province. In 1994 she was the vice president of the People's Alliance (PA) and deputy leader of the SLFP, part of the PA coalition. She became prime minister in August 1994 when the PA ousted the long-entrenched United National Party (UNP) in national elections. Even in South Asian politics, where women recently had risen to leadership positions, the situation that evolved in Sri Lanka in 1994 was unique. In November a mother and daughter took over the country's two top governmental positions: Kumaratunga was elected president (with 62% of the vote) and appointed Sirimavo Bandaranaike prime minister. The women leaders of South Asian countries were often the widows or daughters of slain political leaders, and Kumaratunga was no exception. Not only her father, but also her husband, Vijaya Kumaratunga (whom she married Feb. 20, 1978), a film actor who had risen in politics, was assassinated (Feb. 16, 1988). Even her rival for the presidency was a widow - of Gamini Dissanayake, who was assassinated only weeks before the election by a suicide bomber, alleged to be a Tamil rebel. Kumaratunga herself was almost killed in an attack by a suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bomber on the final day of campaigning for the presidential elections of 1999. He blew himself up just 5 metres from her at a rally in Colombo, killing more than 20 people and damaging her right eye, but she went on to be reelected to a second term as president. She was also minister of finance and planning (1994-2001), ethnic affairs and national integration (1994-97), defense (1994-2001, 2003-05), Buddhist affairs (1994-97), media, poverty alleviation, urban development, public utilities, and sports (2001), interior and mass communication (2003-04), education, constitutional affairs, public security, law and order (2004-05), relief, rehabilitation, and reconciliation (2004-05), and petroleum resources development (2005).

Kumbakor, Andrew (b. March 13, 1960), home affairs minister (2000) and finance minister (2000-02) of Papua New Guinea. He was also minister of churches, family affairs, and NGOs (1998-99), provincial and local-level government (1999-2000), rural development (2000-02), planning (2001-02), and housing and urban development (2006-11).

Kumekhov, Zuber (Dokshukovich) (b. May 1 [April 18, O.S.], 1910, Lesken II, Terek oblast [now in Kabardino-Balkariya republic], Russia - d. 1988), first secretary of the Communist Party committee (1939-44) and chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (1944) of the Kabardino-Balkar A.S.S.R.

Kumolo, Tjahjo (b. Dec. 1, 1957, Surakarta, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia - d. July 1, 2022, Jakarta, Indonesia), home affairs minister of Indonesia (2014-19). He was also minister of administrative and bureaucratic reform (2019-22).

Kump, H(erman) Guy (b. Oct. 31, 1877, Capon Springs, Hampshire county, W.Va. - d. Feb. 14, 1962, Elkins, W.Va.), governor of West Virginia (1933-37).

Kumpilov

Kumpilov, Murat (Karalbiyevich) (b. Feb. 27, 1973, Adygey autonomous oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), prime minister (2008-16) and head of the republic (2017- ) of Adygeya.

Kun, Béla, original surname Kohn (b. Feb. 20, 1886, Szilágycseh, Hungary [now Cehu Silvaniei, Romania] - d. Aug. 29, 1938, U.S.S.R.), foreign commissar of Hungary (1919) and chairman of the Crimean Revolutionary Committee (1920-21). He joined the Hungarian Social Democratic Party in 1902. Fighting in the Austro-Hungarian army in World War I, he was captured by the Russians in 1916, was released after the March 1917 revolution, and joined the Bolsheviks. After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1918, he returned to Budapest and founded the Hungarian Communist Party. Arrested on Feb. 21, 1919, he was allowed to continue directing the Communist Party from prison. When Prime Minister Mihály Károlyi's position became untenable, Kun negotiated a Communist takeover in March 1919 and created a soviet republic which was overthrown in August 1919 by a Western blockade and a Romanian invasion. After escaping to Vienna, Kun went to Russia in 1920 where he took part in the civil war. In 1921 he went to Germany to support the local Communists. In 1923 he became a member of the Central Committee of the Soviet Komsomol, and in 1924 head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. In 1928-35 he was a member of the Presidium of the Executive Committee of the Communist International, his activity being marked by ruthlessness and dogmatism. An open conflict in the Hungarian party led to him being expelled from the party and from the Comintern in 1936. Later he was arrested in connection with the trial of Nikolay Bukharin and comrades, was sentenced to death, and executed. At the time of his rehabilitation in 1956, his date of death was indicated as Nov. 30, 1939, but this was corrected in 1989.

Kun, Reuben (James Tullen) (b. March 30, 1942 - d. Sept. 21, 2014), president of Nauru (1996-97). He was also minister of works and community services (1976-77), finance (1978, 1995-96), and health and education (1987-89), minister assisting the president (1978, 1995-96), and speaker of parliament (1981-86).

Roland Kun

Kun, Roland (Tulen) (b. May 6, 1970), finance minister (2012-13, 2013) and foreign minister (2013) of Nauru; son of Reuben Kun. He was also minister of justice (2006-08, 2013), fisheries (2006-11, 2013), education (2007-11), and sustainable development (2012-13, 2013).

Russ Kun

Kun, Russ (Joseph) (b. Sept. 8, 1975), president (and minister of public service, foreign affairs, land management, justice, women, disabilities, multicultural affairs, internal affairs, police, and emergency services) of Nauru (2022-23).

Kunakunov, Kerimzhan (Kunakunovich) (b. Nov. 25, 1938, Chon-Aryk, Kirgiz S.S.R. [now in Chuy oblast, Kyrgyzstan] - d. April 11, 2016), finance minister of the Kirgiz S.S.R./Kyrgyzstan (1986-92).

Kunasek, Mario (b. June 29, 1976, Graz, Austria), defense minister of Austria (2017-19).

Kunayev, Dinmukhamed (Akhmedovich) (b. Jan. 12, 1912 [Dec. 31, 1911, O.S.], Verny, Russia [now Almaty, Kazakhstan] - d. Aug. 22, 1993, near Almaty, Kazakhstan), chairman of the Council of Ministers (1955-60, 1962-64) and first secretary of the Communist Party (1960-62, 1964-86) of the Kazakh S.S.R. He joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1939. In 1942 he was named deputy chairman of the Kazakhstan Council of Ministers, in charge of the mining industry, and served in that post for a decade. An interest in metals research led to his appointment as president of the Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan (1952-55), and he was promoted to chairman of the republic's Council of Ministers in 1955, when Leonid Brezhnev was the republic's party leader. Kunayev first became party leader in 1960 but lost the post two years later when Nikita Khrushchev sought a scapegoat for poor performance in the virgin lands program, intended to increase wheat production. Kunayev returned to the job in 1964 after Brezhnev ousted Khrushchev as Soviet leader. He became a candidate member of the CPSU Politburo in 1966 and was elevated to full membership in 1971, serving until 1987. Although Kunayev's term was marked by autocratic ruthlessness and corruption, there were widespread protests when he was replaced in 1986. He was the highest-ranking Soviet leader of Muslim heritage.

Kunbuor, Benjamin (Bewa-Nyog) (b. July 15, 1957), interior minister (2011-12) and defense minister (2014-17) of Ghana. He was also minister of health (2009-11) and justice (2012-13).

Kunchov, Vasil (Ivanov) (b. July 26 [July 14, O.S.], 1862, Vratsa, Ottoman Empire [now in Bulgaria] - d. [killed] Feb. 6 [Jan. 24, O.S.], 1902, Sofia, Bulgaria), Bulgarian politician. He was education minister (1902).

Kuncze, Gábor (b. Nov. 4, 1950, Pápa, Hungary), interior minister of Hungary (1994-98). He was also president of Alliance of Free Democrats (1997-98, 2001-07).

Kundi

Kundi, Faisal Karim (b. May 24, 1975, Dera Ismail Khan, North-West Frontier Province [now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa], Pakistan), governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2024- ).

