The Ukrainian Weekly, 2016

INSIDE:  Ukrainian American Youth Civics and Public Policy Club – page 5  2016 Kobzar Literary Award presented in Toronto – page 9  Harvard grad students on experiential trip to Ukraine – page 13

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXXIV No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 $2.00 Remembering the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people Jamala triumphs at Eurovision UCCA statement on Ukraine’s Day of Remembrance of Victims of the Crimean Tatar Genocide, issued on May 18 by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Every 18th of May, communities across the world pause to reflect on the mass murder of over 100,000 Crimean Tatars, a geno- cide conceived of and perpetrated by Joseph Stalin, in the course of the Soviets physically removing all indigenous people from the Crimean peninsula in 1944. Approximately 238,000 deportees, 113,000 of whom were children, 93,000 women, were rounded up in the early morning hours, placed on cattle cars, and sent away to far-off Soviet farm collectives and forced labor camps. This Sürgün, or “violent expulsion,” remains hidden in the annals of 20th century atrocities, just as the brutal colonization of Crimea in 1783 by tsar- Andres Putting (EBU) ist Russia, which saw tens of thousands of indigenous Crimean Jamala reacts to winning the 2016 Eurovision Tatars drowned for the amusement of their captors. A victory for Ukraine Song Contest. This May 18, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), the representative organization of over 1 million and Crimean Tatars Given the contest’s prohibition against political Americans of Ukrainian descent, joins the Ukrainian World songs and gestures, Jamala consistently said she was Congress, the international assembly of Ukrainian organizations by Zenon Zawada singing only about history leading up to the event, representing over 25 million people worldwide, and the govern- KYIV – Crimean Tatar R&B/soul-style singer enabling her to participate. Yet on the contest’s eve, ment of Ukraine not only to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of Jamala succeeded in drawing the world’s attention to she confirmed what was widely suspected that one of the most tragic pages in the history of the Crimean Tatar the Russian government’s persecution of her people “1944” was just as much about the present. people, but in calling on the United States, the United Nations and by winning the annual Eurovision Song Contest with “Of course, it’s about 2014 as well,” she said in an European Union member states to recognize the mass expulsion of her song “1944” about Stalin’s mass deportations interview published on May 13 on the guardian.com and genocide. news site. “These two years have added so much sad- (Continued on page 2) Jamala finished second among public voting and ness to my life. Imagine – you’re a creative person, a in second place among juries during the contest’s singer, but you can’t go home for two years. You see final round on May 14, placing her ahead of the your grandfather on Skype, who is 90 years old and U.S. Embassy in Ukraine releases flashy yet standard fare of pop music presented by ill, but you can’t visit him. What am I supposed to do: runner up Dami Im of Australia and third-place fin- statement on Crimean Tatar anniversary isher Sergey Lazarev of Russia. (Continued on page 17) Following is a comment on the anniversary of the Soviet deporta- tion of Crimean Tatars that was released on May 18 by the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. It is attributed to U.S. Embassy spokesperson Jonathan Lalley. Obama nominates new ambassador to Ukraine WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on May We join the Crimean Tatars and all the people of Ukraine in com- 18 announced his nomination of Marie L. Yovanovitch memorating the solemn anniversary of the forcible deportation of as ambassador to Ukraine, replacing Ambassador more than 230,000 Tatars from their Crimean homeland in 1944. Geoffrey R. Pyatt, whom he nominated to serve as Today, Crimean Tatars continue to face repression and discrimi- envoy to Greece. nation under Russian occupation in Crimea. Almost 10,000 Ms. Yovanovitch, a career member of the Foreign Crimean Tatars have been forced to flee the peninsula since the Service, class of minister-counselor, currently serves Russian occupation began in 2014. Those who remain have been as dean of the School of Language Studies at the subjected to abuses, including abusive interrogations, beatings, Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute, a arbitrary detentions, and police raids on their homes and position she has held since 2014. mosques. This brutality and mistreatment must end. Ms. Yovanovitch was deputy commandant at the We are particularly concerned by the recent arrest of Deputy Eisenhower School at the National Defense University Head of Crimean Tatar Mejlis Ilmi Umerov. We call on the Russian from 2013 to 2014. She served in the Department of Federation to reverse the decision to designate the Mejlis as an State’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs as “extremist” organization and the decision by de facto authorities in principal deputy assistant secretary from 2012 to Marie L. Yovanovitch Crimea to suspend this democratic institution. 2013 and as deputy assistant secretary from 2011 to We condemn Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of 2012. also served at posts in Canada, Russia, Somalia and Crimea, which we do not recognize, and call for an end to Russia’s Prior to that, she served as U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom. occupation. We have been very clear with Russia that our Crimea- Armenia from 2008 to 2011 and as ambassador to Ms. Yovanovitch received a B.A. from Princeton related sanctions will remain in place until Moscow returns con- Kyrgyzstan from 2005 to 2008. University and an M.S. from the National War College. trol over Crimea to Ukraine. Ms. Yovanovitch was senior advisor and executive Mr. Pyatt, nominee for U.S. ambassador to Greece, We also reaffirm our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and ter- assistant in the Office of the Under Secretary for has been ambassador to Ukraine since 2013. ritorial integrity and our deep support for the rights of all the peo- Political Affairs from 2004 to 2005 and deputy chief of The nominations must be confirmed by the U.S. ple of Ukraine, including those in Crimea. mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv from 2001 to 2004. Senate. Since joining the Foreign Service in 1986, she has Source: White House, Office of the Press Secretary 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 No. 21

ANALYSIS

Remembering Crimean Tatars’ deportation tion, which states, “whereas the European A bad case of Savchenkophobia Union and the international community KYIV – Ukraine on May 18 commemorat- would quickly become something that have repeatedly voiced their concern over by Brain Whitmore ed the victims of Soviet dictator Joseph the situation of human rights in the occu- RFE/RL Ukrainians have never had – a leader with Stalin’s mass deportation of Tatars from clear and unambiguous moral authority. pied territories and the systematic persecu- Crimea in 1944. A minute of silence was tion of those who do not recognize the new Vladimir Putin’s regime clearly has a bad It would have a leader unsullied by the observed across the country at noon – case of Savchenkophobia. past and uncompromised by the current authorities; whereas these so-called except in Crimea, where Russia-backed authorities have targeted the indigenous It’s true. The Kremlin is absolutely terri- corrupt elite. authorities have banned annual commemo- fied of its hostage. It would have a leader who took herself community of Crimean Tatars, a majority of rations of the deportation after Moscow whom oppose the Russian takeover of the The Kremlin is terrified of Nadiya to the brink of death for the sake of Ukraine illegally annexed the peninsula in March peninsula; ...whereas the Mejlis has now Savchenko in captivity, where she is a potent and who flipped the bird at Vladimir 2014. “On this important day, as always, we been declared an extremist organization symbol of the Putin regime’s petty and cruel Putin’s kangaroo court. stand together with our brotherly Crimean and included in the Russian Justice brutality and of Ukraine’s resistance. Ukraine would have its Vaclav Havel; it Tatar people, share our common pain, and Ministry’s list of NGOs whose activities But the Kremlin is even more terrified of would have its Nelson Mandela. bow our heads to commemorate the vic- must be suspended; ...[the European what Savchenko would become if she were Savchenko wouldn’t even need to for- tims,” Ukrainian President Petro Poro­ Parliament] strongly condemns the deci- freed. mally enter politics to claim this mantle. shenko wrote on Facebook. In November sion of the so-called Supreme Court of This became abundantly clear yesterday Her mere presence on Ukrainian soil 2015, the Ukrainian Parliament approved Crimea to ban the Mejlis of the Crimean [May 17] when the Russian Justice Ministry would do the trick. the bill recognizing May 18 as the Day of Tatar People, and demands its immediate announced that a long-awaited prisoner And that would be the Kremlin’s worst Remembrance of Victims of the Crimean reversal; considers this decision to consti- exchange to release the kidnapped Ukrainian nightmare. Tatar Genocide. Starting on May 18, 1944, tute systemic and targeted persecution of military pilot will not happen. some 200,000 Crimean Tatars were put on the Crimean Tatars, and to be a politically The Putin regime appears to have con- The text above is a transcript of the May trains – most of them in the space of just motivated action; ...calls for the EU to pro- cluded that it cannot release its hostage – 18 edition of “The Daily Vertical,” a podcast two days – and sent to Central Asia. vide financial support for the activities of because the costs of doing so are just too of RFE/RL. Readers may watch it here: Thousands are believed to have died during the Mejlis while it is in exile; calls for high. http://www.rferl.org/content/daily-verti- the journey. (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service increased financing for human rights orga- and RFE/RL’s Russian Service) Because if Savchenko is released, she cal-savchenkophobia/27742543.html. nizations working on behalf of Crimea; U.N. on respect for Crimean Tatar rights ...welcomes the Ukrainian initiative to establish an international negotiation In the Ukrainian tradition, the Ukrainian UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations mechanism in the ‘Geneva Plus’ format for UCCA statement... Congress Committee of America acknowl- called on Russia to respect minority rights the re-establishment of Ukrainian sover- edges the “eternal memory” of Stalin’s vic- on the May 18 anniversary of Soviet dictator eignty over Crimea, which should include (Continued from page 1) tims in Crimea, and calls on the interna- Joseph Stalin’s mass deportation of Tatars direct engagement by the EU; calls on the from Crimea in 1944. A spokesman for the Crimean Tatars, organized by the Soviet tional community to intensify its condem- Russian Federation to start negotiations U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Union in 1944, as an ethnic genocide of the nation of Russia’s illegal occupation of with Ukraine and other parties on the de- Rupert Colville, said the persecution of occupation of Crimea.” (Ukrainian Crimean Tatar people. Ukraine. Ukraine and its international part- Tatars has grown during two years of Canadian Congress) After Ukraine regained its indepen- ners can and should devote all efforts to the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity Russian annexation of the peninsula, dence, indigenous Crimean Tatars were marked by the intimidation, harassment, Crimean Tatar leader visits Canada allowed to return to their traditional, and rule of law to Crimea. The only hope for returning basic human rights to the and jailing of Tatar officials. “Since April OTTAWA – Crimean Tatar leader ancestral homeland, and began to rebuild 2014, Crimean Tatars have been subjected people of Crimea is the end of Russia’s mili- Mustafa Dzhemilev is visiting Canada. On their community, only to be violently inter- to arbitrary searches, seizure of books, and tary occupation. It is only then that the May 17, Mr. Dzhemilev met with member rupted once again by the heir to the arrest,” he said in a statement on May 17. Crimean Tatars will be able to openly of Parliament and Canadian officials, and Russian tsar and Stalin’s empire, namely, “Last year, the authorities shut down a num- mourn for their ancestors in peace, sense- participated in an event commemorating Putin’s Russia. As the newly re-elected ber of Crimean Tatar media outlets, and last lessly slaughtered in the course of that “vio- the victims of the genocide of Crimean president of the World Congress of week were reported to have also blocked Crimean Tatars (WCCT), Refat Chubarov, lent expulsion.” Tatars on the grounds of Parliament Hill. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Crimea He was to speak at the University of Ottawa remarked last year, “Tsarist Russia and the news website.” Mr. Colville said Russia has “a and in Toronto. Rising in the House of USSR are guilty of the fact that at present a Statement on remembering the genocide duty to ensure the rights of minorities and Commons on May 17 to pay tribute to Mr. large number of Crimean Tatars are living of the Crimean Tatar people released by the indigenous peoples” and should immediate- Dzhemilev, MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj stated, not in their Motherland” but remain dis- Ukrainian Canadian Congress on May 18. ly lift the ban on the Mejlis, the Tatars’ legis- “Mr. Speaker, in 1783 Russia first occupied persed throughout the world. “Despite Today the Ukrainian Canadian commu- lative body. (RFE/RL) Crimea and so began a tragic history of 160 repressions by Russia, the Crimean Tatars nity stands in solidarity with the Crimean years of occupation and ethnic cleansings of will never accept its policy and are strug- Europarliament supports Mejlis Tatar People who mark the anniversary of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people. On gling against it.” the mass deportation from their ancestral STRASBOURG, France – The European The UCCA does not, has not, nor will homeland by the totalitarian regime of Parliament on May 12 adopted a resolu- (Continued on page 12) ever recognize Russia’s March 2014 staged Joseph Stalin. The entire Crimean Tatar plebiscite in Crimea. Russia’s military inva- people, the indigenous people of Crimea, sion and current illegal occupation of were exiled to the Soviet east in 1944. Ukrainian territory has shed Ukrainian Hundreds of thousands of men, women FOUNDED 1933 blood from day one, while journalists, activ- and children were forcibly and violently The Ukrainian Weekly ists and community leaders who support deported – almost half lost their lives dur- Ukraine’s territorial integrity continue to ing the first year of exile – for no crime An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., “disappear” from their native Crimea. In other than their language, culture and tra- a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. the words of Ambassador Samantha Power, ditions. They were not allowed to return to U.S. permanent representative to the Crimea for almost 50 years. Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. United Nations, “Russia’s attempted annex- In November 2015, Ukraine’s Parliament (ISSN — 0273-9348) ation of Crimea is not a one-time violation recognized this crime as an act of genocide The Weekly: UNA: of Ukraine’s sovereignty, but rather repre- against the Crimean Tatar people and estab- Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 sents an ongoing, continuous violation, one lished May 18 as the Day of Remembrance that persists for every day that Russia con- of the Genocide of the Crimean Tatar Postmaster, send address changes to: tinues to occupy the peninsula.” People. Today, we join the Crimean Tatar The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz Seventy-two years ago, in the 20th centu- people in mourning, grief and solemn 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas ry, Stalin hid his genocidal crimes. Now, in commemoration. P.O. Box 280 the 21st century, Vladimir Putin glorifies his The ancestral home of the Crimean Tatar Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] violation of international borders with people, the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine, is parades and fireworks. Russia’s claim over today illegally occupied by the Russian The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com Crimea is without contemporary precedent, Federation. The Mejlis, the representative breaks numerous international doctrines assembly of the Crimean Tatar people, has The Ukrainian Weekly, May 22, 2016, No. 21, Vol. LXXXIV and agreements, and must be reversed in been banned by the Russian occupation Copyright © 2016 The Ukrainian Weekly the eyes of the rest of the world. The authorities. The Crimean Tatar people, Russian occupation is quite simply an bravely resisting this cruel occupation, are attempt to erase any semblance of the indig- once again subject to brutal violence, ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA enous Crimean Tatar identity from their repressions, arrests and attacks on their homeland, including shutting down the unalienable rights and freedoms by the Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 Crimean Tatar Mejlis, replacing indigenous Russian occupation authorities. e-mail: [email protected] place names, and further removing oppor- We join all civilized nations in con- Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 tunities for the Crimean Tatar language and demning the Russian Federation’s occupa- e-mail: [email protected] culture to be taught and passed on. tion of the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine. No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 3

