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{{Short description|Ukrainian politician, lawyer, and businessman (born 1954)}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Family name hatnote|Volodymyrovych|Medvedchuk|lang=Eastern Slavic}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Viktor Medvedchuk
| native_name = {{nobold|{{native name|uk|Віктор Медведчук}}<br/>{{native name|ru|Виктор Медведчук}}}}
| caption = Medvedchuk in 2019
| image =
| term_start1 = 25 April 1997
| term_end1 = 20 June 2002
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| successor2 = [[Oleksandr Zinchenko (politician)|Oleksandr Zinchenko]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|08|07|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Pochet]], [[Krasnoyarsk Krai]], [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian SFSR]], [[Soviet Union]]
| nationality = Ukrainian
| citizenship = Ukrainian (1991–2023)<ref name=PresidentUkraine10Jan2023>{{Cite web |url=https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/vilnij-svit-maye-vse-neobhidne-shob-zupiniti-rosijsku-agresi-80305 |title=Free world has everything necessary to stop Russian aggression; it is important for global democracy - address by the President of Ukraine |website=President of Ukraine Official Website |date=10 January 2023 |access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref><br>Russian (according to [[Security Service of Ukraine|SBU]])<ref name="russiancitizenship">{{cite web |title=СБУ утверждает, что у Медведчука есть российский паспорт |url=https://ria.ru/20220722/medvedchuk-1804277666.html |website=РИА Новости |date=22 July 2022 |access-date=12 January 2023}}</ref>
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| constituency = [[Opposition Platform — For Life]], No. 3
}}
'''Viktor Volodymyrovych Medvedchuk''' ({{lang-uk|Віктор Володимирович Медведчук}}; born 7 August 1954), also known as '''Viktor Vladimirovich Medvedchuk''' ({{
Prior to being deported from Ukraine, Medvedchuk was elected as [[People's Deputy of Ukraine]] on 29 August 2019. He served as the chairman of the [[Russophilia|pro-Russian]] political organization ''[[Ukrainian Choice]]'' from 2018 to 2022. He is an opponent of Ukraine joining the [[European Union]].<ref name=VMUC>[http://ukrainianweek.com/Politics/54398 Kremlin-imposed "Ukrainian choice"], [[The Ukrainian Week]] (3 July 2012).<br />[http://www.day.kiev.ua/en/article/topic-day/playing-opposition Playing opposition], [[Den (newspaper)|Den]] (15 August 2013).<br />[http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-ukraine-leaked-strategy-document/25081053.html Russia's Plan For Ukraine: Purported Leaked Strategy Document Raises Alarm], [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] (20 August 2013).</ref>
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On 19 February 2021, the [[National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine]] included Medvedchuk and his wife, Oksana Marchenko, on the Ukrainian sanctions list, due to alleged financing of terrorism.<ref name="7285709112Ukraine">{{in lang|uk}} [https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2021/03/5/7285709/ Youtube blocked the broadcast of Medvedchuk's channel], [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (5 March 2021)</ref> On 11 May 2021, the [[Prosecutor General of Ukraine]] accused Medvedchuk of treason and attempted looting of national resources in [[Crimea]] (which had been [[2014 Russian annexation of Crimea|annexed by Russia]] but remains [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262|internationally recognised as Ukrainian]]). Medvedchuk's [[house arrest]] started on 13 May 2021.<ref name="7294233KozakMedvedchuk">[https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2021/05/20/7294233/ Court gives permission to detain Kozak], [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (20 May 2021)</ref> Medvedchuk escaped this house arrest on 28 February 2022, four days after the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and went missing.<ref name="nypost.com20220302Medved"/><ref name="7331086Medvedchuk">{{cite news |title=A "golden" car was found in Medvedchuk's possession |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/03/13/7331086/ |access-date=13 March 2022 |work=[[Українська правда]] |date=13 March 2022 |language=uk}}</ref> On 8 March 2022 he was removed from the post of co-chairman of Opposition Platform — For Life.