Oligarchs after the Maidan: the old system in a 'new' Ukraine
Oligarchs after the Maidan: the old system in a 'new' Ukraine
Author(s): Wojciech Konończuk
Subject(s): Civil Society, Governance, Government/Political systems, Developing nations, Corruption - Transparency - Anti-Corruption
Published by: OSW Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich im. Marka Karpia
Keywords: Maidan; oligarchs; Ukraine
Summary/Abstract: There have been major changes in the balance of forces among the key Ukrainian oligarchs, representatives of big business with strong political influence, since the victory of the Maidan revolution. However, these changes have not undermined the oligarchic system per se. Over the past decade or so, the oligarchs have been key players in Ukrainian politics and economy, and they have retained this position until the present. One of the effects of the change of the government in Kyiv and the war in the Donbas was the elimination of the influence of ‘the family’ – the people from Viktor Yanukovych’s inner circle who formed the most expansive oligarchic group in Ukraine at the time of his presidency. The influence of Rinat Akhmetov, the country’s wealthiest man, has also weakened significantly; Akhmetov was one of the most influential people in Ukraine for more than ten years, partly owing to his close bonds with Yanukovych. Dmytro Firtash’s group has also lost a great deal of its influence since Firtash was arrested in Austria in March 2014.
Series: OSW Commentary
- Page Count: 8
- Publication Year: 2015
- Language: English
- Content File-PDF