He called the 2014 Ukrainian presidential election illegal, as well as U.S. financial help, since US law allegedly did not allow the support of "bandits". As Yanukovych was feeling pressure from coup violence, "The White House said Joe Biden, the vice-president, spoke to Viktor Yanukovych on Thursday by telephone and warned him that the US was . He said that this law would need 226 votes in the Ukrainian parliament (half of the votes instead of two-thirds of the votes needed to change the constitution of Ukraine) and that voters told him that the current status of Russian in Ukraine created "problems in the hospital, school, university, in the courts, in the office". We do not live in a fairy tale and understand that our partners also defend their interests". In November 2009 Yanukovych stated that he conceded defeat only to avoid violence. He served as a governor from 1997 to 2002. [16][226] He described the new Ukrainian authorities as "pro-fascist thugs" and that they "represent the absolute minority of the population of Ukraine". One was Denis Voronenkov, who was shot dead in downtown Kyiv at the end of March 2017. One of the most frequently cited criticisms of Yushchenko is the myth that he facilitated the return of Viktor Yanukovych to power, first as prime minister in 2006, and . This is a matter of the state's national security". [224] According to Dobkin at that time Yanukovych "thought this was a temporary difficulty" since he believed that the 21 February agreement could still provide for a graceful departure from office later in the year. Never mind. I had to fight for myself every day. [145], In 2012, during the Ukrainian parliamentary elections of that year, Yanukovych's party of Regions won the poll with 30% against 25.5% for imprisoned Yulia Tymoshenko's Fatherland party. [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. [125], In a newspaper interview during the 2010 Ukrainian presidential election campaign, he stated that the status of Russian in Ukraine "is too politicized" and said that if elected president in 2010 he would "have a real opportunity to adopt a law on languages, which implements the requirements of the European Charter of regional languages". [50], In July 1974, Yanukovych enrolled at the Donetsk Polytechnic Institute. Viktor Yanukovych fled from Ukraine to Russia. [129] The 2012 law was ruled unconstitutional and was struck down by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in 2018, 4 years after the Euromaidan. Viktor Yanukovych is a former Ukrainian politician who has a net worth of $100 million. [244] In 2017, Russian media suggested that Yanukovych is apparently living in Bakovka near Moscow, in a residence owned by Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. This number includes both cases of the so-called Family entering the corporate rights of the firms they like by illegal methods, and "assaults" in order to obtain "tribute" that is, commercial gain. [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. [342] Over the years, Yanukovych's proficiency in the Ukrainian language has noticeably improved[citation needed] (in a form filled in for the 2004 election he claimed to be fluent in Ukrainian, yet made in that very form a series of egregious mistakes, inter alia spelling his own wife's patronym incorrectly).[343]. [16] He insisted he had not instructed Ukrainian forces to shoot at Euromaidan protesters. This is evidenced by the data of the Anti-Raider Union of Entrepreneurs of Ukraine. Yanukovych has been accused, by Amnesty International[195][196] among others, of using the Berkut to threaten, attack, and torture protesters. Viktor Yanukovych is allegedly in Minsk, and the Kremlin is preparing an operation to replace Zelensky with the ex-president ousted by the EuroMaidan Revolution in 2014, according to Ukrainska Pravda's sources." He is wanted by the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, charged with responsibility for mass murder of the Maidan protesters, as well as abuse of power, misappropriation of public funds, bribery, and property theft. Who would govern Ukraine if Kyiv fell", "Who is Viktor Yanukovych? Viktor Yanukovych Net Worth, Biography, Wife, Age, Height, Weight, and many more details can be checked on this page.Viktor Yanukovych is the former leading political personality with a net worth of $110 million in 2023. . [203] Parliament held an emergency session. 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". [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. [73] Tymoshenko withdrew her subsequent legal challenge of the result. What an inspirational rags to riches story! The exact distribution of wealth and precise weight of influence are difficult to gauge, but most of the country's richest men were afraid to cross the Yanukovich family, even in cases where their own economic interests favored an economically pro-EU Ukraine. 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. [173], The property contained a private zoo, underground shooting range, 18-hole golf course, tennis, and bowling. [203], In the afternoon, the Rada voted 3280 (about 73% of its 447 members) to remove Yanukovych from his post and to schedule an early presidential election for 25 May. This caused widespread citizen protests and Kyiv's Independence Square was occupied in what became known as the Orange Revolution. [256] On 4 March 2014 Putin answered questions of reporters about the situation in Crimea. He currently lives in exile in Russia, where he has lived since his removal from office in 2014.