Kundukhov, Mussa (Azamatovich) (b. 1890, Staraya Saniba, Terek oblast [now in North Ossetia-Alania republic], Russia - d. [killed] Aug. 3, 1931, Tsatsan-Yurt, Chechen autonomous oblast, Russian S.F.S.R. [now Chechnya republic, Russia]), executive secretary of the Communist Party committee of the Dagestan A.S.S.R. (1924). He was also people's commissar of food (1921-2...).

Kuneralp, Selim (b. July 9, 1951, Prague, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), Turkish diplomat; son of Zeki Kuneralp. He was ambassador to Sweden (2000-03) and South Korea (2003-05).

Kuneralp, Zeki (b. Oct. 5, 1914, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey] - d. July 26, 1998, Istanbul), Turkish diplomat; son of Ali Kemal Bey. He was ambassador to Switzerland (1960-64), the United Kingdom (1964-66, 1969-72), and Spain (1972-79).

Kuneva, Meglena (Shtiliyanova) (b. June 22, 1957, Sofia, Bulgaria), a deputy prime minister of Bulgaria (2014-17). She was also minister of European affairs (2002-06) and education and science (2016-17), EU commissioner for consumer protection (2007-10), and a presidential candidate (2011).

Kuneviciene(-Miseviciute), Elvyra (Janina) (b. Dec. 9, 1939, Kazokai, Lithuania), finance minister of Lithuania (1991-92).

Kunimatsu, Yoshitsugu (b. April 1, 1938), governor of Shiga (1998-2006).

M. Kunin

Kunin, Madeleine (May), née May (b. Sept. 28, 1933, Zürich, Switzerland), governor of Vermont (1985-91). She was also U.S. ambassador to Switzerland (1996-99) and Liechtenstein (1997-99).

Kunin, Petko (Georgiev) (b. July 12, 1900, Mihaltsi, Bulgaria - d. Dec. 25, 1978, Sofia, Bulgaria), finance minister of Bulgaria (1949). He was also industry minister (1947-49).

Kunitsyn, Serhiy (Volodymyrovych) (b. July 27, 1960, Turkmen S.S.R.), prime minister of Crimea (1998-2001, 2002-05). In 2006-10 he was mayor of Sevastopol. In February 2014 he was appointed Ukrainian plenipotentiary representative to Crimea.

Kuntunkununku II, Nana, original name Alexander Kwadwo Fredua Agyeman (b. Feb. 22, 1942, Asiakwa, Gold Coast [now Ghana] - d. March 17, 1999, Accra, Ghana), king of Akyem Abuakwa (1976-99). While a student in Accra, he attracted the attention of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, whose regime sponsored him to study medicine abroad. On his return to Ghana, he worked at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and later at the Ridge hospital. He challenged, unsuccessfully, his own uncle, Kwabena Marfo, later Nana Ofori Atta III, for the right to succeed Ofori Atta II, who died in 1973. After his uncle died in 1976, he was installed as the 34th occupant of the Ofori Panin stool. He took the name Kuntunkununku, which was also the name of the very first Akyem king, Kuntunkununku I (1400). During his reign, he undertook a tour of all towns in the Akyem Abuakwa traditional area which was described as very successful. But it was his desire and effort to have the Kibi bauxite deposits exploited to provide employment to the people that will be remembered. He continued to practice after his enstoolment, and was able to make a start on the modernization of the government hospital at Kyebi. He was also a member of the Consultative Assembly which in 1992 drew up a new constitution for Ghana. Yet he remained every inch an African king in his ability to carry off ceremonial grandeur. When he visited London he would don clothes of the costliest silk, and deck himself with gold ornaments. He served two terms as president of the Eastern regional house of chiefs (1994-98) before his election as president of the National House of Chiefs in December 1998 and, ipso facto, becoming a member of the Council of State.

Künzi, Hans (b. Jan. 30, 1924, Olten, Aargau, Switzerland - d. Nov. 16, 2004, Zürich, Switzerland), president of the government of Zürich (1973-74, 1979-80, 1985-86, 1990-91).

Kuokkanen, Erkki (Veikko) (b. Dec. 5, 1887, Kuopio, Finland - d. March 6, 1956, Mikkeli, Finland), interior minister of Finland (1930-31).

Kupa, Mihály (b. April 3, 1941, Budapest, Hungary - d. Sept. 2?, 2024), finance minister of Hungary (1990-93).

Kupriyanov, Gennady (Nikolayevich) (b. Nov. 21 [Nov. 8, O.S.], 1905, Rylo, Kostroma province, Russia - d. Feb. 28, 1979, Pushkin, Leningrad [now St. Petersburg] city, Russian S.F.S.R.), first secretary of the Communist Party of the Karelo-Finnish S.S.R. (1940-50). He was also first secretary of the party committee of the Karelian A.S.S.R. (1938-40).

Kupriyanov, Ivan (Antonovich), also spelled Kupreyanov (b. 1800 - d. May 12 [April 30, O.S.], 1857, St. Petersburg, Russia), governor of Russian America (1835-40).

Kuptsov, Gennady (Vasilyevich) (b. 1940), head of the administration of Lipetsk oblast (1991-92).

Kuptsov, Valentin (Aleksandrovich) (b. Dec. 4, 1937, Mindyukino, Vologda oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian S.F.S.R. (1991). He was also first secretary of the party committees of Cherepovets city (1974-79) and Vologda oblast (1985-89).

Kuraishi, Tadao (b. July 2, 1900, Inariyama [now part of Chikuma], Nagano, Japan - d. Nov. 8, 1986), justice minister of Japan (1979-80). He was also minister of labour (1955-56, 1958-59) and agriculture and forestry (1966-68, 1970-71, 1973-74).

Kurakin, Knyaz (Prince) Aleksandr (Borisovich) (b. Aug. 10 [July 31, O.S.], 1697 - d. Oct. 13 [Oct. 2, O.S.], 1749), Russian diplomat; son of Knyaz Boris Kurakin. He was ambassador to France (1727-28).

Kurakin, Knyaz (Prince) Aleksandr (Borisovich) (b. Jan. 29 [Jan. 18, O.S.], 1752, St. Petersburg [according to other sources, Moscow], Russia - d. July 6, 1818, Weimar, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach [now in Thüringen, Germany]), Russian diplomat; son of Knyaz Boris Leonty Kurakin. He was ambassador to Austria (1807-08) and France (1808-12).

Kurakin, Knyaz (Prince) Aleksey (Borisovich) (b. Sept. 30 [Sept. 19, O.S.], 1759 - d. Jan. 11, 1830 [Dec. 30, 1829, O.S.], Kurakino, Oryol province [now Kurakinsky, Oryol oblast], Russia), interior minister of Russia (1807-10); son of Knyaz Boris Leonty Kurakin; brother of Knyaz Aleksandr Kurakin (1752-1818). He was also prosecutor-general (1796-98), governor-general of Malorossiya (1802-07), and chairman of the Committee of Finances (1822-29).

Kurakin, Knyaz (Prince) Boris (Ivanovich) (b. July 30 [July 20, O.S.], 1676, Moscow, Russia - d. Oct. 28, 1727, Paris, France), Russian diplomat. He was minister to the Netherlands (1711-24) and ambassador to France (1724-27).

Kurakin, Knyaz (Prince) Boris Leonty (Aleksandrovich) (b. June 22 [June 11, O.S.], 1733 - d. Dec. 3 [Nov. 22, O.S.], 1764), Russian official; son of Knyaz Aleksandr Kurakin (1697-1749). He was president of the Collegium of Economy (1763-64).

