Yuriy Anatoliyovych Boyko ( uk, Юрій Анатолійович Бойко, russian: Ю́рий Анато́льевич Бо́йко; born 9 October 1958) is a

Ukrainian Ukrainian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Ukraine * Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe * Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine * So ...

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

who served as one of the

Vice Prime Ministers of Ukraine A vice is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, degrading, deviant or perverted in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character tra ...

between 2012 and 2014,Yanukovych appoints new Cabinet of Ministers

Kyiv Post The ''Kyiv Post'' is the oldest English-language newspaper in Ukraine, founded in October 1995 by Jed Sunden. History American Jed Sunden founded the ''Kyiv Post'' weekly newspaper on Oct. 18, 1995 and later created KP Media for his holdings. ...

(24 December 2012) as well as the Minister of Energy from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2010 to 2012. Other than during stint as Vice Prime Minister, he has continuously served as a Member of the

Verkhovna Rada The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ( uk, Верхо́вна Ра́да Украї́ни, translit=, Verkhovna Rada Ukrainy, translation=Supreme Council of Ukraine, Ukrainian abbreviation ''ВРУ''), often simply Verkhovna Rada or just Rada, is the ...

since 2007. Boyko ran for President in the March 2019 election, winning many districts in the southeast of the country but ultimately coming fourth and narrowly missing qualification for the

second round The second (symbol: s) is the unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), historically defined as of a day – this factor derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes and finally to 60 seconds e ...

. Designated a

Hero of Ukraine Hero of Ukraine (HOU; uk, Герой України, ''Heroi Ukrainy'') is the highest national title that can be conferred upon an individual citizen by the President of Ukraine. The title was created in 1998 by President Leonid Kuchma and as ...

in 2004, Boyko is considered to be one of the primary proponents of closer relations with

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

in Ukrainian politics. Boyko was a leading figure of the now-banned

Opposition Platform — For Life The Opposition Platform – For Life ( uk, Опозиційна платформа – За життя; russian: Оппозиционная платформа – За жизнь, OPZZh) was a parliamentary and now banned pro-Russian and Eurosc ...

, which he led to second place in the July 2019 parliamentary election, and currently heads its successor, the

Platform for Life and Peace Platform for Life and Peace ( uk, Платформа за життя та мир, Platforma za zhyttia ta myr; PZZhM/ПЗЖМ or PLP) is a parliamentary group in Ukraine created after the ban on the Opposition Platform — For Life and the dissol ...

. Following the

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. An ...

, which he opposed, he reversed some of his

pro-Russian Russophilia (literally love of Russia or Russians) is admiration and fondness of Russia (including the era of the Soviet Union and/or the Russian Empire), Russian history and Russian culture. The antonym is Russophobia. In the 19th Century, ...

stances, now supporting Ukraine's proposed accession to the European Union and backing President

Volodymyr Zelensky Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy, ; russian: Владимир Александрович Зеленский, Vladimir Aleksandrovich Zelenskyy, (born 25 January 1978; also transliterated as Zelensky or Zelenskiy) is a Ukrainian politicia ...

Servant of the People Servant of the People (SN; uk, Слуга народу, Sluha narodu, ) is a liberal, centrist, pro-European political party in Ukraine. It was formed in late 2017 and was officially registered on 31 March 2018 on the basis of the previously ...

party in

Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

. Prior to his political career, he was an expert on oil and gas policy.

Early life and education

Yuriy Boyko was born on 9 October 1958, in

Horlivka Horlivka ( , ; uk, Го́рлівка ), or Gorlovka (russian: link=no, Горловка ), is a city of regional significance in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. In 2001, the city's population was 292,000, and it was estimated as Economic activit ...

Donetsk Oblast The Donetsk Oblast ( ukr, Донецька область, Donetska oblast, ), also referred to as Donechchyna ( ukr, Донеччина, links=no), is an oblast of eastern Ukraine. It is Ukraine's most populous province, with around 4.1 mill ...

. In 1981 Boyko graduated from the

D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia (MUCTR) (russian: «Российский химико-технологический университет имени Д. И. Менделеева», РХТУ) — is a federal state budg ...

