Ukraine's Viktor Yanukovych has the rare distinction of having been ousted twice from Ukraine's presidency after giant street protests. With its marble-lined mansions, a golf course and a petting zoo . On the first warm Spring day in Ukraine on . He was Prime Minister of Ukraine from 21 November 2002 to 7 December 2004 and from 28 December 2004 to 5 January 2005, under President Leonid Kuchma. [227] Putin and Yanukovych later stated that Russian forces helped Yanukovych fly to Russia on 24 February 2014. [281] In 2006, the General Prosecutor closed the case due to lack of evidence. [228][b], Following his flight from Kyiv, protesters gained entry to Yanukovych's Mezhyhirya Residence, as police and security had abandoned their posts. [98], Bureaucracy and corruption are today hiding behind democratic slogans in Ukraine. He continued to serve in that role through the 2010 Ukrainian presidential election,[356][302][357] even as the US government opposed Yanukovych. "I didn't want mothers to lose their children and wives their husbands. Who Is Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky? - Parade Former Pro-Russian President Of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, Son Hit With Viktor Janukovytj - Wikipedia [172], Yanukovych has been widely criticized for "massive" corruption and cronyism. [60][61], In January 2006, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine started an official investigation of the allegedly false acquittal of the criminal convictions which Yanukovych received in his youth. ", "Yanukovych says presidential election scenario of 2004 won't be repeated in 2010", "Party of Regions hopes for strengthening collaboration with 'United Russia' party", Yanukovych calls for new format of Ukraine-EU dialog on collective security, "Yanukovych to participate in congress of United Russia party in Moscow", "Lutsenko accepts the fact of falsification with the clearing of charges on Yanukovych", "Yanukovych can go to the elections, even with falsifications", "Viktor Yanukovych was appointed chairman of the Government Chiefs Council of the CIS", "Yanukovych tops list of presidential candidates in Ukraine poll", "Party of Regions Nominates Yanukovych As Its Presidential Candidate", "Ukraine's Youth Party to support Yanukovych at elections, party's congress decides", "Lutsenko accuses Yanukovych of giving false data in his income declaration", "Disturbing Role of American Consultants in Yanukovychs Ukraine", "Yanukovych vows to gather people on Maidan if election results are rigged", "Ukrainian Presidential Election Set for Runoff", "Regular elections of the President of Ukraine 17/01/2010", "Yulia Tymoshenko will not challenge election results in Supreme Court", " : " " "/ """ ", "On The Eve Of His Trial, A Deeper Look Into How Paul Manafort Elected Ukraine's President", "Update: Ukraine's Yanukovych to be sworn in on Feb. 25", Yushchenko endorses plan of presidential inauguration events, Yushchenko congratulates Yanukovych on being legally elected Ukrainian president, Patriarch Kirill to conduct prayer service in Kyiv before Yanukovych's inauguration, Ukraine Yanukovych sets visits to Moscow, Brussels, Half-empty chamber greets Ukraine's new president, Ukraine's Party of Regions to choose new leader, Yanukovych suspends his membership in Party of Regions, hands over party leadership to Azarov, EU, Ukraine Agree On 'Road Map' For Visa-Free Travel, Ukraine's political cat-fight leaves voters cold, "Yanukovych: Ukraine will remain a neutral state", Yanukovych describes current level of Ukraine's cooperation with NATO as sufficient, Yanukovych: Ukraine currently not ready to join NATO, President:Social standards will continue to grow in 2012, President:Improvement of administrative services system will continue, President:We need to bring perinatal care in Ukraine to European standards, Yanukovych outlines four areas of social reforms in Ukraine, Ukraine government earmarks $2 billion in pre-election spending, Azarov:Government to cope with tasks set by Yanukovych, Klitschko:UDAR won't join work of Constitutional Assembly, Yanukovych: 'Some misinform international community about Ukraine', Ukrainian parliament creates new coalition, Update: Former finance minister nominated as Ukraine prime minister, Yanukovych criticises limits on his power, Yanukovych: Ukraine a leading country in Eastern Europe, Update: Yanukovych vetoes tax code after protests, Yanukovych: Tymoshenko to use issue of increasing social benefits in her presidential campaign, "Analysis: West seeks clarity in Ukraine to boost economy", Yanukovych back-tracks on his pre-election promises, "It is necessary to restore law and order in our country", "Ukraine presidential candidates trade warnings, promises", What Yanukovych presidency would mean for Ukraine, Yanukovych gives rare and long television interview (VIDEO), "Ukraine to Give up Highly Enriched Uranium, Convert Nuclear Reactors", "Prospects for Ukraine's joining EU depend on EU's political decision, says Yanukovych", Yanukovych: We should find ways of reconciliation between all parties participating in World War II, "Holodomor: Memories of Ukraine's silent massacre", Yanukovych: Famine of 1930s was not genocide against Ukrainians, In 2002, Yanukovych as Donetsk Oblast governor endorsed