Yelyzaveta Yasko

Yelyzaveta "Lisa" Yasko (Ukrainian: Єлизавета Ясько; born 17 October, 1990) is a Ukrainian politician, cultural affairs expert and film producer.[1]

Yelyzaveta Yasko
Єлизавета Ясько
Member of Ukrainian Parliament
Assumed office
29 August 2019
Personal details
Born (1990-10-17) 17 October 1990
Kyiv, Ukraine
NationalityUkrainian
Political partyServant of the People
Alma materTaras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
OccupationPolitician, political scientist

Lisa is a member of the Ukrainian Parliament of the 9th convocation and a member of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation. She is the head of inter-parliamentary cooperation, bilateral and multilateral relationships.[2][3][4]

Yasko is the Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Yelyzaveta is also a producer of the documentary film "Crimea: Russia’s Dark Secret"[5] and a founder of the initiative "Yellow Blue Strategy".

Early life, education and career

Yasko was born in Kyiv in 1990.

She holds a Bachelor's and Master's degrees with distinction in Political science from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. During 2013-2014, she underwent an exchange program at Lomonosov Moscow State University. Lisa was the first Ukrainian who graduated from Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford , holding a Master's degree in Public Policy.[6] While studying, she was a president of Oxford University Ukrainian Society (2016-2017).

During 2011-2012, Yasko was an intern at the Parliament of Ukraine, working for the Committee of Culture and at the European Centre for Informational Support. During 2013-2016, she consulted various NGOs and politicians on cultural policy reforms.

During 2014 and 2016, Yasko was a project manager at a PR & GR agency CFC Consulting, Ukraine Crisis Media Center and at the Stratcom team at the Presidential Administration of Ukraine. She coordinated a number of events, including the music commemorative campaign "Witness", devoted to the 75th Anniversary of the Babi Yar tragedy, which won the first Cannes Lion Award in the history of Ukraine. Another project was the Ukrainian campaign for the 2016 Netherlands referendum on the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine called “Hop Nederland Hop”. She also was the executive officer for the multimedia project “UN Hundred,” presented on behalf of Ukrainian delegation to the United Nations at its General Assembly sessions in 2014 and 2015.

Yasko also worked at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (UK, 2017). She conducted research and produced a policy recommendation on the improvement of access opportunities in arts education for disadvantaged communities in the UK.

Following her return to Ukraine, Lisa founded an initiative "Yellow Blue Strategy," aimed to promote the development of cultural diplomacy, creative economy, creative education and public policy in Ukraine. Yellow Blue Strategy has also been organizing cultural events. In cooperation with Jamie Doran (Clover Films) Lisa worked on filming documentaries, such as "Crimea: Russia's Dark Secret" for Al Jazeera and a series of documentaries on the history of the Soviet KGB for European TV channels ZDF and ARTE.

In 2019 Yasko gave guest lectures at Ukrainian Catholic University. Her lectures included topics of Ukrainian cultural diplomacy and strategic communications.[7][8]

Political career

Parliamentary career

Member of the 9th Verkhovna Rada since August 2019, Lisa is number 15 in the list of "Servant of the People".[9] She is a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and interparliamentary cooperation, head of interparliamentary cooperation, bilateral and multilateral relationships. Yasko is a leader of inter-fraction group "Happy Ukraine", aimed to foster the development of happiness in the Ukrainian society and facilitate social dialogue, well-being, feeling of security and hope for the future. She is also a member of the "Brand of the Ukrainian state" group.

Lisa actively collaborates with the expert community, setting up regular expert talks in the Verkhovna Rada.[10][11] She also supports the development of Romani communities and Roma’s rights in Ukraine.

Yasko expressed her concerns regarding the preliminary agreement by Ukraine to the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk proposals on the envisioned Advisory Council. According to her, it could undermine the international support of Ukraine in the conflict and legitimize Russian proxies in Eastern Ukraine.[12]

She also publicly supported the legislative motion on regulating the process of compensation for the former owners of the nationalised banks, marked as critical for unblocking IMF's financial support of Ukraine and preventing the default of the Ukrainian state.[13]

Yasko engaged in drafting legislation on a range of issues, including the regulation of lobbying,[14] countering corruption,[15] equal representation,[16] remedial action in the wake of Russian military aggression in Ukraine.[17] She was also among the initiators of the Verkhovna Rada Appeal to the Parliaments and Inter-parliamentary Organisations concerning the condemnation of Russian aggression and numerous human rights violations in the occupied Crimea,[18] and of the Statement on nonrecognition of the legitimacy of elections held by Russia in Crimea and Sevastopol.[19]

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Head of Ukrainian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe since September 17, 2019.

