European choice as a strategy for Why the Donbas is politically inert despite Francis Fukuyama on the role Yanukovych to win frequent protests and frustration of the middle class in democratic the upcoming election with the government transformations

№ 17 (59) september 2013 The Last Tsar?

While Russia is reaching out for its neighbours, its internal

problems are unresolved www.ukrainianweek.com Featuring selected content from The Economist and mounting for free distribution

|contents briefing POLITICS Who Will Win the Game? As the European Choice Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius for Yanukovych as draws closer, doubts fade that Kyiv a weighty bonus and Brussels will sign the Association to help him in the Agreement. The next question is how next presidential they see its implementation election 4 6

FOCUS Oil addi ion Russian economy is heavily dependent on the price of fuels. So far, Russia has managed to avoid GDP decline thanks to the financial resources it accumulated earlier. How long will they la?

The Klondike for the Opposition: After Gas: Heavy Real growth, %, year on year Growth in %, year on year 15 100 Indury Protest sentiments are escalating dependence on exports GDP 80 10

60 in the Donbas. Distrust for of fuels brings Russian 5 40 0 politics and inert opposition economy to the verge 20 -5 0 make the dissent purely of a deep recession -10 Oil prices * (right-hand scale) Gas prices * -20 (right-hand scale) pragmatic and local -15 -40 -20 -60 I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II 8 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 12 * Eimates are based on WTI crude oil spot prices and monthly prices of Russian natural gas on the German border Sources: Russian Federal State Statiics Service, indemundi.com, own eimates

Resetting to a Cold Peace: Janusz Leonidas Donskis Bugajski on what will be testing the on how Europe lost temperature between Washington and Armenia Moscow in the near future

14 17

Phantoms of Disintegration: Derussification: The Kremlin’s ineffective Revanchist ambitions and regional policy and the the intent looming economic troubles to retain Muslim peoples fuel sparks of separatism within its orbit aggravate ethnic and religious 18 tensions in Russia 20 Society HISTORY Francis Fukuyama on The Cross Versus the Crescent middle class as the driver Moon: The Battle of Vienna of democracy, the role of as the last chord in the trust for the state and the Ottoman invasion to Europe, end of history and Ukrainian Cossacks in it 21 24 CULTURE & ARTS Harmonizing Ethno Chaos: Dig Deeper: DakhaBrakha’s Marko An intimate story of a Halanevych talks about solitary traveler from post-modernist folklore and Gogol Bordello music tastes in Ukraine 28 30 Navigator A Guide to Majestic Wooden Churches: Lucrative Lifesavers: Slender Gothic towers, lavish Baroque The hopes and perils iconostases and pre-Christian domes of betting on cancer hidden in the mountains along the treatments Polish-Ukrainian border 32 35

E-mail [email protected] Tel. (044) 351-13-87 www.ukrainianweek.com The Ukrainian Week № 17 (59) September 2013 Editors address 37 Mashynobudivna str., Kyiv, 03067, Ukraine Founder ECEM Media GmbH Print Novy Druk LLC, 1 Mahnitohorska str., Kyiv, 03056, Ukraine Publisher ECEM Media GmbH Ordering number 13-7776 Sent to print on 19 September 2013 Address Austria, Am Gestade,1, 1010 Vienna Print run 15 000. Free distribution State registration certificate КВ № 19823-9623ПР 19.03.2013 Head of editorial board Roman Tsupryk Our partner Editors Anna Korbut, Natalia Romaneс, Shaun Williams № 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|3 briefing| 13-19 September Shell is authorized Russia The mass media reports that the Sci- to start exploration launches a ence, Education and Youth Depart- then extract shale “milk war” ment of the Kyiv City State Administra- gas at Yuzivka Field against tion compiles lists of school students in Donetsk and Lithuania whose parents are journalists.These Kharkiv Oblasts dossiers may be used against journalists WHO WILL WIN THE GAME? As the November Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius draws closer, doubts fade that Kyiv and Brussels will sign the Association Agreement. How they see its implementation, is the question current interests of the govern- Author: The recent challenge from Rus- dum on Ukraine’s membership in ment. According to the more prag- Oleksandr sia has only reinforced motivation the Eurasian Customs Union and matic interests of Europeans, it Kramar to sign the Association Agreement the Cabinet of Ministers unani- should give more chances for a rel- this November. The unanimity with mously approved the draft EU- atively quick change of the current which the European Parliament Ukraine Association Agreement. In authoritarian political elite in came out against Russian pressure addition, the Verkhovna Rada be- Ukraine through the next presiden- and published a “practical support” gan to actively vote for laws that tial and parliamentary elections initiative for Eastern Partnership have to be passed before the sign- scheduled for 2015–2017 accord- participants, recorded in the Sep- ing. ingly, in what will then be an asso- tember 12 resolution, is notable. Recently, when accepting the ciated Ukraine. The release or During a discussion on the issue, credentials of ambassadors, Yanu- medical treatment abroad of Yulia the threat of a domino effect was kovych declared that: “… lately, we Tymoshenko is necessary. This will voiced after the announcement of and our EU partners have come to eliminate an important image-re- the Armenian President on Arme- the conclusion that Ukraine has lated irritant for European leaders, nia’s intent to drop EU Association achieved the criteria that comply first and foremost, Angela Merkel, in favour of membership in the Cus- with the Association Agreement who used their authority to de- toms Union with Russia. Calls came which is currently being prepared to help stabilize the countries that for the signing in Vilnius in No- are suffering economic and political vember.” These words, however, pressure from Moscow. A number tell more of the Ukrainian govern- of formulations of the final text of ment’s stance than the actual prog- the resolution, which Russian top ress in the execution of Füle’s list officials have already characterized or the criteria determined by the as a “hysterical reaction”, prove that EU Council last December. The the Kremlin’s actions have made the Ukrainian government’s compli- outcome of the Vilnius Summit ance with these requirements is more dependent on geopolitical re- a pre-condition for the signing of sistance, as well as that the Kremlin the Agreement. However, the EU is moving towards further confron- does not hide the fact that prior to tation. Under such conditions, the the summit, which is ten weeks European Parliament called on the away, the Ukrainian government European Commission and the Eu- will not fulfil all the conditions and ropean External Action Service Europeans will want at least (EEAS) to take action to protect the “progress” on this course. Ya- EU’s partners, and the EC and EU nukovych’s view is that ful- Council – to come up with specific filling several requirements, and effective measures to support in full or in part, should be partner-countries by means of tem- sufficient to demonstrate this porary application of relevant parts progress. The biggest stumbling of the Association Agreement and blocks are the approval of the DCFTA immediately after signing. Election Code and the resolu- In their turn, Viktor Yanu- tion of the Tymoshenko/se- kovych has tamed the anti-Euro- lective justice issue. The for- pean contingent in the Party of Re- mer should make it impos- gions, the Central Election Commit- sible to juggle election tee has rejected the Communist legislation prior to Party’s request to conduct a referen- each election to fit 4|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 |briefing

The Central ElectionC ommission The Anti-Monopoly The Party of Regions elects six ministers andF irstV ice Pre- rejects theC ommunistP arty’s Committee allows mier Serhiy Arbuzov to the party board. MPs Borys Kolesn- request to hold a referendum on Rinat Akhmetov to buy ikov and National Defence and Security Council Secretary An- Ukraine’s integration into the UkrTelecom, Ukraine’s driy Kliuyev are elected party deputy heads.T hese rotations CustomsU nion. The official reason biggest fixed line signal the Family’s growing influence in the party is violation of the submission operator mand the release of the imprisoned thus hopes to save face during the an interview for the Vesti (News) former prime minister. However, signing of the Agreement without newspaper, he commented on argu- for Yanukovych’s regime, the exe- full execution of the conditions de- ments supposedly made by Ukrai- cution of these two conditions is manded of Yanukovych. Its pretext nian officials in a discussion with obviously dangerous, because it is that the requirements can be ful- their Russian counterparts of pros- could complicate his staying in filled later as a necessary compo- pects of cooperation with the Cus- power after 2015. nent of ratification by the European toms Union once the Association For this reason, worth noting is Parliament. The EU will fully con- Agreement is signed: “First they say information on a possible change to trol the situation after such agree- that ‘we shall not be executing this enact several provisions of the Asso- ment is reached. On the one hand, it Agreement with the EU’, then they ciation Agreement temporarily can delay ratification by the Euro- convince us that ‘it will not be rati- prior to its ratification by all 28 EU pean Parliament until official Kyiv fied by European Parliaments’ and countries. In the current procedure, fulfils as many requirements as pos- so on.” This can partially explain the Agreement would only have to sible. On the other – if the threat of Yanukovych’s recent demonstrative be ratified by the Verkhovna Rada Ukraine being drawn into the Cus- “European activity” (see p. 6). The of Ukraine. According to the new in- toms Union comes to pass, said rati- potential expansion of his electorate formation, the European Parlia- fication will most likely go through thanks to voters who support Euro- ment will have to ratify it as well. quite quickly. After all, the EU un- pean integration, the picture of suc- The scope of the Association Agree- derstands all the problems that Rus- cess in Europe, and greater benevo- ment for temporary implementa- sian special services and lobbyists lence from the West in terms of tion will not be restricted to DCFTA can create during the approval of loans for Ukraine may be accompa- sections, as previously anticipated; the Association Agreement under nied by the government’s sabotage in all likelihood, it will also include a real or made-up pretexts, even if of complete fulfilment of the Asso- range of political sections. The EU power in Ukraine goes to the cur- ciation Agreement and/or of the rent democratic opposition. So, the conditions necessary to have it rati- Europeans may be trying to maxi- fied by all EU member-states. That mally expand the portion of provi- will allow Yanukovych to shrug off sions to be enacted temporarily un- all responsibility for it. He can til all 28 member-states ratify say that his team has done the Agreement. everything on its part, Equally interesting now it’s just a matter were the latest com- of how quickly the ments of Putin’s ad- Europeans will ratify viser, Sergey Glazyev, the Agreement. Per- who is responsible for haps, he is thus seek- drawing Ukraine into ing a version of a “Eu- the Customs Union. In ropean pause” which he would find much more convenient com- pared to the one he ex- perienced earlier. It appears that Kyiv and Brussels both count on the effect of the Asso- ciation Agreement that will cause them the least trou- bles and offer them the most options for manoeuvre. Even under these condi- tions, the signing is ex- tremely important and cru- cial for Ukraine’s long-term interests and European p r o s p e - cts.

№ 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|5 Politics|2015 presidential campaign European Choice for Yanukovych as a weighty bonus in the upcoming presidential election

Аuthors: fter a lengthy silence, Viktor South-Eastern Ukraine is mount- further expansion of his electoral Oleksandr Yanukovych has spoken. In ing as the “improvement of life to- base in these regions. This is noth- Kramar, an August 30 interview for day” – his key election commit- ing new. Leonid Kuchma initially Andriy Skumin Aseveral nationwide televi- ment in the eyes of most of his came to power thanks to his pro- sion channels he criticized Russia’s voters – has not been achieved Russian rhetoric and support of stance on Ukraine’s Association four years into his presidency, and South-Eastern Ukraine but was Agreement with the EU and said is not likely to come anytime soon. re-elected in 1999 thanks to voters that European integration is Meanwhile, voters do not want ex- in Central and Western Ukraine. Ukraine’s priority even if coopera- cuses, whether justified or not. Some local elites that found tion with Russia is not ruled out. In this situation, the ruling re- themselves out of the ruling con- On September 3, he spoke to legis- gime has no tools to halt the exo- glomerate after the 2012 parlia- lators regarding the need to pass dus of parts of its electorate to the mentary election (Baloha, Porosh- European integration bills, noting Communist Party, the opposition enko and others) have recently that “we must aim for success at (primarily Vitaliy Klitschko’s signalled that they would once the Vilnius Summit”. UDAR), and pro-Russian projects. again support Viktor Yanukovych Active attempts to construct a Moreover, the opposition has a if he had an attractive platform fo- new political image for Yanu- good motivation to seek new vot- cusing on “European integration”. kovych prior the 2015 presidential ers in Yanukovych's core oblasts Moreover, such a focus would rob race have been obvious. This where people feel disenchanted the opposition of one of its defin- comes as no surprise. Ukraine re- with the ruling regime (see p. 8). ing elements. Until recently, it was mains in a difficult socio-eco- Meanwhile, surveys paradoxically European integration coupled nomic position; budget gaps are show a better dynamic for the with resistance to Yanukovych’s widening and the status of the Party of Regions and Yanukovych anti-Ukrainian policies that dis- Russian language – one of his in Central and Western Ukraine, tinguished the opposition from election promises – was exploited not south-eastern oblasts. Clearly, those in power (overall populism in the parliamentary campaign, so this is due to different starting po- does not count). Opposition forces he needs something new. Frustra- sitions. Yanukovych’s spin-doc- have often stressed that the presi- tion in the president’s base in tors may well be contemplating dent’s anti-democratic policy is 6|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 the key obstacle to Ukraine’s asso- in geopolitical issues recently said: ciation with the EU. The new “What happened on the border, I strategy to promote Yanukovych believe, will make Ukraine, Ukrai- as a European integrator who is nian business and every Ukrainian eager to resist Moscow’s pressure stronger. We should learn a lesson and potentially sign the Associa- from this, and not depend on this… tion Agreement will negate this in the future.” Ihor Prasolov, Min- argument. The opposition's con- ister of Economy and ex-executive fused reaction to this new image in Akhmetov’s business, made a confirms the suggestion: so far, similar statement at almost the their arguments have centred on same time. Yanukovych’s insincerity, but this Apparently, there will be no will not work if Yanukovych backs serious confrontation within the his declarations with actions. Party of Regions. However, a split This does not rule out other in the party and the emergence of possible scenarios. Perhaps Yanu- an alternative pro-Russian force, kovych is using this European in- even if small, would damage the tegration rhetoric as a bargaining party’s image of a “monolithic chip with Putin to get a better team”. Ways to persuade the dis- price for ruining the association senting voices are known. Ihor process (like the one previously Markov, Party of Regions’ MP offered for entrance to the Cus- and leader of the Odesa-based toms Union). Perhaps the Kremlin radical pro-Russian party Rodina will arrange a provocation through (Homeland), reported that the its wide net of supporters in vari- court might soon strip him of his ous government bodies—a net that mandate to “show everyone” that has expanded significantly under they should not confront the the current president. If so, party line on European integra- Ukraine may follow the Armenian tion (High Administrative Court scenario. However, Russia has far stripped Markov of his mandate fewer mechanisms of influence in on September 12). For whatever Ukraine than it does in Armenia, reason, Viktor Medvedchuk’s old which currently sees Moscow as ally Nestor Shufrych threatened the only guarantee of protection to leave the party, stating that it from the growing threat of Azer- would be either him or European baijan. And convulsions by pro- integration at the faction meet- Russian lobbyists in the Party of ing, sources claim. Eventually, photo: reuters photo: Regions as well as their tough crit- though, he had to publicly deny icism of the party and national this and persuade journalists that leaders’ initiatives signal that the he would vote for all bills re- latter are serious about signing the quired to sign the Association Association Agreement. Agreement except for the gay Resistance to European inte- anti-discrimination one. Demon- gration among some junior Party stration of tools for maintaining of Regions MPs, including Oleh discipline in the faction and the Tsariov, Vadym Kolesnichenko, readiness to use them were not Nestor Shufrych, Ihor Markov, the only challenges that oppo- Viacheslav Bohuslayev, prevented nents of European integration the passing of some European inte- faced this week. Kyiv District’s gration laws during the first ple- Administrative Court banned the nary week. They claimed that the Communist Party’s public meet- laws were “not finalized”. As a re- ing to discuss a nationwide refer- sult, Oleksandr Yefremov, head of endum on joining the Customs the Party of Regions faction, had to Union announced by CPU leader ask Viktor Yanukovych to “talk” to Petro Symonenko and scheduled the MPs. According to Yefremov, for September 8. the concerned MPs are mostly the If those in power succeed in owners of companies oriented en- portraying themselves as support- tirely toward the Russian market ers of European integration and (Bohuslayev, for instance), as well take credit for it, this will have a as those involved in various Rus- very visible effect on the prospects sian projects in Ukraine (Kolesn- of Batkivshchyna and UDAR. They ichenko, Tsariov or Markov). will then have to either communi- Meanwhile, party heavyweight cate a clear alternative vision of re- Rinat Akhmetov who has powerful form and development for Ukraine groups both in the faction and the or face the gradual loss of their po- government and is mostly neutral litical prospects. Politics|protest potential The Klondike for the Opposition hoto: O leksiy Mitasov P hoto: Protest sentiments are escalating in the Donbas. But distrust for politics and inert opposition make the dissent purely pragmatic and local