Kural, (Serif) Adnan (b. 1910, Paris, France - d. May 17, 1972, Ankara, Turkey), Turkish diplomat. He was minister to Syria (1955-58), ambassador to Greece (1960-62), Switzerland (1964-65), Italy (1965-67), Spain (1967-69), and the Soviet Union (1972), and permanent representative to the United Nations (1962-64).

Kuranari, Tadashi (b. Aug. 31, 1918, Nagasaki, Japan - d. July 3, 1996), foreign minister of Japan (1986-87). He was also director-general of the Economic Planning Agency (1974, 1976-77).

Kuras, Ivan (Fedorovych) (b. Oct. 3, 1939, Nemirovskoye [now Nemyrivske], Odessa oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R. - d. Oct. 16, 2005, Kiev, Ukraine), a deputy prime minister of Ukraine (1994-97).

Kurashik, Vitaliy (Volodymyrovych), Russian Vitaly (Vladimirovich) Kurashik (b. May 5, 1939, Divin [now in Brest oblast], Belorussian S.S.R.), chairman of the Executive Committee of Crimea oblast (1989-91) and prime minister of Crimea republic (1991-93).

Kurasov, Vladimir (Vasilyevich) (b. July 7, 1897 - d. Nov. 29, 1973), Soviet high commissioner of Austria (1946-49).

Kurata, Hiroyuki (b. April 9, 1938, Matsudo, Chiba, Japan - d. April 7, 2020), home affairs minister of Japan (1996). He was also president of the House of Councillors (2002-04).

Kuratchenko, Volodymyr (Oleksandrovych) (b. April 28, 1948, Omsk, Russian S.F.S.R.), a first deputy prime minister of Ukraine (1999). He was also governor of Zaporizhzhya oblast (1998-99, 1999-2000) and chairman of the State Committee for State Material Reserve (2001-03).

Kurbanmuradov, Yolly (Agayevich), Turkmen Ýolly (Agaýewiç) Gurbanmyradow (b. Feb. 25, 1960, Ashkhabad, Turkmen S.S.R. [now Ashgabat, Turkmenistan]), a deputy prime minister of Turkmenistan (1997-2005). He was also chairman of State Bank for Foreign Economy (1993-2001).

Kurbannazarov, Orazmurad, Turkmen Orazmyrat Gurbannazarow (b. 1966, Bakharden rayon, Turkmen S.S.R. [now Bakherden etrap, Akhal velayat, Turkmenistan]), a deputy prime minister of Turkmenistan (2011-12, 2017-18). He was also chairman of the Supreme Control Chamber (2009-10) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (2018-19), minister of agriculture and water management (2010-11) and trade and foreign economic relations (2019-22), ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (2012-14), and head of Dashoguz velayat (2015-17).

Kurbanov, Bakhodir (Nizamovich) (b. 1969, Syr-Darya oblast, Uzbek S.S.R. [in present Dzhizak region, Uzbekistan]), defense minister of Uzbekistan (2019-24). He has also been chairman of the State Security Service (2024- ).

Kurbanov, Dzhumabay (b. 1906, Turtkul, Syrdarya oblast, Russia [now in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan] - d. [executed] July 28, 1941), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Karakalpak A.S.S.R. (1935-38).

Kurbanov, Mamadali (b. 1905, Uchkurgan, Semirechye oblast, Russia [now in Kyrgyzstan] - d. May 14, 1976, Uchkurgan), chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Tadzhik S.S.R. (1937-46). He was also people's commissar of local industry (1936-37) and agriculture (1937), a deputy premier (1937), and mayor of Osh (1957-60).

Kurbanov, Rakhmankul (Kurbanovich) (b. July 25 [July 12, O.S.], 1912, Karabag, Bukhara [now in Uzbekistan] - d. June 9, 2012), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Uzbek S.S.R. (1961-71). He was also first secretary of the party committees of Kashkadarya (1952-56) and Andizhan (1956-61) oblasti.

Kurczuk, Grzegorz (b. Sept. 20, 1949, Warsaw, Poland), justice minister and prosecutor-general of Poland (2002-04).

Kurdas, (Mustafa) Kemal (b. 1920, Bursa, Ottoman Empire [now in Turkey] - d. April 19, 2011, Istanbul, Turkey), finance minister of Turkey (1960-61). He was also rector of the Middle East Technical University (1961-69).

Kurdukar, Sudhakar Panditrao (b. Jan. 16, 1935), acting governor of Punjab (India) (1994). He was chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court (1994-96).

Kure, Abdulkadir (Abdullahi) (b. Feb. 26, 1956, Lapai local government area [now in Niger state], Nigeria - d. Jan. 8, 2017, Germany), governor of Niger state, Nigeria (1999-2007).

Kuret, Darja Bavdaz (b. Oct. 23, 1956), Slovenian diplomat. She was ambassador to Israel (1995-99), Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia (2002-06), Bulgaria (2009-13), India (2013-15), Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka (2014-15), and Russia (2023-24) and permanent representative to the United Nations (2017-21).

Kuri González, Mauricio (b. May 9, 1969, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico), governor of Querétaro (2021- ).

Kurihara, Yuko (b. June 5, 1920, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan - d. June 1, 2010), Japanese politician. He was minister of labour (1978-79) and director-general of the Defense Agency (1983-84, 1986-87).

Kuris, Pranas (b. Aug. 20, 1938, Seduva, Lithuania), justice minister of the Lithuanian S.S.R./Lithuania (1977-91). He was also ambassador to the Benelux countries (1992-94) and president of the Supreme Court (1994-98).

Kurita, Yukio (b. April 6, 1930, Sabae, Fukui prefecture, Japan - d. May 17, 2024, Fukui city, Japan), governor of Fukui (1987-2003).

Kurka, Karel (b. April 28, 1922, Trnava, Czechoslovakia [now in Slovakia] - d. June 11, 2007, Zamberk, Czech Republic), Czechoslovak diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1958-62) and ambassador to Romania (1968-69) and China (1971-76).

Kuroda, Haruhiko (b. Oct. 25, 1944, Fukuoka, Japan), president of the Asian Development Bank (2005-13). In 2013 he became governor of the Bank of Japan.

Kuroda, Kiyotaka, in full (from 1884) Hakushaku (Count) Kiyotaka Kuroda (b. Nov. 9 [Oct. 16, lunar calendar], 1840, Satsuma province [in present Kagoshima prefecture], Japan - d. Aug. 25, 1900, Tokyo, Japan), prime minister of Japan (1888-89). He was also minister of agriculture and commerce (1887-88) and communications (1892-95) and president of the Privy Council (1895-1900).

Kuroda, Mizuo (b. Aug. 16, 1919, Osaka, Japan), Japanese diplomat. He was ambassador to Yugoslavia (1976-77), Egypt (1978-80), and Australia (1980-82) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1983-86).

Kuroiwa, Yuji (b. Sept. 26, 1954), governor of Kanagawa (2011- ).

Kuron

Kuron, Jacek (Jan) (b. March 3, 1934, Lwów, Poland [now Lviv, Ukraine] - d. June 17, 2004, Warsaw, Poland), Polish politician. In 1949 he joined the Communist-led Union of Polish Youth and in 1953 the Polish United Workers' Party (PUWP). A few months later he was thrown out of the party because he refused to confess to some ideological deviations and write his "auto-criticism." During the upheaval of October 1956, he was reinstated as a party member. In 1964 Kuron and his friend Karol Modzelewski wrote an open letter to party members in which they critically analyzed the PUWP's policy, proposing a revised definition of Marxist socialism. Both were dismissed from the party, charged with sedition, and sentenced to three years in prison. They were freed in May 1967 but were arrested again on March 8, 1968, as organizers of a mass meeting of students on the Warsaw university campus protesting against censorship and appealing for a genuine democratization of public life. For this they were sentenced to 3½ years in prison. In 1975 Kuron was one of the authors of a manifesto signed by 59 intellectuals protesting against proposed amendments to the constitution that would further limit civil liberties. In June 1976, when thousands of workers went on strike in protest against drastic increases in food prices, Kuron stood at their side. He was instrumental in setting up the Workers' Defense Committee, a dissident group that helped found the Solidarity labour union. When in August 1980 Lech Walesa started to organize free trade unions under the "Solidarity" banner, he invited Kuron to be his political adviser. On Nov. 22, 1981, police raided Kuron's Warsaw home to break up a meeting that was planning to found a new opposition party. He was imprisoned until 1984. After the end of Communist rule he became labour minister (1989-90, 1992-93). In 1995 he was a presidential candidate, winning 9% of the vote.

