[15] Later that day, however, he secretly fled the capital for Kharkiv, claiming his car was shot at as he left Kyiv, and travelling next to Crimea, and eventually to exile in Russia. Individual cases have been reported of citizens grouping together and fighting back against the Berkut in order to preserve election integrity and results. This is evidenced by the data of the Anti-Raider Union of Entrepreneurs of Ukraine. Yuriy Lutsenko, the head of the ministry, announced that forensic tests proved the forgery of the respective documents (issued in instead of 1978) and initially claimed that lack of the formal acquittal precluded Yanukovych from running for the seat in the 2006 parliamentary election.[62]. On self-removal of the President of Ukraine from the exercise of constitutional powers and appointment of extraordinary elections of the President of Ukraine. [33], Yanukovych's political career began when he was appointed as a Vice-Head of Donetsk Oblast Administration in August 1996. [178] Over 46% of the budget subventions for social and economic development was allotted to the Donbas region's Donetsk Oblast and Luhansk Oblast administrations 0.62 billion UAH ($76.2 million) versus 0.71 billion UAH ($87.5 million) for the rest of the country. His government was overthrown after a chain of violent clashes between protesters . "[122] In 2003, he supported then President Leonid Kuchma's position that the Holodomor famine was genocide against Ukrainians. Yanukovych, the luxury residence and the money trail that leads to We don't want to join any military bloc". [129] The 2012 law was ruled unconstitutional and was struck down by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in 2018, 4 years after the Euromaidan. [75][76], Ukraine's parliament had (on 16 February) fixed 25 February 2010 for the inauguration of Yanukovych as president. [285], Yanukovych is also charged with property theft in a conspiracy with the chairman of the Nadra Ukrainy state company (Articles 109 and 209), which has been under investigation since March 2014. I grew up without my mother, who died when I was two. [289], However, on 12 January 2015, Viktor Yanukovych was listed by Interpol as "wanted by the judicial authorities of Ukraine for prosecution / to serve a sentence" on charges of "misappropriation, embezzlement or conversion of property by malversation, if committed in respect of an especially gross amount, or by an organized group". [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. 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. [98], Bureaucracy and corruption are today hiding behind democratic slogans in Ukraine. Viktor Yanukovych - Facts, Bio, Career, Net Worth | AidWiki The ousted Ukrainian president that Putin hopes to put back in power", "Kremlin planning to declare ex-President Viktor Yanukovych as new head of Ukraine", "If Putin Picks Puppet Ukraine Leader, Viktor Medvedchuk is Odds-on Favorite", "The court allowed Medvedchuk to be arrested", Ukraine retakes whole Kyiv region as Russia looks east, "Yanukovych Extradition: Ukraine Officially Asks Russia To Extradite Ukrainian President", Ukraine accuses Russia of breaking CIS agreements over Yanukovych extradition, "If petition against Yanukovych gathers 100,000 signatures people might have to wait for month for official response from White House", "CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK", "Ex-official says he filed documents on Party of Regions' $2 billion graft scheme", GPU opened a case on Yanukovych for the Kharkiv treaty, General Prosecutor opened another case against Yanukovych, Interpol announced search for Yanukovych, Azarov, and Co, "Yanukovych no longer listed as wanted person by Interpol", " , ", " ", "Former President of Ukraine Yanukovych no longer wanted by Interpol", Yanukovych disappears from Interpol wanted list temporarily, "Yanukovych no longer listed as wanted person by Interpol Jul. The Berkut, later disbanded on 25 February 2014, were a special police force under his personal command and were accused of defending Russian interests. Janukovytj flydde till Ryssland i februari 2014 och talades i maj 2017 fr att ha gjort allt fr att hjlpa Ryssland att annektera ukrainskt territorium. Of the remaining deputies, 115 were absent and 6 did not vote. [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. [83], On 3 March 2010, Yanukovych suspended his membership in the Party of Regions as he was barred by the Constitution from heading a political party while president,[84] and handed over leadership in the party and