Oleksandr Turchynov
human
Also known as: Oleksandr Valentynovych Turchynov
Oleksandr Turchynov is a prominent Ukrainian politician, economist, and Baptist minister, known for his roles in the Ukrainian government, including serving as acting President and Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council. His political career has been significantly intertwined with key events in Ukraine's recent history, particularly during the 2014 political crisis and the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Early Life and Education
Oleksandr Valentynovych Turchynov was born on 31 March 1964 in Dnipropetrovsk, now known as Dnipro. He graduated from the Dnipropetrovsk Metallurgical Institute in 1986, subsequently working at Kryvorizhstal, a major Ukrainian steel producer.
From 1987 to 1990, Turchynov led the agitation and propaganda division of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Komsomol Committee. He became a political adviser to Leonid Kuchma, who was then the head of the Pivdenmash missile manufacturer, after Kuchma's appointment as Prime Minister in 1992.
Political Career
Turchynov's political career began in earnest when he was elected to the Verkhovna Rada in 1998 as a member of the Hromada party. He later joined Yulia Tymoshenko's All-Ukrainian Union 'Fatherland' and was re-elected to parliament in 2002 and 2006 as part of the BYuT.
He served as the first civilian head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) starting on 4 February 2005 and was involved in significant investigations during his tenure.
In March 2010, Turchynov acted as Prime Minister of Ukraine following the dismissal of Yulia Tymoshenko's government until a new government was appointed.
Acting Presidency and National Security
Following the removal of President Viktor Yanukovych on 21 February 2014, Turchynov was elected as the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada and subsequently designated as interim President of Ukraine on 23 February 2014. He commanded the Ukrainian Armed Forces starting 25 February 2014.
During his presidency, he faced the challenges of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine and initiated anti-terrorist operations against pro-Russian insurgents.
Post-Presidency Activities
After his presidential powers ended with the election of Petro Poroshenko on 7 June 2014, Turchynov became a founding member of the People's Front party in September 2014.
He was appointed Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine on 16 December 2014, continuing to influence Ukraine's security policies amidst ongoing conflict with Russia.
Controversies and Public Perception
Turchynov has faced scrutiny for various statements and actions throughout his career. In June 2017, public trust in him was notably low, with only 0.9% of respondents expressing complete trust according to a social poll.
He has also been included in the Russian sanctions list as of 1 November 2018 due to his role in Ukraine's actions against Russian entities.