(chemical engineering), and in 2001 he graduated from

Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University (SNU) ( uk, Східноукраїнський національний університет імені Володимира Даля) is one of the leading establishments of higher education in ...

(engineering and economics).

Early career

From 1981 to 1999, Boyko started as a master at an industrial site and rose to the title of Director General of the chemical plant Zarya in Rubezhnoye. Following that, from 1999 to 2001, he was Director General of JSC Lisichansknefteorgsintez (Lysychansk refinery), and from August 2001 to February 2002 Boyko served as chairman of the management board of JSC Ukrtatnafta (Kremenchug refinery). In February 2002 Boyko was appointed the chairman of NAC Naftogaz-Ukraine, and led the company until March 2005.

Political career

Yanukovych cabinet

Boyko served as First Deputy Minister of Fuel and Energy of Ukraine from July 2003 to March 2005 in the cabinet of then-

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

Victor Yanukovych Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych ( uk, Віктор Федорович Янукович, ; ; born 9 July 1950) is a former politician who served as the fourth president of Ukraine from 2010 until he was removed from office in the Revolution of Di ...

. In late July 2004, he was also appointed in the coordination committee for

RosUkrEnergo RosUkrEnergo is a Swiss-registered venture company that transports natural gas from Turkmenistan to East European countries. 50% of the company is owned by Gazprom, through its daughter Swiss-registered Rosgas Holding A.G., and another 50% by Swiss ...

.How Ukraine Became a Market Economy and Democracy
by

Anders Åslund Per Anders Åslund (; born 17 February 1952) is a Sweden, Swedish economist and former Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council. He is also a chairman of the International Advisory Council at the Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE). His ...

Peterson Institute for International Economics The Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), known until 2006 as the Institute for International Economics (IIE), is an American think tank based in Washington, D.C. It was founded by C. Fred Bergsten in 1981 and has been led by ...

, 2009, (page 170) In the summer of 2005

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

Viktor Yushchenko Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko ( uk, Віктор Андрійович Ющенко, ; born 23 February 1954) is a Ukrainian politician who was the third president of Ukraine from 23 January 2005 to 25 February 2010. As an informal leader of th ...

blocked the arrest of Boyko on suspicion of

abuse of office Abuse is the improper usage or treatment of a thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, crimes, or other t ...

while heading

Naftogaz Naftogaz of Ukraine ( uk, НАК "Нафтогаз України", ''Naftogaz Ukrayiny''; literally "Petro-Gas of Ukraine") is the largest national oil and gas company of Ukraine. It is a state-owned company

.Gas Lobby Takes Control of Ukrains Secret Service
by

Taras Kuzio Taras Kuzio (born 1958) is a British academic and expert in Ukrainian political, economic and security affairs. He is Professor of Political Science at National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Kyiv, Ukraine). Education Taras Kuzio received a ...

(18 March 2010)Ukraine: Battle Against Corruption Grinds To A Halt

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a United States government funded organization that broadcasts and reports news, information, and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Caucasus, and the Middle East where it says tha ...

(September 26, 2005) This arrest had been ordered by

Security Service of Ukraine The Security Service of Ukraine ( uk, Служба безпеки України, translit=Sluzhba bezpeky Ukrainy}) or SBU ( uk, СБУ, link=no) is the law enforcement authority and main intelligence and security agency of the Ukrainian ...

Chairman

Oleksandr Turchynov Oleksandr Valentynovych Turchynov ( uk, Олександр Валентинович Турчинов; born 31 March 1964) is a Ukrainian politician, screenwriter, Baptist minister and economist. He is the former Secretary of the National Sec ...

. During Ukrainian parliamentary elections in 2006, held the year after Boyko was elected the chairman of the Republican Party of Ukraine (RPU), the RPU joined the electoral alliance "

Ne Tak The Opposition Bloc "Ne Tak", (; ) is a former pro-Russian political alliance in Ukraine. One of the leaders of the alliance was Viktor Medvedchuk. Background The coalition formed in the Ukrainian parliament at the beginning of 2004 with the ...

