Conclusion of THE YEAR IN REVIEW pages 9-12 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXII No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014 $1/$2 in Ukraine Russia props up Yanukovych as his support base erodes by Zenon Zawada KYIV – President Viktor Yanukovych’s authoritarian rule was on the brink of col- lapse during the January 29 parliamentary session, news reports said, as deputies were ready to form a new majority and reinstate the 2004 constitutional amend- ments that would have brought back a par- liamentary-presidential republic. Yet the Russian government – rattled by the prior day’s resignation of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov – renewed pres- sure on Ukrainian oligarchs and politicians to keep Mr. Yanukovych in power. That day it announced renewed trade barriers and freezes on the financial aid and natural gas discounts extended in mid-December of last year. Mr. Yanukovych rushed into Parliament, where he reportedly blackmailed members of his Party of Regions parliamentary fac- tion to approve his version of an amnesty bill that makes possible a state of emergen- cy in 15 days. As a result, the political crisis intensified with the Euro-Maidan’s violent dispersal still a likely option. “It was a tragic day,” an anonymous inde- Dianna Derhak pendent deputy told The Insider news site A view of the barricades on Kyiv’s Hrushevsky Street on January 28. (theinsider.com.ua), which offered a behind-the-scenes account of the January Presidential Administration. Mr. Azarov confirmed in an interview on Polish state than a decade dealing with Mr. Yanukovych 29 session’s activity. “We could have resigned on January 28, following in the radio on January 30 by former Polish and Ukraine’s politicians. “He lost several changed the country’s fate today and refor- footsteps of Presidential Administration President and EU diplomat Aleksander dozen votes in the Party of Regions. He matted the majority, but it didn’t work out.” Chair Serhii Lyovochkin who did so 11 days Kwasniewski. “I think the president’s urgent went to discipline them, frighten them, Just that weekend, 78 Regions deputies, earlier. visit to the Rada occurred because he’s afraid blackmail them, and that had an effect.” about a third of the faction, didn’t attend a The political winds were slowly eroding that the majority is no longer on his side,” meeting called by Mr. Yanukovych at the Mr. Yanukovych’s support base, which was said Mr. Kwasniewski, who has spent more (Continued on page 4) Profi les of four slain Euro-Maidan supporters by Zenon Zawada when there was supposed to be a ceasefire between the two sides. KYIV – The following are brief biogra- Fliers with Nihoyan’s portrait have since phies of the victims who died as a result of cropped up throughout the Euro-Maidan ter- their involvement in the Euro-Maidan pro- ritory. He was video-recorded reciting verses tests. from Taras Shevchenko’s poem “Kavkaz” (Caucasus) for a film commemorating the Serhii Nihoyan, 20, was a native of the 200th anniversary of the poet’s birth this village of Bereznuvativka in the year. “Once the Armenian [Serhii] Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and an ethnic Paradzhanov recorded a film that became Armenian whose parents fled the war in the symbol of Ukrainians. Today an Nagorno-Karabakh. He actively practiced Armenian gave his life to become a symbol of karate and radio technology. He joined the Ukraine,” said pop star Sviatoslav Vakarchuk. Euro-Maidan on December 8, 2013, not tell- ing his parents. He cited as his motivation Mykhailo Zhyznevskyi, 25, was a native that he knew Ukraine should be democratic of Belarus who fled to Ukraine at the age of and “I understood that I should be on the 17 after being tracked by the State Security Maidan.” He served as a Maidan guard and Committee of Belarus, the successor to the returned home in early January, but returned KGB. He joined the Ukrainian National despite his parents’ attempt to dissuade him. Assembly-Ukrainian Self-Defense (UNA- Sergey Isaev/UNIAN Nihoyan was killed by four shots from a UNSO) and never returned to Belarus. Mourners at the funeral of Euro-Maidan activist Serhii Nihoyan in Bereznuvativka, sniper, one in his head and one in his neck, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, on January 26. at between 6 and 6:30 a.m. on January 22, (Continued on page 4) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014 No. 5 ANALYSIS Tensions grow between Moscow and West, Obama notes Ukraine in SOTU Minister John Baird and Immigration WASHNGTON – In his State of the Union Minister Chris Alexander announced that as the situation in Kyiv deteriorates (SOTU) address on January 28, President their government will bar certain individuals Barack Obama mentioned Ukraine in a sin- from the Ukrainian regime from entering Canada. “Canada remains deeply concerned by Pavel Felgenhauer first $3 billion was provided in December gle sentence. The comment came in this 2013 by the Russian government buying a paragraph: “Our