Ukraine: Boxing Heavyweight Vitaly Klitschko to Run for President

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Ukraine: Boxing Heavyweight Vitaly Klitschko to Run for President

IB Times

By Gianluca Mezzofiore , February 25, 2014 12:42 PM GMT

Ukrainian opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko (left) helps carry a victim of the Kiev clashesReuters

Ukrainian opposition leader and ex-boxer Vitaly Klitschko has confirmed he will run for the presidency as plans to form a new government were put on hold by interim president Oleksander Turchinov.

The former heavyweight boxing champion and leader of the progressive Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reforms (UDAR) has been at the forefront of the anti-government protests that shook the regime of Viktor Yanukovich and ultimately led to his removal.
UDAR, an acronym of the Ukrainian word for "punch," is a largely progressive party that wants Ukraine to become a "successful European state". Among its goals are to centre politics around "fundamental European values," such as the rule of law, a competitive democracy and a social contract constitution. UDAR holds a 9.5% share of the Ukrainian parliament.

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