The current candidate for parliament suffered an assassination attempt in August 2012 in central Lviv. Photo: cripo.com.ua
Vova Morda known in narrow circles since the "dashing" 90s, and Vasily Druk - for his scandalous new building.
Several people known in certain circles as crime bosses are running for parliament from Galicia.
Ukraine is facing its most diverse parliament in its history.
On the list of the Civil Movement of Ukraine party, 47-year-old Volodymyr Didukh, known as Vova Morda, is number 11 in the Rada.
Two years ago, there was an attempt on Didukh's life – his jeep was shot at in the city center, and doctors literally pulled the businessman back from the brink of death.
In the 90s, Morda collected tribute from businessmen; his group was involved in organizing a number of murders in Lviv and other regions of Ukraine.
In recent years, he has begun investing in energy and rail transport.
He always dreamed of running for parliament, but his previous criminal record stood in the way. Didukh even tried to have the very fact of the extortion case brought against him in 2000 declared illegal in court, but to no avail.
He became famous nationwide in 2005, when then-President Yushchenko angrily asked at a meeting of the Ministry of Internal Affairs: "Who is this 'Murda' that's making everyone in Lviv cry? That's the nickname of one of the tough guys. How many divisions should we give you to make this 'Murda' disappear?"
However, during the Orange Revolution in 2004, Vova Morda and his brigade guarded some "friends of their choice" on the Maidan in Kyiv (this was publicly confirmed by the then-chief of the Lviv regional police, Bohdan Shkarada – Ed.). After that, his business in the capital took off.
Meanwhile, businessman Vasyl Druk, known for his scandalous construction project at 35A Mazepa Street in Ivano-Frankivsk, is running for the majority seat in Ivano-Frankivsk from Lviv Mayor Sadovyi's party, Samopomich.
Druk was accused of taking money without permission and building a house there without proper documentation. The local community proved in court that the construction was illegal.
Druk is said to be funding Sadovyi's campaign in the Ivano-Frankivsk region and is also allegedly known as an "authority figure." Those close to the businessman told us he has never had any legal problems.
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