Oleksandr Turchynov facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oleksandr Turchynov
Олександр Турчинов
Turchynov in 2014
Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council
In office 16 December 2014 – 19 May 2019
President	Petro Poroshenko
Preceded by	Andriy Parubiy
Succeeded by	Oleksandr Danylyuk
Acting President of Ukraine
In office 23 February 2014 – 7 June 2014
Prime Minister	Himself (acting) Arseniy Yatsenyuk
Preceded by	Viktor Yanukovych
Succeeded by	Petro Poroshenko
Acting Prime Minister of Ukraine
In office 22 February 2014 – 27 February 2014
President	Himself (acting)
Preceded by	Serhiy Arbuzov (acting)
Succeeded by	Arseniy Yatsenyuk
In office 4 March 2010 – 11 March 2010
President	Viktor Yanukovych
Preceded by	Yulia Tymoshenko
Succeeded by	Mykola Azarov
Director of the Security Service of Ukraine
In office 4 February 2005 – 8 September 2005
President	Viktor Yushchenko
Prime Minister	Yulia Tymoshenko
Preceded by	Ihor Smeshko
Succeeded by	Ihor Drizhchanyi
Positions in the Verkhovna Rada Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada In office 22 February 2014 – 27 November 2014 Preceded by Volodymyr Rybak Succeeded by Volodymyr Groysman People's Deputy of Ukraine In office 12 May 1998 – 19 December 2007 Constituency Hromada, No. 12 (1998–2002) Batkivshchyna, No. 7 (2002–2005) Batkivshchyna, No. 2 (2005–2007) In office 12 December 2012 – 14 January 2015 Constituency Batkivshchyna, No. 4 (2012–2015) People's Front, No. 3
Personal details
Born	(1964-03-31) 31 March 1964 (age 61) Dnipropetrovsk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Dnipro, Ukraine)
Political party	European Solidarity (2020-present)
Other political affiliations	Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1987-1991) Hromada (1994–1999) Batkivshchyna (1999–2014) Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (2001–2012) Dictatorship Resistance Committee (2011–2014) People's Front (2014-2019)
Spouse	Hanna Turchynova
Children	Kyrylo
Alma mater	National Metallurgical Academy of Ukraine
Signature
Website	Official website: http://turchynov.com/
Military service
Allegiance	Ukraine

Oleksandr Valentynovych Turchynov (Ukrainian: Олександр Валентинович Турчинов; born 31 March 1964) is a Ukrainian politician, writer, and economist. He has held many important roles in the Ukrainian government.

In 2005, Turchynov was the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, which is like a national security agency. He also served as the acting President of Ukraine from February to June 2014. This happened after President Viktor Yanukovych left office. After that, he became the Chairman (speaker) of the Ukrainian Parliament until November 2014.

Turchynov also served as acting Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2010. He was the First Vice Prime Minister when the previous government was dismissed. He is a close friend and political partner of Yulia Tymoshenko, another well-known Ukrainian politician. In 2014, he helped start a new political party called People's Front. Later, in 2020, he joined the European Solidarity party.

Early Life and Career

Oleksandr Turchynov was born in Dnipropetrovsk, which is now called Dnipro in Ukraine. He finished his studies at the Dnipropetrovsk Metallurgical Institute in 1986. After college, he worked at a big steel company called Kryvorizhstal.

From 1987 to 1990, he worked for the Komsomol, which was a youth organization in the Soviet Union. He became an economic advisor to Leonid Kuchma, who later became Prime Minister of Ukraine. In 1993, Turchynov officially became an economic advisor to Prime Minister Kuchma.

Turchynov has been a long-time friend and political partner of Yulia Tymoshenko. In 1993, he helped create the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. In 1994, he started the political party Hromada. He also led the Economic Reforms Institute from 1994 to 1998.

Political Journey

Turchynov, Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Oleh Tyahnybok with a coalition agreement before the 2012 election.

Turchynov and Oleh Tyahnybok in parliament, 24 February 2014.

