Oleksandr TURCHYNOV

Oleksandr Turchynov is a Ukrainian politician, writer and economist. He is the current Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine.

Mr. Turchynov is a former acting President of Ukraine from the removal from power of President Viktor Yanukovych on 21 February 2014 until Petro Poroshenko was sworn in as Ukrainian President on 7 June 2014. He then became Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament until 27 November 2014. Mr. Turchynov also served as acting Prime Minister in 2010.

He graduated from the Dnipropetrovsk Metallurgical Institute in 1986, after which he worked at Kryvorizhstal, a large Ukrainian steel producer. From 1987 to 1990, he served as head of the agitation and propaganda division of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Committee. In 1993 Mr. Turchynov was appointed an advisor on economic issues to Prime Minister.

In 1998, he was elected to parliament. He was also re-elected to parliament in 2002, 2006, 2012 and 2014.

On 4 February 2005, Mr.Turchynov was appointed and served as the first‐ever civilian head of the Security Service of Ukraine.

On 4 March 2010 Oleksandr Turchynov was empowered to fulfill the Prime Minister's duties until a new government was formed.

On 22 February 2014, he was elected as speaker of Verkhovna Rada. On 23 February 2014, Oleksandr  Turchynov was designated as acting President of Ukraine following the impeachment of Viktor Yanukovych. On 25 February Turchynov assumed the (Presidential power of) command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

On 10 September 2014, he became founding member the new party People's Front.

On 16 December 2014, President Poroshenko appointed Turchynov as Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine.