Ivan Stepanovych Plyushch (Ukrainian: Іван Степанович Плющ; September 11, 1941 – June 26, 2014) was a Ukrainian politician. He thrice served as the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament of Ukraine), from July 9, through July 23, 1990 (acting), from December 5, 1991 through May 11, 1994 and from February 1, 2000 through May 14, 2002. He died on 26 June 2014.

Secretary of the Security and Defense Council In office
May 12, 2007 – November 26, 2007 President Viktor Yushchenko Preceded by Vitaliy Haiduk Succeeded by Raisa Bohatyryova 1st and 4th Chairman of  Verkhovna Rada In office
February 1, 2000 – May 14, 2002 President Leonid Kuchma Preceded by Oleksandr Tkachenko Succeeded by Volodymyr Lytvyn In office
December 5, 1991 – May 11, 1994 President Leonid Kravchuk Preceded by Leonid Kravchuk Succeeded by Oleksandr Moroz First Deputy Chairman of Verkhovna Rada In office
June 6, 1990 – December 5, 1991Speaker Leonid Kravchuk Succeeded by Vasyl Durdynets In office
1985–1990 Speaker Volodymyr Ivashko 

Personal details Born September 11, 1941
Borzna, Chernihiv Oblast,
Wermacht controlled territory Died June 26, 2014 (aged 72) Alma mater National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine

Biography

Ivan Plyushch was born on September 11, 1941 in Borzna of Chernihiv Oblast. After graduation in 1959 from Borzna Agricultural College he started his professional career as a mid-level worker, an agronomist, and the head of a division in a few state farms (Ukrainian: radhosp) and collective farms (Ukrainian: kolhosp) of Baryshivka Raion. Between 1967 and 1974 Plyushch was the head of Kirov collective farm and the head of Lenin state farm of Baryshivka Raion. Between 1975 and 1977 he was in Kiev working as a vice-deputy of a Kiev Oblast regional committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine. Between 1977 and 1979 Plyushch studied in Moscow at theCentral Committee of the Communist Party Academy of Social Science. After studies he continued working in Kiev in the divisions of the Communist Party of Kiev Oblast. In 1984 he became the vice-head, and later the head of Kiev Oblast Administration. In 1990 he was elected the head of Kiev Oblast Rada.

In 1990 Plyushch was elected to the Supreme Council of Ukraine where he has been working for 4 consecutive сconvocations. Thrice, between July 9, and July 23, 1990 (acting), between December 5, 1991 and May 11, 1994, and between February 1, 2000 and May 14, 2002 he served as the Chairman of the Supreme Council.

In 1994 Ivan Stepanovych participated in the presidential election. He won 1.29% votes, and took the 6th place out of 7 candidates. Leonid Kuchmawas elected as the President in the election.

In the 2006 parliamentary elections, Plyushch was leading the electoral block named after him and Kostenko. The block won 1,87% of popular vote,[1] short of the required 3% threshold, and obtained no seats in the parliament.

In May 2007 Plyushch was appointed secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council by President Viktor Yushchenko. Plyushch interpreted the Council's responsibilities to include economic, environmental and energy security as well as military matters. This made it a key instrument in the President's efforts to assert his authority over the government headed by Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.

In the 2007 parliamentary elections, Plyushch was elected as a candidate of the President's Our Ukraine bloc. He opposed a coalition with the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and he was dismissed as Security and Defence Council Secretary by the President in November 2007, shortly before Yanukovych was replaced as Prime Minister by Yulia Tymoshenko.

Plyushch became a creating member of Reforms for the Future in February 2011.

In the 2012 parliamentary elections Plyushch was not a candidate.

Plyushch died on June 26, 2014 at the age of 72 after a lengthened battle with cancer.

Awards

• Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the State (2001)
• The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise 5th (1996), 4th (2007) and 3rd (2011) Cl.
• Cross of Ivan Mazepa (2010)