In 1998, Turchynov was elected to the Verkhovna Rada, which is the Ukrainian Parliament. He was part of the Hromada party. Later, he joined Yulia Tymoshenko's party, Batkivshchyna (Fatherland). He was re-elected to parliament in 2002 and 2006 with the BYuT political group.

On 4 February 2005, Turchynov became the first civilian head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). This is a very important security role.

In 2008, he ran for Mayor of Kyiv, the capital city. He came in second place in that election.

In 2010, after the government led by Yulia Tymoshenko was dismissed, Turchynov took over as acting Prime Minister. He served in this role until a new government was formed on 11 March 2010.

In 2012, he was re-elected to the Verkhovna Rada as part of the Batkivshchyna party.

Events of 2014

In February 2014, during a time of political change in Ukraine (known as Euromaidan), the parliament passed a law that brought back earlier changes to the constitution. This law was approved by many members of parliament.

On 22 February 2014, Turchynov was elected as the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada. The next day, on 23 February 2014, he was named the interim President of Ukraine. This happened after President Viktor Yanukovych left office. On 25 February, Turchynov took command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

In early March 2014, Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, said he did not see Turchynov as the rightful Ukrainian President.

When unmarked soldiers with Russian flags started taking over government buildings in eastern Ukraine, Turchynov asked them to leave and talk. When they refused, he approved a large-scale operation to restore order.

On 14 April 2014, Turchynov spoke with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. He asked for the UN's help with the situation in eastern Ukraine. Turchynov also gave a deadline for the pro-Russian groups to disarm, but they did not.

Petro Poroshenko was elected President of Ukraine on 25 May 2014. When Poroshenko officially became president on 7 June 2014, Turchynov's time as acting president ended.

On 10 September 2014, Turchynov became a founding member of the new party called People's Front.

In an interview, Turchynov said that in 2014, he personally gave weapons to volunteers who wanted to defend Ukraine. He mentioned that they didn't check everyone's background at that time, only if they were ready to protect the country.

On 16 December 2014, President Poroshenko appointed Turchynov as the Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine. He held this important security position until May 2019.

In November 2018, Turchynov was included in a list of Ukrainian officials sanctioned by Russia.

In May 2019, after the Ukrainian elections, he resigned from his role as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. His resignation was accepted on 19 May.

In June 2020, Turchynov became the head of the election campaign for the European Solidarity party.

Business Activities

Oleksandr Turchynov has connections to various business activities. For example, in 2014, he publicly supported a small mineral water company called Tarasove Dzherelo.

Reports suggest that some businesses in the Turchynov family are managed by his mother-in-law, Tamara Beliba, his mother Valentina, and his wife Anna. These businesses include economic research, making films, offering communication services, and building data centers.

One journalistic investigation in 2017 suggested a connection between Turchynov and some companies that own many currency exchange offices in Ukraine.

Other Activities

In 2004, Turchynov wrote a book called Illusion of Fear. In 2005, he also wrote the script for a movie based on his book. The movie was released in Ukraine in 2008.

Earnings and Possessions

According to his official declaration in 2019, Turchynov received a salary and income from bank deposits. He also declared having money in bank accounts and cash.

Turchynov owns a collection of old Bibles and paintings. He also has copyrights for his books and films. His wife also declared her income. Oleksandr Turchynov declared owning a 2018 TOYOTA LC 150 Prado car and a 2015 LEXUS LX570 car.

Awards and Recognition

Oleksandr Turchynov has received several awards.

On 31 October 2014, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine awarded Turchynov a special pistol for his work during the war in Donbas. He has also received other award weapons, including a revolver, a pistol machine gun, and an old Mauser pistol.

In May 2016, it was confirmed that Turchynov was awarded a Maxim's machine gun.

On 2 May 2018, the President of Ukraine awarded him the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of the Fifth Class, which is a high honor.

Personal Life

Oleksandr Turchynov's wife, Hanna Turchynova, was born in 1970. She works as a dean at a university. They have one son named Kyrylo, who was born in 1994.

Turchynov is a member of the Baptist faith. He serves as an elder and sometimes preaches at his church in Kyiv. Some people have given him the nickname "Bloody Pastor," which he finds ironic.

See also

In Spanish: Oleksandr Turchínov para niños