Kuropatkin, Aleksey (Nikolayevich) (b. March 29 [March 17, O.S.], 1848, Sheshurino, Pskov province [now in Tver oblast], Russia - d. Jan. 16, 1925, Sheshurino), head of Zakaspiyskaya oblast (1890-98), war minister of Russia (1898-1904), and governor-general of Turkestan (1916-17).

Kurovsky, Yevgeny (Aleksandrovich) (b. July 26 [July 14, O.S.], 1845, St. Petersburg, Russia - d. Dec. 30 [Dec. 17, O.S.], 1909, St. Petersburg), governor of Kovno (1887-90) and Voronezh (1890-94).

Kurshumi, Abdullah (Hussein al-) (b. 1932, Bait Boos village, Bani Matr district, Sana governorate, Yemen - d. July 26, 2007), prime minister of Yemen (Sana) (1969-70). He was also minister of public works (1962-65, 1975-90), communications (1963-64, 1967-69), and transport (1988-90) of Yemen (Sana) and minister of construction (1990-94) of Yemen.

Kursky, Dmitry (Ivanovich) (b. Oct. 22, 1874, Kiev, Russia [now in Ukraine] - d. Dec. 20, 1932, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), Soviet politician. He was people's commissar of justice of the Russian S.F.S.R. (1918-28) and Soviet ambassador to Italy (1928-32).

Kurtbek, (Ali) Seyfi (b. 1905, Gallipoli, Ottoman Empire [now Gelibolu, Turkey] - d. March 27, 1995), defense minister of Turkey (1952-53). He was also minister of communications (1950-52).

Kurtesi, Ilijaz, Albanian Ilaz Kurteshi (b. March 15, 1927, Donje Ljubinje, near Prizren, Yugoslavia [now in Kosovo] - d. Feb. 13, 2016), president of the Assembly (1969-74) and secretary of the Central Committee of the League of Communists (1983-84) of Kosovo and president of the Federal Assembly of Yugoslavia (1985-86).

Kurth

Kurth, Laurent (b. Sept. 19, 1967, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, Switzerland), president of the Council of State of Neuchâtel (2013-14, 2018-19, 2022-23).

Kurti

Kurti, Albin (b. March 24, 1975, Pristina, Kosovo, Serbia), prime minister of Kosovo (2020, 2021- ).

Kurtovic, Mustafa (b. 1951, Vranici village, near Gorazde, Bosnia and Herzegovina), premier of Bosnian Podrinje (2000-01).

Kurtulmus, Numan (b. Sept. 15, 1959, Ünye, Ordu province, Turkey), a deputy prime minister of Turkey (2014-17). He has also been leader of the Felicity Party (2008-10) and the People's Voice Party (2010-12), minister of culture and tourism (2017-18), and speaker of the Grand National Assembly (2023- ).

Kuruma, Mamadu Turé (b. April 26, 1947), leader of the Military Command of Guinea-Bissau (2012).

Kuruneri, Chris(topher Tichaona) (b. April 4, 1949 - d. May 28, 2022), finance minister of Zimbabwe (2004). He was arrested on April 24, 2004, on corruption charges arising from allegations he held scarce foreign currency outside the country. He was acquitted by the High Court in 2007.

Kurutluoglu, Kemal Sahir (b. 1910, Eceabat, Ottoman Empire [now in Turkey] - d. Dec. 30, 1992, Istanbul, Turkey), interior minister of Turkey (1962). He was also minister of press, broadcasting, and tourism (1961) and justice (1961-62).

Kurvits, Ants, until 1936 Hans Kurvits (b. May 14 [May 2, O.S.], 1887, Saadjärve parish, Tartu county, Russia [now in Estonia] - d. Dec. 27, 1943, Sosva camp, Sverdlovsk oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), war minister of Estonia (1924).

Kurvits, Peeter (b. Nov. 7 [Oct. 26, O.S.], 1891, Pärnu, Russia [now in Estonia] - d. Feb. 12, 1962, Tallinn, Estonian S.S.R.), economic affairs minister of Estonia (1933).

S. Kurz

Kurz, Sebastian (b. Aug. 27, 1986, Vienna, Austria), foreign minister (2013-17) and chancellor (2017-19, 2020-21) of Austria. He was chairman of the Austrian People's Party (2017-21).

Kurz, Wilhelm, Russian Vilgelm (Adolfovich) Kurts (b. 1892, Vienna, Austria - d. [executed] May 10, 1938, Kommunarka, Moscow oblast [now part of Moscow city], Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the Executive Committee (1922-24) and the Council of People's Commissars (1924-29) of the Volga German Workers' Commune/A.S.S.R.

Kusainov, Abelgazi (Kaliakparovich) (b. Feb. 6, 1952, May-Ozek, Karaganda oblast, Kazakh S.S.R.), head of Karaganda oblast (2012-13). He was also Kazakh minister of transport and communications (2009-11).

Kushayev, Khafiz (Kushayevich) (b. Oct. 15 [Oct. 3, O.S.], 1888, Saleyevo, Orenburg province, Russia - d. [executed] Sept. 27, 1937), chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Bashkir A.S.S.R. (1922-29).

Kushelev-Bezborodko, Aleksandr (Grigoryevich) (b. Sept. 16 [Sept. 4, O.S.], 1800, St. Petersburg, Russia - d. April 18 [April 6, O.S.], 1855, Moscow, Russia), Russian state comptroller (1854-55).

Kusherbayev, Krymbek (Yeleuovich) (b. May 20, 1955, Kazalinsk, Kazakh S.S.R.), head of Zapadno-Kazakhstan (2000-03), Mangistau (2006-11), and Kyzylorda (2013-19) oblasti. He was also Kazakh minister of education (1997-2000), ambassador to Russia (2003-06, from 2004 also accredited to Finland and Armenia), head of the presidential administration (2019), and secretary of state (2019-22).

Kushkhov, Kishuka (Sagidovich) (b. May 1, 1923, Zayukovo, Russia - d. September 1998), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kabardino-Balkar A.S.S.R. (1969-84). He was also deputy premier (1963-69).

Kushnarev, Veniamin (Mikhailovich) (b. Jan. 14, 1902, Novorogovskaya, Kuban oblast [now in Rostov oblast], Russia - d. Aug. 19, 1986, Peredelkino, Moscow oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), first secretary of the Communist Party committee of the Mari A.S.S.R. (1939-42). He was also acting chairman of the Executive Committee of Ordzhonikidze kray (1937-38).

Kushnikov, Sergey (Sergeyevich) (b. 1765 - d. Feb. 18, 1839), governor of St. Petersburg (1802-04).

Kusljugic, Mirza (Rifat) (b. June 23, 1955, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Bosnian diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (2001-05).

Kussa

Kusugak

Kussa, Mussa, also spelled Moussa Koussa, Arabic in full Musa Muhammad `Abd al-Salam Kusa (b. 1949?), foreign minister of Libya (2009-11).

Kusugak, Nellie (Taptaqut) (b. 1955?), commissioner of Nunavut (2010 [acting], 2015-20).

