Part 1 of THE YEAR IN REVIEW pages 5-12

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXXIII No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 $2.00 says rocket hits Yanukovych, Azarov declared wanted by Interpol bus in east, killing 12 by Zenon Zawada begun to work in this direction and at through his grandmother, while former RFE/RL minimum, is preparing all the necessary Procurator General and KYIV – It took almost a year but regulatory measures to extradite them his son Artem are reported to have Ukrainian authorities say 10 civilians have Interpol, the International Criminal to , one way or another, under gained Kazakh citizenship, which they been killed and 13 wounded by a missile that hit Police Organization, has finally issued certain conditions,” he said. deny, reported gazeta.ua a bus in eastern Ukraine. [Two more victims later wanted person alerts for former Interpol’s decision came as criticism Meanwhile, some of the handful of died in the hospital.] Ukrainian President , has been mounting of the current gov- police officers who were arrested have The incident occurred on January 13 near a former Prime Minister Azarov, escaped custody and gone into Ukrainian military checkpoint close to the town of and two of their associates on charges of hiding. Most notably, Dmytro , 35 kilometers southwest of the rebel- embezzlement and misappropriation. All the key Yanukovych Sadovnyk, the commander of a held provincial capital of . They are being pursued by the administration offi cials Berkut unit alleged to be respon- One report said the bus was carrying civilians Ukrainian government, which submit- sible for as many as 39 killings, from the coastal city of . ted an alert request as early as March fl ed abroad, mostly to was released under house arrest Ukraine’s military said the civilians were killed 2014 for Mr. Yanukovych for abuse of the Russian Federation. in mid-September 2014. by Grad rockets, one of which hit a bus. It said the power and murder charges. Yet Interpol He appeared for a September rockets were fired by pro-Russian separatists forc- revealed in its January 12 statement 25 court hearing before being es from a position in the town of Dokuchayevsk. that it didn’t respond because the ernment’s failure to successfully crimi- reported by his wife to have disap- The Ukraine Crisis Media Center quoted request wasn’t compliant with its rules nally prosecute those who ordered and peared on October 3. His disappearance President Poroshenko as saying about the and regulations. committed the shootings and killings in prompted President Volnovakhka attack: “This is a disaster and trage- Procurator General Vitalii Yarema the winter of 2014 of Euro-Maidan to express his shock on Twitter. dy for Ukraine. This is more evidence after the claims he filed the alert requests for the activists. More than 100 were killed, and Another high-ranking officer, former MH17 plane, after the many civilian casualties – it current charges months earlier, but more than 1,000 were injured or miss- deputy chief of the Kyiv police Petro is a crime that terrorists from the so-called DNR Interpol hesitated because of the suspi- ing. Fedchuk, who is charged with interfer- and LNR [Donetsk and peoples’ repub- cion that they were politically motivated. All the key Yanukovych administra- ing with lawful assemblies and is want- lics] have severely violated my peace plan, which In the view of Kyiv political expert tion officials fled abroad, mostly to the ed by the Security Service of Ukraine was approved and supported by the European Vitalii Bala, the Ukrainian government Russian Federation. (SBU), has since taken Russian citizen- Council and the . Today we will bears responsibility for failing to get the As many as 5,000 people fled to ship and wasted no time in finding have an emergency meeting of the members of alerts issued earlier. “From the point of – that number includes officials, their rel- employment in law enforce- the Security Council with heads of regional view of timeliness, then these statements atives, and support and service staff, ment, the news site administrations.” have come very late, which means there reported the gazeta.ua news site. For reported. The separatist, self-proclaimed Donetsk was incomplete work from within the example, 21 bodyguards accompanied The site posted a video recording People’s Republic denied responsibility, saying country,” said Mr. Bala, the director of the Mr. Yanukovych, packing themselves into showing Mr. Fedchuk making arrests the government checkpoint is “beyond our artil- Agency for Modeling Situations. two helicopters during his flight follow- during the December 30, 2014, protest lery’s range.” At the same time, “from the view of a ing the Euro-Maidan massacre. on Manezh Square in central Moscow Separatist leaders in Donetsk said they “do not careful optimist, it’s a signal that all the Former Energy Minister Eduard following the criminal convictions of rule out this could have been an act of provoca- law enforcement organs, above all the Stavytskyi is reportedly pursuing Israeli tion by the Ukrainian military to heap blame for Procurator General of Ukraine, has citizenship, claiming Jewish lineage (Continued on page 2) what happened” on separatist fighters. Ceasefire violations daily A ceasefire agreed in Minsk in September is vio- lated almost daily, and more than 4,700 people Poroshenko takes part in March of Unity in Paris have been killed and over 10,000 injured in fight- ing between government forces and rebels in east- ern Ukraine since April. Fighting has intensified recently, jeopardizing hopes for a peace deal. Separatists and Ukrainian forces have traded accusations of violating a truce that had been in place since early December. Meanwhile, Moscow has accused Kyiv of trying to seek a military solu- tion to the conflict. On January 12, the foreign affairs ministers of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, meeting in Berlin, failed to make sufficient progress to war- rant holding a four-nation summit this week as part of efforts to end the conflict. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier made the announcement after four hours of talks in Berlin with Russia’s Sergei Lavrov, France’s Laurent Fabius and Ukraine’s PARIS – President Petro Poroshenko and other global leaders took part in the March of Unity and solidarity with the victims Pavlo Klimkin. of terrorist attacks in France, as hundreds of thousands of people came out on the streets of Paris on January 11 to pay Mr. Steinmeier said the meeting had been a tribute to the murdered journalists of Charlie Hebdo and other victims of terrorist attacks. The march was attended by lead- “very open exchange” but did not produce the ers of Ukraine, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Slovenia, , Turkey, Greece, Israel, Palestine, results needed for the countries to go ahead with the European Union, the European Parliament and the . President Poroshenko noted that Ukraine a meeting of leaders this week in Kazakhstan as understood the pain of France as nobody else. “The March of Unity has united all civilized countries of the world in France. (Continued on page 14) Today, we are defending the values of democracy and freedom of speech together,” he said. “I believe that humanism and unity will always overcome terror,” the president emphasized. (Press Office of the ) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 No. 3

Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, but Yanukovych... was acting in the nation’s interests when not signing it. He denied financing the pro- (Continued from page 1) Russian separatists, as alleged by Ukrainian Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny government officials. and his brother. Economic sanctions were imposed Security Council condemns shelling of bus Condolences at Embassy of France Ukrainian law enforcement authorities against Mr. Yanukovych by European Union – The U.N. Security KYIV – President Petro Poroshenko has haven’t revealed the identity of the several officials, but they may be removed this year dozen law enforcement officers it claims to if the Ukrainian government doesn’t prose- Council has condemned the shelling of a laid flowers near the Embassy of France in have arrested. cute him, reported the Ekonomichna passenger bus near Volnovakha, Ukraine, Ukraine in order to honor the memory of In early December 2014, members of Pravda news site. Incredibly, Mr. on January 13, and insisted that there be an the deceased in the terrorist act of January the ’s Committee on Yanukovych still has businesses in Ukraine “objective investigation” in order to bring 7 in Paris. The president repeated the Corruption Prevention and Counteraction that continue to receive orders from state those responsible for the atrocity to justice. words of thousands of French citizens – “Je held a hearing in which they asked Internal enterprises, the news site reported. And a In a press statement, the Security Council suis Charlie” – and left a note in the book of Affairs Minister , SBU Chief Kyiv court ruled in December 2014 that the members also expressed their condolences condolences in the Embassy. He expressed Valentyn Nalyvaichenko and Procurator helipad in the city center – believed to be to the families of the victims. “The mem- words of deep sympathy and support to General Yarema why no progress had been owned by a firm controlled by Mr. bers of the Security Council condemned in Ambassador Extraordinary and made in arrests and prosecutions. Yanukovych – was built legally. the strongest terms the killing of 11 civil- Plenipotentiary of France to Ukraine Alain Volodymyr Parasiuk, Euro-Maidan hero Oleksandr Yanukovych, 41: The pres- ians and the injuring of 17 others through Remy. Mr. Poroshenko noted that Ukraine turned national deputy, reported on ident’s elder son, who famously became an the shelling of a passenger bus near felt deep sorrow over tragic events, as well : “Not only did the minister not overnight• mega-millionaire owing to his Volnovakha in Donetsk region on January as solidarity and unity with France in the answer questions about his activity for the convenient ties, is residing in Russia and 13, 2015,” the document says. In addition, struggle against terrorism. “Ukraine knows last nine months or steps taken to reform recently launched a construction business the Security Council called on the parties to what the struggle against terrorism the police, but he behaved boorishly in rela- in St. Petersburg with his business entou- the conflict in eastern Ukraine to strictly means,” the president emphasized, citing tion to committee members, particularly its rage, he told a Russian newspaper in implement the Minsk agreements. TASS “terrorist attacks in the occupied territories head Yegor Sobolev.” November 2014. In the same interview, in cited the informed source at the U.N. head- of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.” Mr. “When he told Avakov that work needs which he gave written responses, he denied quarters as saying the proposal to issue the Poroshenko said, “Ukraine is grateful to to begin on dismissing all corrupt police financing the pro-Russian separatists in the statement was made by the delegation of France for its assistance and solidarity in officers, he responded, ‘Begin with your- Donbas. Shortly after the Euro-Maidan, his . (UNIAN) struggle against terrorism on the Ukrainian self… Sit down and conduct the hearing bank accounts were frozen by the prosecu- land. Ukraine supports France in its strug- properly!’ I wish to remind him that tors of Switzerland, and Savchenko in solitary confinement according to the law, Avakov’s status is Lichtenstein, which reportedly have been gle against terrorism.” (Press Office of the lower than that of the head or any commit- investigating the Ukrainian government’s KYIV – Ukrainian military pilot Nadia President of Ukraine) Savchenko has been placed in solitary con- tee member. So such behavior is absolutely money-laundering and other corruption- Berlin peace talks fall flat unacceptable and we will react according- related allegations. During his father’s pres- finement at a pretrial detention center in ly,” Mr. Parasiuk wrote. idency, he reportedly accumulated almost Moscow. 1st Lt. Savchenko’s lawyer Mark BERLIN – The foreign affairs ministers Mr. Parasiuk warned that Mr. Avakov had half a billion dollars on the Swiss bank Feigin told RFE/RL on January 9 that she of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France on a month to demonstrate concrete results. accounts of his firm MAKO Trading SA. was moved to solitary confinement due to January 12 failed to agree on terms for a Since then, the Interpol alerts were issued In late November, the Internal Affairs the hunger strike she has been holding for summit that was to be held later that week and the committee has instead shifted its Ministry said its investigations of the Euro- almost a month. The pilot was captured by with the aim of defusing the crisis in east- dissatisfaction towards Mr. Yarema. Maidan crimes determined Mr. Yanukovych pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine ern Ukraine. German Foreign Affairs On January 14, National Deputy Mustafa assisted his father in organizing the killings, in June and jailed in Russia in July. Russian Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier made Nayyem reported that the parliamentary an accusation that he denied. The ministry authorities have charged her with complic- the announcement after four hours of talks anti-corruption committee has determined is also continuing to investigate tax evasion ity in the deaths of two Russian journalists in Berlin on January 12 with his counter- Mr. Yarema’s performance to be unsatisfac- allegations against him. One of his banks who were killed covering the Ukraine con- parts Sergei Lavrov of Russia, Laurent tory in investigating the crimes of the being investigated, Vseukrayinskyi Bank flict. She denies the charges and says her Fabius of France and Pavlo Klimkin of Yanukovych administration and is prepar- Rozvytku, is still doing business, with out- transfer to Russia was illegal. Mr. Feigin Ukraine. He said the meeting had been a ing a resolution declaring no confidence lets and ATMs operating in Kyiv. said that Lt. Savchenko, who underwent “very open exchange” but did not produce and requesting his dismissal. , 67: Rarely appearing tests at a psychiatric facility against her the results needed for the countries to go Besides Messrs. Yanukovych and Azarov, in the press since the Euro-Maidan, he is cur- will, has been found mentally fit to stand Interpol issued wanted person alerts for ahead with a meeting of leaders this week rently• residing in a Moscow suburb, the SBU trial. He said she had been under psycho- former Finance Minister Yurii Kobolov and in Kazakhstan. In a joint statement, the four reported in early December 2014, and he has logical pressure from investigators seeking Georgii Dzekon, the former CEO of gained Russian citizenship. In late December, ministers also called on the contact group to persuade her to plead guilty. Lt. Ukrtelecom. Mr. Azarov filed documents in order to sell a of Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Savchenko’s sister, Vira Savchenko, told home of his in central Kyiv, though the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) The wanted RFE/RL that her sister was accepting glu- Procurator General of Ukraine claimed the to meet to try and make progress on imple- Viktor Yanukovych, 64: Within days property has been placed under arrest. cose intravenously and drank tea on Julian menting a much-violated Ukraine peace of his flight, Mr. Yanukovych bought a After the Euro-Maidan, Mr. Azarov fled calendar Christmas on January 7. She has deal drawn up in September, including cre- 30,300-square-foot• mansion, situated on to Austria, whose government joined the been mainly ingesting warm water since ating the “relevant conditions for an effec- five acres, in the exclusive Moscow suburb Swiss government in freezing his assets on she began her hunger strike on December of Barvykha for $52 million, reported the February 28, 2014, at the request of the 13, 2014. (RFE/RL Ukrainian Service) (Continued on page 14) RBK Russian news agency, citing a former Ukrainian government. The European regional state official. The mansion is about Council followed suit shortly afterwards, a kilometer from Russian President freezing the assets of 17 top Ukrainian offi- ’s official residence. He cials who fled, including Messrs. he krainian eekly FOUNDED 1933 reportedly fled with his mistress, Liubov Yanukovych and Azarov. Since then, Mr. T U W Polezhai, and has since filed for divorce Azarov has been active in European courts from his longtime wife, Liudmyla. An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., in trying to remove the sanctions. The SBU a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Since his flight, Mr. Yanukovych gained placed him on its wanted list in June. Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. Russian citizenship and has appeared in Oleksii Azarov, 43: Currently in hid- numerous press conferences and video Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. ing, he has been involved in many alleged (ISSN — 0273-9348) statements, criticizing the radicals and poli- financial• machinations on behalf of his ticians of the Euro-Maidan protest, as well father. Elected as a national deputy to rep- The Weekly: UNA: as the current Ukrainian government. In resent the district where Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 late November, he gave an interview to a the city of is located, Mr. Azarov is Moscow newspaper in which he said that highly criticized for being absent when pro- Postmaster, send address changes to: Presidential Administration Chair Serhiy Russian separatists took over and terror- The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz Lyovochkin was responsible for the police ized the city. Nor has he offered the city any 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas beating of students the early morning of financial support since then, reported jour- P.O. Box 280 November 30, 2014, that he was afraid that nalist Natalia Sokolenko. Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] radicals were going to attack him the next Despite being placed under the same EU The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com day, and that he knew he could have sanctions as his father, Mr. Azarov has remained president had he signed the retained ownership and access to his investment in a chain of retail gasoline sta- The Ukrainian Weekly, January 18, 2015, No. 3, Vol. LXXXIII tions in Germany, which produce 8 million Copyright © 2015 The Ukrainian Weekly Correction euros in profit annually, reported the In the story “UESA and UMANA host news agency in early annual Yalynka Christmas Party” (January December 2014. Authorities can’t officially ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA 11) it should have been noted that the establish its owners, the report said. In event was also co-organized and hosted by early January of this year, the Procurator Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 the Ukrainian Institute of America, in addi- General of Ukraine announced a new inves- e-mail: [email protected] tion to the Ukrainian Engineers’ Society of tigation into Mr. Azarov, alleging that he Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 America and the Ukrainian Medical unlawfully gained more than $8 million e-mail: [email protected] Association of North America. from corrupt schemes in Ukraine. No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 3 NEWS ANALYSIS: Russia’s media machine looks West by Glenn Kates may have learned that Ukrainian soldiers persuade, but to keep the viewer hooked ing casual news viewers that one side or RFE/RL crucified a 3-year-old boy in a public square and distracted, passive and paranoid, rath- another is responsible for the downing of in the eastern city of Sloviansk; or that Nazi- er than agitated to action,” say Peter the plane, but at implanting the idea that it It’s May 2 in Odesa and a doctor is trying style concentration camps were being built Pomerantsev and Michael Weiss, in “The is still an open question. desperately to rescue pro-Russian protest- to hold Russian-speakers in Ukraine’s east; Menace Of Unreality,” a report for the Several small-scale efforts have sprung ers – more than 40 of whom will die – or that top Ukrainian officials were conspir- Princeton-based Institute of Modern up since March 2014, when Russia annexed trapped in the Ukrainian city’s labor-union ing with Satanist lamb torturers. Russia, released in November. the Ukrainian peninsula of , to push building. They’re fabrications, but some 50 percent back against Moscow’s efforts. Winning hearts and minds? “As a doctor I rushed to give help to the of – among an estimated 94 per- Yevhen Fedchenko, the director of the one who could be rescued, but I was cent who get their news from TV – say they Still, some wonder if the Kremlin’s School of Journalism at the National stopped by pro-Ukrainian Nazi radicals,” he trust state television more than any other efforts abroad are actually effective. University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, founded writes on Facebook, using a slur repeated source, according to a poll released by the “For the people who say it’s a real dan- Stopfake.org, a website in English, Russian relentlessly by Russian public figures and independent Levada Center earlier in 2014 ger, I wonder if they’re being somewhat and Ukrainian created to “refute distorted media to describe Ukraine’s new rulers fol- (the next most reliable source was friends, alarmist” says Kevin Rothrock, the project information and about events in lowing the February ouster of President family and neighbors, at 20 percent). editor for RuNet Echo, a site that tracks the Ukraine.” He says sites like his should not Viktor Yanukovych. “One of them pushed me And Andrei Kondrashov, a host on the Russian Internet. “When it comes to really work to “compete with the Russian propa- rudely, promising that soon I and other Jews state-run Rossia TV channel, expressed a quantifying the strength or influence of this ganda machine,” but to thoroughly report of Odesa are going to meet the same fate.” note of pride to RFE/RL’s Russian Service kind of propaganda no one’s ever done this the news in as many places as possible. A gripping account, but a fake one. The when explaining state media’s role in the for me in a convincing way.” Messrs. Pomerantsev and Weiss call for Odesa “doctor” did not exist. The person merging of journalism and state messaging. Although RT boasts that its broadcasts a larger, coordinated strategy that would who posted the story had used a photo of a “I wouldn’t draw a strict line between these are available on over 630 million TV sets include a “disinformation charter” and dentist based 2,000 kilometers away in two notions, because in an age when we around the world, there is little data on “counter-disinformation editors” to push Russia’s Karachai-Cherkessia Republic, and have two systems, two civilizations stand- actual viewership. back against what they call the Kremlin’s the page soon disappeared. ing against each other, no one distinguishes But Messrs. Pomerantsev and Weiss “weaponization of information.” No matter. The post had spread widely one from the other because they merge point to coverage of the July 2014 Malaysia “We’re facing a challenge here that has online and made its way into mainstream into one,” Mr. Kondrashov, said. “Now any Airlines MH17 disaster as an example of not really been faced before,” Mr. Weiss said Western media with an opinion piece by propaganda in the media is essentially how Moscow’s strategy can work. on RFE/RL’s Power Vertical podcast. “And journalist John Pilger in . journalism.” There is strong evidence that pro-Rus- I’m sorry to say that the Putin regime and 2014 was the year Kremlin-backed The state-run narrative has long dominat- sian separatists were in possession of a its surrogates are incredibly adept at play- media went global. In Russia, state televi- ed at home, but as Russia and the West face BUK missile launcher thought to have been ing this game.” sion painted a picture of a vengeful and their worst crisis since the break-up of the used to shoot down the plane, killing all immoral West encroaching dangerously on , Moscow has shown increased 298 passengers and crew. But led in the Copyright 2014, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted Russia’s “historic” sphere of influence, interest in messaging to the West as well. West by RT, Russian news agencies have with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ while Moscow expanded foreign-language In November 2014, Dmitry Kiselyov, the worked to sow doubt by broadcasting a Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, outlets like RT and created a new informa- country’s propagandist in chief who earlier string of easily debunked theories tying the Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see tion agency to prompt what some have that year warned on a popular weekly pro- disaster to the West and Ukraine. http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-media- called a new “information war.” gram that Russia is the only nation in the The effort appears aimed not at convinc- machine-looks-west/26767603.html). It is not clear if the Odesa doctor was an world that could turn the into organic Internet fabrication or the result of “radioactive dust,” launched the the work of a growing number of Russian- news agency, which he says will broadcast paid Internet trolls. But for Russian state in 34 countries in 30 languages by the end news outlets, which appear at ease repeat- of 2015. OSCE condemns deadly attack ing Internet rumor or creating their own, it At the same time, the budget for RT, the may be a distinction without a difference. pro-Kremlin international television news on bus in Volnovakha channel formerly known as Russia Today, is ‘Propaganda is now journalism’ BELGRADE – The chairperson-in-office the spirit of the Minsk documents.” to rise to 15.38 billion rubles (some $280 of the Organization for Security and “I am following the situation closely In 2014, a regular viewer of one of million U.S.) next year. Cooperation in Europe, Serbia’s Foreign through reports from the OSCE Special Russia’s three main state television channels The outlets do not aim “to convince or Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, and I urge all strongly condemned yesterday’s deadly sides to allow for the safe and unhindered incidentAffairs Minister in which Ivica several Dačič people on Januarywere killed 14 access of OSCE monitors to all areas so that and wounded on a bus at a government- U.S. Treasury Department may provide controlled checkpoint near Volnovakha, * * * eastern Ukraine. theyA canNew do York their Times job,” Mr. report Dačič on added. January 14 $1 billion loan guarantee to Ukraine “I condemn in the strongest terms this quoted Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan of the attack on innocent passengers. I am appalled OSCE’s special monitoring mission to WASHINGTON – The United States circumstances – in implementing a robust by this incident and its tragic outcome, and Ukraine as saying that the situation had intends to provide a $1 billion loan guaran- reform program, in cooperation with the express my deepest sympathy to the families “significantly deteriorated” in the last 24 tee to the in the International Monetary Fund and World of the victims,” he said. “This incident comes hours. first half of 2015, provided Ukraine Bank, which includes measures to: (1) tack- as the situation in the east of the country has “For a while, it was just light weapons,” remains on-track with the reform program le corruption, (2) overhaul the energy sec- significantly deteriorated and I call on all Michael Bociurkiw, the spokesman for the it has agreed with the International tor, (3) repair the financial system, (4) sides to immediately halt the use of force, monitoring mission, told The Times by tele- Monetary Fund (IMF), the U.S. Department strengthen the business environment and exercise restraint, return to the negotiating phone from Kyiv. “But now we are back to of the Treasury announced on January 13. adherence to the rule of law, and (5) put table and implementing both the letter and the heavy artillery.” If Ukraine continues making concrete Ukraine’s finances on a sustainable path. progress on its reform agenda and if condi- The authorities have demonstrated strong tions warrant, the U.S. administration will be progress to date, and this positive reform willing, working with Congress, to provide momentum has occurred despite Russia’s Quotable notes an additional $1 billion loan guarantee in destabilizing actions in Crimea and eastern “…This year marked the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the annexation of Crimea, the late 2015 – for total potential support of $2 Ukraine,” the statement reads. shooting down of MH17, and the intensification of Russian hybrid warfare against the billion in 2015. The proceeds of these loan A mission from the IMF is currently in West, ranging from increasingly dangerous military-aviation stunts to the unleashing guarantees will help enable the Ukrainian Kyiv working with the Ukrainian authorities of unparalleled propaganda blasts. Inside Russia, the last remnants of independent life government to protect the most vulnerable to assess their reform efforts and develop a were bullied, squeezed and silenced. It was the year when the world as we had known Ukrainian households from the impact of new economic support package. “We are it for decades ceased to exist – but for the most part we did not realize it. needed economic adjustment. This new U.S. encouraged by the strong reform progress “True, the West began to respond. … support builds upon the nearly $340 million made by the Ukrainian authorities to date, “But the big story is inaction and ignorance… The public, in most countries (Poland in U.S. assistance provided to Ukraine in and applaud their strong cooperation with and the Baltic states are the exceptions) does not accept that staying safe and free 2014, in addition to the $1 billion sovereign the IMF and their continued commitment to sometimes involves accepting pain, risk and mental stress. Financiers and business- loan guarantee provided in May 2014. difficult but necessary reforms,” said U.S. men are still happy to get their hands dirty in Russia, and howl mightily if obstructed – “The United States is working together Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew. even though they would be furious if their home countries were run on similar lines. with international partners to ensure “The U.S. support that I am announcing “… Oddly, it is much easier for high-minded liberals to blame NATO for breaking Ukraine has the support it needs as it con- today will be part of a broader internation- promises that it never made than to accept that Russia is waging a colonial war in tinues to move forward with reforms that al package of support to help ensure the Ukraine – of a kind that no one would tolerate from an imperial power in Africa. will restore economic stability and lay the success of Ukraine’s reform program and “…The biggest failure is among foreign-policy experts. …They hanker for a simple, groundwork for sustainable growth,” reads ultimately restore financial stability, cynical solution: sacrifice Ukraine’s European aspirations and then wait for Russia to a statement issued by the U.S. Department unleash economic potential, and allow see reason. …” of the Treasury issued on January 13. Ukraine’s people to better achieve their – Edward Lucas, writing in the European Voice, December 18, 2014, in his article ”We commend the progress by economic aspirations,” Mr. Lew added. titled “A year that changed our world.” Ukrainian authorities – amid extraordinary Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 No. 3

