Inside: l Crimean Tatar leader in – page 5 l St. George Ukrainian Festival marks 40th anniversary – page 11 l Our community: Newark, N.J., and Albany, N.Y. – page 14

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXXIV No. 23 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 $2.00 enacts legal reforms, Savchenko sworn in as lawmaker, changes to law enforcement urges fight for ‘Kremlin prisoners’ Following its last visit to in May, the IMF mission decided not to hold a board of directors meeting in June to make a decision on the next loan tranche, which Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Anders Aslund said occurred because its members didn’t see progress from Ukraine in priority steps. Instead, the IMF decided to postpone its decision on whether to issue the tranche until July, awaiting the approval of at least 19 bills by Parliament, he said. The consti- tutional amendments just passed are part of that required legislation. The main structural changes consist of the introduction within two years of a Higher Judiciary Council to replace the Higher Justice Council in overseeing the approval, removal, transfer or prosecution of all judg- es; the restructuring of the Supreme Court; the introduction of requalification proce- Aleksandr Kosarev/UNIAN dures for judges; the simplification of proce- Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy dures to prosecute judges; and the elimina- Vladimir Gontar/UNIAN Lutsenko announces his latest changes to tion of the president’s authority to create removes the banner calling for her freedom that had hung in the the state body on May 30, including his new courts and appoint judges. while she was held captive in Russia. She was sworn in as a national hope that U.S. native Bohdan Vitvitsky The amendments were supported by deputy on May 31. will lead the jury to select its General the Petro Poroshenko Bloc, the People’s focused on the fight against Russia-backed Inspection. RFE/RL Front, the Opposition Bloc and a majority separatists as she tries to parlay her popu- of the Batkivshchyna faction, as well as the KYIV – Ukrainian military aviator Nadiya larity into political muscle. by Zenon Zawada People’s Will and Renaissance deputies’ Savchenko, who spent two years in Russian “I am back, and I won’t let you forget,” KYIV – Ukraine’s government this week groups. It was opposed by the Samopomich custody before her release in a prisoner she told fellow national deputies in adopted this week significant systemic party and Oleh Liashko’s Radical Party, as swap last week, has been sworn in as a law- Ukraine’s unicameral legislature on May 31, reforms to its judiciary and changes to law well as the most high-profile deputies of maker and used her first appearance in before adding references to Euro-Maidan enforcement, largely in response to Western the Batkivshchyna party. Parliament to urge the return of “prisoners unrest that ousted a pro-Russian president demands that were pent up for months The amendments’ critics said they will of the Kremlin.” two years ago and the ongoing conflict in owing to the nation’s political crisis. only concentrate more power in the hands The 35-year-old former battalion mem- the Donbas. Early in the week, Prosecutor General ber has been greeted as a war hero and (Continued on page 9) Yuriy Lutsenko announced his changes, appears intent on keeping the country (Continued on page 18) including the appointment of new deputies and department heads, as well as the restruc- turing of certain departments. He also asked certain figures of the old guard to resign on UNF, Paslawsky Fund, Ukraine NGO join forces to open rehab center their own, while also closing or transferring some of their controversial cases. by Yura Mosin heroic soldiers exist in the most extreme with disabilities. Two driving simulators The Verkhovna Rada voted on June 2 to conditions, yet retain a strong sense of are scheduled for delivery by early June – approve constitutional amendments that LVIV – Ukrainian soldiers who suffered optimism,” explained Viktoriia Voronovych, one for persons with prosthetic arms and structurally altered parts of the nation’s judi- debilitating loss of limbs in the war with founder of the IAFA. “So I am devastated another for those with prosthetic legs. The cial system, mustering 335 votes, or 35 more Russia in Ukraine’s Donbas region now when I hear that a soldier I have come to project hopes to obtain additional funds than was needed for them to pass. Aimed at have a better chance at leading productive know has lost a foot or a hand in a grenade for the purchase of specialized treadmills depoliticizing Ukraine’s judicial system, the lives, thanks to the united effort of three attack or an encounter with a mine. We necessary to strengthen mobility and amendments were supported by the Council organizations – the Ukrainian National have a responsibility to help these soldiers other rehabilitation equipment. of and the U.S. government. Foundation (UNF), the Markian lead productive lives after what they have The journey that brought the three sacrificed for our country.” charitable organizations together to help “A historic day. We welcome the Rada’s Paslawsky Fund and most significantly After a year of discussions, negotiations, the Lviv State Enterprise for Prosthetics approval of constitutional amendments the Kyiv-based International Alliance for fund-raising and procurement, the three and Mobility began with the Markian regarding judicial reform. A large step for- Fraternal Assistance(IAFA). They combined their efforts to develop organizations completed a project that Paslawsky Fund and the IAFA joining forc- ward on Ukraine’s European path,” U.S. a modern rehabilitation space at the Lviv gives patients access to a full range of com- es to honor the memory of Mr. Paslawsky, Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt State Enterprise for Prosthetics and prehensive treatments. A person newly fit- who died on August 19, 2014, at the battle tweeted shortly after the vote. Mobility. This is one of very few facilities ted with prosthetic hands or feet will not of Ilovaisk, when Russian and Russian- For at least half a year, Western officials in Ukraine manufacturing prosthetic only receive the physical therapy neces- backed troops indiscriminately shot had been criticizing the Ukrainian govern- limbs and fitting war victims at a time sary to properly use the artificial devices, retreating Ukrainian soldiers whom they ment for delaying, or even undermining, when the need for such services is critical. but will obtain occupational therapy to had previously agreed to allow to pass measures to further Ukraine’s integration Now the Lviv facility will also be able to develop skills to prepare food, take care of through a designated corridor. Mr. with the and to secure provide up-to-date comprehensive physi- daily hygienic needs and even drive a vehi- Paslawsky, whose nom de guerre was more financing, particularly a long-awaited cal therapy and life skills training. cle. The rehabilitation space is newly Franko, was a Ukrainian-American gradu- $1.7 billion loan tranche from the “I travel to the ATO nearly every week equipped with kitchen and bathroom facil- International Monetary Fund that will and am always impressed by the way our ities modified to accommodate people (Continued on page 9) unlock other funding. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 No. 23

ANALYSIS

Surkov-Nuland talks on Ukraine: Ex-NATO chief named Poroshenko adviser February 2014 amid bloody street protests. The protests were sparked by Mr. KYIV – Former NATO Secretary-General Yanukovych’s decision not to sign the a non-transparent channel Anders Fogh Rasmussen says he will do his Association Agreement with the EU. Russia “utmost to promote security, economic by Vladimir Socor According to some insiders to this pro- filed a lawsuit against Ukraine in February cess, the Surkov-Nuland meeting on January reforms, and stronger EU ties” in his new Eurasia Daily Monitor at London’s High Court demanding repay- 15 near Kaliningrad had discussed creative capacity as an adviser to Ukrainian ment of the $3 billion Eurobond, which Informal discussions are sputtering along solutions that might ease Kyiv’s assent to President Petro Poroshenko. Mr. Rasmussen matured on December 20. Russian Finance between and over DPR-LPR elections. For example, Russian made the comment on Facebook on May 28, Minister Anton Siluanov said on February implementation of the Minsk armistice in heavy weaponry would be assembled at one day after Mr. Poroshenko announced 17 that the case will seek to recover the Ukraine. This bilateral process originated in certain designated points, under OSCE over- the appointment. Mr. Poroshenko’s principal in full, $75 million of unpaid inter- May 2015 as an accompaniment to the sight, in the occupied territory (rather than announcement did not specify on what est, and legal fees. Moscow declined to take Obama administration’s decision to seek being withdrawn to Russia). And DPR-LPR issues Mr. Rasmussen would be advising. part in a $15 billion restructuring that Russia’s “help” on Syria. Assistant Secretary personnel would be assigned to serve with Mr. Rasmussen described the “security situ- Ukraine negotiated with its other Eurobond of State Victoria Nuland has been tasked to Ukrainian border troops in that territory ation” in eastern Ukraine as “alarming.” He holders last year. (RFE/RL, based on report- conduct the unofficial discussions with (rather than Ukraine regaining sovereign also said Ukraine must fight corruption and ing by Reuters) Moscow about Ukraine, initially with control of the border) after those elections implement reforms. Russian Duma member Gorbachev banned over remarks Russia’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister would have been held. Ironically, those two Leonid Kalashnikov, deputy chairman of the Grigory Karasin after May 2015 and continu- scenarios could result in Russian heavy Foreign Affairs Committee, told Interfax that KYIV – The Security Service of Ukraine ing with top presidential advisor Vladislav weaponry and crews being re-flagged as Mr. Rasmussen’s appointment was “a hos- (SBU) has imposed a ban against former tile gesture” toward Russia. “It shows that Surkov since January of this year. Each side DPR-LPR (to eschew withdrawal to Russia), Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev that Ukraine has chosen the West and NATO as has its own understanding of what the and DPR-LPR personnel in the border forbids him from entering Ukraine for five the vector of its drifting movement,” he said, implementation of the ceasefire, and partic- troops being re-flagged as Ukrainian (to years. SBU spokeswoman Olena Hitlyanska describing Ukraine as “a beachhead against ularly “full implementation,” means. claim Russian compliance with the Minsk confirmed the ban in an interview with Russia” that “will be used sooner or later.” Unlike the multilateral Normandy for- armistice, once Ukraine will have recog- Interfax on May 26, saying Mr. Gorbachev is Konstantin Kosachyov, chairman of the mat (Germany, France, Ukraine, Russia) nized those elections). not allowed to enter Ukraine for the next Federation Council’s Foreign Affairs and its Minsk Contact Group appendage All this would in fact be consistent with five years “in the interest of national securi- Committee, said on Facebook that Mr. (Ukraine, Russia, the Donetsk and Luhansk the letter of the Minsk armistice. That docu- ty.” According to Ms. Hitlyanska, the deci- Rasmussen’s appointment, like many other “people’s republics,” and the Organization ment does not even mention the Russian sion was made in response to Mr. Ukrainian moves, is “for show” because for Security and Cooperation in Europe), forces in Ukraine’s east; and it envisages that Gorbachev’s recent public statements in “Ukraine badly needs… attention from the the bilateral Washington-Moscow channel Kyiv and Donetsk-Luhansk would negotiate support of Moscow’s occupation and illegal outside.” (RFE/RL, with reporting by is not designed for any systematic or com- (share) control of the Ukrainian side of the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula Interfax) prehensive negotiations. Instead, it pursues Ukraine-Russia border after those local elec- in 2014. In a recent interview with what Obama administration officials would tions. These are cautionary signs to Ukraine. Ukraine’s defense in Russia loan case London’s Sunday Times newspaper, the call “creative solutions,” or face-saving Even if Kyiv accepts the proposed elections 85-year-old Mr. Gorbachev said he support- KYIV – Ukraine has filed its defense with quick fixes, interim compromises that to legitimize the DPR-LPR, and enshrines ed the annexation, and that the hastily a British court over a $3 billion debt to might look like progress. their constitutional status, no one can guar- organized and internationally criticized ref- Russia, arguing that the original loan agree- According to Assistant Secretary Nuland, antee that Russia would reciprocate by erendum in Crimea represented “the free ment with its neighbor was invalid. The on her latest visit in Moscow (Interfax, May withdrawing its forces or allowing Ukraine will of the people and most in Crimea.” Mr. Ukrainian Foreign Affairs and Finance min- 18), this bilateral channel operates “in par- to regain control of the border. Gorbachev said he would have acted the allel with” and as a “reinforcement of” the istries said in a statement on May 27 that Ms. Nuland met with Mr. Surkov and, sep- same way on the issue as Russian President Normandy format, “by agreement with its “Ukraine’s defense explains that the loan arately, with Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister if he had found himself in a participants.” However, the Normandy for- agreement is invalid and unenforceable for Sergei Ryabkov, on May 17-18 in Moscow. similar situation. On May 26 Mr. Gorbachev mat (for all its flaws) is partly transparent, multiple reasons” and noted that, “As a mat- Her visit followed up on the meeting declined to comment on the ban. (RFE/RL, politically accountable to some extent and ter of Ukrainian law, Ukraine lacked the between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry based on reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, operating on the authority of state leaders. capacity to enter an agreement that violat- and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs DPA, TASS, pravda.com.ua, and Interfax) By contrast, the bilateral Washington- ed the borrowing limits then in place and... Sergei Lavrov, held two days earlier in Moscow channel is wholly non-transpar- the agreement was procured through Helsinki commissioners on Savchenko Vienna, where they discussed Ukraine and ent, and the higher political authority duress exerted by Russia on Ukraine Syria. In Moscow, Mr. Surkov is responsible WASHINGTON – Following the release of behind it may be presumed but remains throughout 2013 in order to prevent for overseeing the Donetsk and Luhansk Ukrainian fighter pilot Nadiya Savchenko invisible. While the Normandy format deals Ukraine from signing an Association “people’s republics,” reporting directly to from prison in Russia, Rep. Chris Smith with “the Ukraine crisis” only, the bilateral Agreement with the EU.” The Eurobond in President Vladimir Putin; while Mr. Ryabkov (R-N.J.), chairman of the Commission on Washington-Moscow channel seems at question was issued by the administration is known to handle the Syria dossier. Security and Cooperation in Europe, and times to deal with both Ukraine and Syria, of former President Viktor Yanukovych just generating speculation about some “pack- In both meetings, Ms. Nuland confirmed two months before he fled to Russia in (Continued on page 12) age” solutions in this opaque process. on President Barack Obama’s authority The political priority in all negotiating that “if and when Minsk is fully implement- formats at this stage is to hold elections in ed, sanctions [on Russia] can be rolled back” (Interfax, May 16, 18). the Russian-controlled Donetsk and FOUNDED 1933 Luhansk “people’s republics” (DPR, LPR), However, all the sides involved differ in The Ukrainian Weekly in accordance with the Minsk armistice and their interpretations of the armistice and OSCE standards. Ms. Nuland has been urg- what may constitute partial or full imple- An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., ing Kyiv to go along with such elections, on mentation. In the short term, Ukraine is a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. the assumption that Moscow would allow being urged to accept elections in the the ceasefire to take hold. Last month in Russian-controlled territory, thus imple- Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. Kyiv, Ms. Nuland called for those elections menting a major phase of the armistice uni- (ISSN — 0273-9348) to be held by July, which would demon- laterally. Kyiv is calling, in almost desperate The Weekly: UNA: strate Ukrainian compliance with the tones, for an OSCE armed police mission to Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 Minsk armistice and persuade the West col- provide security both for the OSCE’s own lectively to prolong the sanctions on Russia. ceasefire monitors and for the proposed Postmaster, send address changes to: State Department spokesman Mark Toner elections (see Eurasia Daily Monitor, April The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz corroborated this, describing the July vot- 20, May 20). However, the has 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas ing date as desirable, though not rigid yet to speak its word on this matter. P.O. Box 280 (Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, April 26). In return, Ms. According to the United States govern- Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] Nuland promised (as on her previous vis- ment’s official account of the May 17-18 its) that Washington would press for the meeting between Ms. Nuland and Mr. The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com withdrawal of Russian forces and the resto- Surkov, the talks focused on improving ration of Ukraine’s control along the DPR- security “in the Donbas” as well as increas- The Ukrainian Weekly, June 5, 2016, No. 23, Vol. LXXXIV LPR-controlled border with Russia, once ing access to this region for the OSCE pre- Copyright © 2016 The Ukrainian Weekly those elections are held (Ukrayinska paratory to elections there (The Moscow Pravda, April 25–27). Times, May 19). This chronological sequence is that of Ms. Nuland evidenced a sense of urgency ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA the Minsk ceasefire, but the obligations about “elections” to be staged in the Donbas weigh on Ukraine only. Even if Ukraine under the Minsk armistice (reached in Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 assents to those elections, Russia has no February 2015): “We want to see Minsk e-mail: [email protected] obligation to follow up by withdrawing its implemented as soon as possible. It is now Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 forces or allowing Ukraine to regain control e-mail: [email protected] of the border. (Continued on page 16) No. 23 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 3

