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Ukraine crisis: Key players Ukraine crisis: Key players
(2 days later)
After months of mass unrest in Ukraine, culminating in deadly violence and the removal of the elected president, Viktor Yanukovych, we look at some of the key players emerging. After months of mass unrest in Ukraine, culminating in deadly violence and the removal of the elected President, Viktor Yanukovych, we look at some of the key players emerging.
Oleksandr Turchynov, acting president The members of the new government have to be approved by parliament.
Oleksander Turchynov, interim president
Propelled to the top by the collapse of the Yanukovych administration, the new parliamentary speaker and acting president is considered the right-hand man of Yulia Tymoshenko, who was Mr Yanukovych's arch-rival at the 2010 presidential election.Propelled to the top by the collapse of the Yanukovych administration, the new parliamentary speaker and acting president is considered the right-hand man of Yulia Tymoshenko, who was Mr Yanukovych's arch-rival at the 2010 presidential election.
An important figure in the 2004 Orange Revolution, the 49-year-old briefly served as head of the domestic security agency, the SBU, then as a deputy prime minister.An important figure in the 2004 Orange Revolution, the 49-year-old briefly served as head of the domestic security agency, the SBU, then as a deputy prime minister.
While he may enjoy street cred with some protesters - he was injured in the face by shrapnel during the violence in Kiev this winter - he appears to lack charisma and is not ultimately seen as a presidential candidate. While he may enjoy credibility with some protesters - he was injured in the face by shrapnel during the violence in Kiev this winter - he appears to lack charisma and is not ultimately seen as a presidential candidate.
Yulia Tymoshenko, former prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, interim prime minister
Freed from prison after the fall of Mr Yanukovych, the 53-year-old former prime minister has ruled out returning to office as prime minister. The 39-year-old parliamentary leader of Ms Tymoshenko's Fatherland party was its most prominent figure during the protests.
With her Fatherland party the second-largest party in the current parliament, she is seen as a strong contender at the next presidential election. A former lawyer, he held top posts in previous governments, including foreign minister and governor of the central bank.
However, the former star of the Orange Revolution was defeated in 2010 in a vote considered free and fair by outside observers. As a former figure in the gas industry establishment, she is regarded with suspicion by some sections of the movement which brought down Viktor Yanukovych. In a famously intercepted phone call, US envoy Victoria Nuland described him as the "guy who's got the economic experience, the governing experience".
Health problems may also dog any hopes she has of becoming president. He stood at the first round of the 2010 presidential election, where he won less than 7% of the vote.
Arsen Avakov, acting interior minister Arsen Avakov, interim interior minister
Another member of Tymoshenko's Fatherland party, the 50-year-old former businessman said his primary task as minister was to restore order in the country. Another member of Ms Tymoshenko's Fatherland party, the 50-year-old former businessman said his primary task as minister was to restore order in the country.
He is expected to focus on an inquiry into the mass shooting of demonstrators in Kiev on 18-20 February. He is expected to focus on an inquiry into the shootings of demonstrators in Kiev on 18-20 February.
The ethnic Armenian is an active Facebook user and has been posting Russian-language updates on the hunt for Mr Yanukovych and other investigations even before official sources are told.The ethnic Armenian is an active Facebook user and has been posting Russian-language updates on the hunt for Mr Yanukovych and other investigations even before official sources are told.
Andriy Parubiy, acting chairman of the National Security Council
As commander of the self-defence forces organised by the protesters on Kiev's Independence Square (the Maidan), the Fatherland MP enjoys widespread support on the street.
The 43-year-old was wounded during the clashes but stayed on with the activists.
Dmytro Yarosh, radical organiser
The 42-year-old leads the paramilitary movement known as Right Sector, which was involved in violent clashes with the police in Kiev and considers the far-right party Svoboda "too liberal".
Advocating a "national revolution", he dismissed the Yanukovych administration as an "internal occupation regime" and wants to ban both the former ruling party and its ally, the Communist Party.
There is pressure from the Maidan demonstrators to give him a security-related post in the new government, possibly as Mr Parubiy's deputy.
Tetyana Chornovol, acting head of the anti-corruption committee
When the investigative journalist, 34, was beaten up near Kiev in December, images of her bruised face generated a wave of sympathy for the opposition.
She was known for her reporting on the murky business affairs and conspicuous wealth of top officials allied to Mr Yanukovych.
Oleh Makhnitskyy, acting chief prosecutorOleh Makhnitskyy, acting chief prosecutor
The 43-year-old member of the far-right Svoboda party was little known on the national political scene before his appointment by parliament.The 43-year-old member of the far-right Svoboda party was little known on the national political scene before his appointment by parliament.
A lawyer from Lviv, he worked as an investigator with a local prosecutor's office in the late 1990s before moving into politics.A lawyer from Lviv, he worked as an investigator with a local prosecutor's office in the late 1990s before moving into politics.
Viktor Yanukovych, ousted president Yulia Tymoshenko, former prime minister
Reduced to a fugitive by the success of the opposition movement in Kiev, the 63-year-old is said to have fled the capital for Crimea, a stronghold of his ethnic Russian supporters. Freed from prison after the fall of Mr Yanukovych, the 53-year-old former prime minister is seen as a strong contender at the next presidential election.
