Olexander Turchynov

Interim President

Acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov (R) and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk take part in a rally to mark the 200th birthday of Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko near his monument in central Kiev March 9, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

Olexander Turchynov, an ally of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, was elected Ukraine's new parliament speaker on Feb 22. Addressing a parliamentary session, Turchynov described the economic situation in his country as "catastrophic."

"We do not have the funds on the treasury accounts and there are huge problems with the pension fund. You see what's happening with the national currency, the banking system," Turchynov said.