UKROP

On 2 December 2014, in the Ukrainian Parliament was established an inter-factional group called UKROP. It includes non-faction MPs Dmytro Yarosh, Andriy Biletsky, Boryslav Bereza, Borys Filatov and Volodymyr Parasiuk.[http://ua.korrespondent.net/ukraine/3529272-minuist-zareiestruvav-partiui-kolomoiskoho Justice Ministry registered the party Kolomoisky], Korrespondent.net (18 June 2015) Following the resignation of multibillionaire Ihor Kolomoyskyi from the post of governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, members of his team announced their intention to build a new political force.{{cite web|title = Борис Филатов: В Днепропетровске сейчас не просто паника — там психоз - ФОКУС|url = https://focus.ua/country/327624/|website = ФОКУС|access-date = 2016-02-01}}{{cite web|title = Геннадий Корбан без Коломойского. Интервью|url = http://bykvu.com/home/mysli/932.html|website = bykvu.com|access-date = 2016-02-01|last = #БУКВЫ}}

The political party UKROP was founded on 18 June 2015, transformed from the party Patriotic Alliance ("Патриотический альянс") registered on September 25, 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://interfax.com.ua/news/general/274023.html|title=Партия "Укроп" и автор логотипа Ермоленко урегулировали вопрос авторских прав на символ партии|website=interfax.com.ua}} The head of the party's political council became oligarch{{Cite web|url=https://forbes.ua/|title=Forbes.ua | Бізнес, мільярдери, новини, фінанси, інвестиції, компанії|website=forbes.ua}} Hennadiy Korban.[https://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/ukrop-party-will-run-in-local-elections-across-ukraine-394382.html UKROP party will run in local elections across Ukraine], Kyiv Post (July 27, 2015)

The party logo was designed earlier by Ukrainian artist Andriy Yermolenko to serve as a sleeve badge for the participants of the war in Donbas. The author released it for the use by the party for a symbolic fee of ₴1. In its turn, the word "ukrop" ("укроп") used by Yermolenko was a repurposed Russian ethnic slur for Ukrainians.{{Cite web|title=Як українці стають "Укропами" ("How Ukrainians become 'Ukrops'")|url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/26519406.html|access-date=2022-01-30|website=Radio Liberty|language=uk}} Korban was deputy governor of Kolomoyskyi when Kolomoyskyi was governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast from 2 March 2014 until 24 March 2015.

The party's first political activity was when Korban took part in the 26 July 2015 parliamentary by-election in constituency 205 located in Chernihiv (He lost these elections to Serhiy Berezenko of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc, who won with 35.90% of the vote). Korban took second place with 14.76%.[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/280526.html With 100% of ballots counted in Rada by-election, Berezenko gets 35.90% of votes, Korban 14.76% – CEC], Interfax-Ukraine (28 July 2015) During the run-up to these elections Korban was repeatedly accused of bribing voters, the use of black PR and other violations (of the electoral legislation). Berezenko was accused of employing these tactics as well.[http://gordonua.com/news/politics/Korban-YA-poteryal-moralnye-pravo-vozglavlyat-politsovet-parii-Ukrop-91321.html Корбан: Я потерял моральное право возглавлять политсовет партии "Укроп"] "Гордон", .07.2015
[http://www.globalpost.com/article/6622364/2015/07/27/ukraine-election-district-205 This crazy Ukrainian election shows the country has a ways to go toward reform], Global Post (28 July 2015)

The party took part in the 25 October 2015 Ukrainian local elections, with their best region being Dnipropetrovsk.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_five_lessons_from_the_local_elections_in_ukraine4087 |title=Five lessons from the local elections in Ukraine | European Council on Foreign Relations |publisher=Ecfr.eu |date=2015-10-29 |access-date=2018-03-10}} In this city its candidate Borys Filatov was elected Mayor.[http://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-politics/1915506-borys-filatov-becomes-dnipropetrovsk-mayor-election-commission.html Borys Filatov becomes Dnipropetrovsk mayor – election commission], Ukrinform (18 November 2015){{#tag:ref|In June 2020 Borys Filatov was one of the founders and joined the new party Proposition.{{cite web|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2020/06/19/7256335/|title=Party of mayors: 6 mayors presented "ProPosition"|website=Ukrayinska Pravda|date=19 June 2020|language=uk}}|group=nb}} Nationwide (in this election) the party won nationwide eight percent of the total vote.{{cite web |url=http://m.dw.com/ukrainian/mobile.A-18823569-657.html?maca=ukr-VGUS-Link-YedynkaUpMobileManual-dwukr |title=Archived copy |website=Deutsche Welle |access-date=2015-11-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117022817/http://m.dw.com/ukrainian/mobile.A-18823569-657.html?maca=ukr-VGUS-Link-YedynkaUpMobileManual-dwukr |archive-date=2015-11-17 }} This did not lead to being one of the top seat gainers of the elections.[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/303411.html Poroshenko Bloc, Batkivschyna, Nash Kray get largest number of seats in local councils – Ukrainian Voters Committee], Interfax-Ukraine (12 November 2015)

