Ivan Plyushch

Ivan Stepanovych Plyushch (; 11 September 1941 – 25 June 2014) was a Ukrainian politician. He thrice served as the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament of Ukraine), from 9 July to 23 July 1990 (acting), from 5 December 1991 to 11 May 1994, and from 1 February 2000 to 14 May 2002. Biography Ivan Plyushch was born on 11 September 1941, in Borzna in 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 and collective farms in Baryshivka Raion. Between 1967 and 1974 Plyushch was the head of Kirov collective farm and the head of Lenin state farm in Baryshivka Raion. Between 1975 and 1977 he was in Kyiv working as a vice-deputy of a Kyiv Oblast regional committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine. Between 1977 and 1979 Plyushch studied in Moscow at the Central Committee of the Communist Party Academy of Social Science. After his studies he continued working in Kyiv in the divisions of the Communist Party of Kyiv Oblast. In 1984 he became the vice-head, and later the head of Kyiv Oblast Administration. In 1990 he was elected the head of Kyiv Oblast Council. In 1990, Plyushch was elected to the Verkhovna Rada, where he worked for four consecutive сonvocations. On three occasions he served as Chairman of the Supreme Council; 9 July to 23 July 1990 (acting), 5 December 1991 to 11 May 1994, and 1 February 2000, to 14 May 2002. In 1994, Plyushch participated in the 1994 Ukrainian presidential election. He won 1.29% votes, and took the 6th place out of 7 candidates. Leonid Kuchma was elected as the President in the election.