Main Players in Ukraine's Political Drama The Ukrainian government's abrupt decision to freeze ties with the West and violently disperse a peaceful rally has fueled public anger and drawn hundreds of thousands to the streets of the Ukrainian capital. Here is a look at the main characters in Ukraine's political drama: Born in the Russian-speaking industrial east, the 63-year-old started his career as an electrician before going on to become the governor of his home region in 1997 and then Ukraine's prime minister in 2002. He suffered a humiliation in 2004 when his victory in the fraud-tainted presidential election was declared void under pressure from massive unprecedented protests dubbed the Orange Revolution, allowing his pro-Western rival to win power. But Yanukovych took advantage of the troubled economy and infighting in the Orange camp to win the 2010 presidential vote. His government has been criticized for inconsistent economic policies, backtracking on democratic reforms and enriching a close group relatives and friends, who have earned the nickname the Family. Evidence that he lives in a lavish country mansion complete with an ostrich enclosure is seen as an emblem of the secrecy and arrogance of his presidency. Opponents point at his teenage convictions on charges of robbery and assault and have ridiculed his crude ways and bad grammar. Yanukovych has tried to maneuver between Russia and the West, but made his choice last week when he refused to sign the political association and free trade pact with the EU and sought stronger ties with Moscow. He has relied on support in the industrial east and southeast, where many favor close ties with Russia, while trying to placate others with promises to sign the EU deal in the future. But the massive protests have eroded his grip on power and put him on the defensive. The charismatic blond-braided heroine of the 2004 Orange Revolution, Tymoshenko was named the nation's prime minister, but quickly got into a vicious tug-of-war with President Viktor Yushchenko. Yushchenko fired her after seven months on the job in 2005, but then again named her the prime minister in 2007. In 2010, the 53-year-old narrowly lost the presidential race to Yanukovych. The next year, she was arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison on abuse of office charges the West has denounced as a political vendetta. The EU has made the signing of the cooperation deal with Ukraine conditional on Tymoshenko's release, but Yanukovych dismissed the demand, clearly fearing that his arch-rival could challenge him in the 2015 presidential election. Even in prison, Tymoshenko has remained a top opposition figure. In a passionate statement on Saturday, she urged Ukrainians to join protests, calling on them to wake up and oust Yanukovych from power. A technocrat seen as loyal to Yanukovych, the 65-year old Azarov has been vocal in his opposition to the EU deal, arguing that the bloc has given Ukraine little practical help. He has insisted that Ukraine should try to negotiate a better deal while strengthening its ties with Russia, which has served as the main export market for Ukrainian goods. But Azarov has also been a moderate voice in the government, calling for a peaceful solution of the current crisis and saying that protesters have the right to express their opinion freely.