Kusumaatmadja, Mochtar (b. Feb. 17, 1929, Batavia, Netherlands East Indies [now Jakarta, Indonesia] - d. June 6, 2021, Jakarta), foreign minister of Indonesia (1977-88). He was also justice minister (1974-78).

Kusumasumantri, Iwa (b. May 31, 1899, Ciamis, Netherlands East Indies [now in Jawa Barat, Indonesia] - d. Nov. 27, 1971, Jakarta, Indonesia), defense minister of Indonesia (1953-55). He was also minister of social affairs (1945).

Kusumoto, Masataka, in full (from 1896) Danshaku (Baron) Masataka Kusumoto (b. April 14 [March 20, lunar calendar], 1838, Omura, Hizen province [now in Nagasaki prefecture], Japan - d. Feb. 7, 1902), Japanese politician. He was governor of Niigata (1872-75) and Tokyo (1875-79) and speaker of the House of Representatives (1893-96).

Kusunose, Yukihiko (b. April 28 [March 15, lunar calendar], 1858, Tosa [now in Kochi prefecture], Japan - d. Oct. 13, 1927), governor of Karafuto (1907-08) and army minister of Japan (1913-14).

Kutan, (Mehmet) Recai (b. 1930, Malatya, Turkey - d. Oct. 7, 2024, Ankara, Turkey), Turkish politician. He was minister of reconstruction and settlement (1977-78) and energy and natural resources (1996-97) and leader of the Virtue Party (1997-2001) and the Felicity Party (2001-03, 2004-08).

Kutaysov, Graf (Count) Aleksandr (Pavlovich) (b. March 11, 1869 - d. Jan. 30, 1927), governor of Volyn (1909-12); son of Graf Pavel Kutaysov; son-in-law of Graf Sergey Tol.

Kutaysov, Graf (Count) Pavel (Ippolitovich) (b. Dec. 24, 1837, Moscow, Russia - d. July 5, 1911, St. Petersburg, Russia), governor of Nizhny Novgorod (1873-80) and governor-general of Irkutsk (1903-05); nephew of Knyaz Mikhail Urusov.

Kuter, Robert Charles Henri (b. July 30, 1900, Nouméa, New Caledonia - d. Oct. 1, 1987, Menton, Alpes-Maritimes, France), French resident commissioner of the New Hebrides (1940-47).

Kutesa, Sam (Kahamba) (b. Feb. 1, 1949, Nyabushozi district, Uganda), foreign minister of Uganda (2005-21) and president of the UN General Assembly (2014-15). He was also justice minister and attorney general (1985-86) and minister of state in charge of investment (1996-99, 2001-05).

Kutler, Nikolay (Nikolayevich) (b. July 23 [July 11, O.S.], 1859, Ufa, Russia - d. May 10, 1924, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), Russian politician. He was head of the Chief Administration of Land Organization and Agriculture (1905-06) and a member of the State Duma (1907, 1909-12).

Kutnak, Ziya, until Jan. 1, 1935, Ziya Pasha (b. 1870, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey] - d. Jan. 1, 1940, Istanbul), war minister of the Ottoman Empire (1920-22). He was also minister of commerce and public works (1918) and navy (1921).

Kutuyev, Omurbek (Alymbekovich) (b. Jan. 17, 1951, Baygeldi village, Chu oblast, Kirgiz S.S.R.), interior minister of Kyrgyzstan (1996-2000).

Kutuzov, Sergey (Ivanovich) (b. June 13, 1882, Nikonovo, Kaluga province [now oblast], Russia - d. May 1976, Leningrad, Russian S.F.S.R. [now St. Petersburg, Russia]), executive secretary of the Communist Party committee of Mari autonomous oblast (1929-30).

Kuugongelwa-A.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Saara (b. Oct. 12, 1967, Otamanzi, Omusati region, South West Africa [now Namibia]), finance minister (2003-15) and prime minister (2015- ) of Namibia.

Kuusinen

Kuusinen, Otto (Vilgelmovich) (Russian), Finnish Otto Ville Kuusinen (b. Oct. 4, 1881, Laukaa, Finland - d. May 17, 1964, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Karelo-Finnish S.S.R. (1940-56). In 1905 he joined the Social Democratic Party of Finland, then an autonomous part of the Russian Empire. He soon became head of the party's left revolutionary wing. After the Bolshevik revolution in Russia in 1917, he participated in the short-lived pro-Russian revolutionary government in southern Finland in early 1918, serving as minister of education. He fled to Russia in the same year, after the Finnish War of Independence had brought the socialist regime to an end, and helped found the Finnish Communist Party. Remaining in exile during the interwar years, he became a leading figure in the Comintern, serving as secretary in 1921-39. With the start of the "Winter War" (1939-40) between the U.S.S.R. and Finland, which had been assigned to the Russian sphere of influence in the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact of 1939, Kuusinen was named head of a puppet Finnish socialist government. When the Soviet Union came to terms with Finland early in 1940, however, his government was quietly dissolved. He then headed the Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic, which resulted from the union of Soviet eastern Karelia and Finnish western Karelia at the conclusion of the war in 1940. He kept the post until 1956, when the region was transformed into a lesser autonomous republic within the Russian S.F.S.R. From 1946 to 1953 and from 1957 until his death, he was secretary and a Presidium member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Kuuskoski, Reino (Iisakki) (b. Jan. 18, 1907, Loimaa, Finland - d. Jan. 27, 1965), justice minister (1953-54) and prime minister (1958) of Finland.

Kuvshinnikov

Kuvshinnikov, Oleg (Aleksandrovich) (b. Feb. 2, 1965, Cherepovets, Vologda oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Vologda oblast (2011-23). He was mayor of Cherepovets in 2007-11.

Kuwatli

Kuwatli, Shukri al-, also spelled Shukri al-Quwwatli (b. 1891, Damascus, Ottoman Empire [now in Syria] - d. June 30, 1967, Beirut, Lebanon), president of Syria (1943-49, 1955-58). He joined the Arab nationalist movement as a schoolboy. He became the chief figure in al-Arabiya al-Fatat, a clandestine Arab group, which led indirectly to his imprisonment. He became a member of King Faysal's Syrian government in 1919. When France took over Syria by mandate in 1920, he transferred his agitation from the Turks to the French. The first Syrian rebellion was suppressed in 1925, and he escaped with a death sentence over his head. He spent six years in exile before returning under an amnesty in 1931 to become a founder of the National Bloc. He entered parliament and was minister of defense and finance. He assumed leadership of the National Bloc in 1940 and in 1943 was elected president. After street fighting with French troops erupted in 1945, British troops stepped in and the evacuation of all foreign troops in 1946 marked the complete independence of Syria. In 1947 he enacted an amendment that removed a one-term limit from the constitution, and he was reelected by the Chamber of Deputies in April 1948. Discontent about the Israeli victory over Arab forces led to his overthrow by a military coup in March 1949. After a short imprisonment, he went into exile in Egypt. In August 1954 he returned and in August 1955, at the head of the National Party (the successor to the National Bloc), he was elected president again, though by then his post was largely ceremonial. His long-cherished dream of Arab union seemed to flower in 1958, when he and Pres. Gamal Abdel Nasser declared the merger of Egypt and Syria. He fell into disagreement with Nasser in 1959, however, and once again went into exile, where he remained until his death.

Kuybida, Vasyl (Stepanovych) (b. May 8, 1958, Inta, Komi A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R.), Ukrainian politician. He was mayor of Lviv (1994-2002), minister of regional development and construction (2007-10), and a minor presidential candidate (2014).

Kuybyshev, Valerian (Vladimirovich) (b. June 6 [May 25, O.S.], 1888, Omsk, Russia - d. Jan. 25, 1935, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), Soviet politician. He was people's commissar of the Workers' and Peasants' Inspectorate (1923-26), chairman of the Supreme Council of National Economy (1926-30) and the State Planning Commission (1930-34), and first deputy premier (1934-35).