NEWS ANALYSIS Ukraine insists on international police mission in Donetsk-Luhansk by Vladimir Socor initiative for an armed police mission at police functions and monitor ceasefire to move everywhere without restrictions; Eurasia Daily Monitor their meeting in Berlin on May 11. The compliance throughout the territory, and operate along the demarcation line (front- Russian, German and French ministers capable of deploying along the Ukraine- line cutting across Ukrainian territory), at The top leaders of Russia, Germany, countered with a proposal to slightly enlarge Russia border. Apart from those functions, any location within the secessionist territo- France and Ukraine (the Normandy Group) the OSCE’s existing Special Monitoring Mr. Poroshenko argued that an internation- ry, and along the secessionist-controlled conferred by telephone on the night of May Mission (SMM, entirely unarmed and mostly al armed police mission is indispensable to section of the Ukraine-Russia border, 24 23-24, at Ukrainian President Petro civilian). Russia, however, is using its block- holding elections in the Russian-controlled out of 24 hours; it would be tasked to stop Poroshenko’s initiative. Mr. Poroshenko ing power in the Organization for Security territory. He appealed to Ms. Merkel in par- the cross-border flow of Russian military sought an endorsement of Kyiv’s proposal and Cooperation in Europe to keep the SMM ticular to work through the OSCE’s 2016 equipment and personnel to secessionist for the Organization for Security and pathetically inadequate to its monitoring German chairmanship to draft an adequate forces; and it would ultimately monitor the Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to create tasks in the Russian- mandate for such a withdrawal of Russian weaponry and and deploy an armed police mission in the controlled territory, mission (Ukrinform, troops across the same border under a secessionist Donetsk-Luhansk territory. Kyiv has not taken May 21). negotiated time-table (UNIAN, May 25). The Ukrainian presidency’s long com- while the Western logic muniqué indicated that the other three remains that the SMM “no” for an answer Foreign Affairs Kyiv envisages the mission as equipped leaders had assented to consider this pro- (like its parent, the to its proposal for Minister Pavlo Klimkin with armored personnel carriers, light posal in their Normandy format. However, OSCE) is better than has disclosed some ele- weapons and modern surveillance equip- German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s and nothing (see Eurasia an armed police ments of the Ukrainian ment. According to Ukrainian officials speak- French President Francois Hollande’s curt Daily Monitor, April 20, mission in the proposal and on May 25 ing on background, Kyiv hopes for an communiqués did not mention this issue; May 20). began a tour of Western 11,000-strong contingent, but expects instead, they urged Ukraine to go along Mr. Poroshenko’s occupied Donbas. capitals to promote it. Moscow to accept only a fraction of that with “elections” that are planned to be held persistence and The proposed mission number, if it comes to bargaining at the OSCE on that territory (Ukrinform, Bundes- Ukrainian follow-up actions indicate that would not and could not be a revamped in Vienna (Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, May 20-27). kanzlerin.de, Elysee.fr, May 24). Kyiv has not taken that “no” for an answer. SMM, since the latter has no mandate to pro- The mission’s main tasks (as presented) While Kyiv regards an international The Berlin meeting’s result notwithstand- vide security, no self-protection capabilities relate to post-conflict stabilization and a police mission as one of the many prerequi- ing, Mr. Poroshenko appealed to Ms. Merkel or enforcement powers, limited mobility, general provision of security. Policing those sites to those elections, the responses from and Mr. Hollande by telephone for support restricted access and insufficient manpow- putative elections would become a by- Berlin and Paris indicate that they do not. on May 20, ahead of the May 23-24 quadri- er, and it cannot operate at night in critical product of this mission; and the mission’s For its part, the Kremlin is orchestrating partite discussion with Mr. Putin. The locations. duration (as proposed) is not linked to opposition to the Ukrainian initiative. Ukrainian president explained the necessi- The proposed armed police mission those elections either. The Normandy Group’s ministers of for- ty of a mission adequately sized, armed and would be a new one, albeit still an OSCE- eign affairs had turned down the Ukrainian equipped, with a mandate to perform mandated mission. It would be authorized (Continued on page 4) Factcheck.com.ua aims to increase public’s political literacy in Ukraine

Ukraine Crisis Media Center untruth more clear and vivid for our read- ers,” explained the chief editor. “The main thing is impartiality. People tool to combat political manipulation, inac- who make any political statements or are curacyKYIV and– Factcheck.com.uа distortion of information. is a new online Its involved in any political activities should objective is to analyze the public state- bear responsibility for them,” said National ments of politicians and verify how they Deputy Serhiy Leshchenko (Petro correspond with reality. Its motto: “Only Poroshenko Bloc) another representative facts count.” of the Euro-Optimists. He also stressed the importance of using reliable sources to ver- the public’s information literacy, create a ify information. “If a politician manipulates politicalFactcheck.com.uа culture and also eradicate aims to populism, enhance a topical problem, we will verify his state- explained Yana Ibragimova, the platform’s ments regardless of his political power,” Mr. founder, speaking at a May 23 briefing at Leshchenko stated. Ukraine Crisis Media Center. Ms. Ibragimova Grigol Mgaloblishvili, former prime min- is also the founder of the school of gover- ister of Georgia and former ambassador of nance known as Civil and Political School Georgia to NATO, said he believes that such (CAPS). a tool will create a new political leadership “Now populism, deceiving people and act- in Ukraine. “This project has already been ing on their emotions are the main threats to operating in Georgia. It detects boundless Ukraine. …Even after the Maidan, people still Ukraine Crisis Media Center populism and does not allow politicians to go and vote for openly populist projects. One National Deputy Mustafa Nayyem addresses a briefing at the Ukraine Media Crisis manipulate the facts and spread lies,” he of the reasons is the fact that people do not Center. With him is Yana Ibragimova, founder of Factcheck.com.uа. stressed. know the real information. And then it turns out that opinion poll results do not corre- the truth,” added Mr. Korkhovyi. spond to reality, and power is assumed by According to Oleksandr Gorokhovsky, those who tell lies. Progressive young peo- Factcheck.com.ua’s chief editor, each item Quotable notes ple, experts and journalists know this, but that is checked simplifies a politician’s “We stand united in our conviction that the conflict in Ukraine can only be solved ordinary people do not get it for some rea- statement for the benefit of readers. The by diplomatic means and in full respect for international law, especially the legal obli- son,” commented National Deputy Mustafa “evidence” portion of each topic specifies gation to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. We Nayyem, a member of the Petro Poroshenko arguments collected by factcheckers that reiterate our condemnation of the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Bloc faction in the Verkhovna Rada and a prove the veracity or falsity of the state- Russia and reaffirm our policy of its non-recognition and sanctions against those representative of the inter-factional depu- ments. “We exclusively use open official involved. ... ties’ association Euro-Optimists. sources in our evidence base. We use the “We recall that the duration of sanctions is clearly linked to Russia’s implementa- Igor Korkhovyi, head of the platform information received from requests to pub- tion of the Minsk agreements and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty. Sanctions can be Factcheck.com.ua, emphasized that every lic authorities and international partners. rolled back when Russia meets these commitments. However, we also stand ready to statement on the project website contains a We do not use the statements of experts. take further restrictive measures in order to increase cost on Russia should its verdict and cites the evidence on which it is We consult with them in order to avoid actions so require. ... based. In the works are ratings of politi- accusations of incompetence,” explained “We commend and support the steps Ukraine is taking to implement comprehen- cians by the level of their misleading rheto- Mr. Gorokhovsky. sive structural, governance and economic reforms and encourage Ukraine to contin- ric. The target audience is politicians, vot- He added that the factcheckers do not ue and accelerate the process. We urge Ukraine to maintain and enhance the ers and journalists. take into account statements with value momentum in its fight against corruption and its judicial reform, including the “The project is also targeted at voters. judgments, subjective opinions or pros- Prosecutor General’s office. We are fully committed to providing long-term support We know that the political culture of the pects. Due to the high level of populism in to this end.” average voter in Ukraine is very low. We political rhetoric, the site’s developers – Excerpt of the declaration of the Group of Seven (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, provide information in a simplified form so decided to narrow the options to three ver- Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States) summit meeting in Ise-Shima, Japan, that the average citizen could read and see dicts: truth, half-truth and untruth. “This is on May 26-27. whether a politician manipulates or tells meant to make the quality and scope of 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 No. 23

Orest Kaczmarskyj laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery

by Yaro Bihun WASHINGTON – As thousands of people began visiting the war monuments in this nation’s capital and Arlington National Cemetery across the Potomac River in Virginia during this year’s Memorial Day weekend, a Ukrainian American joined that group of former soldiers they were coming to honor. Orest Kaczmarskyj, a former U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, was laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, May 27, with a gather- ing of relatives, friends and soldiers paying their respects. And many other visitors passing through that section of the cemetery over the holi- day weekend could not help but notice this new gravesite, as yet grassless, with no headstone and a small blue-and-yellow flag, Andrew Bihun and pay their respects as well. Orest Kaczmarskyj being laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery with his family and friends at his side. As recounted afterwards by his son George, Orest Kaczmarskyj was born in career in the Army, where he served for 21 His military and post-military career well as for several tours in Germany and Ukraine in 1941 and grew up in Europe years as an infantry, logistics and foreign took him around the world, with military Vietnam. He also traveled to Taiwan, within his refugee family, which then emi- area officer. He was known for his fluency assignments in Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Singapore, Korea, the Philippines, Pakistan grated to the United States. in six languages and for his intrinsic ability Bragg, N.C., and with the U.S. Army Security and Iraq, among other countries. After college, he decided to pursue a to quickly adapt to native dialects. Assistance Command in Washington, as For his service in the military, Mr. Kaczmarskyj was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal. Mr. Kaczmarskyj died peacefully while asleep in his home in Centreville, Va., on January 8. The current almost five-month waiting list for burials at Arlington National Cemetery forced the four-month-long delay in his burial. Until a permanent grave headstone is installed, his gravesite is temporarily marked with an identification name tag and identifiable by that small Ukrainian flag left by a member of the family. Mr. Kaczmarskyj’s wife, Martha, preced- ed him in dying, passing away in 2010. Founded in 1864, Arlington National Cemetery has more than 400,000 inter- ment sites, 280,000 of which are the final resting places of US soldiers. Currently, Kaczmarskyj Family An old photo of Orest Kaczmarskyj serv- Yaro Bihun between 27 and 30 funerals are conducted ing in the Army. Orest Kaczmarskyj’s temporary gravesite marker and Ukrainian flag. there every weekday.

al police mission is partly linked to those conditions to its assent. The international elections held in that territory, they must Ukraine insists... elections: “Free and fair elections are out of police presence is only one of those prereq- agree to create the prerequisites, including the question without such a mission.” But uisites. Kyiv’s proposal suggests that it an international police mission (Ukrinform, (Continued from page 3) that link is thin, and far from indispensable. could legalize the holding of those elec- May 24). Implicitly: no mission, no elections. Apart from those tasks, the proposed However thin and dispensable, that link tions, indeed enter Ukrainian candidates Conversely, Berlin and Paris apparently con- mission would provide basic security with seems designed to elicit the Normandy with chances to win, provided that its pre- sider endorsing a modest police mission, if police functions in the run-up to, during powers’ endorsement of such a mission. conditions are met, starting with an OSCE firmly linked to those elections. Their mes- and after the putative elections in the Russia, Germany and France are keen armed police mission with a strong man- sage: no elections, no police mission. secessionist-controlled territory. The mis- (albeit to varying degrees) for elections to date and large contingent. sion would stay “until the normalization of be held in the secessionist-controlled terri- As summed up by Ukraine’s deputy The article above is reprinted from life” there. In Mr. Klimkin’s public presenta- tory as soon as possible, even without an prime minister for European and Euro- Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from tions (as in Mr. Poroshenko’s to the international police presence. Ukraine, Atlantic Integration, Ivanka Klympush- its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, Normandy Group leaders), the internation- however, has set legal and democratic pre- Tsintsadze: if the Normandy powers want www.jamestown.org.

The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund: March 2016 Amount Name City State $25.00 Corvo Nadia Colebrook CT Holoviak Paula Sugarloaf PA $300.00 Lebedovych Victor Syracuse NY Hluszczyk Roman Carteret NJ Kos Zirka ON $270.00 Kashimer Daniel Brooklyn NY Hogan Larissa Marinette WI Smith Sonia Southport NC $100.00 Wasylko N Endicott NY Tataryn Orest & Judy San Jose CA Smyk Rostyslaw Lake Bluff IL Wolowacz Peter Brooklyn NY $20.00 Fedirko Olga Camden DE Sydorowych Julie Dewitt NY $85.00 Pankiw Andrew Upper Arlington OH Karawan Oleh Inverness IL $5.00 Komarynsky Myron Kirkwood MO $55.00 Stakhiv Zenon Fairfax Station VA Lysko W Cranbury NJ $50.00 Deychakiwsky Orest Beltsville MD Matla Andrea Sugar Land TX TOTAL: $1,573.00 Sluzar Natalie North Port FL Motyka Lydia Gainesville FL Sincere thanks to all contributors Sydor Ihor & Olga Cos Cob CT Sulzynsky Victor Alexandria VA $40.00 Strutynsky Ihor & Svitlana Yonkers NY $15.00 Demidowich Christine Livingston NJ to The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund. $35.00 Bekersky Daria Tuxedo NY Gawdiak Ihor & Natalie Columbia MD $33.00 Pawluk N Huntsville AL Klachko Luba Mendham NJ The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund is the only $30.00 Boyko Lieda Port Charlotte FL Nebesny Michael & Stefana Clinton IN fund dedicated exclusively to supporting Kusznir John Douglassville PA $10.00 Brodylo Maria Elmont NY the work of this publication. No. 23 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 5 Crimean Tatar leader meets Canadian prime minister OTTAWA – Legendary Crimean Tatar Wrzesnewskyj, included those with Prime leader Mustafa Dzhemilev held several Minister Justin Trudeau, Foreign Affairs informative briefings on Parliament Hill on Minister Stéphane Dion and Parliamentary May 18. Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Meetings arranged by the chair of the Pamela Goldsmith-Jones. Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship During the meetings, both the prime Group, Member of Parliament Borys minister and the foreign minister reiterated

Mustafa Dzhemilev with executive members of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group and members of the diplomatic corps at the dinner hosted by Member of Parliament Borys Wrzesnewskyj.

