Viktor Medvedchuk: Difference between revisions
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===Early life and education=== |
===Early life and education=== |
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Medvedchuk's father, Volodymyr Medvedchuk, avoided being drafted into the [[Red Army]] during the "[[Great Patriotic War]]" due to his [[Pott disease]]. During [[Nazi Germany]]'s occupation he worked for the German administration in a labor camp from April 1942 to November 1943. The section provided enforced deportation of the local able-bodied Ukrainian youth to |
Medvedchuk's father, Volodymyr Medvedchuk, avoided being drafted into the [[Red Army]] during the "[[Great Patriotic War]]" due to his [[Pott disease]]. During [[Nazi Germany]]'s occupation of Ukraine he worked for the German administration in a labor camp from April 1942 to November 1943. The section provided enforced deportation of the local able-bodied Ukrainian youth to work in Nazi Germany. After the retreat of German forces Volodymyr Meddvedchuk was arrested by [[SMERSH]] on August 7, 1954 and sentenced to eight years of imprisonment and four of exile in Siberia "for participation in Ukrainian nationalist activities". |
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In the mid-1960s the |
In the mid-1960s the Medvedchuks returned to Ukraine ([[Kornyn (UTS)|Kornyn]], [[Zhytomyr Oblast]]). In 1971 Medvedchuk graduated from a school in [[Borova, Kiev Oblast|Borova]], [[Fastiv Raion]] ([[Kiev Oblast]]). After graduation he unsuccessfully tried to enroll to the [[Higher School of Militsiya]], but was rejected due to his family history. In November 1971 Medvedchuk found a job as sorter at the Kiev Railroad Post office factory producing periodicals, while since the start of 1972 he worked as an overstaffed militsiya worker at the Motovylivka station (located in Borova). Already in summer of 1972 Medvedchuk was successful in passing an entrance exam to the Law School of [[Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv|Kiev State University of Shevchenko]], however was not able to pass a concourse. On September 12, 1972 he was included to the students with the order #445 of the university rector based on the authorization from the MVSSO of Ukrainian SSR.<ref>[http://exlibris.org.ua/medv/01.html exlibris.org.ua]</ref> The reason for it, on the opinion of Dmytro Chobot, was "a secret cooperation with militsiya" which was confirmed by the [[Supreme Court of Ukraine]].<ref>[http://www.korespondent.net/main/80457/ The Supreme Court confirmed that KGB trusted Medvedchuk]</ref> |
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===Criminal case and legal career=== |
===Criminal case and legal career=== |
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Since November 2008 Medvedchuk is a member of the [[Supreme Council of Justice (Ukraine)|Supreme Council of Justice]].<ref name="Medvedchukback2132012">[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/124660/ Medvedchuk says he returns to public politics], [[Kyiv Post]] (21 March 2012)</ref><ref>[http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-282673.html Medvedchuk returns to state power], [[UNIAN]] (5 November 2008)</ref> [[Focus (Ukrainian magazine)|Focus]] evaluated Medvedchuk's assets in 2008 to be worth $460 million and labeled him the 57th richest man of Ukraine.<ref name=LigaMedvedchuk/> |
Since November 2008 Medvedchuk is a member of the [[Supreme Council of Justice (Ukraine)|Supreme Council of Justice]].<ref name="Medvedchukback2132012">[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/124660/ Medvedchuk says he returns to public politics], [[Kyiv Post]] (21 March 2012)</ref><ref>[http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-282673.html Medvedchuk returns to state power], [[UNIAN]] (5 November 2008)</ref> [[Focus (Ukrainian magazine)|Focus]] evaluated Medvedchuk's assets in 2008 to be worth $460 million and labeled him the 57th richest man of Ukraine.<ref name=LigaMedvedchuk/> |
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On 21 March 2012 stated he will be "returning to [[politics of Ukraine|public politics]] not for the sake of [[Ukrainian parliamentary election, 2012|the elections]], as I strongly believe that all things that take place are not the result of [[elections in Ukraine|elections]], but the result of our mistakes during elections".<ref name="Medvedchukback2132012"/><ref>{{uk icon}} [http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/03/14/6960562/ Медведчук перед виборами оселився у Facebook і інших соцмережах], [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (14 March 2012)</ref> |
