“This new government is firing officers from the army, those officers who don’t want lawlessness committed against civilians. They want civil war to break out.”
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Viktor Yanukovych
Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych is a Ukrainian former politician and statesman who served as the fourth president of Ukraine from 2010 to 2014. He also served as the prime minister of Ukraine several times between 2002 and 2007 and was a member of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) from 2006 to 2010. Yanukovych was removed from the presidency during the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, which followed months…
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politics · President of Ukraine from 2010 to 2014 · engineer · economist · politician · jurist · diplomat · lecturer · also Viktor Yanukovych, Victor Fedorovych Yanukovych, Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych, Yanukovych
Born 9 July 1950 · Q1459658
76 published statements · 0 followers
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thanks to patriotic officers who did their duty and helped me stay alive
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2026· 4 entries
“thanks to patriotic officers who did their duty and helped me stay alive”
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“the legitimate head of the Ukrainian state elected in a free vote by Ukrainian citizens”
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“s status as a member of the NATO outreach program. Relations with Russia In comparison to his predecessors, Yanukovych”
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2025· 2 entries
Rappler rated the claim “Former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych was removed from office in 2014 through a coup d’etat.” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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“s accession to the European Union and called potential Ukrainian membership in NATO a”
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2023· 1 entry
Yanukovych was stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
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2021· 1 entry
Yanukovych and his son Oleksandr were sanctioned by the EU in relation to his ties to Russia
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2019· 1 entry
Was sentenced in absentia to a thirteen-year prison term for high treason by a Ukrainian court
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2018· 2 entries
Snopes rated the claim “A photograph shows former FBI director Robert Mueller meeting with former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych in 2013.” True.
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“All churches and religious organizations are equal for the state. We respect the choice of our citizens and guarantee everyone”
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2017· 3 entries
VOA rated the claim ““No letter [from Yanukovych in 2014] was officially submitted to the Russian presidential administration, no such letter was registered in the administration.”” Misleading.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Yanukovych's son was removed from Interpol's wanted list
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Russian media suggested that Yanukovych is apparently living in Bakovka near Moscow, in a residence owned by Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs
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2016· 2 entries
Claimed: “"As for some fantastic money they wrote about a lot, there is not a cent of my money in any bank in the world to date. I have never had and have no accounts...I never took out anything, except for my personal belongings in hand luggage."” — rated Likely False by VOA.
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From the fleet stationed at Mezhyhirya, some worth more than $US 1 million
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2014· 4 entries
“Ukraine is our strategic partner”
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“We must set such a task and search for ways to return to Crimea on any conditions, so that Crimea may have the maximum degree of independence possible... but be part of Ukraine.”
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“All power to councils – not to a President Czar”
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Career landmark: Chairman of the Council of CIS Heads of State (2014–2014).
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2013· 2 entries
In a late July 2013 speech Yanukovych stated: "All churches and religious organizations are equal for the state.
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The Ukrainian Parliament overwhelmingly approved finalizing the agreement with the EU, and Yanukovych urged parliament to adopt laws so that Ukraine would meet the EU's criteria and be able to sign the agreement in Novem
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2012· 1 entry
“It is not wise to fall asleep next to a big bear”
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2011· 3 entries
Awarded Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots (2011).
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Awarded Order of José Martí (2011).
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“s stance towards integration with the EU, according to The Economist, led him to be”
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2010· 10 entries
Election won: 2010 Presidential campaign and election.
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Campaign: 2010 Presidential campaign and election.
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“s relations with NATO as a partnership,”
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“s cooperation with NATO was sufficient and that the question of the country”
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With polls giving him from 13% to 20% of the votes if a presidential election were to be held in 2012 (in 2010 he received 35
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Believed he would bring "stability and order"
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Would "have a real opportunity to adopt a law on languages, which implements the requirements of the European Charter of regional languages"
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Foresaw a gradual increase in pension age: 55 to 60 years for women and 60 to 65 years for men
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This time beating Yulia Tymoshenko in an election deemed free and fair by international observers
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Career landmark: President of Ukraine (2010–2014).
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2009· 3 entries
After the 2009 Russia-Ukraine gas dispute as very unprofitable for Ukraine and wanted to "initiate the discussion of the most urgent gas issues" after the 2010 presidential election
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Yanukovych announced his intent to run for president in the then upcoming presidential election
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“I have never offended anyone. This is my rule of politics.”
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2008· 2 entries
Yanukovych spoke at a congress of the United Russia party
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Career landmark: substitute member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (2008–2013).
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2007· 4 entries
Earned Silver Olympic Order (2007).
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Campaign: 2007 election and loss of power.
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According to critics, through a convoluted series of companies and transactions
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Career landmark: People's Deputy of Ukraine (2007–2010).
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2006· 9 entries
Election won: 2006 election.
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A criminal charge was made for the falsification of documents regarding the retraction of Yanukovych's prior conviction
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Campaign: 2006 election.
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Career landmark: Prime Minister of Ukraine (2006–2007).
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Career landmark: People's Deputy of Ukraine (2006–2006).
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Career landmark: Representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (2006–2008).
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The General Prosecutor closed the case due to lack of evidence
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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 jud
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That Yanukovych's Party of Regions was partly composed of "pure criminals" and "criminal and anti-democracy figures
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2005· 2 entries
The Party of Regions signed a collaboration agreement with the Russian political party United Russia
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Deputy head prosecutor of Donetsk Oblast initiated a proceeding concerning possible falsification of documents confirming the overturn of Yanukovych's convictions, however in 2006 it was abandoned
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2004· 8 entries
Election lost: 2004 presidential election.
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Won Medal of Anania Shirakatsi (2004).
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As the prime minister, Yanukovych participated in the controversial Ukrainian presidential election as the candidate of the ruling coalition
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Yanukovych led the main opposition party against the Tymoshenko government made up of Yushchenko's Our Ukraine, the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, and Oleksandr Moroz's Socialist Party
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Yanukovych was seen as Kuchma's and Putin's protégé
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Campaign: 2004 presidential election.
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Career landmark: Prime Minister of Ukraine (2004–2005).
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Until 2004, Yanukovych was known as batia ("Dad") among his family members, but since that time he became "leader".
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- #personal-life
2003· 3 entries
Supported then President Kuchma's position that the Holodomor famine was genocide against Ukrainians
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Yanukovych held negotiations with Russian prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov, as a result of which an agreement was reached to remove Ukrainian border guards from the island in exchange for Russia stopping the construction
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His government established a two-year moratorium on taxation benefits
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2002· 4 entries
Awarded honorary citizen of Donetsk Oblast (2002).
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To speak Ukrainian but that "once I had the opportunity to speak Ukrainian, I started to do it with pleasure"
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Wrote a foreword to a book by two ex-KGB agents endorsing the KGB and its predecessors, stating that the NKVD and Cheka "firmly stood on guard over the interests of our people and the state" and praised them for launc
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Career landmark: Prime Minister of Ukraine (2002–2004).
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2001· 1 entry
Yanukovych became a member of the newly created Party of Regions, which was considered to represent the interests of the "Donetsk Clan"
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1997· 1 entry
Career landmark: Governor of Donetsk Oblast (1997–2002).
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1976· 1 entry
As a second-year student, he was promoted to director of a trucking division within the Ordzhonikidzeugol coal-mining company
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1971· 1 entry
Yanukovych married Lyudmyla Nastenko a niece of Yenakiieve city judge Oleksandr Sazhyn
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1950· 1 entry
Born 1950-07-09.
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