Ihor Smeshko

Ihor Petrowytsch Smeschko ( born August 17, 1955 in Chrystyniwka, Cherkassy Oblast ) is a Ukrainian politician.

He was on 5 September 2003 to February 2005 head of the Ukrainian domestic intelligence SBU. Previously, he was deputy head of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine since June 2003.

Abroad Smeschko achieved notoriety in connection with the fatal dioxin poisoning of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. After dinner with Smeschko on 5 September 2004, the first symptoms of poisoning had occurred in Yushchenko, who led a little later for the permanent disfigurement of his face and public speculation According aimed to prevent him from making a contribution to the upcoming presidential elections.

During the Orange Revolution in November 2004, Smeschko actively began for an action against the protesters in the tent city on the Maidan Nezalezhnosti to stop advancing troops of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry. Given ended the Home Office the action. This probably could be prevented bloodshed.

After his election victory put the nunmehrige President Yushchenko Smeschko off, and new head of the SBU was Olexandr Turchynov.