its parliamentary faction to Mykola Azarov. For most of his career he was a public servant or parliament deputy, where his. The couple married in 1971. There were no votes against. [16][226][252], He apologised to the Ukrainian people for not having "enough strength to keep stability" and for allowing "lawlessness in this country". [251] In the press conference he stated that he was still President of Ukraine and "I can't find words to characterise this new authority. ", "Was the Ukrainian prime minister's father a Nazi collaborator in Belarus? We need to reverse our approaches 180 degrees, and we will do it. "[324] Yanukovych refers to himself as Ukrainian. Ukrainians were amazed at the opulence and extravagance of what they found at Mezhyhirya, including a private zoo, a fleet of cars, and a large boat. [174], The Yanukovych family, a group of young businessmen described as "robber capitalists", have been buying up both public and private businesses at "rock bottom" prices available in the stagnating economic conditions brought on by Yanukovych's economic policies. Fled the country on the night of 2122 February, but claiming the presidency sometime after that. Protesters opposed what they saw as widespread government corruption, abuse of power, human rights violations,[191] and the influence of oligarchs.[192]. [114] In February 2012, Yanukovych stated, referring to relations with Russia, "It is not wise to fall asleep next to a big bear". [124] Currently Ukrainian is the only official language of Ukraine. In a statement issued by Oleksandr Yefremov, parliamentary faction leader, the party and its members "strongly condemn[ed] the criminal orders that led to human victims, an empty state treasury, huge debts, shame before the eyes of the Ukrainian people and the entire world. Her release had been an unmet condition for Ukraine's signing of a European Union trade pact. [41][42] On various occasions, Yanukovych's family has been dogged by accusations that Fyodor Yanukovych was a member of the Schutzmannschaft during World War II, in particular claims by members of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, which included documents from the NKVD supposedly revealing his involvement with the Schutzmannschaft. Virtual tour of the protesters grounds", "Ukraine: A year after EuroMaydan, justice delayed, justice denied", "Ukrainian Prime Minister Azarov resigns", "Ukraine crisis: 'One miscalculation, and Britain faces an existential threat to our whole being', "Modern Imperialism in Crimea and the Donbas", "Ukraine Protestors Seize Kiev As President Flees", "On withdrawal of the President of Ukraine from the implementation of constitutional powers and calling early presidential elections in Ukraine", Parliamentary vote on the draft resolution on the withdrawal of President of Ukraine to fulfill constitutional powers (number 4193), "-: : , "", "Janukowitsch ruft ukrainische Armee zur Befehlsverweigerung auf", "Yanukovych's removal was unconstitutional", "Was Yanukovych's Ouster Constitutional? They also called for a return to the 2004 Constitution of Ukraine to give more power to parliament over the president. [269], According to Ukrayinska Pravda's sources Yanukovych left Minsk on 7 March 2022, and again he vanished from the publics eye. [266], In a 22 February 2017, interview with Christopher Miller of Radio Free Europe, Konstantin Kilimnik explained the existence of a peace effort between Russia and Ukraine called the "Mariupol Plan" in which Viktor Yanukovych would return as president of Russia's illegally controlled regions and Crimea in Ukraine. [262], On 13 June 2014, Yanukovych released a video message in which he criticised Petro Poroshenko's handling of the unrest in eastern Ukraine, naming it "criminal orders to kill peoplethat causes anger and curse the mothers who see the death and suffering of their children". We respect the choice of our citizens and guarantee everyone's Constitutional right to freedom of religion. [220], Yanukovych was soon disowned by the Party of Regions. [103], On 30 November 2010, Yanukovych vetoed a new tax code made by the Azarov Government and earlier approved by the Verkhovna Rada but protested against in rallies across Ukraine (one of the largest protests since the 2004 Orange Revolution). [209] On 11 March he claimed he should return to Ukraine as soon as this was possible. The lack of such provisions was a loophole. '[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. [33], Yanukovych is of Russian, Polish[34][35] and Belarusian descent. With a net