<ref name="508614_boyko_stav">{{in lang|uk}} [https://lb.ua/news/2022/03/08/508614_boyko_stav_golovoyu_politradi_opzzh.html Boyko became the chairman of the political council of the OPZH. Medvedchuk was deprived of the post of co-chairman], {{ill|Lb.ua|uk|Lb.ua}} (8 March 2022)</ref> On 12 April 2022 Medvedchuk was arrested by the [[Security Service of Ukraine]] (SBU).<ref name="7339145Medvedchuk"/> On 21 September 2022, Medvedchuk (together with 55 Russian [[prisoners of war]]) was exchanged for 215 Ukrainian POWs from the [[Siege of Mariupol]].<ref name="7368588Medvedchuk"/>
On 13 January 2023, the [[Verkhovna Rada]] stripped Medvedchuk of his position as a
== Early life and education ==
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In 1979, Medvedchuk was the lawyer for repressed poet [[Yuriy Lytvyn (dissident)|Yuriy Lytvyn]]. In his last word in court on 17 December 1979, Lytvyn described Medvedchuk's work as a lawyer: "The passivity of my lawyer Medvedchuk in defense is not due to his professional profanity, but to the instructions he received from above and his subordination: he does not dare reveal the mechanism according to which provocations were implemented against me."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://shron.chtyvo.org.ua/Suchasnist/1981_N01_241.pdf|title=Сучасність (журнал)|language=uk}}</ref> Lytvyn was convicted and died in prison.<ref name="157794LytvynStus">{{in lang|uk}} [https://www.istpravda.com.ua/articles/2020/07/9/157794/ Medvedchuk's role: Yuriy Lytvyn and Vasyl Stus had one lawyer and died in the same camp], [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (9 July 2020).</ref> According to official documents, in 1979 Medvedchuk appealed the verdict against Lytvyn issued by the [[Vasylkiv]] court and referred to the incompleteness of the investigation carried out in the case to request the [[Kyiv Oblast|Kyiv]] Regional Court to annul the verdict and send the case for a new trial.<ref name="157794LytvynStus" />
In 1980, Medvedchuk was appointed as a defence lawyer in the trial of dissident poet [[Vasyl Stus]].<ref name=whatson-kyiv>{{cite web|url=https://whatson-kyiv-archive.com/index.php?go=News&in=view&id=5942|title=Ukrainian Dissident Hero Poet Vasyl Stus
According to the "Chronicle of Current Events", Medvedchuk's [[plea]] at the Stus trial was as follows: "The lawyer said in his speech that all of Stus's crimes deserve to be punished, but he asks to pay attention to the fact that Stus, working in 1979–1980 at the enterprises of Kyiv, fulfilled the norm; in addition, he underwent a severe stomach operation."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://khpg.org/index.php?id=977936524|title="ХРОНИКА ТЕКУЩИХ СОБЫТИЙ", №58 (МОСКВА, САМИЗДАТ, 1980. – С.74-78)|website=Права Людини в Україні}}</ref><ref name=whatson-kyiv/> According to Ukrainian lawyers Roman Titikalo and Ilya Kotin, Medvedchuk seems to have recognized the guilt of his client Stus during the court case. In doing so, Medvedchuk violated his professional duty as lawyer since he seemed to refuse to defend Stus, which grossly violated Stus's right to defense in court.<ref>[http://www.pravda.com.ua/cdn/graphics/2016/08/stus/ Стус без шансу на захист: ведмежа послуга Медведчука], 23 серпня 2016, Українська Правда</ref>
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Medvedchuk founded a successful legal company, BIM, in the early 1990s.<ref name="The Jamestown Foundation"/> From 1990 to 1997, he was the president of the Bar Association of Ukraine.<ref name="chesnopolitician69769/"/> Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Medvedchuk was a leading member of the [[Kyiv Seven]], one of the three most powerful political clans in Ukrainian politics.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 June 2000 |title=Російська преса розказує всю правду про Григорія Суркіса |language=uk |trans-title=Russian press tells all on Hryhoriy Surkis |work=[[Ukrainska Pravda]] |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2000/06/10/2980705/ |access-date=24 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mostova |first1=Yulia |last2=Rakhmanin |first2=Serhiy |date=15 March 2002 |title=УКРАЇНА ПАРТІЙНА. ЧАСТИНА VI СОЦІАЛ-ДЕМОКРАТИЧНА ПАРТІЯ УКРАЇНИ (ОБ'ЄДНАНА) |language=uk |trans-title=Parties of Ukraine, Part 6: The Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united) |work=[[Dzerkalo Tyzhnia]] |url=https://zn.ua/ukr/internal/ukrayina_partiyna_chastina_vi_sotsial-demokratichna_partiya_ukrayini_obednana.html |access-date=24 May 2023}}</ref>
