Kuchma Leonid Danylovych

Second President of Ukraine, "Father of the Constitution" known for the "Melnychenko Tapes" and EU entry ban

Born on August 9, 1938, in the village of Chaikine, Chernihiv region. Graduated from Dnipropetrovsk University (mechanical mathematician, 1960). Rocket engineer at Pivdenmash, from 1975 started a party career at the plant. Prime Minister (1992–1993). Second President of Ukraine (1994–2005) — re-elected in 1999 in the second round against Symonenko. Author of the book "Ukraine Is Not Russia" (2003). Participant in peace negotiations in the format of the "Trilateral Contact Group" (2014–2022). Father of Olena Pinchuk, father-in-law of Viktor Pinchuk.

"Melnychenko Tapes," Gongadze case and EU entry ban

In 2000, journalist Heorhiy Gongadze disappeared and was later found decapitated. Melnychenko's bodyguard secretly recorded conversations in Kuchma's office — on the tapes, the president allegedly ordered to "deal with" Gongadze. Kuchma denied involvement; the case never reached a final judicial resolution concerning him personally. In 2011, the General Prosecutor's Office charged Kuchma with abuse of power in the Gongadze case; in 2013, the court closed the proceedings. In 2011, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and the Czech Republic imposed entry bans on Kuchma in connection with the Gongadze case. Poland and other EU countries unofficially followed similar practices. Kuchma lived until the full-scale invasion and publicly condemned Russia.