book glorifying Stalin-era secret police, Yanukovych imagines how he signs law on Russian language, Yanukovych: Ukraine will not have second state language, " ", "Yanukovych signs language bill into law", "Western nations scramble to contain fallout from Ukraine crisis", "Ukraine's 2012 Language Law to Stay Until New Bill Ready Turchynov", " 2-/2018", Ukraine's Yanukovych: EU ties a 'key priority', Ukraine vows new page in ties with Russia, Putin satisfied with state of Ukrainian-Russian relations, Ukraine's parliament votes to abandon Nato ambitions, Yanukovych: Recognition of independence of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Kosovo violates international law, Yanukovych Drives Ukraine Toward EU as Russian Natural Gas Agreement Looms, "Ukraine suspends talks on EU trade pact as Putin wins tug of war", Update: Ukraine, Russia ratify Black Sea naval lease, "Yanukovych: Referendum on Russian Black Sea Fleet's stationing in Ukraine may be held", Yanukovych snipes at opponent, defends fleet move, "With all party lists ballots counted, Regions Party gets 30%, Batkivschyna 25.54%, UDAR 13.96%, Communists 13.18%, Svoboda 10.44%". "[346] After his February 2014 escape to Russia, during his 28 February press conference in Rostov-on-Don, Yanukovych said, "Ukraine is our strategic partner" (misspeaking and confusing Ukraine with Russia). On self-removal of the President of Ukraine from the exercise of constitutional powers and appointment of extraordinary elections of the President of Ukraine", "Ukraine's parliament votes to oust president; former prime minister is freed from prison", "Rada dismisses Constitutional Court judges appointed from its quota", "Where is Viktor Yanukovych? In 2004, he contested for president for the first time during the most controversial elections. [260][261], On 13 April, Yanukovych again gave a press conference in Rostov-on-Don, this time accompanied by former Prosecutor General Viktor Pshonka and former interior minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko. [102], During the 2011 World Economic Forum, Yanukovych called Ukraine "one of the leaders on democratic development in Eastern Europe". [119] In this speech he also expressed confidence that Nazi and Soviet totalitarianism of the past would never return. [336], Other famous blunders by Yanukovych are his claim that Anton Chekhov was "a Ukrainian poet" in January 2010,[338][339][340] forgetting on 6 January 2011 to congratulate the Greek-Catholic Ukrainian community, which, along with the rest of the Ukrainian people, celebrates Christmas that day,[341] and confusing Kosovo with Serbia and Montenegro, and North Ossetia with South Ossetia in March 2010. ", "Criminal record of Yanukovych not purged", "Yanukovych's criminal record re-instated", "The countries of the former Soviet Union at the turn of the twenty-first century: the Baltic and European states in transition" (page 556), "How Ukraine Became a Market Economy and Democracy", Peterson Institute for International Economics, "Pressure Mounts on Yanukovych to yield. [203] During the afternoon, police abandoned central Kyiv, allowing protesters to take control. Because no candidate passed the 50 percent threshold, a second round of voting was scheduled. The victims of Yanukovych's raider methods were offered to pay a regular "tribute" in the amount of 3050% of the company's profits or to cede ownership of it. [141][142], On 21 April 2010, in Kharkiv, Yanukovych and Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian President, signed the 2010 UkrainianRussian Naval Base for Natural Gas treaty, whereby the Russian lease on naval facilities in Crimea would be extended beyond 2017 by 25 years with an additional 5-year renewal option (to 204247) in exchange for a multi-year discounted contract to provide Ukraine with Russian natural gas. The exact whereabouts of Yanukovych when he made this statement was unclear. Viktor Yanukovych | Facts, Biography, & Flight to Russia In 1976, as a second-year student, he was promoted to director of a small trucking division within the Ordzhonikidzeugol coal-mining company. According to RBC sources, Yanukovych arrived at the Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow (often referred by its former name as "Hotel Ukraine") on the night of 25 February 2014. ", "Was the Ukrainian prime minister's father a Nazi collaborator in Belarus? [95][96][97], In May 2012, Yanukovych set up the Constitutional Assembly of Ukraine, a special auxiliary agency under the President for drawing up bills of amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine; the President then can table them in parliament. According to then governor of Kharkiv Oblast, Mykhailo Dobkin, Yanukovych had intended to make his stay in Kharkiv look like "just another presidential inspection tour" and according to Dobkin, "was desperate to make it look like he wasn't running away". [citation needed], In 2005, the Party of Regions signed a collaboration agreement with the Russian political party United Russia. "I have never offended anyone. [286], On 30 September 2014, the General Prosecutor of Ukraine opened a new case against Yanukovych for using 220 million of state money to establish his own private communication company based on Ukrtelekom. [163], According to Yanukovych (on 4 February 2011), "[M]any lies [have been] told and attempts made to misinform the international community and ordinary people in Ukraine about the true state of affairs in the country." "Our policy is directed to protection of our national interests. '[167], Anonymous journalists stated early May 2010 that they were voluntarily tailoring their coverage so as not to offend the Yanukovych administration and the Azarov Government. [329] In another Wikileaks diplomatic cable, Volodymyr Horbulin, one of Ukraine's most respected policy strategists and former presidential advisor to then-President Viktor Yushchenko, told the United States Ambassador to Ukraine John E. Herbst in 2006 that Yanukovych's Party of Regions was partly composed of "pure criminals" and "criminal and anti-democracy figures. [citation needed], Manafort would later go on to serve as campaign chairman for Donald Trump in 2016. Early Life Some think so", "The biography of Yanukovych for who has forgotten it", , Ukraine's election: portraits of main players, Yanukovych faces uphill battle in getting Lviv to accept him, Popular Rukh of Ukraine calling on political forces to prevent concentration of power in hands of Yanukovych's team, "Viktor Yanukovych: My aim is to build a strong and independent Ukraine. Viktor Yanukovych's house: the taste of despots - BBC Culture The protesters, united under the Maidan People's Union, demanded Yanukovych fulfill his pledge to sign the Agreement or else resign. Oh wait. [47] On 8 June 1970 he was convicted for a second time on charges of assault. [258] He said he gave no orders to open fire on Euromaidan protesters. [117] Yanukovych said he wanted to create a free trade zone and visa regime with the EU as soon as possible. It was the result of the policies of Stalin's totalitarian regime. He won a Ukrainian comedy competition and went on to produce and star in numerous films and TV shows with his Kvartal 95 production company. [124] Currently Ukrainian is the only official language of Ukraine. . Five Years Ago The President of Ukraine's Son Was A Humble Dentist Viktor Yanukovych was born in the village of Zhukovka near Yenakiieve in Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. [347] During the same press conference he also broke a pen in an emotional outburst, while trying to apologize to the Ukrainian people. Having completely rejected such European values as human rights and democracy, the Ukrainian president uses Europe as a place to hide his dirty money with impunity. [92][93][94] Yanukovich announced $2 billion worth of pension and other welfare increases on 7 March 2012. [90], In early November 2011, Yanukovych claimed that "arms are being bought in the country and armed attacks on government agencies are being prepared. [237] Yanukovych claimed that the decisions of the Ukrainian parliament adopted "in the atmosphere of extremist threats" are unlawful and he remains the "legal president of Ukraine". [130], In a late July 2013 speech Yanukovych stated: "All churches and religious organizations are equal for the state. I had to fight for myself every day. I didn't want to assume power through bloodshed. [300][303], In closing arguments on 16 August, prosecutors Ruslan Kravchenko and Maksym Krym asked the court in Kyiv to sentence the former leader to 15 years in prison. A Yanukovych Pal and the 13 Million Yacht his Family Loves [358] Manafort's task was to rehabilitate Yanukovych's political career in the aftermath of the Orange Revolution. In foreign affairs, Yanukovych's cabinet was considered to be politically close to Russia, although declaring support for Ukrainian membership in the European Union. What is he being accused of? [56], After the election, the Ukrainian parliament passed a non-binding motion of no confidence in Yanukovych's government, urging outgoing President Leonid Kuchma to dismiss Yanukovych and appoint a caretaker government. His dad is brutally corrupt Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. The evaluation covers the latest 5 years and an approximation for next year. [119], The Soviet famine of 193233, called "Holodomor" in Ukrainian, claimed up to 10 million lives, mostly in Ukraine but also in some other parts of the Soviet Union, as peasants' food stocks were forcibly removed by Stalin's regime via the NKVD secret police. [209] On 11 March he claimed he should return to Ukraine as soon as this was possible. The Chairman of parliament, Volodymyr Rybak, resigned that morning. Yanukovych had an estimated net worth of $12 billion,[citation needed] and has been accused by Ukrainian officials of misappropriating funds from Ukraine's treasury. In 2006, a criminal charge was made for the falsification of documents regarding the retraction of Yanukovych's prior conviction. [56], In the second round of the election, Yanukovych was initially declared the winner. [146], President Yanukovych and the Party of Regions were accused of trying to create a "controlled democracy" in Ukraine and as a means to this were trying to "destroy" main opposition party BYuT, but both denied these charges. Protesters opposed what they saw as widespread government corruption, abuse of power, human rights violations,[191] and the influence of oligarchs.[192].
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