Authors: ver the past two years, ernment institutions. Over the nian Week goes to the Donbas to Bohdan big and small protests past year alone, they have find out why it protests selec- Butkevych, have spread throughout stormed city councils, broken tively and locally. Denys Othe Donbas. They have into plants, blocked roads, went Kazanskyi been more active and effective on strike, took over mine admin- CHRONICLES OF DISSENT than elsewhere in Ukraine. The istrations and more. Most of The mining region is widely seen Kyiv-Donetsk- widespread stereotype in these protests had one thing in as being the most submissive Horlivka- Ukraine has it that people in the common: money or health. Their one; the locals will work in ko- Druzhkivka- Donbas are conformist, homoge- causes have been entirely local. panky – small illegal coalmines Kramatorsk- neous and stand by their compa- So was the effect. Meanwhile, (read more in Digging for Makiyivka- triots. However, they actually outrageous violations of human Billions at ukrainianweek. Luhansk prefer more radical action to rights or corruption stirred com) – for peanuts, but seem in- fruitless rallies in front of gov- hardly any reaction. The Ukrai- capable of protesting against 8|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 protest potential|Politics anything. “Indeed, our people are apathetic,” says Mykola Za- varza, an engineer and member of the Druzhkivka-based initia- tive group campaigning against increased utility tariffs in town. “They don’t even read newspa- pers. But the authorities have crossed the line and we can no longer endure this. So the locals begin to protest.” The Yanukovych cult that dominated Eastern Ukraine in 2004-2009 began to dispel as soon as Viktor Yanukovych be- came President and turned from a “solid manager” – as portrayed during his campaign - into a tsar, isolated from his voters. Having experienced the “immediate im- provement” - a key point in Yanu- kovych’s election platform – the people of the Donbas were far from happy. Some parts of the region stood up openly against the gov- The local ernment that they themselves branch of UDAR had elected. The first big rally conducts the was last year’s environmental “museum of failed protest in Mariupol before the promises” rally 2012 parliamentary election. in front of the 5,000 – 10,000 people took to Oblast State the streets demanding that au- Administration thorities stop the permanent poi- Office in sonous emissions from AzovStal, Makiyivka O leksiy Mitasov P hoto: the local sinter plant. After the protest, its owner and the richest opposition sentiments. “People terprises, at which the entire city Ukrainian oligarch, Rinat are completely disillusioned with worked. Akhmetov, ceased its operations. Yanukovych,” comments Volody- Less than a month later, an- In early 2013, Ukraine wit- myr Rzhavskyi, Batkivshchyna’s other burst of popular anger oc- nessed the takeover of the Red representative on the city coun- curred in Druzhkivka, a town in Partisan mine’s administrative cil. “But they have no alterna- Donetsk Oblast. The citizens of office by the miners’ trade union tives.” this industrial town – a long- in Sverdlovsk, Luhansk Oblast. Summer agitated the Donbas time core electorate of the Party The mine is part of Rinat Akhme- with more notorious develop- of Regions and the Communists tov’s DTEK, an energy holding. ments. Protests in Vradiyivka, – protested against a steep rise in The protesters had a list of de- Mykolayiv Oblast, against police utility tariffs. They blocked a mands for Akhmetov and the lo- officers who had brutally raped a central street and threatened to cal governor Volodymyr Prys- local woman and tried to evade recall city council deputies. Any tiuk. The main ones being con- clumsy attempts by the local au- cerned social guarantees and Donbas protesters do not thorities to try the activists in layoffs at mines. Nearly 24 hours court and get their relatives fired after the campaign started, exec- want to see political only resulted in strengthening utives agreed to start negotia- symbols at their rallies people’s will to continue fighting. tions and the miners left the of- Eventually, the authorities were fice. responsibility, sparked a protest forced to cede and cancel the new In spring, it was Donetsk against police violations in tariffs. What pushed it though Oblast’s turn to speak up. A wave Donetsk. It was largely organized was not the public revolt but the of protests against shale gas pro- by bloggers through social media well-coordinated actions of a duction took place there. This networks without the involve- group of activists who not only was caused by the protesters’ ment of any politicians or gov- asked people to take to the poor knowledge of the produc- ernment officials. Meanwhile, streets, but offered a clear and le- tion technology, but it signaled a residents of Lysychansk stormed gally reasonable action plan. “We growing distrust of the govern- the city council several times. are willing to the go the dis- ment. The most scandalous pro- They demanded that the council tance,” says activist Vasylyna tests took place in Kramatorsk, a holds an extraordinary session Dzhura. “We aren’t afraid and we town with traditionally strong about the closure of most big en- want people to finally realize that № 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|9 Politics|protest potential The mining region that in- cludes the towns of Shakhtarsk, Torez and Snizhne in Donetsk Oblast and Krasnyi Luch, Antrat- syt, Rovenky and Sverdlovsk in Luhansk Oblast is the most de- pressed and apathetic. The com- plete decay of its socio-economic infrastructure has crushed any enthusiasm for protest. Another quiet part that is easily con- trolled by the government through administrative leverage is the farming belt of the Donbas with Krasnyi Lyman in Donetsk Oblast and the northern part of Luhansk Oblast. Overall, Donetsk Oblast cur- rently seems less loyal to those in power than does Luhansk Oblast.

hoto: O leksiy Mitasov P hoto: Although the latter is in a diffi- cult economic situation, there is they themselves should control alence of ethnic Ukrainians or People in no one to offer the frustrated vot- Makiyivka, a the government.” Russians also affects political traditionally ers an alternative to the Party of The latest act was the storm- sentiments, albeit less so. Given pro-Party Regions. The oblast has not seen ing of the Makiyivka steelwork by all three factors combined, of Regions a single shift of the ruling elite the locals. Owned by EnergoCap- south-western parts of the Don- district, protest since the early 1990s. In contrast ital OJSC, a company allegedly bas with about 90% of ethnic against illegal to Donestk Oblast where busi- linked to the Party of Regions’ Ukrainians are traditionally op- operations of nessmen, even if controversial, Andriy Orlov, the steelworks pro- position-oriented. National-dem- the steelworks are in power, Luhansk Oblast has duced emissions that affected ocrats were strong there back in had Soviet partocrats all this people’s health. Desperate, they the 1990s. Kramatorsk has time. All they did was steal for- were ready to tear the plant strong opposition sentiments. merly state-owned assets and apart, fought with the guards and Home to the technical intelligen- misuse any cash flow. The result- finally succeeded in holding ne- tsia that settled there in Soviet ing poverty and hopelessness has gotiations with the administra- times, it now has two Party of Re- completely broken the local pop- tion. A few days ago, even city gions rivals – Heorhiy Skudar ulation. council deputies supported their and ex-Donetsk Oblast Governor demands to stop the steelworks: Anatoliy Bluzniuk who ensure at No politics or prospects they did not extend the land lease least some political pluralism. Despite high social tension in contract for the plant. “What is A port town with a free mind- Donetsk Oblast, any mention of this? We can’t open the windows set, Mariupol tends to vote politics lights up a NO bulb in the at home,” laments Oleksiy from against those in power. Its long- minds of most activists, let alone Makiyivka, a town known as the time opinion leader was Volody- average people. “We are beyond citadel of the Party of Regions. myr Boyko, the former owner of politics,” says Andriy Nosarev, “We believed Yanukovych, but he Illich (Ilyich) Iron and Steel the Donetsk-based activist of the simply turned out to be a liar. Works, who sponsored the So- Dorozhniy Kontrol (Road Con- Neither I nor my family will ever cialist Party for decades. A Greek trol) movement against traffic vote for him again.” minority lives around Mariupol, police violations. “We want to which moved to the area from change the entire system of law REBELLIOUS TERRITORY Crimea under Catherine the enforcement – that’s our key Another stereotype of the Don- Great. This community has an goal.” However, the movement bas, apart from its loyalty to the original mindset, leaning to- stays away from any political current government, is that the wards free entrepreneurship. platforms, i.e. it has no real in- people there are all identical and “I’ve been through Afghanistan struments to significantly change think accordingly. In fact, how- and the bandit-ridden 1990s,” the system. ever, it has several electoral Oleksandr, an ethnic Greek from The Donbas does not want to zones shaped primarily by eco- a local village, now taxi driver in see political symbols at its ral- nomic and ethnic factors. Donetsk, recalls. “And I can’t re- lies. Makiyivka was a rare excep- In monotowns, i.e. towns member a chaos like the one we tion: the local branch of UDAR built around one or several big have now. The Family grabs even once helped protesters and ar- enterprises, political preferences small businesses from people. ranged a “museum of failed reflect those of the plant’s admin- The tax authorities and the police promises” action in front of the istration. Another factor shaping chased a friend of mine for a year Oblast State Administration Of- them is the presence or lack of to make him sell his agricultural fice. Overall, the locals do not opposing clans and political com- freight trucking company for a want help from opposition par- petition between them. The prev- third of what it was worth.” ties and insist that their protests 10|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 protest potential|Politics photo: denys kazanskyi photo:

are apolitical. However, they of- many in the Donbas felt nostalgia AWAY WITH through 2012,” says Denys Tokar, THE CON! AWAY ten lack the skills and experience for cheap sausages in Soviet WITH THE Head of Batkivshchyna’s office in to arrange effective rallies. “Peo- stores. That’s basically their ulti- YANUKOVYCH Horlivka. “People were taking ple still have this dead-end ste- mate motivation for protests so REGIME! money from their central office reotype that any word against the far.” Many voters in on the one hand, and on the government is automatically pol- Thus, protests spark chaoti- the Donbas no other, made deals with the Re- itics,” says activist Pavlo Ostro- cally and fade shortly thereafter, longer believe gionnaires. What can you say vskyi. “But most don’t realize without developing any clear al- Yanukovych when the former head of the that without politics, they can’t gorithms. The Donbas has suffi- but see no party branch in Horlivka was resist those in power effectively, cient protest-ready electorate to alternatives once the local Chief of police? even if it is for practical things.” rise for mass rallies with radical We’re trying to change this now.” “The people of the Donbas slogans but the level of its legal “For some reason, our oppo- are finally beginning to believe in and political awareness is ex- sition always thought of the Don- their power as citizens”, explains tremely low. bas as a hopeless place,” says Donetsk-based activist and This is partly the result of the Stanislav Fedorchuk. “They writer Stanislav Fedorchuk. “But local government’s systematic ef- thought they could come here in their traditional mistrust in poli- forts to ruin any opposition ac- an embroidered shirt, win their tics dooms the best initiatives to tivities in the region. “Being an traditional meager share of votes failure because the most you can opposition activist in the Donbas and didn’t dare dream of more. do without politics is complain is extremely tough,” says Oleksiy The opposition never conducted about something in your Mitasov, Deputy Head of the any systematic work here, just kitchen.” oblast UDAR branch. “Most busi- leased its brand name to local As a result, virtually all pro- nessmen tell us privately that tests in the Donbas are sparked they will happily support us “if around the issue of health or all this starts” but they will never People are unhappy money. Environmental issues, openly take the first step. We are with the government rising utility tariffs and prices, as building a structure right now well as unemployment will push that will be capable of competing but to put it simply, people to the streets faster than with the Party of Regions. Our they will only readily corruption and the violation of region is extremely important: a their human rights and freedom mere 20% here is equal to two protest for food of speech. “Today, people are un- oblasts in Western Ukraine. happy about the government and Missing this point means giving businessmen, who used it as they Viktor Yanukovych but, to put it the Party of Regions a victory in saw fit for their own benefit. Most simply, they will only readily pro- advance.” often, these were people who test for food,” comments Kosti- So far, there is no organiza- couldn’t even get into the Party of antyn Skorkin, a Luhansk-based tion in the Donbas that could Regions because of their stained activist and journalist. “In fact, lead the local protest potential reputation. That’s why people this reminds me of the motiva- and send it in a constructive di- here have lost hope for any alter- tion of most Donbas citizens rection. Opposition parties are native to the Party of Regions. when they voted for Ukraine’s in- inert in their attitude towards Now, they ignore elections and dependence in 1991. They actu- this region, a key one in terms of think that any political implica- ally thought that separation from the number of voters. “The so- tions will kill any good intent. the USSR would let them roll in called local opposition didn’t do The opposition should think money. When this didn’t happen, anything from the early 2000s about this.” № 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|11 focus|Russia After Gas Heavy dependence on exports of fuels has brought Russian economy to the verge of a deep recession

Author: Oil addi ion Lyubomyr Shavalyuk Russian economy is heavily dependent on the price of fuels. So far, Russia has managed to avoid GDP decline thanks to the financial resources it accumulated earlier. How long will they la?

