Maryna Poroshenko

Maryna Anatolyivna Poroshenko (Ukrainian: Марина Анатоліївна Порошенко, née Perevedentseva; born 1 February 1962) was the First Lady of Ukraine and is the wife of former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

This name uses Eastern Slavic naming customs; the patronymic is Anatolyivna and the family name is Poroshenko.

Maryna Poroshenko Марина Порошенко
Poroshenko in 2018
First Lady of Ukraine
In role 7 June 2014 – 20 May 2019
President	Petro Poroshenko
Preceded by	Hanna Turchynova (Acting)
Succeeded by	Olena Zelenska
Personal details
Born	Maryna Anatolyivna Perevedentseva (1962-02-01) 1 February 1962 Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Spouse(s)	Petro Poroshenko (m. 1984–present)
Children	4
Alma mater	Bogomolets National Medical University

Biography

Maryna Poroshenko was born as Maryna Perevedentseva (Ukrainian: Марина Анатоліївна Переведенцева) in 1962 in Lipetsk, Soviet Union (Russia).[1] Her father Anatoly (born 1933) was Deputy Minister of Health of the Ukrainian SSR.[1] Her mother Lyudmyla worked at Kiev Arsenal.[1]

While studying at the Bogomolets National Medical University, she met Petro Poroshenko at a disco. They married in 1984.[2] She worked as a cardiologist at the Zhovtneva Hospital until the birth of their first son, and after that, she devoted her time to her family.[1][2] She does not take part in public life and does not discuss politics with her husband.[3] She participates in the activities of the Petro Poroshenko Charity Foundation.[2]

In a June 2014 televised interview, Maryna said that she plans to engage in social and cultural issues currently facing Ukraine. Late June 2014 she met with Iryna Herashchenko, an envoy to the Peace plan for Eastern Ukraine and a mediator in the 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine. They discussed possible assistance to the people in Eastern Ukraine.[4]

Family

The couple has four children: son Olexiy (born 1985), twin daughters Yevheniya and Oleksandra (born 2000) and son Mykhaylo (born 2001).[2] The family continues to live in their private home in the historic neighborhood of Koncha-Zaspa. Olexiy was a representative in the regional parliament of Vinnytsia Oblast.[5] In November 2014, he became People's Deputy of Ukraine.[6]

Former Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko is the godfather to their children.[7]

Cultural and political image (as First Lady of Ukraine)

As the First Lady, Maryna Poroshenko has enjoyed a considerable level of people's support, being once described as "a breath of fresh air."[8] According to a discussion on the Ukrainian TV show 1+1, Marina is charming, well spoken, educated, and represents a modern, democratic Ukraine. The Ukrainian people expect the First Lady to serve as a liaison between the common people and the political, male dominated Ukraine. They expect her to be involved in social issues of Ukraine and to be a helpmate to her husband in the international arena as she represents Ukraine to the international community.[9]

References

1. (in Russian) Maryna Poroshenko, First Lady of Ukraine from 7 June 2014. Biography, ITAR-TASS (6 June 2014)
2. Poroshenko, President of Ukraine, Centre for Eastern Studies (28 May 2014)
   Events by themes: Poroshenko family, UNIAN
3. "Первая леди Украины Марина Порошенко: интересные факты". 26 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
4. Maryna Poroshenko: 'I read Kyiv Post', Kyiv Post (June 23, 2014)
5. Ukraine Election: The Chocolate King Rises, Spiegel Online (22 May 2014).
6. Sputnik. "Poroshenko's Son Becomes Ukrainian Parliament Member: Election Commission". sputniknews.com. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
7. "Profile: Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 May 2014.
8. "Ukraine's new first lady a breath of fresh air". News Daily. 8 June 2014.
9. "Нова перша леді України". 26 May 2014.

External links

• June 2014 interview with Maryna Poroshenko on 5 kanal

Honorary titles
Preceded by Hanna Turchynova Acting	First Lady of Ukraine 2014–2019	Succeeded by Olena Zelenska