Viktor Yanukovych

Leader of the Ukrainian Party of Regions, Viktor Yanukovych served as the country's Prime Minister twice—from November 2002 to December 2004 and again from August 2006 to December 2007. He was the runner-up in the country's 2004 Presidential election and served as the Governor of Donetsk Oblast from 1997 to 2002.

Yanukovych's political career began with an appointment to the Donetsk Oblast Administration. He became the Head of the Administration in 1997, and in 1999, would also assume control of the Donetsk Oblast Rada (Council). Yanukovych is closely linked with the "clan of Donetsk," a business and political group with alleged ties to organized crime, and has been accused of having a secret relationship with the KGB. There is no documentation to support either of these allegations.