COMMENTARY The Crimean appeasement by Askold S. Lozynskyj ceded Crimea to the Ukrainian SSR, since Crimea needed substantial economic and The Crimean peninsula was in the news administrative attention and the RSFSR was in mid-December. Its so-called prime minis- not in a geographic position to provide that. ter, Aksyonov, had traveled with his new Since then, Crimea was part of the At long last, historical justice boss, Vladimir Putin, to India for some type Ukrainian SSR; and from 1991, a part of Reading Ukrainian history, one would and other social payments, reported of negotiations involving economic cooper- independent Ukraine. easily begin to have doubts. Amnesty International in late December. ation between India and Crimea. India The Helsinki Final Act of 1975, to which Yet 2014 seems to be the year that Certainly, the Kyiv government – and the remains one of very few countries willing to the USSR was not only a signatory but one Ukraine’s karma began to turn for the bet- Ukrainian people – should be doing every- enter into bilateral relations with Mr. Putin of its main advocates, lists 10 principles in ter. Several salient examples come to mind. thing they can to provide food to starving and Russia. The Indian position is that the its “Declaration on Principles Guiding The collapse of the Soviet Union left people (in “humanitarian convoys” that USSR, and now Russia, have always stood Relations Between Participating States.” behind many who could not adapt to the don’t carry weapons). by India in its conflict with Pakistan, so Among them are: sovereign equality; new realities. Among those disturbed indi- But as a journalist, I can’t help but remark India will support Russia indiscriminately. respect for the rights inherent in sovereign- viduals is Natalia Maksymets, a council- about the irony of hunger setting over the Crimea had hardly been mentioned in ty; refraining from the threat or use of woman in the Luhansk City Council and Ukrainian region where the Holodomor was news stories since its forcible annexation force; territorial integrity of states; peaceful chief editor of the Communist Party’s most fervently denied. This brings to mind by Russia, save for human rights violations settlement of disputes; non-intervention in oblast newspaper, Soviet Luhanshchyna. In the suffering residents of Crimea, where allegations by the Russians against the internal affairs; respect for human rights. 2010, she made national headlines when Holodomor denial was also quite prevalent. indigenous Tatar population. Ukraine’s The Ukrainian SSR was not a separate sig- announcing that she was preparing to host Back in October, Crimean State Council President Petro Poroshenko insists that natory, but was ostensibly included a banquet on the last Saturday in Head Vladimir Konstantinov said he would Crimea will return to Ukraine, but nothing through the signature of Leonid Brezhnev November, which is Holomodor Victims submit complaints to international agen- is being done in that regard. Ukraine has its on behalf of the USSR. The Helsinki Accords Remembrance Day. cies about the Kyiv government cutting hands full. Enter a bevy of Western prob- did not have treaty status. “Tomorrow, while some mentally ill supplies of drinking water from the lem solvers suggesting that Ukraine consid- In 1997 Russia and Ukraine – now two Holodomorivtsi are lighting candles in Northern Crimean Canal on the territory of er Crimea irretrievable and abandon any entirely separate and sovereign entities – their windows to honor the dead, we are the Kherson Oblast. aspirations for its return. Instead Ukraine entered into a Treaty of Friendship, gathering our old friends and holding a He referred to the situation as a “vodo- should concentrate on its military problem Cooperation and Partnership. The treaty feast,” she wrote on her blog. “The boys will mor.” Again, there’s a certain irony that Mr. with Russia in the Donbas and its econom- hearkened back to the Helsinki Accords, handle the marinated pork shashlyk Konstantinov was prompted to acknowl- ic woes, their thinking goes. “upholding the obligations that have been (kebabs), since they’re in charge of drinks, edge the Holodomor, yet not until his own Contrary to the propaganda, Russia does adopted within the framework of the and the girls will experiment with all kinds people were threatened with suffering. not have much of a history in Crimea. In Organization for Security and Cooperation of salads and pastries with ice cream. We From what I understand, however, Kyiv hasn’t cut off the canal’s supplies. fact, its initial connection came about only in Europe.” Article 3 of the treaty mirrored will eat, joke and even dance.” Donbas residents and Crimeans suffered in 1783 when Russia invaded Crimea and the Helsinki Final Act Declaration almost My blood boiled while reading these numerous tragedies last year as a result of annexed it to the Russian empire the fol- word for word: respect for “sovereign words. But my Christian faith referred me their ignorance, or denial, of Ukrainian his- lowing year. Until that time Crimea had equality, territorial integrity, the inviolabili- to the Apostle Paul’s assuring words, “Do tory. been inhabited and ruled by local tribes ty of borders, the peaceful settlement of not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave In welcoming the Russians – amid their with people from the Kyivan state transact- disputes, the non-application of force,... room for God’s wrath.” fantasies of higher pensions, kovbasa at 2 ing trade and settling there until 1239, nonintervention in internal affairs, the Needless to say, Ms. Maksymets isn’t rubles per kilo and 30-day paid vacations – upholding of human rights etc.” when it was invaded by the Tatars. In the dancing these days. Gangs of armed terror- it didn’t occur to them that the same tactics Which part of Helsinki or the Friendship 15th century the Tatar Khanate became a ists roam the streets of Luhansk, commit- of conquest applied by the Communists vassal of the Turkish empire. Treaty did Vladimir Putin not understand ting many of the same crimes as the against Ukrainians would be employed With Russian rule in the late 18th centu- or respect? Apparently, all of it. With arro- Bolsheviks before them. In a September against them. ry, Crimea first belonged to the Katerynoslav gant disregard, Russia and Mr. Putin flouted post on Facebook, she said she was getting Yet sure enough, Russian Prime Minister Province, which is presently Ukraine; later international accords, bilateral treaties, paid by the Communist Party in food signed a resolution in Crimea, then known as Tavridia, became its international norms and law commonly rations, instead of cash. She’s among the mid-September recommending that own province as part of the empire. In 1918, adhered to by civilized societies. lucky ones, apparently. Donbas refugees taking shelter in Crimea when Ukraine proclaimed its independence, Yet Mr. Putin has found appeasing Unconfirmed news reports have indicat- be transported to Siberia, the Russian Far Crimea was considered a part of Ukraine. accomplices in the West so much so that ed that hundreds have starved to death – East and the Russian Extreme North. However, as the Bolsheviks overran Ukraine even Ukraine’s neighbors are fearful. Just mostly pensioners – in the Donetsk and Those refugees eager to “explore” the and the USSR was formed, Crimea was ask Poland, the Baltic states and others. Luhansk regions since the outbreak of war. Russian Far East weren’t much impressed, annexed to the Russian SSR. In 1944 Stalin Suggesting that Ukraine agree to relinquish Meanwhile, more than half of the popu- as it turned out. All that was offered in the directed an ethnic cleansing of Crimea, its rights under international accords, bilat- lation in the occupied territories is now exotic Republic of Buryatia was shelter in a deporting its Tatar population and settling entirely dependent on food aid as the Kyiv ethnic Russians there. In 1954, the RSFSR (Continued on page 14) government has frozen wages, pensions (Continued on page 15)