Mustafa Dzhemilev meets with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with to Mr. Dzhemilev that Canada does not, and dance were: CUPFG Vice-Chairs James Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group (CUPFG) Chair MP Borys will not, accept Russia’s military invasion Bezan, Linda Duncan and James Maloney; Wrzesnewskyj (right) and Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Shevchenko (left). and illegal occupation of Ukrainian territo- CUPFG Directors Kyle Peterson and Don ry, including Crimea, and that Canada Rusnak; Turkish Ambassador Selçuk Ünal; stands shoulder to shoulder with the indig- Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Shevchenko; enous Crimean Tatar people. Mr. Wrzesnewskyj hosted a dinner in German Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Ambassador of Ukraine honored honor of Mr. Dzhemilev that was attended by JoernLithuanian Roesenberg; Ambassador and Polish Vytautas Embassy Žalys; First executive members of the Canada-Ukraine Counselor and Chargé d’Affaires Lukasz with ’s Offi cer’s Cross Parliamentary Friendship Group (CUPFG), Weremiuk. who all are members of Parliament, and members of the diplomatic corps. In atten- Source: Office of MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj

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and its newly redesigned online edition at www.ukrweekly.com and subscribe for $95 for only $40 for $90 Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S. a year! Polish Ambassador to the U.S. Ryszard Schnepf (left) presents the Officer’s Cross of The Ukrainian Weekly, PRINT EDITION the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland to Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. PRINT AND ONLINE founded in 1933, is published by Valeriy Chaly. the Ukrainian National Association. WASHINGTON – Valeriy Chaly, ambassa- the face of unprecedented Russian aggres- dor of Ukraine to the United States, was dec- sion against that country, we wish to once Subscribe to our orated with the Officer’s Cross of the Order more be a source of support for our neigh- of Merit of the Republic of Poland during a bor, to be close to Ukraine and Ukrainians.” ($80 if you are a UNA member). ceremony at the Polish Embassy on May 23. Accepting the award, Ambassador Chaly Subscribe to The Weekly in President Bronislaw Komorowski of thanked Poland for supporting Ukraine in Poland honored Ambassador Chaly with difficult times to counter Russian aggres- ($85 for UNA’ers). this high state award in recognition of his sion. He emphasized that receiving this Visit www.ukrweekly.com and click on the link for Subscriptions. outstanding achievements in promoting award in Washington has special signifi- friendly Ukrainian-Polish relations. cance for him and he noted the critical role Or contact our Subscription Department at [email protected] Polish Ambassador to the U.S. Ryszard that U.S. support has on the stability of or 973-292-9800 ext. 3040. Schnepf decorated Ambassador Chaly with Eastern Europe, especially in light of the award. In his remarks, Ambassador threats emanating from Russia. Schnepf stressed that the honoree is a high- Ambassador Chaly further commented ly professional diplomat and statesman, that the future of Europe depends on the noting his achievements as the deputy cooperation of countries, including Poland head of the Presidential Administration of and Ukraine, especially in the area of security. Ukraine under President Petro Poroshenko The ceremony was honored by the pres- and his role in strengthening the strategic ence of the representatives of the diplomat- partnership between Ukraine and Poland. ic corps accredited to the United States, as “The history of Polish-Ukrainian rela- well as representatives of the U.S. National tions is long and full of momentous events,” Security Council, and the Ukrainian and explained Ambassador Schnepf, welcoming Polish diasporas. guests to the Embassy. “In 1991 it was Sources: Embassy of Ukraine in the Poland who was the first country to recog- U.S.,Bottom of Form Embassy of the Republic nize the independence of Ukraine. Today, in of Poland in the U.S. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 No. 23

WINDOW ON EURASIA The Ukrainian Weekly Festival season arrives No surpise that Gorbachev supports The calendar says June, and that means our festival season is in full swing. On page 11 of this issue, you’ll see the first evidence of that. Putin’s Crimean annexation, says journalist The St. George Ukrainian Festival in , hosted by St. George Ukrainian by Paul Goble new weapon to do their work. In addition Catholic Church, took place on May 20-22. As it does every year, it attracted large to gas, they dispatched many of the protest- crowds who came to experience Ukrainian culture, sample Ukrainian food, and, of Given his own willingness to use vio- ers with entrenching tools. Sixteen course, buy some Ukrainian souvenirs. The festival featured an array of performers lence against people in Kazakhstan, Georgians died on the spot, and 250 more from the tri-state New York-New Jersey-Connecticut area – it was hard to count how Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia and elsewhere, were hospitalized. many different Ukrainian dance groups performed – plus entertainers from Ukraine. no one should be surprised that the first In early 1991, Mr. Gorbachev ordered For the record, this year marked the St. George Ukrainian Festival’s milestone and last Soviet president, Mikhail troops to fire on demonstrators in Vilnius 40th year. A look back at the historical archives reveals that the festival was first Gorbachev, says he supports Vladimir and Riga in a failed attempt to prevent the organized in 1976 as a Ukrainian American tribute to the U.S. Bicentennial. It has Putin’s annexation of Crimea and, in his Baltic countries of Lithuania and Latvia continued ever since to the delight of festival audiences. Indeed, it has become an place, would have done the same, accord- from pursuing independence. (Mr. Malgin important fixture on the New York City festival calendar – and in New York City that ing to Andrey Malgin, a Russian opposition doesn’t mention it, but the Soviet leader is a major accomplishment. journalist who lives in Italy. wanted to do the same thing in Tallinn, but Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) noted in her message to the St. was blocked by the commander of the Tartu George Festival’s organizers that “this festival has established itself as a cultural But Mr. Gorbachev’s remarks, which air base, Maj. Gen. Dzhokhar Dudayev, who highlight in our city” and pointed to the thousands of visitors that “have the opportu- appeared in an interview with London’s closed air traffic over Estonia.) nity to see and partake in the rich history and traditions of the Ukrainian American Sunday Times, call attention to his own community that has contributed so much to our city.” willingness to use lethal force and “worker Despite those who believe Mr. Gorbachev Mayor Bill de Blasio greeted the festival-goers with a special message in which he detachments” which all too often are for- wanted to destroy the USSR, the Russian underlined: “New York’s unmatched diversity is its greatest asset and our thriving gotten, the commentator suggests, adding commentator continues, the Soviet presi- Ukrainian American population has made invaluable contributions to every sector that he would have been better served by dent in fact was committed to using force in throughout the five boroughs. …With music performances, vocal ensembles, folk saying nothing (nr2.com.ua/publications/ the name of preserving it, although his use dancers, delicious traditional food, and rippling flags of blue and gold, this beloved U-Gorbacheva-ruki-po-lokot-v-krovi- of force probably had the unintended con- annual celebration in the East Village’s ‘Little Ukraine’ is an excellent way to show- publicist-Andrey-Malgin-119895.html). sequence of accelerating the demise of the case for all New Yorkers the vibrant customs and spirit of fellowship that defines Mr. Malgin points out that Mr. empire. Ukrainian Americans. I applaud the event’s organizers, participants and supporters Gorbachev’s reign began with his use of The only thing that might surprise any- for their efforts to preserve a rich heritage, reinforce ties between New York and force, including “worker detachments” of one is that Mr. Gorbachev delayed so long Ukraine, and enhance the cultural vitality of our global city.” the kind Mr. Putin has relied on and also in making his declaration of support for Mr. The St. George Ukrainian Festival is notable also as a showcase for the work of consisting of “ethnic Russian hooligans,” to Putin’s Anschluss, but Mr. Malgin says there Ukrainian organizations (including our publisher, the Ukrainian National suppress protests by young people in Alma- is a likely explanation for that: the former Association), which set up tables and booths in order to engage visitors – Ukrainian Ata and Karaganda against the Soviet Soviet leader probably didn’t want to and non-Ukrainian alike. It is also an opportunity for charitable organizations to Communist Party general secretary’s impo- offend his Western supporters but now has raise awareness and collect donations for their valuable work, for example, aiding sition of an ethnic Russian in place of an concluded that for him that isn’t as impor- the rehabilitation of Ukraine’s wounded warriors. ethnic Kazakh as that republic’s leader. tant as not offending Mr. Putin. In short, this festival seems to have something for everyone. Bravo to its dedicated There were deaths. Two years later, in In response to Mr. Gorbachev’s state- organizers. another Kazakhstan city, Novy Uzen, Mr. ment, the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs To be sure, there are many other Ukrainian festivals on the summer calendar. Gorbachev sent in the special forces to sup- Ministry has put him on a watch list of (Many of them were noted in our 20th annual special supplement called “A press another demonstration by young peo- those banned from entering Ukraine. More Ukrainian Summer,” which was published on May 1.) All of them serve our commu- ple. And again there were victims. than that, Kyiv has asked that the European nity well: they give us an opportunity to express pride in our beautiful Ukrainian cul- Less than a year after that, Mr. Malgin Union impose the same restrictions on his ture and to share that culture with our neighbors; they allow us to teach the public continues, when the Armenians of Nagorno- travel to any member country and to at large about Ukraine and Ukrainians; and, certainly, they help us to raise funds for Karabakh petitioned Mr. Gorbachev to grant impose other sanctions on him. our community. They truly are a winning formula for all concerned. them independence from Azerbaijan, he Mr. Malgin says that if he were in Mr. sent into that republic another group of Putin’s place, he would have responded to PS: Why not send us some great photos and a short write-up about your local festi- Soviet internal troops, where they “stood any question about Crimea “with humor.” val? We’ll be glad to share them with our readers. (For some helpful hints on submitting shoulder to shoulder” with the Azerbaijanis, After all, he could point out that he was at materials, check out the editorial from our March 20 issue, which you can find online at he says. Foros in Ukraine when the August coup http://www.ukrweekly.com/uwwp/new-beginnings-improved-cooperation/.) Then, in April 1989, Mr. Gorbachev sent occurred and he could simply express his troops into Tbilisi to suppress Georgian “gratitude” for the support he received demonstrations, and these troops used a from the people on the peninsula. June Turning the pages back...

Forty years ago, on June 11, 1976, members were named to the Russian elite’s anti-Americanism older, newly established U.S. Helsinki Commission that included six 11 members from the Senate and House of Representatives as well as more deeply held than that of other 1976 three appointees of the executive branch of government. The U.S. Commission was proposed by Sen. Clifford P. Case (R-N.J.) and Rep. by Paul Goble maximum” of 88 percent (vedomosti.ru/ Millicent Fenwick (R-N.J.) following the signing of the Helsinki opinion/articles/2016/05/20/641720- Final Act on August 1, 1975, by 31 signatory member states. President Gerald Ford signed Members of the Russian elite became elitnii-antiamerikanizm). the bill into law (Public Law No. 94-304) in the Oval Office at the White House on June 3. anti-American sooner and are more com- Moreover, it says, elite support for “milita- Rep. Fenwick said: “The commission will monitor compliance with the Helsinki Accord mitted to anti-Americanism now than is the rist and expansionist ideas… has significant- and will encourage the United States government to implement programs to carry out our rest of the Russian population, according to ly grown” to 82.9 percent, as has the share of own pledges in this important undertaking. The signing of this bill by the president is a a new survey conducted by scholars from those “who believe the zone of the national resounding statement by the United States, which reaffirms our commitment to human Hamilton College in the U.S. and reported in interests of Russia extends beyond its bor- freedom and dignity.” late May in Vedomosti. ders.” And, for the first time, those who She also noted President Ford’s statement during the signing of the accord in Helsinki In its write-up of the survey’s results (for believe military force is the most important in 1975 that the effectiveness of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe the original report, see hamilton.edu/docu- tool outnumber those who think the coun- (also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission) would be determined “not by the promises ments/russianelite2016final.pdf), try should rely on economic power. we make, but by the promises we keep.” Vedomosti notes that “in 2016, the level of Members of the Russian elite, this and In addition to the 12 senators and representatives, three members of the U.S. Helsinki anti-Americanism among representatives other surveys show, are less likely than ordi- nary Russians to view the annexation of Commission were to be appointed by the U.S. president from the departments of State, of the Russia elite achieved the absolute Crimea as a violation of international law Defense and Commerce. and more likely to accept the notion that “the Senate members of the commission included: Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.), Dick Clark (D-Iowa), Paul Goble is a long-time specialist on main goal of the Russian operation in Syria is Richard Stone (D-Fla.), Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Case and James Buckley (R-N.Y.). House ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia the neutralization of the terrorist threat.” members included: Dante Fascel (D-Fla.), chairman, Sidney Yates (D-Ill.), Jonathan Bingham who has served in various capacities in the The Hamilton College survey this year (D-N.Y.) Paul Simon (D-Ill), John H. Buchanan (R-Ala.) and Rep. Fenwick. U.S. State Department, the Central also found that elites are “united around Today, the commission comprises 18 Senators and Congressmen (nine from each legis- Intelligence Agency and the International Broadcasting Bureau, as well as at the Voice Vladimir Putin and do not see a chance for lative chamber) and one member each from the departments of State (vacant since March his replacement in the next 10 years. of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio 2013), Defense (vacant since July 2013) and Commerce (vacant since February 2012). Further, a sizeable share of them, more Liberty and the Carnegie Endowment for The U.S. Helsinki Commission today includes: Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), co-chair- than in any of the earlier surveys this col- International Peace. The article above is man, Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Sheldon lege has made, say that the current Russian Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Richard reprinted with permission from his blog political system is ‘the best.’ ” called “Window on Eurasia” (http://windo- (Continued on page 10) woneurasia2.blogspot.com/). (Continued on page 18) No. 23 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 7

