The Ukrainian Weekly, 2021
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INSIDE: l Two Ukrainian films premiere at 2021 Cannes Film Festival – page 3 l Metropolitan Yurij of UOC of Canada retires – page 5 l Vasyl Lomachenko TKO’s Masayoshi Nakatani in ninth round – page 14 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal Wnon-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXIX No. 29 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021 $2.00 Putin’s ‘rambling’ manifesto causes stir in Kyiv Powerful Internal Affairs Minister Avakov and among Ukraine observers worldwide resigns without giving reason for the move by Mark Raczkiewycz internally displaced in Europe’s only ongo- ing shooting war. KYIV – Eleven days after Russian “I am convinced that true Ukrainian sov- President Vladimir Putin held his yearly ereignty is only possible in partnership “direct line” call-in show with ordinary citi- with Russia,” Mr. Putin wrote. “After all, we zens during which he promised to publish are one people.” an article on Ukraine, he delivered on the The diatribe was described as “ram- pledge and caused a stir on July 12 by call- bling” and riddled “with many [historical] ing the two nations “one people.” myths” by Peter Dickinson, editor of the He furthermore reiterated what he told Washington-based Atlantic Council’s then-U.S. President George Bush, Jr., at the Ukraine Alert service. sidelines of a NATO summit in April 2008, “[Mr.] Putin issues a number of thinly- “that Ukraine is not a country.” veiled threats and repeatedly demonstrates The Russian president’s 7,000-word his contempt for Ukrainian statehood,” he manifesto (when counted in English) was wrote. published on the Kremlin’s website, an Ukraine’s statehood is denied in the uncustomary practice that world leaders essay, while Mr. Putin said the current poli- usually reserve for inclusion on the opinion cies in Kyiv are “anti-Russia…which we will sections of print and online media outlets. never accept.” www.avakov.com It was first published in the Ukrainian Titled “On the Historical Unity of Outgoing Internal Affairs Minister Arsen Avakov inspects personnel under his com- and Russian languages, with the English- Russians and Ukrainians,” Russia’s leader mand in the war zone of eastern Ukraine on April 19 language version released on July 12. laid claim to much of modern-day Some passages contained ominous Ukrainian lands by stating that they are by Mark Raczkiewycz Avakov, 57, is one of the last officials not threats toward Ukraine’s independence “entirely the brainchild of the Soviet era, perceived as part of President Volodymyr amid an ongoing inter-state war that and was to a large extent created at the KYIV – Arsen Avakov, one of the most Zelenskyy’s inner-circle. Russia started eight years ago after invad- expense of historical Russian lands.” powerful and independent-minded govern- “I am honored,” his 36-word resignation ing and seizing Ukraine’s Crimean Penin- In response, Ukrainian President Volo- ment officials, tendered his resignation as concludes in a letter to parliament without sula and certain parts of the easternmost dym yr Zelenskyy compared his Russian internal affairs minister on July 13. providing a reason for the move. regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. counterpart’s assertions of “brotherhood” As the nation’s longest-serving top cop The Verkhovna Rada approved his resig- More than 14,000 people have been overseeing personnel in various agencies nation with 291 votes on July 15. killed so far, as well as 1.5 million people (Continued on page 13) numbering more than 300,000 people, Mr. Mr. Zelenskyy announced a successor, who heads the parliamentary law enforce- ment committee. Denys Monastyrsky is known to be on close terms with the outgo- ing minister’s team, “having served as an Nathan’s Famous hotdogs extends global reach aide to an Avakov ally in the previous legis- lature and worked at an affiliated think to make Ukraine 17th foreign market tank,” Kyiv-based Dragon Capital wrote in a note to investors. Originally from the Azerbaijani capital of Partners with Azerbaijani gas station chain to serve iconic hotdogs Baku, Mr. Avakov served under two presi- dents and survived four Cabinet reshuffles, by Mark Raczkiewycz including the latest one in March 2020 under the current president. KYIV – Nathan’s Famous, New York’s He controlled or coordinated the nation- legendary hotdog vendor, made its way al police force down to the local depart- to Ukraine’s capital on July 14 with much ment level, the National Guard, Emergency fanfare. Services, Migration Service and border In typical U.S. style complete with loud guards. American music, muscle cars, beer and, Under his tenure, he repelled pro-Rus- of course, sausage links served in a bun sian elements in Ukraine’s second-largest with six topping choices, the once Coney city of Kharkiv at the start of Russia’s Island nickel stand held a grand opening covert invasion of eastern Ukraine after the with