Inside: l More on Ukraine’s presidential election – page 3 l Pullout: Ukrainian Debutante Balls – pages 11-14 l Gvozdyk defends light heavyweight title – page 17

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXXVII No. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 $2.00 Zelensky, Poroshenko headed for second round of presidential election

100 % of ballots counted Runoff candidates Turnout: 62.8% agree to debate Votes: 18,893,879

Zelensky 30.24 % by Mark Raczkiewycz KYIV – Presidential election runoff oppo- Poroshenko 15.95 % nents Petro Poroshenko and Volodymyr Zelensky have provisionally agreed to a Tymoshenko 13.40 % debate after the political neophyte and comedian took nearly a third of the first Boiko 11.67 % round vote tally on March 31 among 39 candidates. Hrytsenko 6.91 % The official results of the presidential election’s first round haven’t been Smeshko 6.04 % announced, but all the votes were tabulated as of April 4, with Mr. Zelensky garnering Lyashko 5.48 % 30.24 percent of the 18.9 million ballots cast – more than the combined total of the Vilkul 4.15 % next two vote-getters. Mr. Poroshenko received 15.95 percent of the vote, and Ms. Source of data: Central Election Commission of Ukraine Koshulynsky 1.62 % Tymoshenko got 13.40. Infographics by Dekoder.org Behind them were: Yuriy Boiko with 11.67 percent of the vote, Anatoliy Mr. Zelensky received a plurality of votes runoff between the top two candidates on unknown in his adversary. Hrytsenko with 6.91 percent, Ihor Smeshko in all oblasts of Ukraine except Lviv and April 21. Mr. Poroshenko, 53, didn’t debate ex- with 6.04 percent, Oleh Lyashko with 5.48 Ternopil, which supported Mr. Poroshenko; As it appears, the electorate might get to Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko when percent, Oleksandr Vilkul with 4.15 percent Ivano-Frankivsk, which went for Ms. watch a contest of words between an anti- they ran for the country’s highest office in and Ruslan Koshulynsky with 1.62 percent. Tymoshenko; and Luhansk and Donetsk, establishment candidate and a veteran pol- 2014. Fugitive ex-President Viktor The rest of the field received under 1 per- which were carried by Mr. Boiko. itician who has touted experience and cent of the vote. The presidential election now goes to a accomplishment over the fear of the (Continued on page 20)

UCCA mission declares Ukraine’s Cindy McCain serves as election monitor with IRI presidential election free and fair KYIV – The widow of U.S. Sen. John and said a street in Kyiv would soon be McCain, Cindy McCain, was among the named after him. UCCA minor procedural errors included: international observers who were in - Sources: UNIAN, twitter.com/cindymc- Ukraine for the presidential election on cain, Presidential Administr­ation of Ukraine KYIV – On March 31, the Ukrainian ments in a few municipalities; March 31. She represented the Congress Committee of America • the presence of campaign advertise- International Republican Institute (IRI). Election Observation Mission (EOM), played correctly; and “It’s Election Day in Ukraine. It is a great consisting of 78 officially registered • information for voters not being dis honor to have the chance to observe the observers, monitored Ukraine’s presi- second and third floors, making it diffi- Ukraine election with IRI Global at such a dential election process and vote tabu- cult• thefor olderlocation and of handicapped polling stations voters on the to critical time in the history of Ukrainian lation in nine oblasts – Dnipro, Ivano- access the polling station. democracy,” she tweeted on March 31. Frankivsk, Kherson, Kyiv, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Based on the reports submitted, the On March 29 she said on Twitter: “John Odesa, Ternopil and Zakarpattia – as UCCA’s EOM affirmed that the March 31 was a[n] ardent supporter of the Ukrainian well as at three diplomatic posts in the presidential election in Ukraine met people & their stand for freedom. He called United States. international standards for a free and fair his ’13 visit during the Euromaidan ‘one of Throughout the day, UCCA’s EOM, election that accurately reflects the will the most moving experiences I have ever working in concert with the Ukrainian of the electorate. had... I have never seen anything like what World Congress EOM, reported that the The UCCA expressed its sincere grati- we witnessed.’ I now understand why he voting process was being conducted in a tude to the members of its delegation, loved Ukraine.” peaceful, transparent and democratic who volunteered their time and money On April 1, Ms. McCain tweeted that the manner. In fact, with reports from over to participate as international election IRI election observation mission “released 700 polling stations, the short-term observers. The UCCA noted that these our preliminary statement on the election. observation teams reported 96 percent volunteers’ commitment to democracy Proud to be part of this important mission of precincts performed with a rating of must be commended. and support Ukraine’s young #democracy.” “good” or “very good” – a high standard The UCCA, the largest representative During her stay in Ukraine Ms. McCain met of performance for any election cycle. organization of Americans of Ukrainian with Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko – whom The UCCA EOM noted very few irregu- descent, is one of the few NGOs and the she called “an old friend” and with whom twitter.com/cindymccain larities. Those that were reported were only Ukrainian American organization she said she reminisced about Sen. McCain Cindy McCain, who served as an election not systemic in nature nor did they registered with Ukraine’s Central – and President Petro Poroshenko. observer with the International impact the results of the election. The Election Commission. President Poroshenko spoke of Sen. McCain Republican Institute, meets with Kyiv as “a great friend and advocate of Ukraine” Mayor Vitali Klitschko. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 No. 14

ANALYSIS

Liquidation of INF Treaty First ever voting in Edmonton commander-in-chief. “This means that Poroshenko is not very popular in the army, Ukrainians in 72 countries, including and that Ukrainians’ desire for a ‘new face’ and Ukraine’s prospects Canada, cast their votes in 101 polling loca- exists, including in the army,” Volodymyr tions on March 31 for the president of Fesenko, a Ukrainian political and security by Alla Hurska claim that Saudi interest is primarily driven Ukraine. Three of those polling stations are analyst who heads the Kyiv-based Penta Eurasia Daily Monitor by the fact that the Hrim-2 could pose com- in Canada: Ottawa, Toronto and, for the first Center, told RFE/RL. That could bode ill for petition to the Russian Iskander-M, a weap- time ever, Edmonton. The Edmonton the second-round runoff between those two On March 16, Ukrainian President Petro on that Russia refuses to export except for a Consulate is the first that Ukraine has candidates on April 21. Mr. Poroshenko’s Poroshenko signed a decree on the less advanced and shorter-range version opened since the beginning of Russia’s mili- office declined to comment on the military “Reformation of the Defense Industrial (UNIAN, January 3, 2018). tary aggression in the Donbas in 2014. It It is important to address the broad vote in the east, instead referring RFE/RL to Complex” (President.gov.ua, March 16). The serves the provinces of Alberta, spectrum of assessments by Russian and TV presenter Taras Berezovets, who works document could have major implications for Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Ukrainian experts. As noted by Ukrainian the development of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Northwest Territories and Yukon. for a channel that reports favorably of the parliamentarian and military expert The decree was initially approved on Previously, citizens had to travel across the president’s work, for comment. Mr. Dmytro Tymchuk, the current capabilities March 6, at a session of the National country to Ottawa or Toronto to vote – a Berezovets said the first-round result was of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex Security and Defense Council of Ukraine journey of nearly 3,000 kilometers. “The “absolutely not” a referendum on President have now reached the levels necessary for (NSDC), during which Mr. Poroshenko first voters were waiting when the polling Poroshenko’s role as commander-in-chief the creation of new missiles and missile expressed firm support for the United station opened its doors at 8 a.m. Anna and chalked it up to “a lot of soldiers complexes (Obozrevatel.com, February 11, States’ decision to abandon the 1987 Makieienko and Volodymyr Krasnikov had want[ing] the war to stop and to go home.” 2019). From his side, NSDC Secretary Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) arrived from Vancouver just this morning, The president “says we’ll continue fighting Oleksandr Turchynov claimed several years Treaty and condemned Russia’s testing of more than 800 kilometers away, to cast their Russia [and] that this will be a war for ago that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had the RS-26 Rubezh (Avangard) solid-fueled vote,” reported Olena Goncharova in the Kyiv years,” added Mr. Berezovets. (RFE/RL) successfully tested intermediate-range bal- intercontinental ballistic missile (reported Post. “Most of our friends couldn’t come [to listic missiles (IRBM) at a specially created Election monitors issue preliminary reports striking range of 2,200 kilometers). Edmonton] to vote,” Ms. Makieienko military polygon. According to Mr. The Ukrainian president also criticized On April 1, Mission Canada issued its Turchynov, Ukraine wields the necessary explained. “But the election is a must for Russia’s actions aimed at expanding the mili- every Ukrainian citizen. It’s important to be Preliminary Statement of Findings of the tary capabilities of the Iskander-M mobile, potential to accomplish the goals of its mis- sile program (Zaxid.net, August 26, 2016). Ukrainians not just on paper or on 2019 Presidential Election in Ukraine. short-range ballistic missile system (with a Facebook, but actually, be a responsible citi- Notably, Mission Canada visited 841 polling reported striking range of 500 kilometers). However, this optimism is not shared by everyone. For instance, the deputy director zen. And if we come back, we want to make stations to observe the voting, counting and According to Mr. Poroshenko, Russian sure we have somewhere to go, that Ukraine transmission of results. Lloyd Axworthy, behavior “grants Ukraine the right to create of the Kyiv-based Institute of World Policy, Nikolay Beleskov, writes that “Ukraine is exists.” A majority of Ukrainians voting in head of the mission, Olya Odynska-Grod and weaponry of its own, indispensable for Canada supported Petro Poroshenko, who the analyst team held more than 100 meet- maintaining its military capabilities… includ- incapable of engaging in a symmetric response to Russia” in the realms of mis- had 152 votes in Ottawa, 432 in Toronto and ings with a range of actors, including the ing missile systems” (Mfa.gov.ua, March 7). 110 in Edmonton. The first runner-up was National Democratic Institute, International Mr. Poroshenko also firmly stated that sile-related initiatives. This is primarily stipulated by the lack of financial means. Anatoliy Hrytsenko with 223 votes overall, Republican Institute, International “Ukraine will not fall for the same mistakes followed by Volodymyr Zelensky with 213 Foundation for Electoral Systems, European committed with the Budapest Memoran­ According to Mr. Beleskov, a basic compara- votes overall. (Ukrainian Canadian Congress Network of Election Monitoring dum,” implying that creation of the most up- tive analysis of the military budgets of Daily Briefing, based on the Kyiv Post) Organizations, the Civil Network OPORA, to-date missile systems will be one of the countries that have similar missiles in their representatives of the Crimean Tatar peo- main priorities of the Ukrainian military- arsenals show that they spend no less than Troops for Poroshenko over Zelensky ple, other election observation missions, industrial complex (Interfax, March 13). $10 billion per year (the only exception is A nearly complete vote tally published by women’s and minority groups, numerous Speaking at another event on March 20, Pakistan), whereas Ukraine’s military bud- the Central Election Commission and ana- political campaigns, the Central Electoral the president reiterated that Ukraine’s top get is only $3.5 billion. Mr. Beleskov also lyzed by RFE/RL on April 2 showed Petro Commission, and government security and priority is its missile program as the only argues that all related expenditures on Poroshenko receiving 12,925 (38.1 percent) policing institutions. After analyzing all means that “could make a potential aggres- advanced missile development will have to of 33,859 votes from those frontline sol- aspects of the electoral process to date, sor pay a high price for potential military be financed “from Ukraine’s own pocket… not a single foreign investor will be willing diers, just 591 more than the 12,334 (36.4 including the pre-election period and the escalation… Now the enemy’s territory will percent) for Volodymyr Zelensky. The votes become endangered as well” (President. to pay this kind of money.” Moreover, he voting and counting procedures on election expresses doubts that potential possession were cast in 79 special polling stations set gov.ua, March 20). day, Mission Canada made the first assess- of these missiles would preclude Moscow up for active-duty soldiers on the eastern Based on Mr. Poroshenko’s speech, it is ment that the elections were fair, met inter- from engaging in further aggressive behav- front. While it beats the more than two-to- possible to infer that the following missile national standards for democratic elections, ior (Liga.net, March 12). one advantage that political newcomer Mr. complexes could, under certain circum- and should generate confidence in voters. On the Russian side, Maj. Gen. Vladimir Zelensky enjoyed in the rest of the country, stances, form the new foundation of Some of the systemic concerns that need to Dvorkin, from the Institute of World analysts suggest it was not necessarily a Ukraine’s missile program: Economy and International Relations at the commanding performance for Ukraine’s (Continued on page 18) Russian Academy of Sciences, stated that, de with a 300-millimeter missile. This com- facto, “Ukrainians can produce excellent plex• Theis reportedly Vilkha rocket said complex, to have equipped a strike missiles with both conventional and nuclear range of up to 170 kilometers. warheads, but will they do it is a purely he krainian eekly FOUNDED 1933 political matter.” He noted that, in solely T U W which could be mounted on ship-, land- technical terms, this is possible: after all • The Neptun anti-ship cruise missile, and air-launched platforms. In terms of “they have already produced mobile launch- An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., technical characteristics, this missile is a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. ers with a striking distance of up to 500 kilo- Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. meters… but they can extend this distance, anti-ship cruise missile. According to avail- this is not a problem” (Rosbalt, March 4). Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. (ISSN — 0273-9348) ablequite information, similar to the the Russian reported Zvezda strike Kh-35range At the same time, Maj. Gen. (ret.) Pavel of this missile is up to 300 kilometers, but it Zolotarev, a member of the Council on The Weekly: UNA: apparently can be extended further Foreign and Defense Policy, expressed simi- Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 (Defence-ua.com, February 13). lar beliefs. He argued that when “it comes to - Ukraine’s technical-scientific potential, pro- Postmaster, send address changes to: tic missile system, which combines features duction of such missiles is a trifle. As you all The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz of a• tacticalThe Hrim-2 missile mobile complex short-range and a multiple ballis know, a sizable part of our weaponry, includ- 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas rocket launcher. Developed by the ing strategic missiles, was created in P.O. Box 280 Yuzhnoye Design Office and A. M. Makarov Ukrainian factories… Even despite the fact Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] Southern Machine-Building Plant, the com- that a considerable share of experts aban- plex is reportedly capable of targeting doned Ukraine, its potential is still suffi- The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com land‑, sea- and air-located objects. cient… The rest will depend on the Ukrainian Importantly, the reported strike range of political leadership” (Rosbalt, March 4). The Ukrainian Weekly, April 7, 2019, No. 14, Vol. LXXXVII 280 kilometers is said to be a “formality,” as In conclusion, it would not be superflu- Copyright © 2019 The Ukrainian Weekly the distance could be extended to 480 kilo- meters. As noted by the leading expert of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has categori- the military magazine Defense Express, callyous argued to quote against Belarusian the emergence President of mis- ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA Anton Mikhnenko, “For now, this complex siles of this type on Ukrainian territory. Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 is being produced for export, which might Specifically, he stated earlier this month, and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 change in the near future” (Obozrevatel. “We need to understand that the Russians e-mail: [email protected] com, February 11). Other sources show cannot allow these missiles to be deployed Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 that research and development operations e-mail: [email protected] have been financed by Saudi Arabia. They (Continued on page 17) No. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 3