Kuyk, Johannes van (b. May 30, 1819, Delft, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands - d. May 27, 1885, Assen, Drenthe, Netherlands), king's commissioner of Drenthe (1875-85). He was also mayor of Delft (1856-72).

Kuyper, Abraham (b. Oct. 29, 1837, Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands - d. Nov. 8, 1920, The Hague, Netherlands), interior minister (1901-05) and prime minister (1901-05) of the Netherlands. He was also known as a Calvinist theologian.

Kuyper, Eduard Joseph Corneille Marie de (b. Jan. 15, 1817, Veghel, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands - d. Nov. 28, 1893, Maastricht, Netherlands), king's/queen's commissioner of Limburg (1874-93); brother-in-law of Dominicus Blankenheym. He was also mayor of 's-Hertogenbosch (1857-74).

Kuyvashev

Kuyvashev, Yevgeny (Vladimirovich) (b. March 16, 1971, Lugovskaya, Khanty-Mansi autonomous okrug, Tyumen oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), plenipotentiary of the president in Uralsky federal district (2011-12) and governor of Sverdlovsk oblast (2012- ). He was also mayor of Tobolsk (2005-07) and Tyumen (2007-11).

Kuzbari

Kuzbari, Maamun (Shafiq) al- (Ma´mun Shafiq al-Kuzbari) (b. 1914, Shagour neighbourhood, Damascus, Ottoman Empire [now in Syria] - d. March 2, 1998, Beirut, Lebanon), Syrian politician. In 1952, he was elected to the Syrian parliament, as deputy of Damascus, and elected speaker by the other deputies. One year later, there was a military coup and the parliament was dissolved. In 1954, he was acting head of state for two days after the overthrow of Adib al-Shishakli; new elections were held and he was once again elected as deputy. He also occupied various ministerial positions in different governments, including minister of justice (1955, 1956-58), education (1955-56), and labour and social affairs (1957-58). In 1958 he was a member of the government that signed the union with Egypt, which gave birth to the United Arab Republic. After the military coup which broke the union with Egypt, he was called upon to form a government. The members of the government, which he headed, was mainly formed of technocrats and university professors. He also was at the same time the minister of foreign affairs and defense and acting head of state. He called for new elections two months after the formation of this government so that the democratic rule could be reestablished and the government would be legitimized by the people. In that election he was once again elected as deputy, and then also as speaker. In March 1962, a military coup occurred that brought the Ba`th Party to power. He went into exile a year later in Morocco. He never came back to politics.

Kuzmanovic

Kuzmitsky

Kuzmanovic, Rajko (b. Dec. 1, 1931, Celinac, Yugoslavia [now in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina]), president of the Republika Srpska (2007-10).

Kuzmenko, Mikhail (Grigoryevich) (b. 1904, Sudzha, Kursk province, Russia - d. ...), chairman of the Executive Committee of Crimea oblast (1954-56). He was also chairman of the Executive Committee of Izmail oblast (1949-52).

Kuzmin, Iosif (Iosifovich) (b. June 1 [May 19, O.S.], 1910, Astrakhan, Russia - d. Jan. 12, 1996, Moscow, Russia), Soviet politician. He was chairman of the State Planning Committee and a deputy premier (1957-59) and ambassador to Switzerland (1960-63).

Kuzmitsky, Aleksey (Alekseyevich) (b. Aug. 5, 1967), acting governor of Kamchatka oblast (2007) and governor of Kamchatka kray (2007-11).

Kuzmuk, Oleksandr (Ivanovych) (b. April 17, 1954, Diatylivka village, Slavuta district, Khmelnitsky oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R.), defense minister of Ukraine (1996-2001, 2004-05). He was also commander of the National Guard (1995-96) and a deputy prime minister (2007).

Kuznetsov, Aleksandr (Olegovich) (b. June 3, 1980, Apsheronsk, Krasnodar kray, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the government of Kamchatka kray (2020-21).

Kuznetsov, Andrey (Aleksandrovich), first secretary of the Communist Party committee of Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous oblast (1938-41).

Kuznetsov, Boris (Yuryevich) (b. Feb. 18, 1935 - d. July 2, 2013), head of the administration of Perm oblast (1991-96).

Kuznetsov, Ivan (Alekseyevich) (b. Sept. 20 [Sept. 8, O.S.], 1897, Tertezh, Yeniseysk province [now in Krasnoyarsk kray], Russia - d. Sept. 15, 1983, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), first secretary of the Communist Party committee of the Mordovian A.S.S.R. (1937-40). He was also first secretary of the party committee of Chita oblast (1939-48).

L. Kuznetsov

Kuznetsov, Lev (Vladimirovich) (b. April 24, 1965, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Krasnoyarsk kray (2010-14). He was also acting mayor of Norilsk (2003) and Russian minister of North Caucasus affairs (2014-18).

M. Kuznetsov

Vasily Kuznetsov

Kuznetsov, Mikhail (Varfolomeyevich) (b. Aug. 22, 1968), governor of Pskov oblast (2004-09).

Kuznetsov, Vasily (Vasilyevich) (b. Feb. 13 [Jan. 31, O.S.], 1901, Sofilovka, Kostroma province, Russia - d. June 5, 1990, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), first deputy chairman (1977-86) and acting chairman (1982-83, 1984, 1985) of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. He was also chairman of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions (1944-53), chairman of the Soviet of Nationalities (1946-50), and ambassador to China (1953).

Kuznetsov, Vladimir (Sergeyevich) (b. 1954, Adler, Krasnodar kray, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the Executive Committee (1990-91) and head of the administration (1991-93) of Primorsky kray. He was also Russian consul-general in San Francisco (1993-97).

Vladislav Kuznetsov

Kuznetsov, Vladislav (Gariyevich) (b. March 18, 1969, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Chukotka autonomous okrug (2023- ).

Kuznetsov, Yevgeny (Semyonovich) (b. Dec. 27, 1938 - d. Nov. 2, 2005), head of the administration of Stavropol kray (1991-95).

Kuznyatsou, Vyachaslau (Mikalayevich), Russian Vyacheslav (Nikolayevich) Kuznetsov (b. Feb. 22, 1947), acting chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus (1994). He was also ambassador to China (1995-2000) and Mongolia (1998-2000) and permanent representative to the Commonwealth of Independent States (2000-08).

Kvam, Christl (b. July 2, 1962, Øvre Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane [now in Vestland], Norway), governor of Oppland (2015-18).

Kvarnzelius, (Svante) Herman (b. Nov. 13, 1864, Strängsered, Älvsborg [now in Västra Götaland], Sweden - d. April 17, 1938, Stockholm, Sweden), governor of Kopparberg (1922-32).

Kvashnin

Kvashnin, Anatoly (Vasilyevich) (b. Aug. 15, 1946, Ufa, Russian S.F.S.R. - d. Jan. 7, 2022, Moscow, Russia), plenipotentiary of the president in Sibirsky federal district (2004-10). He was also chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (1997-2004).

Kvasov, Vladimir (Petrovich) (b. Nov. 6, 1936), head of the Government Apparatus (chief of staff) of Russia (1993-94).

Kvaternik, Slavko (b. Aug. 25, 1878, Vucinic Selo, Austria-Hungary [now in Croatia] - d. [executed] June 13, 1947, Zagreb, Croatia), armed forces minister of Croatia (1941-43). He was also army chief of staff of Yugoslavia (1918).

Kveli, Ola Hansen (b. April 23, 1921, Nordli [now part of Lierne], Nord-Trøndelag [now in Trøndelag], Norway - d. April 22, 2003, Lierne), governor of Nord-Trøndelag (1979-91).