Ukrainian delegation headed by Yasko refrained from participating in the PACE Autumn session 2019. It was a sign of protest against Russia’s reinstatement to the Assembly without meeting the requirements of the Assembly resolutions adopted in response to Russian aggression against Ukraine.[20]

Instead, Yasko held consultations with the representatives of other delegations, including those who voted in favour of Russia's return to the organisation.[21] This resulted in the establishment of the informal inter-parliamentary group Baltic Plus, together with the delegations of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Georgia. The aim of the inter-parliamentary group is to produce joint efforts to combat Russia’s efforts to undermine the efficiency and legitimacy of PACE and to present a positive agenda on culture, migration, human rights and digitalisation.[22]

On January 16, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine sent its delegation to the 2020 winter PACE session. Yasko explained the return with the "need to battle [for Ukraine] in new conditions at all possible grounds".[23]

Ukrainian delegation initiated concerns regarding the credentials of Russian delegation in the Assembly and spoke against nominating Petr Tolstoi for the Vice President of PACE. It justified its concerns by Russia's systemic failure to comply with the Assembly’s resolutions concerning Ukraine and Georgia and presence of Russian MPs elected in the fake elections in the occupied Crimea. Yasko also noted that the goals for the delegation for the Winter Session 2020 would be the de-occupation of Crimea, countering Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, liberation of political prisoners, implementation of Minsk agreements, enhancement of the international sanctions, as well as fight against authoritarianism in Russia itself.[24]

On January 31, 2020, the Ukrainian delegation, together with the representatives of Estonia, Great Britain, Georgia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Slovakia and Sweden, signed the joint declaration expressing regret of the Assembly's approval of the credentials submitted by the Russian Federation.The signatories to the declaration also demanded on Russia’s implementation of resolutions adopted in previous years in respect of the armed aggression in Ukraine, Georgia, and of the utmost concern at the treatment of Crimean Tatars.

At the winter session in 2020 Yasko also delivered a speech condemning Russia's numerous violations of international law and human rights, including the rights of Crimean Tatars.[25]

Civic activity

In 2008-2014, Yasko was actively engaged in student life at Taras Shevchenko National University. She was involved in events' management and student government activities. She also has been writing for student newspapers organizing music concerts, theatre plays and academic conferences.

Yasko was also a member of the Science Community at Faculty of Philosophy and received numerous diplomas for the best research papers at conferences in politics and international affairs.

In 2011-2013 she was a scholar of Zavtra.ua national leaders program, founded a social and cultural project “Play For Change”, aimed at drawing the attention of the youth towards social problems.

Actively participated in the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity.[26]

During 2014-2015 Yasko was a scholar of the European Forum Alpbach.[27] In 2014 she also represented Ukraine at an international young leaders program Clinton Global Initiative University.

In 2015, along with Ukrainian MFA, Yasko was actively involved in organizing and hosting a music diplomacy event in support of Ukrainian political prisoners illegally detained in Russia. She also founded a startup "Kyiv Music Labs" to promote Ukrainian music and support Ukrainian musicians .

Member of the Swiss peacemaking initiative Caux Initiative of Change. In 2016 she did Caux Scholars Program, a training course on restorative justice, leadership and conflict resolution. In 2018 and 2019 she co-organized the annual conference Caux Dialogue on Land and Security.[28]

Interesting facts

— Lisa Yasko is the first Ukrainian who have graduated from Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University.

— In her interview for Business Review, Lisa claimed that she returned to Ukraine in order to facilitate changes in the country. Having seen the “big picture” from abroad, Yasko states to have a very positive attitude towards the future of Ukraine.[29]

— Lisa is the youngest Chair of Ukrainian Delegation delegation to PACE.

