Onopenko Vasily

Date of birth: 10.04.1949

Place of birth. Education. Born in the village of Veliki Krushlintsi, Vinnytsia region, into a serf family. In 1969, he graduated from the Lviv College of Communication and in 1975 from the Kharkiv Law Institute with a degree in Law. Doctor of Law (1994).

Career. 1969-1971 - Military service.

In 1975, he interned at the district and regional courts of Vinnytsia and Lityn.

In 1976, he became a judge and chairman of the Lityn District Court, Vinnytsia region.

1981-1985 - Deputy chairman of the Chernivtsi regional court.

1985-1991 - Judge of the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court of the Ukrainian SSR.

In 1991, he became Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine for Legislation. From November 1991 to August 1995, he served as Minister of Justice in five consecutive cabinets (including the governments of Leonid Kuchma, Yefim Swyahilsky, and Yevhen Marchuk).

1998-2002 - Deputy of the Ukrainian Parliament of the III convocation from the SDPU(o). Member of the 'United Social Democrats' faction from May to June 1998, then a member of the Independent group, and a member of the Fatherland faction led by Yulia Tymoshenko. Chairman of the subcommittee on legislation, systematization of Ukrainian legislation, and harmonization with international law in the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Reform.

2002-2006 - Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of the IV convocation from the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legal Policy.

From October 2002 to 2016 - Judge of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.

From May to October 2006 - Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of the V convocation from Batkivshchyna, member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Justice.

Since September 2006 - Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.

In 1994-1995, Onopenko headed the Human Rights Party. From 1996 to 1998, he was the chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine.

In 1998, after the split of the SDPU into SDPU(o), led by Viktor Medvedchuk, and the USDP (Ukrainian Social Democratic Party), he became the latter's chairman.

In 2006, after his appointment as Chairman of the Supreme Court, his son-in-law Yevhen Kornytsky - then head of the law firm Magister and Partner, deputy of Batkivshchyna and later first Deputy Minister of Justice Mykola Onyshchuk (until March 2010) - became the chairman of the USDP.

In the fall of 2011, he resigned as Chairman of the Supreme Court due to the expiration of his term.

Currently, he is a Senior Partner at the law firm 'Onopenko and Partners'.

Community work. Since 2006, a member of the High Council of Justice by virtue of his office. Member of the Council for the Reform of the Judiciary of Ukraine (since 2004). Member of the National Commission for the Strengthening of Democracy and the Guarantee of the Rule of Law (since 2005).

Academic activity. Author of over 70 scientific papers, book 'I know how' (1998).

Awards. Honored Lawyer of Ukraine (2005).

Family relationships. Wife Larisa Georgievna (educator), daughters Irina and Lada. Brother - Petro Onopenko, from February 2008 to January 2011, was the Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Service of Ukraine.

08.04.2022.