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Biography
Volodymyr Rybak (Ukrainian: Володимир Васильович Рибáк; born on 3 October 1946 in Donetsk is a Ukrainian politician. He was the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada from 13 December 2012 to 22 February 2014. Volodymyr Rybak is also the original leader of the predecessor of the Party of Regions, the Party of Regional Revival of Ukraine. He is a Merited Builder of Ukraine (1995).
Biography
Born in the same city, Rybak graduated from the Department of Economy at the Donetsk State University in 1973, eventually receiving a doctor of economic sciences. He served as chairman of the city council, executive committee and mayor of Donetsk from 1993 to 2002. Rybak was co-organizer and first chairman of the Party of Regions between 1997 and 2001. Since the 2002 parliamentary elections Rybak is a member of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament).
Rybak was Vice Premier of Ukraine and Construction, Architecture and Housing and Utility minister (August 4, 2006 till March 21, 2007) and Vice Premier of Ukraine (March 21, 2007 till December 18, 2007) in the Second Yanukovych Government.
On 13 December 2012 (following the 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election) he was elected Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada. He resigned on 22 February 2014. Citing ill health and amidst the "2014 Ukrainian revolution".
Rybak did not participate in the 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election.