FOR THE RECORD Statement of Ukrainian American community in on the ’ struggle Following is the text of a statement Asia, in what is now Uzbekistan. Almost released by the Division of the half of them died in exile, constituting what Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. It is legally defined as genocide. Many The Crimean Tatars’ resolve was prepared in conjunction with the Day of returned to their homeland after the break- Remembrance of the Deportation of the up of the . Crimean Tatars, which was marked in Crimean Tatars are loyal Ukrainian citi- Chicago on May 21. zens. They volunteered in the Maidan revo- lution and formed a battalion to fight in the The expulsion of the Crimean Tatars Russian invasion in the east of Ukraine. from their homeland in Crimea in 1944 by The Russian government invaded and Stalin’s Soviet regime was one of this centu- illegally occupied the Crimean peninsula in ry’s greatest crimes, and one that has been 2014 through a military invasion and brute silenced in the world by the Soviet Union, force. The Russian government occupying and since the break-up of the Soviet Union, Crimea has officially banned any public silenced by Russia. commemoration of the 1944 genocide. The Crimean Tatar singer Jamala brought Since March 2014, the Russian government this crime to the attention of the world with began an organized oppression of Crimean her song “1944” when she won the Tatars that led to a large number of inter- Eurovision contest. nally displaced persons migrating north to But the struggle of the Crimean Tatar central and western Ukraine, and to Turkey. nation has been advanced for years by the An official report by the OSCE stated that former dissident and the Crimean Tatar spir- that “Fundamental freedoms of assembly, itual leader Mustafa Dzhemilev, and by Refat association, expression and movement Chubarov, leader of the Crimean Tatar have all been restricted by the de facto national movement known as the Mejlis, as authorities in Crimea.” Many have been well as others who gave their lives for justice. arrested or killed, schools and publishing Andrij Dobriansky The organized deportation and exile of houses have been closed, and armed raids At the Ukrainian Embassy in Vilnius, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the Republic of the Crimean Tatar people from their home- on mosques during religious services have Lithuania Volodymyr Yatsenkivskyi toasts the Crimean Tatar delegates alongside Mustafa Dzhemilev and WCCT President Refat Chubarov. land by the Soviet state has now been been conducted with increasing frequency. enshrined on the 18th of May each year as A number of international bodies, On April 11-13, the executive board of Much like the impetus that led to the the Day of Remembrance for the victims by including the European Parliament, have the World Crimean Tatar Congress met for genesis of the first World Congress of Free the Ukrainian Parliament. It is estimated already condemned the Kremlin’s treat- deliberations that coincided with an inter- Ukrainians in the 1960s, today’s Crimean that close to 400,000 Crimean Tatars were ment of the Crimean Tatars. If the Crimean national human rights conference in Tatar leadership has demonstrated an deported from their homeland in Crimea in Vilnius, Lithuania. This was the fourth such understanding of the need for its world- 1944 and forcefully resettled in Central (Continued on page 17) in-person gathering of the executive board wide diaspora to coordinate advocacy and, notably, the third over the course of under an umbrella body. To that end, when the last 12 months. With the most recent the congress gathered in Ankara this past LETTER TO THE EDITOR occupation of their indigenous homeland summer, they not only reelected Refat having begun in February 2014, the inter- Chubarov as president, but they estab- ment administered in sneaky, nasty national diaspora of Crimean Tatars has lished an executive committee responsible Political prisoners Kremlin style for allowing themselves to be slowly transformed the worldwide commu- for implementing its charter. The executive captured alive and for the revelations that nity it represents into a working body able board has followed up on the mission must not be forgotten embarrassed their mendacious president. to assist fellow Crimean Tatars trapped in directives established in Ankara, with fol- Now the same sort of support that Crimea in a model that should be familiar low-up meetings in both Romania and Kyiv. Dear Editor: helped free Ms. Savchenko by keeping her to the Ukrainian diaspora. At the fourth meeting of the executive on plight publicized in Ukraine and through- April 11-13, this writer had the honor of It’s great news that the Ukrainian heli- Convening for the first time in out the world is essential to pressure not only attending the international confer- copter pilot kidnapped by Russian forces Symferopol, Crimea, in May 2009, the first Moscow to release the other Ukrainian ence in Vilnius, but also being a guest dele- two years ago and sentenced on trumped- World Congress of Crimean Tatars laid the political prisoners it holds. These are all gate at the deliberations of the executive up charges to 22 years’ imprisonment has groundwork for a worldwide representa- innocent people – many ethnic Crimean committee. The overarching theme of the been freed in a swap for two Russian mili- tive body that would unite their people no Tatars – persecuted because they refused discussions therein was encompassed in tary intelligence (GRU) soldiers captured in matter how far off their community had to bow before the Russian invasion. their first resolution: “The right to self- Ukraine. been scattered. This past summer in Among them are Oleh Sentsov and three determination of Crimea belongs to the Ms. Savchenko’s dignified and coura- Ankara, Turkey, the second such Congress others, Hennadiy Afanasyev, Oleksiy Crimean Tatar people, being the indigenous geous behavior as she was sentenced to 22 attracted 410 registered delegates, 80 invit- Chyrniy, Oleksandr Kolchenko, who were people of Crimea. Any decision neglecting years in jail after a drawn-out sham trial in ed guests and 110 additional attendees, arrested in Crimea for opposing the the will of the Crimean Tatars on the desti- Moscow made her a symbol of Ukraine’s representing some 200 Crimean Tatar Russian invasion there and have been false- defiance against all the odds in its war with organizations from 12 countries. (Continued on page 17) ly accused of membership in paramilitary Russia. groups. Other prisoners whose names are While Ms. Savchenko returned to a hero’s known include: Yurii Yatsenko, Bohdan welcome in Ukraine, the GRU guys, Yevgeny Yarichevsky, Mykola Karpyuk and Stanislav Yerofeyev and Alexander Alexandrov, prob- Klykh. More than 20 Crimean Tatars have ably felt very apprehensive on their way disappeared after being snatched from home. When the two armed men were cap- their homes or off the streets in Crimea and tured by Ukrainian forces in May of last year are presumed murdered. Others have been in eastern Ukraine’s combat zone, both said arrested by Russian authorities. they were from GRU. Later, on Moscow’s Many of the prisoners have told their directions, they retracted that admission, lawyers they were tortured by being beat- but the damage had been done. Not only en, having electric shocks administered, were they more evidence of regular Russian having gas masks strapped on to deprive military fighting in Ukraine – something the them of air or inject noxious gas, and being Kremlin, despite an abundance of other threatened with rape with a soldering iron. Russian regulars caught in Ukraine, has Nobody could blame the prisoners if denied – but they were also from the sup- they signed confessions to gain their free- posedly elite GRU forces. dom. But from somewhere they summon While Ukrainian President Petro the courage and strength to carry on their Poroshenko sent his own plane to collect resistance. Like political prisoners the Ms. Savchenko and ecstatically greeted her, world over, savagely persecuted for their it was an excellent bet that the two GRU ideas, these are among the bravest and best men would not receive awards for heroism The executive committee of World Congress of Crimean Tatars commences its of human beings and must not be forgot- extraordinary coordinating meeting at the Arka Gallery in Vilnius, located in the his- or any public acclaim, let alone a friendly ten. toric Basilian Monastery complex of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Holy meeting with Vladimir Putin. More likely, Trinity. Seated at the head table (from left) are: WCCT Vice-President Mükremin the duo will be dismissed from the GRU in Askold Krushelnycky Şahin, Mustafa Dzhemilev, WCCT President Refat Chubarov, and WCCT Secretary disgrace and suffer some other punish- Washington General Namık Kemal Bayar. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 No. 23 No. 23 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 9

of obtaining cost-effective training that met UNF, Paslawsky... U.S. and European standards when a Ukrainian Canadian NGO, the Canadian- (Continued from page 1) Ukrainian International Assistance Fund, ate of West Point who moved to Ukraine in chose the Lviv State Enterprise for the 1990s. He participated in the Orange Prosthetics and Mobility as its venue for Revolution and was active on Euro-Maidan prosthetics training in Ukraine. The train- before volunteering to fight with the Donbas ing, done in conjunction with the World Battalion in the Anti-Terrorist Operation Rehabilitation Fund and the U.S.-based (ATO) in eastern Ukraine. NGOs Prosthetika and the Wounded Olena Paslawsky, Markian’s older sister, Warriors Fund, took place over a two-week worked with family and friends to organize period in April 4 and provided Ukrainian the Markian Paslawsky Fund. The generosi- physical and occupational therapists with ty of the Ukrainian diaspora has resulted in instruction in the most current techniques contributions to a variety of initiatives in and practices. Ukraine – including supplies to soldiers on To assure that the Lviv rehabilitation the eastern front, funds for members of the center will continue to have access to the Donbas Battalion and now the Lviv best trained Ukrainian specialists, the proj- Rehabilitation Facility. ect met with representatives of the Lviv- “Markian’s 22 years in Ukraine were based Ukrainian Catholic University, which marked by a love of the people of Ukraine – recently established a School of he was inspired by their courage, defiance View of a portion of the refurbished facilities at the Lviv State Enterprise for Prosthetics Rehabilitation Medicine. The two sides and commitment. He was proud to fight and Mobility, where Ukraine’s wounded warriors will receive specialized treatment. have agreed to continue discussions about with the Donbas battalion in the ATO. He a cooperative effort for training the univer- gave his life to help ensure a free and demo- Prosthetics and Mobility State Enterprise many years, and we wanted to help in some sity’s physical therapy students and interns cratic Ukraine. We wanted to honor his offered the best opportunity. way,” explained Roma Lisovich, UNA trea- at the rehabilitation center. memory by trying to help those who fought “We were surprised when Viktoriia surer. “The UNA saw this as a great opportu- The prosthetics center’s director, Mr. alongside him for the same cause,” [Voronovych] first approached us about nity to help Ukrainian soldiers, who have Suyazov, said, “The new opportunities the explained Ms. Paslawsky. “We believe that refurbishing our facility and providing a sacrificed so much for Ukraine’s indepen- project has provided open a path to devel- providing wounded soldiers with a chance modern rehabilitation space,” explained dence and territorial integrity.” op a national rehabilitation center at the to live a productive life is critical.” Sergei Suyazov, director of the Lviv pros- With funds in place, a three-pronged Lviv facility. We are most delighted with Prior to initiating the Lviv rehabilitation thetics facility. “We never expected that so strategy was developed. It started with the this gift provided by our Ukrainian and project, the IAFA was helping to place much would happen so quickly.” conversion of unused space into a rehabili- American friends, as will be all those who wounded Ukrainian soldiers with medical The Ukrainian National Foundation tation center, and was followed by the pur- will now have an opportunity to learn to facilities in Europe and the United States, played a key role in generating much-need- chase of modern occupational and physical live a normal life with their new limbs.” after it became clear that Ukrainian facili- ed funding, which allowed the project to therapy equipment. The final step was pro- Nestor Paslawsky, Markian’s brother and ties had limited capabilities to effectively progress. In July of 2015, the UNF orga- viding the staff with training in modern the general manager of Soyuzivka, summed treat wounded soldiers. nized a fund-raising benefit dinner at its methodologies and techniques. up the experience as “a great collaboration After several long-distance conference Soyuzivka Heritage Center that featured The project received unexpected support with amazing partners, Vika [Viktoriia calls, representatives of the Paslawsky well-known Ukrainian entertainers. The as it worked to implement its plan, including Voronovych] and Roman [Woronowycz]. It Family and the IAFA agreed that developing event raised nearly $40,000 for the planned assistance in identifying a local contractor is inspirational to see what can be achieved a modern rehabilitation facility in Ukraine rehabilitation center in Lviv. who agreed to undertake the remodeling with a modest budget but enthusiastic sup- was a worthwhile endeavor. The IAFA “Markian and the Paslawsky family had work at one-third the cost of original esti- port and commitment to a worthy cause. I undertook an assessment of Ukraine’s 16 been friends of the Ukrainian National mates and a donor who paid to replace hope this becomes a model for future prosthetics centers, after which the two Association and its associate charitable arm, much of the deteriorating parquet floor. endeavors. The need is great and a little organizations decided that the Lviv the Ukrainian National Foundation Inc., for The project also overcame the challenge goes very, very far.”

Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics She will be responsible for leading the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, who was Ukraine enacts... will say, ‘You amended the Constitution? recruitment in local prosecutors’ offices, described by Mr. Lutsenko as someone “who Then here’s our constitution written by bringing the Prosecutors Academy up to knows what the government mafia is.” (Continued from page 1) Russia. Approve it.’ ” Western standards, introducing Western Dr. Vitvitsky declined a request to con- of President Poroshenko as he will retain the The June 2 vote for constitutional standards in statistics and helping to update firm whether he was offered such a post by authority to appoint judges during a two- amendments was a rehearsal for the Ukrainian legislation, Mr. Lutsenko said. Mr. Lutsenko. year transition period, said Oleh Bereziuk, upcoming vote to amend the Constitution “Just how effective these new faces in the “The principles of selecting people who the head of the Samopomich parliamentary to provide for local elections and establish Prosecutor General’s Office will be able to are supposed to put into effect the break faction. Judges with five-year terms will be a special status for the occupied territories manage their assignments is unknown,” said from the old NKVD system in the immune from dismissal, he added. of the Donbas region, Mr. Liashko predict- Petro Oleshchuk, an assistant professor at Prosecutor General’s Office are activity, ini- The legislation is so nuanced, and in some ed. Those voting in support of amendments Taras Shevchenko National University in tiative, honesty and professionalism,” Mr. instances so vague, that both supporters and on June 2 are likely to support the next Kyiv. “So far it’s only public relations, not real Lutsenko said at his press conference. critics could be correct in their claims, said amendments. work. It’s important that they don’t become He said he aims to remove corrupt offi- Ihor Koliushko, the head of the Center for The last time Ukraine’s Constitution was merely talking heads in this structure.” cial from local prosecutors’ offices by April Political and Legal Reforms in Kyiv. amended was on February 21, 2014, when The domestic security department, 2017 by replacing them with lawyers who The president does retain his authority Parliament voted during the peak of the which is responsible for the review of pros- never worked as prosecutors. to appoint judges for a two-year transition, Euro-Maidan violence to renew the separa- ecutors, will be led by Petro Shkutiak, 35, a With regard to the old-guard prosecutors Mr. Koliushko said. Yet questions remain on tion of power between the president and Euro-Maidan activist with a law degree who worked alongside the highly criticized the authority during that period to reap- the Parliament. who was wounded during his voluntary former Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin, point, dismiss or transfer judges, some Shortly before the constitutional vote, the service in the Donbas war. He’s the son of Mr. Lutsenko said he asked three deputy which is assumed by the restructured Verkhovna Rada approved a law on the judi- the former mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, prosecutors to resign of their own accord. Supreme Court. ciary and the status of judges, which ensured Zinoviy Shkutiak. As for the activists they targeted, he said As for judges’ five-year terms, those the implementation of the amendments. “Thousands of prosecutors submitted he has closed a criminal case opened judges already nominated for them will The law makes judges more account- their income declarations along with their against the Anti-Corruption Action Center gain immunity from investigation, while able, restricts their immunity, establishes a family members. If the math doesn’t add led by Vitaliy Shabunin, while the criminal those not yet nominated will have to under- new Supreme Court to replace three higher up, they will be dismissed by prosecutor case against Vitaliy Kasko, a former deputy go requalification, he noted. specialized courts, and provides for the cre- general’s decree for violating the code of prosecutor supported by the U.S. govern- In the long run, the amendments should ation of a Higher Anti-Corruption Court and ethics,” Mr. Lutsenko said during his May 30 ment, will be transferred to the National remove the president and members of Higher Court on Intellectual Property Rights, press conference. “This large purge will Anti-Corruption Bureau. Parliament from influencing the careers of as explained to Parliament by Presidential occur under the leadership of a young per- “In summary, a group of crisis managers judges, Roman Kuybida, the judicial expert Administration Deputy Head Oleksiy Filatov. son who was on the warfront and certainly has come to the Prosecutor General’s Office at the Center for Political and Legal While the Parliament reformed the won’t take any bribes. I have known Petro who are supposed to not only clean the Reforms, told the gazeta.ua news site. Constitution, the prosecutor general was for quite a long time, as well as his father, so structure in a relatively short period, but Mr. Liashko pointed out that the introducing his own changes, appointing as I’m sure that this very person should sym- also show real results by the year end in the Constitution of Ukraine forbids approving his first deputy head Dmytro Storozhuk, a bolize the arrival of a new order to the form of cases submitted to courts,” said amendments during a time of war, a point 30-year-old lawyer who worked in the pri- Prosecutor General’s Office. Vitaliy Kulyk, the Center for Research of that was also argued by National Deputy vate sector and served in the legal depart- Mr. Lutsenko also announced his goal of Problems of Civil Society. Nadiya Savchenko, who has wasted no time ment of the People’s Front party led by for- launching by the end of the year a general He added: “They will have to squeeze in rolling up her sleeves to work in mer Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. inspection division that will be responsible through the interests of the shareholders of Parliament after her release from a Russian His other deputies are Yevhen Yenin, a for “hunting for bribe-takers and traitors in the current political regime, suffer the ‘ter- prison last week. 35-year-old lawyer with international the Prosecutor General’s Office.” rarium of friends’ in the expert community, “If the government can preserve experience who has worked in several He hopes the committee that will select survive attacks on them in the media and Ukraine’s territorial integrity after these intelligence agencies, including the Security the members of the general inspection divi- emerge from the Prosecutor General’s constitutional amendments, then we can do Service of Ukraine, and Valentyna sion will be formed by July and led by Office with some success. Otherwise, the these changes,” she said from the parlia- Telychenko, who was the lawyer for the Bohdan Vitvitsky, a former U.S. federal pros- West will simply postpone the issue of mentary tribune. “If it’s not ready, then the family of slain journalist Heorhii Gongadze. ecutor and former resident legal advisor at Ukraine to better times and presidents.” 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 No. 23 Vyshyvanka Day celebration by prime minister and Liberal MPs goes viral OTTAWA – May 19 was a celebration of color in the House of Commons. Over 20 Liberal Members of Parliament, including the , Justin Trudeau, donned traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts to celebrate interna- tional Vyshyvanka Day. A number of firsts were set. Two Cabinet Ministers, Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr and Minister of Small Business and Tourism Bardish Chagger, became the first Canadian Members of Parliament to answer questions during the live televised coverage of Question Period while wearing colorful Ukrainian embroi- dery. Following the Question Period, Liberal Cabinet Ministers Chrystia Freeland, Ralph Goodale, Kent Hehr and MaryAnn Mihychuk gathered with 14 Liberal MPs (Randy Boissonnault, Bob Bratina, Terry Duguid, Office of MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj Julie Dzerowicz, Peter Fonseca, Yvonne Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Liberal ministers and MPs, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada Andriy Shevchenko, and interns Jones, Kevin Lamoureux, James Maloney, from the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Program proudly wear vyshyvanky. Marc Miller, Kyle Peterson, Don Rusnak, Sven Spengemann, Borys Wrzesnewskyj and Kate Young) for a vyshyvanka group photograph. As this assemblage of Liberal MPs wait- ed for the arrival of vyshyvanka-clad Prime Minister Trudeau, the Ukrainian Canadian MPs broke out into song with a boisterous rendition of “Vziav By Ya Banduru.” Unbeknown to the MPs, their impromp- tu performance of the Ukrainian song was recorded and became a major news item in Ukraine. MP Wrzesnewskyj’s related Facebook posts on social media went viral with about 70,000 views. As a result of the MPs’ performance of “Vziav By Ya Banduru” going viral on social media, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj, the chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group (CUPFG), laid down the gauntlet and issued a public challenge on behalf of the 89-member CUPFG to members of the Verkhovna Rada. In a letter addressed to the chair of the Ukrainian Parliament, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj challenged the Ukrainian national deputies to don their vyshyvanky, gather on the stairs of the Verkhovna Rada and sing an impromptu verse of “Vziav By Ya Bandura” or, to make it fair, Stompin’ Tom’s “The Hockey Song.” To up the ante of the challenge, during his conversation with Ukrainian Parliament Chair Andriy Parubiy, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj personally wagered a case of Canada’s world-famous ice wine to see whose choral rendition is better. When contacted by media, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj stated, “It is possible to build international goodwill using non-tra- ditional forms of diplomacy. What better way than a sing-off in vyshyvanky amongst parliamentarians in Canada and Ukraine.” Source: Office of MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj

Turning... (Continued from page 10) Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Reps. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), chairman, Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.), Michael Burgess (R-Texas), Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.), Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.). Policy advisor for Belarus, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine, Orest Deychakiwsky has served since 1981 as a member of the commission’s staff and has served as a member of U.S. delegations to numerous OSCE meetings and election observation missions. Source: “Helsinki Commission members named,” The Ukrainian Weekly, June 19, 1976. No. 23 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 11

Irene Rejent Saviano Stefan Slutsky St. George Ukrainian Festival celebrates 40th anniversary NEW YORK – The St. George Ukrainian Festival celebrated its 40th anniversary this year by offering a splendid display of Ukrainian dance and music, a variety of Ukrainian culinary special- ties, and a colorful display of wares sold by festival vendors. In addition, various Ukrainian community organizations – ranging from St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church (the festival host), the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, Ukrainian Scouting Organization, the Ukrainian American Youth Association, Razom and the Lemko Research Foundation to Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union and the Ukrainian National Association – set up their booths and information tables. There was also a special Kid Zone featuring special activities for youngsters. The photos on this page present merely a sampling of the extraordinary sights of the 2016 St. George Ukrainian Festival. The annual festival began back in 1976, when the Ukrainian American community staged the Stefan Slutsky event to pay tribute to the Bicentennial of the United States of America.

Stefan Slutsky Irene Rejent Saviano Stefan Slutsky

Stefan Slutsky Stefan Slutsky Stefan Slutsky

Stefan Slutsky Stefan Slutsky 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 No. 23

lives in Ukraine. “Since the beginning of the NATO secretary general Anders Fogh zation from Syria by transit through NEWSBRIEFS conflict in eastern Ukraine, lives and liveli- Rasmussen as his adviser. On May Ukraine to western European states,” the hoods of children are at increasing risk, with 29, Ukrainian officials said five Ukrainian SBU said in the statement. The SBU said the (Continued from page 2) dozens falling victims to different forms of soldiers were killed and another four two were assisted by an individual from an Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), co-chairman of violence, including shelling and explosive wounded during the previous 24 hours in unnamed “neighboring country” who was the commission, issued the following state- remnants of war,” said Mr. Apakan. “This is a fresh clashes with Russia-backed separat- in the country illegally and is wanted by ment: “We welcome Nadiya’s long-overdue gross violation of basic children’s rights.” ists in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Kyiv on suspicions of possible terrorist release, but we must not forget about other Contamination of populated areas with On May 30, Col. Lysenko said three more activity. A senior source told the AFP that Ukrainian citizens unjustly imprisoned in explosive remnants of war, including across soldiers had been killed and eight wounded. the individual was a Russian national. The Russia. We must also remember that Russia the contact line, in addition to restrictions of He said that fighting had intensified com- SBU said it could not provide further details pared to a month ago and accused separat- because an investigation was still ongoing. still occupies Crimea and continues its the freedom of movement at the check- ists of “actively using heavy weapons,” (RFE/RL, based on reporting by AFP) aggression in eastern Ukraine, bringing mis- points, directly affects children’s access to including a Grad rocket launcher. The next ery and suffering to millions of Ukrainians. education, health, recreation and social pro- day, Col. Lysenko said yet another soldier France gives visa to blacklisted minister Russia should honor the Minsk agreements tection. Children in situations of internal dis- – which it violates with impunity – if there is was killed and three wounded over the PARIS – France’s Foreign Affairs Ministry placement require special attention due to most recent 24-hour period. Last month, to be peaceful resolution to the conflict. has confirmed that Paris granted an entry the particular risks they may face. “Children Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak Above all, Russia needs to get out of visa to Russia’s Agriculture Minister are innocent victims of this conflict. Violence said it could take years to end the conflict, Ukraine.” Last September, the House passed Aleksandr Tkachev, despite his appearance must stop and the sides should intensify which has claimed more than 9,300 lives a resolution calling for Ms. Savchenko’s on a European Union sanctions blacklist their efforts to allow conditions for a happy since it erupted in April 2014. (RFE/RL, imposed in response to Moscow’s illegal release, which was strengthened by and healthy life for the children of Ukraine,” based on reporting by AFP and Interfax) Chairman Smith’s amendment calling for annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula said Mr. Apakan. (OSCE) in 2014. Politico.com quoted a ministry the imposition of personal sanctions against Russian vacations to Crimea down 25% spokesman as saying the decision to grant individuals responsible for the imprison- Kyiv says fighting in east intensifies MOSCOW – Fewer Russians are booking the visa was permitted because Mr. ment of Ms. Savchenko and other Ukrainian KYIV – The Ukrainian military says that vacations to Ukraine’s Russia-annexed Tkachev was traveling to an international citizens illegally incarcerated in Russia. A fighting between government troops and Crimean Peninsula this year as compared event in Paris. Mr. Tkachev headed a resolution sponsored by Co-Chairman Russia-backed separatists has intensified in to 2015. Kommersant quoted Russia’s lead- Russian delegation at an assembly of the Wicker and Helsinki Commission Ranking eastern Ukraine. Senior government official ing travel agencies on May 16 as saying the World Organization for Animal Health in Senate Commissioner Ben Cardin (D-Md.) Andriy Lysenko said on May 28 that one sol- number of tickets booked to the Crimean Paris that began on May 22. His name was calling for her release passed the Senate in dier had been killed in recent fighting. The capital, Symferopol, at some travel agencies added in mid-2014 to a list of Russian indi- February 2015. (U.S. Helsinki Commission) uptick in violence saw a patrol from the had declined by 25 percent this year. viduals banned from entering the EU. He had been the head of Russia’s southern OSCE monitor on protecting children Organization for Security and Cooperation Meanwhile, some travel agencies have in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring raised the average cost of vacation packag- Krasnodar region at the time and was KYIV – On June 1, the International Day Mission shot at in the Donetsk region on es in Crimea by as much as 30 percent over awarded a medal “for the liberation of for Protection of Children, Ertugrul Apakan, May 27. The mission’s chief monitor, 2015 prices. Agencies reported that only 20 Crimea” by the acting head of Crimea’s chief monitor of the OSCE Special Ertugrul Apakan, condemned the attack, in percent of the Russian tourists who trav- Russian-controlled government for support Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine of the which nobody was injured. Amid the eled to Turkey and – the most popu- he provided during Russia’s seizure, occu- Organization for Security and Cooperation in increased violence, Ukrainian President lar holiday destinations for Russians in pation, and illegal annexation of the Europe (OSCE) called upon the sides to do Petro Poroshenko has called for greater for- 2014 but to which the Kremlin has since Ukrainian territory. Some politicians in their utmost to bring normality to children’s eign assistance and has appointed former banned direct flights – decided to instead France have since voiced support for lifting vacation in Russia or on the Russia- sanctions against Russia. Last month, occupied Crimean peninsula. Among those France’s lower house of Parliament voted now opting for a vacation within Russia or to lift sanctions against Moscow in a non- Russian-occupied territory, the most popu- binding vote that went against the Socialist lar destinations are resorts in Sochi, Anapa government’s recommendation. (RFE/RL, and Gelendzhik. Holidaymakers say there is based on reporting by Reuters and TASS) TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL WALTER HONCHARYK (973) 292-9800 x3040 better infrastructure and quality of service Kyiv wants to replace Russian rockets or e-mail [email protected] in those locations than in Crimea. Crimean resorts had been more popular than those KYIV – Ukraine has proposed that Kyiv SERVICES PROFESSIONALS Russian cities last summer. (RFE/RL, based and the United States jointly develop and on reporting by Kommersant) produce a rocket engine to replace Russian rocket engines currently used to launch U.S. Moscow to upgrade coastal artillery military satellites. The head of the National MOSCOW – The Russian Defense Space Agency of Ukraine, Lyubomyr Ministry has opened bids on a contract to Sabadosh, said on May 31 that he proposed repair and upgrade a Black Sea coastal the plan to replace Russian RD-180 rocket artillery system that is adjacent to the engines, which the U.S. Congress has Russia-occupied Crimean peninsula. The ordered to be phased out by 2019, on a visit 130-millimeter self-propelled Bereg artil- to the United States last month. “We have lery system is based near the village of proposed using our capabilities for imple- Utash in Russia’s southern Krasnodar menting a joint design solution. ...It’s quite a region. It is operated by forces from complicated task, but we can cope with it,” Russia’s Black Sea naval base at he said. Mr. Sabadosh said the United States Novorossiisk. The artillery vehicles are expressed an interest in the idea. He said positioned where they can attack ships further talks will be held in Kyiv in passing through the Kerch Strait that links November and will address the time frame the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov. With a for development, conducting tests, and range of 20 kilometers, the Bereg artillery funding. Congress directed the U.S. military system is designed to destroy small and to find alternatives to the Russian rocket medium-sized warships, as well as provide engines in 2014 after relations between the support for ground troops and counter an United States and Russia deteriorated amphibious assault. Worth an estimated 5 sharply with Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula. The Pentagon SERVICES million rubles, the contract calls for repairs and upgrades to four of the wheeled vehi- has said U.S. private contractors need time and incentives to develop alternatives, how- cles that carry the coastal gun mounts, ever, and trying to replace the Russian along with a command-and-control vehicle engine immediately would be costly. (RFE/ and combat support vehicles. (RFE/RL, RL, based on reporting by TASS and UNIAN) with reporting by TASS and Interfax) Will two Ukrainians be released? Ukraine detains suspected IS militants MOSCOW – The Kremlin says it can’t KYIV – Ukraine announced it has confirm reports that Moscow and Kyiv have detained two suspected Islamic State (IS) reached an agreement to hand over two militants who Kyiv says were planning to Ukrainian nationals serving prison terms in travel to Western Europe to stage terror Russia. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on attacks. In a statement on June 1, the May 30 that he had “no information that Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said the would allow me to confirm this.” Ukrainian two, allegedly from Syria, were detained in President Petro Poroshenko had said in a the northeastern city of , although it televised interview a day earlier that “a was unclear when. “The Kharkiv national preliminary agreement” had been reached security service of Ukraine has uncovered with Russia to extradite Yuriy Soloshenko an attempt to send supporters of the Islamic State international terrorist organi- (Continued on page 13) No. 23 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 13

the Czech Republic. He didn’t give details Tatar journalist cited for ‘extremist’ views a fund to support them. (RFE/RL, based on NEWSBRIEFS about the migrants, saying only that they reporting by AFP and CrimeaSOS.com) KYIV – A prominent Tatar journalist says didn’t qualify to stay in the EU. (RFE/RL, 17 die in fire at home for elderly (Continued from page 12) based on reporting by AP and AFP) she was warned by Crimean prosecutors over “extremist” views for writing about and Hennadiy Afanasyev. Mr. Afanasyev’s KYIV – At least 17 people have died and NATO defense spending to rise the plight of Tatar children whose parents lawyer Aleksandr Popkov said on May 30 one is missing after a fire broke out at a were arrested. Lilia Budzhurova, deputy that his client and Mr. Soloshenko had offi- home for the elderly in a village near Kyiv, LONDON – Spending on defense by director of the Crimean Tatar channel ATR cially written letters to Russian President Ukraine’s state emergency service said in a European members of NATO will grow for and a contributor to AFP, posted the warn- Vladimir Putin, asking him to pardon them. statement on May 29. “Emergency services the first time in a decade, NATO Secretary- ing from the Russia-annexed peninsula’s Mr. Afanasyev was sentenced to seven units saved 18 people, five of whom have General Jens Stoltenberg told the Financial authorities on Facebook on May 31. Ms. years in jail on terrorism charges in April been hospitalized with burns of varying Times in an interview published on May Budzhurova spoke out against the increas- 2015. Mr. Soloshenko was sentenced to six degrees of severity,” the Ukrainian emer- 31. “The forecast for 2016, based on figures ing arrests of Crimean Tatars and wrote an years in jail on spying charges in October. gencies ministry said in a statement. It said from allied nations, indicates that 2016 will appeal for children of the detained. “Soon (RFE/RL, based on reporting on UNIAN, the fire broke out in the early morning be the first year with increased defense Crimean Tatars will be caught in the TASS and Interfax) hours of May 29 in a privately owned two- spending among European allies for the streets, on public transport and at the mar- story building, which housed 35 people, in Crimean Tatars plead not guilty first time in many, many years,” Mr. kets. We’re less than a step away from the village of Litochky, 50 kilometers north Stoltenberg said. “We are faced with uncer- being forced to wear a yellow band on our of Kyiv. Prime Minister Volodymyr ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia – Four tainty. We are faced with more threats, sleeves, to differentiate us,” she wrote on Groysman expressed condolences to the Crimean Tatars suspected of terrorism more security challenges, than in a genera- Facebook in April. She wrote last week that families of those who died in the “terrible have pleaded not guilty at their trial in the tion,” he noted. Last year, NATO’s European 18 Tatars had been jailed. “Most of those tragedy” and called for an immediate inves- Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. The sus- allies spent $253 billion on defense com- now in prison have children who are tigation into the cause of the fire. (RFE/RL, pects rejected the charges of being mem- pared with U.S. military spending of $618 minors,” she said, proposing the creation of based on reporting by Reuters and AFP) bers of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organiza- billion. That amounts to about 1.43 percent tion at the North Caucasus regional mili- of the allies’ gross domestic product, thus tary court on June1. The four men were putting them about $100 billion under With sorrow we announce the passing detained in Crimea in January-April. Four their 2 percent annual spending commit- on May 26, 2016 of our father and grandfather other Crimean Tatars were detained on ments, The Financial Times reported. NATO May 12 on suspicion of being members of did not provide exact figures for 2016, but Bohdan Kotys Hizb ut-Tahrir. Russia has been heavily criti- Baltic states which border Russia have born March 11, 1927 in Peremyshl, Ukraine. cized by international rights groups and announced large military spending increas- Western governments for its treatment of es this year, with Latvia’s spending surging B. Kotys obtained a degree in architecture from the prestigious Karlsruhe Crimea’s indigenous Turkic-speaking peo- by 60 percent, Lithuania’s jumping by 35 Institute of Technology in Germany. For many years he worked as an architect ple since Moscow annexed the peninsula in percent, and Estonia’s and Poland’s both in New Brunswick, NJ. He also served in the Armed Forces of the United States March 2014. Arrests, disappearances, and increasing by 9 percent. The United and received an Honorable Discharge. In addition, Bohdan was very active killings of Crimean Tatars have been Kingdom’s military spending is also expect- in the Ukrainian diaspora community as a member the Ukrainian National Association, the Ukrainian Engineers’ Society and served on the Board of reported. Crimea’s Moscow-backed de facto ed to increase this year. “We still have a Directors of The Ukrainian Museum in New York (1981-1986 and 1995-1998). authorities are currently looking for long way to go, but the picture’s better than Crimean Tatar activist Ervin Ibragimov, it was before,” Mr. Stoltenberg told The He is survived by children Liliana and Alexander and granddaughter Lara. who disappeared on May 24. (RFE/RL) Financial Times. Also on May 31, Polish Visitation will be held Friday, June 10, 2016, 4-7 p.m. at Lytwyn & Lytwyn Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said Ring of document forgers arrested Funeral Home, Union, NJ. Parastas will be held at 5 p.m. after meeting with Mr. Stoltenberg in Funeral - Saturday, June 11, at 10 a.m. at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin PRAGUE – Czech police say they have Warsaw that four battalions are to be sta- Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in New Brunswick, followed by interment at broken up a criminal network that was pro- tioned in Poland and in the three Baltic St. Andrew Cemetery in South Bound Brook, NJ. ducing and distributing forged Lithuanian states to give the region a greater sense of May his memory be eternal. documents for migrants to gain access to security. A July 8-9 NATO summit in the European Union. Pavel Hantak, spokes- Warsaw will decide how many additional man for the Czech organized crime squad, NATO troops will be deployed on the east- said on May 31 that 10 suspects from for- ern flank, and where exactly, to counter mer Soviet republics were arrested across what Mr. Stoltenberg said was a “more With deep sorrow, we inform family the Czech Republic. Five of them were from assertive Russia, intimidating its neighbors, and friends of the passing on May 20th Ukraine, but he didn’t specify the nationali- and changing borders by force.” Responding ty of the others. The suspects were charged to Mr. Stoltenberg’s statements and the of our beloved mother, grandmother, with forgery and facilitating illegal sojourn news of increased European spending on great-grandmother, and aunt, in the Czech Republic. They face up to 10 defense, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister in her 101st year of life years in prison. Mr. Hantak said the forged Alexei Meshkov said Russia will respond to documents – , IDs and driving the growing NATO military presence near licenses – were transported by the group its borders. “We have to ensure the security Anna Terkun from Lithuania, where they were produced, of our state,” he said on May 31, but provid- August, 1914 – May, 2016 to the Czech Republic and other EU coun- ed no details of Russia’s plans. (RFE/RL, tries. Mr. Hantak said seven migrants using with reporting by The Financial Times, such forged documents were arrested in Reuters and TASS) Born in the Poltava region, Ukraine. Her memory will remain in our hearts forever: With great sadness we announce, that our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather sons: Walter Terkun with wife Helen and great-great-grandfather Victor Terkun with wife Bonnie daughter: Lida with husband Dr. Vasil Truchly Michael Berezansky grandchildren: Mark Terkun with wife Samantha of Watervliet, NY, passed away on April 27, 2016. Vera Terkun Michael was very active in the Ukrainian community and will be Paul Terkun with wife Amanda missed by all who knew him. Kristina Terkun Castro with husband Jesus Surviving are: Katherine Terkun sons - Bohdan with wife Roxolana, of Melrose, NY, Victoria Terkun - Stephen with wife Irene of Lakeland, Fl daughters - Eugenia Droczak with husband John of great-grandchildren: Aaron, Micky, and Elena Auburn, NY, - Luba Morin with husband Rich of Charlotte, NC niece: Nadiya Murashchenko and family 15 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great- grandson, several nieces and nephews family members in Ukraine sisters-in-law - Lubomyra Mokey and Kasia Berezansky. family in Poland. Вічная пам’ять! He was predeceased by his wife Bohdanna in 2010 , his brothers, Ivan, Wasyl, Stanko and their wives. The funeral was held on Tuesday, May 24th, 2016, at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, Bloomingdale, IL Funeral services were held May 4, 2016, from St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Watervliet, NY. Those wishing to honor her memory are invited to make a donation Contributions in Michael’s memory can be made to charity of choice. to the Ukrainian Heroes Monument Fund of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 300 East Army Trail Road, Bloomingdale, IL 60108 Eternal memory! 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 No. 23