!", yet they did not succeed to reach the 3% election threshold required by law to enter parliament. On 4 August 2006, he was appointed by Yanukovych as Minister of Fuel and Energy. Holding office for over a year, on 18 December 2007, he was dismissed due to the upcoming parliamentary elections, which he successfully contested as member of the

Party of Regions The Party of Regions ( uk, Партія регіонів, Partiia rehioniv, ; russian: Партия регионов, Partiya regionov) was a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine formed in late 1997 that then grew to be the biggest party of Uk ...

Azarov cabinet

On 11 March 2010 Boyko was again appointed the Minister of Fuel and Energy of Ukraine by

Mykola Azarov Mykola Yanovych Azarov ( uk, Мико́ла Я́нович Аза́ров, ; née, né Pakhlo; Cyrillic: Пахло; born 17 December 1947) is a Ukraine, Ukrainian politician who was the Prime Minister of Ukraine from 11 March 2010 to 27 January ...

. On 9 December 2010, due to the optimisation of the system of central executive power in Ukraine (a.k.a. reorganisation of ministries), Yanukovych, who was now

President of Ukraine The president of Ukraine ( uk, Президент України, Prezydent Ukrainy) is the head of state of Ukraine. The president represents the nation in international relations, administers the foreign political activity of the state, condu ...

, dismissed Boyko on a technicality and re-appointed him as Minister of Energy and Coal Industry. On 24 December 2012, Boyko was promoted to the position of a Vice Prime Minister, responsible for ecology, natural resources, energy, coal industry and industrial policy. On 23 May 2013, the space sector was added to his functions.

Career after vice premiership

On 29 March 2014, a Party of Regions convention decided to support Boyko's political opponent

Mykhailo Dobkin Mykhailo Markovych Dobkinrussian: Михаил Маркович Добкин, translit=Mikhail Markovich Dobkin (born 26 January 1970) is a Ukrainian politician, former governor of Kharkiv Oblast, former mayor of Kharkiv,

as a candidate for the

presidential election A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is President. Elections by country Albania The president of Albania is elected by the Assembly of Albania who are elected by the Albanian public. Chile The pre ...

,Ukraine's Party of Regions expels presidential hopefuls Tigipko, Tsariov and Boiko

Interfax-Ukraine The Interfax-Ukraine ( uk, Інтерфакс-Україна) is a Kyiv-based Ukraine, Ukrainian independent news agency founded in 1992. The company does not belong to the Russian news corporation Interfax Information Services. The company pub ...

(7 April 2014) and on 7 April 2014, the party's political council expelled Boyko amidst infighting. Boyko launched a last-minute presidential campaign himself to oppose Dodkin, receiving less than a percentage point of the electorate.
In the

2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election Snap elections to the Verkhovna Rada took place on 26 October 2014. Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine, had pressed for early parliamentary elections since his victory in the presidential election in May.Opposition Bloc russian: Оппозиционный блок , colorcode = , logo = Opposition Bloc.png , logo_size = 240px , leader1_title = Chairman , leader1_name = Rinat Akhmetov (one wing)Dmytro Firtash & Yuriy Boyko ( ...

.Poroshenko Bloc to have greatest number of seats in parliament
,

Ukrinform The National News Agency of Ukraine ( uk, Українське національне інформаційне агентство), or Ukrinform ( uk, Укрінформ), is a state information and news agency, and international broadcaster of ...

(8 November 2014)

Poroshenko Bloc to get 132 seats in parliament - CEC

(8 November 2014) On 9 November 2018, Boyko and the party For life signed an agreement for cooperation in the

2019 Ukrainian presidential election The 2019 Ukrainian presidential election was held on 31 March and 21 April in a two-round system. There were 39 candidates for the election on the ballot. The 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia and the occupation of parts of Donetsk Oblast an ...

and the parliamentary election of the same year called Opposition Platform-For life.The association of Boyko-Rabinovich was determined with the presidential candidate

Ukrayinska Pravda ''Ukrainska Pravda'' ( uk, Українська правда, lit=Ukrainian Truth) is a Ukrainian online newspaper founded by Georgiy Gongadze on 16 April 2000 (the day of the Ukrainian constitutional referendum). Published mainly in Ukraini ...