ussian authorities are Real growth, %, year on year Growth in %, year on year busy seeking new sources 15 100 Indury to revive the economy and GDP Rto avoid profound reform. 10 80 Unlike Ukraine, Russia is 60 much less dependent on exports. 5 Over the past year, its share in the Russian GDP was 28%. How- 40 0 ever, it excessively depends on exports of fuels that accounts for 20 over 16% of GDP and 58% of to- -5 0 tal exports. Stagnation of physi- cal amounts of fuel exports and -10 Oil prices * (right-hand scale) Gas prices * -20 falling prices pushed exports (right-hand scale) down in H1 2013. Meanwhile, -15 -40 imports rose 7.9% in H1 2013. As a result, Russia’s trade surplus is -20 -60 declining (see Trade imbal- I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II ance). 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 This would hardly be a seri- * Eimates are based on WTI crude oil spot prices and monthly prices of Russian natural gas on the German border ous problem if Russia had been Sources: Russian Federal State Statiics Service, indemundi.com, own eimates using its oil dollars more effec- Firstly, money is massively British Virgin Islands. Accord- tively. However, most of this pumped out into offshore zones. ing to the Central Bank of Rus- cash ends up abroad instead of The top three recipients of most sia, Russian FDI stock there being invested into the nation’s direct investment from Russia amounted to USD 225bn or 65% economy. are Cyprus, Netherlands and of total overseas investment as of the beginning of 2012. Capital outflow exceeded USD 30bn in Trade imbalance 2012. Some of this money re- Sluggish development of Russia’s economy since the 2008 downfall has not allowed it to accumulate income turns to Russia as investment from exports of fuels or other goods. In ead, the growing imports coupled with plummeting revenues from but most will stay abroad. fuel exports pushes Russia’s trade surplus down and undermines its financial rength Meanwhile, Russia’s own econ- omy remains cash-starved. USD bn USD/RUB Secondly, a lot of capital 150 Exports of fuels Average exchange 35 flows into the shadow. Russia’s (oil, natural gas, oil produs) rate (right-hand scale) Central Bank has long been mon- itoring obscure transactions of 120 Exports of non-fuels settlements for fake imports or 30 securities that are actually Imports worthless. 90 Finally, Russia intentionally spends a share of its oil revenues 25 to reinforce its influence in the 60 world. Its financial sector (Cen- tral Bank is not taken into ac- 30 20 count) has accumulated almost I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II USD 300bn worth of receivables 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 from non-residents, half of this Sources: Central Bank of Russia, oanda.com after the 2008-2009 crisis. This 12|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 money is used to issue loans to home. However, the plummeting other states, including Ukraine, budget revenues may force Rus- and expand Russian banking sia to choose between quitting chains abroad. It thus receives some of its zones of influence political dividends in these coun- abroad and decreasing funding tries in exchange for keeping for them, or cutting social bene- their financial sectors afloat in- fits at home and spending more stead of investing into its own to crush the resulting protests. economy. In this situation, banks If this lasts and Russia’s would normally feed the econ- trade balance continues to omy. However, they are busy ex- shrink, the Russians will either panding their presence abroad have to revise their oil dollar and investing more into that splurge policy or go through yet rather than into supporting another increasingly painful cri- companies at home with credits. sis caused by every drop in fuel As a result, domestic demand in prices. Russia is entering a stagnation that may soon grow into a reces- PUBLIC FINANCE AND BANKS sion. Russia’s consolidated budget heavily relies on revenues from THE REAL SECTOR the oil and gas industry. In H1 All this has already affected the 2013, they shrank 3.3% com- real sector. In Q2 2013, GDP pared to the same period of grew a meager 1.2%, and indus- 2012. Despite current budget trial output has been shrinking surplus and financial reserves (see Oil addiction). Recession accumulated earlier, this stagna- in the Russian economy has not tion has some painful side ef- begun yet, but some details sig- fects. The Kremlin’s policy is nal that it will. Big and medium based on high social benefits. enterprises in virtually all indus- This splurge is financed through tries reported a 23% decline in the budget (wages, pensions and income in H1 2013. This affects social benefits accounted for 51% productivity, profitability and of consolidated government ex- competitiveness of most of Rus- penditures in H1 2013) and low sian business. taxes (basic personal income tax Stagnation in cumulative de- is 13% in Russia. This is one the mand has hit construction. Real lowest rates in the world). As a gross value added the industry result, the Russians have been generated in Q2 2013 dropped enjoying relatively high social 3.9% compared to the same pe- standards that kept growing. riod in 2012. This trend in con- Over the past four quarters, how- struction reflects a decline of ever, pensions have seen a mini- investment. A drop in the pro- mum increase while prices grow duction of investment goods almost as fast as wages do. This coupled with stagnation in the signals that the Russian govern- production of consumer goods ment is adjusting social spending has caused a 1.3% decline in the to the energy market. So far, the processing industry output year growing social benefits have kept on year. Albeit insignificant, the Russians away from massive this figure continues the slow- opposition and protests. This down trend that started in 2012 may change if nominal pensions and may aggravate further on. and salaries stop growing and A steep rise in fuel prices is devaluation of the ruble as a re- Russia’s only chance to resume sult of Moscow’s reluctance to brisk economic growth, but it is tighten its belts eats up most of unlikely. Instead, Russian econ- people’s income. omy will likely see a further de- Meanwhile, a big share of the cline which will show how inef- Russian budget goes to state ad- fective and reform-hungry it is. ministration, defence, security The Kremlin does not want to and law enforcement. In H1 admit this. Perhaps, it is afraid 2013, it accounted for 24% of all since any transformations of the expenditures. Obviously, part of economic system now will inevi- this is spent to support Russia’s tably lead to a growing middle influence abroad. Plus, the class which will demand changes Kremlin will hardly scrimp on and threaten the stability of Pu- keeping order and peace at tin’s regime. focus|Russia RESETTING TO A COLD PEACE Instead of dealing with its mounting internal problems, the Kremlin is mobilizing anti-minority, anti-foreigner and anti-American sentiments to stay afloat hoto: reuters P hoto:

Author: elations between Washing- driven by a range of disputes, in- reduced the number of strategic nu- Janusz ton and Moscow have rapidly cluding Putin’s support for Syrian clear warheads and missile launch- Bugajski deteriorated in recent leader Bashar al-Assad, the grant- ers. Some Russian analysts close to Rmonths and some analysts ing of political asylum to an Ameri- the Kremlin have proposed that believe that a new Cold War has al- can intelligence defector, and esca- Moscow pull out of the nuclear test ready begun. While both sides are lating violations of human rights in- ban treaty altogether and conduct a trying to dispel such conclusions, side Russia. When the U.S. demonstrative nuclear test in the there is little on the horizon for re- Congress passed the Magnitsky Act Arctic to show that Russia is pre- newed collaboration and plenty of in December 2012 imposing sanc- pared to use nuclear arms in case of disputes to fuel further confronta- tions on Russian officials involved any NATO threat to its borders. tion. Although Russia no longer has in gross human rights abuses, Mos- Having realized the limitations the capabilities to challenge the cow retaliated by banning American of cooperating with the Kremlin, United States globally, it retains the adoptions of Russian children. Obama decided to push for a mili- capacity to undermine American The Kremlin has also rejected tary strike against the Bashad al- and Western interests in several key any further cuts to its nuclear arse- Assad regime in response to the regions. It may therefore be more nal as its offensive military strategy chemical weapons attack on Syrian accurate to describe the new rela- is constructed around the use of nu- civilians. Samantha Power, the U.S. Obama will be sorely tested on whether tionship as one of “Cold Peace,” in clear weaponry to supplement any envoy to the UN, accused Russia of the U.S., NATO, and which the bilateral political temper- conventional combat. Obama’s ef- holding the UN Security Council the EU can work hostage as it regularly blocked reso- more effectively ature continues to drop. forts were rebuffed in the pursuit of together to further nuclear disarmament agree- lutions on Syria. Obama’s decision strengthen the Confrontation Points ments, following the signing of the to bypass the UN provoked grave sovereignty of the remaining East Disagreements and confrontations New START (Strategic Arms Re- threats from Moscow. And Obama’s European states between the U.S. and Russia are duction Treaty) in April 2010 which statement on the eve of the G-20 14|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 Russiа|focus summit in St. Petersburg, that more advanced weaponry and a ernments, aggravating inter-ethnic Assad cannot retain legitimacy in a missile defense system that would relations within the Baltic countries country where he has killed tens of ensure the survival of the Assad re- through its proxies among the Rus- thousands of his own people, made gime. Moscow can also strengthen sian minorities, and scaling back its Putin even more resistant to mili- Iran, Syria’s chief ally in the region, energy supplies. To underscore its tary action. Obama’s logic applies to through the sale of S-300 air de- more assertive military posture, Putin himself, as he is also respon- fense missile systems while block- Moscow is building a new air base sible for the death of tens of thou- ing any further UN pressure on in Belarus that will figure promi- sands of Russian citizens through Tehran regarding its nuclear weap- nently in future military exercises the carpet-bombing of Grozny and ons program. It will also look for al- and possible combat operations. other atrocities in Chechnya. ternative “soft spots” where the U.S. If any of these actions were Moscow traditionally engages in can be challenged and harmed taken, the U.S. would become in- hyperbolic threats when its strategic without provoking a direct military volved. Vulnerable countries ex- ambitions are challenged. Syria is confrontation. posed to a more aggressive Russia Russia’s closest ally in the Middle will call for Washington’s assistance East and vital for its power projec- Russia’s Challenges in defending their independence. tion. Relations with the Bashad al- In addition to the Middle East, Obama would need to respond and Assad regime have thrived under three regions will test the tempera- avoid sending any signal that Wash- Putin, as Syria hosts the last re- ture between Washington and Mos- ington was unable to protect Eu- maining Russian naval base in the cow: Central-Eastern Europe rope’s newest democracies and Mediterranean and Moscow has (CEE), the Wider Europe, and the NATO allies. CEE capitals will want forgiven almost three-quarters of Arctic. The Russian Foreign Minis- more regular NATO exercises and Damascus’s debt in order to lure lu- try has stated that any Western in- crative weapons orders. In recent tervention in Syria will seriously Although Russia no longer years, Russia has sold over USD 1bn damage relations with all NATO in arms, including anti-tank and countries, including those of CEE. has the capabilities to surface-to-air missiles as well as But what could this mean in prac- challenge the United States MiG 29/31 fighter aircraft. tice? All NATO-Russian meetings Above all, the Kremlin views will probably be cancelled and the globally, it retains the both Syria and Iran as important rhetoric will become more heated. capacity to undermine buffers against Western interests Moscow can also reinforce the Za- and America’s regional presence. pad 2013military exercises later this American and Western The Kremlin is not only concerned month, rehearsing a war with the interests in several key that its key Syrian ally in the Middle Baltic States and Poland, and East may be ousted but that Wash- thereby increase its threats against regions ington no longer views Russia as a NATO members. Even more omi- relevant partner. Even though the nously, it may dangle the “Syrian the construction of modern and ef- planned military strikes against Da- precedent” in the former Soviet fective national anti-missile sys- mascus are unlikely to overthrow Union or the CEE region. tems, in addition to the Assad, Russia does not want to be Mikhail Aleksandrov, head of U.S.