NEWS ANALYSIS Putin commits to countering new strategic ‘threat’ to Russia by Pavel K. Baev to engage in an expensive arms race with allocations for the Moscow Thermal Perhaps the most peculiar twist to Mr. Eurasia Daily Monitor the West: he hinted that a cheaper Technology Institute, but this firm’s design Putin’s remarks was his lamentation that response, based on modern technologies, for the Bulava missile proved prone to Romania and Poland, heretofore, had The ceremony of opening the U.S. missile would be aimed at the enemy’s vulnerabili- many failures (RIA Novosti, May 13). enjoyed a “quiet, safe and prosperous life,” defense base in Deveselu, Romania, on May ties (Rossiiskaya Gazeta, May 13). Moscow could opt for a grand political but now they would have to face the conse- 12 was greeted by a barrage of condemna- Ambiguity is often gesture of withdraw- quences of Russia’s “curtailing” of the U.S. tion and criticism from Russian officials a useful political The joint statement ing from the third threat (Newsru.com, May 13). In the past, (see Eurasia Daily Monitor, May 12). The pose, but in real Strategic Arms Russia repeatedly threatened to target the next day, President Vladimir Putin turned terms, Russia’s from the meeting Reduction Treaty US bases in Poland and Romania with these denouncements into state policy by technological of U.S. President (New START or Russian missiles (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, defining this deployment of a radar station designs are old- START III), in effect May 13). and SM-3 missile interceptors as a direct fashioned and Barack Obama and since 2011, but this The substance of these threats, however, threat to Russia and promising to “curtail” political options are the prime ministers would undercut the has either been shallow or counterproduc- it (Kremlin.ru, May 13). limited. The of Denmark, Finland, notion of strategic tive. The deployment of Iskander missiles The completion of the “Aegis Ashore” deployment of balance, which Mr. to the Kaliningrad exclave had already been project (started in 2013) as well as the RS-24 Yars missiles Iceland, Norway and Putin seeks to uphold attempted; Moscow has already announced beginning of the work on the second base is proceeding on Sweden underscores (TASS, May 13). it was upgrading three West-facing bri- in Poland came as no surprise, because schedule, but the He further claims gades to division strength; the activities of Russia was kept informed of its progress long-promised their shared strong that the U.S. missile Russian air force over the Baltic and Black and Moscow duly registered its objections supersonic war- condemnation of defense base consti- seas have already been greatly provocative. every step of the way (Politcom.ru, May head is still not Russia’s aggression tutes a gross viola- In fact, each time Moscow resorts to mil- 12). In fact, Mr. Putin held a series of meet- ready (Gazeta.ru, tion of the Inter- itary pressure, it pushes European states ings last week with his Security Council and May 10). The rail- against Ukraine. mediate-Range closer together, reducing its ability to various defense industry chieftains, who mobile version of Nuclear Forces (INF) exploit their differences. Indeed, the joint were airlifted – along with samples of their this missile merely revives an old Soviet treaty (1988), but Russia cannot be inter- statement from the meeting of U.S. products – to his palace near Sochi project, and the first missile train, Barguzin, ested in a breakdown of this arms control President Barack Obama and the prime (Kommersant, May 12). Not a single practi- is not expected to leave the station before regime signed by Ronald Reagan and ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, cal countermeasure or strategic initiative 2020 (Rossiiskaya Gazeta, May 12). The Mikhail Gorbachev, because the prospect of Norway and Sweden underscores their was announced, however. first draft of a sea-based ballistic missile for the deployment of U.S. medium-range mis- shared strong condemnation of Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin a new generation of strategic submarines siles in Europe is daunting (Kommersant- sought to elaborate on Mr. Putin’s point not may be a useful trick for securing budget FM, May 12). (Continued on page 16)

Hackers leak personal data of thousands NATO’s new commander: of journalists who worked in Donbas ‘Ready to fi ght if deterrence fails’ by Anna Shamanska more than I had. And I was vilely betrayed. I by Charles Recknagel The rotations have sought to reassure RFE/RL won’t forgive that. Ever. Burn in hell.” RFE/RL nervous NATO allies in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula Harsh criticism Ukrainian hackers have leaked the NATO has a new supreme commander, in 2014 and amid Kyiv’s ongoing conflict names and contact details of 4,508 journal- A statement of response to the leak, whose job is to strengthen it as a defense with Russia-backed separatists in eastern ists and other media representatives signed by 27 correspondents from Ukraine force after years of reductions of U.S. troops Ukraine. Anxiety remains particularly high who’ve worked over the past year and a and abroad, alleges that “journalists who in Europe. in the Baltics and Poland over a possible half in areas under the control of pro-Rus- risked their lives to objectively cover events “We face a resurgent Russia and its threat from Russia. sia separatists in eastern Ukraine. and to tell Ukrainian and world media what aggressive behavior that challenges inter- However, Gen. Scaparrotti’s most imme- It was unclear whether the move was an was happening on occupied territories” are national norms,” U.S. Army General Curtis diate challenge could be to lay down a clear effort to shame individuals for having under attack. Scaparrotti said upon taking command of boundary beyond which NATO units will somehow cooperated for access with the “We remind you that, according to U.S. forces in Europe. not tolerate mounting harassment by separatists who have been fighting against Ukrainian and international media organi- He added that the Atlantic alliance’s Russian forces. national authorities since early 2014, with zations, in 2014 alone almost 80 Ukrainian forces must be “ready to fight should deter- Russian warplanes routinely buzz NATO considerable support from Moscow, and foreign journalists were detained by rence fail.” warships in the Baltic and the Black seas, as according to NATO. militants and many were tortured,” the Gen. Scaparrotti became supreme allied both sides have stepped up military exer- The Excel document published by the statement reads. “Accreditation was the commander Europe at a May 4 ceremony at cises in response to the Ukraine crisis. The website Myrotvorets, or Peacemaker in only, even if minuscule, tool to protect jour- NATO’s military headquarters near Mons, close fly-bys have created growing concern Ukrainian, contains names, phone num- nalists from torture or captivity.” in southern Belgium. that they could lead to a direct confronta- bers, and e-mails. The list includes journal- The signatories have demanded that His appointment comes at a time when tion. ists, cameramen and producers, as well as Myrotvorets take down the information, the alliance regards Moscow as a threat to Gen. Scaparrotti has taken a tough line against the harassment, telling U.S. sena- stringers, translators and even drivers. and have called on politicians to discontin- stability over its actions in Ukraine and has largely given up on military or civilian tors during hearings last month that the Many are affiliated with separatist, ue what they say is the use of the leak for cooperation with Russia. Russian fly-bys are deliberately provocative Russian or Ukrainian media organizations. political purposes. They have also called on Gen. Scaparrotti has said he will press and dangerous. But there are also individuals who the Ukrainian government to launch a Washington to station a third permanent “I think they’re pushing our envelope in worked for major international media out- criminal investigation. brigade of U.S. troops in Europe to bolster terms of our resolve,” he said. He added lets like Reuters, the BBC, Agence France- Journalists have also widely criticized the two brigades presently deployed in that Russia needs to know the United Presse and Al-Jazeera, or for nonprofits or Mr. Herashchenko for his role in the infringement on their privacy. Germany and Italy. Any additional perma- States will take action if American lives are other organizations, including Human nent deployment of troops would reverse endangered. Rights Watch (HRW). Petr Shelomovsky, a freelance photogra- pher, called Mr. Herashchenko a “Ukrainian reductions over the past four years, during He said one of his first actions as NATO’s Anton Herashchenko, an adviser to which Washington deactivated two bri- commander will be to review the rules of Ukrainian Internal Affairs Minister Arsen schmuck” on RFE/RL’s Current Time pro- gram, but tried to put a positive spin on it gades in Europe due to budget pressures engagement for U.S. and allied forces Avakov, who has 156,000 followers on and new threats in the Middle East and regarding when to respond with force to Facebook, published the list on his public all: “Personally for me, he did a good deed. He published contacts of colleagues, many Asia. safeguard their security. page. phone numbers I didn’t know. It’s useful, as Today, there are fewer than 65,000 U.S. Gen. Scaparrotti comes to the top NATO Ukrainian and foreign journalists if we were all added to the same chat room.” military personnel permanently stationed military post after serving as head of U.S. responded to the leak with dismay. Some Ukrainians defended Myrotvorets, in Europe, down from roughly 300,000 forces in South Korea. Prior to that, he Volodymyr Runets, a correspondent for suggesting that the organization must have during the Cold War. served in Iraq and Afghanistan. the Ukrainian channel 24 TV, wrote that he had good reasons to publish the list. Gen. Scaparrotti’s desire for more troops had never hidden the fact that he worked in Ukrainian activist Yevhen Karas wrote in Europe echoes the position of NATO’s Copyright 2016, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted territory controlled by separatists. that volunteers “bring victory closer, outgoing military commander, U.S. Gen. with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ “I believed that my risk was justified because they don’t film reports, but cast fear Philip Breedlove. To date, however, Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, because it was necessary to document and on enemies” by hacking into their informa- Washington has preferred to rotate addi- Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see record all the atrocities committed by mili- tion channels. tional troops in and out of Europe rather http://www.rferl.org/content/nato-new- tants,” he wrote on Facebook. “I am not than permanently station more on the con- commander-scaparrotti-russia-ukraine- going to prove my patriotism. I gave Ukraine (Continued on page 16) tinent. deterrence/27715802.html). 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 No. 21

OBITUARY Michael Pap, educator, historian, civic leader, 1920-2016

by Andrew Fedynsky As a civic-political leader, he was the head of the Organization for the Rebirth of Ukraine (ODWU), served on CLEVELAND – Michael (Mykhailo) Pap passed away on the board of the Ukrainian Historical Association, April 1 at the age of 95. He was a university professor and Brotherhood of the Carpathian Sich and served as Assistant scholar at John Carroll University, a civic activist and politi- President of the Ukrainian National Republic-in-Exile. cal leader both in the Ukrainian diaspora and the city of In the Cleveland area, he was not only president of the Cleveland. United Ukrainian Organizations (1969-1970), he also Mykhailo Pap was born July 24, 1920, in the village of played St. Nicholas at his beloved Ukrainian Catholic par- Sirma in the Vynohradivsky region of today’s Zakarpatia ish, St. Mary’s in Solon, Ohio, and along with his wife Anne Oblast in western Ukraine. He received his early education helped to prepare Friday Lenten meals. in the village school and later at the commercial academy Dr. Pap’s name appeared on myriad civic campaigns, in nearby Mukachevo. from the construction of the Shevchenko monument in In the wake of World War II, he left his native Ukraine Washington to funds to aid Ukraine. for Bratislava in today’s Slovakia, where he attended uni- In 1964, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of versity before moving on to Vienna, just ahead of the Red American (UCCA) recognized Dr. Pap with its Shevchenko Army. There he worked at Siemen’s Corp. while attending Freedom Award. In 1992, John Carroll University awarded university. He subsequently moved to Heidelberg, him with an honorary degree. Germany, where he also attended the university, earning a When the Soviet Union fell in 1991, experts at the doctorate in International Law and History. Central Intelligence Agency, the State Department, the In 1949, he immigrated to the U.S. and, after briefly White House, Congress and other agencies in Washington working at an auto plant in Detroit where he learned were baffled. Who could have known, the insiders asked? English, received an academic position at the University of Well, Dr. Pap, for one. Based on his study of history, he not Notre Dame, where he taught and published several arti- only taught how it was going to happen, but with his self- cles. In 1958, along with his wife Anne (nee Kimak) he less activism helped to bring it about. He was a great moved to Cleveland to take a position at John Carroll teacher, a leader and an inspiration. (When I was a gradu- University, where he founded the Institute for Soviet and Dr. Michael Pap ate student at John Carroll in the late 1970s, I often sat Eastern European Studies in 1961, a position he held until across from him as he smoked his ubiquitous cigar, dis- his retirement in 1988. The institute became a center for Carroll University to serve in the administration of cussing history and current events. He helped to change scholarship and public outreach. Cleveland Mayor Ralph Perk as director of human resourc- my life and the lives of numerous others.) Over the years, in the midst of the Cold War, he taught es and economic development. Dr. Pap leaves behind four children, 14 grandchildren thousands of John Carroll students, as well as teachers Throughout his life, Dr. Pap was active in Ukrainian cul- and seven great-grandchildren, along with fond memories from Ohio secondary schools about the complex history of tural, community and civic affairs. In his youth, he was a from the Ukrainian community in Cleveland and so many that region and the realities of America’s struggle with member of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization. Later, grateful students who benefited immeasurably from his Soviet totalitarianism. he founded and for many years was head of the Ukrainian generosity and friendship that it’s impossible to list them In 1972-1974, Dr. Pap took a leave of absence from John American Association of University Professors. all. No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 5 Ukrainian American Youth Civics and Public Policy Club visits Pennsylvania Senate

by Eugene A. Luciw and Iryna Galaj HARRISBURG, Pa. – Spurred to action by events in Ukraine and their participation in the Ukrainian National information Service’s Ukrainian Days advocacy efforts in Washington, a group of Philadelphia- area Ukrainian American students have organized the Young Ukrainian Americans’ Civics and Public Policy Club. They immediately set upon organizing a program of study and events. The Club is a program of the Ukrainian Heritage School based at the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center in Jenkintown, Pa. At the invitations of Pennsylvania State Sens. Stewart Greenleaf (R - 12th Senatorial District) and Art Haywood (D - 4th Senatorial District), eight club members traveled to Pennsylvania’s Capitol in Harrisburg and spent the morning “shad- Members of the Young Ukrainian Americans’ Civics and Public Policy Club at the Pennsylvania Senate: (front row, from left): Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, Roman Zharovsky, Jessika Podilchuk, Ustyna Danylovych, Oksana Zharovsky, Danylo Sandursky, Iryna owing” Sen. Greenleaf and his staffers. Galaj (club moderator), Sen. Art Haywood; (back row) Roman Lehenkyy, Jurij Hryckowian, Mykola Hryckowian (moderator), From their opening meeting with Sen. Eugene A. Luciw (moderator) and Bohdan Nahirniak. Greenleaf and his counsel, chief of staff and others, through their stay at the hearings of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which the senator chairs, and their attendance at the morning session of the Senate, the club members became acquainted with how leg- islation is drafted, analyzed, reviewed, dis- cussed and presented for a vote on the floor. Witnessing the opening of the session also gave them an added understanding of the procedural aspects of legislative work. The club members and their moderators were enthralled by the address to the Senate of Israel’s consul general to the Mid- Atlantic region of the United States, Yaron Sideman. Not only did they appreciate the extent to which all freedom-loving nations must stand together in the worldwide struggle for peace, democracy and human rights, but they also gained an appreciation of the scope and breadth of the Commonwealth’s direct international rela- tions. Specifically, the consul General Sideman thanked the Senate and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the myriad scientific, industrial, technological, educational and civic relationships that were established directly between Israel and the Commonwealth during his tenure. (Continued on page 14) July 8, 9, 10 www.soyuzivka.com Also performing FRIDAY Dumka Chorus - New York • Hurt Udych Evening Gala and many more acts to be announced benefit to Ukrainian Village Exhibit • Film Festival Support Varenyky Eating Contest • Delicious Food Dancing, Music, Song Ukraine Oksana Mukha Vasyl Popadiuk