Kviesis, Alberts (b. Dec. 22, 1881, Kalnamuiza parish, Russia [now in Tervete parish, Latvia] - d. Aug. 9, 1944, Riga, Latvia), interior minister (1921-23) and president (1930-36) of Latvia.

Kvirikashvili

Kvirikashvili, Giorgi (b. July 20, 1967, Tbilisi, Georgian S.S.R.), first deputy prime minister (2013-15), foreign minister (2015), and prime minister (2015-18) of Georgia. He was also economy minister (2012-15) and chairman of Georgian Dream (2015-18).

Kviring, Emmanuil (Ionovich) (b. Sept. 13 [Sept. 1, O.S.], 1888, Novolipovka [now in Saratov oblast], Russia - d. [executed] Nov. 26, 1937), first secretary of the Communist Party of the Ukrainian S.S.R. (1923-25).

Kvirkeliya, Vissarion (Melkhizedekovich) (b. 1885 - d. [executed] 1937), chairman of the Revolutionary Committee (1920), the Communist Party regional organizational bureau (1920), and the Executive Committee (1920-21) of Terek oblast. He was also people's commissar of interior (1921) and military and naval affairs (1921) of the Georgian S.S.R.

Kwanairara, (Daniel) Enele (b. March 25, 1947 - d. Oct. 20, 2012, Auki, Malaita province, Solomon Islands), Solomon Islands politician. He was minister of commerce and tourism (1997-2000), justice and legal affairs (2000), and agriculture and livestock (2005-06).

Kwankwaso, Rabiu Musa (b. Oct. 21, 1956, Kwankwaso [now in Kano state], Nigeria), governor of Kano (1999-2003, 2011-15) and defense minister of Nigeria (2003-06).

Kwape

Kwape, Lemogang (b. May 5, 1973), foreign minister of Botswana (2020-24). He was also minister of health and wellness (2019-20).

Kwapinski, Jan, original name Piotr Chalupka (b. Nov. 12, 1885, Warsaw, Poland - d. Nov. 4, 1964, Penley, Wales), deputy prime minister of Poland in exile (1943-44). He was also mayor of Lódz (1939) and minister of industry, trade, and shipping (1942-47, in exile).

Kwarara, Galeva (b. Feb. 2, 1942, Gabagaba, Papua [now in Central province, Papua New Guinea]), finance minister of Papua New Guinea (1986-88). He was also minister of national planning and development (1980-82) and trade and industry (1985-86, 1988-89).

Kwarteng, Kwasi, byname of Akwasi Addo Alfred Kwarteng (b. May 26, 1975, London, England), British chancellor of the exchequer (2022). He was also secretary of state for business, energy, and industrial strategy (2021-22).

Kwartsz, Lindoro Christoffel (b. July 27, 1873, Aruba - d. April 29, 1959, Oranjestad, Aruba), chairman of the College of General Administration of the Netherlands Antilles (1949-50).

Kwartsz, Lindoro Cristoforo (b. Nov. 2, 1908, Aruba - d. ...), administrator of Aruba (1945-57); son of Lindoro Christoffel Kwartsz.

A. Kwasniewski

Kwasniewski, Aleksander (b. Nov. 15, 1954, Bialogard, northwestern Poland), president of Poland (1995-2005). He joined the Polish United Workers' Party (i.e., the Communist Party) in 1977 and moved to Warsaw to edit two of the party's youth newspapers - the weekly Itd ("Etc.") (1981-84) and the daily Sztandar Mlodych ("Youth Standard") (1984-85). He was member of the Council of Ministers for youth affairs (1985-87), chairman of the Committee for Youth and Physical Culture (1987-90), and head of the Council of Ministers Sociopolitical Committee (1988-89). He was invited to take part in the round-table discussions that resulted in the end of Communist rule in the late 1980s, heading the committee that dealt with trade unions. In 1991 he co-founded a new party, the Democratic Left Alliance, which won a plurality of seats in the parliamentary elections of 1993. Subsequently, he formed a ruling coalition with the Polish Peasant Party, which was similarly composed of former Communists. In the closing days of the 1995 presidential election campaign, he had to face widespread accusations of dishonesty for inaccurately reporting his wife's earnings and for falsely claiming to have received his college degree. In a narrow runoff victory that was seen by many as a political watershed, he dunked the sitting president and past reigning hero of Polish anti-Communism, Lech Walesa, who had won the nation's first direct presidential election in 1990. He capitalized on the waning popularity of Walesa, but he pledged to continue with less austerity and dislocation Walesa's reform efforts toward a market economy and membership in NATO (achieved in 1999) and the European Union (2004). He was reelected in October 2000.

Kwasniewski, Mikolaj (Zygmunt) (b. Dec. 6 [Nov. 24, O.S.], 1871, Nemoroz, Kiev province, Russia [now in Ukraine] - d. 1941, Auschwitz concentration camp, near Oswiecim, Poland), governor of Tarnopolskie (1927-28), Krakowskie (1929-35), and Poznanskie (1935) województwa.

Kwelagobe, Daniel (Keatametse) (b. Sept. 1, 1943, Molepolole, Bechuanaland [now Botswana]), labour and home affairs minister of Botswana (2000-02). He was also minister of commerce and industry (1973-74, 1999-2000), public service, information, and broadcasting (1974-79), public service and information (1979-85), agriculture (1985-92), works, transport, and communications (1994-98), local government, lands, and housing (1998-99), and presidential affairs and public administration (2002-04, 2008-09) and minister in the office of the president responsible for public service, ombudsman, Independent Electoral Commission, and the National AIDS Coordinating Agency (2007-08).

Kwiatkowski, Eugeniusz (Felicjan) (b. Dec. 30, 1888, Kraków, Austria [now in Poland] - d. Aug. 22, 1974, Kraków), deputy prime minister and finance minister of Poland (1935-39). He was also minister of industry and trade (1926-30).

Kwiatkowski, Krzysztof (b. May 14, 1971, Zgierz, Poland), justice minister of Poland (2009-11). He was also prosecutor-general (2009-10) and president of the Supreme Audit Office (2013-19).

Kwiecinski, Jerzy (Stanislaw) (b. Oct. 16, 1959, Stalowa Wola, Poland), finance minister of Poland (2019). He was also minister of investment and development (2018-19).

Kwon Min Jun, North Korean diplomat. He was permanent observer to the United Nations (1973-78).

Kwong

Kwong, Normie, byname of Norman Lim Kwong, original name Lim Kwong Yew (b. Oct. 24, 1929, Calgary, Alta. - d. Sept. 3, 2016), lieutenant governor of Alberta (2005-10). He was a famous football player dubbed the "China Clipper." He was named Canadian Athlete of the Year in 1955, was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1975, and was named a member of the Order of Canada in 1998.

Kyabishev

Kyabishev, Indris (Ibragimovich) (b. July 20, 1952, Ali-Berdukovsky village [now in Karachayevo-Cherkessia], Russian S.F.S.R.), prime minister of Karachayevo-Cherkessia (2011-12).

Kyabula Katwe, Jacques (b. March 13, 1976, Lubumbashi, Shaba, Zaire [now in Haut-Katanga, Congo (Kinshasa)]), governor of Haut-Katanga (2019- ).

Kyaruzi, Vedast (Kyalakishaija) (b. Feb. 21, 1921, Kigarama village, Kanyigo, Tanganyika [now in Tanzania] - d. May 20, 2012, Bukoba, Tanzania), Tanganyikan diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1961-62).

Kyaw Min, Myanmar diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1989-94).

Kyaw Moe Tun (b. July 28, 1969), Myanmar diplomat. He has been ambassador to Switzerland (2018-20) and permanent representative to the United Nations (2020- ; continues to represent civilian government after 2021 coup).