He insists he remains the "legitimately elected president" and is the victim of "banditry and a coup d'etat". Her Fatherland party dominates the current parliament following the announcement by the former ruling party, the Party of the Regions, that it was going into opposition. Fatherland also appears to dominate the incoming government.
After a humiliating defeat during the Orange Revolution, he came back in 2010 with a strong electoral mandate. However, the former star of the Orange Revolution was defeated in 2010 in a vote considered free and fair by outside observers.
However, it is difficult to see how he could return to power now, after alienating former supporters through his weak economic policy and antagonising opponents with his orientation towards Russia. As a former figure in the gas industry establishment, she is regarded with suspicion by some sections of the movement which brought down Viktor Yanukovych, and health problems may also dog her electoral chances.
Vitali Klitschko, candidateVitali Klitschko, candidate
Aged 42, the former boxer is the first figure from the anti-Yanukovych movement to declare his hand in the next presidential election. Aged 42, the former world champion boxer is the first figure from the anti-Yanukovych movement to declare his hand in the next presidential election.
One of the most recognisable faces of the winter protests, the anti-corruption campaigner leads the third-biggest party in parliament, Udar.One of the most recognisable faces of the winter protests, the anti-corruption campaigner leads the third-biggest party in parliament, Udar.
But on the streets, he was accused of indecisiveness and being too ready to strike deals with the authorities.But on the streets, he was accused of indecisiveness and being too ready to strike deals with the authorities.
Mykhaylo Dobkin, candidateMykhaylo Dobkin, candidate
Few outside Ukraine may have heard of the governor of the Kharkiv region but if there is a pro-Russian mantle to inherit, the 44-year-old may be in contention.Few outside Ukraine may have heard of the governor of the Kharkiv region but if there is a pro-Russian mantle to inherit, the 44-year-old may be in contention.
Declaring that he would stand in the next election, he said the rights of the country's Russian-speaking population were under "total attack".Declaring that he would stand in the next election, he said the rights of the country's Russian-speaking population were under "total attack".
"Laws are being adopted that threaten all those who do not accept fascism and Nazism," he said, as the new authorities moved to remove the special status of the Russian language."Laws are being adopted that threaten all those who do not accept fascism and Nazism," he said, as the new authorities moved to remove the special status of the Russian language.
As a leading member of the Party of the Regions, the ruling party under Mr Yanukovych, he would have a strong power base in eastern Ukraine but he will be tarnished in the eyes of many by his close relations with the deposed leader. He may have a strong power base in eastern Ukraine but will be tarnished in the eyes of many by his close relations with Mr Yanukovych.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Tymoshenko ally
As parliamentary leader of Ms Tymoshenko's Fatherland party, the 39-year-old was its most prominent figure during the protests.
A former lawyer, he has held top posts in previous governments, including foreign minister and governor of the central bank.
In a famously intercepted phone call, US envoy Victoria Nuland described him as the "guy who's got the economic experience, the governing experience".
However, his future may not lie with the presidency. When he stood at the first round of the 2010 presidential election, he won less than 7% of the vote.
Oleh Tyahnybok, far right leaderOleh Tyahnybok, far right leader
The leader of Svoboda regularly appeared alongside Mr Klitschko and Mr Yatsenyuk on the stage in Kiev's Independence Square, while party activists were prominent among the demonstrators. The leader of Svoboda regularly appeared alongside Mr Klitschko and Mr Yatsenyuk on the Maidan stage, while party activists were prominent among the demonstrators.
The 45-year-old was expelled from parliament in 2004 for proclaiming that a "Muscovite-Jewish mafia" controlled the country and his party is seen by some as a fascist organisation.The 45-year-old was expelled from parliament in 2004 for proclaiming that a "Muscovite-Jewish mafia" controlled the country and his party is seen by some as a fascist organisation.
At the parliamentary election in 2012, Svoboda won 37 out of 450 parliamentary seats to become Ukraine's fourth-largest party. He heads Ukraine's fourth-largest party, but when he stood for president in 2010, took just 1.4% of the vote.
However, he himself had won just 1.4% of the vote when he stood for president in 2010. Viktor Yanukovych, ousted president
Dmytro Yarosh, radical organiser Reduced to a fugitive by the success of the opposition movement in Kiev, the 63-year-old is now believed to be in Russia and insists he remains the legitimate president of Ukraine.
The 42-year-old leads the paramilitary movement known as Right Sector, which was involved in violent clashes with the police in Kiev and considers Svoboda "too liberal". After a humiliating defeat during the Orange Revolution, he came back in 2010 with a strong electoral mandate but it is difficult to see how he could return to power now, having both alienated former supporters through his weak economic policy and antagonised opponents with his orientation towards Russia.
Advocating a "national revolution", he dismissed the Yanukovych administration as an "internal occupation regime".
He wants to ban both the former ruling party and its ally, the Communist Party.
Petro Poroshenko
A successful businessman, the 48-year-old has held government posts under successive presidents.
Nicknamed the "Chocolate King" because of his confectionary business, he also controls a TV channel which played a key part in the protests, Channel 5.
He is seen by some as a "dark horse".