[4]. [320] He has made some blunders, however, in Ukrainian since then. [279], On 11 July 2005, the office of the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor charged Yanukovych with fraud,[280] stemming from alleged irregularities in the way his convictions were expunged twenty years earlier. The Mezhyhirya Residence (Ukrainian: ', romanized: Mezhyhiria, pronounced [meirj], Russian: , romanized: Mezhigor'ye) is an estate in Ukraine where Viktor Yanukovych lived when he was Prime Minister and then President of Ukraine and is now a museum displaying Yanukovych's luxurious lifestyle. [281] In 2006, the General Prosecutor closed the case due to lack of evidence. Decades later, Yanukovych characterised his arrests and imprisonment as "mistakes of youth". Yanukovych was married to Lyudmyla Oleksandrivna Nastenko. "[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. After his ally lost . '[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. "I have never offended anyone. Viktor Yanukovych was born in the village of Zhukovka near Yenakiieve in Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. [145] According to Yanukovych the only way to lower the state budget deficit, as requested by the International Monetary Fund, while protecting pensioners and minimal wages was to extend the Russian Navy lease in Crimea in exchange for cheaper natural gas. [259], On 28 March 2014, Yanukovych asked the Party of Regions to exclude him. At that time, multiple media houses reported major election fraud . [234], The EU association agreement was signed on 29 May 2014, after his removal. [247] The same day Swiss and Austrian authorities blocked Yanukovych's and his associates' assets, and launched a corruption investigation. The Ukrainian nation is wise and it will understand. After describing the mansion's complicated ownership scheme, the article author noted, "The story of Viktor Yanukovych and his residence highlights a paradox. [52], Yanukovych drew strong support from Russian-speaking Ukrainians in the east of the country. The lack of such provisions was a loophole. [19][20][21][22] Two days later, the interim government issued a warrant for his arrest, accusing him of responsibility for "mass killing of civilians". The couple married in 1971. [241] On the same day, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that he didn't know anything about this. [288], For several years, Interpol refused to place Viktor Yanukovych on the wanted list as a suspect by the new Ukrainian government for the mass killing of protesters during Euromaidan. Early Life [144] Opposition members accused Yanukovych of "selling out national interests". [107], Yanukovych's Party of Regions wanted to increase social benefits, and raise salaries and pensions. The verdict was that Yanukovych was sentenced to 13 years of jail in absentia. [333] He, however, made efforts to speak better Ukrainian. [89] "The Ukrainian people don't currently support Ukraine's entry to NATO and this corresponds to the status that we currently have. [117] Yanukovych said he wanted to create a free trade zone and visa regime with the EU as soon as possible. Han dmdes i sin frnvaro. [220], Yanukovych was soon disowned by the Party of Regions. [100] 235 deputies from the 450-member parliament signed the coalition agreement. [143], On 22 April 2010, Yanukovych stated he did not rule out the possibility of holding a referendum on the stationing of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine after the necessary legislative framework is adopted for this in future. "5.ua:: " ", Ukrainian State University of Finance and International Trade, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, relations between Ukraine and Russia in the gas sector, 2010 UkrainianRussian Naval Base for Natural Gas treaty, Ukrainians fighting on opposite sides in World War II, high-profile political opponents under criminal investigation include, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Agreement on settlement of political crisis in Ukraine, Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, List of awards and honours received by Viktor Yanukovych, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, Prelude to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, About self removal of President of Ukraine from execution of his constitutional powers and assignment of early elections of President of Ukraine ( ), Ukraine's Tymoshenko Slams Rival, No Comment On Election Result, "Ukraine's ex-president Viktor Yanukovych found guilty of treason", "Yanukovych set to become president as observers say Ukraine election was fair", "Ousted Ukraine president warns of civil war, criticizes U.S. for aiding current government", "How Ukraine's Parliament Brought Down Yanukovych", "Russia 'blackmailed Ukraine to ditch EU pact', "Why Yanukovych Was Right To Exercise Caution With The EU- Ukraine Deal (PART 2)", "Who's Telling the 'Big Lie' on Ukraine?