(17 November 2018) The same day Opposition Bloc leading members

Vadym Novynskyi Vadym Novynskyi (; born 3 June 1963
Liga.net) is a

and

Borys Kolesnikov Borys Viktorovych Kolesnikov ( uk, Борис Вікторович Колесніков, born October 25, 1962) is the leader of the political party Ukraine is Our Home. He is the former secretary of the Party of Regions' presidium, former people ...

claimed the agreement was a "personal initiative" of Boyko and that Opposition Bloc had not taken any decisions on cooperation with For life. On 17 November 2018 Opposition Platform-For life nominated Boyko as its candidate in the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election. Boyko was excluded from the Opposition Bloc faction (the reason given was) "because they betrayed their voters" interests on 20 November 2018. Boyko's official nomination by Opposition Platform-For life was announced on 17 November. Because Opposition Platform-For life was not yet registered as a party in January 2019 it could not nominate him as a presidential candidate.FOR LIFE Who is Vadim Rabinovich to whom?
by

Civil movement "Chesno" Chesno ( uk, Чесно, lit=honestly, fairly) is a Ukrainian public campaign that emerged late 2011 to advance a fair election process. It is widely known for its critical analysis and evaluation of politicians and the Verkhovna Rada (parliame ...

(2017) Hence on 17 January 2019 Boyko submitted documents to the

Central Election Commission of Ukraine The Central Election Commission of Ukraine ( uk, Центральна виборча комісія України, commonly abbreviated in Ukrainian as ЦВК (''Tse-Ve-Ka''); sometimes referred to as the Central Electoral Commission of Ukrai ...

for registration as a self-nominated candidate.Boyko began registering as a presidential candidate

(17 November 2018) In the election Boyko took fourth place with 11.67% of the total vote, just over 4% behind incumbent

Petro Poroshenko Petro Oleksiyovych Poroshenko ( uk, Петро́ Олексі́йович Пороше́нко, ; born 26 September 1965) is a Ukrainian businessman and politician who served as the fifth president of Ukraine from 2014 to 2019. Poroshenko ser ...

, who therefore instead of Boyko progressed to the

along with

Volodymyr Zelenskyy Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy, ; russian: Владимир Александрович Зеленский, Vladimir Aleksandrovich Zelenskyy, (born 25 January 1978; also transliterated as Zelensky or Zelenskiy) is a Ukrainian politicia ...

.First round results of the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election

In the parliamentary election a few months later, Boyko led his

party to second place with 13.05% of the vote, becoming the main opposition party. His party was banned by the government following the

for its

stances, despite it having opposed the invasion itself. Boyko reversed a number of his pro-Russian stances following the ban on his party, and later formed a new parliamentary group made up of former OPZZh members called

, now backing the

-government in parliament, alongside the other party made up of formerly pro-Russian politicians, Restoration of Ukraine.

Popularity

Data shortly before the parliamentary elections in June 2019 suggested that Boyko was the second-ranked pick to be

Prime Minister of Ukraine The prime minister of Ukraine ( uk, Прем'єр-міністр України, ) is the head of government of Ukraine. The prime minister presides over the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, which is the highest body of the executive branch of th ...

behind eventual appointee

Oleksiy Honcharuk Oleksiy Valeriyovych Honcharuk ( uk, Олексі́й Вале́рійович Гончару́к, ; born 7 July 1984) is a Ukrainian politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Ukraine from 29 August 2019 to 4 March 2020 following a landsl ...

Controversies

Lobbying in the United States

Through an offshore scheme in 2005, Boyko funded a K-street lobbyist through which he would meet with top members of the United States Republican Party and other conservatives in the United States.

