Leonid Kuchma

Leonid Danylovych Kuchma (in Ukrainian: ?????? ????????? ?????) (born August 9, 1938) was the second President of Ukraine from July 19, 1994, to January 23, 2005.

Role in the Crisis of 2004

Kuchma's role in the election's crisis of 2004 is not entirely clear. After the second round on November 22, 2004, it appeared that Yanukovych had won the election by fraud, which caused the opposition and independent observers to dispute the results, leading to the Orange Revolution.

Related Topics:
Election's crisis of 2004 - November 22 - 2004 - Orange Revolution

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Kuchma was urged by Yanukovych and Viktor Medvedchuk (the head of the presidential administration) to declare a state of emergency and hold the inauguration of Yanukovych. He denied the request by admittedly stating in a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin that he refused to pass the government into the hands of an alleged Donetsk criminal. At that time, however, Kuchma was himself blocked by protesters in his residence outside Kyiv, so he had effectively no power to pass. Later, Yanukovych publicly accused Kuchma of a betrayal.

Related Topics:
Vladimir Putin - Kyiv

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Nevertheless, Kuchma refused to officially dismiss Prime Minister Yanukovych after the parliament passed a motion of no confidence against the Cabinet on December 1, 2004.

Related Topics:
Motion of no confidence - December 1 - 2004

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Kuchma was present at the inauguration of President Yushchenko on January 23, 2005. Soon after, he left the country. He returned to Ukraine on March 5, 2005, for the funeral of Yuri Kravchenko.

Related Topics:
January 23 - 2005 - March 5 - Yuri Kravchenko

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