MC Serhiy “Foma” Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Workshop Fomenko MC Lydia Kulbida

The Young Ukrainian Americans’ Civics and Public Policy Club on the stairs of the Pennsylvania Capitol. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 No. 21

WINDOW ON EURASIA The Ukrainian Weekly Jamala’s Eurovision win confounds Moscow Russian coverage of Jamala’s victory For the second time, Ukraine has won the Eurovision Song Contest, with this year’s entry, Jamala (Susana Jamaladinova), a Crimean Tatar performing her song, descends to level of old Soviet anecdote “1944” about the Soviet deportation of the Tatars from Crimea. Known by the by Paul Goble Vesti continued with the observation Crimean Tatars as Sürgün, the deportation of the Crimean Tatars is another geno- that “Internet users are actively comment- cide committed by Stalin on the territory of Ukraine. It was commemorated globally The Russian media, which had predicted ing about this, and many of them aren’t hid- on May 18, just days after Jamala won the Eurovision Song Contest on May 14 in the victory of the Russian competitor in ing their disappointment” that the Russian Stockholm, Sweden. this year’s Eurovision song competition – singer didn’t win and “calling the results of Previously, Ruslana Lyzychko’s “Wild Dances” won the contest in 2004 for something that would have given Moscow a Eurovision obviously politicized” and Ukraine. Ms. Lyzhychko offered words of support for Ukraine’s entry after Jamala’s boost and the right to host next year’s com- directed against Russia and for Ukraine. semi-final performance. Ms. Lyzhychko was quoted via Facebook as saying: “…We petition – have fallen to the level of an old Jamala, who sang about the deportation are happy to tell the world: Welcome to Ukraine! Jamala you did everything you Soviet anecdote now that Crimean Tatar of the Crimean Tatars in 1944 – an event could and even more – you’ve changed the music for the better! This victory is well- Jamala has won for her people and Ukraine. other Russian outlets said was not a punish- deserved and strong! Symbolically enough that both times Ukraine wins with exotic: In Soviet times, the story was widely told ment but a search for a better life (!) – won, in 2004 with music of the Carpathians, and in 2016 – of Crimean Tatars! This is our that when Nikita Khrushchev met with Vesti said, but only “thanks to the vote by a different and unlimited Ukraine!” John F. Kennedy at Vienna for a summit, the professional jury.” If the people had been lis- This latest win for Ukraine on the international stage is a painful reminder for two decided on a footrace. Not surprisingly, tened to, the Russian would have won. Russia that it stands alone against a united world. the young American president defeated the Now, Vesti notes, next year’s Eurovision In a case of sour grapes, Russia claims that Ukraine’s entry was political in nature, older and significantly more out of shape will take place in Ukraine because that is in an alleged violation of the Eurovision contest rules, and that Russia’s competitor, Soviet premier, putting the Moscow media the country from which this year’s winner Sergey Lazarev, was robbed of the prize because of the contest’s alleged rigged vot- in a difficult position. came. But the Russian outlet was not pre- ing system. Russia has announced that it plans to boycott the 2017 Eurovision Song Moscow newspapers and television pared to leave it at that. It reported that Contest that is to be hosted by Ukraine. That has led commentators to ask: As Russia could hardly report the facts of the case someone at Jamala’s press conference threatens to boycott next year’s contest, can we expect a revival of the Soviet-era because that would boost the Americans and wanted to know if she would like to have Intervision song contest (Eurovision’s low-grade counterpart in the Soviet Union)? represent a slap in the face to Khrushchev. Eurovision “in liberated Crimea,” a formula- The Atlantic Council’s Kateryna Smagliy wrote: “Artists can often repair what poli- As a result, they came up with a strategy tion only a pro-Moscow speaker would use. ticians fail to achieve. With just one sincere and deeply moving song, Jamala suc- that characterized much Soviet reporting She responded that she “hope[s] that ceeded in what European and Ukrainian leaders have been struggling to do at vari- about things – and one that has now re- Eurovision will be in Ukraine,” although she ous international conferences and diplomatic negotiation tables. She united Europe emerged in the age of Vladimir Putin. acknowledged that she “doesn’t know in its support of Ukraine and Crimean Tatars, and reminded global audiences that After the Khrushchev-Kennedy race, where precisely.” Crimea is Ukraine.” Moscow media said, the Soviet premier Then, Vesti reported, in a transparent Thanks to this latest high-profile event, Ukraine and Europe have been shown the “thanks to his heroic efforts” finished “sec- effort to politicize Eurovision still further, effectiveness of a revitalized cultural diplomacy strategy against Russian moves. Ms. ond from first,” while the American presi- that in attendance when Jamala sang her Smagliy also noted how a group of prominent Ukrainian writers and cultural activ- dent who represented the rotting capitalist song about the deportation was Mustafa ists have recently launched a petition to rename Kyiv’s Boryspil airport after painter West and despite his very best efforts was Dzhemilev, himself a victim of the deporta- Kazimir Malevich. A similar move was made in 2012 with the renaming of the only able to finish “second from last.” tion but whom Vesti described as “the lead- Donetsk airport after composer Sergei Prokofiev, who was born in Donetsk. The A report in Vesti this weekend is unfor- er of the unrecognized Mejlis who is being Ukrainian diaspora of the U.S. and Canada, she added, can assist in the coordination tunately not atypical of Russian coverage of sought on a Russian warrant and who sup- of cultural policies, to share experience and to support efforts for Ukraine. Jamala’s victory but all too typical of the ported the energy blockade of Crimea.” The Weekly congratulates Jamala on her win for Ukraine and for the Crimean kind of Soviet-style reporting that the old And the Moscow outlet concluded: “After Tatars, and hopes that this latest win will spur increased efforts by the international anecdote made fun of (vesti.ru/doc. the declaration of the Eurovision results, community to work with all of Ukraine and the Crimean Tatars to counter Russian html?id=2753661). questions inevitably are arising: How can a aggression and disinformation, to remind Russia that these people and lands are not The Russian outlet begins by saying that country which has a hole in its budget, a forgotten. We maintain the hope that one day, with ever-increasing international “viewers gave the victory to Russia, but first war in its east, and regular disorders in its pressure, Russia will return control of Crimea to Ukraine. place was nonetheless left to Ukraine,” the capital conduct such a competition?” result of “new voting rules” in the Those are useful questions, but only if Eurovision competition that “permitted the they are addressed to Moscow, which has a organizers to correct the results according budget shortfall, has launched a war and reg- to their own discretion,” an implicit sugges- ularly features ethnic clashes not only in the May Turning the pages back... tion that Russia was robbed. capital but elsewhere around the country.

Twenty years ago, on May 26, 1996, The Ukrainian Weekly 26 ran an analysis by Volodymyr Zviglyanich about Russia’s plans to Moscow using occupied Crimea as testing lab resurrect the Soviet Union, based on a draft document released 1996 by the Russian Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, titled “Will the (Soviet) Union Revive by 2005?” for repressive measures to be applied elsewhere Mr. Zviglyanich explained that these theoretical exercises had resulted in the signing of treaties between Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, as by Paul Goble illegal actions against others (ru.krymr. well as the Treaty on Creating a Union of Sovereign Republics that was signed by Russia com/content/article/27733212.html). and Belarus. Moscow’s illegal occupation of Crimea is “In present-day Crimea,” he writes, “the There were several factors cited in the document that could impede the revival of the an even greater threat to the world and to events of the 1930s are being repeated with USSR. The document also highlighted factors that would accelerate the restoration of the Russia itself than many imagine because, as shocking exactitude,” something that must Soviet empire, including: the lasting effects of Russification and Russian as a language of political commentator Sergey Stelmakh be of concern not only to those who care business, the threat of disintegration of the new independent states, as well as the prob- points out, the Kremlin has been using the about Crimea and Ukraine but also to those lem of unnatural borders and disputed territories (Crimea, Transdnistria, eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian peninsula as a laboratory for who care about Russia or anywhere else the Black Sea Fleet, Kaliningrad). It also noted that NATO expansion via Poland would repressive measures it then employs else- the power of Vladimir Putin is projected. force Belarus as a Russian protectorate. where. One of the reasons for that disturbing con- By the year 2000, the document purported, a new federation would emerge, with the In Radio Liberty’s Krymr.com portal, clusion, Mr. Stelmakh suggests, is that the likely participation of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and possibly of Ukraine, which Crimean authorities have declared repressions in Crimea are being carried out, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, and even less likely that Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan “extremist” and sought to block, Mr. as was the case in Nazi Germany, not just by would join. The chances of Moldova and Azerbaijan joining were remote. “…And the fate Stelmakh says that this trend has become so state organs but by the lumpen the state has of these states, respectively, will depend on Ukraine and the situation in the Caucasus,” Mr. obvious that one cannot fail to recall the put in play; and as history shows, “there is no Zviglyanich said. The Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia at the time were not yet words of Pastor Martin Niemoeller about worse an oppressor than a former slave.” NATO member states, and their membership was seen as “practically unlikely.” what happens when one doesn’t oppose Moreover, the recent dramatic increase “The new document, having paid lip service to the possibility of preserving the inde- in the number of searches and arrests in Crimea coincided with the arrival in the pendent status of the CIS countries,” Mr. Zviglyanich added, “openly proclaims the task of Paul Goble is a long-time specialist on Ukrainian peninsula of Tatyana Moskalkova, restoration by the year 2005. It stresses that economic and cultural means will play the ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia the Russian human rights ombudsman, a crucial role in Moscow’s forthcoming efforts of ‘gathering lands.’” Crimea, he explained, who has served in various capacities in the “coincidence” that represents the latest was seen by Russia as a testing ground for eventual secession based on language and cul- U.S. State Department, the Central “spitting in the face” of any notions of legal- tural factors. Eastern Ukraine, where the major part of the Ukrainian economic potential is Intelligence Agency and the International concentrated, is a juicy morsel for rapidly expanding Russian companies and financial- ity and justice. Broadcasting Bureau, as well as at the Voice Many who now support Mr. Putin industrial groups. of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio The document also sought the development of debt-property agreements (as with assume that they will escape any oppres- Liberty and the Carnegie Endowment for sion because they are on the side of the Russia’s gas monopoly Gazprom and Belarus’s assets), “the establishment of a customs International Peace. The article above is union and the opening of Ukrainian markets to penetration by Russian goods unable to oppressors, Mr. Stelmakh says. But they are reprinted with permission from his blog wrong: those who are cheering him today compete internationally.” called “Window on Eurasia” (http://windo- (Continued on page 14) woneurasia2.blogspot.com/). (Continued on page 18) No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 7

