The Ukrainian Weekly 2004, No.26

www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE:• Former President George H.W. Bush’s speech in Kyiv — page 8. • The 40th anniversary of the Shevchenko monument in DC — pages 9-16. • Detroit hosts the Great Lakes Cup in soccer — page 23. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXII HE KRAINIANNo. 26 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2004 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine YushchenkoT continuesU to lead London newspaperW claims it has proof in latest poll of Ukraine’s voters of Kuchma’s role in Gongadze’s abduction by Roman Woronowycz Democratic Initiatives Fund in conjunc- by Roman Woronowycz decapitation. Press spokesman Serhii Kyiv Press Bureau tion with the Socis Center polling firm, Kyiv Press Bureau Rudenko, who would identify the sus- and had a margin of error of 3 percent. pect only as “K,” said the individual had KYIV – National Deputy Viktor The survey also found that nearly 40 KYIV – The London-based newspaper admitted to murdering the Ukrainian Yushchenko, leader of the Our Ukraine percent of respondents who were asked The Independent claimed on June 19 that journalist and had described in detail political bloc, continued to hold a com- for whom they would vote in a runoff it had obtained Ukrainian government how the killing, and particularly the fortable 8.6 percent lead over Ukraine’s between the two front-runners, named documents proving that President Leonid beheading, had taken place. Mr. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych in a Mr. Yushchenko, while 31 percent identi- Kuchma had a decisive role in the abduc- Rudenko did not give a motive for the nationwide poll of front-runners in the fied Mr. Yanukovych as their choice. tion of journalist Heorhii Gongadze and murder. presidential elections. But with Mr. While Mr. Yushchenko’s lead may the cover-up that has followed, including The headless body of Gongadze, a Yanukovych’s candidacy continuing on look comfortable for the moment, future the killing of a key witness. vehement although relatively little the ascendancy and his own numbers flat trouble could lurk for Mr. Yushchenko in The publication of the information known critic of President Kuchma who for more than a year, Mr. Yushchenko the fact that, while his ratings have returned to the political fore the murder disappeared on September 16, 2000, was decided on June 14 to shake things up at remained flat at best as the pre-election of the 32-year-old opposition journalist found in November 2000 in a shallow the top of his campaign organization. build-up in Ukraine continues, Mr. after few publicized developments in grave in a wooded area south of Kyiv. In a political survey completed on June Yanukovych’s popularity has doubled recent months. Several weeks after the discovery 4 – a month before the presidential election over the last year. Within days Ukraine’s Procurator Mykola Melnychenko, a former member process officially begins with the registra- And while the leader of Our Ukraine, General’s Office denied that it had any of President Kuchma’s state security tion of candidates on July 3 and two the largest parliamentary faction in the evidence to support the newspaper’s alle- detail, asserted he had digital recordings months before actual campaigning begins Verkhovna Rada, could have decided to gations. It responded to the article by of conversations between the president on August 1 – 26.6 percent of the individu- take solace in the fact that a larger per- underscoring that its investigation into and close associates during which the als surveyed registered their support for Mr. centage of his supporters were more the death of Gongadze, the Lviv-born state leader had ordered the disappear- Yushchenko, while 18 percent expressed a staunchly committed to his candidacy founder of Ukrainska Pravda, one of ance of the journalist. preference for Mr. Yanukovych. than the percentage of those in the Ukraine’s first Internet publications, was Mr. Kuchma and his subordinates Communist Party leader Petro Yanukovych camp (52 percent versus 44 providing results. As a press spokesman have maintained that the controversial Symonenko, a perennial presidential can- percent), Mr. Yushchenko did not seem in for the country’s chief prosecutor noted recordings were produced through digital didate, was third, but his numbers have the mood to be comforted by statistics on June 21, that the law enforcement manipulation of fragments of various dropped to 9.3 percent from previous fig- when on June 14 he recruited National agency was close to solving the crime. unrelated conversations between the ures in the mid and high teens. Deputy Oleksander Zinchenko, the sec- On June 21 the press office of president and his aides to create the The poll, published on June 18, asked ond vice-chairman of the Verkhovna Procurator General Hennadii Vasyliev desired effects. The recordings have 1,200 respondents from all regions of Rada, to be his campaign manager. issued a statement explaining that it was undergone expert examinations several Ukraine to choose from a list of 10 can- questioning a person who is currently times, with most analyses by Western- didates. It was conducted by the (Continued on page 29) incarcerated for previous murders by based firms concluding they are authen- tic. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, which has led the call U.S. releases fourth annual report on trafficking in persons in the international community – along WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of “Criminals and criminal networks are abroad this year. U.S. assistance for with the French human rights group State Colin Powell released the fourth targeting some of the most vulnerable anti-trafficking programs in Ukraine Reporters Sans Frontieres (Reporters annual Trafficking in Persons Report at people in Ukraine,” said former U.S. totaled nearly $3 million last fiscal year Without Borders) – for a full and trans- the State Department in Washington on Rep. John Miller, who leads U.S. with $1.5 expected this year. parent investigation into the Gongadze June 14. The report aims to promote Government efforts against human traf- The fight against human trafficking affair, stated on June 22 that it remains greater determination, creativity, and ficking. “We’re reaching out in the spirit is attracting worldwide attention skeptical that Ukrainian law enforcement cooperation among governments in the of partnership to encourage all govern- because trafficking threatens human officials are dedicated to solving the fight against modern-day slavery. ments to accelerate efforts to end this rights, public health, and the safety and case. Ukraine was rated in Tier 2 of the atrocity and protect people from human security of nations. “The timing of this announcement, report, an indication that the country trafficking schemes.” The 140-country Trafficking in combined with President Kuchma’s does not yet fully comply with mini- Trafficking in persons is modern-day Persons Report is the most comprehen- repeated interference in the investigation mum standards for the elimination of slavery, involving victims who are sive worldwide report on the efforts of into Gongadze’s murder, raises deep sus- trafficking, but is making significant forced, defrauded or coerced into labor governments to combat severe forms of picions,” said CPJ Executive Director efforts to do so. Ukraine is a source or sexual exploitation. The 2004 report trafficking in persons. Its purpose is to Ann Cooper in a statement released by country for women and girls trafficked estimates 600,000 to 800,000 people raise global awareness and spur coun- the organization. She urged the to Europe and the Middle East, as well are trafficked in this manner across tries to take effective actions to counter Procurator General’s Office to “pursue every lead in the case and to investigate as for men trafficked to Europe and national borders each year. Of those, 47 trafficking in persons. The efforts of governments to fight fully allegations involving President North America. It is also a major transit percent are women, 34 percent are girls human trafficking are rated in tiers in Kuchma.” country for Asian and Moldovan vic- under the age of 18, and 16 percent are the report based on tangible actions Earlier, an ad hoc committee of the tims trafficked to Western destinations. boys under the age of 18 – meaning taken throughout the year. The stan- Ukrainian Parliament, chaired by Ukraine has seen an increase in the more than 80 percent of victims are dards used to determine these ratings National Deputy Hryhorii Omelchenko, trafficking of children, especially female and 50 percent are children. can be found in the 2004 report at who is a member of the parliamentary orphans, during the last year. While the Millions more are thought to be traf- www.state.gov/g/tip. opposition, said on June 17 that it would government of Ukraine has made ficked within country borders worldwide. Following is an excerpt from the send a request to Procurator General progress in combating trafficking, it The U.S. devoted more than $70 mil- Trafficking in Persons Report regarding Vasyliev that he open a criminal case still lags in terms of implementing the lion in anti-trafficking in persons pro- Ukraine. The complete worldwide against the Ukrainian president to inves- Comprehensive Program for Combating grams abroad in the last fiscal year, and, Trafficking in Persons Report is available tigate his involvement in the Gongadze Trafficking in Persons, coordinating in a September speech to the United on the State Department’s website affair. with law enforcement officials of desti- Nations General Assembly, President http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2004. Mr. Omelchenko said his committee nation countries, and fighting govern- George W. Bush committed an addi- had concluded that Mr.

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