-integrated Aegis Ballistic Mis- In the coming year, embarrassed by its glaring impo- the Baltic section of the Moscow In- foreign scapegoats sile Defense System. While the lat- tence, as it was over Iraq and the stitute of CIS Countries, has pro- could play an even ter will be installed against possible more prominent role former Yugoslavia. Following the posed that the Russian government in the country’s threats from Iran and other aspiring NATO intervention in Kosovo and respond to “American aggression” unfolding political nuclear regimes, the former would the declaration of Kosovo’s inde- against Syria by sending military drama be designed as a credible deterrent pendence, Moscow invaded Georgia units into Estonia, Latvia, and Lith- to Russia’s aggressive military pos- and partitioned the country in order uania. He also contends that Mos- ture. to demonstrate that it was still a cow must restore its military control The Wider Europe is the second major power. In the event of U.S. air over the entire South Caucasus. By arena for U.S.-Russia confrontation strikes against Damascus, the deploying forces where Russia sup- and some American congressional Kremlin will seek new options to posedly possesses strategic suprem- leaders want Washington to be prove its credentials and damage acy, it would make it clear that the much more ambitious. For instance, U.S. interests. West will pay a high price for any at- Republican Senators John McCain Moscow will not challenge the tack on Syria. and Lindsey Graham have called for U.S. directly in any military sense, Such direct military actions are providing Georgia with NATO but it will endeavor to cause maxi- highly unlikely, as Putin will be un- membership at the next summit in mum political damage and extract willing to test the reality of NATO 2014. Although the Obama White optimum political advantages. In contingency plans for defending the House will not commit itself to such addition to lambasting the U.S. dip- newest members. Nonetheless, Although Russia’s a decision, it will continue to de- lomatically and acting as the self- Moscow could increase various military capabilities velop military ties with Tbilisi and do not match the appointed leader of all independent pressures to undermine the security Soviet era, the must enable the Georgian govern- states allegedly threatened by of neighbors that it views as being country could ment to acquire the modern weap- become a American imperialism, Moscow will too close to Washington. This can destabilizing onry needed to defend itself against need to undertake actions that will include positioning Iskander mis- presence if it any future Russian military as- undergoes new resonate in the White House. siles and concentrating troops close political turmoil and saults. In Syria itself Russia can but- to the Baltic borders, engaging in potential territorial Ukraine and Moldova will also tress the government by selling cyber attacks against national gov- fracture be on the front line of future con- № 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|15 focus|Russia frontations with Moscow. Moscow has increased pressures on Kyiv and Chisinau to terminate their ambi- tions to join the EU and enter the Russian orbit through the Customs Union. Moscow opposes any move- ment by post-Soviet state toward Brussels for three key reasons. First, it would undermine the project of Eurasian reunification under a Rus- sian umbrella. Second, it would bet- ter defend these countries against Russian political and economic pressures. And third, it would chal- lenge the Kremlin's opaque busi- ness interests, which are under- girded by corruption and criminal- ity. In the case of Ukraine, Moscow will intensify its economic and en- ergy blackmail as winter ap- proaches. In the case of Moldova, economic and energy sanctions can be combined with outright support for partition through the formal rec- Moscow The U.S. Geological Survey esti- the U.S., Canada, and Denmark often uses ognition of Transnistria's indepen- demonstrative mates that 13% of the world's undis- have also held major military exer- dence, as was the case with Abkha- military covered oil and 30% of its untapped cises. The stage is being set for fu- zia and South Ossetia in Georgia. exercises to natural gas is in the Arctic. Shipping ture confrontations with Russia, es- Armenia’s President Serzh intimidate its lanes could be regularly open across pecially if Moscow chooses to pur- Sargsyan recently declared that Ar- neighbors the Arctic as rising temperatures sue its far-fetched territorial and menia should join both the Customs continue to melt the sea ice, thus maritime claims. Union and the Eurasian Union. raising the need for policing, border Such a move would abort progress patrols, and military capabilities to Managing Russia toward EU association, free trade enforce rival claims. The Obama administration has and visa liberalization agreements. Military activities are rapidly in- been pensive about employing Cold EU officials describe Putin’s pres- creasing in the Arctic, with Russia, War phraseology for two main rea- sure on Yerevan as “open black- the U.S., and Canada having the sons. First, it does not consider Rus- mail” and a hostile move designed biggest stakes. Russia, one-third of sia, unlike the defunct Soviet Union, to sabotage the November 2013 Vil- which lies within the Arctic Circle, as a major strategic challenger to nius summit. There is also concern has been the most aggressive in es- the United States on a global scale. that Moscow’s success in Armenia tablishing itself as the regional su- Russia can no longer project power could embolden it to try and repli- perpower by rebuilding its Arctic on all continents, exert influence cate its policies in Ukraine and Mol- military capabilities and increasing through numerous regional proxies, dova. bomber and submarine patrols. or pose as an ideological and politi- Washington may be faced with cal alternative to Western democ- new demands to help defend the in- Ukraine and Moldova racy and capitalism. And second, dependence of European states that Washington believes that there will are wavering between democracy will be on the front line be areas of future cooperation with and authoritarianism, between in- of future confrontations Moscow that should not be sacri- tegrity and partition, and between ficed because of the current Europeanization and Eurasianism. with Moscow cooldown. Obama will be sorely tested on For these reasons, the White whether the U.S., NATO, and the Moscow’s moves have convinced House will seek to avoid outright EU can work more effectively to- other Arctic countries to resume re- confrontation but without abandon- gether to strengthen the sovereignty gional military exercises that they ing fundamental American inter- of the remaining East European had abandoned or scaled back after ests. At times, it will simply ignore states. This would necessitate much the Soviet collapse. In March 2012, Moscow if it feels compelled to act, greater Western political invest- Norway staged one of the largest as did the George W. Bush adminis- ment in security, democracy, and Arctic maneuvers in history -- Exer- tration. At other times, it will need institution building in countries cise Cold Response -- with 16,300 to assert its authority to dissuade that are stranded along Russia’s troops from 14 countries training on Russia’s destructive meddling. borders. the ice for everything from high in- Hopefully, Washington’s new real- Washington must also prepare tensity warfare to terror threats. ism will not put too much faith in for a new kind of Cold War in the The exercise near the Russian bor- allegedly “shared interests” where Arctic, where rising temperatures der was condemned by Moscow as a Moscow sees anti-Russian conspir- will open up sea-lanes and access to provocation and proof that NATO acies around almost every corner fossil fuels, and simultaneously pro- wants to strengthen its position and acts to undermine NATO and vide new potentials for conflicts. throughout the Arctic. Since then, the U.S. 16|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 Opinion|focus How We Lost Armenia hat happened recently to Armenia was black and white arguing that one side is one hundred nothing more or less than a slap in the face percent right and other wrong, taking sides is coun- of the EU. Russia proved once again a mas- terproductive here, too. It is no option when the con- Wter of political intrigue making and geopo- fidence building is pivotal for both nations in their litical manipulations by making Armenia surrender in conflict. the game over strategic partnership for the future. It The wealth, luxurious receptions of MPs and MEPs dealt a blow to the EU's entire Eastern Partnership alike, ambitions, and active diplomacy paved the way Program. for Azerbaijan to the double standards, all-forgiveness, The question arises as to whether we irreversibly lost all-permissiveness, lies, and sheer demagoguery of Eu- Armenia or whether Russia issued a warning to other ropean political classes with which they assessed an partners of this program including the major country awful human rights record and the level of democracy without which this project is doomed to failure – in Azerbaijan. No-one is perfect there, quite far from it, Ukraine? I would argue that things are more complex and yet the fact remains that Armenia’s human rights than they appear at first glance. record was and continues to be incomparably better First and foremost, Russia skilfully exploited Arme- than that of Azerbaijan. nia’s fears and insecurities. It is a secret of Polichinelle And here comes the most unpleasant fact related to my Author: that Armenia has no genuine friends. At this point, this country. Since Armenia is seen by the majority of con- Leonidas country which has a quite dramatic and tragic history servative Lithuanian politicians as pro-Russian, while Donskis resembles Israel. Russia is no friend to Armenia, it has Azerbaijan far more as pro-American, Azerbaijan won never been so, and probably never will be. Russia will its propaganda-and-moral-support-war in the Baltic always use Armenia's fragility and vulnerability. Stabil- States. The enemy of my enemy is my friend – this ity of and peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan does logic can be grossly and dangerously misleading. not serve Russia's purposes. Let’s call a spade a spade. More than once I clearly saw how tendentiously Lithu- The same applies to Iran, which is an important player anian politicians took the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. with a historically formed tradition to include an influ- In a biased manner, they were using their skepticism to ential Armenian minority in its economic and public Armenia to express their negative attitude to Russia affairs, and which is a crucially important alternative (which per se cannot surprise anyone who is not de- source of oil and gas sup- void of a sense of reality, plies should Armenia lose and who can see what is Russia’s favour in trade Russia proved once again a happening in Putin’s Rus- and energy contracts. To master of political intrigue sia). Yet taking sides and put it simple, Iran is no turning a blind eye to the friend of Armenia either. making and geopolitical faults of your favourite is As far as friendship be- manipulations a mean adviser in politics. tween Armenia and these It always leads to a no-win two countries is con- by making Armenia situation. cerned, Russia and Iran surrender in the game over Whatever the case, this could best be described by guilt by association is a referring to the Russian strategic partnership flaw of political reasoning poet and actor Vladimir for the future and also a token of poor Vysotsky’s song about political culture. No mat- those who are neither ter what they say or what friends nor enemies, and who are standing some- they pledge, Armenia is as remote from Russia as where between the two. Complications with Tur- Azerbaijan from the USA. Ultimately, every coun- key are too obvious to need emphasis. Friendship with try pursues its own vital interests. We could have done Azerbaijan looks like a dirty joke. much more to keep Armenia on the side of the EU. Yet Even so, the reasons of this total failure of the EU lie our greed and obsession with oil, gas, energy, new po- elsewhere. Had the EU been keener on Armenia by of- litical liaisons and quick benefits, red carpets, all this fering it a vision for the future and persuading its po- Vanity Fair led the EU to a shocking fiasco. litical elite to seek opportunities, safety, and security John Donne’s Meditation XVII has never been as tell- for their nation in the EU, Russia would never have ing as it is now: “No man is an island, entire of itself; won the battle so easily. My own experience as an MEP every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the suggests that we are now facing the consequences of mainland; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe our militant mercantilism, cheap rhetoric and compla- is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if cency. a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were; any Anyone knowledgeable of EU policies is aware of the man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in fact that Azerbaijan has been far more successful in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom winning the sentiments and sympathies of European the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” policy makers than Armenia. The Nagorno-Karabakh Never ask for whom the bell tolls. Ukraine got a clear conflict between the two countries has split interna- signal that Russia will do its utmost to blackmail, tional opinion. Like in the Middle East where it would frame, set up, bribe, or otherwise affect Ukraine before be pointless and preposterous to paint the world the Vilnius summit in November. № 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|17 Focus|Separatist trends Phantoms of Disintegration The Kremlin’s ineffective regional policy fuels decentralization