In 2015 the Ukrainian media reported that the party was allied to Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi.{{cite news|title=Accusations of logo theft greet new party of Kolomoisky allies - Jun. 18, 2015|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/accusations-of-logo-theft-great-new-party-of-kolomoisky-allies-391409.html|access-date=10 March 2018|work=Kyiv Post|date=18 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://news.pn/en/politics/137658 |title=Преступности.НЕТ |publisher=News.pn |access-date=2018-03-10}} Korban was his deputy governor when Kolomoyskyi was governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast from 2 March 2014[https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/03/world/europe/ukraine-turns-to-its-oligarchs-for-political-help.html Ukraine Turns to Its Oligarchs for Political Help], nytimes.com (2 March 2014) until 24 March 2015.{{cite news|last1=Cullison|first1=Alan|title=Ukraine's Secret Weapon: Feisty Oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraines-secret-weapon-feisty-oligarch-ihor-kolomoisky-1403886665|access-date=10 March 2018|work=Wall Street Journal|date=27 June 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/op-ed/we-will-continue-the-fight-for-ukraine-with-its-patriots-384565.html |title=Gennadiy Korban: 'We will continue the fight for Ukraine with its patriots' - Mar. 28, 2015 |publisher=KyivPost |date=2015-03-28 |access-date=2018-03-10}}

On 31 October 2015, Korban was arrested and suspected to be head of organized crime group.{{cite web|author=None 13:39 31.10.2015 |url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/300626.html |title=Korban detained, could be head of organized crime group, now he is not a suspect – SBU, PGO |publisher=En.interfax.com.ua |date=2015-10-31 |access-date=2018-03-10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.unian.info/politics/1170105-sbu-suspects-korban-of-organized-crime-activity-confirms-detention.html |title=SBU suspects Korban of organized crime activity, confirms detention | UNIAN |publisher=Unian.info |date=2015-10-31 |access-date=2018-03-10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.unian.info/politics/1170018-sbu-pgo-on-a-large-scale-raid-in-dnipropetrovsk-over-500-officers-involved.html |title=SBU, PGO on a large-scale raid in Dnipropetrovsk, over 500 officers involved | UNIAN |publisher=Unian.info |date=2015-10-31 |access-date=2018-03-10}} The party claims offices of other party members and party offices were also searched by police.{{cite web|url=http://www.unian.info/society/1169941-ukrop-party-says-its-leader-korban-detained-in-dnipropetrovsk.html |title=UKROP party says its leader Korban detained in Dnipropetrovsk | UNIAN |publisher=Unian.info |date=2015-10-31 |access-date=2018-03-10}}

During 17 July 2016 constituency mid-term elections the party won its first two seats in the Ukrainian parliament.{{in lang|uk}}[http://www.cvk.gov.ua/wvnd2014/wp039pt001f01=914.html Data on vote counting at percincts within single-mandate districts Extraordinary parliamentary election on 17.06.2016] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160718090152/http://www.cvk.gov.ua/wvnd2014/wp039pt001f01=914.html |date=2016-07-18 }}, Central Election Commission of Ukraine

During its November 2016 party congress Kolomoyskyi was elected into the party leadership.{{cite web|url=http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7127923/ |title=Новини | Українська правда |publisher=Pda.pravda.com.ua |date=2016-11-25 |access-date=2018-03-10}} By then Korban was not a member of UKROP anymore.

