Page "Leonid Kuchma" Paragraph 6

Kuchma resigned from the position of Prime Minister of Ukraine in September 1993 to successfully run for the presidency in 1994 on a platform to boost the economy by restoring economic relations with Russia and faster pro-market reforms.

He was re-elected in 1999 to his second term.

During Kuchma's Presidency opposition papers were closed and several journalists died in mysterious circumstances.