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE Parish volunteers touch people with mercy and warmth by Ksenia Hapij But the needs of the parishioners at St. John’s are not as dire as the needs of the NEWARK, N.J. – The world in which we homeless of Newark, the city where St. live is full of pain and poverty. Often, it feels John’s has been located for over 109 years. as if no matter what we do to help alleviate St. John’s Parish united in addressing the that poverty, our actions provide but a needs of the Soup Kitchen at St. John’s mere drop of relief in a huge ocean of need. Roman Catholic Church in the heart of the But one group of people has nevertheless city, and for the past 10 years has been sup- been successful in reaching a large number plying this kitchen with food and monetary of individuals with their warmth and with donations. their assistance. A few months before Christmas in 2010, In 2009, a group of concerned people at this same group of parishioners decided to St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in send St. Nicholas gifts to poor children in Newark, N.J., voiced a concern for their own Ukraine. These gifts were very well parishioners. They decided to cook meals received, but the group of St. John’s volun- for a few of the elderly and sick people in teers soon realized that, even though gifts their parish, and to deliver those meals to bring children pleasure, they do not them every two weeks. They also began address the basic needs for warm clothing reaching out to widows and widowers, or shoes. They began collecting and send- other elderly and sick, and visiting them ing clothing, and since 2010 have sent over with symbolic gifts of a flower or sweets, be 600 40-pound packages to Ukraine. The it on St. Nicholas Day, St. Valentine’s Day or storing and sorting of clothing required other occasions. They now visit at least 50 more time and effort than the parish volun- Volunteers Ludmila Darmohraj, Ksenia Hapij, Stephanie Downey and Andrei Bidiak homes at a time, several times a year. teers were able to handle, so the volunteers prepare wheelchairs, walkers and bath stools for shipping to Ukraine. decided to branch out to other things. When someone from Ukraine requested Father Roman Syrotych suggested that the there are people in this world who are will- wheelchairs, the volunteers decided to volunteers contact a factory in , ing to help. organize a used wheelchair drive. They which, with a minimum order of 5,000, Although all of the above-mentioned were approached by a parishioner who could manufacture Ukrainian-speaking projects were addressed by St. John’s pledged to buy 100 new wheelchairs, with watches. They reached out to the Chinese Parish, the parishioners are now turning to the stipulation that, for every chair that he factory, and to date, St. John’s has donated the Ukrainian community at large for sup- purchased, the people in his community 7,000 watches for the blind of Ukraine. port. If anyone would like to join in this purchase another one. This idea was pre- On another occasion, a young American effort of reaching 2,016 needy people in sented to the parish and was very well scout whose grandfather is Ukrainian orga- this year of 2016, you may address your received. To date, St. John’s Ukrainian nized a shoe and sock drive for Ukraine, donations to St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Catholic Church in Newark has sent over and St. John’s joined him in this effort. Church, 719 Sanford Ave., Newark, NJ 450 wheelchairs to the handicapped in Within several months, over 2,000 pairs of 07106. Ukraine. And there is indeed a great need shoes and 2,000 pairs of socks were collect- The volunteers at St. John’s have never for wheelchairs in Ukraine. ed. This did not serve all the needy people used any of the donations for anything On another occasion, they received a of Ukraine, but it certainly touched many other than providing for the poor. Indeed, request from Ukraine for talking watches individuals. they keep donating time, effort and money for the blind. At first, they purchased such The year 2016 is the Year of Mercy. St. of their own. It is also very reassuring to talking watches in New York, but these John’s latest project is to touch 2,016 indi- know that the group has very reliable con- watches only spoke Russian, since there viduals in Ukraine – each with a gift of $10. tacts in Ukraine, including bishops, priests, were no Ukrainian-speaking watches on This is not a large sum, but it is enough to nuns and volunteers in numerous organiza- the American market. They quickly realized cover the cost of some basic necessities for tions. that it was far less expensive to buy these many invalids, orphans, elderly and refu- This small group of dedicated individu- watches in Ukraine. They began purchasing gees, the old woman who stands in the cold als has ignited the generosity of their par- them in Kyiv, but even those were Russian- for many hours selling milk and cheese at a ish, and has made a difference in people’s speaking – Ukrainian-speaking watches bazaar and many, many others. The dona- lives. Now they ask readers to join them as Father Roman Syrotych from Caritas/ were not available even in Ukraine. tions of $10 will remind each of them that they continue in their quest to touch the Kyiv with talking watches for the blind in Ukraine. One day, a young priest from Kyiv named they have not been forgotten, and that lives of many – one needy person at a time. Albany-area Ukrainian School holds graduation ceremonies by Roman Karpishka WATERVLIET, N.Y. – The Ukrainian School of the greater Albany area in New York had its year-end graduation ceremonies on May 20 in Watervliet with children attending from that city’s St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Parish, as well as from neighboring Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Cohoes and from St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Troy. The school this year included 12 children attending “sadochok” (pre-school) sponsored by the local branch of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America. A highlight of this year’s courses was the monthly Skype contacts with the Prestige School No. 53 in Lviv, which specializes in teaching English. The children in Watervliet could see and speak with their counterparts in Lviv at 9 a.m. for one hour, when the Ukrainian students came to school especially on a Saturday at 4 p.m. Many subjects of common interest were discussed (folk dancing, koliadky, pysanka-making, etc.). Watervliet teachers say they encourage other Ukrainian schools in the U.S. to attempt a similar Students of the Ukrainian School of greater Albany. Teachers seen in the photo (from left) are: Viktor Holovashchenko program in conjunction with other interested (director), Stefania Karpishka, Alyona Yevko, Halyna Holovatska, Olha Bertsch, Natalia Baran, Lilya Baran, Halyna schools in Ukraine. Logan and Roman Karpishka. No. 23 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 15

