Yulia Tymoshenko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yulia Tymoshenko
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Юлія Тимошенко
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Tymoshenko in 2018
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| Prime Minister of Ukraine | |
| In office 18 December 2007 – 4 March 2010 |
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| President | |
| Deputy | Oleksandr Turchynov |
| Preceded by | Viktor Yanukovych |
| Succeeded by | Oleksandr Turchynov (acting) |
| In office 24 January 2005 – 8 September 2005 Acting: 24 January 2005 – 4 February 2005 |
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| President | Viktor Yushchenko |
| Deputy | Anatoliy Kinakh |
| Preceded by | Mykola Azarov |
| Succeeded by | Yuriy Yekhanurov |
| Deputy Prime Minister for Energy and Coal Mining |
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| In office 30 December 1999 – 19 January 2001 |
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| President | Leonid Kuchma |
| Prime Minister | Viktor Yushchenko |
| People's Deputy of Ukraine | |
| Assumed office 27 November 2014 |
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In office
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| Personal details | |
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Yulia Volodymyrivna Hrihyan
27 November 1960 Dnipropetrovsk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Political party | Batkivshchyna (since 1999) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse |
Oleksandr Tymoshenko
(m. 1979) |
| Children | Eugenia Tymoshenko |
| Alma mater |
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Yulia Tymoshenko
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| Deputy |  People's Deputy of Ukraine |
Yulia Volodymyrivna Tymoshenko (born November 27, 1960) is a well-known Ukrainian politician. She made history as the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of Ukraine, holding the position twice: first in 2005, and again from 2007 to 2010. She has also been a member of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) many times since 1997.
Tymoshenko leads the Batkivshchyna political party. She strongly supports Ukraine joining the European Union and the NATO military alliance. She believes these steps are important for Ukraine's future and safety.
She was a key leader in the Orange Revolution, a series of protests in 2004 that changed Ukraine's political landscape. Forbes magazine even named her one of the world's most powerful women in 2005.
After her time as prime minister, Tymoshenko faced legal challenges that many saw as politically motivated. She was released from prison in 2014 after the Revolution of Dignity. She has continued to be an active figure in Ukrainian politics, running for president multiple times and leading her party in parliament.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Yulia Hrihyan was born on November 27, 1960, in Dnipropetrovsk, which was then part of the Soviet Union. Her mother, Lyudmila Telehina, was born in 1937 in the same city. Yulia's father, Volodymyr Hrihyan, left the family when she was very young, so she used her mother's last name.
School and University
In 1977, Tymoshenko finished high school in Dnipropetrovsk. She then studied at the Dnipropetrovsk Mining Institute in 1978. The next year, she moved to Dnipropetrovsk State University, where she studied economics and graduated with honors in 1984.
Later, in 1999, she earned a Ph.D. in economics from Kyiv National Economic University. Her research focused on how governments manage tax systems.
Business Career
Before becoming a politician, Tymoshenko was a successful businesswoman in the natural gas industry. She became one of the wealthiest people in Ukraine.
After university, she worked as an engineer-economist at a machine-building plant until 1988. Then, she and her husband, Oleksandr Tymoshenko, started a video-rental company.
In 1991, she helped create "The Ukrainian Petrol Corporation," which supplied fuel to farms. This company later became United Energy Systems of Ukraine (UESU) in 1995. Tymoshenko was the president of UESU until 1997. During this time, she was sometimes called the "gas princess" because of her role in importing Russian natural gas. She claimed that under her leadership, Ukraine paid off its large debt for Russian gas.
When she entered politics, her company faced legal issues. However, many of these accusations were later dismissed or closed.
Political Journey
Tymoshenko began her political career in 1996 when she was elected to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament. She won with a very high percentage of votes.
In parliament, she became an important figure and was chosen to lead the Budget Committee. In 1999, she formed her own political group, the All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland", which later became a political party. This party became a strong voice against the government at the time.
Deputy Prime Minister for Energy
From late 1999 to early 2001, Tymoshenko served as the Deputy Prime Minister for the fuel and energy sector. She worked to improve how Ukraine collected money from the electricity industry. She made sure that businesses paid for their electricity in cash, which helped the government have enough money to pay public workers and increase salaries.
In 2001, she was dismissed from her role. She then became a leader in protests against the government, joining the "Ukraine without Kuchma" movement.
Fighting for Change
In 2001, Tymoshenko founded the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, a political group that gained significant support in the 2002 parliamentary election. She has been the head of the Batkivshchyna party since it was formed in 1999.