NEWS ANALYSIS Ukrainian elections challenge Putin’s autocracy by Pavel K. Baev the Moscow Patriarchate (Carnegie.ru, interference. One of the slim-chance candi- The Ukrainian public’s angry disapprov- Eurasia Daily Monitor December 17, 2018). The third was the fail- dates, Yuriy Boiko, paid a visit to Moscow al of the hypocrisy of ruling elites and its ure to advance the “union state” project accompanied by Viktor Medvedchuk, an old refusal to tolerate corruption, which have The presidential elections in Ukraine last with Belarus to a level of real political inte- shaped the content of these elections, are Sunday (March 31) were derided, denigrat- gration by using hard economic pressure, talks in Russia about the prospects of natu- delivering Ukraine closer to Europe – more ed and ridiculed by Russian propaganda, deflected yet again by President Alyaksandr ralacquaintance gas transit gainedof Mr. Putin.him few But new Mr. support Boiko’s- so than any association agreements with but they still marked a striking contrast Lukashenka (Rosbalt, March 6, 2019). ers in Ukraine (Kommersant, March 27). the European Union ever could on their with the severely controlled politics in Finally, Nursultan Nazarbayev’s shrewd res- Mr. Putin’s elites would definitely prefer the own (Carnegie.ru, February 7). Russian Russia. In an odd historical coincidence, the ignation from the presidency of Kazakhstan current Ukrainian President Petro aggression continues to be a grave threat last meaningful and even fateful elections – while preserving his effective control over Poroshenko not to be re-elected, but they and heavy burden for Ukraine, but it has Russia saw happened exactly 30 years ago, national policy-making – reminded are puzzled and alarmed about Volodymyr failed to push Ukrainian society into dis- when Mikhail Gorbachev, driven by a desire Russians that Mr. Putin’s rule was time-lim- Zelensky, a comic and television star who may and disunity; rather, it propels the to modernize the sclerotic state, opened up ited but non-transferrable, because of the emerged a couple of months ago as the partly dismembered but resolutely unde- the super-rigid Soviet system – only to find heavy burden of crimes committed on his clear leader in the unusually crowded race feated country westward, along the hard it crashing down around him less than watch (Carnegie.ru, March 21). (RBC, March 27). Russian commentators road toward its European future. three years later (Novaya Gazeta, March Mr. Putin has little to show in compensa- are inclined to downplay Mr. Zelensky’s Ukraine continues to be tied to Russia 25). His modern-day successor, Russian tion to these setbacks except for the recent claim for a new start in Ukrainian politics, via numerous economic, social and cultural President Vladimir Putin secured a new low-cost agreement about expanding but the stakeholders in Mr. Putin’s court connections, which were deformed but not term in the Kremlin for himself a year ago, Russia’s Kant airbase in Kyrgyzstan, a facili- nevertheless see him as a dangerous wholly severed by the bitter conflict. These in a crudely manipulated electoral farce. ty that is actually of little use to the Russian embodiment of the resentment to the old ties are further stretched by Ukraine’s The 2018 Russian presidential election Aerospace Forces (Vozdushno-Kosmiches­ political establishment – a trend gaining democracy-building and Russia’s simulta- kiye Sily – VKS) (Kommersant, March 29). even more strength in Russian society than neous drift toward deeper and more com- competitive and fear-free contest that Seeking to tighten control over the political in Ukraine (Kommersant, March 25). prehensive autocracy (see Commentaries, Ukrainecannot beis comparedundertaking with despite the uniquelythe war, agenda, the Kremlin has unleashed a new Perhaps the best outcome for the March 21). Russia’s trajectory is, however, which has turned parts of its Donetsk and series of selective punishments in the Kremlin would be chaos and street protests more complicated than its ruling kleptocra- Luhansk regions into violent badlands domestic arena, targeting former minister in Kyiv staged by one or more unlucky can- cy believes: it involves deeper and harder- (RBC, March 28). Whatever the outcome of Mikhail Abyzov in a high-profile corruption didates denouncing election fraud (from to-register shifts in attitude occurring in the second round (scheduled for April 21, investigation (Forbes.ru, March 28). Moscow’s point of view, former Prime many strata of its disillusioned and discon- and apparently pitting first-round winner Another victim is Viktor Ishaev, a former Minister Yulia Tymoshenko would be per- tented society. Volodymyr Zelensky against incumbent governor of Khabarovsk region and one- fect in this role); yet, sponsoring such The plain fact that Ukrainians have mul- Petro Poroshenko), the Ukrainian challenge time presidential envoy in the Far East, who unrest could be far too provocative, even by tiple and free choices to decide the charac- to the autocratic and repressive political Russian standards (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, ter of their leadership resonates destruc- system in Russia is strong and direct. the brewing discontent in this region (New March 28). tively inside Mr. Putin’s pyramid of power, Multiplying the impact of this challenge Times,is being March prosecuted 29). By in exterminating an attempt to everyquell Moscow finds some comfort in the fact despite all the propaganda of self-glorifica- is the fact that Russia’s dominance over its shadow of intra-regime opposition, the that, so far at least, Ukraine’s successful dem- tion and Ukraine-denigration. Responding perceived “zone of influence” in the post- Kremlin only makes many elite groups ocratic transition has not delivered an accel- with harsher domestic repressions may be Soviet political space suffered four other apprehensive, which adds to their nervous- eration of economic growth (Vedomosti, a natural impulse in the Kremlin, but it is setbacks during the past year. The first one ness about a further tightening of United March 25). That said, Russia’s own period of difficult to perform because of the police- was the “Velvet Revolution” in Armenia, in States sanctions (RBC, March 29). Ukraine is strong growth in the mid-2000s has also state’s overwhelming corruption. Faking spring 2018, which toppled the corrupt by no means a paragon of clean politics, but given way to protracted and inescapable indifference is another natural pose, but it regime of Serzh Sargsyan, much to the shameless predatory corruption of Mr. stagnation. What the Kremlin cannot accept may suddenly mutate into hysterical over- Moscow’s displeasure and consternation. Putin’s courtiers make it look innocent in – and also cannot fail to see – is that post- reaction. The second setback was the establishment comparison (Ezhednevny Zhurnal, March Euro-Maidan Ukraine has taken a major of an independent Orthodox Church in 29). step forward in consolidating its statehood The article above is reprinted from Ukraine, in December 2018, with the Tomos The interplay of issues and personalities and upholding national unity, despite the Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from granted by Ecumenical Patriarch in the Ukrainian elections left the Kremlin great diversity of domestic positions and its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, Bartholomew, despite fierce resistance from with few openings for straightforward preferences (Svoboda.ru, March 29). www.jamestown.org.

Tymoshenko claims election ‘falsified,’ IN THE PRESS: Ukraine’s election but says she won’t challenge result “Ukraine’s elections declared ‘rigged’ sive regime and restrictions on freedom of by country that knows president’s name speech. years in advance,” by Halya Coynash, The monitoring found that the present- Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, ers and guests on such talk shows do March 29 (http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id everything to denigrate Ukraine’s authori- =1553784539): ties, …mention of the Ukrainian govern- ment and leaders prompts talk of … A monitoring report by the media Russophobia, Nazis, claims that Ukraine’s watchdog Detector Media has found a high leaders want war, that they are corrupt, focus on Ukraine in over half of Russia’s TV that they’re stupid or traitors… talk shows, with most pushing the idea that There are regularly calls to invade the imminent presidential elections will be Ukraine, to retake what is purportedly “pri- rigged. mordially Russian” land and/or to “de- … DM journalist Yaroslav Zubchenko Nazify Kyiv.” was able to report that Ukraine was dis- Such messages are also used to push the cussed in 60 percent of three Russian main- idea that the occupied territory in Donbas stream talk shows between January 14 and will never come under Ukrainian govern- March 17, 2019. Three messages were ment control again, and, indeed, the report most often pushed: suggests that the talk shows do everything the claim that Ukraine was being con- to get people on occupied territory to hate tymoshenko.ua trolled by the West (68 percent of the Ukraine. … Presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko casts her ballot on election day, March 31. shows); In monitoring earlier in March, the idea that ‘Nazism’ is thriving in Zubchenko detailed some of the rhetoric RFE/RL ence in Kyiv on April 2 that the March 31 election – won by comedian and political Ukraine (64 percent); used on Russian talk shows to discredit the Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia newcomer Volodymyr Zelensky, with the Ukrainian elections will be rigged Ukrainian elections. There were claims - incumbent Petro Poroshenko finishing sec- (55 percent). He heard calls to refuse to they would be rigged, that votes would be idential runoff election after official results ond – was “a fight between good and evil.” recognize the election results, although bought, that the U.S. State Department putTymoshenko, her in third who place failed in tothe qualify first round, for a pres has “The election results were rigged,” she these results, unlike in Russia, remain would “appoint the Ukrainian president” said that she believes the vote was “rigged” said. “President Petro Poroshenko used entirely uncertain. and that if something went wrong, the cur- but will not contest the results in court. There were other favorites, including rent President Petro Poroshenko would Ms. Tymoshenko said at a press confer- (Continued on page 17) stories about Ukraine’s supposedly repres- simply “set Donbas alight.” … 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 No. 14 No. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 5

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM UNA CELEBRATES 125 YEARS: A snapshot from history, 1936

The photo above appeared in the Ukrainian-language “Jubilee Book of the Ukrainian National Association” published in 1936 A photo archive of UNA history has been launched to mark the UNA’s 40th anniversary (1934). Pictured are members of UNA Branch 362, named Prosvita, in Bristol, Pa. The on the UNA website. It is a work in progress that will “Jubilee Book” notes that the branch was founded on January 9, 1927, with 19 members. It was established by Mykhailo be expanded and refined. To take a look, go to Leshak, Petro Zakutynsky, Mykola Vasiurka and Ivan Sydorsky (N.B.: The names are transliterated from Ukrainian.) unainc.org/una/the-una-is-125-years-old/. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 No. 14

HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN RUSSIAN-OCCUPIED CRIMEA The Ukrainian Weekly Ukraine’s presidential election, round 1 23 arrested Crimean Tatar rights activists Well, Ukraine’s presidential election is already one for the history books – even though it’s not yet over. secretly moved to Russia and isolated On March 31, 62.8 percent of eligible voters – close to 18.9 million people – cast new political prisoners. Plus the fact that all their votes. That’s higher than the turnout for the 2014 presidential election, which by Halya Coynash Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group the men will be in Russia can only further was 60.29 percent. Citing Central Election Commission information, the UNIAN news obstruct their right to a defense. agency reported that the highest voter turnout was in the Lviv region (68.88 percent), Russia has illegally taken the 23 Crimean These new arrests are a frightening the Volyn region (68.33 percent) and the city of Kyiv (67.99 percent). The lowest turn- Solidarity activists arrested on March 27 escalation in repression and demonstrate out was registered in Zakarpattia (46.99 percent), followed by Chernivtsi (56.07 per- and 28 from occupied Crimea, without giv- that Russia is no longer even trying to pre- cent) and Ukrainian-controlled districts in Luhansk region (56.77 percent). ing the men a chance to even contact their tend that this is not an open offensive As predicted by numerous polls, political newcomer/comedian Volodymyr families. The move was carried out in against those who speak out about its Zelensky emerged as the top vote-getter with 30.24 percent. President Petro secret, and is almost certainly aimed at Poroshenko was a distant second with 15.95 percent of the vote. Mr. Zelensky won ensuring that the men do not receive prop- Crimean Tatars. the plurality in most oblasts, while the incumbent carried two oblasts and led the er legal defense and are isolated. rightsEach violations of the 24 and, men quite has simply,been active against in voting outside of Ukraine, which was conducted in 101 polling stations in 72 coun- It is no wonder that analogies have been Crimean Solidarity efforts to help political tries. In out-of-country voting, Mr. Poroshenko received 38.93 percent, compared to drawn since early morning on March 27 prisoners and their families and/or in Mr. Zelensky’s 26.01 percent and Anatoliy Hrytsenko’s 10.64 percent. with the 1944 Deportation, since this is an attending court hearings and reporting The election monitoring missions of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of evident attack on Crimean Tatars, carried rights violations. America and the Ukrainian World Congress issued preliminary reports the day after out with immense brutality. the vote, and all deemed the vote free and fair, with UCCA President Andriy Futey Journalist Anton Naumlyuk reported on The prisoners calling it the most transparent election ever in Ukraine. Despite a few violations that March 30 that the 23 men have been sepa- Izet Abdulaev, (born October 22,1986), were not systemic, the UWC underscored that the “expression of political will was rated and are being held in three different has actively attended politically motivated transparent and democratic” and that “the elections corresponded to international Rostov SIZO (remand prisons), as well as court hearings. He and his wife have one standards and reflected the will of Ukrainian people.” In addition, the UWC Mission SIZO in Shakhty and Taganrog. In one of the child and are expecting a second. confirmed numerous disinformation attacks employed against Ukraine by the Rostov prisons, he says, they have vacated Russian media as an element of its hybrid war against Ukraine, with UWC Mission Tofik Abdulgaziev, (born June 19, cells in the special block in order to hold 1981), is a Crimean Solidarity activist who chief Eugene Czolij saying this is one of the most serious threats to a free democratic the men in isolation. electoral process. has done the sound recordings for Crimean There is conflicting information as to Solidarity meetings and for the civic initia- Other election observers, including those of the National Democratic Institute and whether the FSB has detained Edem the International Republican Institute, offered similar assessments. tive for the children of political prisoners Yayachikov, the 24th Crimean Solidarity called Crimean Childhood, and has been A news release from the NDI said the first round of the presidential election was activist who was not at home when the FSB “competitive and credible.” Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor, who involved in organizing events for the chil- and other masked and armed enforcement co-led the delegation, commented: “For the second time since the Revolution of dren. His three children are now among the officers burst into 25 or more homes on the Dignity, despite ongoing Russian aggression, Ukraine held an election that broadly 166 children whose fathers have been outskirts of Symferopol on March 27. reflects the will of voters and meets key international standards,” but he added that taken away. It may well be no coincidence that “many important opportunities to protect the credibility of the electoral process Vladlen Abdulkadyrov, (born December Russia has, for the second time in less than should be addressed ahead of the second round.” The NDI noted, among other 28, 1979), is an activist who was involved things, that “candidates should refrain from conducting negative campaigns and dis- six months, taken 24 Ukrainians prisoner. in organizing parcels of food, etc. for politi- seminating disinformation”; “technology companies should evaluate the role their The 24 prisoners of war seized after Russia cal prisoners. He has three children. platforms played in these elections”; and “government bodies and election manage- attacked three Ukrainian Navy vessles near Medzhit Abdurakhmanov, (born ment bodies should increase efforts to monitor, prevent and sanction the misuse of Crimea on November 25, 2018, were also February 2, 1975), is a Crimean Solidarity administrative resources.” activist. He has two children. The IRI’s press release noted “a transparent and smooth voting process with move came after an unprecedented out- Bilyal Adilov, (born May 27, 1970), is a Ukraine’s citizens demonstrating a strong commitment to democracy” and said pouringtaken to ofRussia support quickly for themand in from secret. ordinary Their religious figure who has also actively “there were a few instances of minor procedural violations.” It added that “Ukraine Crimeans. attended politically motivated court hear- was unable to administer elections throughout the country due to the illegal annexa- The armed searches and arrests on ings. He has eight children. tion of Crimea by the Russian Federation as well as ongoing hostilities in the eastern March 27 and 28 signaled a sharp escala- Enver Ametov, (born August 2, 1975), regions of the Donbas.” IRI President Dr. Daniel Twining explained: “Kremlin aggres- tion in Russia’s attack on Crimean Tatars actively attended politically motivated sion is effectively disenfranchising 16 percent of Ukraine’s electorate – the 12 per- and its offensive against the Crimean court hearings. He has three children. cent who live in Ukrainian territory forcibly occupied by Russia and the 4 percent Solidarity civic initiative, which helps politi- Osman Arifmemetov, (born August 28, who are internally displaced because of the conflict.” cal prisoners and their families, as well as 1985), is an activist and Crimean Solidarity The presidential election now heads to a second round: the runoff between Mr. publicizes acts of repression. Not one of the civic journalist. He has two children. lawyers who sped to the men’s aid was Farid Bazarov, (born August 22, 1986), voters – many of whom are thought to have cast protest votes to reflect their dissat- admitted to the homes where armed is a Crimean Solidarity activist. He has four Zelenskyisfaction withand Presidentthe way things Poroshenko. are going The in main Ukraine questions – continue right to now: support Will him?Zelensky For searches were under way. Both during these children. whom will the supporters of unsuccessful candidates vote? arrests, and earlier ones on February 14, Akim Bekirov, (born October 18, 1968), Before the April 21 runoff, there will be at least one debate, maybe more. At press there were reports of so-called “prohibited is a civic activist who was involved in orga- time, details were still being discussed. Our fervent hope is that the voters of Ukraine literature” having been planted, and the nizing parcels of food, etc. for political pris- will see a true debate, not a show (we make that comment since it appears a debate FSB, Russia’s Federal Security Service, clear- oners, and in organizing IT security. His might take place in Kyiv’s 70,000-seat Olympic Stadium). This is much too important ly didn’t want lawyers getting in their way. wife is expecting their second child. an election – with Ukraine facing political, economic and security issues, not to men- The defense and general support that Remzi Bekirov, (born February 20, tion a war – for a debate to serve merely as entertainment. Crimean lawyers and activists linked with 1985), is a Crimean Solidarity civic journal- And here’s the bottom line: We encourage all to watch the debate(s), to become Crimean Solidarity have provided for politi- ist. He has three children. familiar with the political positions and backgrounds of the candidates, and then to cal prisoners have, in general, made the Dzhemil Gafarov, (born May 31, 1962), go out and vote for the future of Ukraine. Your vote can make a difference! FSB’s life more difficult in occupied Crimea. actively attended all politically motivated While powerless to prevent huge politically court hearings. motivated sentences, they have served to Servet Gaziev, (born April 15, 1960), highlight the monstrous nature of the actively attended all politically motivated charges and the fabrication of evidence, use court hearings. April Turning the pages back... of torture and other abuses common in Riza Izetov, (born January 24, 1979), is such cases. a human rights activist and Crimean Thirty-five years ago on April 11, 1984, the Orchidia This is probably the reason why the FSB Solidarity civic journalist. His wife is Restaurant – a 27-year-old New York landmark featuring Italian/ is resorting to both planting “prohibited lit- expecting their third child. 11 Ukrainian offerings – closed its doors due to a 526 percent rent erature” to “prove” the charges of involve- Alim Karimov, (born April 8, 1994), is a 1984 increase. ment in the peaceful pan-Islamist Hizb ut- Crimean Solidarity activist. He has one The restaurant was given a March 1, 1984, deadline for clo- Tahrir, which is legal in Ukraine (and most child. sure, but owner Maria Pidhorodecky made several attempts to countries). Seiran Murtaza, (born November 27, remain open, including multiple court appearances that sought a stay of eviction. On It is surely also why three Crimean Tatar 1983), actively attended all politically moti- March 13, she received a four-week extension on the closing date. lawyers have already faced varying degrees vated court hearings. He has two children. Civil Court Judge Ira Harkavy reluctantly ordered the restaurant’s closing on of persecution, with Emil Kurbedinov sub- Yashar Muyedinov, (born April 14, Wednesday, April 11. He noted, “My hands are tied. I’m not happy when a restaurant clos- jected to two terms of administrative arrest 1968), is a Crimean Solidarity activist. He es. We all lose.” and almost stripped of his right to practice. has eight children. Robert Leventhal, the attorney representing property landlord Sidney Weisner, said Clearly, one of the aims is to intimidate Erfan Osmanov, (born September 3, that there could be no compromise in such a situation. Mr. Leventhal said Mrs. other lawyers and make them frightened of 1982), actively attended all politically moti- Pidhorodecky should have thought about her choice of words she used to describe his defending political prisoners. That has not, vated court hearings. He has two children. thus far, worked; however, it will undoubt- (Continued on page 10) edly be difficult to find lawyers for the 24 (Continued on page 17) No. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR COMMENTARY

tance to Ukraine. Stalin refused to accept The crisis in Venezuela the aid, claiming that there was no famine in Soviet Ukraine. Something similar is hap- What is Viktor Orban’s end game and the Holodomor pening currently at Venezuela’s borders. The government refused to accept interna- for Hungary, Ukraine and NATO? Dear Editor: tional food, while the people were starving. issuing Hungarian citizenship to Ukrainian According to the Spanish philosopher Fourth, the tragedy in Venezuela is not by Bohdan Shandor over, and it is difficult to estimate its final George Santayana, “those who cannot Other than his diminutive comrade in about their dual citizenship. This is contrary remember the past are condemned to human cost. Deaths caused by the 1932- 1933 Famine, on the other hand, have been the Kremlin, no nation’s leader is trying to citizensto the European and coaching Union’s them principles to keep of quietterri- repeat it.” The current situation in Venezuela harm Ukraine more than the prime minis- torial integrity, as well as Ukraine’s laws and illustrates the relevance of tragedies like the well documented. The 12 percent of Holodomor losses is a national average. In ter of Hungary, Viktor Orban. According to Constitution. Ukraine rightfully responded Holodomor for the present. It is surprising Mr. Orban and his Fidesz Party, Ukraine by throwing the consul out of Ukraine. how many similarities one can find in what losses were as high as 25 percent of the wrongfully passed what has come to be Hungary retaliated by throwing a Ukrainian are very different situations in terms of known as the “Education Law.” This has diplomat out of Hungary. time, geography and circumstances. some oblasts (equivalent to U.S. states),- alent to U. S. counties), more than half of the resulted in threats by Mr. Orban to veto This followed Mr. Orban’s decision to cre- First, both countries are potentially very ate the new post of “minister” responsible rural population, population and was in somedecimated raions (equivby the Ukraine’s potential membership in the rich. Ukraine has been described as “the gra- for the “development of Transcarpathia.” Holodomor. At the peak of the Famine, June European Union and NATO, but Mr. Orban’s nary of Europe,” and Venezuela has the larg- recent activities show a far more danger- Apparently, Hungary lost the pages of the 1933, there were 28,000 famine-related est reserves of oil in the world. However, ous course that potentially threatens not history book where Hungary ceded control deaths per day. These are mind-boggling during the 1932-1933 Famine about 4 mil- only Ukraine but Hungary, Europe, NATO over this predominantly Ukrainian region statistics. lion persons, or 12 percent of the popula- and the United States. (ethnic Hungarians comprise approximate- Lastly, Russia was the dominant mem- tion, were starved to death by Joseph Ukraine’s law on education establishes ly 10 percent of Zakarpattia) after losing ber of the Soviet Union and, not coinciden- Stalin’s regime, as the government took that all educational curricula taught in pub- World War I. We can save Hungary’s 1939 tally, the current Russian government is away from the peasants almost all the grain lic schools after the sixth grade must be invasion of Carpatho-Ukraine, as a member one of the strongest supporters of and in many cases all the food. The number taught in the Ukrainian language. Prior to of the Axis powers and with Hitler’s bless- President Nicolas Maduro’s government. In of deaths caused by the crisis in Venezuela is the sixth grade, any ethnic language may be ings, for another day. the tradition of Stalin’s policy of disinfor- unknown, but thousands of children are utilized for education. Post-sixth grade, Mr. Orban’s threats to veto Ukraine’s mation, the Russian propaganda machine Hungarian is offered as an elective course entry into NATO met a sharp rebuke last malnourished, and last year each person in has labeled the food aid to Venezuela a Venezuela lost, on average, 10 pounds. in schools, and there is no prohibition for month from Secretary of State Mike “Trojan horse.” [Editor’s note: On March 29 Hungarian, Russian, Romanian or other Pompeo. “The United States, Hungary, Second, an estimated 4 million it was reported that the International Venezuelans, more than 10 percent of its languages to be taught outside of school. Slovakia and all NATO allies have a shared Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent However, this is not how Mr. Orban pres- interest in a prosperous, stable and demo- population, fled the country. In Soviet Societies announced it would be allowed to Ukraine, hundreds of thousands of peas- ents the matter to the world. cratic Ukraine that is unfettered in its bring aid into Venezuela.] Mr. Orban describes the ethnic engagement with – and path to – eventual ants traveled to Russia in search of food. As stated by Santayana, the past is an They were arrested and sent back to their Hungarians living in the Zakarpattia region membership in NATO,” he stated. important lesson for the present and the as “indigenous people” who are discrimi- villages. Stalin closed the borders between Mr. Orban has also taken a turn for the future. nated against by Ukraine’s government in Ukraine and Russia and Belarus, and hun- worse when it comes to Russia and his Kyiv, and he demands protections afforded dreds of thousands of Ukrainian peasants Oleh Wolowyna patron, Vladimir Putin. It is difficult to Chapel Hill, N.C. “indigenous people.” imagine that a Hungarian PM, born seven were condemned to death by starvation. This is a false issue since Hungarians liv- Third, when news about the Famine The letter writer is a fellow at the Center years after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, ing in Zakarpattia do not even fall within the would embrace his country’s oppressors. reached the West, international and gov- of Slavic, Eurasian and Eastern European U.N.’s and internationally recognized defini- ernment agencies, as well as churches and Studies at the University of North Carolina Yet, Mr. Orban is proceeding with Mr. Putin tions of “indigenous people.” The length of to have Russia construct a nuclear power charitable organizations, offered food assis- at Chapel Hill. time that an ethnic group has inhabited an plant that will provide one-half of area is not the test of being “indigenous.” Hungary’s electricity. Like Mr. Putin, Mr. The ethnic group must show there is no Orban is the subject of much speculation as now suing the U.S. Treasury to remove the other country to go to and become citizens, to the sources of his wealth – described A response regarding sanctions because they “devastated my e.g., the Crimean Tatars. This is obviously economic livelihood.” not the case with Hungary, which is but a million, all allegedly accumulated through “new political realities” Stating that Republican senators were stone’s throw across the border from publiclypersonal as corruption a Putinesque and paltryfamily sumnepotism. of $750 bought off with donations from Russia is Ukraine. Moreover, the Hungarians living in Dear Editor: When I visited Hungary last fall for three beyond the pale – there are no facts to sup- Zakarpattia travel to and from Hungary weeks, a young Hungarian in his mid-thirties The apparent goal of Alexander J. port this lie. The only people who got mil- freely, and in many cases on a daily basis. had this to say: “The power plant is far worse Stepanyk’s letter (March 3) is to convince lions from the Russians are Hillary Clinton In discussing Ukraine’s education law than just putting the keys to our energy in Ukrainian Americans to vote Democratic and Tony Podesta through their phony with a member of the U.S. Congress who the hands of Putin.” When asked how it could and to hate Donald Trump and his associ- foundations and consulting firms. had visited Budapest and met with Mr. be worse, he added “Because we are borrow- Orban, I pointed out that every nation has ates based on President Trump’s treatment The Democrats all of a sudden have dis- ing $5 billion for the project from Russia as the right and obligation to educate its youth of the Ukrainian nation. covered that they are anti-Russian. They well.” He said many Hungarians were very in the official language of that country in But Ukrainian Americans for Obama appease us with resolutions and letters concerned about this relationship. about their concern for Ukraine, but their order to produce literate, educated young But, when asked why Mr. Orban was must realize by now that Barack Obama citizens who once mature assume their and Hillary Clinton did nothing for Ukraine. goal is to get rid of Mr. Trump. overwhelmingly re-elected he replied, Ukrainian Americans should learn from place in society and contribute to their “Orban’s control of all media has people Mr. Obama fiddled while Russia annexed country. Yet, Mr. Orban would have the tax- Crimea and eastern Ukraine burned from their history and examine their options in more afraid of Middle Eastern immigrants this “new reality.” Do they want to be a party payers of Ukraine fund the education of than of Russia.” Since Mr. Orban’s Fidesz the invasion of Russian forces. ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine, who Mr. Trump did indeed give lethal weap- focused on identity politics, open borders, Party controls Hungary’s Parliament, the illegal immigration, appeasement, infanti- would be illiterate in Ukrainian and unpre- Russian nuclear project is a foregone con- ons to Ukraine. Mr. Stepanyk insists that pared to function in Ukraine. Upon comple- cide, climate hysteria and anti-Semitism? Do clusion, notwithstanding strong opposition credit for this goes only to Jim Mattis, not tion of their secondary education in they remember that socialism was to blame from the U.S. and France. the president. Who does he think appointed Hungarian, these Ukrainian citizens would for Chornobyl? Do they want to lose their The European Parliament voted last Mr. Mattis as defense secretary? Mr. Trump be able to cross into Hungary and be wel- year against Hungary’s Russo-centric gov- now has Russia hawks such as John Bolton individual freedom in exchange for pay- comed with open arms as citizens of ernment to initiate proceedings against and Mike Pompeo as advisors at the highest checks from the government? Hungary and immediately assume jobs and Hungary for posing a “systematic threat” to Trump was not “antagonistic” toward posts for the benefit of Hungary – all at level. Hardly the act of a Russian stooge. democracy and the rule of law – an extraor- NATO. He was angry that not enough Ukraine’s expense. Clearly, this is an unten- Mr. Stepanyk complains that Mr. Trump dinary action against a nation that was money was being spent on the military by able situation for any country. did nothing when Russia attacked once lauded as a post-Communist society. NATO members – he wanted NATO Hungary’s interference in Ukraine’s Ukrainian ships. Apparently he is unaware The Euro-Parliament further declared, that the U.S. is strengthening the Ukrainian strengthened. affairs goes well beyond the issue of educa- Mr. Stepanyk should show more respect there was a “clear risk of serious breach” of Navy: U.S. Coast Guard cutters were sent to tion. Last year, it was uncovered that for readers and not just repeat misleading European values by Hungary’s prime min- Ukraine. The U.S. is constructing a maritime Hungary’s consul in Berehove, Ukraine, was headlines. Most people do not have the ister. This was a first step under EU’s operations center for Ukraine near Odesa time or inclination to dig deeper into his Article 7 for Hungary to lose its voting and sending naval ships on port visits. Bohdan Shandor is an attorney and the allegations and therefore are inclined to rights in the European Union. The new “outrage” that is supposed to son of the late Dr. Vikentij Shandor, who believe them. Mr. Trump is doing more for Judith Sargentini, the Dutch MEP who sicken us is the removal of sanctions on a served as the representative from Carpatho- Ukraine than Mr. Obama ever did. I will tol- spearheaded the Article 7 drive, received a Russian company owned by Oleg Ukraine to the Czechoslovak government in erate his tweets and exaggerations over the standing ovation upon passage and said, “The Deripaska – Vladimir Putin’s pal. In fact, the Prague during the years leading up to Hungarian people deserve better. They obscene behavior and lies of the new sanctions on Mr. Deripaska are still in World War II and authored the book, deserve freedom of speech, non-discrimina- Democratic party and its socialist ideology. effect. The sanctions on Rusal were “Carpatho-Ukraine in the Twentieth They are the frightening “new reality.” removed after it satisfied demands that Mr. Century: A Political and Legal History.” The which are enshrined in the European treaties.” Deripaska be removed from any connec- Lydia Kossak Kernitsky, D.M.D. younger Mr. Shandor assisted the author in tion,We can tolerance, only hope justice that herand voice equality, is as all loud of tion with the company. Mr. Deripaska is Colts Neck, N.J. the editing of the book’s manuscript. when it comes to Ukraine’s future in the EU. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 No. 14