Author: its capital in Yekaterinburg. It ex- Thus, the ideas of Dmitry Verk- Viktor Shatrov isted in the early 1990s but sur- hoturov, the author of the concept vived a mere five months. The ini- of the Siberian nation and a Sibe- his year may be a pretty bad tiator was Governor Eduard Rossel rian Autonomous Republic as con- one for Russia. Steep eco- who thus wanted to get more rights federation with Russia, are of inter- nomic decline, huge outflow from Moscow. On April 25, 1993, est to some of the local elite, not Tof capital, mounting decen- in a referendum to declare the Ural just his supporters on regional web tralization sentiments in the re- Republic on the territory of the forums. It is with their support that gions and the growing interethnic Sverdlovsk Oblast, 83% of the pop- STOP FEEDING he developed a Siberian language and religious tension point at a se- ulation voted in favour of this idea MOSCOW: Anti- dictionary. rious internal political crisis faced and turnout was at 67%. By con- Putin rallies in In June 2007, the leader of the by Putin’s command democracy. trast, only 51% of the populace in St. Petersburg Oblast Alternative of Siberia, the region turned out for the 2011 often involve Mikhail Kulekhov, posted a review back to the roots parliamentary election. the flags of entitled Will the Russian Federa- In an effort to rescue AvtoVAZ During Putin’s rule, this idea historic Ingria, tion Survive until 2014? on a Mos- plant in Kaliningrad Oblast from resurfaced. As local entrepreneurs a territory of cow-based website. He noted that bankruptcy in 2010, Vladimir Pu- say, the Kremlin’s functionaries are a number of according to the results of a poll Russian oblasts tin imposed prohibitive duties on literally robbing the Ural. And including conducted in Irkutsk and Bratsk the import of used cars. This hit there is definitely something worth Leningrad by the local Who is Who agency, one of the oblast’s major business stealing there: the vast territory Oblast and nearly 60% of those polled sup- sectors hard. The subsequent mass with a population of 15 million has St. Petersburg, ported the autonomy of Siberia protests reminded local entrepre- 70% of natural resources. Most of and separatist and 25% supported its indepen- neur Sergey Pasko of the idea to its taxes and income go to Moscow, connotations dence. When asked whether they transform the oblast into a Baltic providing for its luxurious lifestyle. Republic under the protectorate of Meanwhile, a group called the Fed- the EU. The new state would for- eral Republic of Great Ural regis- mally be tied to Russia but have the tered in social media counts 8,500 European-type rule of law. The participants. It stands behind the lack of it is seen as the main source integration of the Great Ural re- of trouble in the region. gions divided between the Russian Sociologists also confirm the Federation and Kazakhstan, and growing threat of separatism there. the creation of a single economic, In March, the Russia Public Opin- political and cultural space – from ion Research Center conducted a the Arctic to the Caspian and Aral survey where 10% of the local pop- Seas. ulation said they preferred Kalinin- grad Oblast out of the Russian Fed- We’re all Siberians! eration. Another 20% said this was The biggest threat for the Kremlin a possible scenario. could be the initiation of separat- Some even suggest establishing ist movements in Siberia. If sepa- an independent state made up of rated, it would leave half of Rus- Kaliningrad Oblast, St. Petersburg sia’s present territory. These and western part of Leningrad trends were already apparent in Oblast. This is Ingria, the name of about 2005 when Our Native An- the region that had been a Swedish gar Land, a political movement, province prior to Peter I conquer- came in second in the local parlia- ing it. mentary election in Irkutsk The Kremlin’s functionaries Oblast. In 2006, some local lead- took the demonstrations in St. Pe- ers criticized the federal centre at tersburg with the slogan Stop a session of the Siberian Accord Feeding Moscow! and Ingrian yel- Interregional Association. The low-blue flags very seriously. Fans Governor of Tomsk Oblast, Viktor of the local football club, Zenit, Kress declared that “it is vitally who hung up banners in support of necessary for the regions of the Si- this state project during a match berian Federal District to be aware against Moscow’s Dynamo, also of their own specific interests and made a strong impression. to unite into a special Federation Another project of Russian sep- entity in order to protect and aratists is the Ural Republic, with guarantee them.” 18|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 Separatist trends|Focus considered themselves to be Rus- 20% of the Russian Far East lives European parts of Russia. The Fel- sians or Siberians, 80% responded beyond poverty line. lowship can boast the first suc- Siberians and only 12% referred to To a great extent, this is the re- cess: Edinaya Rossiya (United themselves as Russians. Between sult of Moscow’s efforts to restrain Russia), the pro-Kremlin party, 30% to 50% of Irkutians have the region’s development and ex- won 20% less votes in the latest Buryat or Evenk roots – these are ploit the territory along with China. parliamentary election compared indigenous peoples of Siberia. It takes every effort to restrict op- to the previous one. Now, the ac- In the 2010 national census, tions for Russian Far East chelnoki tivists speak more loudly of the many Siberian residents listed – shuttle traders - in China thus possible creation of the Far East their nationality as Siberian. paralyzing the region’s economy Since civil servants tried to list based on shuttle trade. Plus, the Escalation of separatist them as Russians, some took to locals remember the disruption of the streets to protest, flying the a protest in Vladivostok in the late movements in Siberia may white-green Siberian flag, an im- 2008 with OMON, special units of be the biggest threat to age of their federal district and the Russian police, brought from the slogan “We’ll show Moscow Moscow. The Kremlin took Japa- the Kremlin. what Siberia is!” nese flags carried by the protesters If separated, it would as a separatist conspiracy. As a re- Seeking sovereignty sult, repressions against activists of leave the Russian territory The Far Eastern Federal District is the Fellowship of Proactive Citi- half of what it is now in a more difficult position. With zens of Russia – the flagship of se- the population of 6 million, it cessionism in the Far East – shares a border with the 110-mil- mounted. Federation in cooperation with lion population of adjacent Chi- The Fellowship’s goal is to re- the Siberian Union. nese provinces. They are the turn freedom to entrepreneurs Frustration also mounts among source of intense demographic and local governments, and have the non-Russian population in the and economic expansion to Rus- laws amended to match the specif- regions. The North Caucasus is the sia’s unpopulated eastern territo- ics of regional cooperation with most dangerous of them. Shooting ries. Unlike their economically China. According to its activists, and explosions is heard here on a successful neighbours such as this is the only way to attract in- daily basis, and a war of Islamists South Korea, Japan and China, vestors and halt migration to the rages to establish the Caucasian Imamate. According to expert esti- mates, terrorists have killed 659 and injured 490 people, and com- mitted 182 terrorist attacks in this region. Secessionist sentiments are high in Tatarstan. De jure and in- creasingly de facto, it is not a sub- ject of the Russian Federation. According to sociological surveys Russian Constitutional Court has by the Who Is Who been trying for several years now to agency in Irkutsk and force the republic bring its Consti- Bratsk, two cities in Siberia, nearly tution into conformity with the Russian one and remove the provi- 60% sion on sovereignty, but these ef- of those polled support autonomy forts prove futile. for Siberia and The Kremlin seems to not un- derstand – or not want to under- 25% would prefer it to be stand – what really causes its re- independent gional governance crisis. Nor does it intend to decentralize its budget or tax systems to stop the subsi- dizing policy for regions and dele- gate more initiative to them in dealing with their problems. In- stead of reforming its regional policy, Moscow keeps speculating on “the U.S.-funded separatist conspiracies” as a perfect argu- ment in preserving strong central government and increasing re- pressions. This reaction will not solve the existing problems but will encourage new and more radi- cal resistance to the Kremlin’s om- nipotent hegemony. № 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|19 Focus|religion According to the US National Se- curity Council report published in 2012, the share of the Muslim popu- lation in Russia will grow from 14% Derussification to 19% by 2030. This may further fuel social and religious tension and Revanchist ambitions in post-Soviet countries xenophobic sentiments. and the intent to retain Muslim peoples within its Caucasian time bomb orbit fuel ethnic and religious tensions in Russia After the Putin regime liquidated the Chechen underground national- In the past ist movement led by Aslan years, the Maskhadov, Shamil Basayev and celebration other nationalists, it essentially re- of Muslim occupied the republic and set a time holidays bomb under itself. The North Cau- in Russia casus itself is a growing financial involves tens burden on Russia, and its detach- of kilometres ment from the rest of Russia is be- of blocked traffic around coming more and more obvious. In the Moscow the spring of 2013, conscription to Cathedral the Russian army1 was not resumed Mosque. On in Chechnya and Dagestan. Mean- August 8, while, Chechnya alone has nearly over 150,000 80,000 young men ready to serve in Muslims the Russian military. So does celebrated Dagestan. The leaders of these two the Feast of republics have asked Russian au- Breaking the thorities to start enlistment there. Fast in Moscow However, only 120 Chechens and Author: restoration projects. Central Asia is 179 Dagestanis were enlisted this Andriy Skumin the only place where they actually spring. The former serve in Kady- have a chance to succeed. For in- rov’s (Ramzan Kadyrov is the Head ussia is seeing a rapid rise in stance, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, of the Chechen Republic. The office the share of its Asian and Is- the main sources of migrant workers was introduced in 2003 when the lamic population and a steep in Russia, have the fastest growing Russian government regained con- Rdecline in the number of eth- populations. If Russia succeeds in trol of the region in the Second nic Russians and other Christian Eu- luring them into the Eurasian Union, Chechen War – Ed.) Vostok (East) ropean peoples, including Ukraini- the share of Russians and Russified and Yug (South) units in Chechnya, ans, Belarusians, Moldovans, Bul- Christian Europeans in this new for- while according to The Ukrai- garians and Greeks, that easily mation may just exceed 50%. This is nian Week’s sources, the latter assimilate with the Russian culture one of the reasons why Moscow is are ethnic Russians. and language. now making every effort to integrate Apparently, Russian authorities Between 1989 and 2010, the to- Ukraine into this union. consider the population of these tal population of Russia shrank by North Caucasus republics as foreign just 4.1 million, from 147 to 142.9 Mosques versus churches and dangerous – the citizens of occu- million people. The share of Chris- The latest Russian Census did not pied territories who are ready to tian European peoples dropped by have a section for religion, but soci- switch to guerilla warfare at any 12.7 million from 126.9 to 114.2 mil- ological surveys signal that Russia is time, and are thus reluctant to pay lion. Other nations, mostly Asian becoming less Christian and more for the training of future fighters. Muslims, grew in number from 20.1 Islamic. According to Levada Cen- This is hardly a solution, though. to 28.7 million. In July 2013, Kon- tre, an analytical survey company, The list of potential recruits in stantin Romodanovski, Head of the the share of Russian citizens identi- Chechnya and Dagestan has already Russian Federal Migration Service, fying themselves as Orthodox has hit 200,000, the equivalent of the said that Russia has over 3.5 million fallen from 80% to 74% over the army of a European state. Wide- illegal migrant workers and another past three years alone. Experts esti- spread unemployment will push 1.8 million people have permits to mate the current number of Mus- these men to scatter throughout work in Russia. Experts estimate the lims living in Russia at nearly 20 Russia or get military training in Is- number of migrant workers in Rus- million. lamist military units. sia at nearly 10-11 million. If this The Akhmat Kadyrov Mosque The Kremlin may keep what are trend continues, the number of Rus- officially known as The Heart of essentially internal colonies attached sians and European Christians is Chechnya, the largest mosque in by force and bribe their elites with generous funding. But it is not ready likely to fall to 100 million or below Russia, which is located in Grozny, 1Annual conscription 70% of the total population by 2030. came second in the second round of for 12-month to recognize them as equal parts of More challenges to the Russian Russia 10, a recent online project to military service is its state. As a result, it is creating mandatory for all traditional cultural matrix come choose the top ten visual symbols of male citizens aged threats for the empire itself with its from Vladimir Putin’s post-Soviet the country through a national vote. 18-27 own hands. 20|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 Opinion|Society merican political scientist Francis Fukuyama is well known in the post-Soviet Aworld. In the late 1980s, Dr. Francis Fukuyama worked on Palestine au- tonomy and Eastern Europe as member of the US Department of State. His article The End of His- tory published in 1989 brought him fame and evolved into the book The End of History and the Fukuyama: Last Man, out in 1992. In his intel- lectual bestseller, Dr. Fukuyama said the USSR collapse was a start- Not all countries will become ing point for the triumph of liberal democracy as a system applicable to all the countries on the globe with no exception. On September successful democracies. But I still 10, he visited Kyiv for the second time to deliver a lecture on state building in the modern world at think of liberal democracy as the the Kyiv Institute of Journalism. The next day Dr. Fukuyama spoke only serious alternative to The Ukrainian Week. UW: Dr. Fukuyama, I can’t help but start with a trivial question. Interviewer: Why had “the end of history” you Oleksandr predicted never happened? Mykhelson (Laughing) I expected this question. Let me explain my term Photo “the end of history”. There is a pro- Andriy cess development over time, and Lomakin Marx said it was going to be com- munism. My only observation back in 1989 was that it didn’t look like we would ever get back to commu- nism, and if there is an end point to that process it was going to be something like Western liberal de- mocracy, plus a market economy. And I think that’s still true, I don’t see that there is any alternative point to which we are evolving. But actually getting liberal democracy is a pretty difficult process because it really requires the creation of insti- tutions like state, rule of law, demo- cratic institutions, which are hard to construct for a number of reasons. UW: Can institutions alone transform a society? Post-Soviet states or, say,A frica have parliaments, courts and media that are formally independent. But all these institutions resemble the Western ones only in form. Political reality in which they operate is profoundly different. There are a lot of cases where institutions get better. Even Africa has seen a lot of development. States have gotten stronger demo- cratic institutions and there has been a lot of economic growth. Latin America has seen enormous № 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|21 Society|Opinion strength in its basic institutions over the last thirty years. Unfortunately, in Eastern Eu- rope, the trend has been in the other direction: institutions have been weakening. Take Russia, for exam- ple. It’s a very strong and despotic state but it is very weak in terms of being able to deliver basic services to the Russian people. The Russian state has not performed well in terms of education, health, and in- frastructure. I would say, in many ways it performs worse today, than it did in Soviet times. UW: Why is this happening? Many in post-Soviet states blame this on the local mentality… I don’t think that it’s the men- tality. There has been a big institu- tional and moral vacuum after the Soviet structure disintegrated. Peo- ple filled it with just a lot of self-in- terests. Both in Ukraine and Russia, the elite have seen the state as an opportunity to enrich themselves and their families. Once the com- munist ideology was gone, there was no strong tradition of public service. That is something that needs to be reconstructed over time. UW: What can serve as the foundation for such reconstruction? There are a number of things. The United States of the 19th century was an extremely corrupt state. Ba- sically, politicians just used their political offices to give favours to But democracy is not the source of complete crisis even in the West. people who voted for them. There the problem. That might be a prob- Do you think there is a crisis? was no professionalism in public lem in a country like Venezuela or It’s not a final crisis, although administration. As the country Thailand, where elite are being un- we can see some signs of political evolved over time, there was a larger dermined by populist politicians decay in the United States and middle class, there was a leadership that are pushing destructive policies other democracies, because there to try to reform the state. The state because they are pandering to vot- are a lot of powerful interest began to get better. ers. In Russia and Ukraine, the elite groups, polarization and difficulty are the source of the problem, it’s in making decisions. It was a lot UW: Some analysts believe, that not the people that are corrupting worse in the 1970s. There were democracy, or general election the elite, it’s the elite that are cor- popular protests, riots, economic legislation, is the problem. They decline... I don’t think we’re in say that elections only reproduce anything like a final crisis of de- corruption and lack of The state has to be strong mocracy. professionalism in governments in enough but people have to The United States has a special post-totalitarian states.T hey set of problems. The country is mention the 19th-century United trust that it will use its highly polarized right now and States as an opposite model: at power only for agreed- therefore not able to make basic that point, voting rights were decisions. For instance, the Con- subject to property and other upon public purposes gress hasn’t passed a budget in qualifications, and the voters who three years, and they haven’t been met them were voted more rupting the people. I don’t think able to very seriously address the responsibly. people are willing to keep voting for long-term fiscal deficit that they That’s not true. In the 19th-cen- corrupt leaders. need to do. tury United States, politicians pan- dered to people by giving them jobs UW: Many say today that liberal UW: In your works, you focus on and basically bribing them to vote. democracy is going through a a strong state, the rule of law 22|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 Opinion|Society and institutions of accountability BIO right now is the spreading Sunni- as the three pillars of the modern Yoshihiro Francis Fukuyama was born in Chicago in 1952. He is Shia conflict that’s going to divide American in the third generation. His grandfather fled to the political system. Where does United States from the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. His father a lot of countries in that region. trust stand in this system? received a doctorate in sociology and his mother was the This could lead to a prolonged re- Trust is critical. The state has daughter of the first president of Osaka City University. Francis ligious strife in that area. Just like to be strong enough but people Fukuyama initially studied literature at Yale and in Paris but it was with religious wars between have to trust that it will use its switched to political science later. He earned his PhD in 1981 for Catholics and Protestants in the power only for agreed-upon public a thesis on Soviet threats in the Middle East. Over the 1980- 17th-century Europe. purposes, not in a predatory or 1990s, he worked at federal think tanks and the US Department corrupt fashion. If citizens don’t of State. In the 2000s, Fukuyama distanced himself from the UW: Do you believe that a global trust the state, they try to stop and neoconservative movement which he had previously supported political system is possible?W ould throughout his entire career and admitted that he voted for it be liberal democracy inevitably? block it. The United States is in Democratic candidates in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elec- that situation a little bit because of tions. His major publications include The End of History and the It’s certainly possible. If you its strong tradition of distrust for Last Man out in 1992; Trust: The Social Virtues and the Creation ask me whether all countries on the the state. That’s why we can’t have of Prosperity, 1995; The Great Disruption: Human Nature and planet will become liberal democ- a reasonable health care system: the Reconstitution of Social Order, 1999; State-Building: Gover- racies, the answer is probably no. the citizens don’t trust the state to nance and World Order in the 21stCentury, 2004; America at But the question is whether there is manage it properly. the Crossroads: Democracy, Power, and the Neoconservative a superior social model. What’s im- Legacy, 2006, and more. portant, in my opinion, is the ideal UW: Why then do you think we’re seeking to emulate. And I still Snowden’s leaks did not trigger talists, is not the best motif for the think of liberal democracy as the protests in theU nited States? United States to intervene? only serious alternative. The explanation is that they You’re right. Communism pretended to be are probably still scared by 9/11. A an alternative model. Some point at lot of Americans still think there UW: So what could be done in this the China model and its authoritar- are all these terrible terrorists out situation? ian capitalism. I think that’s non- there and the government has to I don’t know. I mean, this is a sense. First of all, nobody can imi- protect them from these terrorists really difficult situation. I sort of tate China other than a country that by whatever means are necessary. think that if we had provided more is culturally very similar. And it’s However, public opinion is chang- weapons to the rebels two years ago, not that attractive in the end. China ing on this. People may start to get Assad might have been pushed out is good in one dimension which is more upset and angry about this. of power before the opposition got economic growth. But it’s terrible in as radical as it is right now. But terms of the impact on the environ- UW: Do you think that the United since we didn’t act, things have ment, food safety, property rights States may lose its world changed. And now there are really and basic dignity of citizens. leadership if it refuses to act as no “good guys” on either side, and it “the global cop”? is not clear what the right thing to UW: Do you think political parties What has happened in Ameri- do is. are still a necessary element of can foreign policy is that the Bush modern politics? Administration launched two UW: The expansion of religious Political parties are now in trou- costly wars in the Middle East, radicalism is just part of ble in many countries. That’s a real neither of which really worked perturbations developing in the crisis for democracy. Political par- out that successfully. And so it Islamic world. What future do you ties have one function which is to has generated a backlash, where see for Muslim countries? win elections in a democratic sys- popular opinion does not want to This is a question that is very tem. No other groups can do that. get involved in another war. In ef- difficult to answer. I see certain Civil society groups, transnational fect, that is weakness. Both David parallels between what is happen- corporations or labour unions can’t Cameron and Barack Obama tac- ing in the Middle East right now do that. So, when political parties tically mishandled the Syrian cri- and European nationalism in the are weak and regarded as illegiti- sis. They could have avoided get- 19th century. In both cases you had mate, one of the fundamental insti- ting into this big mess that they’re that underlying social change, a tutions of democracy is missing. in right now. They should have lot of modernization; urbanization been smarter in a lead-up to the of the formerly poor rural commu- UW: How could the relatively crisis. nities. This creates a big problem weak Ukraine respond to the Basically, it looks like it is of identity. People don’t know who pressure from Russia in an effort to weakness. I’m not so sure, whether they are and what they are sup- stopU kraine’s association with the it is a long-term decline. I think posed to believe. In Europe, it was EU? these things come and go over fascism and communism to some Ukraine has no choice but to get time. After Vietnam, the United extent that filled that gap. These to the EU as close as possible, I States didn’t want to fight another ideologies served as ways of mobi- think. That’s good for Ukraine both war and seemed to be retreating. lizing people and were obstacles to in terms of foreign policy and in But then there was Ronald Reagan democracy in Europe at that time. terms of domestic institutions. As- comeback. In the Middle East, it’s reli- sociation with Europe will help gion, I think. In many respects, re- Ukraine reform its internal institu- UW: Speaking of Syria – don’t you ligion plays the same social role tions. Now, Ukraine needs as much think the victory ofS yrian rebels, that nationalism did in the 19th- help as it can get from the EU and many of them Islamic fundamen- century Europe. The real worry the U.S. № 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|23 history|Battles

