The Ukrainian Weekly 2011, No.33
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www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: l Adoptive families’ weekend at Soyuzivka – page 5 l International Plast Jamboree opens – page 8 l Travel: Hiking the “wild Carpathians” – centerfold THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXIX No. 33 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2011 $1/$2 in Ukraine Diaspora organizations Court orders arrest of Yulia Tymoshenko stand up in defense of Yulia Tymoshenko PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Leading organizations of the Ukrainian diaspora reacted swiftly and surely to the arrest of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko on August 5. The following were among the statements issued in the aftermath of the arrest. The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), in a statement released on August 5, noted: “The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, the umbrella organization of the over 1 million Americans of Ukrainian descent, is deeply concerned about the condi- tion of Ukraine’s former Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko. As reported in the press, Kyiv’s Pechersk District Court ordered her arrest and detention today. “The UCCA calls upon Ukrainian authorities to imme- diately release her from prison. Furthermore, as the repre- sentative body of Ukrainian Americans, the UCCA urges the United States government to publicly condemn her political imprisonment and utilize all diplomatic efforts to ensure the safety of her life and her release. The Yanukovych regime’s selective use of law enforcement, which has resulted in probes of political opposition lead- UNIAN/Andrey Skakodub ers and the arrest of Yulia Tymoshenko and others, is one A protester holds a leaflet bearing a photo of Yulia Tymoshenko outside the Pechersk District Court in Kyiv in a series of anti-democratic policies of political persecu- on August 10. The words under the photo read: “Freedom for Ukraine.” tion. The world’s democracies cannot remain silent while basic human rights are being violated and the rule of law by Mark Raczkiewycz In 1991, the key opposition leader was accused of is nothing more than a command system.” bribing former Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko, who is The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) on August 5 Special to The Ukrainian Weekly serving sitting out a sentence in a central Californian issued a news release in which it “expressed dismay with KYIV – Yulia Tymoshenko is back behind bars in the prison until 2012. what international institutions have labeled a politically same cell she occupied 10 years ago. On August 4 donning her signature braided hairstyle, motivated arrest of Opposition Leader and former Prime On August 5 Kyiv city Pechersk District Judge the 50-year-old former presidential candidate pre- Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in Kyiv.” Rodion Kireyev ordered Ms. Tymoshenko imprisoned in recorded a public address. “Today I’m still free, but ”The government of Ukraine is pursuing what appears the capital’s main pre-trial detention center for contempt to be politically motivated, selective justice in a deliberate of court charges in her abuse of office trial. (Continued on page 16) and systematic program to remove political opposition. This is another step away from democracy,” stated UCC President Paul Grod. “Today’s arrest of Tymoshenko is another in an ever-growing list of violations of human rights, democracy and the rule of law which have been Toronto Ukrainians protest political repressions in Ukraine regressing under the Yanukovych government.” “The international community cannot sit on its hands by Oksana Zakydalsky as democratic freedoms are being eroded in Ukraine,” Special to The Ukrainian Weekly stated Mr. Grod. “We have formally asked the govern- ment of Canada to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal TORONTO – Several hundred members of the to communicate Canada’s displeasure with the anti-dem- Ukrainian Canadian community in Toronto held a rally ocratic developments in Ukraine and call for her imme- outside Ukraine’s Consulate General to protest against diate release.” increasing political repressions in Ukraine under the The UCC release also noted that the organization “has regime of President Viktor Yanukovych. repeatedly requested that Canada use all of its influence The most recent and most egregious example of these within the Euro-Atlantic community and Euro-Atlantic repressions was the August 5 arrest and detention of for- agencies to maintain pressure on the Yanukovych govern- mer Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. ment to respect democracy and human rights. Furthermore Community activists, among them Ukrainian Canadian we have called upon the government of Canada to ensure Congress (UCC) Ontario Provincial Council President Yvan that any Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement be contin- gent upon Ukrainian government commitments to respect- Baker and UCC Toronto Branch President Oksana Rewa, ing democracy and human rights.” spoke to the crowd. Also addressing the crowd were