Pavlenko has also held the office of children's ombudsman of Ukraine from 2011 to 2014, and worked as governor of Zhytomyr Oblast from 2006 to 2007.

[9] On 24 February 2014, Pavlenko was dismissed as children's ombudsman by a decree of acting President Oleksandr Turchynov.

[10] In the 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election Pavlenko was again re-elected into parliament; this time after placing 24th on the electoral list of Opposition Bloc.

[11][12] Pavlenko was re-elected, placed 22nd on the party list of Opposition Platform — For Life this time, in the 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election.

[citation needed] In April 2017, he introduced a draft resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to dismiss the Minister of Social Policy for violating the Constitution of Ukraine, systematic failure to perform official duties, violation of the requirements of current legislation on ensuring the rights and interests of children affected by hostilities and armed conflict, orphans and children deprived of parental care.