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2014: THE YEAR IN REVIEW From Euro-Maidan to Revolution of Dignity uring 2014, what started out as the Euro-Maidan was transformed into the Revolution of Dignity. By Dyear’s end, Ukraine had a new president, a new Verkhovna Rada and a new government. And, at the end of the year, the Rada voted to abandon the country’s previ- ous “non-bloc” status and set a course for NATO member- ship. A civilizational choice had been made. As the year began, there was concern about the regular presidential election that was to be held in March 2015 as the opposition – that is the pro-Western parties of Ukraine – appeared to have no unified election strategy other than being against Viktor Yanukovych. Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform (UDAR) Chair was call- ing on his rivals to ditch their campaigns and unite behind his single candidacy. The expected Batkivshchyna candi- date, , and Svoboda party candidate Oleh Tiahnybok said they would compete independently in the first round of the presidential election. Billionaire confectionary magnate Petro Poroshenko also was plan- ning to throw his hat into the ring. The concern among observers was that so many candidates could cannibalize the pro-Western vote or spread it too thinly, letting anoth- Vladimir Gontar/UNIAN er victory slip through their fingers. On January 10 came The scene on January 20 on Kyiv’s , where violent clashes between the Berkut and protesters news of a rift between Euro-Maidan activists and leaders broke out on January 19 and were continuing. when the Euro-Maidan Citizens Council demanded that ally began firing tear gas canisters and stun grenades to which happened to mark the Unity Day holiday in Ukraine. opposition leaders settle on a single presidential candi- force the demonstrators away from their barricade. Many Opposition leaders responded by declaring on January date by January 11 or else face protests. protesters began digging out cobblestones and flinging 22 that they would lead the formation of a People’s Meanwhile, public demonstrations in support of them at police, along with Molotov cocktails. The national- Ukraine’s European orientation and against President Council and People’s Election Commission as parallel ists were soon joined by soccer hooligans, also targeted by Yanukovych’s decision to scrap closer ties with the structures to the Verkhovna Rada and the Central Election the January 17 laws, as well as Euro-Maidan activists. By European Union continued. On January 5, about 10,000 Commission. They also set an ultimatum to the govern- midnight, at least half a dozen buses – placed by police to people gathered at Kyiv’s Independence Square – the ment to either hold pre-term elections or face an offensive Maidan – for the first major opposition rally of the new year. form a wider barricade against demonstrators – were strike. There was palpable fear of a forceful dispersal of The government’s violence against opposition activists thoroughly burnt. Berkut upped the ante against demon- the Maidan that evening, but more than 50,000 support- also continued. As the Euro-Maidan entered its eighth strators by spraying water from water cannons in their ers responded – despite the frigid temperatures and fall- week, former Internal Affairs Minister Yurii Lutsenko, a direction (amidst freezing temperatures) and firing rub- ing snow – to the opposition’s call to protect the Maidan. leader of the movement, was beaten the night of January ber bullets and live metal cartridges. The next night snip- Thus, the Maidan remained intact. 10 during scuffles with the Berkut after the police brutally ers fired metal bullets at the protesters. January 26 was a day of funerals for 21-year-old Mr. beat demonstrators that evening. Mr. Lutsenko suffered a The result was at least five deaths and over 1,300 injured Nihoyan and 25-year-old Mr. Zhyznevskyi. Over 1,000 concussion, head trauma and wounds that landed him in protesters, as well as more than 120 injured police. people took part in Mr. Nihoyan’s funeral in the village of intensive care. The Yanukovych government responded to the protests Bereznuvativka, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Radio Svoboda Things got worse later in January when Kyiv erupted in with a campaign of state terror in which activists were reported his father said, “Maidan must hold out. My son violent clashes between Euro-Maidan protesters and subjected to beatings, kidnappings, torture, shootings and died for Ukraine.” Mr. Nihoyan’s parents had sought refuge police after the Verkhovna Rada, in a controversial vote – murder carried out by the Berkut special forces. Overnight in Ukraine from the violence over Nagorno-Karabakh conducted in a wholly illegal manner – on January 16 on January 19-20, the first kidnappings by Berkut forces shortly before their son was born. Mr. Nihoyan had served passed a series of draconian laws curtailing freedoms of were reported. The kidnappings and beatings escalated as one of the voluntary defenders of the Maidan since speech and assembly. What have been labeled the “dicta- significantly the next few days. Civic activists Ihor December. In Kyiv, thousands of Euro-Maidan activists and torship laws,” signed by President Yanukovych on January Lutsenko and Yurii Verbytskyi were kidnapped on January other Kyiv residents came to bid farewell to Mr. 17, created the legal pretext for the government to launch 21. Mr. Lutsenko surfaced a day later and reported being Zhyznevskyi, who had come to Ukraine about 10 years a widely anticipated mass police operation to forcibly tortured, while Mr. Verbytskyi was found murdered. Auto- earlier from his native Belarus seeking refuge from perse- clear the Euro-Maidan territory in central Kyiv occupied Maidan leader disappeared on January 22 cution. In Ukraine he was active in the nationalist UNA- by the opposition. and suffered eight days of beatings and torture before UNSO movement. On January 19, young demonstrators led by the radical being left for dead in a forest. Two other activists, ethnic By January 29, President Yanukovych’s authoritarian rule Pravyi Sektor group attempted to storm government Armenian Serhii Nihoyan of the Dnipropetrovsk area and was on the brink of collapse during that day’s parliamenta- buildings, and Hrushevsky street became the site of bat- Belarusian citizen Mykhailo Zhyznevskyi of Bila Tserkva, ry session, as deputies were ready to form a new majority tles between protesters and Berkut forces. Berkut eventu- were killed by sniper fire during battles on January 22, and reinstate the 2004 constitutional amendments that would have brought back a parliamentary-presidential republic. Yet the Russian government – rattled by the prior day’s resignation of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov – renewed pressure on Ukrainian oligarchs and politicians to keep Mr. Yanukovych in power. That day it announced renewed trade barriers and freezes on the financial aid and natural gas discounts extended in mid-December 2013. Mr. Yanukovych rushed into Parliament, where he reportedly blackmailed members of his parliamen- tary faction to approve his version of an amnesty bill that made possible a state of emergency in 15 days. Our free-lance correspondent in Kyiv, Zenon Zawada reported that the political winds were slowly eroding Mr. Yanukovych’s support base, which was confirmed in an interview on Polish state radio on January 30 by former Polish President and EU diplomat Aleksander Kwasniewski. “I think the president’s urgent visit to the Rada occurred because he’s afraid that the majority is no longer on his side,” said Mr. Kwasniewski, who has spent more than a decade dealing with Mr. Yanukovych and Ukraine’s politicians. “He lost several dozen votes in the Party of Regions. He went to discipline them, frighten them, blackmail them, and that had an effect.” Speaking on February 2 on Kyiv’s Independence Sergey Isaev/UNIAN Square, Vitali Klitschko told a crowd of some 50,000 that Mourners at the funeral of Euro-Maidan activist Serhii Nihoyan in Bereznuvativka, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, on President Yanukovych’s resignation followed by elections January 26. was the only way out of the crisis. “Our proposition is the 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 No. 3

2014: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

returned to Kyiv after private talks with Russian President The violence – unprecedented in independent Vladimir Putin held on the sidelines on the Sochi Winter Ukraine’s history – erased any progress towards a political Olympics’ opening ceremony. Mr. Klitschko called for compromise made during the weekend when protesters urgent constitutional reform to reduce presidential pow- reluctantly freed several state buildings, including the Kyiv ers. “Maidan is not just in the capital of Ukraine, Maidan City Council. Instead, they retook those buildings and took has to be in every small city,” Mr. Klitschko added. “And if control of new ones, setting up new headquarters in the people say, ‘We don’t want to live by these rules,’ then this Post Office and State Television and Radio Committee is one way to change the power offices. Reacting to the violence in the capital, activists and to put pressure on the turned many of the nation’s oblast centers into battle president.” zones on February 19 as they captured state buildings, The European Union Council including seven in Lviv. decided on February 10 that it The violence drew the first serious actions from would not satisfy the Euro-Maidan’s pleas Western leaders. The U.S. State Department declared visa for sanctions against Ukraine’s officials. “Applying bans on February 19 against nearly 20 leaders whom it sanctions against Ukraine would be incorrect now,” EU identified as responsible for the violence. The next day, Commissioner Jose Manuel Barroso told the news European Council President von Rompuy declared the EU agency in an interview published on February 12. “The was imposing both visa and financial sanctions against priority should become creating the conditions for a those Ukrainian leaders determined to be responsible for peaceful resolution to the conflict. Now we are in such a the excessive use of violence against Ukrainian citizens. He phase that the priority is stability in the country and also called for immediate elections for a new Parliament avoiding violence to begin a serious dialogue between the and president. government and opposition. At the current phase, other His announcement came after exasperated EU diplo- measures could have a negative effect.” mats – including Polish Foreign Affairs Minister Radoslaw A violent dispersal of the Euro-Maidan grew increas- Sikorski, German Foreign Affairs Minister Frank-Walter Aleksey Ivanov/UNIAN ingly likely after the Procurator General’s Office of Ukraine Steinmeier and French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Verkhovna Rada Chair Oleksander Turchynov, also the announced on February 12 that it had closed its investiga- Fabius – spent more than four hours negotiating with acting president of Ukraine, addresses the Maidan on tions into the November 30, 2013, violent dispersal of President Yanukovych on the afternoon of February 20 as February 26. That night the nominations of members of protesters that had ignited the nationwide revolts, dis- shooting and fighting continued throughout central Kyiv, the interim government were announced. missing the criminal charges. The dropped charges were only to leave with gloomy expressions and no comments intended as a signal from the Yanukovych administration for reporters. return to the Constitution of 2004; division of powers to all state employees, particularly the police forces, that The next day, things came to a head. Mr. Yanukovych among the president, Parliament and government; forma- they’re protected from criminal charges when obeying and the opposition leaders, Mr. Klitschko, Oleh Tiahnybok tion of a new Cabinet; and the most important thing for unlawful government orders, said a statement released by and Mr. Yatsenyuk, signed an Agreement on the the resolution of these issues are early presidential and the Batkivshchyna party. Settlement of Crisis in Ukraine. Negotiations on the agree- parliamentary elections,” Mr. Klitschko said. The UDAR The Procurator General’s Office based its decision on ment were held with the participation of the aforemen- party leader also demanded the unconditional release of the amnesty law approved by Parliament on January 16 tioned EU representatives and Vladimir Lukin, special all protesters arrested since late November 2013. that was supposed to free from criminal responsibility all envoy of the president of the Russian Federation. Both Mr. Klitschko and another opposition leader, those on both sides of the civil unrest between November According to the agreement, within 48 hours after the Arseniy Yatsenyuk, had attended the annual Munich 21 and December 26, 2013. A second amnesty law passed signing of the agreement a special law that would restore Security Conference on February 1 and met with Western by Parliament on January 29 was dubbed by the opposi- the Ukrainian Constitution of 2004 had to be adopted by officials. Mr. Klitschko told protesters in Kyiv that he had tion and EU politicians as “the hostage bill” since it pro- the Verkhovna Rada, signed by the president and made requested “international mediation in our negotiations posed releasing imprisoned activists and dropping crimi- public. The parties also agreed on early presidential elec- with Yanukovych.” Speaking at the Munich Security nal charges in exchange for the Euro-Maidan protest ceas- tions to be held immediately after the adoption of the new Conference, Mr. Klitschko said that the Ukrainian people ing its activity. , but no later than December 2014. had shown their will for political change despite violence In preparation for a new wave of repressions, Euro- However, President Yanukovych and his entourage fled against them, and he called on friends of Ukraine in the Maidan Commander Andrii Parubii launched the Maidan Ukraine, and Mr. Yanukovych renounced the agreement. West to help Ukraine’s democratic movement succeed. At Self-Defense (Samo-Oborona) organization, consisting of The collapse of the Yanukovych administration ignited the conference Messrs. Klitschko and Yatsenyuk met with brigades (sotni) of 75 to 150 activists. About 12,000 were U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, and European Council conflicts nationally as pro-Russian forces took over the among its ranks already, he estimated. Brigades were President Herman von Rompuy reiterated to conference Crimean Parliament and shot at Euro-Maidan activists in participants that the EU association deal was still available formed of Afghan war veterans, nationalist organizations eastern cities. to Ukraine. “We know time is on our side. The future of members of political parties and women. “The [Maidan] The Verkhovna Rada, which remained as the only legiti- Ukraine belongs with the European Union,” he said. Self-Defense defends the rights and freedoms of citizens mate authority in Ukraine, then removed Mr. Yanukovych On February 4, the Verkhovna Rada concluded a ses- and the organized resistance to the current regime,” Mr. as president, announced the date of pre-term presidential sion without approving changes to the Constitution of Parubii said on February 11 as he presented its founding elections as May 25, and assumed political responsibility Ukraine that would have curtailed the powers of the presi- mission statement. “We are going beyond the bounds of for the situation in Ukraine. Oleksander Turchynov, who dent. Opposition lawmakers failed to get the necessary the barricades because the Maidan is all of Ukraine.” was elected Rada chair on February 22, also became the support to push through a motion to revert to an earlier Among the Maidan Self-Defense’s tasks, he said, is to pre- acting president of Ukraine. version of the Constitution that limited presidential pow- serve the sovereignty and unity of Ukraine, defend A prime concern was the catastrophic condition of the ers. The opposition would have needed support from at Ukraine’s European choice and resist the “acting criminal economy left behind by Mr. Yanukovych and his cronies, least 237 of the 447 national deputies in Parliament to regime until its complete removal.” who reportedly embezzled $70 billion offshore in their push through the motion. Then, on February 18, Kyiv’s central district became a three years in power while bleeding the nation’s financial Prior to the vote in the Rada, Oleksander Yefremov, the war zone after protest marches to the Parliament turned reserves dry. Interim officials warned of economic col- parliamentary leader of the ruling Party of Regions, deadly, igniting at least three days of street battles lapse if the West didn’t offer aid. “The state treasury has sounded conciliatory. “This is a dead end, and I therefore between activists and law enforcement authorities, who been plundered and the country has been brought to suggest that we all forget the grievances, victories and attempted to liquidate the Maidan with gunfire and fire- bankruptcy,” Mr. Yatsenyuk told a February 24 meeting of defeats, our careers, and instead join efforts to work out bombing. state officials, three days before he was elected prime min- the strategy of getting out of the current situation,” he Freedom House, in a statement released on February 18, ister to lead the the interim government that would serve said. But Mr. Yefremov also said Mr. Yanukovych had condemned the violence and called on President until the next government was formed after the presiden- already made concessions by accepting the government’s Yanukovych to step down. “Legitimate democratic leaders tial elections. resignation, as well as agreeing to rescind controversial do not order riot police to attack protesters asking for a Upon his election as prime minister, Mr. Yatsenyuk anti-protest legislation and to a conditional amnesty for more open government,” said Freedom House President declared it “the government of political kamikazes,” not- detained protesters. The opposition dismissed the moves David Kramer. “Yanukovych has forfeited his legitimacy and ing, “We stand before inconceivable economic challenges as insufficient. needs to step down. In the meantime, the United States and and in order to conquer them I declare from this high tri- Mr. Klitschko met earlier that day with Mr. Yanukovych. the European Union should immediately urge him to end bune: we don’t have any other way out besides making Mr. Klitschko said he told the president “tempers are heat- the use of force. It is also vital for the United States and the extremely unpopular decisions.” ing up” and urged him “to immediately make a decision.” EU to impose visa and financial sanctions, to speed mean- On February 25 the Verkhovna Rada overwhelmingly Mr. Klitschko had told Parliament reform was needed to ingful political change. Such a step is long overdue.” backed a resolution saying Mr. Yanukovych, former end the ongoing. “I’m convinced that if we don’t do that, At least 105 civilians died in the Kyiv conflict between Internal Affairs Minister , former then the society will explode, and we will see their anger February 18 and 20, many of them by gunfire. The deadli- Procurator General Viktor Pshonka and others should be on the street,” Mr. Klitschko said. “That’s why I’m calling est day was February 20, with more than 70 reportedly tried at the ICC for “crimes against humanity” committed on everybody – we should follow the civilized path, stop killed. More than 1,000 were injured. The Internal Affairs during the brutal crackdown on anti-government protest- the dictatorship, return to the Constitution that makes Ministry reported 10 dead law enforcement officers, killed ers. That same day marked the beginning of the presiden- Parliament deputies the decision-makers and not just by gunfire, and more than 445 injured. “This is no longer tial election campaign. those who press buttons.” simply a revolution. It’s a war against brutes, fascists with Speaking at a news conference in the southern Russian February 9 was a day of yet another huge demonstra- their punitive detachments,” thundered Maidan master of city of Rostov-on-Don on February 28, the ousted Mr. tion on the Maidan as over 50,000 people gathered to ceremonies Yevhen Nyshchuk from the stage on the eve- Yanukovych stated: “The time has come for me to say that make their voices heard when President Yanukovych ning of February 19. I intend to continue the fight for the future of Ukraine No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 7