On 24 May 2023 Medvedchuk was stripped ([[disbarred]]) of the right to practise law in Ukraine by the Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of the [[Bar (law)|Bar]] of [[Kyiv Oblast]].<ref name="Medvedchuk7403670"/> Efforts to disbar Medvedchuk had been ongoing since as early as 2016.<ref name="Medvedchuk7403670">{{cite news |title=Exiled pro-Kremlin Ukrainian politician stripped of right to practise law in Ukraine|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/05/24/7403670/|work=[[Ukrainska Pravda]]|date=24 May 2023|access-date=24 May 2023|language=English}}</ref> Medvedchuk appealed his disbar, on 9 February 2024 his appeal was rejected by the {{Ill|Kyiv District Administrative Court|uk|Окружний адміністративний суд міста Києва}}.<ref name="Medvedchuk=163646">{{cite news |title=Medvedchuk will no longer be a lawyer in Ukraine|url=https://www.istpravda.com.ua/short/2024/02/12/163646/|work=[[Istorychna Pravda]]|date=12 February 2024|access-date=13 February 2024|language=Ukrainian}}</ref> The {{ill|Sixth Appeal Administrative Court|uk|Шостий апеляційний адміністративний суд}} upheld this decision on 11 June 2024.<ref name="Medvedchuk=164003">{{cite news |title=Medvedchuk lost his appeal: the court did not renew his right to practice law|url=https://www.istpravda.com.ua/short/2024/06/11/164003/|work=[[Istorychna Pravda]]|date=11 June 2024|access-date=11 June 2024|language=Ukrainian}}</ref>
== First parliamentary tenure ==
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== Failing to return to parliament ==
In the [[2006 Ukrainian parliamentary election]], Medvedchuk was placed third on the election list of the [[Opposition Bloc "Ne Tak"]].<ref name="chesnopolitician69769/">[https://www.chesno.org/politician/69769/ Small biography on Viktor Medvedchuk], [[Civil movement "Chesno"]] {{in lang|uk}}</ref> This alliance failed to win parliamentary representation, with 1.01% of the total votes.<ref>[http://ukrweekly.com/archive/pdf3/2006/The_Ukrainian_Weekly_2006-14.pdf Party of the Regions, Tymoshenko Bloc top polls] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808055724/http://ukrweekly.com/archive/pdf3/2006/The_Ukrainian_Weekly_2006-14.pdf |date=8 August 2020 }}, [[The Ukrainian Weekly]] (2 April 2006) [summary of results right on the front page]<br>{{in lang|uk}} [http://sd.net.ua/2009/09/06/poltichna_partja_vseukranske_obdnannja_centr.html All-Ukrainian Union "Center"] entry at the Databases ASD: Political parties in Ukraine</ref> Medvedchuk did not take part in elections again until 2019.<ref name="chesnopolitician69769/"/>
In November 2008, Medvedchuk became a member of the [[Supreme Council of Justice (Ukraine)|Supreme Council of Justice]].<ref name="Medvedchukback2132012">[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/124660/ Medvedchuk says he returns to public politics], [[Kyiv Post]] (21 March 2012).</ref><ref>[http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-282673.html Medvedchuk returns to state power], [[UNIAN]] (5 November 2008).</ref> ''[[Focus (Ukrainian magazine)|Focus]]'' evaluated Medvedchuk's assets in 2008 to be worth $460 million and labeled him the 57th richest man of Ukraine.<ref name=LigaMedvedchuk/>
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Medvedchuk was an open and bitter critic of the [[Euromaidan|Euromaidan protest campaign]] of November 2013–February 2014 (initially aimed at reverting the [[second Azarov government]] decision to suspend [[Plan on Priority Measures for European Integration of Ukraine|preparations for signing]] an [[European Union Association Agreement|Association Agreement]] and [[Ukraine–European Union relations#Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA)|Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement]] with the [[European Union]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine drops EU plans and looks to Russia|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/11/ukraine-drops-eu-plans-looks-russia-20131121145417227621.html|access-date=24 November 2013|publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|date=21 November 2013}}</ref>). On 30 November, he condemned a series of protests, known as ''[[Euromaidan]]'', that supported closer ties between Ukraine and the EU.