Soccer four points, will not advance to the playoff rounds. Judges scored 69-64, 69-64, 68-65. Lazarev (4-0-0, 1 KO) won against Giorgi round. The tops the group Super welterweight Eduard Skavinskyy Gujejiani (6-1-1, 4 KO) of Georgia after with seven points. (4-0-0, 2 KO) won by fifth-round KO against the UEFA Europa League after its 3-1 loss Gujejiani retired in the third round (out of Andriy Velykovskiy (6-1-0, 2 KO) in a fight against• Shakhtar Sevilla Donetsk on May was 5 ineliminated the semifinal from eight rounds scheduled); super welter- the UEFA U-17 Championships in Group B that was scheduled to go 10 rounds. second-leg match. Shakhtar tied 2-2 with weight Artur Shamaida (0-4-0, 0 KO) lost finished• Ukraine’s in fourth men’s place. U-17 Ukraine team as lost part two of Sevilla in the first-leg semifinal match on against Shamil Galaev (1-0-0, 1 KO) of matches (2-1 against Bosnia-Herzegovina ing night on April 23 in Kyiv. Super light- April 28 at Arena Lviv. Shakhtar won 3-0 Russia after a first-round knockout (out of on May 11 and against Austria 0-2 on May weight• Ukraine’s Denys BerinchykSports Palace (4-0-0, hosted 3 KO) a wonbox- against Braga of Portugal on April 14 in the four scheduled rounds); super lightweight 8) and tied with Germany 2-2 on May 5. by fourth-round TKO (in a fight scheduled second-leg match quarterfinal, and Pavel Petrov (3-3-0, 2 KO) won by second- for six rounds) against Emiliano Martin Shakhtar won 2-1 against Braga in the first- round TKO (out of four scheduled rounds) against Greece on March 8 during the Garcia (12-1-0, 10 KO) of Argentina. leg quarterfinal match on April 7 in against Mykyta Rodychenko (0-1-0, 0 KO); Group• Ukraine’s 3 Women’s women’s Euro qualifier team wonmatch 3-1 in Featherweight Oleg Malinovsky (18-0-0, 5 Portugal. and cruiserweight Kostyantyn . Ukraine is in second place in the KO) won by majority decision after 10 Dovbyshchenko (3-0-0, 1 KO) won by sec- group with 10 points after six matches rounds against Ruslan Berchuk (13-6-0, 6 and Andriy Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kyiv) ond-round TKO (out of four scheduled played. Ukraine won 2-0 against on KO) of Russia for the WBO European title. were• Oleksandr each fined Kucher 50,000 (Shakhtar hrv after Donetsk) a fight rounds) against Illia Berezhnoi (0-1-0, 0 KO). April 8, lost 0-4 against France on April 11 Judges scored 98-92, 96-94, 95-95. Super between the two teams following the 24th and is set to play against Greece on June 7 lightweight Mishiko Beselia (13-0-0, 9 KO) round of the Ukrainian Premier League (8-0-0, 6 KO) won by eighth-round TKO and against Romania on September 15. won by unanimous decision after eight against• Middleweight Mike Guy (8-2-1, Sergiy 4 Derevyanchenko KO) of the U.S.A. Championship. Each player is also suspend- rounds against Innocent Anyanwu (22-16- ed for three matches, following a ruling by on March 15 at Robinson Rancheria Resort Futsal 3, 13 KO), with judges scoring 80-72, 80-72, and Casino in Nice, Calif. The fight was the Control and Disciplinary Committee of 80-72. Super middleweight Petr Ivanov the Football Federation of Ukraine. scheduled for eight rounds. April 12 at the Odesa Sports Palace in (5-0-0, 2 KO) won by first-round TKO (out Odesa• Ukraine as part won of the 5-1 FIFA against Futsal Slovakia World Cup on of six scheduled rounds) against Davit Dynamo Kyiv (20-1-1) leads the standings Skorohod (10-1-0, 7 KO) won against playoff stage. In the first-leg match, Ukraine Ribakoni (11-12-5, 2 KO) of Georgia. • Super welterweight Stanyslav with• In61 thepoints Ukrainian after 10 Premier matches League,played. Vladimir Borovski (21-61-2, 10 KO at the won 6-0 against Slovakia on March 22 at Middleweight Maxim Bursak (33-4-1, 15 Shakhtar Donetsk (18-2-2) is in second Art Prichal gallery in Kyiv on March 12. Sprtova Hala Klokocina in Nitra, Slovakia. KO) won by unanimous decision after eight place with 56 points. Prior to the season Borovski retired in the third round in a Ukraine finished in first place in Group 1 rounds against fellow countryman Ruslan coming to a close, Dynamo secured the fight that was scheduled for six rounds. with nine points after three matches Schelev (12-5-0, 6 KO). Judges scored Ukrainian championship soccer title (the played, against England, and 79-73, 78-74, 78-74. Light (16-9-0, 12 KO) won by 10th-round TKO 15th title for Dynamo since Ukraine Hungary. Slovakia finished in second place Volodymyr Romanenko (4-3-0, 4 KO) lost against• Light Mirco heavyweight Ricci (17-3-0, Sergey 5 KO) Demchenko of Italy at regained independence) after its 1-0 win in Group 7. Ukraine advances to the final against Salambek Baysangurov (7-0-0, 4 Palaboxe Amerigo Vespucci in Rome. against Vorskla Poltava at Olympic Stadium tournament to be held on September 14 KO) of Russia with a third-round TKO (out Referee Massimiliano Bianco called the in Kyiv on April 24. Junior Moraes scored through October 2 in Colombia. Other of four scheduled rounds). fight in favor of the Ukrainian after Ricci the lone goal in the 36th minute with an teams affiliated with UEFA that advanced was tied up on the ropes with a barrage of assist by Andriy Yarmolenko. include Kazakhstan, Russia, Italy, KO) fought Luis Cruz (22-4-1, 16) of Puerto unanswered blows, sparking a riot that Azerbaijan, Spain and Portugal. Other Rico• Lightweightto a draw on Ivan April Redkach 19 as Sands (19-1-1, Casino 15 erupted following the stoppage of the fight. 0-4 against France on April 11 in its Group teams that qualified include Australia, Iran, Resort in Bethlehem, Pa. Judges scored Demchenko, 36, picked up the vacant EBU 3 qualifying• Ukraine’s match women’s for the national UEFA teamWomen’s lost Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Egypt, 93-94, 94-94, 94-93. light heavyweight title. Euro 2017. Ukraine won 2-0 against Morocco, Mozambique, Colombia, Brazil, Albania (last place, zero points) on April 8 Argentina, Paraguay and the Solomon peted in the AIBA European Olympic 2, 7 KO) lost by unanimous decision after at Arena Lviv. Daryna Apanaschenko scored Islands. Four teams from the CONCACAF Qualifier• Ukraine’s in Samsun, amateur-ranked Turkey, on boxers April 9-17.com- 10 •rounds Super againstwelterweight Sergio Ihor Garcia Fanin (20-0-0, (15-11- 11 in the 15th minute and in the 74th on a (Confederation of North, Central American Oleksandr Khyzhiak (81 kg), Tetiana Kob KO) of Spain at Poliderportivo Vicente penalty kick after Tamila Khimich was and Caribbean Association Football) are (51 kg), Mykola Bucenko (56 kg), and Trueba in Torrelavega, Spain, on March 12. fouled by Albania’s Albina Rrahmani in the Cuba, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama. Gevorg Manykian (91 kg) won bronze med- penalty area. After six matches played, als. Other quarterfinalists for Ukraine were (80-0, 6 KO) won by second-round KO Ukraine (3-1-1, 11 goals for and six against) Boxing Dmytro Zamotaev (49 kg), Ihor Sopinskyi against• Light Nadjib heavyweight Mohammedi Oleksandr (37-4-0, Gvozdyk 23 KO) is in second place (10 points) in the group (52 kg) and Dmytro Mytrofanov (75 kg), all on April 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. that includes France (leader, with 18 (16-10-1, 12 KO) lost against Mehdi Amar finished in fifth place. Tymur Beliak (60 kg) The fight was scheduled for 10 rounds. points), Romania (third place, seven points) (33-4-2,• Light 16 heavyweight KO) of France Sergey by Demchenkounanimous was eliminated after losing 0-3 in the quar- and Greece (fourth place, six points). decision after 12 rounds for the EBU title in terfinal against Volkan Gokcek of Turkey. 11 KO) maintained his undefeated record Ukraine is to play against Greece on June 7 Paris at Cirque d’Hiver. Judges scored 116- with• Middleweight a unanimous Evhen decision Khytrov win after(13-0-0, 10 in Lviv and against Romania on September 111, 115-111, 115-112. Welterweight Shabranskyy (16-0-0, 12 KO) won against rounds against Kenneth McNeil (9-2-0, 6 15. Derrick• Light Findley heavyweight (23-19-1, 15 Vyacheslav KO) of the Viktor Plotnikov (34-4-0, 16 KO) lost KO) of the U.S.A. on March 5 at Sands U.S.A. on April 15 at Belasco Theater in Los against Ahmed El Mousaoui (24-2-1, 6 KO) Casino in Bethlehem, Pa. Judges scored the 2016, and Ukraine’s wins in April in inter- Angeles. Findley retired in the third of eight of France after the Frenchman knocked out fight 99-90, 97-92, 97-92. national• FIFA friendly released matches the rankings against for Cyprus June the Ukrainian in the second round in a fight scheduled rounds. and Wales (both ended 1-0) boosted its that was scheduled to go 10 rounds. Ukraine Otamans are in second place in standings to No. 22. (15-6-1, 5 KO) lost by unanimous decision Group• In theA (3-3-0). amateur In World the quarterfinal, Series of Boxing, the after• Light 12 rounds heavyweight against Oleksandr Enrico Koeling Chervyak (22- 0, 8 KO) won against Erick Daniel Martinez Otamans were handed a 4-1 loss against the Group 3 of the qualifying round of the 1-0, 6 KO) of Germany on April 9 at MBS (11-5-1,• Welterweight 5 KO) of Mexico Taras Shelestyukon May 20 (14-0-at the the British Lionhearts 4-1 on April 21-22 in UEFA• Ukraine’s U-19 Championships U-21 team is in that fifth are place to bein Arena in Potsdam, Germany, for the WBA Doubletree Hotel in , Calif. London. Ukraine lost 1-4 against the played in Poland. After six matches played, Intercontinental title. Judges scored 119- Shelestyuk won after Martinez retired in Turkiye Conquerors on April 2 in Istanbul; Ukraine’s record stands at one win, one 109, 117-112, 118-110. the third round of a fight that was sched- Ukraine lost 0-5 against the Cuba draw and four losses, for a total of four uled for 10 rounds. Domadores (Group A leaders) on March 31 points with four goals for and nine against. (8-0-0, 6 KO) won by second-round KO in Havana; and Ukraine lost 1-4 to the France leads the group with 14 points, fol- against• Light Nadjib heavyweight Mohammedi Oleksandr (37-4-0, Gvozdyk 23 KO) won by eighth-round TKO against China Dragons (third place,) on March 12 in lowed by Iceland (12 points), Macedonia KO) of France on April 9 at the MGM Grand Silvio• Flyweight Olteanu ofArtem Romania Dalakian (15-10-1, (13-0-0, 6 KO) 9 Chongqing, China. Ukraine’s top competi- (12 points), Scotland (eight points) and Casino in Las Vegas. The fight was sched- for the WBA continental title on May 14 at tors include: Maksym Fatych (52 kg, third Northern Ireland (one point). Ukraine lost uled for 10 rounds. Parkovy Convention Center in Kyiv. Super place, 2-0), Viktor Slavinskyi (60 kg, fifth 0-2 against Macedonia on May 27 in Kyiv. Bantamweight Oleksandr Yehorov (16-1-1, place, 1-2), Serhii Bohachuk (69 kg, fourth Ukraine plays against France on September 2-0, 6 KO) lost against Isaac Real (15-1-1, 8 8 KO) won by unanimous decision (117-11, place, 2-0), and Rostyslav Arkhypenko (+91 2, against Scotland on September 6, against KO)• ofSuper Spain welterweight on April 1 at Arem the Pabellon Karpets de(21- la 116-12, 116-112) after 12 rounds against kg, third place, 2-0). Northern Ireland on October 6 and against Andrey Isael (29-6-0, 9 KO) of Belarus. Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona. Karpets retired Iceland on October 11. in the fourth round (out of 10 scheduled Yehorov won the vacant WBA continental former world heavyweight champion rounds) with judges scoring 40-35, 40-37, title. Featherweight Oleg Yefimovych (28- Wladimir• A rematch Klitschko is being (64-4, finalized 53 KO) betweenand cur- eliminated from the Elite Round of the 39-37 in favor of the Spaniard. 22-0, 15 KO) won by third-round KO rent champion Tyson Fury (25-0, 18 KO), UEFA• Ukraine’s women’s U-17U-17 women’sChampionship team after was against Eugen Sorin Tanasie (19-2-1, 9KO) with a proposed date of July 9 in finishing in fourth place in Group 2. KO) won in the sixth round Marlon Aguas of Romania for the WBA continental title. Manchester, England, the latest suggested Ukraine tied 0-0 with Northern Ireland on (9-1-0,• Welterweight 6 KO) of Ecuador Ivan Golub at Buffalo (11-0-0, Run 8 Welterweight Dmytro Fedas (7-0-2, 4 KO) date and place. March 17, lost 0-4 against Spain (group and Vladyslav Baranov (4-1-1, 3 KO) fought Casino in Miami on March 25. Aguas retired leader with nine points) on March 22 and to a split-decision draw after six rounds, in the sixth round in a fight scheduled for Swimming/Diving lost 0-7 against Denmark (second place with judges scoring 57-56, 56-56, 56-57. eight rounds. with six points) of March 24. silver and five bronze) at the LEN European at the KIHO Event Hall in Lviv. Welterweight Andrey Rudenko (28-2-0, 18 KO) won Aquatics• Ukraine Championships won 20 medals in London (five gold, on May 10 Ireland on March 29 during the U-19 UEFA against• On Mike May Mollo 6 in (21-6-1, Odesa, heavyweight13 KO) of the Valentin• A night Golovka of boxing (23-1-0 was 15 held KO) on won March by 18no 9-22. Illya Kvasha won gold in the men’s Championship• Ukraine won elite 2-0 round against for NorthernGroup 4. U.S.A. for the vacant WBC international sil- contest in the second round (out of eight one-meter springboard event and two Ukraine tied 0-0 with Poland on March 26. ver heavyweight title after Mollo retired in scheduled) against Valentyn Kuts (22-6-0, 8 Ukraine, in third place in the group with the seventh round out of 12 scheduled KO), both of Ukraine; welterweight Denys (Continued on page 16) 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 No. 23

marked the release of Ukrainian pilot mism “foreign”) even at the cost of protagonists will face elections along with Surkov-Nuland... Nadiya Savchenko from Russian captivity Ukraine’s legalizing the DPR-LPR through legacy issues next year. The OSCE’s 2016 (she had been abducted in 2014 from elections. year-end conference is also a deadline for (Continued from page 2) Ukrainian territory) with a statement that The “return to Ukraine of full control the German chairmanship to claim some time to really step on the gas and see this lowered the bar for elections to be held in over its international border [with Russia]” achievement, which is possible only with implemented.” Ms. Nuland referenced those Russian-controlled Donetsk and Luhansk is another coded phrase. Under the Minsk Russia’s cooperation in this organization. elections (as she regularly does) as a “people’s republics” (DPR-LPR). Mr. Kerry armistice, Kyiv is supposed to negotiate In that context, Russia will likely aim for Ukrainian “obligation”; but this time she set minimal prerequisites to staging those with the DPR-LPR authorities about shar- some interim agreements under the guise did not mention the withdrawal of Russian elections, to wit: a durable ceasefire, full ing control of that border. Mr. Kerry’s of “implementing Minsk,” ideally through forces or the handover of control along the access by the OSCE to the entire territory sequence of steps reproduces that in the the proposed elections, but also through border as a Russian quid-pro-quo (if not and election observation by the OSCE’s Minsk armistice (from which Kyiv is trying smaller steps attainable during the months obligation). She appealed to “Donbas” Office for Democratic Institutions and hard to extricate itself) and ignores ahead. The goal would be to elicit de facto authorities not to stage elections unilateral- Human Rights (ODIHR) to determine com- Ukraine’s multiple legal and democratic acceptance of the DPR-LPR as participants ly, outside the Minsk framework; instead, patibility with its standards (State safeguards in place against sham DPR-LPR in multilateral negotiations and signatories “we would respectfully encourage them to Department press release, May 25). elections (see EDM, April 20, May 20). to interim agreements. This could elevate focus on Minsk-compliant elections” (i.e., Mr. Kerry’s assent to elections being held The Kremlin may calculate that certain the DPR-LPR to the same level of de facto elections that could be validated to “imple- “under Ukrainian electoral law” is a coded figures in the Obama administration are acceptance as for example, ment Minsk”). Ms. Nuland characterized phrase. “Ukrainian law” in this case means preoccupied with legacy issues, striving to with or without valid local elections. For her talks with Mr. Surkov as “very thor- a new, “hybridized” law that Kyiv is sup- show at least some interim result in imple- now, Moscow seems to string along its ough” and “very constructive” (U.S. posed to negotiate with the leaders of the menting the Minsk ceasefire before the German and U.S. interlocutors in order to Embassy Moscow press release, May 18). Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics,” administration’s time in office runs out. increase its own leverage. Hence it down- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as the Minsk armistice prescribes. Staging Seasoned commentators in the Russian plays its talks on Ukraine with Washington however, poured cold water on Ms. elections under such a law would disqualify press speculate on that legacy factor, proba- at this stage as inconsequential, which Mr. Nuland’s account of the meeting with Mr. such elections a priori. Once those elections bly reflecting what they hear from Russian Peskov did in contradicting Ms. Nuland’s Surkov: “This was not supposed to produce have been held with Ukraine’s assent, Mr. officials on that account (Rossiiskaya upbeat account. Apparently, the Kremlin any results, it was only a brief exchange of Kerry promised, the withdrawal of “foreign Gazeta, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, May 19). A would want its Western interlocutors to try views” (Interfax, May 19). forces” could follow; but no one can guar- similar logic may soon apply to the again, and harder, to come to terms with it In Washington, Secretary of State Kerry antee or enforce this (hence the euphe- Normandy format, all of whose Western on Ukraine. The article above is reprinted from Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, www.jamestown.org.

Sportsline (Continued from page 15) bronze medals (three-meter springboard and three-meter synchronized spring- board) with Oleksandr Horoshkovozov; Horoshkovozov and Maksym Dolhov won bronze medals in the men’s 10-meter syn- chronized platform. Yulia Prokopchuk won gold in the women’s 10-meter platform; and Hanna Krasochlyk and Vlada Tatsenko won silver in the women’s 10-meter plat- form synchronized. In mixed diving teams, Prokopchuk and Dolhov won gold in the 10-meter synchronized platform, and Prokopchuk and Horshkovozov won silver in the team event that featured 10-meter platform and three-meter springboard events. In the diving standings, Ukraine won third place with eight medals (three gold, two silver and three bronze). In syn- chronized swimming, Ukraine’s free rou- tine team (Lolita Ananasova, Olena Grechykhina, Daria Iushko, Oleksandra Sabada, Kaderyna Sadurska, Anastasiya Savchuk, Kseniya Sydorenko and Anna Voloshyna) won gold; Voloshyna won silver in the solo free routine and in the solo tech- nical routine, as well as the duet free rou- tine and duet technical routine with Ananasova. Ukraine’s technical team rou- tine and combined routine (Ananasova, Grechykina, Iushko, Sabada, Sadurska, Savchuk, Sydorenko and Voloshyna in the technical; Ananasova, Grechykhina, Iushko, Ekaterina Reznik, Sabada, Sadurska, Savchuk, Sydorenko, Voloshyna and Olha Zolotarova in the combined routine), both won silver. In synchronized swimming, Ukraine won second place with seven med- als (one gold and six silver medals).

team – Lolita Anansova, Olena Grechykhina, Kateryna• Ukraine’s Reznik, synchronized Kateryna swimmingSadurska, Kseniya Sydorenko, Daria Iushko, Oleksandra Sabada and Anastasiya Savchuk – qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympic Summer Games during a Rio tournament on March 2-6 at Maria Lenk Aquatic Center. In team technical competition, Ukraine fin- ished in second place with 72.9316 points, Ukraine won gold in the team free routine with 186.7855 points. Among the other qualifying teams are: Japan, Italy, Brazil, Russia, China, Australia and Egypt. Ukraine also qualified for the free duet segment. No. 23 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 17

body for the Crimean Tatar people). The Crimean... At the reception, the solidarity of Ukraine and its indigenous Crimean Tatar (Continued from page 7) population was made clear, as the historic ny of Crimea cannot establish justice.” bond between these peoples was reiterated Presentations given at the international in statements from Crimean Tatar national conference focused on “Mass Violation of leader Mustafa Dzhemilev; the chairman of Human Rights in Occupied Crimea.” the Mejlis of the Indigenous Crimean Tatar The events in Vilnius got a shocking dose People, Mr. Chubarov; and the chair of the of reality when murmurs spread through- Union of the Communities of Lithuanian out the hall of the Lithuanian Parliament, Tatars, Adas Jakubauskas. where attendees had gathered. Member of The work being accomplished by the worldwide Crimean Tatar diaspora in the turned to those in my row to explain that years following the most recent confisca- theLithuania’s Seimas Vilijaparliamentary Aleknaitė-Abramikienė website had tion of their homeland cannot be overstat- come under cyberattack. This specific attack ed. Their resolve mirrors that of the focused on blocking users from viewing the Ukrainian World Congress and they under- Parliament’s website, thus blocking the stand that self-determination and human streaming live coverage of the conference. rights will never exist in their homeland so Nevertheless, the conference went long as a foreign invader continues to occu- ahead with statements of solidarity from py that land. Toward that end, the continuing cooper- Gediminas Kirkilas, deputy speaker of the ation of bodies such as the World Congress LoretaSeimas; Graužinienė, and Vytautas speaker Landsbergis, of the Seimas; first of Crimean Tatars and the Ukrainian World head of state after the restoration of Congress, and the work of Crimean Tatar Lithuanian independence. and Ukrainian NGOs across the globe, U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) had the including Ukrainian Congress Committee of opportunity to declare solidarity with the America advocacy in Washington, must indigenous people of Crimea in a pre-taped continue in order for their shared message video address, stating, “These proud people to resonate with leaders in the United were forced either to leave or get Russian States and Europe. citizenship, but they have not stopped the fight. The Crimean land belongs to the Crimean Tatars’ ancestors, and they have the right to live on their territory. I believe the U.S. is obliged to do everything possible that Russia suffers additional losses as it has occupied the territory illegally. We must help the Crimean Tatars. I will never stop fighting for free Ukraine!” Another Ukrainian presence of note at the conference was Ivanna Bilych, co- founder of the new Volya Institute of Contemporary Law and Society, who deliv- ered an address detailing the legal prece- dents the invasion of Crimea in 2014 has violated and the Volya Institute’s oft-cited legal report “Human Rights on Occupied Territory: Case of Crimea.” The Ukrainian Embassy in Vilnius, under the direction of the ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Lithuania, Volodymyr Yatsenkivskyi, treated the gathered dele- gates to an after-hour reception, which included the unexpected surprise of the Crimean Tatar flag flying next to Ukraine’s national flag outside the Embassy. (This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Crimean Tatar’s national anthem and national flag, when the Crimean Tatar Mejlis concurrently declared its right to exist and function as the representative

