Mr Lazarenko was prime minister in 1996-97, when he was sacked by President Leonid Kuchma.

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Mr Lazarenko became prime minister in 1996 but was sacked the following year by President Leonid Kuchma.

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On Monday, Ms Tymoshenko cast doubt on Ukraine's record growth figures for 2004, produced under the administration of former President Leonid Kuchma.

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According to a recent opinion poll, the 31st October vote is likely to go to a second round, with incumbent President Leonid Kuchma in a runoff against one of three leftist candidates - Nataliya Vitrenko, Oleksandr Moroz or Petro Symonenko.

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After falling out with Ukrainian president, Leonid Kuchma, in 1999, Pavlo Lazarenko fled to the United States to avoid justice and seek asylum.

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Ukraine's president, Leonid Kuchma, seems to realise his country's plight.

ECONOMIST: Ukraine

When Leonid Kuchma was elected president four years ago, Ukraine's future looked quite bright.

ECONOMIST: Ukraine

In Ukraine , the prime minister, Viktor Yanukovich, looked more likely to become the country's next president after aides to the current head of state, Leonid Kuchma, said that they would back the premier in elections in October.

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And he cannot count on much support from the president who appointed him: re-elected last year, Leonid Kuchma was all but instructed by the West to choose Mr Yushchenko as prime minister.

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