worth estimated at more than $7 billion, Rinat Akhmetov is richer than the next three Ukrainian tycoons combined, as well as the country's largest taxpayer and employer. [299], In November 2016, Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko questioned Yanukovych via video link in connection with the former Berkut. [297], Interpol later confirmed that Yanukovych and Oleksandr Yanukovych were no longer subject to an Interpol red notice or diffusion, and that they are unknown on Interpol's databases. [179], Anders slund, a Swedish economist and Ukraine analyst, described the consolidation of Ukrainian economic power in the hands of a few "elite industrial tycoons", one of the richest and most influential of whom has become President Yanukovych's own son Oleksandr Yanukovych. On 28 January, parliament repealed nine of the 12 restrictive laws. If presidential elections were held next Sunday how would you vote? Another formidable power center, also aligned with Yanukovych, is led by billionaire Rinat Akhmetov - by far the richest person in Ukraine and the 39th richest person in the world according to Forbes magazine, which recently estimated his net worth at $16 billion. [citation needed], Manafort would later go on to serve as campaign chairman for Donald Trump in 2016. 21, 2015", "Yanukovych, son off Interpol's wanted list", "Treason trial against Yanukovych begins in Ukraine", Case against Yanukovych was submitted to court ( ), "Ukrainian Prime Minister Reinvents Himself", "Ukraine's former president Viktor Yanukovich on trial. Yanukovych has half-sisters from his father's remarriage, but has no contact with them. Early Life Yanukovych is a surname of Belarusian origin,[36] Yanuk[37][38] being a derivative of the Catholic name Yan ("John"). [16] He said "When we arrived in Kharkiv, on the early morning of 22 February, the security service started to receive information that radical groups were arriving in Kharkiv. Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine's richest man, added $3 billion to his net worth in the past six months by buying state-owned energy assets sold by his hometown political ally, President Viktor. "[226], According to the Ukrainian State Border Service, Yanukovych tried to flee Ukraine via a charter flight from Donetsk, but was stopped by border guards. [282] In 2006, a criminal charge was filed for official falsifying of documents concerning the quashing of Yanukovych's prior convictions after it was discovered that two documents had been tampered with, including the forgery of a judge's signature in connection with one charge of battery. [212][213] The Ukrainian Constitution at this time (like many other constitutions) did not provide any stipulation about how to remove a president who is neither dead nor incapacitated, but is nonetheless absent or not fulfilling his duties. [14] On 21 February, Yanukovych and the parliamentary opposition signed an agreement to bring about an interim unity government, constitutional reforms and early elections. [214][215][216][217], On the same day that parliament removed Yanukovych from office, it voted to authorize the release of his rival Yulia Tymoshenko from a prison hospital. Viktor Yanukovych fled from Ukraine to Russia. "[257], In an interview with the Associated Press and Russian channel NTV of 2 April 2014 Yanukovych called Russia's annexation of Crimea "a tragedy", the 2014 Crimean referendum "a form of protest" and he stated he hopes it will become part of Ukraine again. [232][233], According to an April 2014 poll conducted by the Razumkov Centre, only 4.9% of respondents would have liked to see Yanukovych return to the presidency. Five days after his electoral defeat, Yanukovych declared his resignation from the post of Prime Minister. [203] Under the 2004 Constitution, which parliament had voted to reinstate, the President's powers would transfer to the Chairman if the President should resign or be unable to fulfill his duties. The Dubious Business of the Yanukovych Clan", "-2013: , ", "Ukraine Treasury 'Stripped' By Ousted Regime", "With Viktor Yanukovych gone, Ukraine hunts for secrets of former leader", "Ukrayinska Pravda exposes president's Mezhygirya deal", "Yanukovych Spent $800 on Fish Medical Treatment, Leaked Documents Show", "Ukraine crisis: Yanukovych regrets bloodshed in Kiev", "Why Ukraine's Berkut Special Police Force Is So Scary", "Parliament passes statement on Ukraine's aspirations for European integration", "Ukrainian president asks for laws to be passed to facilitate EU association agreement", "Ukraine