On 21 March 2012 stated he will be "returning to [[politics of Ukraine|public politics]] not for the sake of [[Ukrainian parliamentary election, 2012|the elections]], as I strongly believe that all things that take place are not the result of [[elections in Ukraine|elections]], but the result of our mistakes during elections".<ref name="Medvedchukback2132012"/><ref>{{uk icon}} [http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/03/14/6960562/ Медведчук перед виборами оселився у Facebook і інших соцмережах], [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (14 March 2012)</ref> According to a September/October 2013 poll by [[Razumkov Centre]] a party lead by Medvedchuk would score 0.9% of the votes during elections.<ref>{{uk icon}} [http://www.razumkov.org.ua/upload/Press1013.pdf Електоральні орієнтації громадян України та ставлення до провідних політиків], [[Razumkov Centre]] (14 October 2013)</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Currently Medvedchuk is chairman of the [[pro-Russian]] political organization ''Ukrainian Choice''.<ref name=VMUC/> In 2013 he began publicly attacking the [[European Union]], at one point comparing it to the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi Third Reich]]. <ref name="Европа прячет">{{cite news | url=http://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/politics/evropa-pryachet-svoi-istinnye-namereniya-za-tak-nazyvaemymi-24092013105000 | title=Европа прячет свои истинные намерения за так называемыми демократическими ценностями, - Медведчук | work=[[RBC Information Systems|RBC]] | date=24 September 2013 | accessdate=24 September 2013 | language={{ru icon}}}}</ref> On 30 November he condemned a series of [[2013 Ukraine pro-European Union protests|protests]] (known within Ukraine as ''Euromaidan'') supporting closer ties between Ukraine and the EU.<ref>www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/medvedchuk-condemns-crackdown-on-euromaidan-protesters-in-kyiv-332705.html</ref> |
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Currently Medvedchuk is chairman of the [[pro-Russian]] political organization ''Ukrainian Choice''.<ref name=VMUC/> |
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| ⚫ | In 2013 |
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==Family== |
==Family== |
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Revision as of 07:57, 2 December 2013
 | This article needs to be updated. (September 2013) |
Viktor Medvedchuk Віктор Медведчук | |
|---|---|
 Medvedchuk in April 2004 | |
| Head of Presidential Administration | |
| In office June 12, 2002 – January 21, 2005 | |
| President | Leonid Kuchma |
| Preceded by | Volodymyr Lytvyn |
| Succeeded by | Oleksandr Zinchenko |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Viktor Volodymyrovych Medvedchuk August 7, 1954 Pochyot, Abansky District, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russian SFSR |
| Nationality | Ukrainian |
| Spouse | Oksana Marchenko (1973) |
| Children | Bohdan (1997) Daryna (2004) |
| Alma mater | Kiev University (1978) |
| Occupation | Politician and advocate |
Viktor Volodymyrovich Medvedchuk (Ukrainian: Віктор Володимирович Медведчук) is a Ukrainian politician, lawyer, and business oligarch.[1][2] Analysts[who?] consider Medvedchuk one of the most important Ukrainian politicians from the mid-1990s till the mid-2000s; although he mainly operated outside the public view.[1] Currently Medvedchuk is chairman of the pro-Russian political organization Ukrainian Choice.[3] According to Ukrainian experts Medvedchuk has currently a marginal influence in Ukraine.[3]
Biography
Early life and education
Medvedchuk's father, Volodymyr Medvedchuk, avoided being drafted into the Red Army during the "Great Patriotic War" due to his Pott disease. During Nazi Germany's occupation of Ukraine he worked for the German administration in a labor camp from April 1942 to November 1943. The section provided enforced deportation of the local able-bodied Ukrainian youth to work in Nazi Germany. After the retreat of German forces Volodymyr Meddvedchuk was arrested by SMERSH on August 7, 1954 and sentenced to eight years of imprisonment and four of exile in Siberia "for participation in Ukrainian nationalist activities".
In the mid-1960s the Medvedchuks returned to Ukraine (Kornyn, Zhytomyr Oblast). In 1971 Medvedchuk graduated from a school in Borova, Fastiv Raion (Kiev Oblast). After graduation he unsuccessfully tried to enroll to the Higher School of Militsiya, but was rejected due to his family history. In November 1971 Medvedchuk found a job as sorter at the Kiev Railroad Post office factory producing periodicals, while since the start of 1972 he worked as an overstaffed militsiya worker at the Motovylivka station (located in Borova). Already in summer of 1972 Medvedchuk was successful in passing an entrance exam to the Law School of Kiev State University of Shevchenko, however was not able to pass a concourse. On September 12, 1972 he was included to the students with the order #445 of the university rector based on the authorization from the MVSSO of Ukrainian SSR.[4] The reason for it, on the opinion of Dmytro Chobot, was "a secret cooperation with militsiya" which was confirmed by the Supreme Court of Ukraine.[5]
Criminal case and legal career
In April 1974 along with two of his other comrades he was convicted by the court of Lenin Raion in Kiev (toady the court of Pechersk Raion) under the article 102 Criminal Code of Ukrainian SSR (beating up a minor). In June of the same year the court collegiate in criminal cases of the Kiev city court overturned the verdict of the court of Lenin Raion and sent the case back for further investigation. In November 1974 the case was closed due to lack of evidence. Medvedchuk was acquitted and reinstated at the university.