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

the late 1980s the Eurovision song contest seemed to be stumbling towards retirement Jamala’s win until the fall of communism yielded a slew of newly independent countries that rein- at Eurovision vigorated the competition. Dear Editor: Ukraine won the Eurovision contest Any bit of good news means a lot for once before, in 2004, just prior to the Ukraine currently as its soldiers continue Orange Revolution and winner Ruslana’s to die in the war against Russia, the pace of support gave impetus to mass pro-democ- racy demonstrations at that time. Last things reforms moves at a glacial pace, and no sig- nificant criminal or corrupt businessman/ Winning the competition has lifted spirits “Do you have a grandfather?” asked my Few pensioners in Ukraine have the lux- politician/bureaucrat has been jailed in Ukraine and provided a welcome cause second-grade classmate Gillian as we walked ury of choosing where to retire. Most, it for big celebrations throughout the country, (despite repeated urging from Vice- up the dusty track to the horse corral. seems, just sit in their apartments. But which will host next year’s competition. President Joe Biden). “Yes,” I replied. “He’s retired.” spending one’s final years among one’s For the Crimean Tatars the song has the So it’s wonderful that a Crimean Tatar “You mean he’s dead?” own people can be psychologically com- sort of huge morale-boosting significance performer, Jamala (full name Susana “No…” forting. For the religiously inclined, a parish that Britons felt during World War II listen- Jamaladinova), won this year’s Eurovision Recent experience has confirmed my community offers fellowship. A widowed Song Contest with a moving ballad about ing to Vera Lynn’s defiantly uplifting song “There’ll Always Be an England.” It is the childhood understanding that retirement is aunt of mine has found her parish in Lviv to how her people were uprooted from their not the same thing as death. Though some be friendly, generous and supportive. She homeland or perished when Moscow bru- joy of a prisoner who receives a sign that the world has not forgotten about him. may find it comparable. has joined her fellow parishioners on pil- tally deported them in 1944. The very notion of retirement was born grimages to Zarvanytsia, Lourdes and even Since the Russians invaded Ukraine’s The fact that a majority of all Ukrainians chose as their entry a song by a Crimean of the modern social welfare systems the Holy Land. They frequently drop by to Crimean peninsula in 2014, the Tatars have developed in Europe and later in the help out or just visit. been persecuted once more by Russian Tatar is something Ukraine should be justly proud of. Independent Ukraine, unlike the United States. While country dwellers gen- Some diasporans, in fact, have found “gauleiters” terrorizing them, trying to sup- erally worked as long as they could, gov- that retiring in Ukraine is not a bad idea, press their identity and not disguising a Russian “Federation,” was one of the few areas of the former USSR untouched by ernment workers in the cities, as well as especially as the dollar still goes a long way. desire to deport them again. Around 20 company employees and factory laborers, My aunt sold her condominium in Miami Crimean Tatars have been murdered or ethnic or religious strife until Vladimir could obtain an old-age pension if they Beach to return to Lviv. The winter may be disappeared, presumed killed, since the Putin invaded in 2014. lived long enough. Social Security was harsh, but mosquitoes are fewer, and you invasion. Dozens of others have been The Kremlin was enraged the song was introduced in the U.S. in 1935. are not likely to find an alligator grinning arrested and detained for varying lengths ever allowed to be performed as an entry. of time, and some 200 homes have been Mr. Putin’s PR trolls will lie that even notic- Today, however, the concept of retire- on your doorstep. ransacked by armed uniformed thugs in ing the Eurovision result would be beneath ment has changed. Often, the prospect of a Inevitably, many who live to retirement searches primarily designed to intimidate the little tsar’s dignity and that he was busy meager pension combines with the high will suffer chronic or terminal illness. They the Crimean Tatar community. astride his tricycle leading a biker gang or cost of living and the fear of unanticipated and their children may face the painful It must be a recurring living nightmare flying with a flock of cranes. But we know expenses to prompt one to delay retire- choice between institutional and home for some of the older people who were he is massively indignant and will likely, ment – sometimes indefinitely. Many care. The traditional Ukrainian approach, of deported as kids, allowed to return home like a sulking schoolkid, refuse to come to Americans find themselves having to work course, is home care, which offers immea- by independent Ukraine and are now again next year’s party. And that’s also pleasing! until they drop. surable psychological comfort. In these living under Russian occupiers who would Askold Krushelnycky Retirement no longer means that one times, however, few adults can afford to like to eliminate them because they are liv- Washington stops working in order to lie on the couch, stay home to care for an elder, even if they ing proof that Crimea, for the vast majority travel, play golf – or spend all day at the resolve to live on a reduced income. Some of its chronicled history, has not been, as PS: My favorite video of the song depicts computer forwarding nostalgic rumina- types of illness, like dementia, require spe- Moscow dissembles, “always Russian.” the deportation story: tions, cranky diatribes about the decline of cialized care. Moreover, elderly people Many in Western Europe tend to view the www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv71tmv_ civilization, and jokes about dementia, need an accident-preventive living space. contest with a bit of amusement. However, it c7Q. Jamala’s Eurovision performance was decrepitude and gastrointestinal disorders. This may require extensive retrofitting. is taken a lot more seriously in the post- also great: www.youtube.com/watch?v=o Some, instead, having left their employers Thus, recruiting your cousin from Ukraine Communist countries of Eastern Europe. In xS6eKEOdLQ. and obtained their pensions, still work may not be the solution. And a live-in pro- part-time or as self-employed independent fessional care-giver is not always available, contractors. Many can thus delay receiving or even adequate. Social Security payments in order to obtain The alternative – institutional care – FOR THE RECORD: Nuland a higher amount later. The concept of a comes in an increasing variety of forms, “working retirement” has taken root. from assisted living to skilled nursing and, An aging population, partly the result of ultimately, hospice care. This usually means on implementation of Minsk advances in medicine, means that retirees are a culturally alien social environment, for the Following is the transcript from the May think that it’s now time to really step on the a growing breed. To some extent, this is good chances of encountering other Ukrainians 18 press availability in Moscow with U.S. gas and see this implemented. It will be news for Ukrainian diaspora organizations, in an adult care facility are minimal. It is Assistant Secretary of State for European good for peace and security in Ukraine. It which have mostly relied on volunteers. True, only natural, in one’s final years, to crave Affairs Victoria Nuland. The transcript was will be good for relations between Russia the economic pressures of the last few one’s people, language and culture. provided by the State Department. and Ukraine. And it will be good for rela- decades may have reduced the number of It was, therefore, encouraging to read tions between the U.S. and our allies and individuals available for community work. about the expansion of St. Joseph’s Adult ASSISTANT SECRETARY NULAND: Hello Russia if we can move forward on this. And But a larger number of retirees or semi- Care Home in Sloatsburg, N.Y., to include everybody. It’s nice to see you. We are just as the president has said, as our president retirees with time on their hands should assisted living (“The Ukrainian Weekly,” completing a very constructive round of has said, if and when Minsk is fully imple- mean more volunteers for our social, cul- March 13). The Sisters Servants of Mary consultations here in Moscow. Yesterday, we mented, sanctions can be rolled back. tural, scholarly and political organizations. Immaculate are providing an important had a very thorough discussion, led on the So I go home having had a constructive Because retirement usually means a service to our community, and it is in our Russian side by Presidential Administration round of talks. It’s important to keep talk- reduced income, and because maintaining interest to support them. Such facilities Senior Advisor [Vladislav] Surkov, on the a household requires a certain level of offer spiritually comforting and culturally whole complex issues associated with the ing, it’s important to keep trying to solve these issues together. strength and energy, many retirees down- familiar surroundings. Minsk agreements. Today here at the size, moving from houses to rental apart- In the much-maligned Middle Ages, hos- Foreign Ministry, I had a chance to see REPORTER’S QUESTION: Regarding ments or condominiums. Perhaps because pitals were constructed so as to afford each Deputy Foreign Minister [Sergei] Ryabkov to local elections in Donbas, if self-proclaimed an aging metabolism generates less heat, bedridden patient a view of the altar of a talk about our bilateral relationship. republics decide to hold elections on their many of these opt for warmer places like central chapel. The Hotel Dieu at Beaune, Yesterday, we dug very deeply on all aspects own, without Kyiv’s involvement, would North Port, Fla. During the winter, Florida of the Minsk negotiations – how we can France, is a famous example (similarly, the the U.S. recognize their results? If so, on is quite temperate. And it is perfectly com- ailing Philip II of Spain could follow the improve security, how we can improve OSCE what conditions? access, how we move forward to complete fortable during the summer, too – unless mass from his bed at the monastery palace the political obligations on Minsk, including ASSISTANT SECRETARY NULAND: We you should decide to venture outdoors. of El Escorial). Physical discomfort aside – preparations for an election in Donbas. will not recognize the results and nor will What places like North Port offer is com- a single bed might accommodate several As you all know, the United States is not a anybody else in the international commu- munity. Perhaps as we age, we are drawn to patients – the sick and the dying must have participant in the Normandy Format, but we nity of any election held in Donbas outside the primeval Ukrainian village, where found much solace in this arrangement. have agreed with all of the Normandy part- of the Minsk framework and without the everyone knows everyone’s business and Modern American hospitals offer com- ners that we will work in parallel to try to agreement that is represented in Minsk there is no shortage of gossip. This is quite fort and hygiene, but not a Ukrainian reinforce these negotiations, working both that these need to be Ukrainian elections normal, though the principal difference Catholic or Orthodox environment. Those with Kyiv and with Moscow. As you know, that meet Ukrainian standards and meet between a retirement community and a eligible for assisted living, however, will we were in Kyiv a couple of weeks ago and OSCE standards. So, a bunch of guys out traditional village – the presence in the lat- likely find that a home like St. Joseph’s pro- Secretary [of State John] Kerry also dis- there just deciding to hold an election is not ter of the young and middle-aged – is cru- vides care for the soul as well as for the cussed these issues with Foreign Minister going to lead to peace and security in cial. For while it is comforting to be sur- body. There should be more of them. [Sergey] Lavrov in Vienna two days ago. The Donbas, and we would respectfully encour- rounded by people of one’s own vintage, it United States’ view is that we want to see age them instead to focus on Minsk compli- may be healthier to live in a generationally Andrew Sorokowski can be reached at Minsk implemented as soon as possible. We ant elections. Thanks very much. diversified milieu. [email protected]. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 No. 21 No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 9

Andrew Lahodynskyj/LAHOPHOTO Maurice Mierau (left), 2016 Kobzar Literary Award Winner, with Karen Connelly, 2016 Kobzar Literary Award finalists (from left): Maurice Mierau, Marsha Forchuk juror, and Andrew Hladyshevsky, president of the Shevchenko Foundation. Skrypuch, Grant Buday, Stacey Zembrzycki and Orest T. Martynowych. 2016 Kobzar Literary Award showcases books on Ukrainian themes in Canadian literature

by John Pidkowich they offered us into a cultural and historical tradition that were not necessarily our TORONTO – Among the many fine liter- own. Throughout the course of reading and ary awards offered throughout the year, viewing these works, we developed a great- one award is distinguished by encouraging er understanding of and appreciation for Canadian writers to explore Ukrainian Ukrainian culture and its importance that Canadian themes. At this time of awards seems especially pressing today,” they said season, the Ukrainian and Canadian literary in a joint statement. community gathered to celebrate the 2016 With anticipation and suspense building Kobzar Literary Award in support of read- through the evening, the moment had come ing books and literature, and praise the lit- to announce the winner. Ms. Connelly erary arts in Canada. addressed the criteria by which the selec- Founded in 2003 and presented biennial- tion of the winner had been made. Ms. ly since 2006 by the Ukrainian Canadian Connelly and Mr. Hladyshevsky presented Foundation of Taras Shevchenko, the the 2016 Kobzar Literary Award to Mr. $25,000 Kobzar Literary Award 2016 Mierau for his book “Detachment: An Ceremony and Dinner was held on March 2 Adoption Memoir,” the author’s narrative at the Palais Royale Ballroom located on about being “a removed, detached” father Toronto’s lakeshore. The sold-out gala event Kobzar Literary Award Ceremony Committee – “literati with white roses.” of two newly adopted young boys from certainly presented patrons with an atmo- reads all the short-listed works for inspira- Sonia Holiad, Irene Hordienko, Dr. Christina Ukraine, drawn to his own “emotionally sphere, decor and dinner reflective of a glit- tion and then prepares a creative and excel- Kowalsky, Win Kuplowsky, Nadia Luciw, distant” Mennonite father, also born in tering awards evening and, most significant- lent four-course dinner with garnishes that Iryna Revutsky, Olesia Romanko, Lesia Ukraine, and in the process “learning to ly, a sophisticated program of multi-staged are a fusion of traditional Ukrainian and Stefaniw, Zenia Turkewych-Miner, Olenka become a father and a son.” crafted presentations and author readings of Canadian food products and select ingredi- Wasley and Oksana Zakydalsky. “Detachment” also won the Alexander literary works of the highest caliber, all tied Kennedy Isbister Award for Non-Fiction together with music for ambience. ents, whose recipes are punctuated by the Greetings were delivered by Shevchenko current Kobzar shortlist of books. Foundation President Andrew and the Book Publishers’ Association of Some 260 attendees enthusiastically Alberta Trade Non-Fiction Book of the Year welcomed the five finalists whose work The audience’s attention was directed to Hladyshevsky. He attributed the great suc- the main stage with “A Tribute to the Kobzar cess of the award program to the tremen- in 2014. was short-listed for the 2016 Kobzar Mr. Mierau has also published three Literary Award: Grant Buday (fiction Tradition” presented by Mr. Keating and Dr. dous direction given by Dr. Turkewych and Christine Turkewych, director of literary the success of the award event to the con- books of poems: “Autobiographical novel), “The Delusionist,” Anvil Press, Fictions” (2015), “Fear Not” (2009), and Vancouver, 2014; Orest T. Martynowych arts at the Shevchenko Foundation. A reflec- tributions of the ceremony committee. Mr. tive moment of respect was paid to Hladyshevsky commented on the signifi- “Ending with Music” (2002). (non-fiction historical biography), “The The Indiana-born Mr. Mierau was raised Showman and the Ukrainian Cause: Folk Ukrainians in their current struggle for dig- cance of the award in the broader Canadian nity, assertion of identity and will for peace context. The growth and development of and lived in places around the world, but Dance, Film and the Life of Vasile now lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he Avramenko,” University of Manitoba Press, in war-weary Ukraine fighting Russian the Ukrainian Canadian presence in aggression. Ukraine’s bard Taras Shevchenko Canada’s literary arts is important because, works as a writer and editor. Winnipeg, 2014; Maurice Mierau (memoir), Among special guests present at the “Detachment: An Adoption Memoir,” in 1840 published his eight volumes of he said, as we are part of Canadian culture, poems, collectively titled “Kobzar,” that our stories become known to all Canadians. award event were Honorary Patron Joy Freehand Books, Calgary, 2014; Marsha Kogawa; Antanas Sileika, artistic director, Forchuk Skrypuch (fiction, novel for young sparked the passions of the Ukrainian “The Kobzar Literary Award is an oppor- nation, inspired generations of writers and tunity for Canadian writers (and their read- Humber School for Writers; Joe Kertes, readers), “Underground Soldier,” Scholastic award-winning author; Geoffrey E. Taylor, Canada Ltd., Toronto, 2014; and Stacey readers, and remain relevant today. In this ers) to understand where we fit in the tab- symbolic context and as a strong gesture of leau of Canadian society,” said Mr. director, and Christine Saratsiotis, associate Zembrzycki (non-fiction), “According to director, International Festival of Authors at Baba: A Collaborative Oral History of unity with the Ukrainian people, it was Hladyshevsky. It is interesting to have final- appropriate that the Kobzar Literary Award ists of non-Ukrainian background as “those Harbourfront Center; Deborah Dundas, Sudbury’s Ukrainian Community,” UBC books editor at The Toronto Star; John Press, Vancouver, 2014. Ceremony be held during the month in authors express how they have been influ- which Shevchenko was born (March 9, enced by core Ukrainian Canadian values Degen, executive director of the Writers’ Once guests had taken their seats after a Union of Canada; Kobzar Writers’ lively cocktail reception of networking and 1814) and died (March 10, 1861). that have emanated out in ripple effect to Between dinner courses, Dr. Turkewych other communities,” he added. Scholarship recipients Ulana Snihura and socializing, the master of ceremonies, actor Marianne Fedunkiw; filmmakers Orest and producer Fred Keating, began the introduced the 2016 Kobzar finalists and This year, the Shevchenko board of highlighted their accomplishments as writ- directors agreed that each short-listed Sushko and Halya Kuchmij; and Mark award program by walking among the Marczyk of Lemon Bucket Orkestra. tables welcoming everyone and making ers and their multiple awards. The finalists finalist will receive $1,500 in addition to presented from one of two mid-room plat- the Kobzar Literary Award winner’s Special gratitude was extended to the introductions of notable guests, greeting Kobzar Literary Award’s key sponsors for some to say a few words, including actor forms. They spoke personally, shared their $25,000 prize, $5,000 of which is to be motivations to write the narrative and read shared with the publisher. Dr. Turkewych their generous support: Ihnatowycz Family and comedienne Luba Goy. Thrilled to say Foundation, Temerty Family Foundation, “hello” was 12-year-old Olivia Reid, a prom- passages from their short-listed books. In acknowledged key sponsors, the such close proximity, everyone heard the Shevchenko Foundation and Delores Y. Huculak Foundation, Nexus, Mitchell, ising young story writer who has devel- Bardyn & Zalucky LLP, Buduchnist oped a personal preference for fantasies as author’s story in his/her own voice, which Buka-Huculak, who was commended for firmly connected with a captivated audi- her generous donation that enabled every Foundation, Ukrainian Credit Union and an inspiration for her writing. Lindisfarne Productions, as well as numer- ence. Consequently, every listener became family in attendance to receive a complete The pace of the evening proceeded to ous individual donors who were recog- motivated to pick up and read the book in set of the 2016 Kobzar short-listed books. stay in measure with an upbeat tempo pro- nized in the program booklet. its entirety. In a peer review process, the 2016 vided by musicians Alexander (Sasha) For more information about the finalists With the formality of speeches kept to an jurors – esteemed authors Karen Connelly Boychouk on keyboard and saxophone, and their short-listed books, readers may absolute minimum, a warm welcome was and Tamas Dobozy, and 2012 Kobzar Alexei Severinets on guitar and Vinnie visit the website www.kobzarliterary- extended by Alla Shklar, chair of the Kobzar Literary Award Winner Shandi Mitchell – Venkov on bass, who as a trio also played award.ca. enjoyable musical interludes as dinner Award Ceremony Committee, who extolled said they were inspired by the many liter- entertainment. the dedicated work offered by her commit- ary works, histories, life stories and docu- The article above was originally pub- For the past five Kobzar awardings, in- tee of “literati with white roses”: Irene mentaries that were entered for this prize. lished in the Toronto-based newspaper New house gourmet chef Steffan Howard first Bilaniuk, Lesia Chudoba, Odarka Chudoba, “We were grateful, as well, for the insights Pathway. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 No. 21 No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 11