<ref name=anti-euromaidan>{{cite news|title=Medvedchuk condemns crackdown on Euromaidan protesters in Kyiv|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/medvedchuk-condemns-crackdown-on-euromaidan-protesters-in-kyiv-332705.html|access-date=4 December 2013|newspaper=Kviv Post|date=30 November 2013}}</ref> After one of his December 2013 meetings with Russia's president [[Vladimir Putin]], Medvedchuk publicly promised to "deal with" pro-European protesters in Ukraine.{{citation needed|date=January 2014}}
Euromaidan activists alleged that Medvedchuk was among the masterminds of the attempted murder of Ukrainian journalist [[Tetiana Chornovol]] on 25 December 2013.<ref>[http://ukr1.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/12/28/7008795/ Medvedchuk can be one among the others behinds the attack to Chornovol] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105011144/http://ukr1.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/12/28/7008795/ |date=5 January 2014 }} Ukrayinska Pravda, 28 December 2013.</ref> They called him a "perpetrator" and linked his name to the [[Euromaidan#30 November 2013 attack on protesters|bloody events]] of the government strike against the Euromaidan.<ref name="palace of Medvedchuk">[http://ukr1.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/12/29/7008823/ Activists came to Medvedchuk and have broken the gate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029101632/http://ukr1.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/12/29/7008823/ |date=29 October 2014 }} Ukrayinska Pravda, 29 December 2013.</ref> Considering all Medvedchuk's recent activity directed at pushing Ukraine into economic union with Russia, the Euromaidan activists came to one of the Medvedchuks' villas to protest.<ref name="palace of Medvedchuk"/>
The same day, Medvedchuk claimed that he was "ready for the war" with the Ukrainian opposition parties.<ref>[http://ukr1.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/12/29/7008828/ Medvedchuk to Euromaidan: You want a war? I'm skilled] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029101635/http://ukr1.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/12/29/7008828/ |date=29 October 2014 }} Ukrayinska Pravda, 29 December 2013.</ref> The next day, the ''[[Ukrayinska Pravda]]'' newspaper published an investigative article on Medvedchuk's allegedly illegal takeover of a government property back in 2004, while Head of Administration for the [[President of Ukraine|Ukrainian President]]. The source of the information was named as Mykhailo Chechetov (the state property chief at the time), who had been "forced" (in his own words) to help Medvedchuk in that deal.<ref>[http://ukr1.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/12/30/7008835/ People ask Medvedchuk to tell the history of his property] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029101638/http://ukr1.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/12/30/7008835/ |date=29 October 2014 }} Ukrayinska Pravda, 30 December 2013.</ref>
On 8 January 2014, Medvedchuk won a slander lawsuit against [[Oksana Zabuzhko]]. In an interview with [[Radio Liberty]] the writer had accused Medvedchuk of involvement in the provocations against Euromaidan on 30 November – 1 December (Medvedchuk had demanded a token amount of ₴0.25 as a compensation).<ref>[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/185234.html Medvedchuk wins slander lawsuit against Zabuzhko], [[Interfax-Ukraine]] (9 January 2014).</ref>
