Petr Alekseevich Poroshenko is a rather controversial political figure for the citizens of the post-Soviet space. How did he get into the world of politics? What income did the business bring and does it? How much did the former president of Ukraine earn from his political activities?
The fifth president of Ukraine, Petro Alekseevich Poroshenko, came to power at a difficult time for his native state. During his reign, critics called him a pragmatist, a cunning businessman, a dodgy businessman, but no one ever doubted his ability to achieve what he wanted and planned. How much does one of the most controversial European businessmen and politicians make?
Biography of the former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko
The future head of state and successful businessman was born at the end of September 1965 in the family of an accountant and head of the agricultural machinery repair and maintenance department. The family lived on the border with Moldova, in a small town called Bolgrad in the Odessa region of the Ukrainian SSR.
When the boy was over 10 years old, he and his parents moved to the city of Bender, where he graduated from high school. Petr Alekseevich decided to continue his further education in the capital. His choice fell on the Faculty of Economics and Diplomacy of MGIMO, but the young man could not enter there - he did not pass the competitive selection. Then Peter returned to Ukraine, entered the Kiev Institute at the Faculty of International Economics.
He had to interrupt his studies - in the 3rd year he was called up for military service in the ranks of the SA, but after demobilization, Peter graduated from the university, and with honors.
At the end of his studies, Petro Poroshenko already had his own business. Services for the conclusion and payment of agreements and contracts gave 1.5% of the transaction amount. The income was good. Poroshenko became one of the few students who, even before receiving a diploma, managed to buy a car, and not a cheap one, but an expensive Volga for those times.
Petro Poroshenko's business
The first enterprise created by the future president of Ukraine is Center-Service. Immediately after graduation, Poroshenko and his companion created another business - they began to supply cocoa grains that were in short supply during the Soviet era to the Soviet market. Their actions did not contradict the law, the business was actively developing, the young people prospered.
It was this legal business that allowed Petr Alekseevich, after the collapse of the great power, to take control over the enterprises producing chocolate. This was the start of the formation of the Roshan empire, and Poroshenko became the “chocolate king”.
At the time of the presidential elections in Ukraine in 2014, Poroshenko was the country's largest businessman. He owned not only chocolate factories at home, in Russia and in several countries of the world, but also factories for the production of cars and buses, glass factories, food factories for the production of starch, a shipping yard, an insurance company and a health complex.
All these enterprises were united by Poroshenko in 2006 into a single holding. By the elections, he was ranked 6th in the list of the richest businessmen in Ukraine. But the presidency was not entrusted to him for his level of well-being.
After the elections, in accordance with the law, Poroshenko was obliged to give up business, and he did it. But later it became known that he only hid his businesses, and most of them continue to function, bringing income to the owner.
Petro Poroshenko's income from political activities
Petr Alekseevich came to politics back in 1998. He became a member of the Rada from the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine, but the ambitious businessman did not stay in it for long. Against the background of disagreements with fellow party members, he left its ranks, created his own political association and, naturally, headed it.
For several years Poroshenko actively supported Yushchenko, hoping that his victory in the presidential election would bring him some kind of career dividends. But this did not happen, another politician got the post of prime minister. And soon, against the backdrop of the scandal, Poroshenko was dismissed altogether.
Having launched a large-scale campaign against the current president of Ukraine, Poroshenko won the victory - he received the chair of the head of state in 2014.
It is known that this type of activity also brought certain income to businessman Poroshenko. He managed to find like-minded people and sponsors who paid for most of his political "events", enlisted the support of influential people in Europe and America.
In addition, most of his businesses continued to function, bringing income to his personal piggy bank. And even the scandals around this fact that had flared up quickly subsided, unwanted and too "talkative" colleagues left the political arena of Ukraine.
The era of Petro Poroshenko's rule in Ukraine ended in 2019, when Zelensky won the election. Pyotr Alekseevich said after his defeat that he did not intend to "leave the state to the mercy of fate and the comedian," that he was going to continue his political career.
Where is Petro Poroshenko now
In the summer of 2019, the media reported that Poroshenko and his family hastily left Ukraine. Some sources assured that he went to America, others - to the UAE, someone wrote that Pyotr Alekseevich flew to Germany.
The reason for the flight was allegedly numerous criminal cases brought against the former president of Ukraine after he left this post.
There are no reliable facts confirming the departure of Pyotr Alekseevich and his relatives from the country, not one of the journalists has backed up the scandalous publications with data from official sources.
