Matvei Lukyanov: Difference between revisions

| spouse = Tatiana Charkova (m. 1937)

'''Matvei Andreivich Lukyanov''' ([[Volkian language|Volkian]]: Матвей Андреевич Лукьянов; July 2, 1903 - March 27, 1981) was a [[Volkia|Volkian]] politician who served as the [[List of presidents of Volkia|12th president of Volkia]] from 1961 to 1971. The last member of the [[Conservative Party (Volkia)|Volkian Conservatives]] to be elected [[President of Volkia]], he previously served in the [[Volkian Army]] and was a veteran of the [[Volkian Civil War]]. He retired as a lieutenant colonel and entered politics soon after in 1946, winning one of [[Vladinsk Oblast|Vladinsk Oblast's]] seats in the [[Chamber of Deputies (Volkia)|Chamber of Deputies]]. He represented Vladinsk's 3rd District until 1956 when he was appointed as Volkia's ambassador to Tano.

Lukyanov was the first conservative since [[Boris Engovatov]] in 1920 to win a presidential election and went on to become the second president to win three presidential elections. This is disputed by many in academia and in politics, as widespread fraud was found in both the 1964 and 1968 presidential elections. Lukyanov's tenure was marred with economic stagnation, police brutality, and crackdowns on people and groups viewed as threats to Lukyanov. Twelve people were shot dead by police in 1970 during anti-Lukyanov riots in [[Volkgoroda]], which sparked further civil unrest. Lukyanov tried suspending the 1970 midterm elections, but this was quickly struck down by the [[Federal Supreme Court of Volkia|Federal Supreme Court]].

In the 1970 elections, the Volkian Conservatives resoundingly lost their majority in both the [[Federal Council (Volkia)|Federal Council]] and [[Chamber of Deputies (Volkia)|Chamber of Deputies]]. Through a combined effort by the [[Social Democratic Union]], [[Liberal Party (Volkia)|Liberal Party]], and [[Socialist Labor League]], Lukyanov was impeached by the Chamber of Deputies on February 13, 1971 for high treason, anti-Volkia activities, and fraud. The Federal Council convicted Lukyanov on July 5, 1971 in a 65-13 vote. He was subsequently removed from office and barred from ever holding another political office in Volkia. He remains the only Volkian president to have been impeached and convicted. Following his conviction, [[Vice President of Volkia|Vice President]] [[Mikhail Yurevich]] became President. After another resounding defeat in the 1972 elections, the Volkian Conservatives rebranded the party and distanced themselves from Lukyanov.

On November 19, 1972 Lukyanov was arrested by agents from the National Bureau of Investigation for crimes committed during his presidency. He was convicted in federal court in 1973 for conspiracy, fraud, election tampering, and bribery. He was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment and was confined to White Mountain Federal Correctional Center.

Lukyanov suffered a massive stroke on March 26, 1981 and died the following day in White Mountain's medical center. He remains a controversial figure in Volkian history.