Leonid Kuchma

Leonid Danylovych Kuchma (Ukrainian: Леонід Данилович Кучма; born August 9, 1938) was the second President of Ukraine from July 19, 1994, to January 23, 2005. Download high resolution version (480x641, 41 KB)President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine. ... Download high resolution version (480x641, 41 KB)President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine. ... August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (222nd in leap years), with 144 days remaining. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Mariyinsky Palace The President of Ukraine (Ukrainian: , Prezydent Ukrayiny) is the head of the state of Ukraine and acts in its name. ... July 19 is the 200th day (201st in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 165 days remaining. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated like the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal. // Events January Bill Clinton January 1 : North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect. ... January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Early life

Kuchma was born in Chaikyne village of Chernihivs'ka oblast' (Ukrainian SSR). His father was killed on the World War II front in 1944. Kuchma studied at Dnipropetrovsk University and got a degree in rocket engineering. He moved into senior management posts of the Yuzhmash industrial company in Dnipropetrovsk (finally becoming its executive), as well as in the Communist Party elite. As such, Kuchma played an important role in Soviet strategic missile and space rocket programs. Chernihivs’ka oblast’ (Чернігівська область, Chernihivs’ka oblast’ in Ukrainian) is an oblast (province) of northern Ukraine. ... State motto: Пролетарі всіх країн, єднайтеся! Official language None. ... Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Dnipropetrovsk (Ukrainian: ; Russian: ) is Ukraines third largest city with 1. ... A Redstone rocket, part of the Mercury program A rocket is a vehicle, missile or aircraft which obtains thrust by the reaction to the ejection of fast moving exhaust gas from within a rocket engine. ... Bold text Engineering is the application of scientific and technical knowledge to solve human problems. ... The A.M. Makarov Yuzhny Machine-Building Plant, or PA Yuzhmash ( Ukrainian: ; Russian: ; literally Production Association Southern Machine-Building Plant named after A.M. Makarov) is a Ukrainian manufacturer of agricultural equipment, buses, trolley buses and trams, wind turbines, space rockets, and satellites. ... Dnipropetrovsk (Ukrainian: ; Russian: ) is Ukraines third largest city with 1. ... The Communist Party of the Soviet Union ( Russian: Коммунисти́ческая Па́ртия Сове́тского Сою́за = КПСС) was the name used by the successors of the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party from 1952 to 1991, but the wording Communist Party was present in the partys name since 1918 when... State motto (Russian): Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Transliterated: Proletarii vsekh stran, soedinyaytes!) (Translated: Workers of the world, unite!) Capital Moscow Official language None; Russian (de facto) Government Federation of Soviet republics Area  - Total  - % water 1st before collapse 22,402,200 km² Approx. ... A Minuteman III missile soars after a test launch. ... Space has been an interest for philosophers and scientists for much of human history, and hence it is difficult to provide an uncontroversial and clear definition outside of specific defined contexts. ... A Redstone rocket, part of the Mercury program A rocket is a vehicle, missile or aircraft which obtains thrust by the reaction to the ejection of fast moving exhaust gas from within a rocket engine. ...

Some researchers believe that Kuchma's earlier career had been significantly boosted by his marriage to Ludmila Tumanova, the daughter of a local CPSU chief. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union ( Russian: Коммунисти́ческая Па́ртия Сове́тского Сою́за = КПСС) was the name used by the successors of the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party from 1952 to 1991, but the wording Communist Party was present in the partys name since 1918 when...

Kuchma was an amateur guitar player in his younger years. He was also known for his skill at the complicated card game called preferans. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... // This article is about games played with cards. ...

Political career

From 1990 to 1992 Kuchma was a member of the Ukrainian parliament (Committee on Defence and State Security), and became Prime Minister of Ukraine in 1992. This article is about the year. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Verkhovna Rada. ... The Prime Minister of Ukraine is appointed by the President and ratified by the Verkhovna Rada (parliament). ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

Kuchma resigned his position in September 1993, to successfully run for the presidency in 1994, on a platform to boost the economy by restoring economic relations with Russia. He also declared his intentions to implement economic reforms. 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated like the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal. // Events January Bill Clinton January 1 : North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect. ...

Early in his presidency, Kuchma arranged a $730 million loan from the IMF, signed a "Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership" with Russia, and endorsed a round of talks with the CIS. Additionally, he referred to Russian as "an official language." He signed a special partnership agreement with NATO and even raised the possibility of membership of the alliance. He was re-elected in 1999. The logo of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the international organization entrusted with overseeing the global financial system by monitoring exchange rates and balance of payments, as well as offering technical and financial assistance when asked. ... Headquarters Minsk, Belarus Member states 11 member states 1 associate member Working language Russian Executive Secretary Vladimir Rushailo Formation December 21, 1991 Official website http://cis. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

After Kuchma's popularity at home and abroad sank as he became mired in corruption scandals, he turned to Russia as his new ally, saying Ukraine needed a "multivector" foreign policy that balanced eastern and western interests.

