1. From 1994 to 1999, Lytvyn was the aide to President Leonid Kuchma and, later, the head of his office.
19 Facts About Volodymyr Lytvyn
1. 2.
Volodymyr Lytvyn was born in Sloboda-Romanivska village in the Novohrad-Volynskyi Raion of the Zhytomyr Oblast.
3.
Volodymyr Lytvyn graduated from the Kyiv University in 1978.
4.
Volodymyr Lytvyn started his career at the Kyiv State University, then he worked as Head of Directorate in the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Vocational Training of the Ukrainian SSR.
5.
Volodymyr Lytvyn is a correspondent member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Honored Worker of Sciences and Technology of Ukraine.
6.
Volodymyr Lytvyn's hobbies include reading, football, and taking care of dalmatian dogs.
7.
In 1994, Volodymyr Lytvyn became the aide to the newly elected President Leonid Kuchma.
8.
Volodymyr Lytvyn is alleged to have said that Kuchma should "let loose [Interior Minister] Kravchenko to use alternative methods" on Gongadze.
9.
Volodymyr Lytvyn denied the allegation, saying that the tape was a fabrication.
10.
Volodymyr Lytvyn stated "The investigation confirmed my innocence in this case, despite the fact that efforts have been, are being and will be taken to make me practically the main person accused [of killing the journalist]".
11.
In 2002, Volodymyr Lytvyn was elected to Verkhovna Rada as the head of the party bloc For United Ukraine.
12.
Volodymyr Lytvyn became the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of the legislature as a compromising figure among the parliamentary factions.
13.
Volodymyr Lytvyn refused to take part in the presidential election of 2004 despite his significant political influence.
14.
Volodymyr Lytvyn's allies declared the voting results forged, filing a court suit and starting a public campaign.
15.
However, Volodymyr Lytvyn himself avoids press and shows deep disappointment since the results announced.
16.
On December 6,2009, Mykola Melnychenko, former bodyguard to Kuchma, accused Volodymyr Lytvyn of ordering the murder of journalist Georgiy Gongadze in 2000.
17.
Volodymyr Lytvyn took part in the 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election as a People's Party candidate in single-member districts number 65 located in Narodychi Raion.
18.
Volodymyr Lytvyn won a parliamentary seat by winning this constituency.
19.
Volodymyr Lytvyn did not join any parliamentary faction after taking his seat.