The Ukrainian Weekly 2014, No.9
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www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: l N.J. Ukrainians confer with Rep. Bill Pascrell – page 3 l Our community stands with the Maidan – pages 4-5 l UCCA urges support for interim government – page 9 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXII No. 9 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 2014 $1/$2 in Ukraine Interim government Ukraine on brink of economic collapse, to be led by Yatsenyuk pro-Russian forces call for secession by Zenon Zawada KYIV – An interim Ukrainian gov- Yanukovych flees country, ernment was elected this week to reported to be in Russia replace the ousted administration of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. by Zenon Zawada It will serve until the next government is formed after the May 25 presidential KYIV – After three months of a peaceful elections. protest that turned into a bloody battle, the Parliament began approving the Euro-Maidan movement achieved its revo- first nominees on February 22, the day lution on February 21 by forcing former President Viktor Yanukovych and his after Mr. Yanukovych’s flight, before entourage to abandon the Ukrainian gov- approving the bulk of the appoint- ernment and flee the country, fearing inevi- ments on February 27. Upon his elec- table criminal prosecution. tion as prime minister, Arseniy The collapse of the Yanukovych adminis- Yatsenyuk declared it “the government tration ignited conflicts nationally as pro- of political kamikazes.” Russian forces took over the Crimean par- “We stand before inconceivable liament and shot at Euro-Maidan activists economic challenges and in order to in eastern cities. conquer them I declare from this high The prime concern, however, was the tribune: we don’t have any other way catastrophic condition of the economy left out besides making extremely unpop- behind by Mr. Yanukovych and his cronies, Aleksey Ivanov, UNIAN ular decisions,” he said. “These deci- who reportedly embezzled $70 billion off- sions will apply to [state] subsidies, Verkhovna Rada Chair Oleksander Turchynov, who is also the acting president of shore in their three years in power while Ukraine, addresses the Maidan on February 26. That night the nominations of mem- these decisions will apply to [utility] bleeding the nation’s financial reserves dry. bers of the interim government were announced. rates, these decisions will apply to cuts Interim officials warned of economic col- in social programs, and these deci- lapse if the West didn’t offer aid. It took six days since Mr. Yanukovych’s Svoboda factions, as well as the Economic sions will apply to preserving the “Ukraine hasn’t had such economic and flight for Parliament to approve a new gov- Development and Sovereign European country’s financial system.” political catastrophe for all the history of its ernment on February 27. (See sidebar for Ukraine groups of independent deputies Dr. Olha Bohomelets, who gained independence.” Arseniy Yatsenyuk told a the list of new officials.) and a handful of Party of Regions defectors. heroic status for leading the Euro- February 24 meeting of state officials, three Parliament also formed a new majority In the time it took to form the new gov- Maidan’s medical brigade, said she days before he was elected prime minister. called the European Choice Coalition, con- ernment, the Ukrainian hryvnia lost more “The state treasury has been plundered and sisting of the Batkivshchyna, Ukrainian (Continued on page 3) the country has been brought to bankruptcy.” Democratic Alliance for Reform (UDAR) and (Continued on page 14) Religious, political, community leaders meet in New York’s Ukrainian Village by Irene Jarosewich ed from within. This was a civic revolt, that’s what these protests, the Maidan, have NEW YORK – Quoting Scripture, Rabbi been about. ...The indomitable spirit of the Yaakov Dov Bleich, chief rabbi of Kyiv and Ukrainians will continue... they will not go Ukraine, began his remarks here at a home.” February 23 press conference with the “[Viktor] Yanukovych thought that he words “Thy princes are rebellious, and could use violence and people would companions of thieves: every one loveth retreat. But Ukrainians are not Russians,” gifts, and followeth after rewards. ...And I, he added, “this is the mistake that (said the Lord), will restore thy judges... Yanukovych made. Every time he beat peo- and thy counselors.... afterward thou shalt ple, more people came out.” be called The City of Righteousness, the The desire by millions is to live in a nor- faithful city.” mal country, with a normal government, Although originally intended for Zion, free of corruption, is something that every- said Rabbi Bleich, these words reflect the body in Ukraine wants, said Rabbi Bleich. Ukraine that he has come to know during At the press conference, he was joined the past few years – a country that has been by U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), overwhelmed by thieves and greed, corrup- Tamara Olexy, the president of the tion and abuse of power. Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Describing the Maidan movement, the and Dania Lawro, the head of the New York three-month long demonstration in the Irene Jarosewich City chapter of the Ukrainian American center of Kyiv and throughout Ukraine, the At a press conference in New York (from left) are: Dania Lawro, head, New York chap- Youth Organization (UAYA). rabbi said that this was not a political battle ter, Ukrainian American Youth Association; Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich, chief rabbi of The speakers stood outdoors on the side- between ideologies, nor was it a religious Kyiv and Ukraine; Tamara Olexy, president, Ukrainian Congress Committee of or ethnic struggle. “The system disintegrat- America; U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney; and Tom Birchard, owner, Veselka Restaurant. (Continued on page 17) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 2014 No. 9 ANALYSIS Rada wants Yanukovych tried at Hague close entourage,” Mr. Bryhynets said. Ukraine’s ruling party faces defections (Ukrinform) KYIV – The Verkhovna Rada has voted in favor of having ousted President Viktor A government of people’s trust by Oleg Varfolomeyev whose service was suspended on February 18, apparently in order to disrupt supplies Yanukovych and others brought to trial Eurasia Daily Monitor KYIV – The main priority for the to the protesters’ camp (5 Kanal TV, before the International Criminal Court February 21 Ukrainian Parliament, which “in essence February 20). (ICC) in The Hague for serious crimes. The has remained the only legitimate authority The Ukrainian authorities and the main- Although the defections made the PRU Parliament on February 25 overwhelmingly in the country,” is restoration of executive stream opposition leaders signed a deal on faction numerically smaller and weakened backed a resolution saying Mr. Yanukovych, power in the country’s center and locally. February 21 in Kyiv to settle the political Mr. Yanukovych personally, their signifi- former Internal Affairs Minister Vitaliy Verkhovna Rada Chairman and acting crisis continuing since November 2013. cance should not be overestimated. Most of Zakharchenko, former Procurator-General President Oleksander Turchynov told U.S. They agreed to undertake constitutional the defectors joined the faction in recent Viktor Pshonka and others should be tried Deputy Secretary of State William Burns in reform, form a coalition government, con- years and were not senior MPs. As for Mr. at the ICC for “crimes against humanity” duct early presidential elections by Makeyenko, he joined the PRU about 10 allegedly committed during the brutal Kyiv on February 25, according to Mr. December and, most importantly, put an years ago, after defecting first from the crackdown on anti-government protesters. Turchynov’s spokesman. “Virtually all the end to the violence (Kyiv Post, February Communists, then from the Socialists and More than 100 people were killed in clash- power is concentrated here, in Parliament, 21). The deal reflects the building pressure then from the nationalists. Born and edu- es between protesters and riot police. Mr. but it cannot be directly involved in the President Viktor Yanukovych’s government cated in Russia, he has never been close to Yanukovych, who was ousted by parliament work of the executive branch,” Mr. was under in recent days and weeks the PRU’s Donetsk core (http://file.liga. on February 22, is on the run. Messrs. Turchynov said, adding that on February caused by escalating street violence, which net/person/245-vladimir-makeenko.html). Zakharchenko and Pshonka are also being 26 the Verkhovna Rada intends to vote for culminated with a number of high-level Mr. Tigipko is a special case. He was sought by Ukrainian authorities. Andriy a government of people’s trust. Mr. and parliamentary defections from the rul- viewed by many as a successor to then- Kliuyev, a former chief of Mr. Yanukovych’s Turchynov also expressed his belief that ing party. president Leonid Kuchma in the early presidential administration, who is also on the new government will resume the Several national deputies have quit 2000s, but Mr. Kuchma preferred Mr. the run, has reportedly been shot. His course of European integration, “which Ukraine’s ruling Party of Regions (PRU) Yanukovych. After his surprising perfor- spokesman, Artem Petrenko, said he was was blocked by the previous government,” since the start of the mass anti-government mance in the 2010 election, when he came told that Mr. Kliuyev had come under fire by and cooperation with the International protests in Kyiv last November. But the exo- in third after Mr. Yanukovych and then- unknown attackers and was wounded, but Monetary Fund. “We are going to imple- dus has accelerated in response to the out- Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Mr. that his life was not in danger. Mr. Petrenko ment deep reforms of economic, adminis- break of violence on February 18-20, when Tigipko disbanded his own party and said he had not spoken to Mr.