UKROP

UKROP logo

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. The core of the party comprises civil society activists, participants of Euromaidan, volunteers and members of Ukrainian territorial defense battalions.[6]

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.

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

  1. ↑ Democracy and Disorientation: Ukraine Votes in Local Elections by Balázs Jarábik, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (23 October 2015 )
  2. 1 2 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35060398
  3. 1 2 3 Ukrop political party launched by oligarch Kolomoisky obtains registration, Ukrinform (18 June 2015)
  4. 1 2 Top-100 the richest Ukrainians 2013 - Gennadiy Korban, site of the Forbes-Ukraine magazine, October, 15, 2013
  5. 1 2 3 4 Ukrop party will run in local elections across Ukraine, Kyiv Post (July 27, 2015)
  6. ↑ "Local elections 2015". УКРОП. Українське об'єднання патріотів. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  7. 1 2 3 Justice Ministry registered the party Kolomoisky, Korrespondent.net (18 June 2015)
  8. ↑ "Борис Филатов: В Днепропетровске сейчас не просто паника — там психоз - ФОКУС". ФОКУС. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  9. ↑ #БУКВЫ. "Геннадий Корбан без Коломойского. Интервью". bykvu.com. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  10. 1 2 "Партия "Укроп" и автор логотипа Ермоленко урегулировали вопрос авторских прав на символ партии"
  11. ↑ "Як українці стають «Укропами»", ("How Ukrainians become 'Ukrops'") Radio Liberty, Ukraininan redaction
  12. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 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)
  14. ↑ http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_five_lessons_from_the_local_elections_in_ukraine4087
  15. ↑ Borys Filatov becomes Dnipropetrovsk mayor – election commission, Ukrinform (18 November 2015)
  16. ↑ http://m.dw.com/ukrainian/mobile.A-18823569-657.html?maca=ukr-VGUS-Link-YedynkaUpMobileManual-dwukr
  17. ↑ Poroshenko Bloc, Batkivschyna, Nash Kray get largest number of seats in local councils – Ukrainian Voters Committee, Interfax-Ukraine (12 November 2015)
  18. ↑ http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/accusations-of-logo-theft-great-new-party-of-kolomoisky-allies-391409.html
  19. ↑ https://news.pn/en/politics/137658
  20. ↑ Ukraine Turns to Its Oligarchs for Political Help, nytimes.com (2 March 2014)
  21. 1 2 http://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraines-secret-weapon-feisty-oligarch-ihor-kolomoisky-1403886665
  22. 1 2 https://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/op-ed/we-will-continue-the-fight-for-ukraine-with-its-patriots-384565.html
  23. ↑ http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/300626.html
  24. ↑ http://www.unian.info/politics/1170105-sbu-suspects-korban-of-organized-crime-activity-confirms-detention.html
  25. ↑ http://www.unian.info/politics/1170018-sbu-pgo-on-a-large-scale-raid-in-dnipropetrovsk-over-500-officers-involved.html
  26. ↑ http://www.unian.info/society/1169941-ukrop-party-says-its-leader-korban-detained-in-dnipropetrovsk.html
  27. ↑ У Житомирі нардеп Купрій розповів про ідеологію партії «УКРОП» та представив голову її обласного осередку

External links

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