Moroz Oleksandr Oleksandrovych

Twice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, initiator of the "Cassette Scandal" and traitor of the Orange Coalition

Mechanical engineer (Ukrainian Agricultural Academy, 1965), political scientist (Higher Party School under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, 1983). Member of Parliament of several convocations. Twice Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada: 1994–1998 and 2006–2007. Leader of the Socialist Party of Ukraine (SPU). Ran for president five times (1994, 1999, 2004, 2010, 2019). In 2000, he published the “Melnychenko tapes,” initiating the “Cassette Scandal” regarding Kuchma’s involvement in Gongadze’s death.

Corruption accusations and a pension of 21,000 UAH

After releasing the “tapes,” he was hostile to Kuchma—but in 2006 committed a sensational betrayal of the Orange Coalition by joining the Party of Regions and the Communists and voting for Yanukovych as Prime Minister. This move effectively destroyed the SPU as an electoral force. He was accused of corruption manipulations and unfulfilled electoral promises. No criminal proceedings were initiated. In 2024–2025, he publicly complained about a pension of 21,000 UAH—while receiving support from his children and spending about 8,000 UAH/month on medication. He resides in Ukraine; he is currently 81 years old.