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On 24 June 2014, the [[Donetsk People's Republic]] (DPR) and [[Luhansk People's Republic]] (LPR) informed the [[OSCE]] that Medvedchuk was appointed their representative in the negotiations with the [[Ukrainian Government]].<ref>{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/06/24/7030023 The separatists have informed the OSCE that Medvedchuk – that their representative], [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (24 June 2014).</ref> On 8 July 2014, self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Donetsk People's Republic [[Alexander Borodai]] stated that Medvedchuk "has no right to represent either the Donetsk People's Republic or the Luhansk People's Republic" and that he was a "mediator in the negotiations".<ref>{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/07/8/7031310/ Boroday explained why the gunmen went to the Slavic and the sympathy for Medvedchuk], [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (8 July 2014).</ref> About the negotiations, Medvedchuk wrote on his [[Facebook]] page on 28 June 2014, "Hope that a compromise will be found has appeared and we'll manage to find a way of the present situation, retaining the territorial integrity of Ukraine and restoring peace".<ref>[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/211382.html Medvedchuk hopes compromise to be found during consultations on settling situation in east Ukraine], [[Interfax-Ukraine]] (28 June 2014).</ref>
On 8 July 2014, it was reported that Medvedchuk would not be involved in further negotiations with the separatists.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708213233/https://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/medvedchuk_wont_be_present_at_tripartite_talks_anymore_323527|archive-date=8 July 2014| access-date = 8 June 2021|url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/medvedchuk_wont_be_present_at_tripartite_talks_anymore_323527|title=Medvedchuk won't be present at tripartite talks anymore|work=UKR Inform|date=8 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ctv.by/en/minsk-hosting-ukraine-osce-russia-contact-group-meeting-to-settle-conflict-in-eastern-ukraine|title=Minsk hosting Ukraine-OSCE-Russia contact group meeting to settle conflict in eastern Ukraine|website=Столичное телевидение – СТВ|access-date=31 July 2014|archive-date=7 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407170948/http://www.ctv.by/en/minsk-hosting-ukraine-osce-russia-contact-group-meeting-to-settle-conflict-in-eastern-ukraine|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, in December 2014, he officially received the status of a negotiator from Ukraine on the exchange of prisoners with the separatists. He became Ukraine's special representative for humanitarian affairs in the [[Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine]] on 5 June 2015.<ref name="7296425Medvedchuk">{{in lang|uk}} [https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2021/06/8/7296425/ Medvedchuk negotiated gas with Russia and delayed the exchange of prisoners – film], [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (8 June 2021)</ref><ref>[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/330582.html Medvedchuk: Ukraine nixes '25-for-50' prisoner swap], [[Interfax-Ukraine]] (14 March 2014).</ref><ref>{{in lang|uk}} [http://ukranews.com/news/168686.Eks-zamglavi-Administratsii-Medvedchuk-budet-predstavlyat-Ukrainu-v-podgruppe-po-gumanitarnim-voprosam-trehstoronney-rabochey-gruppi.uk Medvedchuk will represent Ukraine in the subgroup of Humanitarian Affairs Tripartite Working Group 1852], [[Ukrainian News Agency]] (5 June 2015)</ref> In June 2021 Petro Poroshenko claimed that Medvedchuk had been involved in the prisoner exchange negotiations on the insistence of [[Russian President]] [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref name="7296823Poroshenko">{{in lang|uk}} [https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2021/06/10/7296823/ "Zombies" – Poroshenko commented on the investigation into "Medvedchuk's films"], [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (10 June 2021)</ref>
In an August 2016 interview with [[Radio Free Europe]], Medvedchuk urged the Ukrainian authorities to "reach a consensus" directly with the militant leadership ("DPR" and "LPR"), because, according to him, "there is no other way to return these territories".<ref name="7118613/Medvedchuk">{{in lang|uk}} [http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7118613/ Medvedchuk: De jure Crimea is Ukraine, but de facto Russia], [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (24 August 2016).</ref>
