Born on August 6, 1975 in a family of scientists.
From 1989, from the moment of its creation, he worked at the Institute for the Problems of the Safe Development of Nuclear Energy (IBRAE) of the USSR Academy of Sciences (established to eliminate the consequences of the Chernobyl accident). On behalf of the institute's management, he organized a group for training employees in computer technology, and also supported the PC fleet.
In 1991, he created his first own company - AOZT Russprofi Ltd., which was engaged in the development of computer programs, incl. systems of psychological professional diagnostics for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and civil aviation. In 1995, Russprofi merged with the International Network Connections JV, which specialized in the creation of distributed computer networks based on Banyan Systems technologies, in which Ponomarev took the position of executive director.
From 1996 to 2003, he worked in large companies (including Schlumberger/GeoQuest, Yukos, IBS) in senior positions related to the introduction of new technologies into production. Within Schlumberger, Ponomarev was responsible for the acquisition and global marketing of Russian oil production management technologies to international companies. Work on technological modernization was continued at the position of Vice President of YUKOS EP, and then during the creation and organization of the work of the Siberian Internet Company (Sibintek), which deployed more than two thousand jobs in the Siberian regions, thereby solving the then existing employment problem, and provided launch of a number of well-known Internet projects, such as Gazeta.ru. Within the framework of IBS, he became one of the authors of the program for the transition to digital government "Electronic Russia".
In 2004-2006 under the auspices of the Institute of Globalization Problems (IPROG), commissioned by a number of regional administrations, he developed a number of socially significant projects, which include the Concept for the Development of Siberia and the Far East, the Concept for the Development of the Fuel and Energy Complex of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Actively participated in campaigns to enlarge the subjects of the federation.
In 2006, he headed the Center for Territorial Development under the Ministry of Information and Communications of the Russian Federation. He coordinated the work on the creation of technoparks in the field of high technologies, which was implemented in the Russian regions under the auspices of the Ministry of Information and Communications of the Russian Federation. In particular, he oversaw the creation of the Novosibirsk Technopark in Akademgorodok and an IT park in Kazan.
In 2007, he was elected to the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the 5th convocation on the list of the Just Russia party from the Novosibirsk Region. In the State Duma, he became a member of the Committee on Information Policy, Technologies and Communications, heading the subcommittee on technological development. In 2011, he was re-elected to the State Duma of the VI convocation, doubling his result. In connection with the change in the structure of parliamentary committees, he joined the Committee on Economic Policy, Innovative Development and Entrepreneurship, headed the subcommittee on innovation and investment.
As a deputy, he continued to actively engage in the creation of the Novosibirsk Technopark (Academpark) and the development of high technologies in the Novosibirsk region. On his initiative and with active participation, close contacts have been established between Novosibirsk and American IT companies, and the implementation of joint projects has begun. On the basis of the Academpark, together with world leaders in this field, a center of excellence in energy efficiency and saving technologies is being created. In order to ensure the construction of housing for innovators, together with the RHD Foundation and deputy Galina Khovanskaya, he developed and achieved the adoption of the law “On Housing Cooperatives”. Co-chairman (together with Deputy Igor Igoshin) of the working group of the State Duma, which developed the law "On the federal contract system", created a system of electronic public procurement. Author of a number of initiatives to support the development of entrepreneurship in the Russian Federation, as well as numerous legislative initiatives in the field of telecommunications and e-government.
In 2010, he became the architect of the Skolkovo project as an adviser to V.F. Vekselberg on commercialization and international development. One of the authors of the law "On Skolkovo", the law "On business partnerships and investment partnerships" (similar to American LLPs and LLCs), a special tax regime for the IT industry, participated in the development of copyright and intellectual property legislation. Among the main achievements is the attraction of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to Russia, the creation of a joint Skoltech University with it. By 2013, as a result of the work of government projects to support innovation, the Russian venture capital market exceeded $1 billion a year, coming out on top in Europe.
In 2012, Ponomarev played an important role in pushing the US Congress to exchange permission to join the WTO and repeal the discriminatory Jackson-Venik amendment to adopt the Magnitsky Act, which imposed sanctions against Russian corrupt officials.
