Former Yanukovych Associates Hired in Russian State Duma: Which Positions They Received

Associates of former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych joined the new composition of the Russian State Duma and received leadership positions in parliamentary committees. Among them are former National Bank of Ukraine head Serhiy Arbuzov, former Ukrainian officials, and heads of occupation administrations. Russian outlets called this an informal “Yanukovych faction.” Russian media report this, according to Hlavcom.

In particular, Serhiy Arbuzov, who under Yanukovych headed the government and the National Bank of Ukraine, became the first deputy chair of the State Duma Committee on Energy. He entered the Russian parliament from the A Just Russia party.

Another former high-ranking Ukrainian official, Dmytro Vorona, served under Yanukovych as deputy minister of internal affairs and deputy minister of justice, and later led the State Registration Service of Ukraine. In 2022, the occupation authorities appointed him a Russian senator from the seized part of Zaporizhzhia region. He has now become a State Duma deputy.

Which positions did the former Ukrainian officials receive

Halyna Danylchenko, who after the takeover of Melitopol headed the city’s occupation administration, became the first deputy chair of the State Duma Committee on Family Protection.

Yanina Pavlenko, the former director of the Massandra enterprise and head of the Russian occupation administration in Yalta, received the post of deputy chair of the Committee on Agrarian Issues.

Tetyana Lobach, who before the occupation represented the Party of Regions in Sevastopol, became the first deputy chair of the Committee on Tourism. She has been serving in the State Duma since 2021 and was re-elected in the Sevastopol constituency.

According to the outlet Mozhem Ob’yasnyty, all the mentioned politicians, except Arbuzov, entered the State Duma from United Russia. They received positions in committees that oversee energy, family protection, agrarian issues, and tourism.

What is known about the cases against the former Yanukovych associates

There are criminal proceedings in Ukraine against some of these politicians. Dmytro Vorona was convicted in absentia to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property for aiding the aggressor state. Halyna Danylchenko is accused of collaborationist activity, Yanina Pavlenko is suspected of the same activity, and Tetyana Lobach is accused of treason.

It is worth recalling that in the State Duma cafeteria at the start of the autumn session they renamed the Kyiv-style cutlet. Now the price tag next to the dish reads the name “cutlet with butter.”