She faced legal challenges during this period, but a court later found the accusations against her to be without basis. Many believed these challenges were politically motivated.
Role in the Orange Revolution
In 2004, Tymoshenko joined forces with Viktor Yushchenko to create a strong opposition movement against the government. She decided not to run for president herself, instead supporting Yushchenko. They formed a coalition called "Force of the People."
Tymoshenko actively campaigned for Yushchenko across Ukraine. After the presidential election in October 2004, there were many claims of fraud. Tymoshenko encouraged people to wear orange, the color of Yushchenko's campaign, and to gather in Kyiv's Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti).
On November 22, 2004, huge protests erupted across Ukraine. These protests became known as the Orange Revolution. Tymoshenko's powerful speeches on the Maidan helped keep the protests going. Her popularity grew, and she was often called the "Joan of Arc" of the Revolution or the "Queen of the Orange Revolution."
The Supreme Court of Ukraine eventually canceled the election results, and a new vote was held. Yushchenko won, and Tymoshenko's efforts were seen as crucial to this outcome.
First Term as Prime Minister (2005)
On January 24, 2005, Yulia Tymoshenko became the acting prime minister of Ukraine under President Yushchenko. On February 4, parliament officially approved her appointment, making her the first woman to hold this high office in Ukraine.
In July 2005, Forbes magazine recognized Tymoshenko as the third most powerful woman in the world. However, her government faced internal disagreements within the "Orange Revolution" team.
On September 8, 2005, President Yushchenko dismissed her government. He criticized her work, saying it led to economic problems and political conflicts. Tymoshenko, in turn, blamed Yushchenko's close advisors for working against her. Her approval ratings were rising at this time, while Yushchenko's were falling.
Opposition and Elections
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After being dismissed, Tymoshenko began campaigning for the 2006 parliamentary election. Her Bloc came in second, winning many seats. She aimed to become prime minister again and tried to form a coalition with Yushchenko's party.
However, these talks were difficult. Eventually, another party joined with Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions, leading to Yanukovych becoming prime minister. Tymoshenko's party then became a strong opposition force.
In 2007, Tymoshenko and her supporters took steps to force an early parliamentary election. This election, held on September 30, 2007, saw the "Orange Revolution" parties win a majority of votes.
Second Term as Prime Minister (2007–2010)
On December 18, 2007, Tymoshenko was again elected prime minister, leading her second government. Her time in office coincided with the 2008 global financial crisis, which brought many economic challenges to Ukraine.
Her government also focused on fighting corruption. A major issue during this period was a gas dispute with Russia in 2009. Tymoshenko worked to establish direct gas deals between Ukraine and Russia, aiming to remove middlemen. After intense negotiations, she reached an agreement that set a new price for gas supplies to Ukraine.
2010 Presidential Election
Tymoshenko ran for president in the 2010 Ukrainian presidential election. She was a strong candidate but lost to Viktor Yanukovych in the final round. She received 45.47% of the votes, while Yanukovych received 48.95%.
She claimed there was widespread vote rigging and challenged the results in court. However, she later withdrew her appeal, stating that the court was biased. She did not call for street protests, saying she would not allow civil conflict.
After 2010: Opposition and Legal Challenges
After the 2010 election, Tymoshenko's government was dismissed. She then became a leading figure in the parliamentary opposition. She was very critical of the new government, accusing them of harming Ukraine's interests.
Legal Cases and Imprisonment
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Starting in 2010, the Ukrainian Prosecutor's Office opened several legal cases against Tymoshenko. These cases prevented her from traveling and participating in normal political activities. Many international organizations and countries, including the United States and European Union, viewed these cases as politically motivated.
In October 2011, a court found Tymoshenko guilty of exceeding her powers as prime minister related to a gas deal signed with Russia in 2009. She was sentenced to seven years in prison. She appealed the sentence, comparing it to historical injustices.
She was transferred to a penal colony in Kharkiv in December 2011. Her husband, Oleksandr, was granted asylum in the Czech Republic. Tymoshenko also went on hunger strikes to protest her situation.
The European Court of Human Rights later ruled that her pre-trial detention had been unfair. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recognized her as a political prisoner. The European Union also paused agreements with Ukraine due to concerns about her case.
Release from Prison (2014)
Following the Revolution of Dignity in February 2014, the Ukrainian Parliament voted for Tymoshenko's release. On February 22, 2014, she was released from the hospital where she had been receiving treatment under guard. Her release was welcomed by leaders around the world.
Soon after, the Supreme Court of Ukraine closed the "gas case" against Tymoshenko, stating there was no criminal act. She was fully rehabilitated, meaning her rights were restored.
