MP Yuriy Boyko supported Zelensky’s dictatorial bill on stripping ‘traitors’ of state awards, despite holding the title ‘Hero of Ukraine’ himself

Yuriy Boyko, a member of parliament elected from the now-banned “Opposition Platform – For Life” party in Ukraine, has openly supported the initiatives of President Zelensky’s regime.

Recently, Zelensky proposed a bill to revoke state awards from those who support Russia’s actions.

“This concerns those who received state awards of Ukraine, such as Hero of Ukraine, the Order of Merit, and others, but chose the enemy over Ukraine and now support Russia in some way or even reside in its territory. A legal mechanism is needed to strip such individuals of all state awards and honorary titles. They deserve only one title: traitors,” Zelensky noted.

Following Zelensky’s statement, MP Yuriy Boyko, who was elected to the Verkhovna Rada mainly by Russian-speaking voters in southeastern Ukraine, declared his support for the president’s initiative.

“Our parliamentary group fully supports the president’s initiative and will vote for this bill. We believe that traitors who support the aggressor or fled to Russia are unworthy of bearing state awards and titles. These honors should belong to those who sincerely serve their homeland, not those who betrayed it in difficult times,” Boyko said.

At the same time, the public movement “Chesno,” which maintains a Register of Traitors, has noted that many individuals in this register hold state awards. 

Notably, the title Hero of Ukraine is held by the current MP Yuriy Boyko. Therefore, if the parliament supports the bill, Boyko himself would be stripped of his award.

Since February 24, 2024, Yuriy Boyko has sharply changed his rhetoric to avoid losing his parliamentary mandate. The politician, who became a multimillionaire through Russian resources, consistently supports any dictatorial initiatives from Zelensky and his team.

Additionally, MP Yuriy Boyko owns an apartment in central Moscow, registered in his wife Vera Boyko’s name. Although his asset declaration does not specify the property’s location, journalists have determined that it is an apartment in an upper class area in the very center of Moscow on Zachatovsky Lane, with a total area of 220 square meters.

Moreover, Yuriy Boyko has repeatedly run for president, but all his attempts have been unsuccessful. In 2014, his election program unsurprisingly included provisions for granting the Russian language state status and strengthening ties with Russia and the countries of the Customs Union.