— Yasko financed her studies at Oxford through more than 50 donors, including scholarships (Worldwide Studies, Seed Grant) and a crowdfunding campaign.[30][31]

— She holds a professional music education and author of music and lyrics of over 50 music pieces.

— In March 2020, Lisa was listed among NV's Top 100 Ukrainian successful women under number 7 in Politics.[32]

gollark: Just make it only possible to access the application from potatoS.
gollark: But this does fundamentally run into the problem that it's impossible to give someone access to data but not let them do certain things.
gollark: Also, it is possible to obfuscate code a *lot*.
gollark: I'll use the antipiracy orbital lasers.
gollark: Every time someone sends a message, respond with a disclaimer about how it will be logged.

See also
  • List of members of the parliament of Ukraine, 2019–24

References
  1. https://www.rferl.org/a/no-experience-no-problem-a-look-at-some-of-the-new-faces-in-ukraine-s-parliament-/30069444.html
  2. http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/mpz2/organizations.perm_delegation?delegation=75
  3. https://www.unn.com.ua/uk/news/1825627-golovoyu-delegatsiyi-vr-u-parye-obrali-yelizavetu-yasko
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yelyzaveta_Yasko&oldid=941451146#cite_note-4
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqg7X7GLZsg&feature=youtu.be
  6. https://www.rferl.org/a/no-experience-no-problem-a-look-at-some-of-the-new-faces-in-ukraine-s-parliament-/30069444.html
  7. https://ucu.edu.ua/events/zustrich-z-yelyzavetoyu-yasko-buty-ambasadorom-ukrayiny-oksford-kulturna-dyplomatiya/
  8. https://ucu.edu.ua/events/lektsiya-yelyzavety-yasko-komunikatsiya-ukrayiny-cherez-produkty-kulturnoyi-dyplomatiyi/
  9. https://www.cvk.gov.ua/pls/vnd2019/wp407pt001f01=919pf7201=18503.html
  10. https://www.facebook.com/lisa.yasko1/posts/10162926594790512
  11. https://www.facebook.com/lisa.yasko1/posts/10163258922875512
  12. https://atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/why-ukraine-cannot-risk-recognizing-putins-proxies/?fbclid=IwAR0lnxlsyYpuCSlSzINOLK9xmO462oxn8axEmOEs7dxALK9kONPT-eoFWMk
  13. https://www.facebook.com/lisa.yasko1/posts/10163389025790512
  14. http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=68275
  15. http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=68395
  16. http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=68336
  17. http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=68126
  18. http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=68146
  19. http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=66790
  20. https://ukr.lb.ua/world/2019/09/29/438511_ielizaveta_yasko_vidmovlyatisya_vid.html
  21. https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/politics/viyna-z-rosiyeyu-ekologiya-gender-i-didzhitalizaciya-progamma-ukrajini-v-parye-novini-ukrajini-50065264.html?fbclid=IwAR3NL1FYd6NIaK6Rj_ZpyiVtNHW_OCSFVa_zhx7xHiS0r44cepbEdC__-JE
  22. https://www.rada.gov.ua/preview/anonsy_podij/183909.html?fbclid=IwAR1NfePO4On9qEKbRmJNT_k3rDPlNClSpXVoQnyeZt1bjVhoEeuXxjvKUP0
  23. https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/articles/2020/01/16/7105134/
  24. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-XupQShSiA
  25. http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-en.asp?fileid=28586&lang=en&fbclid=IwAR2Eng4PAFEmAxhJhX_rt1QM3lGKsU6pXjQElF4o4gsS_MkvN_yqNXz-7Nw
  26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbGyoAul_vo
  27. https://studway.com.ua/liza-yasko/
  28. https://www.iofc.ch/stories/discussion-lisa-yasko-about-importance-youth-caux-forum
  29. http://bunews.com.ua/opinion/item/why-i-returned-to-ukraine
  30. https://lb.ua/world/2018/01/25/388009_oksforde.html
  31. https://tsn.ua/video/video-novini/lyudi-diy-istoriya-vipusknici-oksforda-lizi-yasko.html
  32. https://magazine.nv.ua/ukr/journal/3453-journal-no-08/top-100-uspishnikh-zhinok-ukrajini.html
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