Self Reliance New York FCU holds annual meeting NEW YORK – Self Reliance New York Horbachevsky, chairman of the Ukrainian Federal Credit Union held its 68th annual National Credit Union Association; Andrij meeting on Sunday, March 17, at the St. Burchak, board member of SUMA George Academy auditorium. Attending (Yonkers) Federal Credit Union; and were 263 registered members, along with Nataliya Kostyniuk, treasurer of the representatives of many youth, religious, Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union. cultural and educational organizations. Over 20 representatives of community The report of the Board of Directors was organizations expressed their appreciation presented by Bohdan Kurczak, president to the credit union and its Board of and chief executive officer, who said the Directors for their continued support. credit union experienced “another year of Orest Fedash, chairman of the nominat- excellent financial performance.” ing committee, nominated Stefan Kaczaraj Mr. Kurczak noted that Self Reliance New and Adam Hapij, who were unanimously York’s assets as of the end of 2018 were re-elected to three-year terms on the Board $1,329,977,486 (an increase of $2,119,317 of Directors. since year-end 2017) and that net income At the board’s annual organizational for 2018 was $10,637,896 (compared with meeting, Catherine Popovech was elected $10,147,494 in 2017). Dividends paid to to the position of board chairperson, the members grew by 5 percent from last year, post previously held by Mr. Kaczaraj. totaling $23,348,639. As of December 31, Ms. Popovech has been a member of the 2018, the credit union had 15,272 members. Board of Directors since 1996, most recent- During 2018 Self Reliance New York – Self Reliance New York FCU ly serving as vice-chairperson. Prior to join- President and CEO Bohdan Kurczak speaks during the 68th annual meeting of Self ing the board, Ms. Popovech served on the has branches in Astoria, Uniondale, Reliance New York Federal Credit Union. credit union’s Supervisory Committee in Lindenhurstwhich is headquartered and Kerhonkson, in Manhattan N.Y. – supand- 1995-1996. Mr. Kaczaraj served as chair- ported youth, cultural, religious, education- Honored guests attending the meeting Stamford Eparchy; the Rev. Emilian Dorosh, man of the board since 2011 and will now al and humanitarian organizations to the included: Volodymyr Yelchenko, Ukraine’s OSBM, pastor of St. George Ukrainian assume the position of vice-chairman. tune of $1.1 million in donations. ambassador to the United Nations; Oleksii Catholic Church. They all extended greet- All other board positions remain Reports by the Credit Committee and the Holubov, consul general of Ukraine in New ings to the credit union and its members. unchanged: Mr. Kurczak, president and Supervisory Committee were delivered by York; Consul Denis Semenovych; Bishop Greetings were also given by representa- CEO; Andrij Juzeniw, board secretary; Mark their chairmen, respectively, Orest Kebalo, Paul Chomnycky of the Stamford Eparchy; tives of the Ukrainian American credit Bach, treasurer; Mr. Hapij, membership and Bohdan Chaban. Bishop emeritus Basil Losten of the union movement, including Andrew officer; and Yuriy Jarymowycz, member.

New book includes collection of essays by Taras Hunczak on Ukraine’s history by Roma Hadzewycz WHIPPANY, N.J. – A new book featuring scholarly essays by Dr. Taras Hunczak, professor emeritus of history at Rutgers University, was presented here at the Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey on Sunday, March 24. Titled “Ukraine in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries: The Unending Complexities of Survival,” the book deals with Ukraine’s pursuit of sovereignty and state- hood during the periods of World War I, the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917-1921, the interwar period and World War II. As the author notes in his Preface, the introductory article – titled “The Ukrainian National Idea” – “connects all the other articles that reveal the multidimensional destiny of the Ukrainian people, who passed from colonialism and servitude to the struggle for independence.” Most of the essays in this new volume were previously published in a number of scholarly journals. Covered are the establishment of the Ukrainian state in 1917, the Holodomor of 1932-1933 and controversial topics such as the Ukrainian resistance movement, Ukrainian-Polish rela- tions and Ukrainian-Jewish relations because, as Dr. Hunczak points out, “the truth about those tragic years is

The book presentation at the UACCNJ was organized by thestill frequentlyUkrainian distorted.”Academy of Arts and Sciences in the U.S. (known by its Ukrainian-based acronym as UVAN) in com- memoration of the 100th anniversary of Ukraine’s initial proclamation of independence in 1918. It was sponsored by the Morris County, N.J., branch of the Ukrainian Roma Hadzewycz Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and Selfreliance At the presentation of Dr. Taras Hunczak’s latest book (from left) are: Michael Koziupa, Dr. Volodymyr Zaryckyj, Federal Credit Union. the author and his wife, Olga Hunczak, Dr. Albert Kipa, Dr. Mark Thomas and Dr. Leonid Rudnytzky. Opening remarks were by Dr. Albert Kipa, president of UVAN, who offered a brief historical background of that Dr. Thomas noted that Dr. Hunczak’s book “provides Zaryckyj continued. Written over the span of half a century, association of scholars which next year marks its 70th amazing perspective on overlooked and understudied the essays show that Dr. Hunczak “deserves the title of anniversary, citing in particular its publications and aspects of Ukrainian history.” He cited the information war- master historian and is, in fact, an information warrior.” archives. Prof. Hunczak’s book is published as part of The fare of Russians that depicted and continues to depict The commentaries by Drs. Thomas and Zaryckyj were Annals of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in Ukraine as, for example, a country of anti-Semites or an the U.S., Inc. (Volume XXII, 2009-2018, Number 51). existential threat to Russia. The author “dispels these remarks by Dr. Hunczak, who acknowledged those who Dr. Leonid Rudnytzky, president of the World Council of myths,” tackling such topics as the Christianization of Rus’, providedfollowed bytechnical questions and fromeditorial the assistance,audience and as wellthen as brief the Shevchenko Scientific Societies, delivered a salutation to the Zaporozhian Kozaks, the Euro-Maidan and Ukrainian dedicated support of his wife, Olga. the author and read a letter congratulating him on the pub- nationalism, and “uncovers the truth that is out there,” Dr. Michael Koziupa, speaking for both the Morris County lication of his latest book. He described Dr. Hunczak as “a Thomas said. UCCA and Selfreliance, thanked the New York-based brilliant historian” and someone “who was personally Dr. Zaryckyj said the new book “defines Taras Hunczak’s Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in the U.S. and involved in the phenomenon we call free Ukraine.” work – his life’s efforts.” The author “takes on challenging expressed his hope that other such events would be held at Observations and reflections on the historian’s new topics,” among them the allegation “that the Ukrainian the UACCNJ. book were presented by Dr. Mark Thomas, adjunct profes- national idea was a German notion,” adding that “this is a Afterwards, the author, his fellow scholars and the audi- sor of political science at LaSalle University, and Dr. paradigm pursued still today by the Russians.” ence enjoyed the opportunity to mingle at a wine-and- Volodymyr Zaryckyj, executive director of the Center for “Most historians would take on one of these topics, but cheese reception. Audience members were able to purchase U.S.-Ukrainian Relations. Taras Hunczak in his book tackles 12 thorny subjects,” Dr. a copy of Dr. Hunczak’s book and have it autographed. No. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 9 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 No. 14

The bill was never voted into law due to Turning... lobbying by the Real Estate Board of New York, which called the measure an “absur- (Continued from page 6) The UNA announces dity” that would be “absolutely disastrous client in the press, when she labeled Mr. and impossible to administer.” Scholarships and Awards Weisner as “filthy rich” and ridiculed his An unidentified community spokesper- decision to increase the rent. son called Orchidia a “milestone” that for students attending The restaurant went out with a grand served to bring East Side residents together college in the 2019-2020 celebration two days before the final clo- on an issue affecting everyone in the com- sure. Mrs. Pidhorodecky hosted a lavish munity. academic year. party featuring Italian and Ukrainian cui- Val Oricelli, a representative of the sine, as well as live entertainment. The Lower East Side Business and Professional event was a “thank you” specifically held Association, highlighted during the festivi- Students wishing to apply for a UNA scholarship or for the press, community association repre- ties that the party was not held to celebrate award must meet the following criteria: sentatives, local residents and city officials. a defeat but to celebrate the beginning of a Mrs. Pidhorodecky thanked the invited victory. “Although the mayor may not be guests for devoting “so much time and • Have been an active, premium-paying UNA member against the bill, he cannot ignore it. The effort in supporting Orchidia.” recent legislative move provides some for at least two years by June 1st of 2019 The closure of Orchidia also highlighted promise for the future,” Mr. Oricelli said. • Have had a single premium policy or an annuity, the Small Business Preservation Act of Mrs. Pidhorodecky said she planned to valued at a minimum of $5,000 during the last two 1983, as noted by Barbara Brundage, staff continue searching for another vacant director of New York Assemblyman Steven years space in the neighborhood where Orchidia Sanders (D-Manhattan, who served from could relocate. However, it never happened. • Be enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited 1978 to 2006). Although saddened by the The festivities concluded with guests college or university, studying towards their rst news of Orchidia’s closure, the state hous- chanting “Long live Orchidia.” bachelor’s degree ing committee began reporting on legisla- tive movement to approve the bill. It was Source: “Orchidia Restaurant forced to hoped that the bill would protect other close April 11,” by Christine Demkowych, The  e application for a UNA scholarship or award must small businesses from similar fates. Ukrainian Weekly, April 15, 1984. be postmarked no later than June 1, 2019.

