New Members Join Ukraine's Parliament
On June 1, Ukraine's Central Election Commission (CEC) officially declared Andriy Levus and Mykola Davydiuk as newly elected members of parliament. Levus steps into the role vacated by Denys P'yatyhorets, who formally declined his parliamentary mandate. Meanwhile, Davydiuk fills the seat left by Volodymyr Tsabal, who prematurely ended his term.
Denys P'yatyhorets was originally elected on May 26, 2026, during the snap elections held on July 21, 2019, representing the 'European Solidarity' party. However, the CEC noted that he submitted a formal waiver of his mandate within the legally stipulated timeframe. Consequently, the commission determined that P'yatyhorets never assumed parliamentary authority.
Background of the New Legislators
Andriy Levus, born on August 9, 1979, in the city of Stryi, Lviv Oblast, was the next candidate in line on the 'European Solidarity' party list at number 29. He graduated from the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv in 2002 with a degree in history. From 2002, Levus worked as a history and law teacher in secondary school. In 2004, he led the local campaign headquarters for Viktor Yushchenko during the presidential elections, and from 2007 to 2012, he served as an assistant to lawmaker Andriy Parubiy.
In 2012, Levus managed the campaign of parliamentary candidate Valentyn Nalyvaichenko in the Zboriv district of Ternopil Oblast. During the Euromaidan protests in 2013-2014, he headed the self-defense command post. In 2014, he also held the position of deputy head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) under Valentyn Nalyvaichenko. That same year, Levus was elected to the 8th convocation of parliament as a non-partisan candidate on the 'People's Front' party list (number 23). In recent years, he was placed on a Russian sanctions list, and in 2020, the High Anti-Corruption Court set bail at over half a million hryvnias for him. However, in 2021, the court acquitted him in a case related to improper housing compensation.
Mykola Davydiuk, born on July 18, 1988, in the village of Perespa, Volyn Oblast, replaces Volodymyr Tsabal, who stepped down early. Davydiuk was next in line on the 'Holos' party list at number 27. He graduated from the National Pedagogical University named after Drahomanov with a degree in Spanish language and foreign literature. Since 2011, Davydiuk has served as director of the analytical center 'Polityka'. In 2014, he also unsuccessfully ran for the 8th convocation of parliament as a candidate for the 'Radical Party of Oleh Lyashko'.
- In 2018, Davydiuk completed an internship at the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University.
- From 2014 to 2019, he served as an unpaid assistant to lawmaker Ihor Popov in the 8th convocation of parliament.
- In 2019, Davydiuk again ran unsuccessfully for the 9th convocation of parliament as a candidate for the 'Holos' party (number 27 on the list).
- He co-founded the civic-political movement 'Diy z namy' alongside Mustafa Nayyem.
- He has served as a certified election observer for the OSCE.
- He has worked on election campaigns in Georgia (2013), Spain (2015), and Kyrgyzstan (2017).
The appointment of these new lawmakers highlights the shifting political landscape in Ukraine, driven by mandate rejections and early terminations. Both Andriy Levus and Mykola Davydiuk bring substantial experience in politics and analysis, potentially introducing fresh perspectives to the Verkhovna Rada. These replacements also underscore the fluidity of domestic politics and the need to adapt to evolving societal and political conditions. It will be important to monitor their future actions and influence on legislative initiatives, particularly given the challenges currently facing the nation.
As the political landscape shifts with the appointment of new members, it's important to consider the recent events surrounding the resignation of Volodymyr Tsabal. His decision not to continue in parliament has raised questions about the current dynamics within the Holos party and its impact on legislative processes, especially in light of the recent changes in leadership.