2014: THE YEAR IN REVIEW against those who are trying, through terror and fear, to die for your fatherland is considered to be very natural, Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We do not take charge over it.” He denied that he had been removed but the Heavenly Brigade and 872 courageous Ukrainian recognize Russia’s illegal and illegitimate attempt to annex from power, maintaining that he had been forced to leave soldiers died not only for Ukraine. They risked their heads Crimea. We urge Russia to take immediate steps, as set out because of direct threats to his safety. “I was forced to so that we could take our dignified place in the family of in the statement by the NATO-Ukraine Commission, to leave Ukraine because of an immediate threat to my life European peoples,” said President Poroshenko, who had return to compliance with international law and its inter- and the life of my loved ones,” he claimed, vowing to been elected on May 25. “Since World War II, no nation national obligations and responsibilities, and to engage return once he received guarantees of his safety. ever paid such a high price for the right to be Europeans.” immediately in a genuine dialogue towards a political and Shortly after that, Russian Ambassador to the United One negative note was that the actual implementation of diplomatic solution that respects international law and Nations Vitaly Churkin said Ukraine’s ousted president the Deep and Free Trade Area was postponed until Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders. …” The dec- had sent a letter to President Putin requesting that he use January 1, 2016, as a result of Russia’s threat to launch a laration also said NATO and Ukraine would intensify their the Russian military to restore law and order in his coun- trade war against Ukraine. cooperation in the framework of the Distinctive try. Speaking at the U.N. Security Council’s March 3 emer- On March 24, leaders from the G-7 suspended their Partnership and would implement immediate and longer- gency meeting on the situation in Ukraine, he quoted from participation in the G-8 with Russia – “until Russia chang- term measures in order to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to the letter dated March 1: “I would call on the president of es course” – and expressed support for the Ukrainian gov- provide for its own security.” At the same time, NATO said Russia, Mr. Putin, asking him to use the armed forces of ernment. A strongly worded statement demanded that it was suspending “all practical civilian and military coop- the Russian Federation to establish legitimacy, peace, law Russia “respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sover- eration between NATO and Russia” but would continue and order, stability and defending the people of Ukraine.” eignty, begin discussions with the government of Ukraine, political dialogue in the NATO-Russia Council. At that same emergency session, Ukraine’s U.N. and avail itself of offers of international mediation and As the pre-term presidential election approached, it Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev said Russia had deployed monitoring to address any legitimate concerns.” became evident that Mr. Petro Poroshenko was favored to some 16,000 additional troops to the region since the pre- As Russian forces invaded Ukraine, RFE/RL reported on win. According to a poll released in late March by four of vious week. Russia had poured troops into Crimea, taking war on another front – in the sphere of information. Ukraine’s leading polling firms, the chocolate king enjoyed over practically all of Ukraine’s military facilities. Russian media and leading political figures were shrill in a commanding lead over his top rival, former Prime Ukraine continued to press its case at the United their denunciations of “fascists” in Kyiv and their claims of Minister . Almost 25 percent of eligible Nations, as meeting after meeting of the Security Council anti-Semitic incidents, of attacks on ethnic Russians in the voters said they’d cast their ballots for Mr. Poroshenko was called. Ambassador Sergeyev said Russia was telling eastern reaches of Ukraine and of floods of beleaguered compared to more than 8 percent for Ms. Tymoshenko. In “bold-faced lies” as it continued toward its goal of taking refugees streaming across the border into Russia. RFE/RL’s a second-round runoff, he would earn 46 percent com- over Crimea. Such lies included references to the Russian- Robert Coalson wrote on March 5: “But much of this infor- pared to her 12 percent. Another contender, boxing leg- speaking population being threatened and its rights vio- mation is demonstrably false, emerging from unsourced end Vitali Klitschko, earned 9 percent in the poll. But he lated; the presence of anti-Semites and Nazis in the inter- media reports, then making its way into the statements of announced on March 29 that he was withdrawing his im government of Ukraine; and statements that referred Russian politicians, and even into Western media reports. presidential candidacy to support Mr. Poroshenko, who in to Russian self-defense forces, and not Russian military, as Events are echoing the 1997 U.S. film ‘Wag the Dog,’ in turn would support Mr. Klitschko’s candidacy in the Kyiv being on the ground in Ukraine. Russia, he explained, was which spin-doctors use the media to whip up support for a mayoral election, to be held the same day. “We are pledg- employing “the combined scenarios of Ossetia and nonexistent war. ‘This is how wars get started. As they say, ing to fulfill the politics of European reforms, which will Abkhazia” in Ukraine. He said Russia has distributed “truth is the first casualty of war” and we are really seeing ensure the guaranteed protection of human rights and Russian passports and citizenship to residents of Crimea that with the way Russia is handling this,’ says Catherine freedom, rule of law, economic development, free enter- and was claiming the right to come in to protect its citi- Fitzpatrick, a writer and translator who has been live-blog- prise, uprooting corruption and conducting a policy of zens. He also noted that, because Crimean Tatars and ging events in Ukraine for Interpretermag.com. ‘I think social justice,” said a declaration of unity signed by Messrs. Ukrainians had said they would boycott the March 16 ref- they are really irresponsible. They are inciting a lot of Poroshenko and Klitschko published on March 29 on Mr. erendum on Crimea’s status, Russians and pro-Russian hatred and whipping up a lot of panic. People in places like Poroshenko’s Facebook page. are watching Russian TV. They may be watching On April 4, the Central Election Commission completed separatists would deliver a majority vote for Crimea to also local TV, but they are dependent on Russian TV and a the registration of candidates for president of Ukraine. join the Russian Federation. lot of it is not checking out.’ ” There were 23 of them, including seven nominated by polit- Soon thereafter, on March 6, European Council On April 10, Freedom House President Kramer ical parties and 16 independents. The candidates nominat- President von Rompuy announced the EU would sign the weighed in: “Kremlin propaganda is trying to paint every- ed by their parties were: People’s Movement of Ukraine political portion of its Association Agreement with thing that is happening in Ukraine as being caused by fas- leader Vasyl Kuibida, Communist Party leader Petro Ukraine before the presidential election, saving the free cists and extremists. I have not seen evidence of that. I do Symonenko, Batkivshchyna leader Ms. Tymoshenko, Civil trade pact for afterwards. The Group of Seven told Russia recognize that there are some parts of the opposition that Position Party leader Anatoliy Grytsenko, Svoboda leader on March 12 that it risked facing international action are viewed as far-right, but I don’t see them playing a Mr. Tiahnybok, Ukrainian People’s Party leader Oleksandr unless it stopped its moves toward the annexation of dominant role in the current political situation.” Speaking Klymenko and Radical Party leader Oleh Liashko. Crimea. And Ukraine, led by acting President Turchynov, at a press conference in Kyiv, he also praised the actions of The violence continued in Ukraine’s east as pro-Rus- was preparing for a Russian invasion of its mainland as its and Svoboda leaders who, in his opinion, had sian activists took control of state buildings in several cit- armed forces were activated into full combat readiness. made efforts to reach out to certain communities and dis- ies in early April. In Donetsk they declared an indepen- The day after the staged referendum on the Crimea pel the notion that they are anti-Semitic or anti-Russian. dent republic on April 7 and invited Russian soldiers to seceding from Ukraine and joining the Russian Federation, The expert said it was necessary to keep an eye on the ensure a referendum on joining the Russian Federation, on March 17, President Putin recognized Crimea as an actions of Right Sector and Svoboda activists, but it was just as in Crimea three weeks earlier. Buildings were taken independent state in defiance of the international commu- more important to fight the Russian propaganda. over also in such cities as Kharkiv, Luhansk and Mykolayiv. nity’s insistence that it remain part of Ukraine. On March Meanwhile, NATO members on April 1 released a state- The Ukrainian government said the Russian government 18 Mr. Putin and Crimean leaders signed treaties making ment in which they declared: “We, the foreign ministers of was responsible for inciting the violence. The Ukrainian Ukraine’s Crimea and the city of part of the NATO, are united in our condemnation of Russia’s illegal government and media offered ample evidence that Mr. Russian Federation. Mr. Putin said to a standing ovation military intervention in Ukraine and Russia’s violation of Putin had dispatched armed saboteurs to the Ukrainian that “in the hearts and minds of people, Crimea has always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia.” In Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a statement on the guarantees of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people within Ukraine. The document also recognized Crimean Tatars as an indigenous people within Ukraine and recog- nized the Mejlis and the Kurultai as governing bodies of the Crimean Tatar people. Crimean Tatars and others were reported to be leaving Crimea, and the Ukrainian mainland was making preparations to host the refugees. Prime Minister Yatsenyuk joined the European Union leadership on March 21 in Brussels in signing the Ukraine- EU Association Agreement, a historic event that marked Kyiv’s return to Western civilization. The agreement closed the door to Kyiv’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union being launched by the Russian govern- ment. Yet the signing was an anticlimactic event that drew little celebration in Ukraine given that it had required a violent overthrow of a dictatorial president and the death of more than 100 Euro-Maidan activists. The EU and Ukrainian leadership also deliberately played down the signing ceremony in light of the Russian invasion of Crimea that could lead to further unrest in the southeast- ern oblasts of Ukraine. The Association Agreement was formally ratified by Ukraine and the European Parliament on September 16. The legislation gained 79 percent sup- Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine port among the national deputies in Kyiv and 77 percent Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk of Ukraine and European Council President Herman von Rompuy at the sign- in Strasbourg, France. “The readiness to give one’s life and ing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union on March 21 in Brussels. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 No. 3

2014: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

His UDAR party won 39 percent of the seats for the , compared to 7 percent for runner-up Samopomich, a party founded and led by Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi. Mr. Poroshenko was inaugurated as Ukraine’s fifth president on June 7 amidst unprecedented challenges for independent Ukraine that threatened its very existence. Inauguration day ceremonies drew 56 foreign delegations to Kyiv, including U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and European Council President von Rompuy, as well as representatives of Ukraine’s political and business elite, including billion- aires of Donetsk and Igor Kolomoisky of Dnipropetrovsk. Drawing the most public acclaim was Mr. Poroshenko’s inauguration speech in the Verkhovna Rada in which he addressed Ukraine’s crisis with Russia and set the priori- ties for the first year of his presidency, including concrete steps to resolve the . He outlined major pol- icies: Ukraine won’t relinquish its claim to Russian- occupied Crimea, Ukrainian will remain the single state language, he is ready to sign the free trade portion of the European Union Association Agreement. Mr. Poroshenko also spoke of his commitment to a parliamentary-presi- dential republic and early parliamentary elections, amending the Constitution to accommodate government decentralization, but rejecting any federalization of the Facebook/Petro Poroshenko country, and rebuilding the army with the support of Petro Poroshenko and his wife, Maryna, cast their ballots on election day, May 25. domestic industry, which he identified as his top priority. Mr. Poroshenko directly addressed the residents of the mainland starting on April 12. As of April 17, 20 govern- Republic, while in the neighboring Luhansk region it was Donbas in the , assuring them that the ment buildings in the Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv 96 percent for that local republic. They claimed voter turn- Ukrainian government wouldn’t abandon them in these oblasts were under rebel control. out was around 75 percent in each oblast. difficult times. “With what will I, as president, come to you Mr. Putin denied the presence of his forces in Ukraine, Pro-Russian forces in Ukraine’s east attempted to derail in the nearest future?” the president asked rhetorically. just as he had with Crimea a month earlier. Yet that didn’t the May 25 presidential vote, but they were successful “With peace. With a draft of decentralizing power. With stop him from revealing his plans for Ukraine during an only in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Armed fighters the guarantee of free use of the Russian language in your April 17 live TV broadcast. He indicated that, at a mini- took over half of the 12 district election commissions region. With the firm intention not to divide Ukrainians mum, he intended to separate the eight oblasts of south- (DEC) in the , preventing their functioning, between those who are right and wrong.” eastern Ukraine, a region that he dubbed “.” reported the Central Election Commission. In the Donetsk Just over a week after the inauguration, Ukraine But he also hinted at the annexation of all of Ukraine, Oblast , they took over six of 22 DECs, with five under observed a day of mourning for the 49 soldiers killed when he said that Ukraine and Russia were “part of a sin- threat of being captured. Kidnappings occurred of DEC when pro-Russian separatists shot down a military trans- gle space” and “a single people.” chairs in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, where resi- port plane. President Poroshenko declared the day of Also on April 17, a joint statement was released in dents had been terrorized for weeks by armed pro-Rus- mourning on June 15 and vowed a firm response against Geneva to address the crisis in Ukraine. Signed by Ukraine, sian separatists. those who shot down the aircraft early on June 14 as it Russia, the United States and the European Union, it was a The presidential election was hailed by Western lead- approached the airport in Luhansk. “Ukraine is in sorrow, vaguely worded agreement to end the violence, de-escalate ers as successful, free and fair. Mr. Poroshenko was elected but we strongly continue the struggle for peace.” tensions and restore security. “All illegal armed groups as Ukraine’s fifth president, earning nearly 55 percent of The new president on June 19 completed the formation must be disarmed; all illegally seized buildings must be the vote – enough to avoid a run-off with Ms. Tymoshenko, of his new team when Parliament approved his nomina- returned to legitimate owners; all illegally occupied streets, who got 13 percent of the vote. She was trailed by Mr. tions for three key posts: Pavlo Klimkin as foreign affairs squares and other public places in Ukrainian cities and Liashko (Radical Party), 8.32 percent; Mr. Grytsenko (Civil minister, Vitalii Yarema as procurator general and Valeria towns must be vacated,” the statement said. It contained Position Party), 5.48 percent; Sergey Tigipko (self-nomi- Gontareva as chair. He also not a word about the removal of Russian forces from nated), 5.23 percent; (Party of Regions), named new staff at the Presidential Administration. Ukraine’s territory or the preservation of Ukraine’s territo- 3.03 percent. Fifteen other candidates were on the ballot, In a June 21 address to the people of Ukraine, Mr. rial integrity, nor did it address the annexation of Crimea. barely registering support. Voter turnout was 60 percent, Poroshenko explained his peace plan, which included an And the violence continued. Peaceful protesters who even with people in the Donbas being prevented from immediate unilateral ceasefire to last one week. “These advocated the unity of Ukraine were savagely attacked in going to the polls. “This was the most important election are decisive days that present a good chance for a peaceful Donetsk on April 28. The pro-Ukraine mayor of Kharkiv, in independent Ukraine’s history,” said a statement from settlement,” he said. The plan also included an “amnesty Hennadii Kernes, survived an assassination attempt that the election-observing mission of the National Democratic for those members of illegal armed formations who didn’t same day. In Odesa, street fights broke out on May 2 Institute that was read at a May 26 press conference in kill civilians or Ukrainian soldiers, who will lay down their between pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian fighters and a Kyiv by its chair, Madeleine K. Albright. “By turning out to weapons”; the release of all hostages; the opening of “a blaze in the local trade unions building killed 31 of the pro- vote yesterday across the vast majority of the country, corridor for the escape of Russian mercenaries to their Russian camp who had taken refuge there, attacking the Ukrainians did more than elect a new president. They motherland,” but on one condition: “that they leave pro-Ukrainians with firearms and Molotov cocktails. The showed the world their commitment to sovereignty, unity machine guns, tanks and armored vehicles here”; libera- Odesa street fights were provoked by about 200 pro-Rus- and democracy.” tion of administrative buildings in the Donetsk and sian provocateurs, who attacked more than 1,000 peaceful The Kyiv mayoralty was handily won by Mr. Klitschko Luhansk regions, and restoration of order and functioning pro-Ukrainian protesters – many of them Chornomorets with 56 percent of the vote, compared to 8 percent for the of local authorities; and the beginning of political dialogue. Odesa soccer fans – with bats, chains and guns, pravda. runner-up, 32-year-old Lesia Orobets, a national deputy. He underscored that “the issue of the territorial integrity com.ua reported. The pro-Russian forces swelled through- of Ukraine is not open to discussion,” although he prom- out the day, unrestrained by local police as they engaged in ised decentralization of power, with Ukrainian regions violence. Meanwhile, in Sloviansk, which had been taken gaining more rights and authority. The Donbas, he said over by pro-Russian fighters, the Ukrainian government would not be left to deal with its problems alone. “Not launched an anti-terrorist operation (ATO). only Ukraine, but also the EU will come to help. We will On May 11, a “referendum” on sovereignty was held in help to restore the infrastructure destroyed by militants. the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts. Verkhovna Rada Chair At the cost of the state, we will restore housing destroyed and acting President Turchynov said on May 12 that only during combat actions, we will restore workspaces. 24 percent of residents of the Luhansk Oblast and 32 per- Donbas residents will have a place to return, to live and to cent in the Donetsk Oblast who had the right to vote had work.” done so. Mr. Turchynov underlined that voting in many President Poroshenko’s ATO had some success in early towns of the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts was not held at July when Ukraine’s armed forces liberated from pro-Rus- all. Mr. Turchynov stressed that the “referendum” was a sian terrorists their war-torn strongholds of farce that violated law. “This farce can have only one conse- and Sloviansk in the Donetsk Oblast. The cities’ liberation quence: criminal responsibility for its organizers,” he involved the army and National Guard volunteers, the pres- added. RFE/RL cited ample evidence of ballot tampering ident said in a July 5 televised address to the nation. That and noted that voters were not even sure what they were day, 10 soldiers were injured and none killed, largely voting for as the paper ballots asked if they support the YouTube because the terrorists willfully abandoned these cities and “act of self-rule.” The “separatists” announced that the vote 1st Lt. in a photo posted on July 10 dispersed throughout the region, including the city of in the Donetsk Oblast was 89.07 for the Donetsk People’s by RFE/RL. Donetsk. “This is the beginning of a breakthrough in the No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 9