The Cross Versus the Crescent Moon The Battle of Vienna took place 330 years ago. It was the final and most significant battle between Christian Europe and the Muslim East

Author: he Vienna victory over the legacy of the Roman Caesars – its efforts in the struggle against Oleksiy Ottomans on September 12, the Holy Roman Empire. The Ot- the Porte. This lasted until the Sokyrko 1683, was a landmark event toman seizure of Constantinople late 17th century when the conflict Tin the history of the conti- in 1453 was followed by the fall of escalated to the point of life or nent for a number of reasons. By a slew of European capitals and death. that time, the Ottoman Empire’s the defeat of many powerful expansion in Europe had already armies. Christian Europe pro- The Ottomans make the lasted for several centuries but claimed that the advance of Islam first move… and lose the Sultan’s army had never been was the biggest threat and God’s A slew of failed European Cru- as close to the heartland of the punishment. However, it lacked sades that were supposed to end united Christian empire and the the unity and agreement to join Turkish aggression in the 15-17th 24|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 Battles|history Chronicles of headed towards the Danube. Ottoman Strategically, this was the correct conquests in Europe decision, but less so politically, since Poland’s eastern and south- 1389 – Battle of ern frontiers remained under Kosovo. Begin- threat from Tatars and Hungari- ning of the Otto- ans. Thanks to this swift reaction, man Balkan ex- the allies gathered a huge army pansion above the Danube that included 1396 – Battle of nearly 21,000 Polish soldiers Nicopolis. The with 28 cannons; 18,500 Ottoman victory Habsburg troops and 70 cannons over the coalition commanded by Charles V, Duke of European of Lorraine; and almost 29,000 knights soldiers and 50 cannons from al- 1453 – Conquest lied German princedoms, includ- of Constantino- ing Saxony, Bavaria, Swabia and ple Franconia, commanded by the 1521 – Siege of Elector of Saxony, Johann Georg Belgrad III and Prince Georg Friedrich of Waldeck. On September 3, the 1526 – Battle of allies decided to delegate the Mohács. The Ot- command of this motley army to tomans conquer Hungary Jan Sobieski as the highest rank- ing person and the most experi- 1529 – the first enced commander in wars against siege of Vienna the Ottomans. 1532 – the sec- He came up with a simple and ond siege of Vi- decisive plan to rescue Vienna: enna unlike the German and Austrian marshals who suggested luring 1543– Siege of the Ottomans as far as possible Nice from the city and forcing them to 1678 – Siege and withdraw with ongoing raids, the fall of Chyhyryn king intended to deal them a crushing blow in a general battle and force them to capitulate. The attack was to start from the side of the Vienna Woods so that the allies’ left wing could cut through the Ottoman camp besieging Vi- centuries made it clear that none king of the Upper Hungary by the enna and help the city garrison. of the countries under the Otto- Turks) in the protestant prov- The right wing, together with the man threat could resist it on its inces that were disappointed with own. Meanwhile, potential allies economic and church policies of The Battle of Vienna was were torn apart by disputes and catholic Austria as an excuse to disagreements: France and Aus- once again invade the territory of the last chord tria struggled for leadership in the Habsburgs. In spring 1683, in the Ottoman advance, Western Europe and the Polish- the Ottoman Army gathered in Lithuanian Commonwealth com- Edirne, marched to Serbia, as well as its conquests peted for leadership in Eastern crossed it and got close to Vienna. and power in Europe Europe (the conflicts in the 17th By mid-July, it had completely century largely concerned blockaded the city. Emperor Leo- centre, was supposed to go in a Ukraine). The Ottoman Empire pold I with his court and numer- general attack, engaging with the played skillfully on the ambition- ous refugees that outnumbered enemy’s main units. When the driven squabbles of European his army fled the capital and battle began, the 80,000-strong monarchs. turned to the Polish-Lithuanian Ottoman army looked like a dan- In the second half of the 17th Commonwealth for help. Luckily, gerous opponent, albeit visibly century, Istanbul eagerly helped the two countries had signed a exhausted: they had already been Ukrainian Cossacks in their wars joint anti-Ottoman action treaty a dealing with the city’s desperate against the Polish-Lithuanian year earlier. resistance for two months. Commonwealth and Hungary in Polish King Jan III Sobieski On the morning of September their struggle for independence initially planned to fight the 12, the Ottoman commander, from Austria. The Ottomans used Turks in Podilia and concentrated Grand Vizier Kara-Mustafa Pasha their help to Hungarians in the his forces in Lviv. After Leopold’s decided on a sudden attack 1681-1682 revolt led by Prince plea for help, however, the army against the coalition army to pre- Imre Tekeli (recognized as the was sent to Krakow from where it vent the latter from taking conve- № 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|25 history|Battles nient positions that would allow were more familiar with Turks them to block his units. His big- and Tatars and better accus- gest mistake though, was the plan tomed to wars with them than for frequent intense attacks to the West European military. This force Vienna to capitulate. As a made Cossacks and the Ukrai- result, the troops he sent to attack nian nobility an integral part of the Polish-German-Austrian virtually all anti-Ottoman coali- army were too few. tions and military campaigns, in- Initially, the allies’ left wing cluding the Battle of Vienna in moved too far ahead. The Otto- 1683. mans followed and found them- Sobieski realized that he selves cut off from the Danube for would not win this war without a while. In the afternoon, the co- the assistance or at least the neu- alition’s army corrected its posi- trality of the Cossacks in the tions, pushing the Ottoman cav- spring of 1683 before the Turkish alry on the right flank and was army began its campaign. With thus ready for the final attack. financial assistance from the Thus began at 5p.m. with a fron- Pope, the Polish king decided to tal attack by the German and Pol- hire three Cossack units of 1,200- ish cavalry. The Ottomans were 1,500 people. However, the en- pushed back along the entire listment campaign kicked off too frontline. late and relations between the This cavalry attack, led by the Cossacks and the Polish-Lithua- famous Polish winged hussars nian Commonwealth were too and recognized as the biggest cav- unstable and ambiguous. As a re- alry operation with over 20,000 sult, only a small 150-strong unit people involved, was decisive to of Right-Bank and Zaporizhia the outcome of the battle. The Ot- Cossacks led by Rittmeister Apos- tomans began to withdraw, which tol-Shchurovskyi arrived at Vi- rapidly turned into a chaotic re- enna. The rest were crossing the treat. The trenches and camps Danube, having joined allied they built to besiege Vienna were forces in Hungary, when the fate the only things that saved them of the besieged Vienna was al- from being completely sur- ready decided. rounded and destroyed. Although Many units of the royal Polish Sobieski’s plan to wipe out the and Lithuanian army were also Ottoman Army failed, the out- late for the Viennese Ball. Yet, the come of the battle was fantastic: Cossacks got in early enough to Kara-Mustafa Pasha lost 15,000 participate in the final phase of of his troops, the entire artillery the campaign when the Ottomans and a huge caravan with generous the word “Cossack” is of Turkic were forced out of Hungary. In trophies for the winners. origin. November 1863, Cossack units Over several generations, the led by Vasyl Iskrytskyi, Semen Ukraine-Rus between Rus nobility and Ukrainian Cos- Korsunets, Jan Myslishewski and East and West sacks got used to living in the Maksym Bulyha invaded the At that time, Ukraine had a lon- steppes where military cam- Hungarian town of Szechenyi, ger love-hate history with the paigns regularly alternated with which was well-fortified by the East that traced back to the times trade transactions, while the bu- Ottomans, in the avant-garde of when farmers and nomadic cattle surmans – the Cossack name for the royal army and essentially breeders settled on its territory. made it surrender without resis- Throughout the 16th and 17th cen- tance. In autumn of the same turies, constant contacts with the Cossacks and the Ukrainian year, Cossack units helped Polish Crimean Khanate and the Otto- nobility were an integral troops to defend Podilia which man Empire as its suzerain devel- was being attacked by the Turks oped a very specific type of rela- part of virtually and Tartars in an attempt to pull tions, in which hostility and resis- all anti-Ottoman coalitions part of the Christian coalition tance were curiously intertwined army out of there. Another vic- with completely peaceful pursuits and military campaigns, tory overshadowed by the one in such as trade, mutual borrowings including the Battle of Vienna was a march to Moldova and so on. Almost a third of the by Right-Bank Cossacks, led by Ukrainian nobility, especially that Vienna in 1683 Stefan Kunytskyi. After passing from Kyiv, Left-Bank Ukraine through Mohyliv, Yampil, Soroky and Podilia, had Turkic sur- Muslims - were condemned but and Chisinau, the Cossacks met names. Prince Dmytro Vysh- hardly treated as strangers. The Belgorod and Budjak Tartars nevetskyi, one of the first Cossack steppe knights, given the title of (Belgorod and Budjak, as well as leaders, was best known by his the “forefront of Christian Eu- Kiliya and Ismail, mentioned be- non-Slavic surname, Baida. Even rope” by European polemists, low, are all in Odesa Oblast to- 26|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 Battles|history info day), who were returning from treaty with Russia, a new Euro- The Old Pummerin. Casting bells Vienna, scattering them along the pean superpower. Two black ea- out of trophy cannons is a for- Danube. On their way back, the gles – Austrian and Russian – gotten tradition. Bronze and Cossacks took over and robbed began to plot against the Polish- copper were very expensive at Kiliya and Ismail. Lithuanian Commonwealth, the time of the battle, but a re- The contribution of the Ukrai- their old ally in anti-Ottoman co- minder of great success and nian nobility in the Vienna vic- alitions, to divide it between generous trophies were more tory was not so clear. In the late themselves at the end of the cen- valuable. Turkish cannons won 17th century, the Polish-Lithua- tury and ultimately deprive Cos- in the Battle of Vienna were nian Commonwealth included sack Ukraine of its autonomy. melted into a huge bell that weighted 22.5 tonnes in the some Ukrainian territories – the However, this was all yet to early 18th century. It was hung at Volyn, Podilia and Rus provinces. come, while in September 1683, Stefansdom, the main cathedral Cossack units controlled some of Christian Europe was celebrating of the city. Lavishly decorated these while in others, the rule of a triumph of the cross over the with images of the Virgin Mary, the nobility was restored. Even crescent moon. Pope Innocent XI saints and emperors, the bell though Right-Bank Ukraine was designated September 12 as the had a low timbre, hence its almost devastated after the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary name – boomer in German. bloody turmoil of the Ruin (a pe- to honour Our Lady of Częs­ Similarly, in 1695, Cossacks riod in Ukrainian history between tochowa, the protectress of the melted trophy cannons to commemorate the siege of the 1657 when Bohdan Khmelnytsky Polish king and army in the anti- Turkish Kezykermen fortress in Kherson Oblast into a bell for the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin died and 1687 when Ivan Mazepa Ottoman campaign. Numerous Mary, the main shrine in Poltava. came to power – Ed.) and could trophies that came into the hands not provide enough military, the of the victorious allies played Royal constellation. The star atlas Firmamentum Sobies- local nobility still lived “on horse- their part in history, becoming cianum by well-known Gdansk astronomer, Johannes back”, at the ready, whether there the richest collections of Turkish Hevelius, had long been the most complete sky encyclo- was war or peace for several cen- antiquities in Austrian and Polish pedia. Compiled in 1690, it immortalized Jan III Sobieski turies. The ranks of the royal museums. Others, such as coffee, by naming a constellation after his family coat of arms - army were filled by the nobility ended up in the hands of Scutum Sobiescianum or Sobieski’s Shield. The scientist, who had moved from Kyiv and Halychyna (Galician) nobleman involved in brewery and book publishing in addition to as- Left-Bank Ukraine to Right-Bank Yuriy Franz Kulchyts­kyi (Jerzy tronomy, was guided not just by patriotic sentiments, but also simple gratitude: the king was a generous patron Ukraine during the Khmelnytsky Franciszek Kulczycki in Polish). It and protector of the Gdansk observatory. Scutum Sobies- Uprising. With little land and the started the long-lasting coffee cianum occupies an area of 109.1 sq. degrees and in- urge to fight, these knights joined drinking tradition in Europe cludes 28 stars that can be seen by the naked eye. It is the the elite Polish hussar and pan- while Vienna became the first Eu- brightest part of the Milky Way. cerny – armoured cavalry – ban- ropean city where coffee shops ners (companies) that fought acted as clubs for the nobility and against the Ottomans near Vi- bour­geoisie,and the latest news enna. was discussed over a cup of the aromatic drink. The Virgin Mary, big Along with numerous Otto- politics and… coffee man war trophies, Turkish musi- Battles are won by commanders, cal instruments came into the while politicians take credit for hands of the European soldiers: the victories. The Vienna Victory cymbals, timpani, tambourines was the last chord in the Otto- and horns. Legend has it that man advance through Europe, these instruments were the origi- and the beginning of the end of nal basic set of wind instruments Ottoman victories and the might and drums for the classic military of the Ottoman Empire. The war band. They also introduced Euro- on the continent lasted another peans to Turkish music, the mo- 16 years, ending with the Kar- tifs of which can be heard in mu- lowitz Peace Treaty in 1699 that sic written by the most famous brought a time-out in the Otto- European composers of the 18th man threat but resulted in century. lengthy squabbles within Europe The outcome of the Battle of ers to speak to each other, were – the War for the Spanish Legacy Vienna was important for both dressed, armed and conducted (1701–1714) and the Great East and West, and had a unique warfare in a similar manner, and Northern War (1700–1721). The echo in Ukrainian history. Coffee felt like members of one military Habsburg Empire was ultimately as the “wine of Islam” as well as community. The European cul- unable to gain leadership on the Turkish weapons, music, clothes tural space was just coming into continent, as neighbouring and many household items had being at that point, developing its France was carving off the fron- been widely used in Ukraine long own system of orientations and tiers of the German world from before the battle. The Polish- contacts. Wars were virtually the the West while the Habsburgs Lithuanian Commonwealth was only means of intercultural ex- fought against the Ottomans. equally accepted, as Ukrainian change. Fortunately, muses have This changed in the early 18th Cossacks and soldiers of the Pol- gradually taken over cannons in century, when Vienna signed a ish crown did not need interpret- the process. № 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|27 Culture & Arts|Music Harmonizing Ethno Chaos DakhaBrakha’s lead singer Marko Halanevych talks about poor music tastes in Ukraine and post-modernist folklore

we can’t perform in national cos- tumes because, after all, we don’t play authentic folk music. We de- scribed our style as ethno chaos and realized that it flowed with the global river of world music. So we needed costumes to match. Look at our hats. They’ve become a unique element of our appearance. The idea to wear them came from our actress, Tetiana Vasylenko. We spent a lot of time searching other cultures for similar women’s hats – none did. There is something simi- lar in Bulgaria, but they are men’s hats and only worn on certain holi- days.