On 23 March 2018 UKROP member Oleksandr Savchenko was appointed Governor of Volyn Oblast.{{cite web|url=http://m.dw.com/en/austrian-ski-resort-of-semmering-losing-faith-in-ukrainian-oligarch-investors/a-41881608|title=Austrian ski resort of Semmering losing faith in Ukrainian oligarch investors|work=Deutsche Welle|access-date=22 December 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://en.lb.ua/news/2018/03/23/5764_ukraines_volyn_regional_governor.html|title=Ukraine's Volyn regional governor replaced|work=LB.ua|access-date=23 March 2018}}

In the 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election the party won 3 seats in single-seat constituencies, but these seats were won by UKROP members as candidates for Servant of the People (the two parties had no formal allegiance).{{in lang|uk}} [https://m.dw.com/uk/%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%D1%96%D0%B9%D1%86%D1%96-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B9%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE-%D0%B2-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D1%86%D1%96-%D1%81%D0%BB%D1%83%D0%B3%D0%B8-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%83/a-49718271 Party of Kolomoisky in the wrapper "People's servants"], Deutsche Welle (24 July 2019)
[https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-elections/2748306-cec-counts-100-percent-of-vote-in-ukraines-parliamentary-elections.html CEC counts 100 percent of vote in Ukraine's parliamentary elections], Ukrinform (26 July 2019)
{{in lang|ru}} [https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/articles/2019/07/21/7221526/ Results of the extraordinary elections of the People's Deputies of Ukraine 2019], Ukrayinska Pravda (21 July 2019) UKROP itself did not take part in the election. Former prominent UKROP member Ihor Palytsia has stated that de facto since 2020 UKROP's is replaced by the party For the Future.{{in lang|uk}} [https://www.chesno.org/post/4089/ Is Kolomoisky's party "For the Future" a new political project?], Civil movement "Chesno" (6 July 2020) Indeed, UKROP's social media pages were re-branded as "For the Future" social media pages.

In the 2020 Ukrainian local elections 1 person won a local seat on behalf of UKROP.{{cite web|title=Results of the 2020 Ukrainian local elections on the official web-server of the |url=https://www.cvk.gov.ua/pls/vm2020/pvm002pt001f01=695pt00_t001f01=695.html|work=Central Election Commission of Ukraine|access-date=12 January 2021|language=uk}}

Tom Burridge of BBC News has described UKROP as a centre-left party,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35060398 |title=EU resists Russian overtures on Ukraine - BBC News |publisher=Bbc.com |date=2015-12-14 |access-date=2018-03-10}} while the European Centre for Tolerance, the European Centre for Democracy Development and the Institute for Ethnic Policy and Interethnic Relations Studies describe UKROP as right-wing. Deutsche Welle described the party as "right-wing nationalist".[https://web.archive.org/web/20151024165350/http://carnegieendowment.org/2015/10/23/democracy-and-disorientation-ukraine-votes-in-local-elections/ijlw Democracy and Disorientation: Ukraine Votes in Local Elections] by Balázs Jarábik, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (23 October 2015 )[https://books.google.com/books?id=2KzIDQAAQBAJ&dq=UKROP+PARTY+RIGHT&pg=PT46 Xenophobia, radicalism and hate crime in Europe 2015] European Tolerance Center, European Center for Democracy, Institute for Ethnic Policy and Interethnic Relations Studies.

The party claims it will create a "New Ukraine" with a social market economy including social welfare programs (including free internet access, environmental reimbursements for healthcare costs, and a public option for those who cannot afford healthcare), nationalization, environmentalism, public-private partnerships, and use of minimal regulation to guarantee "socially responsible business" in Ukraine.{{cite web|author=Ideological platform |url=http://www.ukrop.com.ua/en/about/values |title=Ideological platform / УКРОП. Українське об'єднання патріотів |publisher=Ukrop.com.ua |access-date=2018-03-10}} It claims that the Russian Federation is a Fascist regime comparable to Hitler's Germany and wants Ukrainian membership in NATO and the EU.

The party also claims it seeks center-right economic reforms. "We support middle class entrepreneurship, de-monopolization, lowering trade barriers and simplification of tax laws, but with an emphasis on patriotism."{{Cite web|url=https://www.zhitomir.info/news_149270.html|title=У Житомирі нардеп Купрій розповів про ідеологію партії "УКРОП" та представив голову її обласного осередку|website=www.zhitomir.info}}

The party aims the "complete destruction of the existing bureaucratic corruption system", "new faces in all branches of government and law enforcement agencies, the creation of a new Constitution and gradual "zeroing" of all laws, transparent funding of political parties, as well as the nationalization of strategically important enterprises."{{cite web|title=Kolomoisky promoted to senior position in UKROP Party|url=http://www.unian.info/politics/1644497-kolomoisky-promoted-to-senior-position-in-ukrop-party.html|access-date=10 March 2018|language=en}}

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Category:2015 establishments in Ukraine

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