In politics since 2002. From 2003 to 2007, he was one of the leaders of the youth wing of the Communist Party, the head of the information and technology center of the party, the creator of its website (under Ponomarev, it quickly became the most visited party
m resource in Russia) and a system for counting votes in elections, parallel to the official system "GAS Vybory".
In 2004 - 2007 was the initiator of the creation and one of the leaders of the Youth Left Front, and then became one of the founders of the Left Front of Russia. Permanent member of the organizing committees of the Russian Social Forums, uniting the protest and social movements of the country, one of the organizers of the G8 counter-summit in St. Petersburg, a member of the Working Committee of the Union of Coordinating Councils.
Ponomarev actively criticizes the neo-liberal model of economic development promoted by international organizations such as the IMF, and defines his political views as left-libertarian, calling for:
Building a society of equal opportunities, devoid of violence and exploitation, through equal access of citizens to education;
Gradual replacement of the traditional state with a system of direct democracy;
Reliance on social and business entrepreneurs as the main agents of change in society;
The abolition of visas and the gradual elimination of borders between states;
The withering away of traditional private property in favor of the disposal of technology and know-how;
Creation of a union of countries based on the ethics of the Renaissance - Americas, Europe, Russia.
In 2008, Ponomarev joined the Just Russia party, in the same year he was elected a member of the party's Central Council. In 2013, he left the party, protesting against its conciliatory position with the authorities and the exclusion of deputies Dmitry and Gennady Gudkov from it. In 2013, he participated in the creation of the Alliance of the Greens and Social Democrats party, banned in 2014 by the Russian authorities.
In 2011, he became one of the leaders of the White Ribbon movement and mass protest rallies that began after the December elections to the State Duma, and was the leader of the first rally on Bolotnaya Square. He was the first to oppose the "law of Dima Yakovlev", was the only one who did not support the law on discrimination against LGBT.
In 2013, he announced his participation in the campaign for the election of the mayor of Novosibirsk and called for the formation of a coalition of opposition forces. In March 2014, such a coalition was created, and its candidate Anatoly Lokot won the election. Ponomarev himself was appointed the mayor's adviser on investment and prospective development.
In 2014, Ponomarev spoke out against the war in Ukraine, becoming the only member of the State Duma to vote against the annexation of Crimea. By the decision of the Federal Bailiff Service in August 2014, Ponomarev was denied entry to the territory of Russia, and in 2015 the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened the first criminal case against him, recognized by Interpol as politically motivated, and then three more in 2022. From that moment on, Ponomarev lives first in the USA, then in Ukraine. In 2016, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted a special law aimed at depriving Ponomarev of his deputy mandate, after which he received a residence permit in Ukraine, and in 2019, by decree of President Poroshenko, he was granted Ukrainian citizenship for special services to Ukraine.
In 2015-2016, Ponomarev worked as an advisor to a number of technology startups in the United States on investments, business development and relations with American government agencies. He has extensive contacts in US departments and Congress, and regularly speaks on international politics at American universities and think-tanks.
In 2016, after the end of his parliamentary powers, Ponomarev created and until 2021 headed the investment company Trident Acquisitions, which specializes in projects in the field of energy and oil and gas production in Ukraine, Eastern Europe and the Black Sea basin. In 2018, the company had a successful NASDAQ IPO, raising $200 million in North American hedge funds and becoming the first Ukrainian-focused firm on the NASDAQ.
In 2022, after the Russian attack on Ukraine, he joined the territorial defense of Kiev, founded the Utro February media holding and returned to active political activity aimed at changing power in the Russian Federation and de-imperializing the country. In August 2022, he was elected as the coordinator of the Political Center, created for the interaction of various wings of power resistance to the Putin regime - the Free Russia Legion and the National Republican Army (NRA).
In the Russian Federation, Ponomarev was a member of influential non-governmental public organizations - the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy (SVOP) and the Council for National Strategy (SNS), coordinator of expert work on legislative support for innovation at the Institute of Contemporary Development (INSOR). In 2009-2012 - First Deputy Head for Expert Work of the Council for the Development of the Information Society under the President of the Russian Federation. Co-Chairman of the Korean-Russian Business Council. In 2011-2016 Adviser to the Prime Minister of Malaysia on Innovative Development, 2011-2012. Advisor to the Minister of Science and Technology of Japan for the development of the innovation system of Okinawa.