uocofusa.org Metropolitan Antony blesses the faithful during divine liturgy on Metropolitan Antony, Archbishop Jeremiah and members of the Ukrainian American Veterans following St. Thomas Sunday at St. Andrew Memorial Church. the blessing of the UAV monument. Thousands participate in annual St. Thomas Sunday pilgrimage weekend UOC of the U.S.A. tural artifacts like pysanky, original oil paintings, ceramics, jewelry, ecclesiastical SOUTH BOUND BROOK, N.J. – Braving vestments and vessels, music CDs and vid- rain and a cold wind on the Saturday of St. eos. Several of the offices of ministry and Thomas Sunday weekend, the faithful of central organizations of the Ukrainian the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. – including (UOC-U.S.A.) made their annual pilgrimage the Office of Youth and Adult Ministry, St. to the Spiritual Center – Metropolia of the Andrew Society – offered exhibits about UOC-U.S.A., especially St. Andrew Ukrainian their ministries. Orthodox Church and St. Andrew Cemetery In addition, St. Sophia Ukrainian in South Bound Brook, N.J. Despite the Orthodox Theological Seminary was the site chilly Saturday weather, a sizeable group of of an ice cream social event (the 15th annu- 2,500 took part in the two-day pilgrimage al) hosted by the Consistory Office of Youth on May 7-8. and Young Adult Ministry (OYYAM), under Divine liturgy was served on Saturday the leadership of Natalie Kapeluck-Nixon, morning by Bishop Daniel, followed by a for the youths who came to visit the service of thanksgiving, vespers and Metropolia Center. This was an opportunity numerous memorial services served at the for young people to meet with the hier- gravesites of loved ones. archs of the Church. The responses to the very first prayer As in the previous years, this annual pil- service on Saturday of the pilgrimage grimage brought Ukrainians of various gen- weekend were chanted by the seminarians erations together to share their past and of St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox present, while looking forward to the Theological Seminary. In his sermon, Metropolitan Antony joins children and pilgrims during the ice cream social held at future. Bishop Daniel called on those in attendance the St. Sophia Theological Seminary. Much gratitude was expressed to all to live out their faith, to practice it beyond those who made the weekend a success: the doors of parish temples – because the Antony, Archbishop Jeremiah and Bishop the victims of Stalin’s man-made Famine of the Consistory Office staff members and mandate of Christ is to preach the Word of Daniel. Clergy from the Mid-Atlantic states, 1932-1933 (Holodomor), the victims of property management staff under the God throughout the world and not only in and some from beyond that area, assisted Chornobyl on the 30th anniversary of the direction of Petro Rudyy, the Cultural the comfort of our parish temples. the bishops in celebrating the liturgy. The nuclear accident, those who suffer the con- Center staff, Memorial Church choir and the At the end of the service, all in atten- choir, under the masterful direction of Dr. sequences of the Canadian fires in Alberta, members of the Ukrainian Orthodox dance venerated the ancient icon of the Michael Andrec, prayerfully sang the those who served in the armed forces of League who handled the sometimes diffi- Venerable Fathers of the Kyivan Monastery responses, as well as the memorial service both Ukraine and the U.S.A., those who per- cult parking program. of the Caves, as well as approached for on the entrance platform in front of the ished in all wars, and those who gave their Finally, to cap off the pilgrimage, every- prayerful veneration the relics of 12 vener- church. lives for Christ in defense of His Church body had a chance to visit the building of ables of the above-mentioned monastery. Children of the Ukrainian Language and throughout history. Pokrova (Protection) of the Birth-Giver of In the late afternoon on Saturday, pilgrims Religion School at the Metropolia Center A memorial service was held at Holy God Sisterhood kitchen, as well as the had an opportunity to tour St. Sophia greeted the hierarchs with flowers, and the Resurrection Ukrainian Orthodox kitchen of the Ukrainian Cultural Center, Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary president of the Protection of the Birth- Mausoleum, where the first patriarch of the where the large crowd was treated to the and later on joined the seminarians of the Giver of God Sisterhood, Lesia Siwko, assist- Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Ukraine, traditional varenyky, holubtsi, hot dogs, Church for a picnic at the seminary that was ed by the members of the sisterhood, and Patriarch Mstyslav I, is interred. The bish- hamburgers and home-baked pastries, all sponsored by the seminary’s UOL chapter. church elder (starosta) Dmytro Kozlyuk ops then prayed at the Ukrainian American served with warm hospitality. Visitors were treated to hot dogs and ham- welcomed the hierarchs with the tradition- Veterans monument, commemorating the First-time visitor Markian Swirl, who burgers grilled by the seminarians. Both al bread and salt. The Very Rev. Yuriy Siwko sacrifices of men and women of Ukrainian came on the Pilgrimage with his friends hierarchs – Metropolitan Antony and Bishop welcomed the bishops to the church with descent that have served in the U.S. armed from the local Rutgers University, particu- Daniel – joined the picnic in order to learn the request to remember in their prayers forces. larly appreciated the spiritual dimension about the culinary skills of the student body. the thousands of faithful of the Church who Pilgrims were able to visit the offices of and hospitality of the Metropolia Center. The picnic concluded with Vespers have dedicated their lives in the service of the Metropolia Center that remained opened “I enjoyed the pilgrimage a lot; there was served in the Three Hierarchs Seminary the UOC-U.S.A. through out the day – the Consistory (main a real sense of community and I was able to Chapel served by the Very Rev. Taras Archbishop Jeremiah, who is the epar- administrative building of the UOC-U.S.A.), feel the bond of spiritual journey that we all Naumenko. At the conclusion of the service, chial bishop of the Eparchy of South St. Sophia Theological Seminary, the are partakers of. It was especially great Metropolitan Antony welcomed the visitors America, Brazil and Paraguay, in his sermon Ukrainian Cultural Center, the Holy being with everybody in the late hours of to the seminary and explained to everyone reflected on the welcoming words of Christ: Resurrection Mausoleum, as well as the the afternoon on the lawn of St. Sophia in attendance the role of the Church’s aca- “Peace be to (and with) you!” The archbish- exhibits of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army Seminary and the center, being able to even demic pastoral institution and the rigorous op spoke of the significance of the biblical (UPA) and information about the future play a quick soccer game with the seminar- formational spiritual and academic sched- peace, as well as the need for peace in the museum of the Church, which will be a part ians. The food was amazing and the place ule that seminarians of the Church follow. world of the 21st century. of the Historical and Educational Complex had a really welcoming feel.” The weekend pilgrimage culminated Following the divine liturgy, the hier- of the UOC-U.S.A. When asked if he would do it again next with divine liturgy on St. Thomas Sunday archs, concelebrating clergy and the The Ukrainian Cultural Center was the year, he declared, “Yes, in a heartbeat.” inside the historic St. Andrew Memorial Ukrainian American Veterans participated site where dozens of vendors return every For more information, readers may visit Church, concelebrated by Metropolitan in a memorial service that was served for year to offer a wide range of Ukrainian cul- www.uocofusa.org. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 No. 21

mass ethnic cleansing and genocide of rules forbidding political content in perfor- Crimea and Russia are one nation. “I don’t NEWSBRIEFS Crimean Tatars, and on this date we wel- mances. Russian singer Sergei Lazarev had share this general euphoria,” he said. Mr. come the legendary Mejlis Leader Mustafa been favored by many to win, but had to Lazarev, whose grandmother is Ukrainian, (Continued from page 2) Dzhemilev to Ottawa. Slava Krymskym settle for third place. Jamala defended her also revealed that he had turned down invi- May 18, 1944, Stalin ethnically cleansed all Tataram.” (Ukrainian Canadian Congress) song, “1944,” by suggesting it was disingen- tations to tour Crimea. “At this stage I’m not 240,000 Crimean Tatars to Central Asia. uous for Russia to argue that Eurovision ready to go there,” he said. Mr. Lazarev’s off- Jamala: Song won on artistic grounds Over 100,000 perished. Amongst the survi- can ever be a fully nonpolitical event when stage comments sparked calls for a boycott vors was the legendary human rights activ- KYIV – Ukrainian performer Jamala singers represent their countries in the from some Russian viewers. “I’ll skip ist Mustafa Dzhemilev who spent 18 brutal rejected the notion that she took the top competition. “Don’t try to fool me into Eurovision this year,” tweeted Dmitry years in Soviet gulags for demanding the prize at the Eurovision Song Contest for believing that this is the first time this con- Smirnov, a correspondent at the pro-Krem- right of return for his people. Two years ago political rather than artistic reasons, calling test has been politicized,” she said. “It is lin Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid. Mr. Russia once again militarily invaded and her win an “absolute, 100-percent victory seen as political every single year – every Lazarev has substantially toned down his annexed Crimea and Mustafa has once again for music.” Jamala, whose triumph in the year – because the moment you walk on a criticism since the 2014 interview. In sub- been banned from returning to his ancestral competition watched by tens of millions stage with [your country’s] flag, it is sequent comments on Ukrainian television, homeland. [Vladimir] Putin’s Crimean terror made her a hero in Ukraine, spoke at a already politics.” A Crimean Tatar herself, he claimed that his words had been taken includes disappearances, torture of detain- news conference in Kyiv on May 17. 32-year-old Jamala has previously said that out of context. And in April, he refused to ees and summary executions. Twenty thou- Russian officials have complained noisily, her song is also a condemnation of Russia’s share his views on Crimea, telling the sand Crimean Tatars are now refugees. May saying that Jamala’s winning song should seizure and annexation of Crimea from reporter that he no longer answered ques- 18 commemorates the anniversary of the have been banned from the contest under Ukraine in 2014 and the repressions that tions about politics. Mr. Lazarev was none- the Muslim minority group has since theless reportedly spotted at a Eurovision endured. Many Crimean Tatars, who make event in Stockholm, wearing clothes by a up about 15 percent of the peninsula’s pop- Ukrainian designer, in what was interpret- ulation of nearly 2 million, opposed ed by some as a discreet gesture of support Russia’s takeover. At the news conference for his grandmother’s homeland. (Claire TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL WALTER HONCHARYK (973) 292-9800 x3040 on May 17, Jamala said she considered her Bigg of RFE/RL) or e-mail [email protected] win a victory for all the Ukrainian people, adding “we deserve it” following two years President, PM meet with G-7 envoys of upheaval and conflict, fueled in part by KYIV – Ukraine’s President Petro SERVICES PROFESSIONALS Russia, in the former Soviet republic. “First Poroshenko and Prime Minister Volodymyr there was a revolution, then the annexa- Groysman met with the Ambassadors of tion, then the war,” she said. “We had so the Group of Seven – Canada, France, much suffering that I wanted so much to Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom bring some joy to the Ukrainian people.” and the United States – and the head of the Asked by a journalist if she would accept an EU delegation to Ukraine, ahead of the G-7 offer of Russian citizenship by representa- Summit in Japan that will take place on tives of the Russian-installed authorities in May 26-27. Mr. Poroshenko “put a special Crimea, who have suggested she must emphasis on the necessity of prolongation become a Russian citizen if she wants to of sanctions against Russia for the non-ful- return to her homeland, Jamala laughed. fillment of the Minsk agreements by the “No, I’ve got one citizenship,” she said. I country-aggressor.” He particularly high- don’t need [another].” Since Moscow’s take- lighted the importance of deploying the СТЕФАН ВЕЛЬГАШ over, local officials have pressed the penin- OSCE armed police mission in Donbas, Ліцензований Продавець sula’s population to adopt Russian citizen- which is vital for the political settlement of Страхування Життя ship. Thousands of residents have fled to the situation, and he urged the G-7 coun- STEPHAN J. WELHASCH mainland Ukraine, while many others who tries to endorse this initiative. Mr. Licensed Life Insurance Agent remain on the peninsula continue to resist Poroshenko also addressed the G-7 ambas- Ukrainian National Assn., Inc. the citizenship drive. (RFE/RL, with report- sadors with a request to increase pressure 548 Snyder Ave., Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 ing by RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) on Russia regarding the immediate release Tel.: 908-508-1728 • Fax: (973) 292-0900 Atlantic Council on Jamala’s victory of Nadiya Savchenko and other prisoners e-mail: [email protected] illegally detained in that country, as well as KYIV – Writing for the Atlantic Council, the imposition of personal sanctions Kateryna Smagliy, director of the Kennan against everyone involved in trumped-up SERVICES Institute’s Kyiv Office, wrote, “Jamala’s win cases against Ukrainians illegally impris- and her powerful song about persecution oned in Russia, the president’s press ser- and the abuse of Crimean Tatars has filled vice reported. (Ukrainian Canadian our hearts with pride and solidarity. It also Congress) reminds us that culture is a powerful instru- ment for building trust, understanding, and Biden speaks with Ukrainian leaders peace. ...Artists can often repair what politi- WASHINGTON – Vice-President Joe cians fail to achieve. With just one sincere Biden on Mary 13 spoke with Ukraine’s and deeply moving song, Jamala succeeded President Petro Poroshenko and Prime HELP WANTED in what European and Ukrainian leaders Minister Volodymyr Groysman. According have been struggling to do at various inter- to a readout of the vice-president’s call national conferences and diplomatic negoti- with President Poroshenko, “The vice-pres- Family in New York seeks live-in ation tables. She united Europe in its support ident welcomed the appointment of a new Ukrainian speaking nanny for twin of Ukraine and Crimean Tatars and remind- prosecutor general as an important first girls, 7 months old. Long-term ed global audiences that Crimea is Ukraine.” step to bringing much-needed reform to position. Experience with small She noted: “With Jamala’s incredible victory, children and references required. the Office of the Prosecutor General. The Ukraine’s political class should again be vice-president also commended legislative Contact: [email protected] reminded that culture plays a tremendous changes that will set up an independent role in promoting the country’s position Office of the Inspector General in the Office OPPORTUNITIES among global players and boosting econom- of the Prosecutor General and allow prose- ic growth. Ukraine should not lose the drive. cutions to begin against Yanukovych-era Civil society and individual artists cannot officials.’ Mr. Biden also informed Mr. EARN EXTRA INCOME! substitute for the government’s policy and Poroshenko that “the United States was cultural diplomacy institutes. That task can prepared to move forward with the signing The Ukrainian Weekly is looking be implemented by Ukraine’s statesmen of the third $1 billion loan guarantee agree- for advertising sales agents. alone.” (Ukrainian Canadian Congress) ment, which will support continued prog- For additional information contact ress on Ukrainian reforms.” In addition, the Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, Russian contestant’s view on Crimea The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. readout noted: “The leaders also con- PRAGUE – A video showing Russia’s demned the continued aggression by com- Eurovision contender Sergey Lazarev dis- bined Russian/separatist forces against cussing Russia’s takeover of Crimea has Ukraine, and agreed on the critical impor- Collector interested in purchasing surfaced online, creating a stir among both tance of accelerating progress on Minsk fans and foes. In the two-year-old interview implementation by all sides.” In his call to Ukrainian television, Mr. Lazarev said he with Ukraine’s prime minister, Mr. Biden violins, violas, cellos and bows. still considered Crimea to be part of commended him on beginning his term “by Ukraine. “Maybe my own Russian fans will taking bold steps on reform.” Mr. Groysman, Please contact me if you are interested in selling. throw tomatoes at me, but this is the way it according to the readout, “pledged to main- Instrument condition does not matter. is for me,” he said. “When I travel to Yalta, tain reform momentum, with a focus on for me it’s Ukraine.” He added that he anti-corruption measures and fulfillment of Call 412-334-7555 or email: [email protected] “won’t take part” in concerts where Russian Ukraine’s reform commitments to the IMF.” performers chant from the stage that (White House, Office of the Vice-President) No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 13

