Yuriy Vynnychuk

Yuriy Vynnychuk (* 18 March 1952, Stanislav) — Ukrainian journalist, writer and editor.

Educated in the Vasyl Stefanyk Subcarpathian National University (formerly Ivano-Frankivsk Pedagogical Institute), Faculty of Philology (1969–1973 years), a teacher of Ukrainian language and literature.

In 1974 he moved to the city and worked as a loader, graphic designers.

1987–1991 — director of Lviv Theatre of Variety "Do not worry!". He was the author of the script for the play "Do not worry!" and song lyrics. In 1990 he had to leave the theater and together with Stefka Orobets created "Cabarete Yurtsya and Steftsya".

1991–1994 — editor of mysticism and sensational newspaper "Post-Postup".

1995–1998 — chief editor of "Gulvіsa", Lviv.

1998–1999 — editor of the newspaper "Postup".

Since 2006 — chief editor of "Post-Postup" (restored).

Member of the Association of Ukrainian Writers (1997).

Vynnychuk's novel The Tango of Death was awarded the BBC Ukrainian Book of the Year for 2012. The novel is set in Lviv, in the period between the two world wars. The novel is marked with Vynnychuk's trademark fusion of tragedy and humor.The award was Vynnychuk's second BBC Ukrainian Book of the Year. He won the inaugural award in 2005 for his novel Spring Games In Autumn Gardens.

On January 23, 2012 two policemen came to Vynnychuk's house and asked him to explain in writing about a poem he had recited a few months ago at the “A Night of Erotic Poetry” festival held in Kyiv. A complaint had been lodged with the prosecutor general by the Communist MP, Leonid Hrach, who accused the writer of reciting a poem that was like pornography and inciting a revolt against the Ukrainian government.