sev- The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations eral Canadian politicians: federal Member of Parliament (AFUO) called on the Australian government “to inter- Ted Opitz (Conservative, Etobicoke-Center), former MP vene in the politically motivated arrest of opposition lead- Borys Wrzesnewskyj (Liberal), and MP and Finance er and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.” Critic Peggy Nash (New Democrat, Parkdale-High Park). “The court’s action in arresting Tymoshenko is another Ms. Nash said, “To jail a former prime minister and not example of the violation of human rights and the allow bail is shameful... an affront to democracy. We Yanukovych government’s systematic program of eradicat- expect better from Ukraine... We are watching, the world ing any form of opposition. Democratic process are being Viktor E. Glasko is watching. We expect better.” (Continued on page 4) A placard focuses on Toronto demonstrators’ demands. (Continued on page 15) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2011 No. 33 U.S. government expresses concern over arrest of Yulia Tymoshenko Tymoshenko thanks journalists vated. The PRU stated that only the court The following “U.S. Government concerns and urges that Mrs. can take all the necessary legal steps to Statement of Concern about Arrest of Tymoshenko’s incarceration be reviewed KYIV – Former Prime Minister Yulia establish the truth, including changing the Former Prime Minister Yulia and consideration be given to her imme- Tymoshenko has registered with the preventive measures used against the Tymoshenko” was released by the U.S. diate release. Pechersk District Court office a motion to accused. The party also noted that Ms. Embassy in Kyiv on August 6. We have raised our concerns with the add to the case record an article from Tymoshenko was delaying the legal pro- government of Ukraine regarding the Ukrayinska Pravda that proves that the cess, and accused her of preventing con- Yesterday’s incarceration of former legal proceedings against Mrs. Presidential Administration is directing sideration of the case, cynically insulting Prime Minister Tymoshenko has raised Tymoshenko and other opposition fig- the trial. “I thank the journalists who the court and witnesses. In any democrat- concerns internationally about the appli- ures, and will continue to closely monitor were able to establish the direct connec- ic country, obstruction of justice, no mat- cation of the rule of law in Ukraine and those proceedings. tion between the Presidential ter where it comes from, is considered a further contributes to the appearance of The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has Administration, meaning President serious offense, the Party of Regions politically motivated prosecutions. requested access to visit Mrs. [Viktor] Yanukovych, and those running statement noted. Neither politicians, nor The U.S. government shares those Tymoshenko during her incarceration. the trial against me in the Pechersk court. the media, nor various organizations have I want to thank them for establishing that a right to exert pressure on the court, the witness statements aren’t coming from statement underscored. (Ukrinform) the witnesses but from the Presidential ANALYSIS Administration,” Ms. Tymoshenko told Yushchenko to testify in court journalists before the start of the July 29 court session. She said this is further evi- KYIV – Former Ukrainian President Moscow puts the heat dence that the trial is political. “This Viktor Yushchenko will give testimony in proves that the trial against me is manual- the criminal case against ex-Prime ly managed by Yanukovych and his asso- Minister Yulia Tymoshenko after he on Minsk and Kyiv ciates in the administration,” she added. returns from vacation, Mr. Yushchenko’s Ukrayinska Pravda on July 29 released press secretary, Iryna Vannikova, said on by Stephen Blank pays for gas are slated to rise from $264 information indicating that the August 5. She noted that on July 28 Mr. per 1,000 cubic meters in the first quarter Eurasia Daily Monitor Presidential Administration is directly Yushchenko had received a notification on of 2011 to $400 per 1,000 cubic meters in influencing the Tymoshenko case, not the need to come to Kyiv’s Pechersk Moscow is turning up the heat on the fourth quarter (Interfax, July 12). just by contacting witnesses, but also by District Court and testify in the case Minsk and Kyiv to subordinate their econ- Moreover, Ukrainian Prime Minister trying to influence the information about against Ms. Tymoshenko. But due to the omies, notably their energy sectors, to Mykola Azarov maintains that the current fact that the former president is on holiday the trial. By checking the properties of a Russia and with that accept Russia’s politi- gas transport system can fully meet outside of Ukraine, he could not appear. word document, it was discovered that a cal tutelage. In both cases, Moscow is Europe’s need for gas, not only resisting a “As soon as Mr. Yushchenko returns to personal letter sent to the online publica- using the instruments of its gas and its cus- merger with Gazprom, but also suggesting Ukraine, he will be able to come to court tion allegedly by former Deputy toms union (EurAsEc).