2014: THE YEAR IN REVIEW struggle with fighters for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and for a return to the normal life of Donbas, which is an inseparable part of our large, strong, European country,” he said. The success in retaking control of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk boosted the popularity of Mr. Poroshenko, who was under mounting criticism for acting slowly in the Donbas, prompting thousands to crowd Kyiv’s Maidan to protest his actions just a week before the victories. By mid-year, the war’s toll was keenly felt by refugees from the war zone. There were now more than 46,000 internally displaced persons – about 11,000 of them from Crimea. President Poroshenko ordered the creation of humanitarian corridors so civilians could flee areas worst hit by the conflict, and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk instructed his government to create a nationwide data- base of refugees to facilitate relief efforts. Among those most affected were the Crimean Tatars. Many had fled the Russian-occupied peninsula, while those who remained were subjected to a campaign of harassment and intimidation that included abductions, torture and killings. Crimean Tatar leader was barred from entering Crimean, and his son was arrested and taken to Russia, where he was accused of murder and weapons possession. The elder Mr. Dzhemilev was quoted on October 1 as saying “the Crimean Tatar nation is now in a most complicated and dangerous position since it has always spoken out against the illegal occupation [of Crimea by Russia].” Vladimir Gontar/UNIAN At the same time, the terrorists in Ukraine’s east were Petro Poroshenko takes the oath of office as Ukraine’s president on June 7. taking prisoners. 1st Lt. Nadiya Savchenko, 33, was cap- tured on June 18 by Russian-backed forces in Ukraine’s flee and save their lives,” said the patriarch. “But that was Malaysia airliner over eastern Ukraine “by mistake.” Luhansk region and then illegally transferred in July to not the striving of the heart of our brother Mark. He trav- According to RFE/RL, they said the passenger jet was like- Russia. The Ukrainian pilot was charged with complicity eled to Ukraine, became one of us here on our native land ly downed by an SA-11 surface-to-air missile fire by the in the deaths of two Russian journalists in eastern Ukraine and had become our brother-in-arms in the struggle for a rebels. While saying there was no direct link so far to the – spurious charges that are nothing less than a bold-faced free and independent country. He became one of us even by Kremlin, the officials said Russia had “created the condi- lie. After she was abducted – the Ukrainian officer says she citizenship, sacrificing the convenient U.S. citizenship in tions” for the downing of the plane. Search and retrieval was captured by pro-Russian forces, hooded and hand- order to stand beside us in our present struggle.” Mr. operations at the crash site were hampered by the ongo- cuffed, and then smuggled across the border to Russia – Paslawsky attended St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic ing war in Ukraine’s east. In November, Dutch authorities Lt. Savchenko was jailed and subjected to a psychological School in Newark, N.J., and was a member of Plast Ukrainian said recovery workers in the rebel-controlled region had examination at Moscow’s Serbsky Institute, notorious Scouting Organization. Patriarch Sviatoslav said Plast mem- begun to collect debris from the crash. The operation was during the Soviet era for its treatment of dissidents, where bers all over the world were at the funeral in prayer and in being carried out under the supervision of Dutch investi- she was held for a month. She remains in pre-trial deten- spirit; some attended the services in their Plast uniforms. gators and officials from the Organization for Security and tion. In the meantime, she was elected on October 26 to As if the fighting in Ukraine’s east was not enough, in Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Debris was first collected the Verkhovna Rada, running as No. 1 on the list of the mid-July came reports that a Malaysia Airlines flight with at a location near the crash site before being taken to Batkivshchyna Party, and she was chosen as one of the 12 298 passengers and crew aboard was downed in Ukraine, Kharkiv and then to the Netherlands, as most of those deputies representing Ukraine in the Parliamentary some 35 miles from the border with Russia. The Boeing killed were Dutch. Assembly of the . Lt. Savchenko began a 777 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. A Back in Kyiv, the Cabinet of Ministers resigned and the hunger strike on December 13 to protest her imprison- Ukrainian Internal Affairs Ministry adviser, Anton majority coalition in the Verkhovna Rada collapsed on July ment and as the new year began, there was news that her Herashchenko, claimed the plane had been shot down by a 24. Prime Minister Yatsenyuk blamed the government’s col- health had begun to suffer. Her lawyers, who said they ground-to-air missile. Both Ukrainian and Russian authori- lapse on the failure of Parliament’s pro-EU factions to sup- have ample evidence to prove her innocence, were work- ties denied shooting down the Malaysian passenger air- port emergency measures to finance the state budget and ing to secure her release as well as recognition that she is craft. President Poroshenko called the July 17 incident a conduct serious natural gas reforms. Earlier that day, the a prisoner of war being held illegally by Russia. terrorist act, and a statement on the presidential website UDAR and the Svoboda parties declared they were aban- Another prisoner being held by Russia was Ukrainian noted: “…In recent days, this has become the third tragic doning the parliamentary coalition. Mr. Yatsenyuk said, “It’s film director Oleh Sentsov, who was detained in Crimea accident following AN-26 and SU-25 aircrafts of the unacceptable that the coalition has collapsed, that bills and accused of plotting terrorist attacks. The Lefortovo Ukrainian armed forces downed from the Russian territory. haven’t been voted on and there’s nothing to pay soldiers, District Court’s spokeswoman said on July 7 that Mr. We do not exclude that this aircraft was also attacked and police, doctors, fill up APCs, the decision hasn’t been made Sentsov’s pretrial detention had been prolonged. Mr. emphasize that the have not taken to fill Ukrainian natural gas tanks survive the winter and to Sentsov and three other Ukrainian citizens were arrested any actions to strike targets in the air. …All possible search- free ourselves from dependence on Russian gas.” He added: in May on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks in and-rescue operations are being carried out. President “When one coalition falls apart, the prime minister begins Crimea’s major cities – Symferopol, Yalta and Sevastopol. Poroshenko addressed the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine the procedure of forming a new coalition, which means that In June the European Film Academy, the chairman of the to set up an Emergency State Commission for the thorough he is supposed to take the Communists and Party of Ukrainian Association of Cinematographers, Serhiy investigation of this tragedy. The president has invited the Regions. I won’t do that any under any circumstances. The Trymbach, and prominent Russian film director Nikita ICAO [International Civil Aviation Organization] and other second, if there isn’t a new coalition and the current one col- Mikhalkov urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to international experts including Dutch and Malaysian repre- lapsed, requires the government and prime minister to assist in Mr. Sentsov’s release. At year’s end Mr. Sentsov sentatives to join the investigation efforts. …” resign. I declare my resignation in relation to the collapse of was awaiting trial in Russia. U.S. intelligence officials said on July 22 that they the coalition and blocking of government initiatives.” Among those who gave their lives while defending believe pro-Russian rebels probably shot down the Also that week, the parliamentary faction of the Ukraine was a native New Yorker, Mark (Markian) Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU) was liquidated as part Paslawsky, 55, who grew up in New Jersey and graduated of a broader campaign to outlaw the party after ample evi- from West Point. He took Ukrainian citizenship in 2014 dence surfaced that it had cooperated with the Russian and joined the to fight the Russian- government in its annexation of Crimea and the war in the backed forces in the Donetsk region. Known as Franko, he Donbas. A parliamentary majority of 232 national depu- was killed in action on August 19. His funeral was held on ties voted on July 22 to approve legislation that created a August 26 at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church at membership quota for factions and provided for their liq- Askold’s Grave in Kyiv. Mr. Paslawsky was buried Askold’s uidation if the quota was not met. The new rule directly Grave, becoming only the second Ukrainian to be accorded applied to the Communist faction, which had been hemor- that honor. He was honored with a National Guard funeral, rhaging national deputies since the Russian invasion attended by members of his Donbas battalion, as well as began in March. “Its deputies have run away from it, peo- family members who arrived from the United States, sev- ple in the country have turned their backs on them,” eral hundred friends and other mourners who simply National Deputy Viacheslav Kyrylenko, the bill’s sponsor, wanted to pay their respects to a man they’d never met told the Rada. “That’s why we’re now simply required to but admired from what they’d heard. fulfill this formality and give the parliamentary head the The eulogy was delivered by Patriarch Sviatoslav of the ability to simply introduce regulatory order.” President Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. “Mark was born in the RFE/RL via Facebook/Anton Gerashchenko Poroshenko signed the bill the same day, and it became U.S., which seems as the quietest and calm land on the earth Mark Paslawsky, “Franko,” who was killed in action in law on July 24, when it was published in the Parliament’s today, where many of those who desire to save their skins eastern Ukraine on August 19. newspaper, enabling Verkhovna Rada Chair Turchynov to 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 No. 3

2014: THE YEAR IN REVIEW declare the CPU faction’s liquidation from the seventh con- vocation that morning. “It is a historic event,” he said. “I hope that there won’t be any Communist factions in the Ukrainian Parliament anymore.” Then, a week later, the Verkhovna Rada voted to approve amendments to the budget and tax code that it had rejected earier, and it refused to accept the resigna- tion of Prime Minister Yatsenyuk. Mr. Yatsenyuk pushed to get Ukrainian citizens to foot a larger bill for the armed forces and the reconstruction of ruined infrastructure in the Donbas region. In particular, he targeted the biggest businessmen. As a result of the July 31 legislation, Mr. Yatsenyuk would be able to secure the next loan package of $1 billion from the International Monetary Fund and $500 million from the , expected to be issued in late August. Mr. Yatsenyuk and his Cabinet were to remain in their posts until after pre-term parliamentary elections were held. Also in late July, the European Union and the United States unveiled their toughest measures yet against Russia over its support for separatists fighting government forces in eastern Ukraine. European Council President von Rompuy said the measures will restrict access to EU capi- tal markets for Russian state-owned banks, impose an embargo on trade in arms, and restrict exports of dual-use OSCE/Evgeniy Maloletka goods and sensitive technologies, particularly in the field OSCE monitors accompany experts to the site where the cockpit of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was found after the of the oil sector. The U.S. Treasury Department added plane was downed on July 17. three banks to a list of sectoral sanctions and sanctioned one shipbuilding company in response to Russia’s actions in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts on November 2. “On Higher Education” passed by the Verkhovna Rada on in Ukraine. The EU on July 29, and again on September 8, President Poroshenko, it should be noted, depicted those July 1. The legislation was described by political observers November 27 and December 18, added the names of more elections as “a farce at gunpoint” organized by “terrorist as the first comprehensive, structural reform to be individuals and entities to a growing list of those subject organizations” and underscored that they were not an achieved since the Euro-Maidan movement. Among the to sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. By year’s end, the expression of the people’s will. Nonetheless, the newly legislation’s biggest changes were provisions to involve European Union’s lists of sanctions had expanded to over “elected” leaders of the Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s universities in autonomously recognizing foreign diplomas 120 individuals and some 30 entities. republics” (DNR and LNR) were sworn into office. and degrees (without ministry involvement); remove bar- The sanctions were upped due to Russia’s role in the Before those “elections” were held, President riers for foreign professors, university faculty and students conflict in Ukraine and the holding of illegitimate elections Poroshenko had travelled to Minsk on August 26 for the electing their rectors; and enhance university autonomy in trilateral summit that included leaders of Ukraine, the managing finances. The reforms draw Ukrainian higher European Union and the Eurasian troika (Russia, Belarus education closer to European principles and standards, and Kazakhstan). The meeting participants discussed how said Marta Farion, the president of the Kyiv-Mohyla The semantics of invasion to end the war, a new natural gas agreement and the Foundation of America. She particularly credited the “per- remaining issues surrounding the Ukraine-EU Association severance and drive” of current Education and Science Excerpts from The Ukrainian Weekly’s editorial of Agreement. The players reached only minor arrange- Minister Serhiy Kvit (previously president of the National September 7, 2014. ments, which consisted of consultations between the University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy), National Technical …world leaders refuse to call the invasion of Ukrainian and Russian joint chiefs of staff and border University of Kyiv Polytechnic Institute Rector Mykhailo Ukraine by Russian forces an invasion. It’s been called agencies to address the war, activating the work of a trilat- Zhurovskyi and Parliamentary Committee on Education “aggression,” a “deployment,” an “attack,” an “incur- eral contact group to produce a road map for peace and and Science Chair Lilia Hrynevych, who is also the deputy sion.” … renewing gas talks. chair of the Batkivshchyna party. “These are changes that Thankfully, there are those who do see the reality. Mr. Poroshenko also met one-on-one with Mr. Putin. The will affect generations to come. The law makes it possible Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey two failed to agree to de-escalate the Donbas war or even to separate politics from education and to integrate higher Graham of South Carolina said in a joint statement: seriously discuss a ceasefire. Mr. Poroshenko reminded Mr. education with the world’s academic and research com- “Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine can only be Putin of the need to release all hostages, as well as to close munity, making it possible for Ukrainian universities to called one thing: a cross-border military invasion. To the border to transfers of arms and military hardware from comply with ranking standards on an international level,” claim it is anything other than that is to inhabit Russia. These demands fell on deaf ears. While he shook said Ms. Farion. President Putin’s Orwellian universe.” Democratic Sen. hands with Mr. Poroshenko with one hand, Mr. Putin was Other notable developments of 2014 in the Verkhovna Robert Menendez of New Jersey likewise did not mince escalating the armed fighting with the other as the Russian Rada included the passage of the bill on lustration on words. Appearing on CNN from Kyiv on August 31, he forces accelerated the delivery of military hardware, arms September 16 and the first anti-corruption bills on said what we are seeing is “clearly an invasion”; he was and fighters, according to the press service of the Ukrainian October 7. quoted by various news sources as saying the U.S. government’s ATO. Those reports were confirmed by the And, the president, in his first major press conference, should supply arms to Ukraine’s military to defend the U.S. government. “The new columns of Russian tanks and on September 25 assured the public that he genuinely country and toughen sanctions against Russia. … heavy armaments that are crossing Ukraine’s border are wants reform. “I am certain we need to not simply walk, Thus, it was most distressing to hear President evidence that a direct counteroffensive has already begun,” but run on the path to complicated, tectonic changes. The ’s August 28 description of the violence tweeted U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt on Ukrainian government and I, the Ukrainian president, cer- in Ukraine’s east. Though he was right in saying “Russia August 26, during the Minsk summit. tainly have the political will,” he stated, while noting that is responsible for the violence in eastern Ukraine. The On September 5, agreement on a second ceasefire for these changes would not be pursued until after the pre- violence is encouraged by Russia. The separatists are Ukraine’s east was reached in Minsk between former term parliamentary elections. trained by Russia. They are armed by Russia. They are President , representing the Ukrainian gov- On August 27, President Poroshenko had signed a funded by Russia,” when pressed by a reporter on ernment, and the self-proclaimed leaders of the Donetsk decree dismissing the Verkhovna Rada and setting early whether the most recent escalation was an invasion, he and Luhansk “people’s republics.” Among its 12 points parliamentary elections for October 26. The election cam- ducked: “I think in part because of the progress that you were ceasing warfare, exchanging hostages and withdraw- paign began immediately. Mr. Poroshenko wasted no time had seen by the Ukrainians around Donetsk and ing Russian soldiers and hardware. The Russians nonethe- in organizing a congress on August 27 for his Solidarnist Luhansk [a reference to the Ukrainian forces’ recent success in the anti-terrorist operation], Russia deter- less continued their offensive, reportedly shelling the out- party, which had been an empty shell since it was regis- mined that it had to be a little more overt in what it had skirts of Mariupol with mortar fire, shooting up the tered in 2000. The congress voted to rename the party the already been doing. But it’s not really a shift.” Donetsk airport under Ukrainian control and evacuating a Petro Poroshenko Bloc, enabling voters to better recog- … the U.S. and the West, including NATO (which is village outside of in the Donetsk region in prep- nize the pro-presidential party on their voting ballots. holding its summit in Wales as these words are being aration for an attack on the town, our Kyiv correspondent Yurii Lutsenko, the former internal affairs minister who written), must take a stronger stand against Russia’s reported in The Weekly’s September 14 issue. In that same became a political prisoner under the Yanukovych admin- invasion of Ukraine and its absolute disregard for issue, a report from the Eurasia Daily Monitor headlined istration, was elected the head of the Poroshenko Bloc. international agreements and norms of behavior. As “Mariupol says no to Novorossiya” noted the failure of Mr. The parliamentary elections would mark a turning noted in yet another excellent Putin’s Novorossiya project to attract popular support in point in Ukraine’s history: for the first time ever, pro-West- editorial on Ukraine: “Intentionally or not, the White southeastern Ukraine. Another RFE/RL report, dated ern parties collectively gained more votes in the south- House and NATO are sending Mr. Putin the message October 8, noted that there is not even the pretense of hon- eastern oblasts, with the exception of Kharkiv and partial- that Ukraine can be sacrificed. …Russia’s aggression in oring the truce that was supposed to pave the way for end- ly occupied Donetsk and Luhansk. And for the first time in Ukraine poses a critical test to the Western alliance, ing the conflict, as night after night, “separatists near the independent Ukraine, the Communist Party would not be and the war there is at a tipping point. The response airport shell army positions inside the airport perimeter, represented in the Verkhovna Rada. “Colossal changes cannot be to cede Ukraine while trying to dissuade Mr. and the soldiers respond with fire of their own.” have occurred in the consciousness of Ukrainians,” com- Putin from further conquests.” There was some good news in the realm of education, mented Olexiy Haran, a political science professor at the as President Poroshenko on July 31 signed into law the bill National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy. No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 11

