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Andrey ShkilOne of the prominent representatives of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc
Country:
 Ukraine |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Journalism and Early Political Involvement
- Role in the National Assembly of Ukraine and the "Orange Revolution"
- Parliamentary Career
- Imprisonment and Controversy
- Post-Parliamentary Career
- Family
Early Life and Education
Yuriy Lutsenko, a prominent Ukrainian politician and journalist, was born in December 1964. He graduated from the Lviv Medical Institute in 1988, specializing in pharmaceuticals. In 1997, he earned a degree in journalism from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. Lutsenko speaks Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, English, and French.
Journalism and Early Political Involvement
Lutsenko began his career as a journalist in 1989, joining the editorial board of the newspaper "Ukrayina Moloda." The same year, he was elected deputy head of the Union of Independent Ukrainian Youth. He also became head of the Lviv regional branch of the Ukrainian National Assembly.
Role in the National Assembly of Ukraine and the "Orange Revolution"
In 1992, Lutsenko became the editor-in-chief of the weekly "Holos Natsii." He also joined the Ukrainian National Assembly-Ukrainian People's Self-Defense (UNA-UNSO) and participated in the Pridnestrovian War.
In the 2004 "Orange Revolution," Lutsenko played an active role in the protests against the fraudulent presidential election. He joined Yulia Tymoshenko's "Batkivshchyna" party in 2005.
Parliamentary Career
Lutsenko was first elected to the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) in 2002 as an independent candidate. He joined the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc faction and headed the subcommittee on drafting legislation related to law enforcement.
In the 2006 and 2007 parliamentary elections, Lutsenko was re-elected as a member of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc. In the fifth and sixth sessions of the Verkhovna Rada, he served as deputy head of the Foreign Affairs Committee and head of the subcommittee on European integration and Euro-Atlantic cooperation, respectively.
Imprisonment and Controversy
Lutsenko was arrested in 2001 for his involvement in the "Ukraine without Kuchma" campaign, which sought to oust then-President Leonid Kuchma. He spent a year in detention before being released due to his election to Parliament and support from the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc.
In the lead-up to the 2006 parliamentary elections, Lutsenko was placed on a "black list" of individuals with criminal records compiled by then-Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko.
Post-Parliamentary Career
After leaving Parliament, Lutsenko authored a collection of articles titled "Vetir Imperii" (Wind of the Empire). He was awarded the Order of Merit, Third Class, in 2006, and the "Mark of Honor" from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