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== Return to the parliament ==
[[File:
In November 2018, Medvedchuk was elected chairman of the political council of (the political party) ''[[For life (political party)|For life]]''.<ref name="en.interfax.com.ua"/> In December 2018, this party merged into the [[Opposition Platform — For Life]] party.<ref name="603747HtvMedvedchuk">{{in lang|uk}} [https://hromadske.ua/posts/medvedchuk-ide-na-vibori-bez-opozicijnogo-bloku Medvedchuk goes to the polls without the "Opposition Bloc"], [[Hromadske.TV]] (6 June 2019).</ref> In the [[2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election]], the party won 37 seats on the nationwide party list and 6 constituency seats.<ref name="2748306cec100percentVM"/> In this election, Medvedchuk was placed third on the election list of ''Opposition Platform — For Life'' and thus elected to the Verkhovna Rada.<ref name="603747HtvMedvedchuk" /><ref name="2748306cec100percentVM"/>
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In January 2022, Medvedchuk was placed under sanctions by the [[United States]], accusing him of involvement in a plot to set up a collaborator government in the wake of a Russian invasion.<ref name="7339145Medvtheguardian">[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/12/ukraine-arrest-putin-ally-viktor-medvedchuk Ukraine announces arrest of Putin ally in ‘lightning-fast’ operation], [[The Guardian]] (13 April 2022)</ref>
==
{{main|
During [[Prelude to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|a massive build-up of Russian troops around Ukraine's borders]] in the first weeks of 2022, Medvedchuk was one of two people (the other one being [[Oleg Tsaryov]]) identified by the United States intelligence community as a possible Kremlin-supported choice to lead a pro-Russia puppet Ukrainian government.<ref name=MT15022022>{{cite news |url=https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2022/02/15/ssha-nazvali-direktora-krimskogo-sanatoriya-vozmozhnim-glavoi-marionetochnogo-pravitelstva-v-kieve-a17521 |title=США назвали нового возможного главу марионеточного правительства в Киеве: Вашингтон объясняет публикацию разведданных нежеланием дать Москве поводы для оправдания конфликта |trans-title=The United States named the new possible head of the puppet government in Kiev: Washington explains the publication of intelligence data as unwillingness to give Moscow reasons to justify the conflict |language=ru |work=[[Moscow Times]] |date=15 February 2022 |access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref>{{efn|The British government concurrently named [[Yevheniy Murayev]] as another potential Kremlin favorite to lead a puppet government.<ref name=MT15022022/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2022/01/24/muraev-a16809 |title=Кто такой Евгений Мураев, которого Лондон назвал возможным ставленником Москвы на Украине: Экс-депутат выступает против Зеленского и Медведчука, находится под российскими санкциями и называет конфликт в Донбассе внутренним делом Украины |trans-title=Who is Yevgeny Muraev, whom London called a possible protege of Moscow in Ukraine: The ex-deputy opposes Zelensky and Medvedchuk, is under Russian sanctions and calls the conflict in Donbas an internal affair of Ukraine |language=ru |work=[[Moscow Times]] |date=24 January 2022 |access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref>}}
On the opening day of the invasion, 24 February 2022, some analysts expected that Putin may have wanted to install Medvedchuk as [[president of Ukraine]] if Russian forces captured Kyiv.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 February 2022 |title=If Putin Picks Puppet Ukraine Leader, Viktor Medvedchuk is Odds-on Favorite |work=[[Newsweek]] |url=https://www.newsweek.com/if-putin-picks-puppet-ukraine-leader-viktor-medvedchuk-odds-favorite-1682429 |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref>{{efn|Although the capture of Kyiv appeared to be a primary Russian military goal in the first weeks of the war, on 2 April 2022 Russian forces abandoned their [[Kyiv offensive (2022)|Kyiv offensive]].<ref>[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/3/ukraine-retakes-whole-kyiv-region-as-russian-troops-pull-back Ukraine ‘retakes whole Kyiv region’ as Russia looks east], [[aljazeera.com]] (3 April 2022)</ref><ref>[https://www.itv.com/news/2022-03-23/russian-forces-capture-mariupol-rescue-workers-and-bus-drivers-ukraine-says Ukraine counterattacks could see Russian troops 'encircled' and Kyiv offensive halted], [[ITV News]] (23 March 2022)</ref>}} According to the sources of ''[[Ukrainska Pravda]]'' Ukrainian intelligence services believe that [[Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada]] (Ukraine's national parliament) [[Ruslan Stefanchuk]] was to be deposed on 27 February 2022 and Medvedchuk would have become