U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires pro-democratic Euro-Maidan uprising cul- George Kent, American Chamber of minated in February 2014. Commerce President Andy Hunder and As the newly-appointed internal affairs the company’s Senior Vice President for minister in April 2014, Mr. Avakov took Restaurants James Walker among those in attendance. part in overseeing an elite multi-law “It was fantastic…it was a lot of fun, enforcement special operation to free the events like this brings in a lot of people,” Kharkiv regional government building Mr. Walker told The Ukrainian Weekly. from pro-Kremlin elements that included Russian nationals. Mr. Hunder, a British citizen, said the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine In 2005-2010, he served as governor of U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires George Kent gets ready to enjoy a Nathan’s hot- (Continued on page 9) dog in Kyiv on July 14. (Continued on page 7) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021 No. 29 ANALYSIS Anxious days of reckoning for Ukraine Attempt to block Tupytskiy rejected officers from across the country who had gathered in the capital on July 14 managed as Washington and Berlin call the shots Ukraine’s Supreme Court has over- to force their way inside the Verkhovna turned President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Rada after parliamentary speaker Dmytro decree annulling the appointment of country resisting Russian aggression and Razumkov did not meet with them outside by Bohdan Nahaylo Oleksandr Tupytskiy to the Constitutional one that sees itself as part of Europe. the building. After retreating amid volleys Court. Mr. Tupytskiy’s lawyer, Oleksandr During the final month before Ukraine At their press conference in Berlin, Ms. of tear gas, the demonstrators blocked Leshchenko, informed Ukrayinska Pravda will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its Merkel, who in a few weeks will leave streets in the area around the nearby gov- of the Supreme Court’s decision on July 14. independence, the country is facing height- office, seemed tired and unenthusiastic. ernment building. The demonstration An adviser at Mr. Zelenskyy’s office said the ened anxiety and uncertainty in the exter- She was superficial and evasive in her comes a day after Interior Minister Arsen president would appeal the decision. Mr. nal sphere. opening statement, referring to “separat- Avakov, who had run the police force since Zelenskyy dismissed Mr. Tupytskiy and Somehow unexpectedly, Kyiv finds itself ists” in occupied areas of Ukraine without 2014, unexpectedly offered his resignation another judge, Oleksandr Kasminin, in late hostage to whatever compromises and naming Russia as the aggressor; she gave without publicly providing an explanation. March for what he called threatening arrangements will be worked out in the no answer on the question of why Berlin The retired officers warned they will con- “Ukraine’s independence and national interim between Washington and Berlin. and Paris have not succeeded as mediators tinue to hold rallies in front of the parlia- security.” Both judges were appointed by Although it has sought to make its concerns in the Normandy format in obtaining any ment until their demands for improved pro-Russian former President Viktor and position known, and thereby to influ- tangible results; she also made no mention pensions are met. (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian ence the outcome of those negotiations, of her position on Ukraine’s quest to join Yanukovych, who was ousted in 2014 fol- Service) Ukraine’s representatives have been NATO and the European Union, nor did she lowing the Euro-Maidan protests. Mr. Zelenskyy trolls Putin reduced to waiting and hoping that those touch on Ukraine’s appeals to obtain weap- Zelenskyy’s move to oust the two judges arrangements fall in their favor. ons from Germany. came after the Constitutional Court in October 2020 struck down anti-corruption Ukrainian President Volodymyr Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelens- Instead, the German leader tried to Zelenskyy has trolled his Russian counter- kyy had what seemed to be a disappointing switch the onus to Ukraine, not only to the legislation and curbed the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Agency. The court part, saying he was “envious” that Vladimir working visit to Berlin on July 12. It took need for better progress in her view with Putin had enough free time on his hands to place soon after German Chancelor Angela regard to reforms in Ukraine – this has decision dealt a blow to reforms demanded by the West and threatened to impact lend- research the history of their peoples. Mr. Merkel and her French counterpart, become the major refrain in recent months Zelenskyy made the comment on July 13 in President Emmanuel Macron, had been from all of Ukraine’s hesitant partners – but ing from the International Monetary Fund. In response to the court ruling, Mr.