We don’t really invest in promotion. We may seem naïve but we believe that success and fame should come by themselves. We don’t see any sense in imposing ourselves on people from every billboard in town. We promote ourselves with what we do – music. We spent the past six months tour- ing Europe and Canada. After our concert at GogolFest we are going on a month-long tour in the US. This is largely thanks to our partici- pation in the huge WOMAX pre-

hoto: A ndriy L o m akin P hoto: sentation fest last year, which took place in Greece. Any world music Interviewer: akhaBrakha is the brightest, Troitsky (Dakh founder and art di- band can apply but the selection Bohdan most avant-garde and original rector – Ed.) wanted to experi- process is very tough. This music Butkevych world music band in Ukraine. ment with Ukrainian folklore, so forum is oriented at promoters and DStarted at the Dakh (Roof) launched a cycle of relevant plays producers rather than the average theatre in 2004, it has since gained for which he needed a musical ac- audience. That’s where they look at popularity worldwide. Over the past companiment. What astonished new bands and performers. Other- few years, the band has performed at him too was that communication wise, you have to be a pop artist most top world music festivals in Eu- between Ukrainian artists from dif- with someone investing tons of rope and beyond. Sadly, as is often ferent “workshops” was almost money into your promotion, al- the case, DakhaBrakha is little known non-existent. So he launched what though even this no longer guaran- in Ukraine. Most Ukrainians have not can be considered art parties at tees success. Pop music is the same even heard of the band, since it does Dakh. People started to come and all over the world – you make mu- not fit into the miserable standards of that’s how I met the girls. They sic that fits the format, invest and domestic show business. In a brief were then singing in a band called earn it back. Ethnic music, on the break between the upcoming Go- Kralytsia. They were professionally other hand, is always unique and golFest, a contemporary art festival trained in folklore and had been original to every nation. that will take place this weekend in singing since early childhood. By Kyiv, and their tours, Marko Ha- that time, they already had a great We try to experience all lanevych finds time to talk to The repertoire. our songs along with the audi- Ukrainian Week. ence. Of course, we want people to As theatre people, we care have fun at our concerts so we end DakhaBrakha started out a lot about our style. We real- them with quick and energizing as a theatre project. Vlad ized from the very beginning that tunes. But, we always play slow, 28|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 Music|Culture & Arts dramatic and atmospheric pieces DakhaBrakha to rethink and modernize our folk have so many insecurities, no faith as well, including those composed discography culture. In fact, as a post-modernist in ourselves and are willing to lis- for the theatre. We don’t play to band DakhaBrakha is trying to give ten to anything that comes from impress people with our technique new life to our grandmas’ songs. Moscow or America just because because we don’t think of ourselves Authentic folklore is closely tied to it’s foreign. This is a broader social as virtuoso musicians, and music is specific actions or holiday seasons, problem, not limited to music not a sport. Instead, we want our such as harvest, Christmas, or Ku- alone. Unfortunately, we lived as sounds to create certain visual im- pala Night. As authentic rituals dis- slaves for a very long time, so can’t ages in people’s minds, and emo- Na dobranich appear, the songs disappear as well immediately be free. Currently, at tional experiences. Our main aim (Goodnight), and a whole layer of culture dies best, we are at the level of freed here is to open up to people, and 2006 out. Even if you get a grandma on slaves. It takes generations and the encourage them to open up to us so stage, everything in her will tense right focus of development to that we part as friends at the end of up and you still won’t hear live au- change this. the concert. thentic music. Some say that world mu- We’re more likely to per- Ukrainian culture is much sic is becoming less popular; form at a City Day in Stock- more natural when it is cre- that the peak of its popularity holm than in an average Yahudky ated in the Ukrainian lan- was in the 1990s and that it is Ukrainian town. Ukraine’s show (Berries), 2007 guage. Russian-language Ukrai- now hard to surprise Europe- business has a very strict format: nian culture will always remain on ans. They have seen everything everything is paid for and kept for the periphery, especially when it from Australian aboriginals to the insiders. Since DakhaBrakha is not comes to literature. That’s why I Indians of Tierra del Fuego. But shown on TV, it does not exist for don’t really believe some of our you have to book a camping spot most people here. The Internet ob- Russian-speaking writers, who at Rudolfstadt, one of the biggest viously creates an important alter- claim that it makes no difference folk music festivals in Germany, native media platform, but televi- Na mezhi what language you write in and three years in advance, or you’ll sion is still dominant in shaping (On the Verge), that they have a better feel for Rus- end up staying 30 km away. De- the preferences of the Ukrainian 2009 sian, but that it doesn’t make them spite the overall economic reces- mass audience. This year, young any less Ukrainian. What will the sion, the European festival move- locals at Ethnosur, a huge Spanish world consider them to be? Of ment is thriving. world music festival, sang our course, one can feel like a citizen of songs along with us. I think they the world, of the planet – as does DakhaBrakha wants to found our lyrics online. Kira Muratove (Ukrainian film di- live and work in Ukraine. rector – Ed.). In fact, we are all the This may sound pompous (sin- Most Ukrainians have very citizens of this planet. But for Da- cere words are always pompous), poor taste in music. This is the Light, 2010 khaBrakha, it is of the utmost im- but this is our land, where our result of our historical turmoil, of portance to remain Ukrainian be- families live. This is where all the course. DakhaBrakha is primarily cause we want our music to lift the mental and spiritual power, based on Ukrainian folklore, even spirit and boost the confidence of which helps us create our music, if this is not that obvious or simple our people. is found. I’ve never seen really in our interpretation. Unfortu- happy immigrants. They may nately, most people need some- The European audience is have money and socialize well but thing simpler. I remember playing Khmeleva much more open. People come I still think that people work most at MED, a festival in Loulé, Portu- Project, a joint to festivals and concerts with a pos- effectively in their homeland. gal. We were happy to play there project with itive attitude wanting to enjoy mu- Whenever possible, people have because we knew a lot of Ukraini- PortMone, 2012 sic and communication. By con- to take every effort to make life ans would come (Ukrainians make trast, Ukrainians can only let them- better for themselves and their up one of the biggest migrant com- selves go when they are drunk. We children here in Ukraine. munities in Portugal – Ed.) and we would love to play for them. In- deed, they sat in the first three rows. When we started playing, we realized that they didn’t under- stand our music at all. The climax came when a guy with a huge moustache yelled out, “Play ka- linka-malinka!” “Are you really from Ukraine?” I shouted back. But this example clearly shows that even abroad, our people still relate to the simulacra imposed on them through decades of propaganda. They are not yet ready to accept something new.

Ukraine desparately needs

variety in all spheres. We have m kulikov vady photo: № 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|29 Culture & Arts|Music Dig Deeper

hat’s the message 2010. Back then, the re- Hutsul notes, Odesa charm and unforget- of the sixth album cord landed ninth in the table aesthetics. This authenticity makes it by American punk- Alternative Albums chart popular across nations. Trock band Gogol and sold 67,000 copies Pura Vida Conspiracy translates Go- Bordello. Yevhen Hudz, in the U.S. alone. The gol Bordello’s key message: be yourself the band’s leader, says new album, sparks con- and travel wherever you wish because that the new record Pura trasting reactions: some borders are just scars on the planet’s Vida Conspiracy is about fans scream that the re- face, Yevhen sings in a new song. This human internal poten- cord is fantastic, espe- seems true and authentic since the lead tial. Other musicians cially the second part of singer himself lives a transnational life. confirm this: the lyrics on the previous al- it. Others claim that there are no hits on Authenticity is bound to reach out to bums focused on the world more, while in this one compared to the previous re- people: most of them have a dream of this one, Yevhen talks about what is going cord. freedom deep inside, where it’s just them on inside him. The newest album still has Ukrainian fans pay special attention to and the road, and nothing to hold them the band’s daredevil feel to it, but turns out the band’s music. Born in Kyiv Oblast, back. Sadly, nothing to return to as well more intimate and sincere. It seems like Yevhen Hudz left Ukraine but gave a – the violins and Yevhen’s slight vibrato the vocalist finally got tired after five - al breakthrough for its music in the world. convey this sadness. This is the essence bums of craze and sat down by the living The band plays to please both Ukrainian of the new record: if you dig deeper, you room fireplace to tell the real story. and international audiences – this must be will find a serious grain under the buf- The album was produced by Andrew the key to its success. For the Western au- foonery surface. Yevhen plays fool to Scheps known for working with the Red dience, Gogol Bordello is relaxing con- share his personal pains. But he does Hot Chili Peppers and The Mars Volta. trolled chaos that brings many back to the this softly, as if after long all-night talks This is Gogol Bordello’s first album after roots. For Ukrainians, the band’s vocalist at home when all words are said and no three years of silence since their previous Yevhen is someone close and understand- longer matter. Even the sad songs like I record, Trans-Continental Hustle pro- able, and a model of success. Gogol Bor- Just Realised sound wise rather than duced by Rick Rubin that came out in dello invades the music scene with a mix of hopeless. Events 20 September, 7 p.m. 20 September 8 p.m. 21 September, 8:30 p.m. Jamala Z.OrangeDay Marinita Green Theatre Sam’s Steak House (Ukraine-USA-Azerbaijan) (2, Parkova Doroha, Kyiv) (56, vul. Radyanska, Luhansk) Atmasfera 360 (57/3, vul. Velyka Vasylkivska, Kyiv)

The singer’s fans and those who Daring improvisations, sound ex- The multi-national band Marinita appreciate good music will have a periments and the best jazz bands of Lu- will be performing on the capital’s stage unique opportunity to enjoy songs hansk – guests of the 10th Z.OrangeDay within the Framework of the Art of Toler- from Jamala’s latest album, All or jazz festival can expect all this and more. ance campaign. Renowned American Nothing. It includes twelve tracks: The atmosphere of this year’s festival will bassist Teymur Phell, Ukrainian vocalist eleven original songs and a beautiful be set by the Michael Zuyev Group, Keep Marinita and Azerbaijani percussionist Crimean Tatar folksong, Unutmasan. A Talk, Dagro and Friend’s and the fans Orhan Agabeyli will give a concert not New vivid melodies, in combination of old-jazz – Jazz&Son’s. Jazzmen from only to offer the audience some good with the incredible charisma and pow- Russia and Serbia will perform at Z.Or- music, but also in protest against xeno- erful vocals of the singer, will make the angeDay as special guests. Jam-sessions, phobia and discrimi- evening of live which have now become a traditional el- nation in Ukraine. music unfor- ement of the festival, will take place be- The ideal intonation gettable. In fore and after the concert. A charge of of Marinita’s singing addition to positive and good energy is guaranteed invigorates the mu- songs from on this autumn evening. sic, while the harmo- the new al- nious vibration of the bum, Jamala instruments adds ex- will be singing otic and powerful her well- ethnic overtones. This known hits – is what creates the Smile, It’s Me depth of the band’s Jamala, You’re performances - hard Made Of Love to explain, but easy and more. to feel. 30|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 Visual arts|Culture & Arts Civilization: There and Back pieces by Daniel Chodowiecki are part of the Kharkiv Art 257Museum collection debuting in Kyiv this month. The painter of Polish origin worked among German elite in the epoch of Enlightenment. Fol- lowing the spirit of his time, he created paintings affirming intellectual and moral values. Sophisticated in technique and naïve in plots, they represent Ger- man Realism. The show in Kyiv displays several series where Chodowiecki re- flects on the habits of burghers and aris- tocrats, and illustrates texts by Voltaire, Rousseau, Beaumarchais and Lesage that were popular in his time. His realis- tic pieces are interpretations of the tradi- tional dance macabre – dance of death – genre. Skeletons appear to take life from a king, a scientist, a prostitute and and philosophic compositions – Kent’s ings portray the grandeur of this exotic a pauper. Each piece will fit on a hand artistic and personal life had much in nature. Kent was interested in many palm so you would have to get real close common with a well-known painter and things apart from painting. He was also a to see the details. theosophist, Nicholas Roerich. Both The public will also have a chance to traveled to unseen countries and lived Both exhibitions are at the Khanenko see 10 works by American painter Rock- with aboriginals untouched by civiliza- Museum at 15/17, vul. Tereshchenkivska, in well Kent stored in the backrooms of the tion. Both viewerd landscapes as expres- front of the Taras Shevchenko park. Daniel Khanenko Museum in Kyiv for fifty sion of the transcendent. Kent visited Chodowiecki’s works are displayed through years. Pure colours and geometric Greenland, Alaska, Tierra del Fuego and October 20 andR ockwell Kent’s show closes shapes, authentic peace of landscapes Northern states of America. His paint- on September 22 21 September, 8:30 p.m. 25 September, 7 p.m. From 26 September 28 September, 7 p.m. Erisioni Manhattan Short Film Okean Elzy International Centre for Culture Festival Palats Sportu (Palace of Sports) and Arts Kyiv Cinema (1, Sportyvna Ploshcha, Kyiv) (1, vul. Instytutska, Kyiv) (19, vul. Velyka Vasylkivska, Kyiv)