Political Activities After Release
After her release, Yulia Tymoshenko immediately traveled to Kyiv and spoke to protesters on Maidan. She met with international officials and called for action to stop what she described as "Russian aggression" against Ukraine.
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On March 27, 2014, Tymoshenko announced she would run in the 2014 Ukrainian presidential election. Her campaign focused on fighting corruption, supporting Ukraine's European path, and countering Russian aggression. She came in second place in the election, behind Petro Poroshenko.
In the 2014 parliamentary election, her "Fatherland" party received enough votes to gain seats in parliament, and Tymoshenko became a faction leader again. She has continued to work on reforming her party.
Later Elections and Parliamentary Work
Tymoshenko ran for president again in the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election. She was a strong contender in opinion polls for a long time. However, she came in third place in the first round and did not advance to the second round.
In the 2019 parliamentary election, her "Fatherland" party again secured seats in parliament. Tymoshenko became a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Policy. Her work in parliament has focused on issues like opposing the sale of agricultural land and pushing for lower energy prices for citizens.
She has also been active in humanitarian efforts, especially during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. She urged international organizations to protect Ukraine and helped evacuate sick children and provide humanitarian aid. She continues to advocate for Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO and for rebuilding global security.
Political Beliefs
Tymoshenko strongly believes Ukraine should become a member of the European Union and NATO. She thinks this is important for Ukraine's security and future. She also believes that the Ukrainian people should decide on joining any security system through a referendum.
She sees Ukraine as a single, united country and opposes any separatist movements. She believes that issues surrounding the Russian language in Ukraine are often exaggerated. She does not support making Russian a second official state language.
Tymoshenko has written about her concerns regarding Russian expansionism. She believes Ukraine's economy has too many monopolies and is against privatizing Ukraine's gas transportation system. She also wants to make the tax system simpler and provide tax breaks for new technologies.
She supports raising social standards, improving healthcare, and providing compensation for lost savings from the Soviet era. She also wants to increase Ukraine's energy independence by exploring for more oil and natural gas and developing nuclear power.
Tymoshenko is in favor of removing immunity from prosecution for members of parliament. She wants to reform the court system and give more power to local governments. She believes in building a strong civil society to support democracy.
Family Life
Yulia Tymoshenko's mother is Lyudmila Mykolayivna Telehina. Her father is Volodymyr Abramovych Hrihyan.
In 1979, Yulia married businessman Oleksandr Tymoshenko. They have one daughter, Yevhenia (Eugenia) Tymoshenko, who was born in 1980. Eugenia studied at the London School of Economics.
Tymoshenko and her husband rent a house in Kyiv and own an apartment in Dnipro. She has stated that she does not use state-owned summer houses, unlike many other officials.
In her free time, she enjoys exercising and listening to classical music. She has also expressed admiration for peaceful revolutions in other countries.
In August 2020, Tymoshenko tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized in serious condition. She recovered and returned to her political activities.
Public Image and Recognition
Tymoshenko is known for her passionate public speaking. Her strong words helped make her a symbol of the Orange Revolution.
While some critics have questioned how she gained her wealth, many voters believed her shift from businesswoman to reformer was genuine.
Forbes magazine has ranked Tymoshenko among the most powerful women in the world three times. In 2005, she was ranked third. She has also been named "Personality of the Year" by Ukrainian magazines and was the most popular politician on the internet in Ukraine for several years.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin once said he found it comfortable to work with Tymoshenko and praised her for strengthening Ukraine's independence. However, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, once an ally, later became a strong critic, accusing her of acting in Russia's interests.
Tymoshenko has received several awards for her contributions to democracy and governance, including the "Person of the year in Central and Eastern Europe" award and the "For Political Courage" award from a French magazine. In March 2023, she received the Bush-Thatcher Award for Freedom and Democracy.
Images for kids
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U.S. President George W. Bush and Tymoshenko, Kyiv, April 1, 2008
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Tymoshenko and President of Poland Lech Kaczyński, February 14, 2008
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Tymoshenko in November 2009
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Yulia Tymoshenko (first round) – percentage of total national vote (25%)
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Yulia Tymoshenko (second round) – percentage of total national vote (45%)
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Tymoshenko in September 2010
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Tymoshenko and Mikheil Saakashvili, September 2010
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Meeting between Tymoshenko and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (Kyiv, June 2, 2010)
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Yulia Tymoshenko in 2011
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Yulia Tymoshenko, May 21, 2019
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See also
In Spanish: Yulia Timoshenko para niños
