Kravchuk, Leonid (1934– )

Ukrainian politician, president 1990–94. Formerly a member of the Ukrainian Communist Party (UCP), he became its ideology chief in the 1980s. After the suspension of the UCP in August 1991, Kravchuk became an advocate of independence and market-centred economic reform. Faced with a rapidly deteriorating economic situation in 1993, he assumed direct control of government, eliminating the post of prime minister. He was, however, defeated by former prime minister Leonid Kuchma in the July 1994 presidential elections.

Born in Velykyi Zhytyn, Kravchuk was educated at the Kiev State University and the Academy of Social Sciences in Moscow. He was directly elected to the presidency in 1991 at the same time as a referendum voted overwhelmingly in favour of independence from the USSR.