Opponents accused him of involvement in the killing in 2000 of journalist Georgiy Gongadze (see also SBU, "Cassette Scandal", Mykola Mel'nychenko), which he has always denied. They also blamed him for restrictions on press freedom. Kuchma is believed to have played a key role in sacking the Cabinet of Viktor Yushchenko by Verkhovna Rada on April 26, 2001. This article is about the year 2000. ... Georgiy R. Gongadze (in Ukrainian Heorhiy Ruslanovych Honhadze) (May 21, 1969 – 2000) was a Ukrainian journalist kidnapped and murdered in 2000. ... The three-letter initialism SBU has several uses: St. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... (Major) Mykola Melnychenko (Микола Мельниченко) was a bodyguard of the former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma. ... Cabinet of Ministers The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is the highest body in the system of bodies of executive power in Ukraine. ... Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko (Ukrainian: Віктор Андрійович Ющенко) (born 23 February 1954) is a Ukrainian politician and statesman. ... Verkhovna Rada. ... April 26 is the 116th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (117th in leap years). ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ...

Kuchma's Prime Minister from 2002 until early January 2005 was Viktor Yanukovych, after Kuchma dismissed Anatoliy Kinakh, his previous appointee. The Prime Minister of Ukraine is appointed by the President and ratified by the Verkhovna Rada (parliament). ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Viktor Yanukovych Campaign Poster 2004 Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych (Russian: Виктор Федорович Янукович, Ukrainian: Янукович Віктор Федорович ) (born July 9, 1950) was Prime Minister of Ukraine from November 21, 2002 to December 31, 2004 and current leader of Ukrainian Party of Regions. ... Anatoliy Kinakh. ...

Role in the Crisis of 2004

President Kuchma, in 2004

Kuchma's role in the election's crisis of 2004 is not entirely clear. After the second round on November 22, 2004, it appeared that Yanukovych had won the election by fraud, which caused the opposition and independent observers to dispute the results, leading to the Orange Revolution. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1950x1456, 543 KB)President Kuchma. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1950x1456, 543 KB)President Kuchma. ... The presidential election held in November and December 2004 in Ukraine was mostly a political battle between Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and former Prime Minister and opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko. ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Orange-clad supporters of Viktor Yushchenko gather in Independence Square in Kiev. ...

Kuchma was urged by Yanukovych and Viktor Medvedchuk (the head of the presidential office) to declare a state of emergency and hold the inauguration of Yanukovych. He denied the request by admittedly stating in a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin that he refused to pass the government into the hands of an alleged Donetsk criminal. ^{[citation needed]} Later, Yanukovych publicly accused Kuchma of a betrayal. Viktor Medvedchuk (Ukrainian: ) is a Ukrainian politician. ... A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend certain normal functions of government, may work to alert citizens to alter their normal behaviors, or may order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. ... (Russian: Влади́мир Влади́мирович Пу́тин, Vladímir Vladímirovich Pútin; born October 7, 1952) is a Russian politician, and the current President of the Russian Federation. ...

Nevertheless, Kuchma refused to officially dismiss Prime Minister Yanukovych after the parliament passed a motion of no confidence against the Cabinet on December 1, 2004. A motion of no confidence, also called a motion of non-confidence, a censure motion, or a no-confidence motion, is a parliamentary motion traditionally put before a parliament by the opposition in the hope of defeating or embarrassing a government. ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Soon after, Kuchma left the country. He returned to Ukraine in March 2005 for the funeral of Yuri Kravchenko. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Yuriy Fedorovich Kravchenko (Ukrainian: Юрій Федорович Кравченко, March 5, 1951–March 4, 2005), was the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine from 1995 until he was fired in March 2001. ...

Post-Presidency

In 2005, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s office instigated criminal proceedings against Kuchma and members of his former administration in connection with the murder of journalist Georgiy R. Gongadze. [1] 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Georgiy R. Gongadze Georgiy Ruslanovich Gongadze (Ukrainian: , May 21, 1969 – September 2000?) was a Ukrainian journalist kidnapped and murdered in 2000. ...

Related Literature

• Sochor, Zenovia A. 1994. Political Culture and Foreign Policy: Elections in Ukraine 1994. Printed in: Tismaneanu, Vladmir (ed.). 1995. Political Culture and Civil Society in Russia and the New States of Eurasia. ISBN 1-56324-364-4. pp.208-224.

See also

• President of Ukraine
• Government of Ukraine
• Prime Minister of Ukraine
• List of Ukrainian politicians and statesmen closely associated with President L. Kuchma

Mariyinsky Palace The President of Ukraine (Ukrainian: , Prezydent Ukrayiny) is the head of the state of Ukraine and acts in its name. ... Ukraine is a democracy under a semi-presidential system with separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches. ... The Prime Minister of Ukraine is appointed by the President and ratified by the Verkhovna Rada (parliament). ... This is a short list of the Ukrainian politicians, statesmen and businesspeople thought to be most closely associated with Leonid Kuchma during his presidency. ... Valentyn Symonenko (in Ukrainian: Валентин Костянтинович Симоненко; b. ... The Prime Minister of Ukraine is appointed by the President and ratified by the Verkhovna Rada (parliament). ... Yukhym Zvyahilsky (in Russian: Efim Zvyagilsky) was appointed acting prime minister of Ukraine on September 22, 1993. ... Leonid Kravchuk in Kiev, August 1992 Leonid Makarovych Kravchuk (Ukrainian: Леонід Макарович Кравчук born 10 January 1934) is a Ukrainian politician. ... Mariyinsky Palace The President of Ukraine (Ukrainian: , Prezydent Ukrayiny) is the head of the state of Ukraine and acts in its name. ... Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko (Ukrainian: Віктор Андрійович Ющенко) (born 23 February 1954) is a Ukrainian politician and statesman. ...

External link

• (Russian) Yushchenko Won the Competition of Personalities (Kuchma's 2005 interview for Russian Vremia Novostey newspaper)