alliance with Europe by the escalating violence that has occurred Eurasia Daily Monitor in Ukraine in past weeks. We strongly con- January 23 special issue of Ukrainian Eurobonds. The remains the strongest the world has ever Yanukovych government announced it known. From Tunisia to Burma, we’re sup- demn the killing of protesters,” Mr. Alexander The escalating crisis in Ukraine is rever- wanted Moscow to send $2 billion more in porting those who are willing to do the told reporters on Parliament Hill. “After berating in Moscow, where the ruling elite January. Russian government sources told hard work of building democracy. In extensive consultations with stakeholders‚ is convinced the violent clashes in Kyiv Vedomosti that Moscow is ready to go Ukraine, we stand for the principle that all including allies‚ our government has been between special police forces and protest- through with payments, but its position people have the right to express them- compelled to take action‚ and indeed mean- ingful action. Today our government is ers have been organized and financed by may change, if the situation in Kyiv changes selves freely and peacefully and to have a announcing that effectively we will restrict the West. and there is a threat of regime change. At say in their country’s future. …” A tran- entry into Canada for key Ukrainian govern- Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei present, the Kremlin believes Mr. script of his address was published by The ment officials that have been responsible for Lavrov accused the European Union of sup- Yanukovych controls his police force, which Washington Post. (The Washington Post) their repression and silencing of opposition porting “pogroms” by the opposition in is ready to suppress the protesters (http:// Yatsenyuk welcomes Obama remark voices.” Former Liberal MP Borys Kyiv, where the situation “is out of control.” www.vedomosti.ru/politics/news/ Wrzesnewskyj says that he was disappoint- KYIV – Ukrainian opposition leader Mr. Lavrov announced that Moscow sup- 21715421/kredit-ukraine-zavisit-ot-kata- ed by Tuesday’s announcement. “Clearly not Arseniy Yatsenyuk on January 29 thanked ports a negotiated settlement of the pulty). adequate,” he told Yahoo Canada News in an U.S. President Barack Obama for remarks in Ukrainian crisis and would be ready to act While the Moscow ruling elite seems e-mail exchange.”[It] would have been a good the latter’s annual State of the Union address as an intermediary, but “only if asked by united in its contempt of the Ukrainian pro- first step in November when the students to Congress, in which he backed free and Kyiv” (http://www.interfax.ru/print. testers and in its belief that the protests are were first brutalized in Independence peaceful freedom of expression. They were asp?sec=1446&id=35332). the result of Western subversion, the Square.” (Yahoo news) The Russian Duma, in turn, issued a Yanukovych regime is seen with almost the latest statement from the administration statement condemning “foreign forces that, equal disdain as corrupt and untrust- in Washington to emphasize the government OSCE chair welcomes first steps in Kyiv’s responsibility to “listen” to its citi- in violation of international law, are inter- worthy. BERN – Swiss Foreign Affairs Minister fering in Ukraine and escalating the conflict Mikhail Leontyev, a Kremlin-connected zens over the future course of the country. Mr. Yatsenyuk offered thanks to President Didier Burkhalter, the chairperson-in-office by supporting the opposition extremists” TV journalist, who this month was appoint- Obama via Twitter “for recognizing our of the Organization for Security and (http://www.newsru.com/world/ ed vice president in charge of public rela- struggle for #Democracy4Ukraine” and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)‚ welcomed 22jan2014/kyiv.html). tions of state-controlled oil major Rosneft, added, “We press on for a brighter future for the developments of January 28 in Ukraine President Vladimir Putin has been most- told a Moscow radio station: “Ukraine is a Ukraine.” (RFE/RL) and appealed to all sides to remain ly silent, as the situation in Kyiv has drasti- failed state – a conglomerate of criminal engaged in political dialogue. “I welcome cally deteriorated after the Verkhovna clans.” According to Mr. Leontyev, there is Merkel supports Ukraine’s protesters the steps taken today, such as the revoca- Rada, in a highly controversial vote on little difference between Mr. Yanukovych BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela tion of recent legislative amendments,” Mr. January 16, and without any discussion, and his opponents: “We support Merkel on January expressed her support Burkhalter said. “I hope these steps will approved a set of draconian laws severely Yanukovych as legitimate, but it is disgust- for Ukraine’s pro-European protesters, say- help to de-escalate the tensions and bring curtailing democracy and civil rights (see ing to do business with people without a ing their demands must be heard.