Group for Tomorrow’s Ukraine leads Harvard grad student Ukraine trip by Michael Fedynsky CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Group for Tomorrow’s Ukraine, together with the Harvard Ukrainian Student Society, is lead- ing an experiential trip to Ukraine for Harvard University graduate students on May 14-22. Twenty students from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School are traveling in Ukraine to witness reforms in action and engage first-hand with a country in democratic transition. The Group for Tomorrow’s Ukraine (GTU) is a non-profit organization of young professionals and academics offering analy- GTU Participants of the Ukraine Trek organized by the Group for Tomorrow’s Ukraine at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. sis on Ukraine and dedicated to promoting opment of Ukraine and Moldova. The human rights as the country rapidly chang- Ukrainian Future Credit Union in Michigan es. GTU hopes to introduce these Harvard and the Ukrainian-American Community students – future leaders in the public, pri- Foundation Inc. provided financial support. vate and non-profit sectors – to Ukraine. The goal of what has been dubbed the The itinerary, which will take the group Ukraine Trek is to help the students gain to Kyiv and Lviv, will include a packed perspective on a country in the midst of a schedule of meetings with representatives transformation from authoritarianism to of Ukraine’s government, members of par- democracy. The hope is that they gain an liament, key figures in media and industry, understanding of the institutional challeng- Ukraine-based members of the U.S. foreign es that this process seeks to surmount, the policy establishment such as Ambassador progress that has been made and the pit- Geoffrey Pyatt, and others. Students will falls that have arisen. As Ukraine and the also take in cultural, historical and leisure region will likely remain a foreign policy activities in Ukraine, both guided activities challenge for the U.S. and other global and unstructured exploration. actors, it is hoped that the trip will help The program was made possible by the these students become engaged and Western NIS Enterprise Fund’s Seed Grant informed in their future careers. program. The Western NIS Enterprise Fund To learn more about the Ukraine Trek is a private equity fund financed by U.S. and about the Group for Tomorrow’s Harvard University graduate students with representatives of the Euro-Optimists Agency for International Development that Ukraine, readers may visit the GTU website caucus in the Verkhovna Rada, Sergii Leshchenko and Svitlana Zalishchuk. supports the political and economic devel- at tomorrowsukraine.org.

The Ukrainian Culture Center of Los Angeles 4315 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029 Invites you to attend the 100th Anniversary concert of the Capella Banduristiv Performing for the first time in over 30 years on the West Coast!

Saturday, June 4th, 2016 at 3:00 PM

Tickets can be purchased on line at: www.UkrainianCultureCenter.org By sending us a sponsorship or by calling (323) 665-6703 or placing an ad, Tickets in advance are: $50/adult and $30/child under the age of 16 your name will be published A VIP Reception will be held following the concert: $35/person in the program book 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 No. 21

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE Dr. Artem Luhovy re-elected president UNF-Montreal branch Montreal – The annual general meet- sized that the Montreal UNF branch must ing (AGM) of the Montreal branch of the continue to revive and build on the positive Ukrainian National Federation (UNF) was foundations the branch stands for. He held March 20, 2016, re-electing for Dr. stressed the need to strengthen the work of Artem Luhovy as president for 2016-2017. the branch and the community at large and This year, branches of UNF across to continue to be inclusive and he reaf- Canada scheduled their AGMs abiding by firmed his willingness to work together the new UNF Constitution adopted at the with all well-intentioned members. 38th national convention held in Winnipeg. Flowers were presented to Orysia Korol Attending the Montreal AGM was UNF and a big thank you was given to Evhen President Taras Pidzamecky, who chaired Struminsky for their volunteer work in car- the proceedings. ing for the UNF hall and managing rentals. The Montreal meeting was officially The president reminded members of the opened by president Dr. Luhovy, who wel- two active Quebec branches that once comed all members and guests present. existed from the 1930s in Rouyn-Noranda Many of the new members as youths were and Val D’or, where descendants still live, members of the then flourishing dance, and pointed out the historic importance of theater or choir groups or had parents the Montreal building, which became even active in the organization. A revival of the more famous when a scene in the recent branch is evident from the membership. Oscar-nominated movie “Brooklyn” was Dr. Luhovy prepared a keynote presen- MML Inc. filmed in the hall where the AGM was held. tation detailing the past year’s work coor- UNF Montreal President Dr. Artem Luhovy (left) with UNF National President Taras This was followed by remarks from UNF dinated by him with his outgoing execu- Pidzamecky. National President Pidzamecky. tive. Some of the activities highlighted by and museum in northern Quebec; continu- report and a report from the Ukrainian The AGM concluded with sandwiches Dr. Luhovy included: sending delegates to ing efforts in organizing the branch library Women’s Organization was presented by prepared by Montreal’s Zhytynsky Deli and the UNF national convention held in and archives, which include many early newly elected President Natalia Shulga for a coffee reception, with ideas shared for the Winnipeg in October 2015; participating in publications donated by Prosvita of outgoing President Natalia Kisil. future. the Paul Yuzyk Institute for Youth Verdun dating from the beginning of the A lengthy reading of the secretary’s min- The new expanded executive for 2016- Leadership Networking event in Ottawa; 20th century; supporting Montreal events utes of the 2015 AGM revealed many inac- 2017 includes Ewhen Osidacz, Adrian hosting the Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress; and curacies, as a result of which a major Kowryha, Volodymyr Zelenko, Yaroslaw exhibit supported by James Termerty; sup- establishing meetings of a literary circle to amendment to the report was presented Holowko, Andrij Hovorun, Anastasia Kyva, porting the McGill Ukrainian Students’ provide a regular forum for discussion on and an overwhelming majority passed the Rostyslav Nemtsev and Katrusia Smolynec. Association and their outstanding initia- various aspects of Ukrainian literature. revised minutes. Several working committees were formed, tive and fund-raising event for the The president thanked his hard-working In his closing remarks, Dr. Luhovy including the archive preservation commit- Canadian medical mission in Ukraine; pro- executive. shared his vision for the future and empha- tee. viding support for and participation in a The financial report was presented by two-day bus excursion to visit the award- treasurer Adrian Kowryha. Andrij Hovorun winning Spirit Lake Internment Center presented the UCC Montreal delegate Sport Center Tryzub, in Horsham, Pa., Ukrainian American... while Sen. Haywood’s includes the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (Continued from page 5) in Jenkintown, Pa. After this address, Sen. Greenleaf deliv- Many of the Club members, in their pri- ered an impassioned speech in support of vate discussions, wondered whether Ukraine and its people. Sen. Haywood, Ukraine was engaging the various states of emphasizing the duties and responsibili- the union in direct international relations, ties of all citizens, then wove that speech exchanges, partnerships and associations. into a magnificent presentation of the club Roman Lehenkyy took special note of to the Senate. The senators rose and the inscription on the wall above the area applauded the club members and their where the president of the Pennsylvania moderators. Senate (currently Lt. Gov. Mike Stack) pre- As the Senate went to recess, the sena- sides: “Government is the Means of Justice tors invited the club to visit the Senate – As Justice is the Means of Peace.” floor, a hallowed place where so much of The club’s next event is a symposium on America’s and the Commonwealth’s history public policy, advocacy and careers in gov- developed and continues to grow. The visit ernment that it will present to the was then capped by a tour of Pennsylvania’s Ukrainian Heritage School’s upper classes. magnificent Capitol building. Drawing Guest speakers will include U.S. upon their Ukrainian heritage, the club Congressman Brandon Boyle, Prof. Robert thanked the senators and their staff with a G. Kaufman, Ph.D., J.D. (professor of public lovely “Mnohaya Lita.” policy at Pepperdine University), and It should be noted that Sen. Greenleaf’s Michael Sawkiw, director of the Ukrainian district includes the Ukrainian American National Information Service.

by the year 2005 or confederation by 2000 Turning... present Ukraine with the necessity of re- evaluating its major strategic priorities in (Continued from page 6) economic and foreign policy.” “…Ukraine would be compelled to study Twenty years ago, few took this docu- and implement the experience on decoloni- ment seriously, except Ukraine and the for- zation acquired by such countries as mer Soviet republics that have joined or Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, plan to join NATO as a measure against the Slovenia and even Albania,” Mr. Zviglyanich scourge of Russian aggression that contin- said. He underscored the need for Ukraine ues to threaten Europe. Furthermore, to boost its foreign investments with the Sweden and Finland, previously non- aid of financial experts from the Baltic aligned, have expressed an inclination states, who understood the challenges of toward NATO membership in light of market reforms in a post-totalitarian state. Russia’s threatening military maneuvers in “Any attempt to replicate the model of the Baltic Sea region. Russian economic reform would inevitably lead Ukrainian Communists to power with Source: “Analysis: Russia discusses plans all consequences to follow. The intensity of to revive (Soviet) union,” by Volodymyr efforts by Russian strategic planners Zviglyanich, The Ukrainian Weekly, May 26, regarding restoration of the (Soviet) union 1996. No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 15