The legendary Georgian academic One of the major short film festivals The rock group’s large-scale sta- ensemble is visiting Ukraine once will traditionally present a selection of dium tour to promote its new album more. It will present the public with ten best films-finalists, which were- cho will culminate with a resonant con- one of the most large-scale, ethnic sen from the 600 applications received cert in the capital. The tour began in style shows. With the help of national from 48 countries of the world. The May with a performance at the Spar- songs and dances, the artists demon- worldwide battle of directors – this is tak Stadium in Mukachevo, Zakar- strate samples of folklore from the how the festival is actually referred to. pattia. In all, the band performed in whole of Georgia. By changing their This year’s programme includes short 27 cities of Ukraine. They are plan- costumes and shifting to different films from France, England, Finland, Aus- ning a world tour in the future, to zones of temperament of the Georgian tralia, the USA and Ireland. The range of promote their album of twelve people, they also paint an image of the subjects addressed covers the most - di tracks. New hits, especially Strilyay Georgian spirit. The ensemble’s perfor- verse facets of people’s lives – from a (Sho­­ot), Z Neyu (With Her), Na Nebi mances are ac- love affair in No Comments and family (In Heaven) and others, quickly claimed as all-en- tragedy in Friday to portraits of Moscow, found fa- compassing, while Pakistan and Quebec through the eyes of vour with the troupe itself – travellers in Portraits de Voyages. their fans, as a “folklore mu- while the al- seum”. And no bum itself wonder, the cre- was well-re- ative activity of ceived by the ensemble has both Ukrai- continued for nian and more than 100 foreign mu- years now. sic critics. № 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|31 Navigator|Sacred architecture A Guide to Majestic Wooden Churches Slender Gothic towers, lavish Baroque iconostases, and solid timber domes that trace back to pre-Christian times – The Ukrainian Week takes you on a tour of the unique wooden churches scattered along the Polish-Ukrainian border his year, UNESCO added 16 Author: scientific controversy. According to rivers, including the mighty and wooden churches to its List of Oleksandr popular opinion, it was built in the turbulent Prut. It is also the birth- World Heritage Sites—eight Syrtsov early 17th century. The official date, place of Hryhoriy Semeniuk, an Tin Ukraine, eight in Poland. however, is 1598: the local priest Ip- ally of legendary Carpathian out- Lviv Oblast in Ukraine and Podkar- olyt Dzerovych found the date law Oleksa Dovbush – a folk hero packie and Lublin provinces in Po- carved on the northern wall of the often compared to Robin Hood. land have four each; Ivano- central zrub – a solid-timber sec- Local lore claims that Semeniuk Frankivsk and Zakarpattia Oblasts tion. The shrine has one of the old- began construction of the shrine in in Ukraine have two each. If you est and most beautiful Renaissance- his village. It is unique for its five have enough time, you can see Baroque iconostases in Ukraine domes built in the traditional Hut- many other masterpieces of sacred sul1 style and covered with en- wooden architecture along the way. graved tin. The church was actually Unfortunately, not all of Ukraine’s The Ukrainian-Polish route built in 1808 but the interior still antique wooden churches made it between UNESCO sites contains icons from the late 18th onto UNESCO’s list. century. Regular services are still Before applying to UNESCO, includes many more held in the church today. Ukrainian members of the initia- masterpieces of sacred tive committee examined hundreds Zakarpattia of wooden churches along the wooden architecture that We move westward through Zakar- Ukrainian-Polish border, choosing are not on its heritage list pattia Oblast, home to 110 pre- eight that met UNESCO’s criteria: served wooden churches recog- they are unique, well preserved, dating back to 1650. The church and nized as architectural heritage open to visitors, and their congre- its iconostasis attained their status sites. One is the Church of Ascen- gations support their addition to as works of art at the time of Austro- sion or Strukiv Church in the vil- the list. Overall, most of the Hungarian rule, when the shrine lage of Yasinia (3). Local lore wooden churches designated as ar- was first listed as an architectural claims that the village’s founder, chitectural heritage sites in heritage site. In 1963, it was added Ivan Struk, built the church out of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk Ukraine are located in the west of and Zakarpattia to a list of national historical sites gratitude to God for saving his the country. Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblasts are home to for a second time. In the 1980s, it sheep in a storm. The modern and Zakarpattia Oblasts alone are was restored by Ivan Mohytych, a Church of the Ascension, however, 1,089 of home to 1,089 of Ukraine’s 2,353 top Ukrainian expert. Today, the dates back to 1824. It is one of the wooden churches. 2,353 church acts as a branch of the best examples of sacred Hustul ar- Ukraine’s wooden churches Ivano-Frankivsk art museum while chitecture. Inside, there is an ico- Ivano-Frankivsk also serving religious functions. The nostasis from the late 18th century We begin our tour in Ivano- National Bank issued a memorial and a number of 17th-century icons. Frankivsk Oblast with its 462 coin depicting the church in 2009. Perhaps the local lore is true after wooden churches qualified as archi- The village of Nyzhniy Verbizh all… tectural heritage sites. The first (2) in Kolomyia County is known The village of Uzhok (4) in Ve- town we suggest visiting is Rohatyn as a crossroads of four mountain lykyi Bereznyi County is on the (1). It was the birthplace of Nastya border of Zakarpattia Oblast near 1 Hutsuls are an ethno-cultural group of highlanders inhabiting the Ukrainian and Roma- Lisovska, the legendary Roxelana or nian Carpathians. They once spoke a distinct dialect of Ukrainian, but standardized educa- the Uzhok Pass where the river Uzh Hürrem Haseki Sultan – the legal tion introduced by Stalin nearly wiped it out. All three Carpathian ethnic groups – Hutsuls, begins. The local Church of St. Mi- Boykos and Lemkos – have very distinct cultures and arts that are quite different from the wife of the Ottoman Sultan Sulei- rest of Ukraine. This has mostly survived in the Ukrainian Carpathians, especially in Ivano- chael the Archangel is one of the Frankivsk Oblast. Typical Hutsul churches were built in the shape of the cross with three or man the Magnificent. The local five flat layered domes. county’s symbols and a popular church is one of the oldest pre- 2 Boykos are an ethnic group that traditionally lived in the Carpathians. Today, most register subject for painters. It was built in themselves as Ukrainians and live in Ukraine or Poland. The wooden church architecture of 2 served wooden churches in Ukraine, the Boyko region typically has a three-domed design with the domes arranged in one line, 1745 in the Boyko style. Similar though its precise age is a matter of the middle one larger than the others. churches are widespread in moun- 32|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 Sacred architecture|Navigator

8 9 Poland Potelych Brunary Radruż 15 Powroźnik 10 16 13 14 Chotyniec 7 Owczary Kwiaton Zhovkva Ukraine Turynsk 12 6 Drohobych Rohatyn Smolnik 1 Slovakia 11 Matkiv 5 4 Uzhok

2 Nyzhniy Verbizh

Hungary 3 Yasinia

Romania

tainous parts of Lviv and Ivano- ful element of this village at the ticular. In 1656, it was moved from Frankivsk Oblasts. The Uzhok source of the Stryi River is the the village of Nadiyiv, now in shrine stands atop a hill and fits wooden Church of the Holy Mother Dolyna County, Ivano-Frankivsk harmoniously with the surround- of God re-consecrated in honour of Oblast. The chapel of the Introduc- ing landscape. St. Demetrius. Like the church in tion of the Blessed Virgin Mary Uzhok, it is in the Boyko style, al- built over the choir balcony makes Lviv though it differs from Zakarpattian the shrine’s structure unique. Across the Uzhok Pass is Lviv Boyko architecture. Built in 1838, Zhovkva County (7) in Lviv Oblast, home to 517 of Ukraine’s the church houses an iconostasis Oblast has two churches on the wooden churches. The first one from the 1840s. UNESCO list. One is the Holy Trin- that we will visit is in the village of Drohobych (6) is the largest ity Church in Zhovkva. Once a resi- Matkiv (5) in Turka County, sev- town in this list, hosting a few dence of the Polish kings Sobieski, eral kilometres from the border dozen architectural sites. St. the town will probably end up on with Zakarpattia. The most beauti- George’s Church stands out in par- the UNESCO list someday as well. № 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|33 Navigator|Sacred architecture tories in 1951. The functional Church of St. Michael the Archan- gel located there was built in 1791. This is the only three-domed Boyko church preserved on the territory of Poland. It is also interesting for its unique icon of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God dating back to 1748 and its 18th-century murals portraying prophets from the Old Testament. The village of Turynsk (12), a bit west of Smolnik, in Sanok Pow- iat, is home to another Church of St. Michael the Archangel. It is in the Lemko style, since many Ukrai- nian Lemkos used to live in the neighbourhood. Built in the early 19th century, it was rebuilt and ex- panded many times. Today, it is a functioning Polish Autocephalous Orthodox church. It also hosts unique 19th-century icons by Jo- seph Bukowczyk. Four more wooden churches The are located near each other in the Renaissance- Malopolska Voivodeship near the Baroque Polish-Slovak border (13, 14, 15, iconostasis 16). Gorlice Powiat has the St. of the church in Rohatyn is Paraskevia Church built in 1811. It among the is considered to be the best-pre- oldest and most served church in the Western beautiful in Lemko style. Inside is a 1904 ico- Ukraine nostasis by Mykhailo Bohdan- ovskyi portraying saintly Kyivan Rus leaders Volodymyr and Olga. Its church was originally built in Lubaczów Powiat (County), Pod- Another piece of Western 1601 but was destroyed in a fire, so karpackie (Subcarpathian) Voivo­ Lemko architecture is the Protec- the modern building dates back to deship. Built in 1583, its interior tion of the Blessed Virgin Church 1720. It contains 18th-century mu- still contains icons from the late in the village of Owczary. Built in rals and a five-layer Baroque ico- 17th century. Some are at the mu- nostasis created by the masters of seum in the Łańcut castle. The the Zhovkva Painting and Carving church now acts as a museum. Most wooden churches School under Ivan Rutkovych. To- Another wooden shrine near recognized as architectural day, the building acts as a church the Krakovets-Korchova border and museum. crossing is the Church of the Birth heritage sites in Ukraine Potelych, a village on the of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the are in the western part Ukrainian-Polish border, hosts village of Chotyniec (10). Until several architectural sites and a World War II it was a large village of the country German military cemetery. The mostly inhabited by Ukrainians. most interesting building here is Today it is part of Jaroslaw Powiat 1710, its style has many Baroque el- the Church of the Descent of the (County) in the Podkarpackie ements, including an iconostasis Holy Spirit. Built in 1502 on the (Subcarpathian) Voivodeship. The painted in 1712 by artist Ivan Me- site of the former Church of Boris main architectural site in this vil- dytskyi. and Glib, its construction was fi- lage is a church built in the Our tour of wooden churches nanced with donations from local Halychyna style in around 1600. 3 Lemkos are an ethnic on the Polish-Ukrainian border th group of Ukrainian high- potters. In the 1970s, skilled Lviv The shrine still houses an 18 -cen- landers who lived in the ends in Powroźnik, a village in masters Ivan Mohytych and Bo- tury iconostasis probably dating Carpathian regions that Malopolska (Lesser Poland) are now part of Poland. hdan Kindzelskyi restored it. back to 1671. They spoke their own dia- Voivodeship where the Church of lect of Ukrainian. The Smolnik (11), a village in Pod- community was dispersed St. James the Less towers. This Poland karpackie Voivodeship, was part of during forced resettle- Western Lemko church was built 3 ment in Operation Vistula Once your tour of Ukrainian the Lemko-Rusyn Republic in the in 1939. Their churches in 1600 but changed considerably traditionally feature a wooden churches is over in Potely- years of the national liberation dominating belfry tower after being relocated in 1814. It has czi (8), cross the border at Rava- struggle. The Republic existed over the western section, unique murals by Pavlo Radynskyi while the middle and Ruska to the border village of Hre- from November 4, 1918, through eastern towers are each dating back to 1607 – older than all lower than the one pre- benne. Very close to the border is January 23, 1919, and ended up ceding it, creating a dy- other wooden churches in the re- the Polish village of Radruż (9) in part of Poland after a swap of terri- namic composition. gion. 34|the ukrainian week|№ 17 (59) september 2013 Drug firms and cancer|society The co of combating cancer Price of a full course of treatment in the US* Lucrative Type of cancer Drug Company treated Co , $ Tykerb GlaxoSmithKline Brea 34,119 Lifesavers Pomaly Celgene Myeloma 52,227 Zelboraf Roche/Daiichi Melanoma 54,463 The hopes and perils of betting Sankyo on cancer treatments Tarceva Roche/A ellas Pancreatic 55,218 ew weapons are emerging and lung in the war on cancer. That is good news not just for Inlyta Pfizer Kidney 58,706 Npatients but also for drug companies. The biggest ones, Xalkori Pfizer Lung 66,780 faced with falling sales as their ex- isting medicines go off-patent, are investing in smaller firms with Bosulif Pfizer Leukaemia 81,813** promising cancer treatments un- der development, hoping to secure Revlimid Celgene Myeloma 95,390 the next blockbuster. On August 25th Amgen, the *Seleed cancer treatments approved since 2004 world’s biggest biotechnology **Maximum: length of treatment varies by patient company by sales, said it would Source: ISI Group pay USD 10.4bn for another American firm, Onyx. The target firm’s crown jewel is Kyprolis, a treatment for patients with multi- for patients who have already tried treatment for multiple myeloma, a ple myeloma. at least two other treatments. Its type of blood cancer. The next day Third, and most controversial, annual sales could reach USD 3bn, AstraZeneca, a British drugs firm, cancer drugs can fetch exorbitant reckons Goldman Sachs. But that said it would snap up Amplim- prices, particularly in America requires approval beyond Amer- mune, an American firm working (see table). “The idea is that ica, and data showing that Kypro- on ways to trigger the immune there’s nothing else available, so lis is worth giving to earlier-stage system to fight cancer. you can ask for a high price,” ex- patients. AstraZeneca is buying Oncology is attractive for sev- plains Howard Liang of Leerink Amplimmune largely for two can- eral reasons. First, the under- Swann, an investment bank. A cer drugs still in early testing. “If Big drugmakers are standing of cancer is evolving rap- keen to develop their typical course of treatment with you are not willing to take risks, idly. In the 20th century treatment own cancer drugs, Kyprolis lasting, say, five months, you cannot be in this area,” says form partnerships relied on surgery, radiation and with smaller firms can cost around USD 50,000. Bahija Jallal, an executive at As- chemotherapy. These now seem that have promising Little surprise, then, that big traZeneca. treatments in the The biggest question in the rudimentary. Immunotherapy— pipeline, and buy drugmakers are keen to develop getting the immune system to at- such companies out- their own cancer drugs, form long term is whether health in- tack cancer—has gone from theory right partnerships with smaller firms surers and governments will keep into practice. Genomics has that have promising treatments paying up. Onyx and Bayer, a helped scientists target specific in the pipeline, and buy such German firm, share the profits of mutations that promote cancer. companies outright. Kyprolis was Nexavar, a kidney-cancer drug. Another area of excitement for first developed by a small firm Last year Indian regulators cancer researchers is epigenetics, called Proteolix, which was granted a local firm a “compul- which alters how a gene acts with- bought by Onyx, now acquired by sory licence” to sell Nexavar cop- out meddling with the sequence of Amgen. In 2009 Bristol-Myers ies for a fraction of Bayer’s price. DNA. Squibb, an American drug giant, The response elsewhere is less ex- Second, regulators have paid USD 2.4bn for Medarex, treme. But companies face new speeded up their approval of can- which had an experimental im- scrutiny over their prices, partic- cer drugs. Of the 39 medicines ap- munotherapy drug. That drug, for ularly in Europe. In April more proved by America’s Food and melanoma (a skin cancer), is now than 100 experts in chronic my- Drug Administration (FDA) in sold in America for USD 120,000 eloid leukaemia (another blood 2012, 11 were for cancer. These in- © 2013 The for a full course of treatment. cancer) signed a paper to protest cluded Kyprolis, which was Economist There are risks, however. Even against the high cost of drugs. For granted “accelerated approval”, Newspaper a drug seemingly destined for now, however, Amgen should be based on a smaller clinical trial Limited. All fame and fortune can fall flat. The able to continue charging hand- than usual, for use as a last-ditch rights reserved FDA has approved Kyprolis only somely for Kyprolis. № 17 (59) september 2013|the ukrainian week|35 B OOKST ORES KYIV 3, vul. Lysenka tel: (044) 235-88-54; 5,vul. Spaska tel: (044) 351-13-38, 33/2, Povitroflotskiy Prospekt tel: (044) 275-67-42 LVIV 7, Prospekt Svobody tel: (032) 235-73-68 VINNYTSIA 89, Soborna tel: (0432) 52-9341 TERNOPIL 7-9, vul. Valova tel: (0352) 25-4459 KHARKIV 3, vul. Sumska tel: (057) 731-5949 IVANO-FRANKIVSK 31, vul. Nezalezhnosti tel: (0342) 72-2502 VOLODYMYR-VOLYNSKIY 6, vul. 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