For complete details and applications, please call the Are you a supporter of our UNA headquarters or visit the Our Bene ts page on Publication Endowment Fund? the UNA website at: In May 2014, the Ukrainian National Association established the Publication www.UNAInc.org Endowment Fund, thus taking a step toward ensuring the continuing good work and service to the community at large of its two most important fraternal bene- fits: The Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda. UNA, Inc. To contribute to the endowment and secure these newspapers’ future, donors 2200 Route 10 should make checks payable to the Ukrainian National Foundation, the UNA’s charitable arm, with the notation in the memo line: FBO (that’s short for “for the Parsippany, NJ 07054 benefit of”) Publication Endowment Fund. Checks should be mailed to the UNA 800-253-9862 ext. 3035 Home Office at 2200 Route 10, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Thank you for your anticipated support! No. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 11

Ukrainian American Youth Association hosts 55th annual Debutante Ball

Bitcon Productions 2019 UAYA debutantes and the ball’s organizing committee.

by Stephanie DeBruin mid-20th century by Ukrainian American diaspora organi- Each girl was introduced as she walked through the spar- zations. This year’s debutantes joined the ranks of nearly kling lights of the ballroom to greet her parents at the cen- PARSIPPANY, N.J. – On March 2, the Ukrainian American 800 young women who have taken part in this rite of pas- ter of the dance floor. After embracing her parents, she trad- Youth Association (UAYA) held its 55th annual debutante sage over the past half century. ball at the Sheraton hotel in Parsippany, N.J. This ball After a lively cocktail hour, guests were officially wel- met by her escort. From there, she and her escort circled the marked the debut for 19 young women, who were cele- comed to the formal portion of the evening by member of perimetered her single of rosethe dance for an floor elegant as thebouquet emcees of flowersshared andher acawas- brated by over 1,000 guests, including family, friends and the organizing committee Valentyna Yasinska, who also demic accolades, hobbies and involvement in the UAYA and UAYA members. introduced the master and mistress of ceremonies, Peter Ukrainian American community. To conclude her presenta- The UAYA Debutante Ball, under the auspices of the Kolinsky and Adriana Krasniansky. Mr. Kolinsky is a mem- tion, each debutante took her inaugural curtsy. National Executive Board, is a longstanding tradition ber of the Hartford, Conn., branch of the UAYA, while Ms. This year’s debutantes were: Deanna Natalya among UAYA members of the Northeast. The event has its Krasniansky is a member of the Cleveland branch and Barankewicz (Granite Springs, N.Y.), escorted by Orest Figol; roots in European court custom and was adopted in the serves on the National Executive Board. Xenia Kaczurak (Ridgewood, N.Y.), escorted by Rostyslav Fedorko; Marta Vyshnyovska (Yonkers, N.Y.), escorted by Ruslan Semenko; Diana Byk (Secaucus, N.J.), escorted by Arthur Grubyak; Alexandra Catherine Peltyszyn (Clifton, N.J.), escorted by Adrian Skala; Yana Habura (Clifton), escorted by Nicholas Zielonka; Natalia Julianna Fryz (Oxford, Conn.), escorted by Alexander Sydor; Andrea Kathryn Neporanny (Washingtonville, N.Y.), escorted by Zakhar Pavlo Figol; Maryana Tymkiv (Staten Island, N.Y.), escorted by Uriy Yosypiv; ; Anastasiya Levytska (Manalapan, N.J.), escorted by Danylo Brandafi; Tetyana Banaryk (New Canaan, Conn.), escorted by Stepan Shkrobak; Katherine Anne Petrusenko (Mountainside, N.J.), escorted by Roman Opryshko; Victoria Christine Szpynda (Amawalk, N.Y.) escorted by Lukian Tomaszewsky; Natalia Kuzmiak (New York) escorted by Danylo Szkafarowsky; Christina Yavdoshnyak (Yonkers), escorted by Vladyslav Deputat; Arianna Marie Dubas (Lodi, N.J.), escorted by Adrian Baran; Anya Katherine Melnyk (Avon, Conn.) escorted by Mykhaylo Andriyashko; Kaitlen Telepko (Parsippany, N.J.), escorted by Alexander Jaroszak; and Sofia Wernyj (Highland Park, N.J.), escorted by Markian Ugrin. After the presentation, debutante Ms. Byk had the honor of delivering the annual dedication, followed by introducto- ry remarks presented by Adrian Dlaboha, president of the UAYA National Executive Board. Speaking to the debu- tantes directly, Mr. Dlaboha congratulated them on their debut and encouraged their continued participation in UAYA activities and Ukrainian American community life.

Debutantes perform a waltz choreographed by Hryhoriy Momot. (Continued on page 13) 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 No. 14

Chicago hosts UMANA Illinois Charity Debutante Ball

MVP Studio Photography Debutantes and their escorts (from left): Dania Hrynewycz, Zachar Hankewycz, Adrienne Olesnicky, Daniel Rakowsky, Sophia Wang, Maxym Hrudzevych, Daria Reifel, Danylo Drohobytsky. Alexandria Procyk, George Kuritza, Ksenia Lewyckyj and Adrian Petrykiw. by Maria Hrycelak CHICAGO – The Illinois Branch of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA-Illinois), along with the

Charity Ball with Presentation of Debutantes on February 16 at UMANAChicago’s Foundation, historic Palmer hosted House the traditional in the heart annual of the Banquet downtown and “Loop” area. The UMANA Chicago Deb Ball has become a destination deb with many out-of-town guests. This year Chicago was blessed with no snowstorms and good weather. Over 350 participants were seated in the stunningly ornate and elegantly decorated ballroom. The lighted vases arranged by Liza Bandura created a magical background for the event. Over 200 friends and family of the debutantes lined the balcony to view the presentation and later to attended the ball. The debutantes, on the arms of their parents and family, opened the formal program with a grand entrance into the ball- room. George Wyhinny, Hollywood actor and producer, present- ed the six accomplished, intelligent and beautiful debutantes to Chicago’s Ukrainian community. The debutantes bowed charm- ingly and gracefully as they were introduced, along with their proud parents and escorts. Debutantes, happy and excited, relax before the presentation.

The debutantes hailed from Illinois, Indiana and California. The local debutantes attended the traditional deb luncheon in November 2018, which kicked off the deb preparation. The young ladies and their escorts began practicing their opening waltz months in advance. The beautiful dance program, under the choreography of Adriana Striltschuk-Karawan with help from Tania Kuropas, show- cased the choreographer’s creativity. Ms. Striltschuk-Karawan thanked Roxana Pylypczak, her mentor and colleague, who retired this year. Ms. Pylypczak created and taught Chicago debutantes the beautiful program and choreography for close to 40 years.

the debutantes danced elegantly and effortlessly to the sounds of StraussIn their waltzes, flowing first white with gownstheir fathers and holding and then their with pink their bouquets, escorts. Kathryn Hrynewycz and Dr. Daria Pachovsky Wang, speaking on behalf of the proud parents, warmly addressed their daughters, wishing them well in their future endeavors both in their Ukrainian and American community lives. They also thanked Dr. Theresa Kuritza and her committee for their tireless work. The guests danced the night away to the sounds of the east coast band Hrim. Later in the evening, the guests, debutantes and escorts all participated in the anticipated traditional folk dance, the “Kolomyika” for more than a half hour.

Alexandria Procyk and George Kuritza are graceful and poised. (Continued on page 13) No. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 13

Plast Newark/Whippany holds annual Debutante Ball

by Natalia Voronka-Bilash WHIPPANY, N.J. – The Parents’ Association of the Newark, N.J., branch of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization held its annual Plast Debutante Ball at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany, N.J. on January 26. The debutante ball is a tradition- al event at which each debutante is formally presented to the community as a young lady. Marta Sygida-Kowal and Borislaw Bilash served as this year’s masters of ceremo- nies; they opened the event by welcoming the debutantes, their families and guests. After being formally introduced, each debu- tante was welcomed as she was escorted through the center of the ballroom. This year’s debutantes included young ladies from the Newark/Whippany Plast branch Maya Bidiak (escort Lesyk Polatayko), Melania Wowk (escort James Cairns), Natalia Hanchuk (escort Pavlo Pencak), Natalka Kaminsky (escort Isak Davydov), and Katrina Huculak-Korotky of Toronto (escort Christian Petrenko) The debutantes in their flowing white gowns danced with their escorts to a cho- reographed arrangement by Andrij Cybyk. Each debutante also joined her father in a special waltz. Dan Bitcon Following dinner, more guests arrived 2019 Plast Newark debutantes and their escorts (from left): James Cairns, Melania Wowk, Lesyk Polatayko, Maya Bidiak, Pavlo and danced the night away to the music of Pencak, Natalia Hanchuk, Natalka Kaminsky, Isak Davydov, Katrina Korotky, Christian Petrenko. Tempo and Philadelphia Funk Authority, including the traditional 30-minute event was made possible by members of Tershakovec-Zawadiwsky, Natalia Voronka- Association). Next year’s zabava will take “Kolomyika.” the organizing committee: Anya Bilash, Oksana Hryniv-Shyprykevych and place at the Hanover Marriott on January The success of this memorable annual Tershakovec-Tomko (chair), Alexandra Marta Sygida-Kowal (head of the Parents’ 25.

Roman Shyprykevych Debutantes and their escorts perform their choreographed dance during the presentation part of the ball.

highlights of the youth association’s calendar and an event UAYA... many Ukrainians in the Northeast look forward to annually Chicago hosts... as a time to celebrate the new generation of UAYA mem- (Continued from page 11) (Continued from page 12) bers and catch up with old friends. To conclude the formal portion of the program, the deb- This event would not be possible without the generous Traditionally, debutante balls help raise funds for chari- utantes and their escorts performed a waltz, choreo- support of the sponsors and supporters, including the ty. Proceeds from the UMANA Illinois Ball benefit the graphed by Hryhoriy Momot. Guests looked on as the deb- SUMA Federal Credit Union in Yonkers, Ukrainian UMANA Foundation. Proceeds from this year’s ball will utantes and escorts performed an intricate series of lifts National Federal Credit Union, Yonkers Dim-SUMA and support the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Global and spins. After lengthy applause, the debutantes’ fathers Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union. The com- Medical Bone Marrow Initiative Program. It will train and took their daughters to dance, marking the end of their for- mittee acknowledged the support of the various volun- build capacity of Ukrainian personnel in bone marrow mal presentation. teers whose efforts contributed to a wonderful evening, transplantation (BMT) in Kyiv and Lviv. Dinner began with a blessing led by Ukrainian Catholic in particular the UAYA Executive Board and all the debu- “Blood and marrow transplants are almost non-existent Bishop Paul Chomnycky. As guests ate, two talented bands, tantes, escorts and parents who helped orchestrate this in Ukraine,” said Dr. Damiano Rondelli, the director of blood New York’s Hrim and Montreal’s Zvook, kicked off the event. and marrow transplant at the UIC College of Medicine. The zabava. Their spectacular performance kept guests danc- The UAYA Debutante Ball Committee for 2019 was com- funds raised will allow patients to obtain life-saving trans- ing all through the night. The rousing “Kolomyika,” as in posed of Tatiana Palylyk Andersen (head), Stephanie plants in their home country at decreased cost. Dr. Rondelli years past, was one of the highlights of the night. DeBruin, Natalka Kudryk, Solomia Pylypiw, Valentyna attended the Debutante Ball and said he was impressed The debutante ball was a joyous evening for the debu- Yasinska and Christine Porada Walsh. with the turnout and enthusiasm shown by all the partici- tantes and a wonderful celebration for the UAYA communi- The UAYA invites all to save the date for next year’s ball, pants and guests. Readers who wish to support this project ty and guests in attendance. It continues to be one of the which will take place on February 22. may visit www.umana.org and click Donate. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 No. 14

Engineers’ Society hosts 2019 Philadelphia debutante ball

by Peter Hewka PHILADELPHIA – The 65th annual - tation of debutantes, sponsored by the PhiladelphiaEngineers’ Banquet Chapter and ofBall, the with Ukrainian presen Engineers’ Society of America, took place on Saturday, February 2, in the classically elegant and completely renovated Grand Ballroom of the Bellevue Hotel. This is,

Philadelphia area. withoutThis galaquestion, event the was finest by allballroom measures in the a tremendous success. There were over 350

650 attended the ball. The Bellevue Grand Ballroomguests at wasthe banquet,full to overflowing, and a total and of a over sec- ond ballroom was opened to accommodate all the guests. The Rev. Taras Lonchyna, pastor of St. Josaphat’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Trenton, N.J., opened the gala with a prayer for Ukraine and a blessing. Eleven lovely and talented young ladies were presented as debutantes: Natalia Buck, escorted by Pavlo Pencak; Maria Heren, escorted by Nicholas Santone; Ksenia Hulayev, escorted by Roman Zharovsky; Marianna Klingensmith, escorted by Yuri Marko Lonkevych Yakymiv; Marianna Lechman, escorted by Debutantes and escorts at the 2019 Engineers’ Banquet and Ball in Philadelphia. Thoma Holovatskyy; Roma Lonkevych, escorted by Zen Kochanowsky; Juliette tionally well prepared by Halia Wirstiuk An additional highlight of the evening was Music was provided by the Hrim band Louer, escorted by Lucas Chuma; Anette and Ania Bohachevsky Lonkevych to per- a special performance by world-class concert from New York and Connecticut. Luba, escorted by Andrew Popadiuk; form their presentation dances. Original pianist Roman Rudnytsky of Ohio, whose For weeks after the ball, social media Cadence McStowe, escorted by Darius choreography for the dances was prepared granddaughter was one of the debutantes. were praising the Philadelphia Ball as the Kulchyckyj; Anastasiya Stolyarchuk, escort- by them to the music of Richard Strauss. The outstanding success of this gala place to debut. ed by Roman Nagirniak; and Ksenia event was made possible by the prepara- Next year’s Philadelphia Engineers’ Ball Tymchenko, escorted by Anton Pereklita. and ball were Natalia Tarasiuk and Andriy tion and hard work of the Ball Committee, is scheduled for Saturday, February 1, at the The debutantes and escorts were excep- Royik.Masters of ceremonies for the banquet chaired by Orysia Hewka. same venue, the Bellevue Hotel. 2019 Chervona Kalyna Cotillion Ball presents debutantes by Andriy Tytla PEARL RIVER, N.Y. – On the evening of February 9, here at the elegant Hilton Pearl River Hotel, well over 500 members of the Ukrainian American community welcomed into society seven young ladies from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut and the Hudson Valley at the Chervona Kalyna Cotillion Ball. The ball, known as “Vechornytsi,” is a tradition established in 1951 in New York City by members of the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen and military veterans, who upon emigrating to the U.S. revived the Lviv soci- ety balls of the 1920s and 1930s. Today, one of the main attractions of the ball is the presentation of debutantes, a custom that began with an impromptu introduction of young ladies in 1959. This year’s debutantes were a group of exceptional high school juniors and seniors. They distinguish themselves academically Orest Sochan/Montas Studio and athletically, participate in many extra- Debutantes and their escorts (from left): Roman Opryshko, Tetyana Labovka, Roman Kuziw, Brianna Kruchowy, Oleksij Mysiuk, Raisa Ihnat, Zen Kochanowsky, Romana Lonkevych, Gregory Gawdiak, Emily Gnoy, Lev Gawdiak, Sofia Handzy, Ivan curricular activities and give their time as Farmiga and Melania Gluch. volunteers and leaders in their respective communities. Among the honored guests of the eve- was choreographed by the inestimable nied by two bands: Zvook and Hrim. Both The “chervona kalyna” (viburnum opu- ning were the Rev. Dr. Ivan Kaszczak, who Ania Bohachevsky Lonkevych. As per cus- ensembles provided favorite standards and lus), as a symbol of the pride and memory began the formal program with an arrange- tom, fathers – or in some cases male rela- new music throughout the night, which cul- of heroes, reminded the younger guests of ment of the prayer “Otche Nash” (Our tives or godfathers – of the debutantes minated with the seemingly never-ending the struggle for Ukraine’s liberation, which Father) sung by Ukrainian scouts, or “plas- danced part of the waltz with their daugh- and always fun “Kolomyika” that had every- continues today. As selected by this year’s tuny.” ters, while escorts, single red rose in hand, one on their feet. debutantes, a portion of the proceeds from The debutante presentation, consisting invited the mothers of the debutantes to Next year’s date for the cotillion is the evening’s event benefited the Ukrainian of individual introductions and curtsies, a dance. February 8, also at the Hilton Pearl River. American Veterans’ Wounded Ukrainian group dance to Pachelbel’s Canon in D and The formal program was followed by a For more information visit www.kalynadeb. Soldier Project. waltz to Johann Strauss, Jr.’s “Blue Danube,” - org.

