UKROP
UKROP (Ukrainian: УКРОП; literally "dill") short for the Ukrainian Association of Patriots (Українське об'єднання патріотів) is a Ukrainian patriotic[1] center-left[2] political party founded on 18 June 2015.[3] The head of the party's political council is oligarch[4] Hennadiy Korban.[5]
UKROP was established on the Ukrainian political landscape in the wake of the overthrow of Viktor Yanukovych[citation needed][relevant? ]. The core of the party comprises civil society activists, participants of Euromaidan, volunteers and members of Ukrainian territorial defense battalions.[6]
Name "Ukrop" firstly was Russian slang word, which means Ukrainian. But later, Ukrainians used this word with honor, not with shame.
History
On 2 December 2014, in the Ukrainian Parliament was established an inter-factional group called Ukrop.[7] It includes non-faction MPs Dmytro Yarosh, Andriy Biletsky, Boryslav Bereza, Borys Filatov and Volodymyr Parasiuk.[7] Following the resignation of multibillionaire Ihor Kolomoyskyi from post of governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, members of his team announced their intention to build a new political force.[8][9]
The political party Ukrop was founded on 18 June 2015,[3] transformed from the party Patriotic Alliance ("Патриотический альянс") registered on September 25, 2014[10] The head of the party's political council became oligarch[4] Hennadiy Korban.[5]
The party logo was designed earlier by Ukrainian artist Andriy Yermolenko to serve as a sleeve badge for the participants of the war in Donbass. The author released it for the use by the party for a symbolic fee of 1 hryvnia.[10] In its turn, the word "Ukrop" ("Укроп") used by Yermolenko was a repurposed Russian ethnic slur for Ukrainians.[11] According to Ukrainian media the party is allied to Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi. Korban was his deputy governor when Kolomoyskyi was governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast from 2 March 2014 till 24 March 2015.
The party's first political activity was when Korban took part in the 26 July 2015 parliamentary by-election in constituency 205 located in Chernihiv.[12] (He lost these elections to Serhiy Berezenko of Petro Poroshenko Bloc (who won with 35.90% of the vote).[12]) Korban took second place with 14.76%.[12] During the run-up to these elections Korban was repeatedly accused of bribing voters, the use of black PR and other violations (of the electoral legislation).[13] Berezenko was accused of employing these tactics as well.[13]
The party took part in the 25 October 2015 Ukrainian local elections,[5] with their best region being Dnipropetrovsk.[14] In this city its candidate Borys Filatov was elected Mayor.[15] Nationwide (in this election) the party won nationwide eight percent of the total vote.[16] This did not lead to being one of the top seat gainers of the elections.[17]
According to Ukrainian media the party is allied to Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi.[3][5][7][18][19] Korban was his deputy governor when Kolomoyskyi was governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast from 2 March 2014[20] till 24 March 2015.[21][21][22][22]
On 31 October 2015, Korban was arrested and suspected to be head of organized crime group.[23][24][25] The party claims offices of other party members and party offices were also searched by police.[26]
Ideology and political positions
Tom Burridge of BBC News has described UKROP as a centre-left party.[2]
The party itself claims it seeks a popular membership based on its platform uniting Ukrainian patriotism and social democracy.[citation needed]
The party also claims it seeks center-right economic reforms. "We support middle class entrepreneurship, de-monopolization, lowering trade barriers and simplification of tax laws, but with an emphasis on patriotism." [27]
References
- ↑ Democracy and Disorientation: Ukraine Votes in Local Elections by Balázs Jarábik, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (23 October 2015 )
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35060398
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ukrop political party launched by oligarch Kolomoisky obtains registration, Ukrinform (18 June 2015)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Top-100 the richest Ukrainians 2013 - Gennadiy Korban, site of the Forbes-Ukraine magazine, October, 15, 2013
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Ukrop party will run in local elections across Ukraine, Kyiv Post (July 27, 2015)
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Justice Ministry registered the party Kolomoisky, Korrespondent.net (18 June 2015)
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Партия "Укроп" и автор логотипа Ермоленко урегулировали вопрос авторских прав на символ партии"
- ↑ "Як українці стають «Укропами»", ("How Ukrainians become 'Ukrops'") Radio Liberty, Ukraininan redaction
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 With 100% of ballots counted in Rada by-election, Berezenko gets 35.90% of votes, Korban 14.76% – CEC, Interfax-Ukraine (28 July 2015)
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Корбан: Я потерял моральное право возглавлять политсовет партии "Укроп" "Гордон", .07.2015
This crazy Ukrainian election shows the country has a ways to go toward reform, Global Post (28 July 2015) - ↑ http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_five_lessons_from_the_local_elections_in_ukraine4087
- ↑ Borys Filatov becomes Dnipropetrovsk mayor – election commission, Ukrinform (18 November 2015)
- ↑ http://m.dw.com/ukrainian/mobile.A-18823569-657.html?maca=ukr-VGUS-Link-YedynkaUpMobileManual-dwukr
- ↑ Poroshenko Bloc, Batkivschyna, Nash Kray get largest number of seats in local councils – Ukrainian Voters Committee, Interfax-Ukraine (12 November 2015)
- ↑ http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/accusations-of-logo-theft-great-new-party-of-kolomoisky-allies-391409.html
- ↑ https://news.pn/en/politics/137658
- ↑ Ukraine Turns to Its Oligarchs for Political Help, nytimes.com (2 March 2014)
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 http://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraines-secret-weapon-feisty-oligarch-ihor-kolomoisky-1403886665
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 https://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/op-ed/we-will-continue-the-fight-for-ukraine-with-its-patriots-384565.html
- ↑ http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/300626.html
- ↑ http://www.unian.info/politics/1170105-sbu-suspects-korban-of-organized-crime-activity-confirms-detention.html
- ↑ http://www.unian.info/politics/1170018-sbu-pgo-on-a-large-scale-raid-in-dnipropetrovsk-over-500-officers-involved.html
- ↑ http://www.unian.info/society/1169941-ukrop-party-says-its-leader-korban-detained-in-dnipropetrovsk.html
- ↑ У Житомирі нардеп Купрій розповів про ідеологію партії «УКРОП» та представив голову її обласного осередку
