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'''Viktor Volodymyrovych Medvedchuk''' ({{lang-uk|Віктор Володимирович Медведчук}}; born 7 August 1954), also known as '''Viktor Vladimirovich Medvedchuk''' ({{lang-ru|Виктор Владимирович Медведчук}}), is a former<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kochubey |first=Bogdan |date=2023-01-11 |title=Zelenskiy strips Putin ally Medvedchuk, three others of Ukrainian citizenship |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/zelenskiy-strips-putin-ally-medvedchuk-three-others-ukrainian-citizenship-2023-01-11/ |access-date=2023-01-26}}</ref> Ukrainian lawyer, [[business oligarch]], and politician who has lived in exile in [[Russia]]<ref name="Medvedchuk7389718">{{Cite news |date=16 February 2023|access-date=16 February 2023|language=English|title=I currently live in Moscow on permanent basis "by necessity" – Medvedchuk|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/02/16/7389718/|work=[[Ukrainska Pravda]]}}</ref> since September 2022 after being handed over to Russia in a prisoner exchange.<ref name="a7a78861878Medvedchuk">{{Cite web |title=Putin Ally Medvedchuk, 55 Servicemen Freed in Swap With Ukraine|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/09/22/putin-ally-medvedchuk-55-servicemen-freed-in-swap-with-ukraine-a78861|website=[[Moscow Times]]|access-date=2022-09-22|date=2022-09-22 |language=English}}</ref><ref name="7368588Medvedchuk"/><ref name=VirtualPoliticsWilson>{{cite book |title=Virtual Politics: Faking Democracy in the Post-Soviet World |
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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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
== First parliamentary tenure ==
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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>}} ▼
▲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 Chairman in the place of Stefanchuk{{efn|In order to make this plan (Medvedchuk becoming [[Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada]] (Ukraine's national parliament)) a reality he would have needed 226 votes from his fellow MP's while his own party [[Opposition Platform — For Life]] had only 44 seats and no allies in parliament.<ref name="7391273Medvedchuk"/>}} and, with President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] being deposed, accordingly acting president.<ref name="7391273Medvedchuk"/> [[Timeline of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation#February 27|This day eight years earlier pro-Russian gunmen seized]] [[Supreme Council of Crimea|Crimea's parliament]] [[Building of the Supreme Council of Crimea|building]] and [[Council of Ministers of Crimea|Council of Ministers]] building.<ref name="7391273Medvedchuk">{{Cite news |date=5 March 2023|access-date=6 March 2023|language=English|title=Kremlin's two plans. Who would govern Ukraine if Kyiv fell|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/articles/2023/03/5/7391273/|work=[[Ukrainska Pravda]]}}</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 2023 Medvedchuk published an article in the Russian newspaper ''[[Izvestia]]'' in which he blamed "the collective West" for creating the conditions that lead to what he labelled the "Ukrainian conflict," and advocated for taking Russian interests into account.<ref name="Medvedchuk7385021">{{Cite web |title=Medvedchuk writes article about Ukraine, threatening that war will spread to other European countries|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/01/16/7385021/|website=[[Ukrainska Pravda]]|access-date=2023-01-16|date=2023-01-16 |language=English}}</ref><ref name="Medvedchuk1454275"/> In the article, Medvedchuk did not mention, nor condemn, the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref name="Medvedchuk1454275">{{Cite web |title=Ukrainian syndrome. Anatomy of the modern military confrontation|url=https://iz.ru/1454275/viktor-medvedchuk/ukrainskii-sindrom-anatomiia-sovremennogo-voennogo-protivostoianiia|website=[[Izvestia]]|access-date=2023-01-16|date=2022-01-16 |language=russian}}</ref><ref name="Medvedchuk7385021"/> Reporting about this [[opinion piece]], Russia's ''[[TASS news agency|TASS]]'' news agency stated that this was "his first article for the Russian media after arriving in Russia from Ukraine as a result of a detainee exchange."<ref name="1562797Medvedchuk">{{Cite web |title=Medvedchuk publishes first article in Russian daily on situation in Ukraine after swap|url=https://tass.com/politics/1562797|access-date=2023-01-16|website=[[TASS news agency]]|date=2023-01-16|language=English}}</ref>
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"/>
==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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