Bogdan Yaremenko Ukrainian statesman and political figure Date of Birth: 25.09.1971 Country: Ukraine

1. Early Life and Education
2. Diplomatic Career: Early Stages
3. Senior Diplomatic Roles
4. Istanbul Incident and Controversy
5. Post-Istanbul Career
6. Political Career
7. Sex Scandal
8. Sanctions

Early Life and Education

Bogdan Vasyl'ovych Yaremenko was born on September 25, 1971, in Kyiv, Ukraine. His father, Vasyl'ovych, was a philology professor at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, while his mother, Svitlana Mykhailivna, was a Ukrainian language and literature teacher.

In 1993, Yaremenko graduated with a degree in Philology from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. He is fluent in English and Russian.

Diplomatic Career: Early Stages

Yaremenko's diplomatic career began in 1993 when he joined the Information Department of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1995 to 1999, he served as Vice Consul and Consul at the Consulate General of Ukraine in New York City, USA.

From 2000 to 2003, he was Advisor, Head of the US and Canada Department, and Director of the Fourth Territorial Department (Western Hemisphere Countries) at the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Senior Diplomatic Roles

In 2004-2006, Yaremenko served as Head of Protocol for the Prime Minister of Ukraine, organizing international activities and official trips. From 2006 to 2008, he was the Consul General of Ukraine in Edinburgh, UK.

From 2009 to 2010, he was First Deputy Director of the Department of International Policy at the Administration of the President of Ukraine. On June 1, 2010, he was appointed Consul General of Ukraine in Istanbul, Turkey.

Istanbul Incident and Controversy

In 2013, Yaremenko's critical Facebook post about the dispersal of the student Euromaidan protests in Kyiv sparked controversy. He compared the actions of the police force to those of Nazi collaborators.

Following this incident, Yaremenko was recalled from Istanbul and placed on an extended leave of absence.

Post-Istanbul Career

In January 2014, Yaremenko became the Chairman of the Board of the "Maidan of Foreign Affairs" charitable foundation. On October 14, 2014, the Kyiv Court of Appeals reinstated him as Consul General of Ukraine in Istanbul.

Political Career

In 2019, Yaremenko ran for parliament as a candidate for the "Servant of the People" party. He was elected and appointed Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation.

Sex Scandal

In October 2019, Yaremenko was involved in a sex scandal after images of him ordering prostitute services on a smartphone app during a parliamentary session were leaked online. He claimed that he was deliberately engaging in these conversations.

The scandal prompted calls for his resignation as committee chairman, but the "Servant of the People" faction ultimately chose to select another candidate for the post.

Sanctions

In December 2020, the Russian government imposed sanctions on Yaremenko, including travel bans and asset freezes.