2014: THE YEAR IN REVIEW Worldwide diaspora focused on Ukraine iaspora Ukrainians around the globe mobilized in 2014 to support Ukraine in myriad ways – from Dprotesting in front of government buildings, to sending medical supplies to Ukrainian troops and partici- pating in roundtable discussions on the conflict in Ukraine. It was a busy year to be Ukrainian. In early February, the Munich Security Conference took place with Ukrainian opposition leaders Vitali Klitschko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk in attendance and meeting with Western leaders. About 500 Ukrainians and their support- ers from various cities in Germany gathered on February 1 in support of Ukraine’s Maidan movement at the Sendlinger Tor (Gate) in downtown Munich. This was one of many demonstrations held that winter across Ukrainian diaspora communities. Later that month, on February 27, in honor of the 200th anniversary of Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko’s birth, the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) and the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations (WFUWO) Official Website of Ukraine’s President presented a program to bring attention to Shevchenko’s President Petro Poroshenko holds up a copy of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement after it was ratified by the efforts in defense of the , as well as to Verkhovna Rada on September 16. champion human rights for Ukrainian people at the annual International Mother Language Day at the United Nations. On the negative side, voter turnout reached a historic viding for “non-bloc” status and adopted under the One of the key organizers of the event, Dr. Martha Kebalo, low of 52.4 percent. Meanwhile, the Russian occupation of Yanukovych administration had made Ukraine vulnerable explained, “While the reason for the recognition of Mother Ukraine prevented elections from being held in Crimea, as to “external aggression and pressure.” Language Day is close to our hearts, this is the first year well as in 56 percent of the districts in the Donetsk region More than 4,700 people were killed in the eastern Ukrainians [were] the organizers of such an event at the and 70 percent of the districts in the Luhansk region. regions of Ukraine since April – more than 1,300 of them United Nations. We know that there is much interest in our Prime Minister Yatsenyuk emerged as the winner of the after the so-called ceasefire was declared in September in program and that the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon October 26 early parliamentary elections, leading his Minsk. Plus, according to the OSCE, violations of the cease- is keenly aware of events in Ukraine, as is the United People’s Front party to an unexpected first-place finish fire continued on a daily basis. And then there were those Nations press corps.” According to her, this event was a (22.2 percent) that observers said will serve as a counter- “humanitarian” convoys: 10 such convoys illegally entered good opportunity to place the long history of the Ukrainian balance to the ambitions of President Poroshenko, whose Ukrainian territory from Russia during 2014. Meanwhile, struggle for democracy and the dignity of the Ukrainian party finished a close second (218 percent). Self Reliance Crimea became a veritable Russian military base. The language in context. International Mother Language Day (11 percent), the Radical Party (7.4 percent) and Ukraine Crisis Media Center reported that nearly 40,000 was established in 1999 to promote awareness of linguistic Batkivshchyna (5.7 percent) completed the group of five troops, 43 battleships, and dozens of missile launchers and cultural diversity and multiculturalism. parties, which are committed to Ukraine’s integration into and fighter jets deployed to the Ukrainian peninsula now Also in 2014, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization the European Union, that qualified for Parliament. A sixth threatened the security of the entire European region. proudly reported that it now has a new scout group in party that qualified for Parliament, the Opposition Bloc – a Predictably, Ukraine’s move renouncing its neutrality . Ukrainian immigrants in Sweden eagerly gath- collection of former Party of Regions members and east- was immediately characterized by Russia as “unfriendly.” ered to mark the first meeting of the group on April 12, where the young members took the Plast oath and ern Ukrainian oligarchs – pulled off one of the elections’ The stone-faced Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei received their scout neckerchiefs. The idea to bring surprises, coming in with an unexpectedly strong 9.4 per- Lavrov called the step “counterproductive” and one that together Ukrainians living in Stockholm came from Motria cent result. would result in increased tensions. Russian Prime Jaremko, a Plast member from the United States, who is On November 27, the national deputies elected in late Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned that Ukraine’s rejec- October formed the parliamentary majority; five days currently living in Sweden with her family. tion of neutrality and the Ukrainian Freedom Support Act The Ukrainian World Congress also had quite a busy later, they voted to approve the new Cabinet of Ministers. of 2014 signed by President Barack Obama “will both Prime Minister Yatsenyuk was re-elected to his post, as year. On May 26, it released a statement on its preliminary have very negative consequences” and “our country will observations of the presidential . It were Foreign Affairs Minister Klimkin and Defense have to respond to them.” Minister . Volodymyr Hroisman, 36, was reported that international standards for conduct of dem- But President Poroshenko told foreign ambassadors in ocratic elections had been met. The UWC International elected as chair of the Parliament that same day, repre- Kyiv on the day before the Verkhovna Rada’s vote that senting the Petro Poroshenko Bloc. The vote on the new Election Observation Mission’s 236 observers traveled to “Ukraine’s fight for its independence, territorial integrity Ukraine from 22 countries. They monitored the vote in Cabinet on December 2 was controversial as deputies and sovereignty has turned into a decisive factor in our over 1,700 electoral precincts in 39 Ukrainian cities. The voted for the entire list of candidates rather than separate- relations with the world.” And, former Ukrainian Prime conclusions of the UWC mission were based upon direct ly for each minister. Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said the bill was “about our observations by its short-term observers and meetings Also controversial was the creation of a new ministry, place in Western civilization.” held with officials from state institutions, representatives the Information Policy Ministry, which drew fierce criti- cism from journalists and others who foresaw that it could be used to censor media or require registration of Internet news sites. Minister Yuriy Stets tried to reassure critics by stating that the new ministry will address the govern- ment’s information needs related to the Donbas war – particularly after failures this year – by working with the mass media and educational institutions. It will develop and implement a program of positioning Ukraine in the world, as well as a strategy of protecting Ukraine’s infor- mation space from foreign information influences, he said. The new Cabinet was notable also for the fact that it included three foreigners: Finance Minister , a Ukrainian American; Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius of Lithuania; and Health Minister Aleksandr Kvitashvili of Georgia. All three were granted Ukrainian citizenship and then approved by Parliament. The Verkhovna Rada voted on December 23, to aban- don the country’s neutral “non-bloc” status and set a course for NATO membership. President Poroshenko signed the bill on December 29. To be sure, NATO mem- bership is not something that will happen quickly, since certain standards must be met by prospective members of the alliance. Mr. Poroshenko himself predicted that those standards could be met “within five-six years in the frame- work of Strategy 2020.” The amendment to Ukraine’s law on domestic and foreign policy, which was proposed by Bohdan Komarynskyj President Poroshenko, passed easily, receiving 303 votes Some 500 Ukrainians from various cities in Germany gather in support of Ukraine’s Maidan movement at in favor. It stated that the previous version of the law pro- Sendlinger Tor (Gate) in downtown Munich on February 1, as the Munich Security Conference was taking place. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 No. 3

2014: THE YEAR IN REVIEW of political parties, the media, civil society and the interna- tional community. According to the UWC report, although there were minor infractions and shortcomings, they did not impact the election results. The government of Ukraine made an effort to ensure that the May 25 elec- tions would be transparent and conducted on the highest level, the UWC stated. A few months later, the director of humanitarian mis- sions at the UWC, Ulana Suprun, spent a week coordinating combat medical training at a Ukrainian fighter base in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast as part of the Patriot Defence Program launched in early May. This initiative provides Ukrainian soldiers and fighters with improved First Aid Kits and Combat Lifesaver Training that the Ukrainian military didn’t provide. With the Ukrainian government practically bankrupt after the corruption of the administration of for- mer President Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine’s armed forces were in catastrophic shape and found themselves unpre- pared for a Russian military invasion in March. Soldiers lacked the basic necessities for fighting a war, such as night- vision scopes, bulletproof vests, helmets, tents, sleeping bags, shovels, flashlights, boots and even camouflage cloth- ing. Other organizations, including the Organization for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine (ODFFU), the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee (UUARC) and many smaller groups, as well as individual donors also raised Ulana Suprun (center) with a group of Ukrainian and international (U.S., U.K. and Czech) trainers on July 16 at a base money for medical supplies for Ukraine. on the border between Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk. The Ukrainians were certified as Combat Lifesaver (CLS) trainers. In July, the Weekly featured a story about the inspiring Niepubliczna Szkola Podstawowa in Mokre, Poland, where duced by the research institute CARIM-East and financed your provocative naval activity and your disregard for students attending kindergarten through sixth grade by the European Union, Ukraine does not yet fully corre- human rights.” In the aftermath of the summit in Brisbane, receive curricular instruction in both Polish and Ukrainian. spond to even minimum world standards in this field. Mr. Romaniw called on G-20 leaders to match their strong The heart and soul of this multicultural school is the Rev. On July 10-12, the WFUWO’s annual meeting, held this anti-Putin rhetoric with strong anti-Putin action by provid- Julian Felenczak, who hails from the village of Bortne in time in Paris, was attended by 35 delegates and guests ing military assistance for Ukraine’s self-defense. Gorlice County of the Lemko region. The school population representing eight countries. WFUWO President Orysia “Ukraine’s fight is the world’s fight – and the world needs consists of 30 Polish, 30 Ukrainian and 30 mixed Polish- Sushko presented a detailed report of the past year’s to invest in defending itself from Putin’s neo-imperial Ukrainian students. Although the study of Ukrainian is activities, which was accepted and received with enthusi- ambitions and aggression,” Mr. Romaniw stated. optional, at least 50 percent of the students from Polish asm. During the formal portion of the meeting, two new Also in November, the United Nations NGO Committee families elect to study it. The school is working to raise organizations submitted their intention to become mem- on the Status of Women (CSW) in Geneva hosted an NGO funds to maintain the school facilities and continue to culti- bers of the WFUWO and were approved: Ukrainians of the Forum that immediately preceded the United Nation’s vate multicultural education in southeast Poland. Netherlands and Ukraine Plus from Italy. As a result, the Economic Commission of Europe (ECE) conference. Close Also noteworthy this summer was the WFUWO’s sup- WFUWO now consists of 29 organizations from 18 coun- to 700 representatives of 350 non-governmental organiza- port of the United Nations campaign against human traf- tries. Established in 1948 in Philadelphia, the WFUWO tions from 56 countries of the ECE region convened for the ficking. In an effort to increase awareness of this issue, the represents a spectrum of women’s organizations pursuing NGO Forum to assess the progress made in implementing United Nations designated July 30 as the first World Day civic, religious, cultural, educational, immigration and the promises made to the women of the world in the against Trafficking in Persons, promoting the message of humanitarian goals. Beijing Platform for Action 1995, as it nears its 20-year the Blue Heart Campaign International. The goal of this Also in July, Dr. Sofia Fedyna, president of the World mark. Ukraine and many countries that are home to the multi-year awareness campaign is to stop the trafficking Federation of Ukrainian Lemko Unions (SFULO), held a Ukrainian diaspora are included in the region embraced by of millions of women, men and children victims – a form lecture in Passaic, N.J., on “Ukraine after the Maidan” and the ECE. The WFUWO was among the forum’s participants. of modern slavery – by encouraging people to take action “The Lemko Region in the Global Context.” Dr. Fedyna, an At the forum, 16 thematic roundtables were arranged to prevent this crime. assistant professor of international relations and diplo- to correspond to the Beijing Platform’s 12 critical areas of The WFUWO has been a partner of the Blue Heart matic service at Lviv’s Ivan Franko University, took an concern for women (Poverty; Education and Training; Campaign since its inception in 2008. In promoting the active part in the protests in Lviv. Her lecture, attended by Health; Violence against Women; Women and Armed Blue Heart Campaign, the WFUWO joined forces with approximately 100 people, was held within the frame- Conflict; Economy; Power and Decision-Making; Canadian Member of Parliament Joy Smith, the award- work of the new “Lemko Coffee Talk” series organized by Advancement of Women; Human Rights of Women; winning journalist Victor Malarek and Rachel Durschlag, the Organization for the Defense of Lemkivshchyna. Dr. Women and the Media; Women and the Environment; The the executive director of Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Fedyna called on all Lemkos to come together during this Girl Child). Participants in the roundtables from Ukraine Exploitation. Human trafficking is a global problem, and in critical time in Ukraine’s history. She told her audience, and the Ukrainian diaspora included Natalia Karbowska of Ukraine it remains particularly acute. Despite significant “Right now, the most important place from where our the Ukrainians Women’s Fund in Kyiv and Kateryna efforts on the part of the Ukrainian government to elimi- roots cannot be torn, is in our hearts. And around our- Levchenko of La Strada-Ukraine, who spoke about women nate human trafficking, according to a 2013 report pro- selves we can build up our culture and our traditions, in power and decision-making, and women in armed con- while at the same time enriching each country where we flict. Oleksandra Kunovska Mondoux, the WFUWO’s main live. In Canada and the United States, you know what is representative to the U.N. in Geneva, addressed the topic meant by the statement ‘we are rich in our diversity.’ ” of women and the media. At the conclusion of the meeting, On August 24, Ukrainians worldwide celebrated and the Geneva NGO Forum on Beijing +20 UN ECE Review commemorated Ukrainian Independence Day – even in published its Declaration and Recommendations with the Hong Kong. A short new item submitted to The Weekly motto “Every Woman, Every Right, Every Minute: reported that about 30 people living or working in Hong Everyone is Responsible and the Time is Now.” Kong (many of whom are from Ukraine) celebrated the A day later, Ukraine’s government delegation at the U.N. event with a Ukrainian shashlyk-inspired Hong Kong-style ECE Beijing +20 Regional Review included Minister of barbecue. The evening included singing and entertain- Social Policy Liudmyla Denisova. She spoke frankly during ment and a local fund-raising effort for supplies for the her presentation about the conflict in Ukraine, as well as Ukrainian armed forces. the current Ukrainian government’s commitment to gen- This fall, Russia’s role in the ongoing crisis in Ukraine took der equality. She made a special point of describing center stage in Brisbane Australia, at the summit of the Ukraine’s current challenges, especially as they relate to Group of 20 (G-20), even though it was not a topic on the safeguarding women and children, many of whom are suf- official agenda. On November 15-16, during the meeting of fering from complex life circumstances in the conflict the world’s largest economies – 19 countries plus the zones of the country’s southeast territories controlled by European Union – Canada’s Prime Minister Harper was illegally armed groups. The dire situation in Ukraine quoted by Canadian media as saying to Russian President evoked sympathetic references from the president of the Vladimir Putin, “Well, I guess I’ll shake your hand, but I only NGO CSW Geneva, and the undersecretary general and have one thing to say to you: you need to get out of Ukraine.” executive director of U.N. Women, as well as overt support Ukrainian Australians and their supporters, who held a from the participants of the conference. “Protest Against Putin” at King George Square outside Finally, in mid-December, members of the Ukrainian Brisbane City Hall on November 15, underlined this mes- community in Melbourne, Australia, welcomed Ukrainian sage. The president of the Australian Federation of President Petro Poroshenko and Australian Prime Ukrainian Organizations, Stefan Romaniw, said, “We say to Minister Tony Abbott in their midst, and prayed for peace Putin: we democratic Australians are disgusted by your and unity in Ukraine during the president’s visit . Courtesy of Anna Kaminskyj and Sonja van de Camp presence in Australia. We condemn your tyrant terrorism – The Ukrainian community in Melbourne, Australia, be it your invasions of smaller countries, your responsibili- “2014: The Year in Review” continues in next week’s welcomes President Petro Poroshenko on December 11. ty for those who destroyed MH17 and took Australian lives, issue. No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 13