Offshore platform controversy

According to newspaper ''Dzerkalo Tyzhnia'' ("The Weekly Mirror"), in 2011 Boyko was cited confirming the purchase of a modern offshore drilling platform from Singapore. ''Dzerkalo Tyzhnia'' conducted an investigation into the tender surrounding the offshore platform, in which Highway Investment Processing LLC, a supposed offshore shell from Wales, UK, was the winner. The article stated that the Ukrainian state company

Chornomornaftogaz russian: Черноморнефтегаз , native_name_lang = ru , romanized_name = , former type = , type = State unitary enterprise , traded_as = , industry = Oil and gas , fate = , prede ...

, engaged in offshore oil and gas production in Azov and the Black Sea, paid over $400M for a drilling rig that costs $248M. Using Google Street View, journalists cited that Highway Investment Processing LLC appeared to be situated in an equipment store on the outskirts of Cardiff, Wales, and the LLC was further cited in the media as going through liquidation; however, the authorities suspended the liquidation process due to an investigation. Official records with the United Kingdom's

Companies House Companies House is the executive agency of the company registrars of the United Kingdom, falling under the remit of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. All forms of companies (as permitted by the Companies Act) are i ...

indicated the company was incorporated on 12 December 2008 and was currently listed as active. Throughout the whole affair, Boyko denied fraud allegations surrounding the purchase, citing additional equipment and movement costs and a "report from Halliburton" confirming the price of $400M. After Boyko labeled the ''Dzerkalo Tyzhnia'' journalists as "liars," the newspaper in turn filed a lawsuit against Boyko; the case is currently in appeals. The affair also sparked a scandal in Norway where Seadrill was accused of insufficient due diligence and KYC on its shell customer Highway Investment Processing LLC.

2016 Assault

During a televised debate on 14 November 2016, Boyko punched politician

Oleh Lyashko Oleh Valeriiovych Liashko ( uk, Олег Валерійович Ляшко; born. 3 December 1972) is a Ukrainian politician, journalist and soldier who was a long time member of the Verkhovna Rada and leader of the Radical Party. Liashko was e ...

in the face after being called a "Kremlin agent."

Link to Dmytro Firtash

It is alleged that Boyko is "close associates" with the controversial businessman

Dmytro Firtash Dmytro Vasylovych Firtash ( uk, Дмитро́ Васи́льович Фі́рташ; born 2 May 1965) is a Ukrainian businessman who heads the board of directors of Group DF. He was highly influential during the Yuschenko administration and th ...

.Russian Patriarch prays for Yanukovych, honors Firtash and Boyko (updated)

(October 2, 2011)

Awards

* 22 August 2004 - title

and the Order of the State, for outstanding personal service to the development of Ukrainian fuel and energy complex, and long-term commitment * 22 May 2003 -

Order of Merit The Order of Merit (french: link=no, Ordre du Mérite) is an order of merit for the Commonwealth realms, recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by K ...

, III class, for good results in work and significant personal contribution to the development of oil and gas industry in Ukraine * Order of

Saint Seraphim of Sarov Seraphim of Sarov (russian: Серафим Саровский; – ), born Prókhor Isídorovich Moshnín (Mashnín) �ро́хор Иси́дорович Мошни́н (Машни́н) is one of the most renowned Russian saints and is venerate ...

of the II class

Personal life

He is married, together with his wife Vera he is raising 6 children.http://novynar.com.ua/files/people/boyko/310465 Boyko plays ice hockey, football, likes waterskiing and windsurfing.

Notes

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boyko, Yuriy Living people 1958 births People from Horlivka D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia alumni Republican Party of Ukraine politicians Party of Regions politicians Opposition Bloc politicians Sixth convocation members of the Verkhovna Rada Eighth convocation members of the Verkhovna Rada Ninth convocation members of the Verkhovna Rada Vice Prime Ministers of Ukraine Fuel and energy ministers of Ukraine Energy and coal industry ministers of Ukraine Candidates in the 2014 Ukrainian presidential election Candidates in the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election Recipients of the Order of State Chevaliers of the Order of Merit (Ukraine) Pro-government people of the Euromaidan Naftogaz people Ukrainian chief executives Ukrainian businesspeople in the oil industry