On 26 February 2022 Medvedchuk managed to prevent the expulsion of [[Illia Kyva]] from the parliamentary faction of [[Opposition Platform — For Life]] (Kyva had expressed his public support for the Russian invasion).<ref name="7391273Medvedchuk"/>
Medvedchuk escaped house arrest on 27 February 2022.<ref name="nypost.com20220302Medved">[https://nypost.com/2022/03/02/ukrainian-civilians-inspired-by-the-matrix-hunt-russian-saboteurs-in-kyiv/ Ukrainian civilians — inspired by ‘The Matrix’ — hunt Russian ‘saboteurs’ in Kyiv], [[New York Post]] (2 March 2022)</ref><ref name="621b84e39a794Медведчука7838893a2d9"/> The [[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ukraine)|Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs]] claimed that Medvedchuk had fled house arrest, while his lawyer claimed that he had been "evacuated to a safe place in Kyiv", after alleged threats had been made to his personal safety.<ref name="621b84e39a794Медведчука7838893a2d9">{{Cite web |title=МВД Украины сообщило о бегстве Медведчука из-под домашнего ареста |url=https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/621b84e39a7947838893a2d9 |access-date=27 February 2022 |website=РБК |date=27 February 2022 |language=ru}}</ref>
On 8 March 2022, Medvedchuk was deprived of the post of co-chairman of the political party Opposition Platform — For Life.<ref name="508614_boyko_stav"/>
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Medvedchuk's term as [[People's Deputy of Ukraine]] was [[People's Deputy of Ukraine#Termination of office|terminated]] by [[Verkhovna Rada|parliament]] on 13 January 2023.<ref name="Medvedchuk7384721">{{Cite web |title=The council took the mandates from Medvedchuk and 4 more nardeps
|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2023/01/13/7384721/|website=[[Ukrainska Pravda]]|access-date=2023-01-13|date=2022-01-13 |language=Ukrainian}}</ref> 320 members of parliament voted to strip Medvedchuk of his position as a
==Exile==
On 16 January
In April 2023 Medvedchuk created the "
In March 2024, the Czech Republic accused Medvedchuk of financing a pro-Russia propaganda network (the media outlet) ''[[Voice of Europe]]'' that paid European politicians in cash or [[cryptocurrency]] in an attempt to influence elections.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-03-28 |title=Russian network that 'paid European politicians' busted, authorities claim |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68685604 |access-date=2024-03-29 |work=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In exile Medvedchuk lost his right to practice law in Ukraine.<ref name="Medvedchuk=164003"/> He appealed this disbar, but his appeal was rejected by court on 9 February 2024 and on 11 June 2024 (by a higher court).<ref name="Medvedchuk=163646"/><ref name="Medvedchuk=164003"/>
In a 16 June 2024 interview with Russian news agency ''[[TASS]]'' Medvedchuk stated that Russia [[Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine|should occupy]] "[[Odesa]] and other cities" if Ukraine would reject [[Russian President]] [[Vladimir Putin]] [[Peace negotiations in the Russian invasion of Ukraine#June 2024|"another concrete, real peace proposal" of 14 June 2024]] of the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]].