tive top-pair rearguard as an 18-year-old – 20+ minutes to 16+). Factoring in the scor- before turning pro. Playing against the Parayko shining an extreme rarity at the NHL level. Ekblad ing exploits of Chicago’s Artemi Panarin, older college competition furthered his in St. Louis completed his rookie campaign with 12 skills shown by Buffalo’s Jack Eichel and development. Entering the 2015-2016 season, the top goals and 39 points, averaging 21:48 min- Coyotes’ rookie Max Domi, Parayko ended In an early December 2015 statement, prospects in the St. Louis Blues system were utes per game. He was eighth in rookie scor- the season a longshot for top rookie. St. Louis General Manager Doug Armstrong Robby Fabbri, Ivan Barbashev and Jordan ing – second among rookie defensemen – had this to say about his rookie Ukrainian Schmaltz. No arguments there – all are and slowed significantly after January. In 79 Younger players defenseman: “He has a heavy shot and is youngsters with super potential. But anoth- regular season games Parayko notched nine able to get his shot through the first and goals, 24 assists and 33 points with a very gett ing a chance er young man added his name to the watch second layers of traffic. But we aren’t going respectable +28 plus/minus total. These Parayko is a perfect example of a new list: Ukrainian defenseman Colton Parayko. to judge his success on a year-to-year basis totals did not top all rookies, but was the trend in the league of giving more opportu- At 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, St. Louis’ third- based on goals. It’s going to be on the other second-best mark among freshmen defen- nities to less-experienced players because parts of his game. What impresses me the round pick from 2012 is a towering pres- semen. That should deserve some consider- younger players are preparing themselves most about him is his ability to use his size ence on the blueline. His game is mature ation from Calder voters. for the pro ranks more quickly than in the and reach to defend bigger players.” for his age and he can contribute in all situ- The big hurdle for Parayko was keeping past. Today’s athletes are more focused The Blues have been right up there chal- ations, especially with his cannon shot his ice time up while playing important min- than athletes of yesterday, primarily due to lenging the defending champion from the point on the power play. (One of utes for the Blues. Ekblad won the award intense training beginning at a younger age. Blackhawks and upstart Dallas Stars for the his nicknames is “the Uke with the nuke.”) thanks to the Panthers’ reliance on him as a Youngsters these days have strength goals, best record in the Western Conference. The 22-year-old played some games with top-pair defenseman with partner Brian skill coaches and nutritionists. In Parayko’s Parayko’s unexpected contribution in the AHL’s Chicago Wolves and was named Campbell. In St. Louis, Parayko saw his min- case, the college route gave him extra time captain of the Blues’ rookie squad in utes drop with Shattenkirk’s return (from to develop, as he played three seasons (Continued on page 18) Traverse City prior to training camp. Where did the kid come from? From way up in Alaska via St. Albert, just outside of Edmonton, Alberta. His college days were spent at the University of Alaska- Check out Fairbanks, where he was twice named WCHA conference defensive player of the year. While the Nanooks didn’t have much on-ice success during his tenure, Parayko capitalized on the ice time he got there. Playing college hockey in Alaska is dif- ferent from other Division 1 schools. The sun does not rise and set when expected – there are 24 hours of daylight during the and its newly redesigned summer with the sun still shining at mid- night. Winter, on the other hand, is darker than dark. online edition at www.ukrweekly.com The travel schedule was challenging, meaning Tuesday red-eye flights and Sunday returns for road games. On the flip side, teams bond really well with all of that and subscribe time together. for $95 This year, Parayko is trying to get his for $90 game going in the NHL. Following his final for only $40 campaign with the Nanooks, he tested the ukrweekly.com professional waters with the St. Louis farm a year! team in Chicago, where he played quite The Ukrainian Weekly, well. In 17 games he registered seven PRINT EDITION points, then continued to impress in five PRINT AND ONLINE founded in 1933, is published by playoff matches. In training camp his main the Ukrainian National Association. competition for a big league spot was orga- nizational favorite Petteri Lindbohm. Oh, and St. Louis has a pretty intimidating defense corps when it comes to skill. Subscribe to our Rookie ($80 if you are a UNA member). of Year candidate Subscribe to The Weekly in Pre-season turned out to be excellent, with Parayko registering six points (all ($85 for UNA’ers). assists) in five exhibition games and mak- ing the Blues roster. His rookie season Visit www.ukrweekly.com and click on the link for Subscriptions. began on a hot streak (five goals, 10 points in the first month), he cooled off, suffered a Or contact our Subscription Department at subscription@ few minor hurts (missing several games) and resumed a steady presence on a solid or 973-292-9800 ext. 3040. Blues backline. He averaged around 20 minutes of ice time and staked a claim to be a main man on defense. He was even been mentioned as a potential rookie-of-the- year candidate. In what has always been one of the harder positions for youngsters to learn, Parayko has played surprisingly steady hockey. Coach Ken Hitchcock hasn’t shied away from putting Parayko out for big min- utes. When defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk went down, the Blues didn’t panic, instead turning to Parayko to eat the top four min- utes. During the 10 games that Shattenkirk missed, Parayko scored six points and his minutes jumped to 21 per game. Winning the Calder Trophy (top rookie) usually takes a Herculean effort. Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad, as a comparison, won top rookie honors in 2014-2015 because he was such an effec- 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 No. 21

(Novaya Gazeta, May 12). At the same time, Putin commits... Moscow preferred not to notice the recent Israeli air strike that exterminated a (Continued from page 3) Hezbollah command cell, because Russia aggression against Ukraine (RBC, May 13). cannot reconcile its tactical battleground The Nordics are traditionally devoted to alliances with its strategic aim of asserting peace, and some of them value their neu- Russian influence in the Middle East trality. But Russia’s penchant for wielding (Gazeta.ru, May 13). military instruments compel them to While Moscow’s negotiations with U.S. increase their security cooperation Secretary of State John Kerry on fine-tuning (Carnegie.ru, May 13). the scope of the Syrian ceasefire yield some The Russian High Command clearly results, the larger problem of a profound expected that the extensive (even if entirely miscommunication between Russia and unnecessary) use of Kalibr-NK sea- the West is intensifying (Slon.ru, May 11). launched cruise missiles in Syria would Russia’s European neighbors have to act on impress the neighbors and secure for their unmistakable threat assessments, and Russia an increase in deterrence capabili- they see Moscow’s determination to over- ties (RIA Novosti, May 6). U.S. and compensate for every step they take to European experts duly analyzed those upgrade their collective defense. But sus- Russian missile strikes (which have not taining Russia’s demonstrative militariza- been executed since December), but the tion looks impossible due to its stagnating main impression Westerners are left with economy (Kommersant, May 12). To is Russia’s apparent disregard for civilian European political minds, budgets are the casualties and its use of the war to market very essence of strategic planning, and it is Russian weapons systems (Kommersant- incomprehensible that Russia could escape Dengi, March 28). Meanwhile, Moscow’s from this reality check (Nezavisimaya intervention is stuck in a high-risk dead- Gazeta, May 11). lock. The significant increase in engage- In the last few months, Russia noticeably ment by the Russian ground forces has reduced the intensity of its military activi- resulted in an inevitable rise in casualties ties, refraining from staging massive snap exercises in response to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) small-scale exercises in the Baltic states and Georgia (see EDM, May 9, 13). Moscow made an effort to check the escalation of hostilities in Karabakh, it keeps the artillery duels in the Donbas war zone mostly under control, and may be even looking for ways to with- draw from Syria. Against the background of previous experiments with power projec- tion, this self-restraint does not look entire- ly reassuring, and Mr. Putin has apparently concluded that such restraint does not pay. He is effectively committed to continue tak- ing additional proactive steps, which come with risks and costs that most European politicians would generally find prohibitive. Russians may currently seem far less cost- conscious and risk-averse; but historically, no ruler has been able to correctly judge the moment when the Russian population suddenly decides that “enough is enough.” The article above is reprinted from Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, www.jamestown.org.

Hackers leak... (Continued from page 3) Myrotvorets claims to target those it considers enemies of the Ukrainian state under the country’s Constitution. The group points to Article 17, which cites Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integ- rity as the “most important functions of the state.” Its approach, however, has led to harsh criticism. Myrotvorets published the per- sonal information of Ukrainian journalist Oles Buzyna – who was regarded by many as pro-Russia in his views and work – two days before he was shot dead near his home in the Ukrainian capital. Russia occupied Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula in early 2014 before annexing it in a move that has been overwhelmingly rejected in a United Nations vote, and has since been accused by Kyiv and the West of supplying troops, weapons and other assis- tance to separatists in eastern Ukraine. Copyright 2016, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine- hackers-journalist-donbas-current- time/27728765.html). No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 17

