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Developers Target Historic District in Kyiv, Drawing Public Protests INSIDE: l The threat of dual citizenship to Ukraine – page 2 l The story of two Viktors in Brussels – page 6 l “Ukrainian Debutante Balls” section – pages 8-13 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXI No. 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013 $1/$2 in Ukraine Patriarch Sviatoslav Developers target historic district comments on new pope’s in Kyiv, drawing public protests ties to Ukrainians by Zenon Zawada Special to The Ukrainian Weekly Religious Information Service of Ukraine KYIV – For the past decade, busi- ROME – Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the nessmen have targeted Kyiv’s historic Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church commented in an Podil district for real estate develop- exclusive story filed on March 13 by the Religious ment, sometimes ruining historic Information Service of Ukraine on newly elected Pope structures and landscapes in the pro- Francis and his close connections to Ukrainian cess. These incidents drew an outcry Catholics. from activists and small public pro- RISU correspondent in Rome Oksana Shkodziska tests, but the patience of Podil’s reported the following comments from the patriarch defenders is now wearing thin. (the text was translated into English by Julian Hayda): More than 500 citizens gathered on “I would first like to say that the newly elected pope, March 2 at the historic Hospitable Francis, was mentored by one of our priests, Stepan Court (Hostynnyi Dvir) building in the Chmil, who is now buried in the basilica of St. Sophia in heart of the Podil district to protest its Rome. Today’s pope, during his time as a student of the secret takeover by a development com- Salesian school, awoke many hours before his class- pany whose owner is unknown but is mates to concelebrate at our divine liturgy with Father widely believed to have close ties to the Stepan. He knows our tradition very well, as well as family of President Viktor Yanukovych. our liturgy. Activists are irate that developers Maria Lebedeva “The last time I had an opportunity to see him was are replacing Podil’s classical architec- On March 2 (from left) writer Svitlana Povalyaeva, lawyer Marina Solovyova as I was preparing to leave Argentina for Ukraine. I ture – with its aesthetic appeal and and Vladyslava Osmak, a lecturer on cultural studies at the National asked him to bear witness to the process of beatifying accessibility to the public – with glass- Iuniversity of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, address a protest against the illegal Father Stepan Chmil, to which, he gladly agreed. The encased structures and overpriced takeover of the Hospitable Court. The sign in the background says, “Enough holy father very well knows not only of our Church, shopping malls, which peddle wares of waiting – act!” but also our liturgy, our rites and our spirituality. that are affordable only to a small “Apart from this, Pope Francis, as archbishop of class of oligarchs. enough shopping malls and bazaars?” known as Andriyivskyi Uzviz Buenos Aires, was assigned as ordinary for Eastern “Why do we need to build in the his- The Hospitable Court is merely the (Andrew’s Descent). Catholics, specifically those who at the time did not toric center – where there’s art, culture, latest target in a wave of aggressive Those sites are not nearly as attrac- have members of their own hierarchy. Our eparchy in education and science – an incompre- development in the Podil district, tive and often visited, however. On an Argentina is, let’s say, suffragan to the archbishop’s hensible shopping mall?” National including a site where the palace of the aesthetic level, the Hospitable Court seat of Buenos Aires. In this way, Cardinal [Jorge Deputy Andrii Illyenko of the Svoboda Kyivan-Rus’princes once stood, across holds together “not only the Mario] Bergoglio always took care of our Church in nationalist party said at the March 2 from the site where the Church of Kontraktova Square ensemble, but the whole idea behind the wonderful, Argentina; and as a young bishop, I took my first steps rally. “I want culture to be here – galler- Tithes once stood. In April of last year, ancient Podil beloved by us all,” in episcopal ministry under his watchful eyes and help. ies, libraries, and public spaces for intel- for example, billionaire Rinat ligent people who want to communi- Akhmetov’s building firm ruined a his- Vladyslava Osmak, a cultural studies (Continued on page 7) cate and develop. Don’t we have toric structure on the historic street (Continued on page 3) Washingtonians honor Shevchenko by Yaro Bihun The ceremony concluded with the tradi- Special to The Ukrainian Weekly tional singing of Shevchenko’s last testament “Zapovit.” Those attending did not hasten to WASHINGTON — The poet-laureate of leave, however; they mingled with some of Ukraine, Taras Shevchenko, was again the the old and new friends also in attendance, focus of the capital area Ukrainian-American prominent among them America’s second