INSIDE: l Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev in Ottawa – 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 Ukraine enacts legal reforms, Savchenko sworn in as lawmaker, changes to law enforcement urges fight for ‘Kremlin prisoners’ Following its last visit to Kyiv 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 Nadiya Savchenko 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. Verkhovna Rada 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 Lviv 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 Europe 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 European Union 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 Washington and Moscow 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.