<ref name="Medvedchuk7461031">{{cite news |title=Former Ukrainian MP with ties to Putin urges Russia to occupy Odesa if Ukraine does not capitulate|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/06/16/7461031/|access-date=16 June 2024|work=[[Ukrainska Pravda]]|date=16 June 2024|language=English}}</ref><ref name="Медведчук21110081"/><ref name="Putin7460781">{{cite news |title=Putin lays out his terms for ceasefire in Ukraine|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c033eyyr20do|access-date=14 June 2024|work=[[BBC News]]|date=14 June 2024|language=English}}<br>{{cite news |title=Vladimir Putin issues fresh demands to Ukraine to end war|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/14/vladimir-putin-issues-fresh-demands-to-ukraine-to-end-war|access-date=14 June 2024|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=14 June 2024|language=English}}<br>{{cite news |title=Putin states Ukrainian Armed Forces must withdraw from 4 Ukrainian oblasts to begin peace talks|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/06/14/7460781/|access-date=14 June 2024|work=[[Ukrainska Pravda]]|date=14 June 2024|language=English}}</ref><ref name="Putin1803657"/> In this proposal Putin stated that the Russian annexation of the Ukrainian territories of [[Donetsk Oblast|Donetsk]], [[Luhansk Oblast|Luhansk]], [[Kherson Oblast|Kherson]] and [[Zaporizhzhia oblast]] and Ukrainian non-aligned status would "bring an end" to "the conflict".<ref name="Putin1803657">{{cite news |title=Russia makes another real peace proposal to Kiev — Putin|url=https://tass.com/politics/1803657|access-date=15 June 2024|work=[[TASS]]|date=14 June 2024|language=English}}</ref><ref name="Putin7460781"/><ref name="Medvedchuk7461031"/> On 14 June 2024 Russia was not holding all these territories Putin mentioned [[Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine|under its military control]].<ref name="Putin7460781"/> According to Medvedchuk this proposal was "the last chance to preserve the Ukrainian state" and (Medvedchuk also stated) that "Today, Ukraine cannot be considered a state with its illegitimate president, anti-people regime, legal nihilism and state [[Nazi ideology]]."<ref name="Медведчук21110081">{{cite news |title=Victor Medvedchuk: Putin's peace initiative — the last chance for Ukraine|url=https://tass.ru/interviews/21110081|access-date=16 June 2024|work=[[TASS]]|date=16 June 2024|language=Russian}}</ref> Medvedchuk also claimed that Ukraine "is a [[concentration camp]] for the [[Ukrainian people]], [[Ukrainian refugee crisis|from where everyone wants to run away]], except for a gang that is criminally in power."<ref name="Медведчук21110081"/> Medvedchuk also believed that current Ukraine was being "impose [[LGBT culture|LGBT values]] that are alien to traditional [[Ukrainian culture]]."<ref name="Медведчук21110081"/>
▲In April 2023 Medvedchuk created the "Second Ukraine" movement.<ref name="drugayaukraina32380806"/> This organisation claims that Ukraine is ruled by [[Nazi's]] and repeats other [[Disinformation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine#Russian themes|Russian disinformation]].<ref name="drugayaukraina32380806">[https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-skhemy-medvedchuk-drugaya-ukraina/32380806.html Medvedchuk recruited in his new « movement » in the Russian Federation accused in the state of political scientists and commentators who managed to escape from Ukraine – «Schems»], [[Radio Free Europe]] (26 April 2023) {{in lang|uk}}</ref> Various fugitives from Ukraine joined this organisation: political commentators (from already closed pro-Russian TV channels) like [[Ruslan Kotsaba]], deputies of local councils from Opposition Platform — For Life and other fled Ukrainians accused of treason and separatism by the Ukrainian authorities.<ref name="drugayaukraina32380806"/> In December 2023 a branch of "Second Ukraine", who claimed to be an international organisation, was opened in [[Serbia]].<ref>[https://www.unian.ua/politics/u-serbiji-zareyestruvali-filiyu-rosiyskoji-organizaciji-medvedchuka-drugaya-ukraina-12477651.html In Serbia, a branch of the Russian organization Medvedchuk "Drugaya Ukrain" was registered], [[UNIAN]] (7 December 2023) {{in lang|uk}}</ref>
==Personal life==
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==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Shuster|first=Simon|date=2 February 2021|title=The Untold Story of the Ukraine Crisis|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=https://time.com/6144109/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-viktor-medvedchuk/|access-date=13 February 2022|archive-url=|archive-date=}}
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