Statement... (Continued from page 7) Tatars are to survive, Western govern- ments must do more to help. The majority vote that supported Jamala’s song “1944” at the Eurovision con- test was a rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion and illegal occu- pation of Crimea in March 2014. This inva- sion and illegal occupation by Russia is the first such breach of a sovereign European nation’s border since the end of the Second World War. It is an outrageous provocation and challenge to the world order. Ukrainian Americans stand in solidarity with the Crimean Tatar community, and state their support of the rights of Crimean Tatars in their homeland. We underline the international position that Crimea is part of Ukraine and that the illegal Russian occu- pation is a clear violation of international law and a violation of state sovereignty. The Ukrainian American community con- demns the invasion and occupation of Crimea and the persecution of the Crimean Tatar community on its native land. Slava Ukraini! Long Live the Crimean Tatar nation! 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 No. 23 XXII Congress of Ukrainians Canada-Ukraine Business Forum in America to be held in Hartford scheduled for June 20 in Toronto UCCA Congress of Ukrainians in America, will OTTAWA – The Canada-Ukraine which will focus on four key sectors: host a gala banquet to mark Ukraine’s 25th Business Forum will be held on June 20 in Information and Communications NEW YORK – The Ukrainian Congress anniversary of independence. The banquet Toronto, at the Toronto Congress Center. Technologies (ICT); Agriculture and Food; Committee of America (UCCA) will hold its for UCCA delegates, guests and the commu- and Ukraine’s Infrastructure and Logistics; and Energy XXII Congress of Ukrainians in America on nity at large will feature local Ukrainian tal- Ministry of Economic Development and Efficiency and Renewables Friday-Sunday, September 23-25. The qua- ent and special guests. Trade, in partnership with the Canada- The forum will be held within the drennial convention, which will take place During the banquet, the UCCA will pres- Ukraine Chamber of Commerce and the framework of the Canada-Ukraine Trade at the Ukrainian National Home, in ent the Shevchenko Freedom Award to sev- Conference Board of Canada, have issued and Investment Support project (CUTIS). Hartford, Conn., will determine the new eral individuals who have greatly contribut- invitations to the Canada-Ukraine Business This is a five year project sponsored by ruling body of the UCCA and its plan of ed to promulgating Ukraine’s rich history Forum. the to increase action for the next four years. and culture and/or have played a signifi- The forum will provide a unique oppor- trade and investment between the coun- During the convention’s first plenary ses- cant role in Ukraine’s state-building pro- tunity to meet key Ukrainian and Canadian tries. The project is being implemented by sion, delegates will hear reports from the cess. For over 75 years, this award, the political and business leaders. It will be the the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of outgoing executive board and committee highest accolade given by the Ukrainian platform for discussing the opportunities Commerce and the Conference Board of chairs, and discuss the work that has been American community, has been bestowed that will be brought by the Canada-Ukraine Canada. accomplished over the past four years. upon heads of state, statesmen, community Free Trade Agreement. For more information, including the pro- Of special significance will be the work- leaders, activists and individuals who An important delegation of senior gov- gram of the forum, see http://forum.cucc. shops, which will allow for open discussion embody the prophetic aspirations of Taras ernment officials and business leaders ca/. For registration instructions see on key political, strategic and social con- Shevchenko, the 19th century national from Ukraine will take part in the forum, http://forum.cucc.ca/registration.html. cerns that affect the future of the Ukrainian bard of Ukraine, who dedicated his life and America community and its relations with work to the pursuit of democracy and free- Ukraine. dom for Ukraine. she was pardoned by Russian President The Saturday afternoon workshops, On the final day of the Congress, delegates Savchenko... Vladimir Putin in exchange for two Russians under the titles, “#Support Ukraine” and will elect the new governing body of the who were convicted in April on terrorism (Continued from page 1) “Hromada 2040,” will explore the future UCCA and adopt congressional resolutions charges for fighting alongside separatists health and growth of the community and that will provide direction for the organiza- “I won’t let you, who sit in these chairs in and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. the community’s continued support and tion’s work over the next four years. the Verkhovna Rada, forget those guys who Ms. Savchenko’s custody and trial have assistance to Ukraine going forward. A special convention book will be pub- died at the Maidan and who currently are been condemned by Kyiv and Western gov- On Saturday evening, the Ukrainian lished, part of which will be dedicated to dying in the Donbas,” she underscored. ernments critical of Moscow’s actions in National Home of Hartford and the Greater greetings and advertisements from mem- Ms. Savchenko vowed to make it her pri- Ukraine. Hartford Council of Ukrainian American bers and organizations within the ority to fight for the release of other The Kremlin has portrayed her release Organizations, in observance of the XXII Ukrainian community. Ukrainians held in Russia, whom Ukraine as a humanitarian gesture, but it came just describes as political prisoners. weeks before the European Union decides She then removed a poster with her whether to extend sanctions against Russia. canism of the elites has spread so quickly to image on it from the Rada’s rostrum, where More than 9,300 people have died in the the rest of the Russian population: “the Russian elite’s... it had been hanging for months as Kyiv fighting in eastern Ukraine. weak differentiation of the Russian elite (Continued from page 6) sought to secure her release. In its place, and negative selection (loyalty instead of Ms. Savchenko hung a banner depicting A political player competence)” mean that the two are less A major reason that the elites feel this several other people who remain in Ukraine’s president and other major different than one might expect. way, the study and the paper suggest, is Russian custody. political players currently suffer from abys- At the same time, however, Vedomosti that these views reflect ones they have long “You absolutely have to pull out every sin- suggests, members of the elite are more mal popularity ratings that some observers held and have promoted for the rest of the gle prisoner,” Ms. Savchenko said, describing likely to feel that expressions of support for attribute to chronic corruption and nepo- population rather than being views that what she called “prisoners of the Kremlin.” an anti-American position are “a ritual of tism, ongoing economic woes due in part to reflect the regime’s propaganda efforts. The “No one is forgotten, nothing is forgotten.” confirming their loyalty to the political the fighting in the country’s east, and a lack elites, Eduard Ponarin of the Higher School She added, “The people of Ukraine will regime” even though the majority of them of political courage. of Economics says, are defining today’s not allow us to occupy these seats if we “sincerely share these convictions” and Their dilemma has left a leadership vac- “’party line.’” betray them.” their support for Mr. Putin has grown as he uum that some people suggest Ms. “Their worldview,” Vedomosti continues, Moscow says it is not a party to the two has realized their program. Savchenko could fill. “is the result of their earlier disappoint- years of conflict that has followed its inva- But, the Moscow paper concludes, Ms. Savchenko is a member of former ment that Russia did not become a full- sion and unrecognized annexation of fledged member of the world community” “these attitudes are leading the country Prime Minister ’s party, Crimea, but Kyiv and NATO cite over- after 1991 – views that were intensified by into an economic dead end, and that is Batkivshchyna, which in February left whelming evidence that Russia has provid- the bombing of Kosovo in 1998 and only obvious for the elites as well. The inability Ukraine’s governing coalition and in whose ed troops, heavy weaponry and other sup- after that spread to the broader parts of the to solve domestic problems is the main ranks she sat on her first appearance as a port to separatists in the eastern Ukrainian Russian population. threat for Russia, according to this survey; legislator. regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. The Moscow paper cites Denis Volkov of in second place and much lower down is At one point, she scolded her fellow dep- the Levada center on why the anti-Ameri- terrorism.” An ordeal of 708 days uties, suggesting that there is a perception Ms. Savchenko had left the Ukrainian in Ukraine that “legislators are like lazy army and was serving in a volunteer battal- schoolchildren who neglect their work.” ion in eastern Ukraine when she says she On May 27, she said she would be will- was captured by Russia-backed fighters in ing to serve her country in any capacity, June 2014 and smuggled across the border. including as president “if you want me.” A Russian court in March sentenced her to 22 years in prison for her alleged role in With reporting by RFE/RL’s Ukrainian the deaths of two Russian journalists in the Service, Reuters, AP, AFP, and DPA. conflict zone, a charge she rejects. Copyright 2016, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted Her ordeal lasted 708 days – stretches of with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ which she spent on hunger strike – and Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, was marked by repeated acts of defiance Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see against the Kremlin and Russian courts. http://www.rferl.org/articleprint- She returned last week to Ukraine after view/27768308.html). No. 23 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 19

Through July 31 Art exhibit, “Ruminate” by Robin Dluzen, Cydney Lewis June 12-17 Seniors Conference, Ukrainian National Association, Chicago and Allison Svoboda, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Kerhonkson, NY Soyuzivka Heritage Center, [email protected] www.uima-chicago.org or 773-227-5522 or 973-292-9800 ext. 3071

June 9 Benefit fund-raiser, “United We Help: Send a Child to June 15 Film screening, “I am Ukrainian,” Ukrainian National New York Camp,” Help Us Help the Children, Ukrainian Institute of Ottawa Federation, Embassy of Ukraine, [email protected] America, www.huhtc.us June 16 U.S.-Ukraine Working Group Summit IV, Center for U.S.- Washington Ukrainian Relations, Washington Club, June 10 Film screening, “Mamai” by Oles Sanin, The Ukrainian www.usukrainianrelations.org New York Museum, 212-228-0110 or www.ukrainianmuseum.org June 16 Book presentation by Lesia Daria, “Forty One,” Carpe June 10 Film screening, “Freedom or Death!” by Damian Whippany, NJ Diem Club, Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Hartford, CT Kolodiy, Ukrainian National Home of Hartford, Jersey, [email protected] or 973-590-8026 www.ukrainiannationalhome.org June 17 Pub Night fund-raiser, St. John the Baptist Ukrainian June 10-12 Lviv, Ukraine, Folklore Fest, Ukrainian Club of Kingston, Syracuse, NY Catholic Church, Syracuse Ukrainian National Home, Kingston, ON Regiopolis Notre Dame High School, 613-549-5060 315-478-9272

June 10 through Exhibit, “Embroidery: The Road to Victory,” Ukrainian June 17-19 Ukrainian Heritage Festival, St. Michael Ukrainian August 28 National Museum, 312-421-8020 or Yonkers, NY Catholic Church, www.yonkersukrainianfestival.org Chicago www.ukrainiannationalmuseum.org June 17-19 U.S. Open Cup Championship soccer tournament, Ukrainian Horsham, PA American Sports Center Tryzub, www.tryzub.org June 11 Golf outing, Ukrainian American Sports Center Tryzub, Ambler, PA Limekiln Golf Club, 215-914-1251 or 215-643-0643 June 18 Steven Howansky Memorial Soccer Tournament, Ukrainian Yonkers, NY American Youth Association, Yonkers Ukrainian Festival, June 11 Fund-raiser evening, “Ukrainian Cabaret,” Ukrainian Flemming Field, [email protected] or 917-678-4168 Lehighton, PA Homestead, www.ukrhomestead.com or 610-377-4621 June 18 Film festival screening, “The Tribe” (Plemya) by June 11 Spring Festival, Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian New York Myroslav Shlaboshpytskiy, The Ukrainian Museum, , ON Community Center, 416-255-6249 212-228-0110 or www.ukrainianmuseum.org

June 11 Ukrainian Debutante Ball, with music by Klopit, Taras June 18 Table tennis tournament, Ukrainian American Youth Washington Shevchenko School of Ukrainian Studies and The Palatine, IL Association, [email protected] or Washington Group, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, http://cym.org/us-palatine [email protected] Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events June 12 Euro Cup viewing party, Ukraine vs Germany, Dnipro advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Baltimore Ukrainian Club, www.facebook.com/dniprobaltimore or from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors [email protected] and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016 No. 23

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Friday, June 3-Sunday, June 19 Ukrainian Fest will commence at 1 p.m., at “Tryzubivka” (Ukrainian American Sports NEW YORK: Yara Arts Group’s new the- ater piece, “Dark Night Bright Stars,” is set Center, County Line and Lower State in 1858 when the Ukrainian poet Taras roads). A 2 p.m. stage show will feature the Shevchenko, set free after 10 years’ impris- Voloshky School of Ukrainian Dance, onment, meets the great African American Chervoni Maky School of Ukrainian Dance, actor Ira Aldridge and draws his portrait. Karpaty Orchestra and singers, Sophia The theater piece is by Virlana Tkacz, Pitula, Anya Melnychuk and Dianna Jeremy Tardy and Yara Arts Group with Savchyn. A zabava-dance to the tunes of Sean Eden, Maria Pleskevich, Jeremy Tardy, the orchestra will follow. There will be Barak and Shona Tucker, and music by plentiful Ukrainian homemade foods and Julian Kytasty. Performances are on baked goods, picnic fare and cool refresh- Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 ments. Enjoy the U.S. Adult Soccer p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at La MaMa Association’s Region One U.S. Open Cup Experimental Theater, 74 E. Fourth St. and U.S. Amateur Cup (U.S. national cham- Admission is $18; $13 for seniors and stu- pionship quarterfinals) throughout the dents. For tickets call 646-430-5374 or afternoon. There is free admission and visit lamama.org/dark_night/. parking to all venues. For information call 267-664-3857 or e-mail eluciw@comcast. Sunday, June 19 net. Website: www.tryzub.org; Facebook: HORSHAM, Pa.: The popular Father’s Day Tryzub UkrainianClub.

PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a service pro- vided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian com- munity. To have an event listed in Preview of Events please send information, in English, written in Preview format, i.e., in a brief paragraph that includes the date, place, type of event, sponsor, admission, full names of persons and/or organizations involved, and a phone number and/or e-mail address to be published for readers who may require additional information. Items must be no more than 100 words long. Preview items must be received no later than one week before the desired date of publication (i.e., they must be received by 9 a.m. Monday). Please include payment for each time the item is to appear and indicate date(s) of issue(s) in which the item is to be published. Also, senders are asked to include the phone number of a person who may be contacted by The Weekly during daytime hours, as well as their complete mailing address. Information should be sent to [email protected]. When e-mailing, please do not send items as attachments – simply type the text into the body of the e-mail mes- sage. Preview items and payments may be mailed to: Preview of Events, The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054.

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