However, the rejection of Jamala by the that point. My sister and I were the only Jamala... Russian establishment was not shared by Crimean Tatar children in the music school. the public. Indeed, Russians gave her their You know children are cruel. They used to (Continued from page 1) second-highest number of votes (behind repeat what their parents said behind just sing nice songs and forget about it? Of Armenia), while Mr. Lazarev was the favor- closed doors. My classmates teased me, course I can’t do that.” ite among the Ukrainian public. (Each par- ‘Why did you come here? Go back to your Held annually for 60 years now, the ticipating country had a jury vote tallied in homeland.’ ” Eurovision Song Contest has become one addition to a vote by the public, which cast Jamala grew up in the village of the few cultural events that draws the its ballots by telephone.) Malorichensk in Crimea and graduated from attention of hundreds of millions of people, Meanwhile, the juries of Ukraine and the Tchaikovsky Music College in who reside in 42 countries that extend far Russia – representing their respective Symferopol and the Tchaikovsky Music beyond the European continent. This year establishments – didn’t give each other’s Academy in Kyiv. Though specializing in marked Ukraine’s 13th year participating performers any points. opera vocals, she pursued pop music and and its second victory after Ruslana’s leg- The countries whose public gave Jamala adopted an R&B/soul style, often employ- endary performance in 2004. the most votes were Poland, the Czech ing jazz rhythms, in her repertoire. How it’s perceived varies greatly as Republic, Hungary, Italy, Finland and San She broke onto the Ukrainian pop music Eurovision is considered a pop culture paro- Marino. Among them, the juries of Poland scene in 2009 with her victory at the annu- dy and freak show in the economically devel- and San Marino gave Jamala the most votes. al New Wave music competition, which oped parts of Europe. Yet it is a source of The citizens of many of these countries was held in Latvia that year. She competed immense prestige in Eastern Europe and the still remember Soviet communism and the to represent Ukraine at Eurovision in 2011 post-Soviet bloc, whose performers achieve oppressive measures enacted by Moscow Andres Putting (EBU). with a song called “Smile,” only to fall short. national prominence upon qualifying. in the post-war period. Jamala performs her song “1944” during Needless to say, her personal mood During the May 14 competition in Meanwhile, the Crimean Tatars, who Eurovision’s grand final. turned somber following the 2014 occupa- Stockholm, Jamala faced the toughest com- make up about 10 to 12 percent of the All of Jamala’s relatives still live in Crimea, tion of her homeland. She won the Ukrainian petition from Dami Im, a Korean-born solo- Ukrainian peninsula’s population, are recog- but she hasn’t visited since the summer of competition to represent the nation at ist from Australia who performed a song nized by Western governments as currently 2014, she told the politico.eu news site in an Eurovision amid tough competition from with a subtle keyboard background that being targeted for political persecution by interview published in March. goth rockers and pop-dance performers. enabled her to showcase her unusually the Russian government, which militarily Though most Crimean Tatars were During the selection process, numerous powerful vocal ability. occupied the peninsula in March 2014. deported by Stalin to Uzbekistan, Jamala Ukrainian music industry officials were Also drawing much excitement was Since then, hundreds of illegal arrests was born in Kyrgyzstan in 1983. Just how skeptical of her potential for success, given Sergey Lazarev, among Russia’s most popu- and searches of Tatars have been conduct- the Jamaladinov family ended up in the political nature of her lyrics and unusu- lar pop stars, whose ensemble thrilled the ed, often accompanied by false criminal Kyrgyzstan is unclear, though the singer al musical style. crowd with its dramatic, upbeat dance mel- charges. In April, the Russian government told the dailymail.co.uk news site that her Andriy Danylko, better known as the drag odies and intense video background, officially banned the Mejlis, the Crimean parents met in a Kyrgyz music school. They queen “Verka Serdyuchka” who won second against which he acted out unique feats Tatar’s representative body, labeling it an gave her the name Susana. place in the song contest in 2007, predicted such as climbing a set of stairs, riding soar- extremist organization. What is now well-known is the disturb- in February that Jamala’s performance ing asteroids and flying in space. More than a dozen Crimean Tatar leaders ing account that Jamala has retold of her “wouldn’t touch or interest anyone” if she Ultimately however, both runners-up and activists have been imprisoned, such as great-grandmother enduring the death of were selected and that Europeans “absolute- took the standard path of singing about Mejlis Deputy Chairman Akhtem Chiygoz, her youngest child on the cargo railcar to ly wouldn’t care” about her message. love as Ms. Im’s heart beat to the “Sound of while its entire leadership has gone into Uzbekistan. Even worse, she endured the Jamala forced Mr. Danylko to eat his Silence” and Mr. Lazarev declared “You Are exile, including Mejlis Chairman Refat child’s body being flung out of the railcar words, admitting that he was wrong and the Only One” to his beloved. Chubarov. More than 50,000 Crimean Tatars, “like garbage” by Soviet guards who dis- attributing her success to the very reason Jamala stood out, not only because of or more than a fifth of the population, have missed her request for a proper burial. he criticized her, which is that her perfor- her theme, but also because she included also gone into exile, mostly in Ukraine. By the late 1980s, her parents organized mance broke from the standard format. Crimean Tatar lyrics (along with English) Longtime Mejlis leader Mustafa a move to Crimea. In order to buy property, In “1944,” Jamala performs the soprano and melodies. Dzhemilev, the Ukrainian president’s their parents divorced to remove her vocals in her trademark R&B/soul style, Ruslana wrote on her Facebook page in ombudsman for Crimean Tatar affairs, father’s Tatar-sounding surname from the which have a haunting effect against a lone response to Jamala’s first semi-final perfor- alleged that the Putin regime is aiming to passport of her mother, who is ethnically club beat for most of the song before it mance in Stockholm: “The production and accomplish what Soviet dictator Joseph Armenian with roots in the Nagorno- erupts into a climactic finale with a dramatic effects were never so proper. Jamala sang the Stalin did to destroy his people, who have Karabakh region, who was able to execute backing harmony of strings. The song also mugham authentically!” The reference was settled the peninsula since the 15th century. the purchase. features Tatar ethnic vocals and melodies. to the Azeri melodic style. “That has never “Their goal is to intimidate and force “I remember my first day in Crimea – “I needed that song to free myself, to happened at Eurovision! But what’s most people to be quiet,” he said in an interview the former owner saw my father and me, release the memory of my great-grand- important to me is that Ukraine is sending published by the ua.krymr.com news site and began to shout. She understood that mother, the memory of that girl who has no the world a message with this song of its on May 15. “Their other goal is to force she sold her house to Crimean Tatars,” she grave, the memory of thousands of deep pain and strong spirit. Only something Crimean Tatars to leave Crimea. Just as in said, as reported by the dailymail.co.uk Crimean Tatars who have nothing left, not real is capable of transmitting that energy! Stalin’s times, they want to see an ethnical- news site in an article published on May 16. even photographs,” she said, as reported by Ukraine looks like the real thing.” ly cleansed Crimea that is Russian.” “But, of course, nothing could be done at dailymail.co.uk. That was not the view of the Russian political and mass media establishment, which expressed outrage that a political song was allowed to gain entry. Members of the Russian Duma had requested in February that the song contest reject the song for its political content, which was duly denied. EARN MORE In the aftermath, Russian Duma Culture ENSURE Committee First Deputy Head Elena Drapeko with UNA said the jury’s decision was “the result of an information war that is being waged and took over such a respected competition.” LONG TERM ANNUITY RATES Numerous Russian media outlets YOUR FAMILY’S FUTURE NOW! • There are no stressed the point that Mr. Lazarev’s perfor- administrative, sales, mance earned first place among the public, or maintenance fees yet only fifth place among the juries of each * • 10% free withdrawal nation’s music industry professionals, which the Russians claimed were politicized. 3 • Only a $1,000 minimum % premium is required A May 12 broadcast of the semi-finals on the Rossiya One television network went so * First year rate * • Surrender charges far as to distort the song’s meaning. All annuity rates are 9 YEAR are waived during the following “Here in Europe, her composition is subject to change. 75 Not available . % conditions: being perceived as yet another prayer in all states. 2 about the fate of people, who either from • Policy held * until end of term their own will or unwillingly leave their 7 YEAR homes in search for a better life. That’s a • Terminal illness problem that has come from the 20th cen- .5% • Nursing home st 2 CONTACT US: confi nement tury into our 21 century,” the commenta- tor reported, according to the apostrophe. 5 YEAR • Catastrophic com.ua news site. 888-538-2833 medical expenses And when Jamala’s victory was announced, several leading Russian televi- sion networks claimed “1944” was about her Ukrainian National Association, Inc. relatives being deported, not the Crimean 2200 Route 10, Parsippany, NJ 07054 • General Information: 800-253-9862 • Fax: 973-292-0900 Tatar people as a whole, the news site said. www.UkrainianNationalAssociation.org • facebook.com/UkrainianNationalAssociation 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 No. 21 Now showing: Toronto filmmaker’s Three Ukrainian artists involved “Holodomor: Voices of Survivors” in Boston-area opera production by Oksana Zakydalsky TORONTO – Ariadna Ochrymovych, an independent film producer/director/writ- er and educator based in Toronto, has made several documentary films, the latest of which is “Holodomor: Voices of Survivors.” She interviewed over 100 Holodomor survivors across Canada – in every major city. The film was made under the auspices and with the cooperation of the Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Center (UCRDC). One version of the film was cut to a 30-minute length so that it could be used in schools as part of part of the “Holodomor National Awareness Tour,” which consists of a mobile bus outfitted with electronic Anya Prokhorova equipment to show a digital narrative on Ariadna Ochrymovych At the Commonwealth Lyric Theater (from left) are: conductor Adrian Bryttan, the Holodomor. The bus travels around soprano Olga Lisovskaya and bass Dmytro Pavlyuk. Ontario schools (the plan is to send it This year, the Ukrainian Genocide NEWTON, Mass. – Three Ukrainian artists by great power and at the same time is throughout Canada) as a mobile lesson for Famine Foundation-U.S.A. took part in the assume principal roles in a new production helpless before the incomprehensible peo- high school students on the Holodomor. organization of the annual international of Modest Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov” by ple’s nature. It is especially important for film festival Peace on Earth, which took “Holodomor: Voices of Survivors” won an the Commonwealth Lyric Theater (CLT). our contemporaries to meet this individual award at the Peace on Earth Film Festival in place on March 3-6 in the Chicago Cultural Conductor Adrian Bryttan will lead a cast and to comprehend him.” Chicago and a nomination for best documen- Center. The goal of the festival was to dis- that includes bass Dmytro Pavlyuk from the Mr. Bryttan prepared the soloists, chorus tary at the Female Eye Film Festival in seminate the work of independent film Odesa National Opera in the title role and and orchestra to convey all the grandeur, Toronto. It premiered in West Chester, Pa., directors on the subjects of peace, social soprano Olga Lisovskaya as Ksenia. drama and humor in Mussorgsky’s chal- was broadcast on Ukrainian National TV, and justice and the battle against aggression. Ms. Lisovskaya is also executive director lenging magnum opus. Mussorgsky created has screened at festivals in Paris, Los Among the films shown were Ms. of the CLT and is well-known in New his musical ideas to reflect the text of his Angeles, Bellingham, Wash., and Jasper, Ochrymovych’s ”Holodomor: Voices of England for her frequent recitals featuring libretto, with all the subtleties of speech Alberta. Most recently, the film was shown at Survivors.” Members of the foundation Ukrainian composers. It was her initiative inflections and their underlying emotions. the Freethought Film Festival in Orlando, Fla. worked on developing materials for teach- that lead to the successful staging of Semen This resulted in a specifically unique oper- “Holodomor: Voices of Survivors” will be ers on the topic of the Holodomor, some of Hulak-Artemovsky’s “Kozak beyond the atic score – vibrant and colorful, but posing screened at the Yorkton Film Festival which can be found on the website http:// Danube” last season by the CLT. many challenges for performers. (where it is nominated for the Research www.ukrainiangenocide.org. CLT Artistic Director Alexander All performances are fully staged and Award) in Saskatchewan on May 28, and at A 15-minute version of Ms. Ochrymo­ Prokhorov has interpreted Mussorgsky’s include running supertitle translation. the International Short Film Festival, in vych’s film may be viewed at vimeo. operatic masterpiece to examine what Performances on May 20 and 21 will be Selby, the United Kingdom, on July 30. The com/148047499; short clips of interviews power does to a person – a reflection of our with piano accompaniment at 381 Dudley film is currently screening in the with Holodomor survivors are available at inner world, with its own temptations, Road in Newton. Performances on May 24 Holodomor Memorial Museum in Kyiv. holodomorsurvivors.ca. good and evil. In the words of Mr. and 26 will be with orchestra at Newton Prokhorov, “a leader in Russian history is City Hall. For more information: www. always a complicated character, whose CommonwealthLyricTheater.com, 857- Monahan sixth overall, then-G.M. Jay hands are covered in blood, who is tempted 284-9982. Ukrainian Pro... Feaster selected Emile Poirier with the 21st pick and Ukrainian Morgan Klimchuk 28th. (Continued from page 15) Vancouver took Shinkaruk at No. 24. population, as they are already doing in 2015-2016 has certainly been a huge The 21-year-old was bound for Stockton Moscow using... Crimea. “Such ‘legislative’ initiatives,” Mr. bonus. He may just be the missing link to a of the American Hockey League to continue (Continued from page 6) Stelmakh continues, “are the logical continu- long St. Louis playoff run. proving himself worthy of a promotion to the NHL. He knows Calgary wanted him as as in the Russian-occupied Donbas will be ation of the sadly well-known ‘Crimean Shinkaruk excited to join a player for the future, something he never next in line – something they might realize paragraph’ about separatism introduced in felt while with Vancouver. The future may if they looked at what the Russian powers the summer of 2014.” And they now involve hometown Flames be sooner rather than later. that be have been doing in Crimea. ever greater efforts by the Russian powers In a late-February move, the Vancouver At 21 goals with Utica, Vancouver’s AHL A few days ago, the occupation authori- that be to control the Internet – something Canucks unloaded 2013 first-rounder affiliate, Shinkaruk bested his 2014-2015 ties in Symferopol used force to disperse a that, again, the occupiers have already been group of pro-Moscow people who were Hunter Shinkaruk in a trade for center rookie season total of 16, good for seventh doing on the Ukrainian peninsula. upset by the closure of “the so-called Markus Granlund from rival Calgary. in the league. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound When Mr. Putin seized Crimea, he says, Cossack cadet corps.” Despite what one “many experts in Russia and beyond its Shinkaruk, born in Calgary, grew up a forward sat 19th in points with 39. In Utica might have thought, “they weren’t saved by borders pointed out that the regime had Flames fan, so he reacted to the news in a he was used in all game situations, getting their Russian flags or St. George ribbons, put itself on a slippery slope” and that “for beyond excited fashion. lots of ice time in his second professional which have become a sad symbol of self-preservation, it would have to tighten Granlund became expendable for several season. The consensus was that all areas of Russian neo-fascism and revanchism.” the screws.” But they wondered whether reasons, the biggest of which was the club’s his game improved from year one. strength at the center position (five solid Their fate was preceded by similar there was a sufficiently “broad social base” In Stockton the message is to integrate actions by the occupiers against those pivots and a prospect). Scoring on the wing for carrying out such repressions. Put in with the Flames group, keep producing on working in local markets, farmers and “crudest terms, they doubted whether was a need for the future, and Shinkaruk is the ice and push for an opportunity. entrepreneurs, who like them “fell on their there would be found the necessary num- a definite option. The offensively-gifted left Shinkaruk must continue to grow and knees in the direct sense of the word” and ber of snitches, executioners and camp wing has consistently scored at the junior mature, both in his game and physically. begged the Kremlin to intervene against guards.” But unfortunately, “the Crimean and AHL level, but still needs to adjust to There is no doubt his skill set matched an the local oppressors. But their calls were events show” that the Kremlin has all of the the physicality of the pro game and become organizational need. drowned out by Russian television cover- people it needs to carry out its campaign of more involved in his play without the puck. Calgary General Manager Brad Treliving age of Mr. Putin’s war in Syria. repression, first attacking one group and To say Shinkaruk was excited to be com- noted in a press release from February 23: From what one can see, Mr. Stelmakh then moving on to others. ing home would be an understatement. He “We look at it a couple of ways. The hardest says, “Crimea is only a polygon for breaking “In such a social-political construction,” of grew up in Calgary and his family has thing to do in this league is to score goals. in new repressions which in the future can course, “the popular masses are a priori in owned Flames season tickets for many We look at Hunter as a player who has done be applied on the territory of Russia.” That is the ranks of enemies, opponents and poten- years. The thought of putting on the jersey it over the course of his career at the junior highlighted by the recent package of “anti- tial revolutionaries,” and thus, Mr. Stelmakh he always admired is beyond thrilling. level and at the AHL level. Now, he has not terrorist” laws that odious Duma Deputy says, the Kremlin and its allies, some out of The trade came as a shock, too. This was done it at the NHL level, but he’s shown an Irina Yarovaya has proposed. Almost all of self-interest and others infected with the the first time the young Ukrainian has ever ability to play with speed, high skill level these tools were first used in Crimea. “Crimea is ours” psychosis feel compelled to gone through a trade. Adjustments need to and a nose for the net and those are impor- In offering her proposals, Ms. Yarovaya move against them one after another. be made, including mental ones, to say tant qualities in today’s game. We look at made another statement which recalls the The political commentator concludes, nothing of changes in physical logistics. Of the ceiling on this guy and we think there’s Nazi past against which Niemoeller “the speed of the transformation of Russia course it helps when you grew up in the a high ceiling for him in terms of where he warned. She insisted that “repressions con- into North Korea depends on specific politi- area and even skated in the Saddledome. can get to.” cern only criminals,” thus officially intro- cal factors, but the vector has already been Calgary had the chance to draft Ihor Stelmach may be reached ducing the term “repression” as something designated,” first and foremost in occupied Shinkaruk in 2013. After selecting Sean at [email protected]. the authorities have the right to do to the Crimea. No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 19

May 22 Lecture by Tetyana Ostash, “Vyacheslav Lypynsky and His May 29 Film screening, “Music of Survival: The Story of the New York Era,” Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences,” 212-222-1866 Windsor, ON Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus,” St. Vladimir Cultural Center, www.eventbrite.ca May 24, 26 Performance, “Boris Godunov” with conductor Adrian Newton, MA Bryttan, soprano Olga Lisovskaya and bass Dmytro Pavlyuk, May 29 Provody – blessing of gravesites, Holy Trinity Cemetery, Commonwealth Lyric Theater, Newton City Hall, Ottawa Christ the Savior Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 857-284-9982 or www.commonwealthlyrictheater.com www.christthesavior.ca or 613-723-7790

May 25 Film screening, “Gamer” by Oleh Sentsov, St. Paul May 29 Musical program with the Telnyuk Sisters and a book Ottawa University, http://kino-fest.ca/#/gamer Toronto presentation by Oksana Zabuzhko, “Devyat misyaciv Ukrainskoho sprotyvu,” Golden Lion Banquet Hall, 416-252-3456 May 26 Luncheon and presentation by Kristina Lew, “100

Whippany, NJ Nahirny Churches: The Churches of Vasyl Nahirny,” May 29 Book presentation, “Ridnymy Stezhkamy: poems, letters Carpe Diem Club, Ukrainian American Cultural Center of Toronto and memoirs from my journal,” by Iryna Chaikovska Pavliv, New Jersey, [email protected] or 973-590-8026 Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization sorority ”Ti, Shcho May 27-29 Ukrainian Nationals Invitational Tournament, Ukrainian Hrebli Rvut,” Plast Huculak Center, 416-769-9998 Horsham, PA American Sports Center Tryzub, www.tryzub.org May 31-June 4 Art exhibit, featuring Orwellian art by high school students May 27-29 Ukraine Pavilion at the Carassauga Festival, St. Mary Ukrainian Toronto to raise awareness about the Holodomor, Metro Hall, Mississauga, ON Catholic Church, www.stmaryscawthra.com or 905-615-3010 www.OrwellArt.org

May 27-29 Workers’ Reunion weekend, Soyuzivka Heritage Center, June 2 Film festival screening, “Mezhyhiria” by Volodymyr Tykhyy, Kerhonkson, NY www.soyuzivka.com New York The Ukrainian Museum, 212-228-0110 or www.ukrainianmuseum.org May 28 Piano recital with Dmytro Sukhovienko, Ukrainian Institute Chicago of Modern Art, www.uima-chicago.org or 773-227-5522 June 3 Film night, “Romani dream” by Roman Bondarchuk, “Diana,” New York “Myroslav,” “Denys,” “Renata,” “Mova,” “Rotation,” and “The May 28 Concert, “Our Shevchenko: Path to Freedom,” with the Southern Border” all directed by Serhiy Lysenko, The Toronto Telnyuk Sisters and chamber orchestra, Trinity St. Paul Ukrainian Museum, 212-228-0110 or www.ukrainianmuseum.org United Church, www.eventbrite.ca June 3-5 Fairmount Avenue Arts Crawl, “Petrykivka: The Soul of May 28-29 Zlet competition, Ukrainian American Youth Philadelphia Ukraine,” Ukrainian League of Philadelphia, Ellenville, NY Association, www.cym.org/us www.ukrainianleague.com or www.fairmountaveartscrawl.com May 28-29 Great Lakes Cup Tournament (senior and youth soccer Mississauga, ON divisions), co-hosted by area Ukrainian soccer clubs, Fleetwood Park, [email protected] Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions May 29 Memorial Day Weekend Picnic, Ukrainian Homestead, from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors Lehighton, PA www.ukrhomestead.com or 610-377-4621 and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 No. 21

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Friday, June 3-Sunday, June 19 Ukrainian Fest will commence at 1 p.m., at NEW YORK: Yara Arts Group’s new theater “Tryzubivka” (Ukrainian American Sports piece, “Dark Night Bright Stars,” is set in Center, County Line and Lower State roads). 1858 when the Ukrainian poet Taras 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 the Sean Eden, Maria Pleskevich, Jeremy Tardy, orchestra will follow. There will be plentiful Barak and Shona Tucker, and music by Ukrainian homemade foods and baked Julian Kytasty. Performances are on goods, picnic fare and cool refreshments. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 Enjoy the U.S. Adult Soccer Association’s p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at La MaMa Region One U.S. Open Cup and U.S. Amateur Experimental Theater, 74 E. Fourth St. Cup (U.S. national championship quarterfi- Admission is $18; $13 for seniors and stu- nals) throughout the afternoon. There is dents. For tickets call 646-430-5374 or visit free admission and parking to all venues. lamama.org/dark_night/. For information call 267-664-3857 or e-mail [email protected] . Website: www. Sunday, June 19 tryzub.org; Facebook: Tryzub HORSHAM, Pa.: The popular Father’s Day 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.