President son named Ukraine #4 most influential person

Weekly news magazine Korrespondent named Oleksandr Yanukovych, eldest son of President Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine’s #4 most influential person. The younger Yanukovych rose 26 places from last year’s ranking. The rest of the list, with one exception, in addition to the president himself, consists of pro-presidential politicians and businessmen.

Top 10 most influential Ukrainians, chg yoy

1. Viktor Yanukovych (-)
2. Rinat Akhmetov (+2)
3. Serhiy Lyovochkin (-)
4. Oleksandr Yanukovych (+26)
5. Dmytro Firtash (+1)
6. Mykola Azarov (-1)
7. Boris Kolesnikov (+1)
8. Andriy Klyuev (-1)
9. Arseniy Yatseniuk (+10)
10. Valeriy Khoroshkovskyi (-1)
Source: Korrespondent

Brad Wells: The conspicuous placement of the president’s son in the rating is hardly a surprise given the meteoric rise in his wealth and business assets. The rating also drives home the notion we have noted several times since Yanukovych became president about him concentrating power within a very tight circle of close associates, family and friends.