banquet and “zabava” (dancing), accompa No. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 15 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 No. 14 No. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 17

SPORTS Gvozdyk retains WBC light heavyweight title with TKO by Ihor N. Stelmach Ngumbu landed a mere 18 of 108 (17 per- cent). SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. – Undefeated With Gvozdyk’s first defense of his light- light heavyweight Oleksandr “The Nail” heavyweight world title, many in the box- Gvozdyk retained his WBC world title with a bizarre TKO victory over challenger could put aside the near-tragedy of his title- Doudou Ngumbu on March 30 before a winninging world effort questioned against Stevenson. whether TheGvozdyk reali- sold-out, standing-room only crowd of ty was there was no need for concern. some 1,350 at the 2300 Arena in Gvozdyk (17-0, 14 KO), 31, was peppered Philadelphia. In his first title defense since - destroying Adonis Stevenson in a fight that ing up to this fight. While he wished left the Canadian in a medically induced Stevensonwith questions the best about and his was state happy of mind to hear lead of coma, Gvozdyk secured a fifth-round stop- his recovery, Gvozdyk insisted it would not page win when Ngumbu suffered a calf have any impact on his approach in the ring injury. The fifth round had the Ukrainian in in his second fight with trainer Teddy Atlas. complete control of the bout when Ngumbu Having successfully defended his title, suddenly turned his back on the champion major fights ahead for Gvozdyk could before grabbing onto the ropes and limping include Artur Beterbiev (13-0, 13 KO) of back to his corner. Russia, who is scheduled to fight against Amid a raucous Ukrainian crowd chant- Radivoje Kalajdzic (24-1, 17 KO) of Bosnia- ing “Gvoz-dyk,” the reigning champ had lit- Herzegovina on May 4, or Sergey Kovalev tle trouble handling Ngumbu before the Mikey Williams/Top Rank (33-3-1, 28 KO) of Russia – all big names stoppage, although he was disappointed Light heavyweight WBC champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk lands a straight left against promoted by Top Rank. Other potential with the way the fight went and its odd Doudou Ngumbu of France during a title-defense bout in Philadelphia. matches may be Gilberto Ramirez (39-0, 25 ending. KO) of Mexico and Eleider Alvarez (24-1, 12 “It wasn’t what I expected, but I did my round, followed by a right, but Ngumbu’s accidental foul, even though there was no KO) of Colombia, the former moving up best,” Gvozdyk said in a post-fight interview constant movement precluded Gvozdyk contact and the fight should have been from super middleweight. on ESPN. “Sometimes this happens [in box- from landing any effective combinations. stopped. Finally Dali stopped the bout at 58 Gvozdyk will not have a problem finding ing]. It is what it is.” Gvozdyk, a 2012 Olympic bronze medal- seconds when it was obvious Ngumbu could future competitive opponents, and Top Rank The first round saw Gvozdyk start ist, continued on the offensive in the fifth not walk off his injury. hinted there would probably be at least one strong, nailing Ngumbu with a solid right round, only to have Ngumbu suddenly come Ngumbu (38-9, 14 KO), 37, eventually unification fight prior to the end of the year. hand, and the Congo native showing the up limping. Apparently Ngumbu had injured sat down in his corner and began to cry That is Gvozdyk’s targeted ambition. style most expected from him – awkward his right calf and grabbed onto the ropes to with disappointment at the outcome. “My goal is to unify titles,” he said after with lots of herky-jerky moves. A left hook gain some balance. Referee Eric Dali decided Per CompuBox statistics, Gvozdyk land- the Ngumbu bout. “I will wait to see what from Gvozdyk made contact in the fourth to grant Ngumbu time to recover, ruling an ed 47 of 204 punches (23 percent) and my team tells me to do next.”

former gas executive and ex-minister Yuriy place before and during the election.” have one opportunity left to bring in a dra- Tymoshenko... Boiko finishing fourth with 11.68 percent. Ukrainian Central Election Commission matic change, to implement a new course, Voter turnout was reported to be 63 percent. head Tetyana Slipachuk said that voting and this is the next parliamentary elections.” (Continued from page 3) The election results mirrored three sepa- and counting of votes took place “without She said after those elections, “we will technologies to have the results he wanted rate exit polls, which showed Mr. Zelensky, systemic violations,” and international start an era of the country’s rebirth.” so that he could move on to the runoff [on who portrays a teacher-turned-president in observers said on April 1 that the election Meanwhile, the European Network of April 21].” a television series, with at least 30 percent. was “well administered” and “competitive.” Elections Monitoring Organizations “Thirty-nine candidates were registered All the polls put Mr. Poroshenko in second Ms. Tymoshenko did not offer an (ENEMO) called on April 2 for Messrs. in order to spread out the votes. ...A person with about 18 percent, while Ms. Tymo­ endorsement for either of the two candi- Zelensky and Poroshenko to hold a series with the same surname as mine was also shenko followed with around 14 percent. dates in the runoff election, which will be of debates before the runoff. registered,” she said, contending that Despite her allegations, Ms. Tymoshenko held on April 21. “Despite their absence before the first “many ballots” cast by her supporters were added that she would not challenge the round, the campaign was still competitive,” filled out mistakenly as a result. results, saying, “I respect the choice of the within society, among those who did not said Pierre Peytier, an ENEMO representa- Ukraine’s Central Election Commission people.” give“I theirunderstand votes to that the twothere candidates is a question who tive in Kyiv. “We call and emphasize that the (CEC) said on April 2 that, with more than “Poroshenko could not make it to the officially made it to the runoff, who ask debates before the second round are 99 percent of the votes counted, Mr. runoff [election normally],” she continued. each other, ‘What is next, who should I vote extremely important for the election cam- Zelensky had won 30.23 percent and Mr. “But he made it via falsifications. ...Because for?’...We will do everything to prevent falsi- paign.” Poroshenko 15.92 percent. Ms. Tymoshenk­ o [he] ‘privatized’ all the courts and we were fications [of the vote] in the second round An election mission from the U.S.-based garnered 13.39 percent to place third, with unable to challenge the violations that took of the election,” she said. National Democratic Institute also called Ms. Tymoshenko said that she and her for debates to be scheduled between the party “will be helping any president whom two candidates. 1983), is a Crimean Solidarity civic journal- the country will select – helping to include The National Public Broadcasting 23 arrested... ist and activist. He has three children. the concepts, the theses, and the strategies Company of Ukraine on April 1 invited the Shaban Umerov, (born October 22, that have been laid down in [my party’s candidates to take part in a debate. (Continued from page 6) 1969), is a Crimean Solidarity activist. He political program, the] New Course.” Seitveli Seitabdiev, (born March 16, has three children. She also said she would focus her efforts Copyright 2019, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted 1994), is a Crimean Solidarity activist. He Asan Yanikov, (born September 11, on helping her party, Batkivshchyna to suc- with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ has two children. 1986), is a civic activist involved in organiz- ceed in general elections due to be held in Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Rustem Seitkhalilov, (born January 18, ing food parcels for political prisoners. October. Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see 1984), is a Crimean Solidarity activist. He Edem Yayachikov, (born May 1, 1982), “The chance we’ve lost in the first round https://www.rferl.org/a/tymoshenko- has three children. is a Crimean Solidarity activist, who active- of the presidential election is just one claims-election-falsified-but-will-not-chal- Rustem Sheikhaliev, (born June 22, ly attended all political court hearings. He chance,” Ms. Tymoshenko said. “We still lenge-result/29856635.html). 1979), is a Crimean Solidarity civic journal- has three children. ist. He has three children. Fifty-five children have seen their fathers Ruslan Suleymanov, (born April 21, taken away, as had 111 before them.

So, while Ukraine likely has the know- Liquidation... how to begin arming itself with short- and medium-range missiles, not everyone in (Continued from page 2) the region welcomes the potential implica- there [Ukraine]. We express full solidarity tions of such a development. on this issue with the Russian side.” Mr. Lukashenka also expressed hope that The article above is reprinted from “Ukraine will not become a playground for Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from big nations,” because “Ukrainians do not its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, deserve it” (Rosbalt, March 1). www.jamestown.org. 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 No. 14

transparent and democratic. The elections in a statement on April 2. “This has been expected “all illegally detained Ukrainians to NEWSBRIEFS corresponded to international standards their approach for several years, and it be released without delay.” The statement and reflected the will of Ukrainian people. should stop. These men should be released added: “The European Union expects the (Continued from page 2) In addition, UWC Mission confirmed at once,” Ms. Denber added. A Russia- Russian Federation to end these practices be addressed according to Mission Canada numerous disinformation attacks controlled court in the Crimean capital, and to take all necessary steps to ensure were the change of legislation regarding employed against Ukraine by the Russian Symferopol, said on March 29 that since that human rights and fundamental free- participation of internally displaced per- media as an element of its hybrid war March 27, 23 Crimean Tatars had been doms can be exercised by all in Crimea, against Ukraine. The UWC missions count- arrested and placed in pretrial detention without discrimination on any grounds.” high concentration of media ownership by ed 219 short-term observers from 16 coun- until May 15, on a charge of belonging to Since Russia seized the Ukrainian peninsula asons few (IDPs), interests, opaque and somecampaign candidates financing, not tries, while the UCCA group has 78 such the Hizb ut-Tahrir Islamic group. HRW said in 2014, Russian authorities have prosecut- observing campaign media rules. Also on observers. (Ukrainian Canadian Congress that one man has been charged in absentia ed 31 Crimean Tatars for allegedly belong- April 1, Eugene Czolij, head of the Daily Briefing) and is wanted by Russian law enforcement. ing to Hizb ut-Tahrir. In February, the branch Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) Russia banned Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in Human Rights Watch blasts Russia International Observation Mission in organization in 2003 but the group oper- the Black Sea region launched probes Ukraine, together with his colleagues Human Rights Watch (HRW) has con- ates legally in Ukraine and much of Europe. against eight alleged members of the group Andrew Futey of Ukrainian Congress demned the recent arrests of 23 Crimean Russian authorities said that 20 of the men accused of plotting to seize power in Committee of America, Maryna Tatars by Russian authorities, calling it an were arrested in Crimea, and the other Crimea. Hizb ut-Tahrir is a global organiza- Iaroshevych, and Tamara Gallo-Olexy gave “unprecedented move to intensify pressure three in a Russian city as part of the same tion based in London that seeks to unite all a press conference at Ukraine Crisis Media on a group largely critical” of Moscow’s sei- Muslim countries into an Islamic caliphate. Center on the preliminary result of the zure of Ukraine’s Crimea region. “The saying that their clients had been trans- The group can operate legally in Ukraine. presidential elections observation. Despite sweeping arrests in Crimea aim to portray portedoperation. to theHRW Russian quoted city their of Rostov-on-lawyers as However, Russia’s Supreme Court banned it a few violations that were not systemic in politically active Crimean Tatars as terror- Don, some 500 kilometers from in 2003, branding its supporters “extrem- nature, the UWC reported that the process ists as a way to silence them,” said Rachel Symferopol, where they were being held in ists.” (RFE/RL) isolation. They have been charged with of expression of political will during the Denber, deputy Europe and Central Asia State Department condemns arrests first round of the presidential election was director at the New York-based watchdog, organizing activities of a terrorist organiza- tion or with participating in such a terrorist In a March 28 Twitter statement, State organization, according to HRW. It said that Department deputy spokesman Robert 14 of the men arrested were active partici- Palladino called on Russia to release the pants in the human rights group Crimean arrested men “and the 70+ other unjustly Solidarity, while the other 10 had been imprisoned Ukrainians.” A court in the involved with some of the organization’s Crimean capital, Symferopol, said on March TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL Walter Honcharyk (973) 292-9800 x3040 activities such as attending trials. Rights or e-mail [email protected] 29 that since March 27, 23 Crimean Tatars groups and Western governments have had been arrested and placed in pretrial denounced what they describe as a cam- detention until May 15, on charges of SERVICES PROFESSIONALS paign of repression by the Russian- belonging to the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir imposed authorities in Crimea who are tar- Islamic group. Crimean Solidarity, a human geting members of the Turkic-speaking rights group that has members in Crimea Crimean Tatar community and others who and other parts of Ukraine, said earlier that have spoken out against Moscow’s take- at least 25 homes of Crimean Tatars were over of the peninsula. (RFE/RL) searched on March 27 in Symferopol, and OCU faces eviction in Russia-annexed Crimea nearby districts. Rights groups and Western governments have denounced The independent Orthodox Church of what they describe as a campaign of Ukraine (OCU) is facing eviction in repression by the Russian-imposed author- Symferopol, the capital of Ukraine’s ities in Crimea who are targeting members Crimean peninsula, which was seized by of the Turkic-speaking Crimean Tatar com- Russia in 2014. Crimea’s Russia-installed munity and others who have spoken out minister of land and property issues, Anna against Moscow’s takeover of the peninsu- SERVICES Anyukhina, told the state-run TASS news la. (RFE/RL with reporting by TASS) agency on March 29 that the peninsula’s Moscow-controlled government had filed a Ukraine bans flights to Russia lawsuit with a local court demanding the The Ukrainian government has banned Church’s eviction. “This religious organiza- unscheduled flights to Russia after a recent tion has failed to reorganize its founding visit to Moscow by two opposition politi- documents in compliance with the legisla- cians. The action was initiated by Ukraine’s ture of the Russian Federation and currently Internal Affairs Minister Arsen Avakov, who does not pay taxes in Crimea and is not offi- said on April 3 that presidential candidate HELP WANTED cially registered,” Ms. Anyukhina said. “Due Yuriy Boiko and Opposition Platform – For to the reason that this organization has no Life party official Viktor Medvedchuk had reason to remain in the building it occupies, “used a loophole in Ukraine’s legislation” to Live-in caregiver needed for my mother the ministry is working on vacating that in Silver Spring MD. Near churches, take a direct flight to Moscow last month. thriving Ukrainian community, nice building and a relevant motion has been Mr. Avakov said the ban would not apply to home. Experience/patience with AZ filed with a court,” she added. Ms. potential flights arranged for international preferred. Anyukhina added that the Church will be organizations such as the Organization for [email protected] allowed to use the building for free on a Security and Cooperation in Europe or 617-566-1996 contractual basis if it re-registers with (OSCE), the United Nations and the Red Russian authorities. In early January the Cross. Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr OPPORTUNITIES Orthodox Church of Ukraine was granted Groysman said “these restrictions will independence, or autocephaly, ending more remain in place until Russia… ceases to be than 330 years of Russian religious control an aggressor country and turns into a civi- Earn extra income! in Ukraine. Moscow long opposed such lized state.” Ukrainian Prosecutor General WANT IMPACT? efforts by the Ukrainians for an indepen- Yuriy Lutsenko said a probe will be The Ukrainian Weekly is looking dent Church, which intensified after Russia Run your advertisement here, for advertising sales agents. launched into the two opposition politi- annexed Crimea and threw support to sepa- in The Ukrainian Weekly’s For additional information contact cians’ “illegal border crossing” when they Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, ratists in parts of Ukraine’s eastern regions flew to Russia on March 22, where they met CLASSIFIEDS section. The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. of Donetsk and Luhansk. Earlier in March, with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Russia-controlled authorities in Crimea Medvedev and Aleksei Miller, the CEO of briefly detained the head of the OCU in the Russian energy giant Gazprom, with whom region, Archbishop Klyment, for unknown they discussed ways to restore trade and KULINSKI MEMORIALS reasons. (RFE/RL, with reporting by TASS) economic ties. Direct flights between the two countries were stopped in October 809 SOUTH MAIN STREET • MANVILLE, NJ 08835 EU to Russia: Stop targeting Crimean Tatars 2015 amid a standoff over Moscow’s TEL. 908-722-3130 FAX 908-253-0027 The European Union has called on annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula TOLL FREE 800-458-5467 [email protected] Russian authorities to stop targeting Tatars and its support for separatists in eastern • Serving Ukrainian families for over 60 years in Russian-annexed Crimea. A court in the Ukraine in 2014. (RFE/RL, based on Crimean capital, Symferopol, said on March reporting by Obozrevatel and UNIAN) • Over 40 granite colors to choose from 29 that since March 27, 23 Crimean Tatars • Custom etchings had been arrested and placed in pretrial Ukraine reports escalation of attacks • House appointments available detention until May 15, on charge of belong- One Ukrainian soldier was killed and • Serving the tri-state area ing to the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir Islamic four wounded in what the Ukrainian mili- • 5 minutes from South Bound Brook, NJ group. An EU spokesperson said in a March 30 statement that the European Union (Continued on page 19) No. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 19