“Emergency War Surgery” textbook WINTER and SPRING 2015 translated to help wounded in Ukraine COURSES and WORKSHOPS at THE UKRAINIAN MUSEUM DETROIT – The Borden Institute, a com- ponent of the Office of the U.S. Army Limited space – workshops must be reserved in advance: 212.228.0110 Surgeon General, in September 2014 authorized the Ukrainian translation of EMBROIDERY “Emergency War Surgery” (fourth edition, This eight-week course teaches beginners the rudiments of embroidery while expanding the skills of those already proficient in the craft. Participants will explore 2013), the U.S. military’s most famous med- the history and evolution of the styles, techniques, colors, threads, and fabrics used ical reference textbook on treating wounds in embroidery in various regions of Ukraine. Open to adults and children over 10 sustained in combat. years of age. This course is offered on Saturdays in two sessions of 8 classes each. This textbook, known as EWS, consists Sessions: (I) January 17–March 7; (II) March 14–May 16 (excluding April 4, 11) of approximately 560 pages in 36 chapters. Time: 1:00–3:30 p.m. Each chapter addresses the appropriate Fee per session: Adults – $60; students over 16 & seniors – $50; management of military wounds, including children 10–16 – $30; members – 10% discount mass casualty and triage; shock, resuscita- Instructor: Lubow Wolynetz tion and vascular access; and various other INTRODUCTION TO TAPESTRY WEAVING penetrating injuries. This book is based on In this four-week course, participants will learn basic weaving techniques on a lap the premise that military wounds need to frame loom. Course topics include the parts of a loom, calculating and making be treated immediately and adequately so a warp, dressing the loom, and reading a basic weaving draft. Each student will that an injured soldier can return to duty produce a complete woven textile by the end of the course. Open to adults with his/her unit as soon as possible. This and children over 12 years of age. Looms and all materials, including traditional invaluable information can also be used by design samples, are provided for use during the workshop at the Museum. This course is offered on Sundays in two sessions of 4 classes each. Ukrainian physicians to treat civilian casu- Sessions: (I) January 18–February 8; (II) February 15–March 8 alties in the war zone. Time: 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. EWS is being published by the American Fee per session: Adults – $60; students over 16 & seniors – $50; Ukrainian Medical Foundation (AUMF), a children 12–16 – $30; members – 10% discount public charity based in Michigan, which Cover of the Ukrainian version of holds a 501(c)(3) tax-exemption from the “Emergency War Surgery.” Instructor: Vasyl Nayda Internal Revenue Service. The translated AUMF plans to publish this textbook in GERDANY (BEAD-STRUNG NECKLACES) chapters of EWS are immediately posted on electronic book format. Thus, it will be This is a four-week course in the art of making gerdany (bead-strung necklaces), the AUMF website upon completion of the available free of charge to all physicians which were traditionally worn with folk costumes in various regions of Ukraine. The translation at www.aumf.net. To date, 32 and medical schools in Ukraine. course is open to adults and children over 12 years of age. The course is offered on Saturdays in two sessions of 4 classes each. translated chapters have been posted. By The AUMF is also planning a hard-copy accessing this website, Ukrainian physi- version of EWS, anticipating that compo- Sessions: (I) January 24–February 14; (II) February 21–March 14 cians are able to gain access to the latest nents of the Ukrainian government will dis- Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. medical techniques for treating wounds tribute the hard-copy edition to those hos- Fee per session: Adults – $40; students over 16 & seniors – $35; sustained in combat. pitals and clinics they deem most in need of children 12–16 – $15; members – 10% discount The AUMF has posted the English ver- this medical textbook. Instructor: Olha Lesko sion of EWS on its website in electronic for- The AUMF was created in 1996 by Dr. PYSANKA (UKRAINIAN EASTER EGG) DECORATING mat. This can be downloaded by Ukrainian Paul J. Dzul, who continues to serve as its physicians on their computers and tablets. Adults and children over 12 years of age will have the opportunity to learn the art After all the chapters have been translated, of making pysanky – Ukrainian Easter eggs. Dyes, beeswax, and a stylus are used to (Continued on page 14) decorate the eggs with traditional Ukrainian designs. Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Sunday, March 15, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. or 2–4 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. or 2–4 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Sunday, March 29, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. or 2–5 p.m.* *Advanced class recommended for ages 18+ with 2+ yrs experience making pysanky. Bring your own manual or electric stylus. Fee per class: Adults – $15; students over 16 & seniors – $10; children 12–16 – $5; advanced class* – $25; members – 10% discount Instructors: Anna Gbur, Lesia Lebed, Emily Robbins UKRAINIAN EASTER TRADITIONS During this workshop, participants will learn about Ukrainian Easter traditions as well as partake in the actual baking of traditional Easter breads. Open to adults and students over 16 years of age. Date: Saturday, March 21 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Fee: Adults – $25; students over 16 & seniors – $20; members – 10% discount Instructor: Lubow Wolynetz DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE MAKING OF PYSANKY (UKRAINIAN EASTER EGGS) Artists proficient in this art form will create beautiful pysanky, and Slavko Nowytski’s award-winning film, Pysanka, will be shown. This program will run continuously during the afternoon. Pre-registration is not required. Date: Saturday, March 28 Time: 1:00–5:00 p.m. The pysanka demonstration and film screening are FREE with Museum admission (free to members and children under 12; $6 students and seniors; $8 adults). Pysanka artists: Sofika Zielyk, Anna Gbur BAKING TRADITIONAL WEDDING BREADS This workshop offers hands-on training in baking and decorating a korovai (tradi- tional Ukrainian wedding bread). Participants will also learn to adorn a hiltse, the colorful wedding tree. Open to adults and students over 16 years of age. Date: Saturday, May 2 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Fee: Adults – $25; students over 16 & seniors – $20; members – 10% discount Instructors: Bohdanna Slyz, Lubow Wolynetz

The Museum’s programs are supported, The Ukrainian Museum’s traditional in part, by the New York State Council on arts programs are supported, in part, the Arts with the support of Governor by public funds from the New York Andrew Cuomo and the New York State City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership Legislature. with the City Council. The Ukrainian Museum All programs include access 222 East 6th Street to Museum galleries! New York, NY 10003 Tel: 212.228.0110 Fax: 212.228.1947 Museum hours: [email protected] Wednesday – Sunday www.ukrainianmuseum.org 11:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 No. 3

terrorists,” he said. He added that, due to the Parliament and the Council of Ministers of German Chancellor Angela Merkel on NEWSBRIEFS attentiveness of Ukraine’s servicemen, a the EU, “is intended to assist Ukraine eco- January 8. (Ukrainian Canadian Congress) subversive group was [also] destroyed as it nomically and financially with the critical (Continued from page 2) attempted to cross the delimitation line challenges the country is facing, such as a Russian-language TV program for Latvia tive ceasefire.” The meeting followed a flur- between the ATO zone and the adjacent weak balance of payments and fiscal situa- WASHINGTON – “Nastoyashchee ry of diplomacy, including a brief weekend part of Ukraine. As a result of successful tion. The intention is also to help the new ,” a new Russian-language televi- encounter in Paris between the German, maneuvers by a group of the , reform-orientated government strengthen sion program, launched on the evening of French and Ukrainian leaders. German the military managed to avoid losses,” said the country and deal with economic and January 5 in Latvia, expanding its reach to Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke by phone Col. Lysenko. “The intensification of aggres- political challenges. The macro-financial audiences in five countries bordering with Russian President Vladimir Putin on sive actions on the part of terrorists in the assistance proposed today will be linked to Russia. “The aim of the program is to pro- January 10 and met on January 9 with last days and attempts to redraw the delimi- certain reform actions.” European vide audiences in countries neighboring Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev, the tation line testifies to the fact that Russian Commission President J.C. Juncker stated: Russia with an alternative point of view on proposed host of a possible four-way sum- military and terrorists are intentionally “Ukraine is not alone. Europe stands united current events in their countries, in their mit on Ukraine. Ms. Merkel told Putin that choosing to escalate tensions in Donbas,” he behind Ukraine and the reform agenda of region, and in the world,” said Nenad Pejic, she expected Moscow to use its influence on underscored. On January 10, Col. Lysenko the new government.[...]This is European RFE/RL editor in chief and co-CEO. “It is pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine reported that operatives of the Security solidarity in action. As always, solidarity committed to providing professional, intel- to reach “consensual solutions.” She said a Service of Ukraine (SBU) had detained a goes hand in hand with commitment to ligent journalism, and is guided by the summit will not be held until progress has member of the Skhid (East) criminal group reform, which is urgently needed in Ukraine. belief in the power of good journalism to been made on the Minsk plan. (RFE/RL) nicknamed “Korol” (King) who was plan- We want to help the Ukrainian government promote peace and democracy,” he ning to organize a number of terrorist acts to put its reform agenda into practice and Subversive group neutralized said. The 30-minute program, a dynamic in the Zaporizhia Oblast. Another detained trigger real change for the country and its mix of live news coverage, interviews, origi- KYIV – The situation in the anti-terrorist terrorist belonged to the Oplot terrorist people.” EU foreign policy chief Federica nal features, and political satire, will air operation (ATO) is becoming more tenuous, group; he attacked Ukrainian servicemen Mogherini later told journalists in that nightly at 11 p.m. on Latvia’s private as in the past 24 hours pro-Russian mili- and worked as a bodyguard for several ter- “the financial assistance is linked to their Russian-language channel, TV5. In a press tants fired a total of 84 times at Ukrainian rorist leaders. (Ukraine Crisis Media Center) willingness to make reforms on different release announcing the program, Baiba military positions in 33 localities, Col. issues,” citing corruption. The bloc’s 28 European Commission proposes aid Zuzena, the head of TV5’s parent company, Andriy Lysenko, spokesman for the ATO, members and the European Parliament MTG TV Latvia, explained, “The broadcast reported on January 13. “The militants used BRUSSELS – The European Commission must approve the additional loans for them of ‘Nastoyashchee Vremya’ on TV5 is not an artillery, tanks and Grad multiple rocket on January 8 proposed a further macro- to go into effect. The EU has already released attempt to convince someone of something, launcher systems. Ukrainian servicemen financial assistance (MFA) to Ukraine of up 1.6 billion euros in loans to Ukraine to help but an opportunity we present to our view- strictly comply with the ceasefire regime, to 1.8 billion euros ($2.12 billion U.S.) in bail out Kyiv’s cash-strapped government. ers. Everyone can decide for himself or her- but respond with a powerful rebuff in the medium-term loans. The new MFA, which (European Commission, RFE/RL) self what information to believe, but it’s case of provocative actions on the part of has to be approved by the European Germany, Ukraine sign loan agreement important that Latvians hear every side and be aware of every point of view.” BERLIN – On January 7, Germany and “Nastoyashchee Vremya,” or “Current Ukraine reached agreement on credits Time“ as it known in English, is a joint pro- worth 500 million euros. Among the priori- duction of Radio Free Europe/Radio ties for the funds provided by the loan will Liberty and the . It began TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL Walter Honcharyk (973) 292-9800 x3040 be the rebuilding of infrastructure in east- airing in October 2014 and is carried by TV or e-mail [email protected] ern Ukraine. Ukrainian Prime Minister channels and Internet portals in Georgia, Arseniy Yatsenyuk and a delegation includ- Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine, in addi- ing Ukraine’s ministers of finance, economic SERVICES PROFESSIONALS tion to Latvia. RFE/RL is a private, indepen- development and trade, and foreign affairs, dent international news organization as well as the chairman of the board of whose programs – radio, Internet, televi- Naftohaz Ukrainy were on a two-day official visit to Germany. Mr. Yatsenyuk met with (Continued on page 15)

also called on the contact group of Ukraine, Kyiv says... Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to meet (Continued from page 1) to try and make progress on implementing originally proposed last month by Ukrainian a much-violated Ukraine peace deal drawn President Petro Poroshenko. up in September in Minsk, including creat- Mr. Steinmeier said representatives from ing the “relevant conditions for an effective their ministries would meet in the coming ceasefire.” days to see if they could bridge differences. If this is done, it would “pave the way to “If there is progress made at that level in the preparation of a successful summit the coming days, then we are prepared to meeting” in Kazakhstan, they wrote. meet again next week and resume this dis- cussion we began today,” he told reporters. With reporting by Agence France-Presse, In a joint statement, the four ministers the , Reuters and .

ical textbooks for use in Ukraine’s medical “Emergency...” schools. The most noteworthy are the 29th and 30th editions of Dorland’s Illustrated (Continued from page 13) Medical Dictionary and the second and honorary chairman. Its primary mission fourth editions of Netter’s Atlas of the has always been to improve the medical Human Anatomy. Most of these textbooks standards of healthcare in Ukraine by were distributed free of charge in Ukraine. translating world-renowned medical text- The translation and printing of these books books into Ukrainian. EWS is only the most continue to be done by Nautilus Publishing PERSONAL recent in a long line of medical textbooks House in Lviv. published by the AUMF. To obtain further information about the Since its inception, the AUMF has American Ukrainian Medical Foundation, Handsome, successful 31 y.o. financed the translation and publication of readers may visit the website at www. Ukrainian-American would like 23 world-renowned English-language med- aumf.net. to meet a beautiful, successful woman between 24-29 y.o. for a serious relationship. cleansing of Tatars from 1944 and today’s E-mail: [email protected] The Crimean... aggression, killing and a renewed effort at making Crimea Russian at the cost of other (Continued from page 4) nationalities. These are not simply diplo- OPPORTUNITIES eral treaties and international law, nullifies matic transgressions or bad behavior but more that half a century of progress in crimes against humanity. Mr. Putin and the Earn extra income! establishing a civilized world community. Russians are known for that. Just ask the Additionally it condemns Ukrainian citi- Tatars, Ukrainians, Poles, Balts, Georgians, The Ukrainian Weekly is looking zens of various ethnicities, Ukrainians, Circassians, Buryats, Ingush, Karelians, etc. for advertising sales agents. Tatars and even good Russians, to seek ref- I could go on. For additional information contact uge in a life of exile or live in servitude to Askold S. Lozynskyj is an attorney based Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, the Russian oppressor. in New York City. He is a former president of The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. Furthermore, it condones the ethnic the Ukrainian World Congress. No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 15

Oleg Gazmanov. The trio performed a song its value, inflation has reached its highest NEWSBRIEFS ridiculing Western sanctions imposed on Is there any justice... rate in five years, and economists the world Russia for its actions in Ukraine. The show over are predicting a collapse in the (Continued from page 14) sparked a storm of criticism on social (Continued from page 4) Russian economy in the next year or two. sion and mobile – reach influential audi- media in Ukraine. Inter denied wrongdoing children’s rehabilitation center, “tea with- It has been said that Ukraine’s biggest ences in 21 countries, including Russia, and denounced what it described as “politi- out sugar and spoiled spread” for their enemies were most responsible for the Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the repub- cal pressure on the media.” “The program- bread, according to a Russian television emergence of Ukrainian statehood. That’s lics of Central Asia and the Caucasus. VOA ming schedule was established in accor- news report. the greatest irony of all. reaches a global weekly audience of 171.6 dance with longstanding traditions of cele- “It’s the first time in my life I saw people Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks million people in 45 languages. VOA pro- brating the New Year and in line with rejoice over toilet paper,” said a local resi- merged the eastern and central regions grams are delivered on satellite, cable, Ukrainian law,” it said in a statement. dent who bought hygienic products for the into the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic shortwave, FM, medium wave, streaming Ukrainian activists have accused the chan- refugees with her own money. The report in 1922. Joseph Stalin brought the western audio and video and more than 2,350 nel of carrying an increasing amount of showed the refugees begging for “at least a regions into the fold following World War II media outlets worldwide. Both RFE/RL and Russian content in 2014, including films shack to live in.” (at the expense of millions of casualties and VOA are funded by the U.S. Congress glorifying the Russian Army. (RFE/RL) Yet a larger irony surrounds Russian exiles). Then Nikita Khruschev attached through the Broadcasting Board of President Vladimir Putin’s decision to Crimea. Critics omitted from Putin’s greetings Governors. (RFE/RL) launch a war against the Ukrainian people Now Vladimir Putin has done what no MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir and create a frozen conflict, aiming to ruin Ukrainian leader was capable of doing since TV channel under fire over broadcast Putin has issued his New Year’s greetings to the Ukrainian economy. independence was achieved in 1991, which KYIV – Ukraine’s biggest television chan- fellow world leaders and dignitaries, but No doubt, his strategy has worked. The is unite all Ukrainians like never before, nel is under fire after broadcasting a New Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is Ukrainian government is literally broke and regardless of language, ethnicity or religion. Year’s Eve concert featuring Russian sing- not among the dozens of recipients. A sum- entirely dependent on the next IMF loan. Thanks to Mr. Putin’s military invasion, ers who have publicly supported separat- mary of Mr. Putin’s messages to the leaders Yet what the Russian ruler didn’t expect Ukrainian independence is guaranteed for ists in eastern Ukraine. National Security of more than 30 countries, plus Pope was that his own economy would be devas- decades to come. and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Francis and the heads of the breakaway tated in the process. Yes, indeed. It’s been a very long time Turchynov has urged the National Council Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Since the start of the Crimea invasion, coming, but God seems to be answering the on Television and Radio to immediately Ossetia and a select group of former world the ruble has lost more than 40 percent of prayers of Ukrainians that have been consider stripping the channel, Inter, of its leaders, was posted on the Kremlin’s web- its value, the oil on which the Russian econ- uttered for decades. And He’s been doing it license. Mr. Turchynov accused Inter of site on December 31. The leaders of omy is dependent has lost more than half using the hands of Ukraine’s enemies. “acting against the Ukrainian state” by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland – all showcasing Russian singers “who have countries that have led global criticism of mocked our country by supporting terror- Russia’s actions in Ukraine – were also Подяка ists and welcoming the seizure of Crimea omitted. and Sweden were also 30 грудня 2014 року відійшов у вічність наш дорогий і незаступимий and the Donbas.” Ukraine’s minister of skipped. Estonian President Toomas Ilves information policy, Yuriy Stets, said he quipped on Twitter that he was “crushed.” св. п. Мирослав Шміґель planned to introduce a bill under which In his message to U.S. President Barack Russian performers will be barred from Obama, Mr. Putin mentioned that the two Дружина Надія та вся родина складають щиру подяку о. Бернардові Ukrainian broadcasts. The New Year’s Eve countries fought “shoulder to shoulder” Панчукові, парохові церкви св. Юра в Ню-Йорку, о. Юрієві Базелевсь- concert was recorded in Moscow and fea- during World War II and stressed the кому, парохові Православної церкви Всіх Святих, о. Петрові Шишці з tured Iosif Kobzon, a prominent crooner “responsibility of Russia and the United церкви св. Юра, о. Василеві Тівадар з церкви Святої Покрови в Озон- Парку та о. Левові Ґолдейдові за відправу похоронних обрядів. and ruling-party Russian Parliament depu- States” in maintaining peace and interna- Рівнож, дякуємо Хорові „Думка” за спів на панахиді, всім за пам’ятні ty who has been declared persona non tional stability. He said relations should be вінки, і панові Миронові Прадивусові за опіку і поміч в часі недуги. grata in Ukraine, along with a string of based on equality and mutual respect. Родина складає сердечну подяку всім приятелям, знайомим і дру- Russian celebrities known for their pro- Addressing German Chancellor Angela зям, за присутність на парастасі, похороні і тризні, та всім, хто листов- Kremlin views. One of the acts in the con- Merkel, Mr. Putin expressed the hope of но та іншим способом висловили свої співчуття, і тим надали сильну cert showed Mr. Kobzon standing behind a “constructive dialogue and active joint підтримку у час глибокого смутку. border gate with fellow singers Valeria and work” in 2015. (RFE/RL) За пропам’ятні вінки і квіти, родина складає подяку таким особам і організаціям: Родина Шміґель з Рочестеру, Ню-Йорк (д-р Борис Шміґель, Ірена, Ділимося сумною вісткою, що 30 грудня 2014 Таня, Марко і Андрій Шміґель з родинами); Cпілка Української Молоді року відійшов у вічність на 89-му році життя (СУМ) в Америці; Марко і д-р Уляна Супрун; Федеральна Кредитівка „Самопоміч” в Ню-Йорку; Родина Мортон; Юрій Бойчук з родиною; св. п. Український Конгресовий Комітет Америки (УККА); Ліля Пащук з ді- Мирослав Шміґель. тьми; Родина Савчук; Марта Дивайн з родиною. У світлу пам’ять Мирослава Шміґеля зложили: Народився 1 лютого 1925 року в Рогатині Івано-Франківської об- На святі Літургії у Церкві св. Юра в Ню-Йорку: ласті. Закінчив гімназію в Бережанах. Був активним членом україн- В. і Р. Загнійний; родина Благий; родина Паска; Л. і М. Прадивус; В. і І. Тка- ської громади і патріотом України. ченко; Г. Францес; родина Канятин; А. Лозинський; З. Галькович; В. і І. Когут. На Святі Літургії в Українській католицькій церкві Святої Покрови • Голова Крайової Управи СУМ в Америці; в Озон-Парку, Н. Й.: • Голова Об’єднаного Комітету УККА в Ню-Йорку; Родина Оберишин; І. Дзера, Ліда і Славко Черник. • Голова Управи Дирекцій кредитівки „Самопоміч” в Ню-Йорку; Ha Святу Літургію в Українській Католицькій Епархіі в Торонті: • Член Дирекцій Українського Вільного Університету; М. Набережна • Координатор праці Товариства „Рогатинщина”; В суботу, 17 січня 2015 року, в університецькому храмі Блаженних • Футболіст Українського Спортового Клюбу в Ню-Йорку. Мучеників у Львові – Український Католицький Університет - слу- житиметься заупокійна поминальна літургія за св. п. Мирослава. У смутку залишилися: дружина Надія; донька Христина з чоло- віком Патриком; син Петро з дружиною Сузанною; внуки Тиміш і На гуманітарну програму „Захист Патріотів” через ООЧСУ: по $500 Зенон і Оля Савчук; Надія Шмігель з родиною. Андрея (“Пиксі”); Ольга Гладишовська з чоловіком Зеноном Сав- $200 І. і Р. Лещук. чуком; Христина і Борис Лонкевичі з дітьми Аріаною і Николаєм з $150 М. Прадивус. їхними родинами; племінниця Роксоляна з Дриз з родиною; пле- по $100 А. і О. Дмитренко; М. і Л. Гарванко; О. і М. Кебало; Б. і Б. мінниця Наталка з Крис; родина Шміґлів з Рочестеру, Ню-Йорк - д-р Курчак; родина Кузьмович-Благий; Б. і Х. Лонкевич; В. і Л. Лисняк; Р. Борис Шміґель, Ірина, Таня, Марко і Андрій Шміґель з родинами; і А. Мац; Р. і А. Мигаль; Ю. і Х. Микитин; І. Немий; Я. і Л. Палилик; М. родина в Україні: тіточна сестра Ольга Панків з донькою Ориною Походай-Паска і Б. Походай-Стельмах; Надя Савчук; Наталка Савчук, Гладій і її сином Ростиславом, д-р Любомир Пиріг з дружиною Та- Роксоляна Савчук; М. і К. Семанишин; Н. Соневицька; А. Стасів; Україн- марою і дітьми, Олесь і Маріанна Пиріг з родинами; ширша родина ський Конгресовий Комітет Америки - Відділ Ню-Йорк; М. Знаєнко. в Англії, Австрії, Канаді, Україні і ЗСА. $60 Д. Дикий. по $50 М. Гнатишин; М. Гованський; Л. Кобаса; В. і А. Козіцький; Р. і Л. Покійний похований на цвинтарі св. Андрія в South Bound Brook, Козіцький; родина Ленчук; М. Лущик; Р. і Г. Ратиш; В. і А. Сафян. New Jersey. по $40 А. Бурчак; І. Наугольник-Коген. по $30 Т. і О. Боднар; М. Василик. $25 Б. і А. Кравчук. В пам’ять покійного можна складати пожертви на гуманітарний по $20 І. Барна; М. Кепітул проект Світового Конгресу Українців „Захист Патріотів” через ООЧ- СУ або на допоміжні програми ЗУАДК. На допоміжні проєкти ЗУАДК в Україні: по $200 доктор Т. і О. Гунчак. по $100 С. і М. Дупляк; І. і Л. Федун; М. і О. Гнатейко; Я. і Г. Оберишин. Вічна Йому пам’ять! $80 І. Дзера. За присутність на відправах та вислови співчуття щиро дякуємо. $30 Г. і Г. Добуш. На Український Музей в Ню-Йорку: Надія Шміґель, Христя і Петро $50 - І. і Н. Зварич. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 No. 3

