Former Deputy Head of the Lviv Regional State Administration, Ihor Derzhko, has passed away.

Professor Ihor Derzhko, head of the Department of Ukrainian Studies and Philosophy at Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, and former deputy head of the Lviv Regional State Administration, has passed away in Lviv.

As reported by the university's press service, Ihor Derzhko died on the night of December 31 at the age of 66.

“May the Lord graciously receive him into His embrace in the Heavenly Kingdom! Details regarding the time and place of the funeral will be communicated later,” the university's statement reads.

Ihor Derzhko was born in Stryi and studied at Lviv Medical Institute. In 1999, he became an assistant at the Department of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Sexology, and from 2001, he led the Department of Philosophy and Economics at LNMU. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 2011 and was promoted to professor in 2015. In recent years, he served as the head of the university's trade union organization.

Simultaneously, Ihor Derzhko was active in public affairs. From 1997 to 2010, he held the position of deputy head of the Lviv Regional State Administration and deputy head of the Lviv Regional Council. He was a member of the People's Movement of Ukraine (1989-2005), serving as deputy head and a member of the leadership of the Lviv Regional Organization of the People's Movement. From 1999 to 2005, he was the head of the Lviv region's branch of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.

He was married to TV presenter Oleksandra Perzhylo, and their divorce was marked by a scandal over property division.