Dmytro Tabachnyk

Ukrainian politician and statesman, historian, academician of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine. Member of the Political Council of the Party of Regions.

1990-1994 - deputy of the Kyiv City Council, one of the leaders of the anti-nationalist group of deputies.

December 1992 - March 1993 - Head of Press Service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (Leonid Kuchma).

March 1993 - September 1993 - Press Secretary of the Government of Ukraine - Head of the Main Department of Information, Press and Public Relations of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

In 1994 he headed Leonid D. Kuchma's presidential election campaign, which was based upon the theme of strategic partnership with Russia and granting Russian the status of the state language.

From July, 1994 to December, 1996 he was the head of Administration of the President of Ukraine (L. D. Kuchma), a member of the National Security and Defense Council.

In 1999 - one of the leaders of Leonid Kuchma's presidential campaign.

November 2002 - February 2005 - Vice Prime Minister in the Cabinet of Ministers of Viktor Yanukovych.

In March 2006 he was elected to the Supreme Soviet of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea from the Block "For Yanukovych". From April 2006 until December 2007 he was Deputy Prime Minister in the government of Viktor Yanukovych.

From 2007 to 2010 he was the Minister of Education and Science in the shadow cabinet ("opposition government") of Viktor Yanukovych.

On December 9, 2010, he became Minister of Education and Science, Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

Tabachnyk contrasts eastern Ukrainians (whom he classifies as "Russians" in the broad sense) with western Ukrainians ("Galicians") as two different ethnicities ("civilizational opponents").

When he became minister of education, the opposition constantly demanded his resignation.