from Macedonia. In a separate investiga- Defense Forces. Russia’s military exercises Ukraine in 2015 for subversive activities. NEWSBRIEFS tion, the Prosecutor’s Office in the extend through the territory of Dagestan, According to the SBU, the “Ukrainian Zakarpattia region said on March 30 that North Ossetia, the Rostov and Stavropol National Army” was headed by a local resi- (Continued from page 18) officers of the Security Service of Ukraine regions of Russia, occupied Crimea, as well dent, Yuriy Zabolotny, who was repeatedly tary has called an escalation of attacks by (SBU) had found 130 kilograms of heroin as in the Black and Caspian seas. (Ukrainian detained by National Police officers for ille- Russia-backed separatists in eastern worth $10 million in a village house. Canadian Congress Daily Briefing) gal storage of weapons and robbery. An Ukraine, one day before the country votes Ukraine is “a transit country for trafficking agent from Russian special services, in the first round of its presidential elec- heroin from Afghanistan to Western and SBU disrupts operation of fake groups Mykola Dulsky, supplied cash for extremist activity. “The Russian track” in the activities tion. In a statement on March 30, the Central Europe, mainly via the Northern The press service of the Security Service of the group was confirmed by searches Ukrainian military said the situation in the Black Sea route and from Russia,” according of Ukraine (SBU) announced on March 29 region had “escalated significantly” over to the European Monitoring Center for conducted by the SBU in Odesa, said Vasyl that it halted the activities of Russia-led Hrytsak, the head of the SBU. “Two people the past 24 hours, accusing the rebels of Drugs and Drug Addiction. A country over- extremist organizations that aimed to utilizing heavy weapons banned under the view on the agency’s website says that were citizens of the Russian Federation and destabilize the situation in Ukraine during the unrecognized Transnistrian People’s Minsk peace agreements. The Ukrainian “some activities relating to stocking and the election. Members of these groups military said its forces had killed four sepa- transhipment of heroin have been noted on Republic, and the third one was a citizen of received a task from the Russian special Ukraine, a native of Transnistria,” con- ratist fighters and wounded six more. On the territory of Ukraine in recent years.” services to create the “Ukrainian Insurgent April 2, Ukraine’s military reported the EMCDDA also says that cocaine originating firmed the SBU chief. During the search, the Army” and the “Ukrainian National Army” SBU seized ammunition, weapons, military deaths of two more soldiers: Yana in Latin America enters Ukraine through paramilitary formations. The groups were Chervona and Oleksandr Miliutin. Ms. Poland, Russia or countries in the Middle coordinated by a native of the Russian Chervona was a well-known volunteer who East and West Africa. On March 21, the SBU thousand copies of newspapers with an Federation, Rustam Tashbayev, a equipment,appeal to join communication the “Ukrainian devices National and a joined the army. She left behind two chil- announced that it had seized more than a Kaliningrad Naval Academy graduate and Army’s” activities. (Ukrainian Canadian dren, age 8 and 10. Since April 2014, some now a U.S. citizen who was expelled from Congress Daily Briefing) 13,000 people have been killed in fighting million on a South American cargo ship between Kyiv’s forces and the Russia- thatquarter had of docked a ton of in cocaine the Black worth Sea some port $51 of backed separatists who control parts of the Odesa. (RFE/RL, with reporting by AFP) Donetsk and Luhansk regions. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by AFP and UNIAN; NATO members’ ships enter Black Sea With deep sorrow we announce that Embassy of Ukraine to the U.K.) The Dutch Navy destroyer Evertsen, the Ukraine seizes over 700 kilos of heroin Canadian frigate Toronto and the Spanish Jaroslaw Oleh Herman frigate Santa Maria entered the Black Sea on The authorities in Ukraine say they have March 28 to participate in the Sea Shield 75, of Rutherford, New Jersey, passed away on Saturday, March seized heroin worth about $60 million in exercise per Ukraine’s invitation. For the 9, 2019. He was born in Lviv, Ukraine, on November 12, 1943. He raids in the country’s center and west. next three weeks the Canadian warship will immigrated to the United States in 1950. National Police chief Serhiy Knyazev on be joining NATO allies in the Black Sea to March 31 announced on Facebook two conduct exercises and patrols as part of the Jaroslaw is survived by his wife Larissa (Bekesevych) Herman, raids in the Kyiv region yielding “600 kilo- Standing NATO Maritime Group 2. Russia’s daughter Natalka Doblosky with husband Eric and two children, grams of heroin worth $50 million,” adding: Defense Ministry issued an immediate Nicholas and So‹ a; son Bohdar Herman with wife Melissa and “I have never seen so much heroin seized statement saying that their ships formed a two children, Kathryn and Benjamin; sister Roxolana Siryj with by the Ukrainian police.” Mr. Knyazev wrote convoy to escort the three NATO frigates husband Bohdan, and children Areta, Tamara and late Bohdan. that more than 100 kilograms of the pow- that entered the Black Sea region at the invi- der had been found overnight “in a profes- tation of Ukraine. In addition, the Russian A Memorial Mass was held at Marrocco Memorial Chapel in - military has been conducting training exer- um-class car” outside Kyiv. He added that cises in the Black and Caspian seas, with Clifton, New Jersey on March 14, 2019. The Funeral Liturgy was foursionally people equipped had been cubby detained: hole in a citizena premi of more than 5,000 troops participating, held on March 15, 2019 at Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Moldova, another from Turkey and two including the 58th and 49th Military Air Church in Passaic, New Jersey. Contributions in memory of Jaroslaw may be made to The Ukrainian Museum in New York City, 222 East 6th Street, New York, NY 10003; www.ukrainianmuseum.org

May his memory be eternal.

У глибокому смутку ділимося болючою вісткою з рідними і знайомими, що 21 березня 2019 року відійшла у вічність наша найдорожча Дружина, Мама, Бабця і Сестра св. п. Люба Книш з дому Миськів Stephanie Czerepanyn народжена 28 квітня 1947 року у Кронберґ, Німеччина. née Hoszko Похоронні відправи відбудуться в п’ятницю, 12 квітня 2019 року, в Українському Католицькому Соборі Пресвятої Родини у Вашінґтоні, August 22, 1943 - March 20, 2019 Д.К. With deep sorrow we inform you of the passing into eternal rest of Залишилися у глибокому смутку: our beloved mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother, чоловік - Роман Stephanie Czerepanyn. діти - Роман з дружиною Кейт Born in Sokolyky, Ukraine on August 22, 1943, Stephanie was pre- - Марко з дружиною Сарою deceased by her husband William Czerepanyn. внуки - Мія, Роман, Марко, Шарлот, Матейко Working for many years at Surma on 7th Street in the East Village, сестра - Маруся Ференс з родиною Pani Stepha was a well known unoŒ cial ambassador of the Ukrainian брат - Олег Миськів з родиною community. Tourists and locals alike felt like they came home whenever родини - Степові, Дицьо, Перфецькі, Мельник, they visited Surma and Pani Stepha. Базарко, Гошовські In deep sorrow, son, William Jr., daughter, Alexandra Lesia Vazeos, her Вічна Їй пам’ять! husband Dimitri. Her brother Walter Hoszko, grandchildren Stephanie Samuels, her husband Scott Samuels, Andrea Vazeos, Natasha Czerepanyn, Замість квітів на свіжу могилу Покійної, просимо складати пожертви Kyler Czerepanyn, Jonathan Czerepanyn and great-grandchild Michael на дослідження хвороби Альцгеймера: Dimitri Samuels. Nephews Mark Hoszko with wife Ruth, George Hoszko Чеки виписувати на: The Warren Alpert Medical School with wife Judith, Andrew Hoszko and niece Natalie Hoszko, Tina Rokoszak Мемо: Alzheimer’s Research - Luba Knysh and grand niece Kylie Rokoszak. Адреса: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Parastas was held at Peter Jarema Funeral Home. Funeral services Attn: Mary Ellen Grosvenor, Biomedical Advancement were held at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church on 7th Street in New 350 Eddy Street York City. Stephanie was layed to rest next to her husband in Holy Spirit Providence, RI 02912 Cemetery in Campbell Hall, NY. https://brunonia.brown.edu/giving/article/can-we-prevent-alzheimers May her memory be eternal. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 No. 14

empty stadium used for soccer matches Zelensky... and musical concerts, Mr. Zelensky further- more demanded an apology from his com- (Continued from page 1) petitor that he is not a “puppet of the Yanukovych also declined to spar with Ms. Kremlin or Kolomoisky…a clown or a ‘little Tymoshenko when they faced off in 2010. Russian.’ ” President Poroshenko first challenged That same night, Mr. Poroshenko his opponent on election night at his cam- released his own video shot outside the paign headquarters in the Mystetskyi Presidential Administration where he said Arsenal art complex after the polls closed he and his opponent are “two different at 8 p.m. people with two different geopolitical ori- “The debates should be the key element entations.” of the election in the second round,” Mr. He continued: “My country is a strong Poroshenko said, looking exhausted, yet European country that won’t ever, under relieved. “If someone avoids debates, it any circumstances, kneel down before any- means that he has nothing to say.” one.” Adding that the “jokes [have] ended,” he Implying that the unproven politician is referred to Mr. Zelensky as a creature of trying to provoke him, the chocolate mogul Ihor Kolomoisky, a billionaire whose televi- said that “debates aren’t a show…there’s no sion channel for seven years has broadcast room here for jokes. To be a president and the upstart politician’s comedy shows and commander-in-chief isn’t a game or desire Presidential Administration of Ukraine sitcom in which he plays a history teacher- to be appealing to someone.” President Petro Poroshenko gestures after voting in Kyiv on March 31 together with turned-accidental president. The Central Election Commission (CEC) First Lady Maryna Poroshenko. “I’m not ashamed to say – I was destined said the two candidates’ public accord to to meet in the second round with a puppet debate could be in violation of election law press conferences,” he told Interfax- named. of Kolomoisky,” he said, adding that he because it can be construed as campaign- Ukraine news agency. In that case, such Dmytro Razumkov was a member of the wants “to complete what was started, not ing given that the official first-round results events are financed by the respective can- youth wing of the pro-Russian Party of to ruin what was done and not to waste haven’t yet been announced. didates’ campaign funds. Regions that ex-President Yanukovych led. what was hard won by people…” CEC Deputy Chairman Yevhen Although he announced his candidacy In an interview with gazeta.ua on March On April 3, Mr. Zelensky accepted the Radchenko said that two articles of the only three months ago, on New Year’s Eve, 12, 2006, the younger Razumkov said that challenge with a video published on social election law regulate presidential debates. Mr. Zelensky has surprised a field of old he joined the party because he was always media. Among his conditions is the candi- One stipulates that the debate takes place political faces with a vague platform and a in favor of making Russian an official lan- dates take medical examinations prior to two days before the runoff (April 19) and campaign that has eschewed public rallies guage on par with Ukrainian. the debate “to prove to the people that on the state-run broadcaster that is funded and town halls. Focusing more on giving Before the first-round of the presidential among them there are no alcoholics or from the state budget. Crimean-born jour- regular skit show performances and a slick election, Dmytro Razumkov told Tyzhden drug addicts.” nalist Pavlo Kazarin was named moderator social media presence, he has also been magazine that his candidate is for He proposed Kyiv’s 70,000-capacity for the event. highly selective in giving interviews. Ukrainian as the sole state language. Olympic Stadium as the venue instead of The other applies to “election campaign- Mr. Kolomoisky told the Israeli newspa- “There can be no other alternatives,” he the state-run TV studio as stipulated by the ing, which is regulated by Article 58 of the per Makor Rishon in an article published said. presidential election law. law on presidential elections regarding the on March 21 that his longtime contractual Mr. Razumkov was seen on election Seen walking onto the pitch of the conduct of public debates, discussions and partner had planned to run for president in night at Mr. Zelensky’s headquarters with 2015 when the first season of “Servant of Andriy Bohdan, a lawyer who has repre- the People,” in which he plays a fictional sented Mr. Kolomoisky, and his associate president, premiered. Hennadiy Korban. The lawyer was also Mr. By 2017 he had informed Mr. Kolomoisky’s adviser when he was gover- Kolomoisky “that he was going to run for nor of his native Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in president… After that, I thought, ‘Actually, the aftermath of the 2014 Euro-Maidan why not?’” the Jewish-Ukrainian business- Revolution. man said in the interview. Also a native of Dnipropetrovsk region, Mr. Zelensky’s contract with the busi- Mr. Zelensky was seen playing foosball and nessman’s 1+1 channel runs through 2022, table tennis with journalists just minutes Mr. Kolomoisky told the Israeli newspaper. before the preliminary exit polls were The front-runner, who could become announced on 8 p.m. Ukraine’s first Jewish president, didn’t “I thank all Ukrainians who today voted respond to an e-mailed request for com- for me not in jest. This is the beginning of a ment regarding this interview. great victory,” he said while standing on The Zelensky campaign has promised to stage with his wife Olena Zelenska. release a more elaborate list of advisers and Meanwhile, Mr. Poroshenko has a moun- policy papers before the runoff. Reformers tain to climb and now is seen as an under- Oleksandr Danyliuk, a former finance minis- dog. ter, and ex-Economy Minister Aivaras To secure victory, he said “we need total Volodymyr Zelensky campaign Abromavicius have guided him so far. mobilization of all Ukrainian patriots… of Joined by his spouse, Olena Zelenska, lead presidential candidate Volodymyr His political consultant is Dmytro all those who fight for Ukraine, putting Zelensky gives a speech after the polls closed on March 31 at the Parkovy Congress Razumkov, the son of Oleksandr Razumkov aside all political colors, putting aside all and Exhibition Center in Kyiv. after whom a prominent think tank is the insults, we can unite.” No. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 21 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 No. 14