leader urges pro-Europe drive despite Kremlin pressure", "From Russia Without Love: The Ukrainian president's decision not to sign the Association Agreement illustrates Russia's ongoing power in the region", Yanukovych Offers Opposition Leaders Key Posts, Anatomy of Maidan. [300], On 4 May 2017 the first preliminary session commenced in Kyiv's Obolonskyi District Court under Judge Vladyslav Devyatko. [118] He noted the importance of finding ways of reconciliation between Ukrainians fighting on opposite sides in World War II in his speech at the ceremony to mark Victory Day 2013. Ukraine Begins Confiscating $1.5 Billon Yanukovych Allegedly Stole Russia has legitimate interests in Ukraine: Shivshankar Menon, NSA [72] Election observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said there were no indications of serious fraud and described the vote as an "impressive display" of democracy. ", "Was Yanukovych's Removal Constitutional? Translation into English - examples Arabic - Reverso Context [183] Mezhyhirya is estimated to have been sold for more than 75 million U.S. dollars. [269][270], Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24February 2022. In a feature with photos on Yanukovych's Mezhyhirya mansion, Sergii Leshchenko notes "For most of [Yanukovych's] career he was a public servant or parliament deputy, where his salary never exceeded 2000 US dollars per month." Yanukovych first ran for president in 2004: he advanced to the runoff election and was initially declared the winner against former Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko. "[citation needed] "The Holodomor was in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. [91][132], Yanukovych's first foreign visit was to Brussels to visit the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the EU Foreign Affairs chief, Catherine Ashton. [102], During the 2011 World Economic Forum, Yanukovych called Ukraine "one of the leaders on democratic development in Eastern Europe". Yanukovych, (left), was competing with pro-Western opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, who was poisoned by dioxin during the campaign. [147][148][149][150][151][152][153][154][155][156][157] One frequently cited example of Yanukovych's attempts to centralize power is the 2011 sentencing of Yulia Tymoshenko, which was condemned by Western governments as potentially being politically motivated. [232] The Press Secretary of the department that manages Barvikha Sanatorium denied the report, stating that he had no information of Yanukovych settled in Barvikha Sanatorium. [64], In 2009, Yanukovych announced his intent to run for president in the then upcoming presidential election. [197], The deadliest clashes were on 1820 February, which saw the most severe violence in Ukraine since it regained independence. [241] On the same day, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that he didn't know anything about this. [203] The former constitution had stated the President's powers would transfer to the Prime Minister. It led to uprising of pro-Russian rebels in Lugansk and Donetsk regions of the country, where many of Akhmetov's. ", "Prosecutors Seek 15 Years in Prison For Ukraine's Ex-President", "Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych Convicted of Treason", "Yanukovych reportedly hospitalized in Moscow Russian media", "Court finds Yanukovych's guilt of high treason, complicity in war proven", "Guilty: Yanukovych sentenced to 13 years in prison for high treason, complicity in war", "Kyiv court sentences Yanukovych in absentia to 13 years in prison for high treason", "Is Yanukovych's education paper-thin? Han dmdes i sin frnvaro. Arseniy Yatsenyuk has claimed that treasury funds of up to $70 billion were transferred to foreign accounts during Yanukovych's presidency. This sparked large protests by supporters of European integration, who occupied Kyiv's Independence Square and held rallies throughout Ukraine, in a wave of civil unrest dubbed the "Euromaidan". Ukraine's Viktor Yanukovych has the rare distinction of having been ousted twice from Ukraine's presidency after giant street protests. [224], In a press conference several days after leaving Kyiv, Yanukovych claimed that at the time he did not "flee anywhere", but that his car was shot at "by automatic rifles" as he left Kyiv for Kharkiv "to meet the representatives of local parties" and he was then forced to move around Ukraine amid fears for the safety of himself and his family. It is an overall forecast for the net worth of Viktor Yanukovych.