Viktor yanukovych

Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych [ b ] born 9 July is a former Ukrainian politician who served as the fourth president of Ukraine from to A member of the pro-Russian Party of Regions , Yanukovych provoked mass protests — the Euromaidan — after his unexpected rejection of the European Union—Ukraine Association Agreement approved by the Rada, [ 5 ] under the pressure from Russia [ 6 ] [ better source needed ] and was removed from the presidency by the Ukrainian parliament in , [ 7 ] at the time neighboring Russia started to annex Ukrainian Crimea and started the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Since then, he has lived in exile in Russia.

Viktor yanukovych wife

Before entering national politics, Yanukovych was the Governor of his native Donetsk Oblast from to He was simultaneously the Chairman of the oblast's legislature from to Yanukovych first ran for president in the election , where he advanced to the runoff and was declared the winner against former prime minister Viktor Yushchenko.

However, allegations of electoral fraud and voter intimidation caused widespread protests and Kyiv 's Independence Square was occupied in what became known as the Orange Revolution. The Ukrainian Supreme Court ultimately nullified the runoff election and ordered a rerun, which Yanukovych lost to Yushchenko. Yanukovych ran for president again in the election , this time beating Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in an election that was judged free and fair by international observers.

Yanukovych argued in favour of economic modernisation, increased spending and, initially, continuing trade negotiations with the EU. He pledged to remain non-aligned in defence policy. However, his years in power saw what analysts described as democratic backsliding , [ 11 ] which included the jailing of Tymoshenko, a decline in press freedom [ 12 ] and an increase in cronyism and corruption.