“Embroidered Memories” folk-art installation opens in Toronto

St. Vladimir Institute master’s thesis was the Ukrainian Canadian embroidered podushka. Field work entailed TORONTO – “Embroidered Memories” is a cross-Canada journey in 2015 and inter- a folk-art installation and exhibit that fea- views with over 50 individuals and museum tures hand-embroidered Ukrainian pillows staff, which led to a greater understanding (podushky), collected from Ukrainian and appreciation of the evolution of Canadian families across the country. The Ukrainian embroidery in Canada over the exhibit space at St. Vladimir Institute will last 125 years. “Embroidered Memories” is be filled with more than 750 pillows; it the culmination of her research. spans four generations of artistry and pays In addition to many of her own travelling homage to over 150 artisans who skillfully exhibits, Ms. Cheladyn has curated and expressed their personal and cultural designed exhibits for Grupo Li Gallery expression with a needle and thread. (Caracas, Venezuela), Botanical Gardens Ukrainian embroidered podushky are Gallery (Geneva, Switzerland), Kule Folklore one of the most popular and enduring Center at the University of Alberta, domestic symbols of ethnic identity found Oseredok Gallery (Winnipeg), Alberta in the home. They hold many meanings. For Council for the Ukrainian Arts at the Art some, these beautiful artifacts evoke a Gallery of Alberta (Edmonton). She has also deep, intuitive cultural bond to the taught illustration for over a decade at The Ukrainian homeland and immigrant experi- Kings University in Edmonton and contin- ence – it is an attraction that drives the ues to mentor emerging artists of all ages preservation and conservation instinct. For through artist-in-residence programming. others, they represent thousands of hours The exhibit opened on Sunday, March 31, of detailed stitchery and artistic excellence. and will be on view through June 2. Whatever the connection, embroidered Curator’s tours will be offered on Saturday, podushky have become keepsakes out of June 1, and Sunday, June 2, at 1 p.m. and respect for ancestors, as well as the sheer 3 p.m. beauty of the craftsmanship. “Embroidered Memories” is sponsored This installation was created by by the Kule Folklore Center, Shevchenko renowned Canadian artist/curator Larisa Foundation, St. Vladimir Institute and Sembaliuk Cheladyn. All the pillows have St. Vladimir Institute Ukrainian Pioneers Association of Alberta. been either donated or are on loan from Some of the “podushky” that are part of the exhibit “Embroidered Memories.” St. Vladimir Institute, a pre-eminent cen- Canadian families from Sidney, British ter of Ukrainian community life in the heart Columbia, to Sydney, Nova Scotia. Ms. Ms. Cheladyn is a world-renowned artist generation Ukrainian Canadian, she lives in of Toronto since 1963, is located at 620 Cheladyn will share the stories behind who has exhibited her watercolors Edmonton, Alberta. Spadina Ave., adjacent to the University of these eclectic artifacts, the artists and the throughout South America, in Europe and In 2000, Ms. Cheladyn accepted a posi- Toronto campus. The institute is a post-sec- many others who share a passionate rela- across Canada. She holds a B.F.A. in art and tion as a director on the board of the Kule ondary student residence, a cultural center tionship to these cultural icons. design and an M.A. in Ukrainian folklore Center for Ukrainian and Canadian Folklore and home to several Ukrainian Canadian “Embroidered Memories” was exhibited from the University of Alberta, and is cur- at the University of Alberta. In that capacity, organizations. Facilities include a theater, at Oseredok Ukrainian Cultural and rently completing a Ph.D. in media and cul- she worked closely with the Bohdan library, event space and the Ukrainian Educational Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba tural studies. As an artist, curator and Medwidsky Ukrainian Folklore Archives Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch. For (September-November 2018) and will be instructor, her career has been dedicated to and was inspired to return to university life more information see the institute’s website, travelling to major centers across Canada. engaging the public with the arts. A third- as a graduate student. The focus of her www.stvladimir.ca, or call 416-923-3318.

Discover Your Heritage Camp prepares for 2019 summer season

by Sandy Lemekha KERHONKSON, N.Y. – Soyuzivka Heritage Center’s Discover Your Heritage Camp 2019 is gearing up to be another action-packed, fun camp for children between the ages of 8 and 16. Organizing and directing the camp again this year is Sandy Lemekha, who is returning as camp director for the 11th year. Assisting her will be her husband, Vlodko Lemekha, as well as new and returning counselors, many of whom are former campers them- selves. This 24-hour supervised sleepover camp provides a well-rounded program of camp activities, while incorporating the Ukrainian heritage. This year’s theme will be “Tryzub – The History and Meaning.” The children will learn all about the try- zub, the national symbol of Ukraine, and will also do arts and crafts incorporating the tryzub into their projects. The program will include camp favor- ites, including hiking, swimming, lip sync battle, movies, laser tag, campfires and, of course, the Amazing Race. Discovery Camp is scheduled for July Tania D’Avignon 14-20. Participants of the 2018 Discover Your Heritage Camp at Soyuzivka Heritage Center.

Read the Ukrainian National Association’s newspapers online: www.ukrweekly.com • www.svoboda-news.com

Our online archives • Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union • Bahriany Foundation • SUMA Federal Credit Union are made possible by • Shevchenko Scientifi c Society, U.S.A. • Heritage Foundation of First Security Savings Bank generous donors: • Selfreliance Federal Credit Union • Anonymous donor No. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 23

Through April 28 Art exhibit, “Ivan Marchuk: Paintings,” Ukrainian Institute April 14 Dinner fund-raiser, “Pierogies for Peace,” supports Ukrainian New York of America, 212-288-8660 or www.ukrainianinstitute.org Cheektowaga, NY war victims and volunteers, Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church, [email protected] or 716-856-4476 Through June 2 Photography exhibit by Brendan Hoffman, Chicago “Brotherland: War in Ukraine,” Ukrainian Institute of April 14 Presentation by Glen Howard, “Ukraine’s Maritime Modern Art, www.uima-chicago.org or 773-227-5522 Chicago Security Priorities,” Ukrainian Congress Committee of America – Illinois Division, Ukrainian Institute of Through June 2 Exhibit, “Embroidered Memories” by Larisa Sembaliuk Modern Art, www.uima-chicago.org or 773-227-5522 Toronto Cheladyn, St. Vladimir Institute, www.stvladimir.ca or 416-923-3318 April 14 Easter bazaar, Ukrainian Homestead, Lehighton, PA www.ukrhomestead.com April 8 Presentation by Ostap Sereda, “Shaping the Ukrainian Cambridge, MA National Populism in Austrian Galicia in the Context of April 14 Pysanka Workshop, with instruction by Laryssa Czebeniak, East Central European Intellectual Debates (1860s- New York Ukrainian Institute of America, www.ukrainianinstitute.org 1870s),” Harvard University, https://huri.harvard.edu April 14 16th annual Easter Egg Hunt, Ukrainian National April 9 Presentation by Alexander Prigarin, “Odessa in New Haven, CT Association Branch 414, St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Stanford, CA European Vectors: Fate of a Cosmopolitan City in Church, 203-269-5909 Anthropological Perspective,” Stanford University, https://creees.stanford.edu/events or 650-725-2563 April 20 Concert, “Dazzling Duo” featuring Antonio Pompa-Baldi New York and Emanuela Friscioni, Ukrainian Institute of America, April 13 Presentation by Tamara Martsenyuk, “Why Shouldn’t 212-288-8660 or www.ukrainianinstitute.org New York Feminism be Feared?” Shevchenko Scientific Society, 212-254-5130 April 20 Spring Bazaar, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ottawa Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, April 13 25th annual Ukrainian Easter Festival, St. Mary Ukrainian [email protected] New Britain, CT Orthodox Church, 860-229-3833

April 13 Lenten retreat, “Focusing on the Ladder of Divine Ascent,” April 23 Presentation by Mariana Kaplinska, “Historic Cities of Bethlehem, PA St. Francis Center for Renewal, [email protected] or New York Ukraine: Perspectives for Research and Conservation,” 610-892-7315 Columbia University, http://harrimann.columbia.edu

April 13 Spring Market, Soyuzivka Gift Shop, Soyuzivka Heritage April 24-28 Film screening, “Julia Blue” by Roxy Toporowych, Julien Kerhonkson, NY Center, www.soyuzivka.com or 845-626-5641 Dubuque, IA Dubuque International Film Festival, www.julienfilmfest.com April 14 Jazz concert with pianists Anthony Coleman and Fima Chupakin, Jenkintown, PA celebrating the English-language translation of Serhiy Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events Zhadan’s latest book of poetry, “Zhadan & the Bushwick advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Book Club,” Yara Arts Group, Ukrainian Educational and from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors Cultural Center, 215-663-1166 or www.ueccphila.org and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 No. 14

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Friday, April 12 (Ukraine), where she is associate professor in NEW YORK: The Ukrainian Museum and the Department of Sociology. Dr. Martse­ Yara Arts Group present “Zhadan & the nyuk’s research interest focuses on the Bushwick Book Club.” New York City song- social structure of society, particularly gen- writers Susan Hwang, Charlie Nieland, der relations. The event will take place at the Rachelle Garniez, John S. Hall, Jessie Kilguss, society’s building, 63 Fourth Ave. (between Dallin Applebaum, Andi Rae Healy, Ray Ninth and 10th streets) at 5 p.m. For addi- Brown and Erel Pilo perform new songs. tional information call 212-254-5130. Filmmakers Lisa Barnstone, Roman Turovsky, artist Emilia Devitis and tattoo artist Tasha NEW BRITAIN, Conn: The 25th annual Rubinow display new work in response to Ukrainian Easter Festival will be held at St Mary’s Ukrainian Church, 54 Winter St. celebration of the publication of Mr. Zhadan’s (behind Newbrite Plaza). Featured will be Serhiybook ofZhadan’s poetry poems. in English Join us translation for this unique by Easter breads, for which the church is well- Virlana Tkacz and Wanda Phipps at 7 p.m. at known, and traditional Lenten foods, includ- The Ukrainian Museum, 222 E. Sixth St. ing borshch, holubtsi, halusky and varenyky. Tickets are $25; $20 for students, seniors and Ukrainian tortes, pastries and desserts will museum members. For information go to be available. All food is made by parishio- www.ukrainainmuseum.org. ners. Also for sale are pysanky and Easter egg-making supplies, Ukrainian gifts and Saturday, April 13 embroidery. Admission is free. Parking is NEW YORK: The Ukrainian Museum and behind the church. For information call 860- Yara Arts Group present “Zhadan and Jazz.” 229-3833. Serhiy Zhadan reads his poetry and Yara Sunday, April 14 actors read English translations, while jazz pianists Anthony Coleman and Fima JENKINTOWN, Pa.: The Ukrainian Chupakin play. The event celebrates the Educational and Cultural Center and Yara publication of Mr. Zhadan’s book of poetry Arts Group present “Zhadan and Jazz.” in English translation by Virlana Tkacz and Serhiy Zhadan reads his poetry and Yara Wanda Phipps at 7 p.m. at the Ukrainian actors read English translations, while jazz Museum, 222 E. Sixth St.. Tickets are $25; pianists Anthony Coleman and Fima $20 students, seniors and museum mem- Chupakin play. The event celebrates the bers. For information go to www.ukrainain- publication of Mr. Zhadan’s book of poetry museum.org. in English translation by Virlana Tkacz and Wanda Phipps. This event, supported by the NEW YORK: The Shevchenko Scientific Ukrainian Community Foundation of Society invites all to a book launch of “Why Philadelphia, begins at 2 p.m. at the UECC, Shouldn’t Feminism be Feared?” by Tamara 700 North Cedar Road, Jenkintown, PA Martsenyuk, Ph.D. in sociology from the 19046. For information call 215-663-1166 National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy or go to www.ueccphila.org.

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