He graduated from the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv in 1978 as a lawyer and next year he became a member of the Kiev City Collegiate of Attorneys.[2] Medvedchuk defended poet Vasyl Stus during his trail in 1980.[6][7] In the closing speech from the defence Medvedchuk stated all of Stus' crimes deserved punishment; he also told the court to make sure that the defendant fulfilled his daily norm at the factory where he worked at the time, despite alleged serious stomach problems.[6]
Medvedchuk founded a successful legal company, BIM, in the early 1990s.[8]
Politics
Medvedchuk is a former chairman of the United Social Democratic Party of Ukraine[9] from 1998 till 2 days after the 26 March 2006 parliamentary election (he was a member since 1994).[2][10]
Medvedchuk first entered the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) in 1997 by winning a by-election in the 171th District (in the Zakarpattia Oblast).[2][10][11] Elected back into parliament in 1998[8] he was elected Second Deputy Chairman in July 1998.[12] In 2002 he was reelected to parliament,[8] Medvedchuk was the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada from February 2000 till December 2001 when he was dismissed for abuse of power, biassed treatment of the parliament's agenda and procedural violations.[13] From June 2002[8] till January 2005[14][15] Medvedchuk served as head of President Leonid Kuchma's presidential administration.[9][16] As such, he was a leading target for criticism by the opposition, including Viktor Yushchenko who often spoke out bitterly against Medvedchuk. Medvedchuk was considered the main behind-the-scenes man of then-Prime Minister and pro-Kuchma presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych in the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election,[2] which was nicknamed the "battle of three Viktors" after them and their main opponent Yushchenko.
Since November 2008 Medvedchuk is a member of the Supreme Council of Justice.[9][17] Focus evaluated Medvedchuk's assets in 2008 to be worth $460 million and labeled him the 57th richest man of Ukraine.[2]
On 21 March 2012 stated he will be "returning to public politics not for the sake of the elections, as I strongly believe that all things that take place are not the result of elections, but the result of our mistakes during elections".[9][18] According to a September/October 2013 poll by Razumkov Centre a party lead by Medvedchuk would score 0.9% of the votes during elections.[19]
Currently Medvedchuk is chairman of the pro-Russian political organization Ukrainian Choice.[3] In 2013 he began publicly attacking the European Union, at one point comparing it to the Nazi Third Reich. [20] On 30 November he condemned a series of protests (known within Ukraine as Euromaidan) supporting closer ties between Ukraine and the EU.[21]
Family
- Father - Volodymyr Nesterovych Medvedchuk, born September 5, 1918, in a town of Kornyn, Kiev Governorate, Ukrainian State (today Zhytomyr Oblast).
- Mother - Faina Hryhorivna Hulko, born October 16, 1925, in a village of Borshchahivka, Pohrebysche Raion, Berdychiv okruha, Ukrainian SSR (today Vinnytsia Oblast).
References
- ^ a b Virtual Politics - Faking Democracy in the Post-Soviet World, Andrew Wilson, Yale University Press, 2005, ISBN 0-300-09545-7
- ^ a b c d e f Template:Ru icon Медведчук Виктор Владимирович, Информационно-аналитический центр "ЛІГА"
- ^ a b c Kremlin-imposed “Ukrainian choice”, The Ukrainian Week (3 July 2012)
Playing opposition, Den (15 August 2013)
Russia's Plan For Ukraine: Purported Leaked Strategy Document Raises Alarm, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (20 August 2013) - ^ exlibris.org.ua
- ^ The Supreme Court confirmed that KGB trusted Medvedchuk
- ^ a b Ukrainian Dissident Hero Poet Vasyl Stus, What's On Kyiv
- ^ SHCHERBYTSKYY ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN UKRAINE by Taras Kuzio, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (11 March 2003)
- ^ a b c d KUCHMA'S MEN LINE UP FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, The Jamestown Foundation (10 June 2003)
- ^ a b c d Medvedchuk says he returns to public politics, Kyiv Post (21 March 2012)
- ^ a b Medvedchuk Victor, Kyiv Post
- ^ Template:Uk icon УКРАЇНА ПАРТІЙНА. ЧАСТИНА VI СОЦІАЛ-ДЕМОКРАТИЧНА ПАРТІЯ УКРАЇНИ (ОБ'ЄДНАНА), ZN,UA (16 March 2002)
- ^ Parliament ends speaker deadlock, Kyiv Post (10 July 1998)
- ^ Ukraine's parliament dismisses first deputy speaker, Kyiv Post (13 December 2001)
- ^ Medvedchuk emerges from shadows, Kyiv Post (27 January 2005)
- ^ Controversial Presidential Administration head Medvedchuk resigns, Kyiv Post (14 December 2004)
- ^ Revolution in Orange: The Origins of Ukraine's Democratic Breakthrough by Anders Aslund and Michael A. McFaul, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2006, ISBN 978-0-87003-221-9
- ^ Medvedchuk returns to state power, UNIAN (5 November 2008)
- ^ Template:Uk icon Медведчук перед виборами оселився у Facebook і інших соцмережах, Ukrayinska Pravda (14 March 2012)
- ^ Template:Uk icon Електоральні орієнтації громадян України та ставлення до провідних політиків, Razumkov Centre (14 October 2013)
- ^ "Европа прячет свои истинные намерения за так называемыми демократическими ценностями, - Медведчук". RBC (in Template:Ru icon). 24 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ^ www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/medvedchuk-condemns-crackdown-on-euromaidan-protesters-in-kyiv-332705.html