community’s attention this March 9, as a ambassador to Ukraine, William Green group of 100 gathered in front of his monu- Miller and his wife, Suzanne Miller, and a ment here to honor him and the immense group of children in Ukrainian embroidered contribution he made to Ukrainian culture shirts who came there directly from their and the flourishing of its nationhood. weekly Saturday classes at Ukrainian school, The commemorative event commenced accompanied by their parents. with the SPIV-Zhyttia a cappella group sing- The Ukrainian American groups organiz- ing his “Reve ta Stohne” about Ukraine’s ing the event – The Washington Group, mighty Dnipro River and a few other SPIV-Zhyttia, Ukrainian School, Plast Shevchenko poems set to music, and Ukrainian Scouting Organization and the included prayers led by the pastors of the other community groups working with Yaro Bihun three Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox them – then invited those attending to con- A gathering of the Ukrainian American community – including the pastors of its church- churches in this area and the placement of tinue the celebration at the Bier Baron es and Ukrainian school children – join with the SPIV-Zhyttia chorus in the singing of a large floral bouquet by representatives of Tavern and restaurant across the street Taras Shevchenko’s last testament, “Zapovit,” at the conclusion of their commemoration the Embassy of Ukraine led by First of the poet laureate’s birthday in front of his monument in Washington. Secretary Oresta Starak. (Continued on page 7) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013 No. 11 ANALYSIS Dual citizenship as a chance Opposition launches “Arise, Ukraine!” is not planning to emigrate abroad due to deprivation of his deputy’s mandate and KYIV – The opposition in Ukraine plans will continue defending Yulia Tymoshenko. ‘for Russia to do away with Ukraine’ to begin the protest action “Arise, Ukraine!” Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv, he on March 14. It is to last two months in all of tries whose independence not everyone said he would not comment on the rumors by Paul Goble Ukraine’s regional centers and to end with a on this occasion, answering a question considers irreversible. march in Kyiv, Batkivshchyna faction leader A proposal to allow dual citizenship in In Ukraine, Foreign Affairs Minister about possible emigration and a meeting Arseniy Yatsenyuk told a press conference with foreign diplomats. “I stress once again, Ukraine has sparked a sharp debate Leonid Kozhara has already spoken out on March 12. He said this is an action of I remain a defense lawyer of Yulia between those who believe that Ukrainian against the idea of allowing dual citizen- “struggle for economic and political rights,” Tymoshenko in all criminal cases, in which residents should have that right and those ship. He says that, in his view, such a possi- adding, “This protest is a demonstration of I have participated as her defense lawyer. who argue that such a step would threaten bility “would create problems both for the the country’s desire for change. We will Nothing has changed,” Mr. Vlasenko said, Ukraine’s existence by creating a large [Ukrainian] state and for those who might hold marches, rallies and meetings in each according to March 11 news reports. At the class of people who could sometimes act have dual citizenship.” regional center.” Mr. Yatsenyuk emphasized same time, he admitted that with the depri- as its citizens and sometimes as those of A survey of experts and politicians in that the political objective of this “exclusive- vation of his deputy’s mandate, he could another country. Ukraine found a rare unanimity on this ly peaceful protest” is to sack President have certain problems. “I will not be able to At the end of February, Lev Mirimsky, a point, with all of them suggesting that Viktor Yanukovych. “The opposition’s task live as I had lived, since I had another, deputy in the Verkhovna Rada, proposed “Ukraine is not ready for the legalization today is to fight not only in the Ukrainian slightly different personal defense system. legislation that would allow Ukrainians to of dual citizenship” because “that would Parliament, but also outside Parliament, And in this case the deputy’s mandate was retain their national passport even if they require legislative changes…, would create because a political force is strong only if it is a certain guarantee of my independent obtained citizenship in another country, a number of problems for the state” and, supported by the people of Ukraine,” Mr. position and my physical defense against something the country’s Constitution cur- most importantly, “could create a threat to Yatsenyuk underscored. (Ukrinform) absolutely illegal infringements by the Procurator General’s Office.” On March 6 rently prohibits (rupor.info/fokus/2013/ the integrity of Ukraine.” Lviv woman sews cassocks for new pope 03/01/dvojnoe-grazhdanstvo-kak-shans- “Sooner or later,” however, at least the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine dlya-rossii-pokonch/).
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