Deputy Chairman of the Batkivshchyna Party
People's Deputy of the VII, VIII, and IX convocations from Batkivshchyna (No. 4 on the list). Deputy chairman of the party. Graduated from Zaporizhzhia State Pedagogical Institute (historian). One of the most experienced opposition parliamentarians, known for harsh rhetoric against corruption and criticism of the executive branch. His party career went from being a communist to an ally of Tymoshenko.
Accusations of embezzling CPSU funds and declaration with questions — without official suspicion
The first high-profile scandal occurred during the communist era: Sobolyev was accused of embezzling funds of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Throughout his career, he accumulated many enemies within the Ukrainian political establishment. His income declaration has repeatedly raised questions from journalists and analysts. No criminal proceedings by NABU or DBR, suspicions, or charges against Sobolyev personally have been recorded in open sources.