Kyaw Nyein (b. March 8, 1915, Kyauktan, Hanthawaddy district, Burma [now Myanmar] - d. June 29, 1986, Rangoon, Burma [now Yangon, Myanmar]), home and judicial affairs minister (1947-48), deputy prime minister and foreign minister (1948-49), and finance minister (1958-60) of Burma. He was also minister of cooperation (1951-53) and industries and mines (1953-56) and a deputy prime minister and minister of economy (1956-58).

Kyaw Tint Swe (b. March 19, 1945), Myanmar diplomat. He was ambassador to Japan (1994-97) and permanent representative to the United Nations (2001-09).

Kyd

Kyd, Jerry, byname of Jeremy Paul Kyd (b. Aug. 20, 1967, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England), lieutenant governor of Jersey (2022- ).

Kydyrov, Talaibek (Turgumbayevich) (b. March 29, 1954, Frunze, Kirgiz S.S.R. [now Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan]), Kyrgyz diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (2010-15).

Kyélem

Kyélem de Tambèla, Apollinaire Joachim(son) (b. June 11, 1958, Tambèla, Upper Volta [now in Ganzourgou province, Burkina Faso]), prime minister of Burkina Faso (2022-24).

Kyhn, Ludvig (b. Aug. 25, 1817, Eidsvold [now Eidsvoll], Aggershuus amt [now Akershus fylke], Norway - d. Feb. 23, 1890, Hamar, Hedemarkens amt [now in Innlandet fylke], Norway), governor of Hedemarkens amt (1856-90).

Kyle, Sir Wallace (Hart) (b. Jan. 22, 1910, Kalgoorlie, W.Aus. - d. Jan. 31, 1988, Lymington, Hampshire, England), governor of Western Australia (1975-80); knighted 1960.

Kyllingmark, Håkon (Olai) (b. Jan. 19, 1915, Honningsvåg, Finmarkens amt [now Finnmark fylke], Norway - d. Aug. 12, 2003, Vågan, Nordland, Norway), defense minister of Norway (1963). He was also minister of communications (1965-71).

Kyllönen, Merja (Sinikka) (b. Jan. 25, 1977, Suomussalmi, Finland), Finnish politician. She was minister of transport (2011-14) and a presidential candidate (2018).

Kyndiah

M. Kyprianou

Kyndiah, Paty Ripple (b. May 7, 1928, Shillong [now in Meghalaya], India - d. March 26, 2015, Shillong), governor of Mizoram (1993-98). He was also Indian minister of tribal affairs (2004-09) and development of northeastern region (2004-06).

Kyoseivanov, Georgi (Ivanov) (b. Jan. 19, 1884, Peshtera, Bulgaria - d. July 27, 1960, Switzerland), foreign minister (1935-40) and prime minister (1935-40) of Bulgaria. He was also minister to Greece (1926-31), Romania (1931-33), Yugoslavia (1933-35), and Switzerland (1940-44).

Kypraios, Konstantinos (b. 1920, Cairo, Egypt), acting foreign minister of Greece (1974). He was also minister of industry (1967-71, 1973-74) and energy (1973-74).

Kyprianou, Markos (Spyrou) (b. Jan. 22, 1960, Limassol, Cyprus), finance minister (2003-04) and foreign minister (2008-11) of Cyprus; son of Spyros Kyprianou. He was Cyprus' first EU commissioner in 2004-08 (for budget 2004, health 2004-08, and consumer protection 2004-06).

S. Kyprianou

Kyprianou, Spyros (Achilleos) (b. Oct. 28, 1932, Limassol, Cyprus - d. March 12, 2002, Nicosia), president of Cyprus (1977-88). He became a public relations officer for Makarios III, shortly after the latter's election in 1950 as archbishop of the Church of Cyprus and ethnarch (national leader) of the island's Greek people. When in August 1960 the Republic of Cyprus was established with Makarios as president, Kyprianou became foreign minister, an office he kept until May 1972, when he resigned at the insistence of Greece's military government. On Sept. 5, 1976, when the new House of Representatives was elected in the southern zone of Cyprus, the Democratic Front obtained 21 seats out of a total of 35, and Kyprianou was elected speaker. When Makarios died on Aug. 3, 1977, Kyprianou assumed the functions of acting president. It was Kyprianou who, on August 8, pronounced the moving funeral oration when the body of Makarios was buried on Throni, the highest peak of the Kykkos Mountains. On August 31 the House of Representatives unanimously elected Kyprianou president of Cyprus. He was returned unopposed on Jan. 16, 1978, for a five-year term. Kyprianou showed strength of mind in refusing the demands of EOKA-B, a clandestine extremist group, after its terrorists had kidnapped (Dec. 14, 1977) and threatened to kill his 19-year-old son Achilleas. Kyprianou said that he was prepared to sacrifice his son but never his country, and the son was released. Later he struck bloodlessly at continuing EOKA-B activity by jailing 22 of its ringleaders. He was reelected to another five-year term in February 1983. His presidency oversaw an economic boom in southern Cyprus, but there was no progress on reunification. In the February 1988 election, he was knocked out in the first round. He was again speaker of the House of Representatives in 1996-2001.

Kyriakides, Stella (b. March 10, 1956, Nicosia, Cyprus), Cypriot politician. She was EU commissioner for health and food safety (2019-24).

Kyriakos, Diomidis (b. 1811, Spetses, Ottoman Empire [now in Greece] - d. June 20, 1869, Pisa, Italy), president of the Provisional Government of Greece (1863 and [acting] 1863). He was also minister of ecclesiastical affairs and public education (1863) and president of the Vouli (1863).

Kyrou, Alexis (A.) (b. 1901, Athens, Greece - d. September 1969), Greek diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1949-54) and ambassador to Sweden (1956-60) and West Germany (1964-68).

Kyrylenko, Ivan (Hryhorovych) (b. Oct. 2, 1956, Berestovoye, Zaporozhye oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R. [now Berestove, Zaporizhzhya oblast, Ukraine]), a deputy prime minister of Ukraine (2002-05). He was also minister of agrarian policy (2000-02).

Kyrylenko, Vyacheslav (Anatoliyovych) (b. June 7, 1968, Polesskoye [now Poliske], Kiev oblast, Ukrainian S.S.R.), a deputy prime minister of Ukraine (2005-06, 2014-19). He was also minister of labour and social policy (2005) and culture (2014-16).

Kyselý, Jozef (b. March 20, 1912, Presov, Hungary [now in Slovakia] - d. July 21, 1998, Prague, Czech Republic), a deputy premier of Czechoslovakia (1952-53). He was also minister of building materials industry (1953) and local economy (1953-58) and chairman of the Commission for the Improvement of Agriculture, Forestry, and Waterways (1958-60).

Kyselyov, Vasyl (Oleksiyovich) (b. Sept. 25, 1948, Zlatoust, Chelyabinsk oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of parliament of Crimea (1996-97).

Kyslytsya, Serhiy (Olehovich) (b. Aug. 15, 1969, Kiev, Ukrainian S.S.R.), Ukrainian diplomat. He has been permanent representative to the United Nations (2020- ).

Kyttä, Harras (Vilhelm Johannes) (b. June 25, 1912, Helsingfors [now Helsinki], Finland - d. March 12, 1985, Helsinki), interior minister of Finland (1957, 1958). He was also mayor of Turku (1961-63).

Kyuma, Fumio (b. Dec. 4, 1940, Nagasaki prefecture, Japan), director-general of the Defense Agency (1996-98, 2006-07) and defense minister (2007) of Japan.

Kyungu wa Kumwanza, (Antoine) Gabriel (b. Oct. 24, 1938, Kilengalele, Elisabethville province, Belgian Congo [now in Tanganyika, Congo (Kinshasa)] - d. Sept. 21, 2021, Luanda, Angola), governor of Shaba (1991-95, 1997). He was also ambassador of Congo (Kinshasa) to Kenya (1998-99) and Saudi Arabia (1999-2000).