Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc

Ukrainian political alliance

Also known as: BYT, Orange parties

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July 17, 2026

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The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (BYT) was a Ukrainian political alliance founded in 2001 by Yulia Tymoshenko. Initially named the National Rescue Forum, it opposed President Leonid Kuchma. Tymoshenko, a businesswoman known as the "gas princess," transitioned into politics, serving as prime minister in 2005 and again from 2007 to 2010. The bloc played a significant role in the Orange Revolution of 2004, supporting Viktor Yushchenko's presidential bid. After Yushchenko's victory, Tymoshenko became prime minister, though her cabinet was dismissed later that year. The BYT later formed opposition and then a coalition government with Yushchenko's party. Tymoshenko ran for president in 2010 but lost to Viktor Yanukovych. She was later imprisoned on corruption charges, which were widely criticized as politically motivated, and released in 2014.12

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Yulia Tymoshenko
…November 2001 she founded the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (BYT; originally the National Rescue Forum) in opposition to Pres. Leonid Kuchma. Although Tymoshenko had previously been considered a strong candidate for the presidency, she formed an alliance with Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine party and supported his bid for president in 2004. During…
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…November 2001 she founded the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (BYT; originally the National Rescue Forum) in opposition to Pres. Leonid Kuchma. Although Tymoshenko had previously been considered a strong candidate for the presidency, she formed an alliance with Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine party and supported his bid for president in 2004. During…
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Viktor Yushchenko
…alliance between it and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc—the so-called Orange parties—gave them a majority large enough to form a government with Tymoshenko as prime minister. Dissent between the former Orange allies grew as the president and prime minister balanced the often conflicting goals of maintaining positive relations with Russia and…
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…alliance between it and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc—the so-called Orange parties—gave them a majority large enough to form a government with Tymoshenko as prime minister. Dissent between the former Orange allies grew as the president and prime minister balanced the often conflicting goals of maintaining positive relations with Russia and…
Read More