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Yuriy LevchenkoMember of the Verkhovna Rada
Country:
 Ukraine |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Career
- Political Involvement
- Parliamentary Elections
- Controversies
- Allegations and Lawsuits
- Personal Life
Early Life and Education
Yuri Levchenko was born on October 1, 1964, in Vinnitsa, Ukraine. His parents, Volodymyr and Natalia, moved to Moscow after his birth. Volodymyr worked in the maritime industry, eventually rising to the rank of captain. Yuri attended an English school in Cyprus while his family was stationed there for his father's work.
Upon returning to Ukraine in 2002, Yuri enrolled in the London School of Economics and Political Science, followed by Magdeberg University in Germany, where he graduated in 2007.
Career
After graduating, Yuri worked as a financial consultant before joining the investment company "Kinto" in Ukraine. He eventually became a leading employee in the corporate finance department.
Political Involvement
Yuri joined the far-right political party "Svoboda" in 2008. He held various leadership positions within the party, including heading its Kiev branch and serving as an advisor to party leader Oleh Tyahnybok.
Parliamentary Elections
Yuri ran unsuccessfully for parliament in 2012, but was elected to the Kiev City Council in 2014. In the same year, he was elected to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, as an independent deputy.
Controversies
Yuri has been involved in numerous controversies during his time in parliament. He has often blocked the podium and disrupted sessions, and was notably involved in an incident involving the use of a smoke bomb in 2017.
Allegations and Lawsuits
Yuri has been accused of being involved in land scams and other corrupt practices. He has also been accused of participating in violence during the Euromaidan protests in 2014.
Personal Life
Yuri is married to Tetiana Maksymenko, whom he met while they were both members of the "Svoboda" party.
