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Valentina Semenyk-SamsonenkoUkrainian politician, Chairman of the State Property Fund of Ukraine
Date of Birth: 04.06.1957
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Political Career
- Parliamentary Deputy
- Involvement in the Orange Revolution
- Chairman of the State Property Fund
- Controversial Reappointment
- Personal Life
Early Life and Education
Valentyna Semenjuk was born on July 4, 1957 (or June 4 according to alternative sources) in the village of Zarechye, Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukrainian SSR. After working in various roles, she graduated from the Zhytomyr Agricultural Institute in 1982 as an economist-organizer of agricultural production. She later earned a second degree from the Kharkiv National University of Law in 1999.
Political Career
Early Political InvolvementSemenjuk's political career began in the 1990s. She served as secretary of the Zhytomyr Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU) from 1990 to 1991. After the ban on the CPU, she continued to work in the party and became the first secretary of the Rudnytskyi District Committee of the CPU in 1993.
Parliamentary Deputy
In 1994, Semenjuk was elected as a member of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) for the Communist Party. She joined the Socialist Party of Ukraine (SPU) and served as a deputy in subsequent parliamentary convocations, holding various positions including secretary of the Agrarian Policy and Land Relations Committee.
Involvement in the Orange Revolution
During the 2004 Orange Revolution, Semenjuk gained prominence as a vocal critic of President Leonid Kuchma. She served as a representative of the Civil Committee for the Defense of the Constitution "Ukraine without Kuchma" and played a role in negotiations with government officials.
Chairman of the State Property Fund
In 2005, Semenjuk was appointed to the position of Chairman of the State Property Fund (SPF) on the quota of the SPU. She resigned from her parliamentary seat to take up this role.
Controversial Reappointment
In 2008, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko attempted to dismiss Semenjuk from the SPF on suspicion of corruption. However, President Viktor Yushchenko halted the dismissal, citing procedural irregularities. Semenjuk remained in the position until the SPF was liquidated in 2010.
Personal Life
Semenjuk has been married twice. Her first husband, Anatoly Semenjuk, passed away in 1995. In 2008, she married businessman Vitaliy Samsonenko and adopted the surname Semenjuk-Samsonenko. She has two daughters from her first marriage.