NEWS AND VIEWS Open World delegation from Ukraine’s Ministry of Education visits Rochester

by Christine Hoshowsky Our annual Open World program was exceptional when five representatives from the Ukrainian Ministry of Education visited Rochester, N.Y. The Open World Program, which is spon- sored by the U.S. Congress, was adminis- tered locally by Josephine Perini, board chairman/director of international pro- grams, and by Amy Gambino, executive director of Rochester Global Connections, a not-for-profit organization. Tamara Denysenko, the retired CEO of the Ukrainian Federal Credit Union, and presently the UFCU Foundation chair and a director at large of Rochester Global Connections, planned the visits to Ukrainian churches, fraternal groups and organizations. Prior to their arrival in Rochester, the delegates met with personnel in Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s and Rep. Louise Slaughter’s offices in Washington. Our visitors were met at the airport in Rochester by their host families. Ihor Adamczuk and his wife, Karen, hosted Andrij Hevko, the deputy minister of educa- tion and science. Stephany Wowkowych hosted Ulyana Luchkiv, the deputy head of the Legal Department. Volodymyr The Ukrainian delegation in front of the Ukrainian monument at Irondequoit Town Hall: (bottom row, from left) Christine Kashperskyy, chief specialist, higher educa- Hoshowsky, Bogdan Kudrenko, Ulyana Luchkiv, Town Supervisor Adam Bello, Oksana Shabas, Stephany Wowkowych, (top row) tion network and technology support, Volodymr Kasperskyy, Tamara Denysenko, Deputy Minister Andrij Hevko, Oksana Tilnenko and Irene Szmigel. stayed with Bohdan Pomayda, and his wife, Nelya. Bogdan Kudrenko, chief specialist, primary and secondary education, spent Lois and Ron Dworsky, the most senior Schools program of the U.S. Peace Corps in the week with Stephan and Olga Szylo. Ihor among us, split hosting responsibilities for Ukraine, was the facilitator and translator Christine Hoshowsky, Ph.D., is president of and Christine Hoshowsky hosted Oksana Oksana V. Shabas with Wolodymyr and on this trip. the Rochester Ukrainian Group and was one Tilnenko, the chief specialist in the Irma Pylyshenko. Ms. Shabas, the program of the hosts of the Open World delegation. Department of Training and Certification. coordinator at the Coverdell World Wise (Continued on page 17) No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 17

Christian Elementary School, Pittsford comed by CEO Oleh Lebedko and Chairman Kholodenko drew much applause – indeed, Open World... Sutherland High School, Irondequoit High of the Board Wasyl Kornylo, who was a standing ovation. At intermission, the School, Monroe Community College, recently elected as chairman of the Open World guests met with Jose Luis (Continued from page 16) Nazareth College, and the Warner School of Ukrainian National Credit Union Gomez, the guest conductor, and Mr. Community activities Education at the University of Rochester. Association. The delegates toured the head- Kholodenko, the guest pianist. The There the delegates met and networked quarters in Rochester and learned about Eastman Theater, a nexus for musicians On the first evening, the hosts and dele- with notable leaders, administrators and the 60-year history of this community insti- and music lovers worldwide, served to gates attended a welcome dinner at the educators. Information presented included tution. Today UFCU has branches in several showcase one of our own and to bring our home of Mary and Jerry Chairpar, where career exploration, financial support and states and encourages common-bond com- far-flung Ukrainian family together for this they reviewed the program, socialized and cost effectiveness, academic standards and munity relations coast to coast. Following proud moment. ate a pot-luck supper. academic integrity, college accreditation the presentation, UFCU invited our guests Farewell On Saturday morning, the delegates saw and two-year degree programs. to lunch at a local restaurant. a children’s performance given in their George Eisen, executive director of the On Wednesday evening, as a thank you honor at the Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian Center for International Education at Cultural activities to us, our guests prepared a dinner with School, whose principal is Zhanna Wirlo. Nazareth College, promoted its internation- The latter part of the week was devoted borshch at the home of the Pylyshenkos. Next the delegates enjoyed a coffee hour al exchange program. Elena Dilai, a Fourth to cultural activities such as visits to the The food was delicious, the ambience casu- with members of the Rochester Ukrainian Wave Ukrainian American and an assistant Rochester Memorial Art Gallery, the al and the conversation engaging. After the Group at the UFCU’s Community Room. professor of mathematics at Monroe Rochester Museum and Science Center, and meal, in true American fashion, we went From there they traveled to Niagara Falls. Community College, compared her experi- the Strong Museum of Play with its adjoin- bowling. Thought the weather was foul, the falls ence of education in Ukraine with her ing two-story Butterfly Topiary. Closure came on Friday evening during were impressive. Upon their return, they knowledge of American education. On Thursday evening, all attended a con- the farewell dinner at an Italian restaurant, rushed to see the film “Babylon ‘13” at the Other public officials with whom the del- cert of the Rochester Philharmonic where program certificates were distribut- Ukrainian Cultural Center and to hear the egation met included, T. Andrew Brown, a Orchestra at Kodak Hall in the Eastman ed, expressions of appreciation were made director Yuri Gruzinov speak candidly of the member of the New York State Board of Theater, where Vadym Kholodenko, a and good-byes were exchanged. loss and suffering on the Maidan and in the Regents, and Timothy R. Weir, Ted Wright Ukrainian pianist and gold medal winner at This Open World program was deemed separatist-held regions of eastern Ukraine, and Debbie Cole, administrators in the City the 14th Van Cliburn Competition (2013), a success. Here East met West and a dia- and of his personal tribulations in Crimea. of Rochester Office of Public Integrity. New played Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto logue commenced. Our Ukrainian delegates On Sunday there were visits to the York State Sen. Joe Robach explained the No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 16. This powerful – intelligent, resourceful, diligent and savvy Ukrainian Churches – the Ukrainian role the state legislature plays in local and composition artistically rendered by Mr. – left us believing that Ukraine will prevail. Catholic Church of the Epiphany and St. higher education. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox In mid-week, the delegates met with Church, and a feast day luncheon at St. Irondequoit Town Supervisor Adam Bello, Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church at the Irondequoit Town Councilwoman Irene invitation of the pastor, the Rt. Rev. Mitred Skrobach and Irondequoit Chief Court Archpriest Philip Weiner. Clerk Irene Szmigel. Mr. Bello, spent consid- This was followed by a Community erable time explaining the operation of the Forum hosted by the Legacy at Cranberry two locally controlled Irondequoit school Landing. districts and their relationship to town, THE UNKNOWN OLEKSANDER DOVZHENKO Professional visits state and federal governments. At the close of their meeting, the delegates had their “IVAN” During the week, the delegates made picture taken beside the Ukrainian monu- visits to local schools, colleges and universi- ment erected to mark 100 years of Dovzhenko’s › rst “talking” movie picture. ties, where they pieced together an image Ukrainian settlement in Rochester. In Ukrainian with English subtitles. of the American school system. Among the Next the delegates visited the Ukrainian places they visited were the Rochester Federal Credit Union, where they were wel- Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Oleksander Dovzhenko’s Birth January 23, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

General Admission $10, Members free Including reception

This event is co-organized with the Ukrainian Film Club of Columbia University, with the support of the Consulate General of Ukraine in New York.

Ukrainian Institute of America 2 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075 www.ukrainianinstitute.org 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 No. 3 No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 19

Through January 31 Photo exhibit, “Viktor Gurniak: The Road From Maidan, January 24 Anniversary performance, “Yara at 25: Looking Chicago Exhibit of Original Photos from Euro-Maidan to ATO,” New York Back/Moving Forward,” The Ukrainian Museum, Ukrainian National Museum, 312-421-8020 212-228-0110 or www.ukrainianmuseum.org

January 23 Zrada Malanka, featuring music by Zrada, Kinghead Pub, January 25 Book presentation by Roman Adrian Cybriwsky, “Kyiv, Ukraine: Winnipeg, MB www.zradamusic.com New York The City of Domes and Demons from the Collapse of Socialism to the Mass Uprising of 2013-2014,” The Ukrainian Museum, 212-228-0110 or www.ukrainianmuseum.org January 23 Presentation, “The Unknown Oleksander Dovzhenko: New York Early Films by the Master,” featuring the film screening January 30 Pub Night, featuring music by Svitanok, Ukrainian League of “Ivan,” Ukrainian Institute of America, 212-288-8660 Philadelphia of Philadelphia, www.ukrainianleague.com or 215-684-3548

January 23 Malanka Pub Night, with music by Trembita, Ukrainian January 30- Photo exhibit featuring work by Lukia Costello, “As I Edmonton, AB Students Society, Knoxville’s Tavern, www.ualberta.ca/~uss March 28 Wake, I Cry: Revisiting Ukraine,” CEPA Gallery, Buffalo, NY www.cepagallery.orgor 716-880-9324 January 24 Presentation of debutantes, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Whippany, NJ Organization – Newark branch, Hanover Marriott, January 31 Presentation of debutantes, Ukrainian Engineers’ Philadelphia Society of America, Hyatt Regency Hotel at Penn’s 973-809-7580 or [email protected] Landing, 610-277-1284 or [email protected]

January 24 Malanka celebration, Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club, January 31 New Britain Malanka, to benefit Zolotyj Promin Ukrainian Lethbridge, AB Lethbridge Senior Center, 403-327-2272 New Britain, CT dance group, featuring music by Hrim and Klooch, St. George Greek Orthodox Church hall, 860-452-4023 January 24 Malanka, Ukrainian Youth Association in Canada and Plast Montreal Ukrainian Scouting Organization, Ukrainian Youth Center, January 31 Ottawa Malanka, “Midnight in Kyiv,” with music by 514-984-8821 or 514-927-3625 Ottawa Zirka, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral hall, 613-277-4664 or January 24 Malanka, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, Fort [email protected] Winnipeg, MB Garry Hotel, 204-770-9085 or www.malankawinnipeg.ca January 31 Malanka celebration, featuring music by Tyt I Tam, Grand Prairie, AB Troyanda Society of Ukrainian Culture and Heritage, January 24 Malanka celebration, Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Bowes Crystal Garden, 780-538-0387 or Youngstown, OH Orthodox Church, The Orthodox Center, 330-799-7911 www.crystalcentertickets.com/online or 330-538-3447 February 7 Chervona Kalyna Debutante Ball, with music by Fata January 24 Malanka celebration, Ukrainian Youth Association in Pearl River, NY Morgana and Svitanok, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Edmonton, AB Canada, Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex, 780-819-1308 Organization, Hilton Pearl River Hotel, www.kalynadeb.org or www.malanka.ca Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events January 24 Suzirya 10th anniversary Malanka, Suzirya Ukrainian advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Calgary, AB Dance Theater, Thorncliffe Greenview Community from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors Association, 403-613-4685 and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 No. 3

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Friday, January 23 “Kyiv, Ukraine: The City of Domes and Demons from the Collapse of Socialism to NEW YORK: The Ukrainian Institute of the Mass Uprising of 2013-2014,” in which America and Film at the Institute present he examines fundamental reasons for “The Unknown Oleksander Dovzhenko” in Ukrainian citizens’ anger against the gov- celebration of the 125th anniversary of ernment: the changing social geography of Dovzhenko’s birth. The event will feature a Kyiv, urban development, official corruption, screening of “Ivan,” the director’s first “talk- inequality, sex tourism and destruction of ing” movie picture that was recognized as the city’s historical architecture. Admission the Best Program Presented by a State (includes reception and gallery access) is (USSR) at the 1934 Venice International $15; $10 for museum members and seniors; Film Festival. The film is in Ukrainian with $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased English subtitles. The screening will take online or at the door. The Ukrainian place at 7 p.m. at the Ukrainian Institute of Museum, is located at 222 E. Sixth St. America, 2 E. 79th St. General admission is between Second and Third avenues; tele- $10; UIA members, free. For more informa- phone, 212-228-0110; website, www.ukrai- tion visit www.ukrainianinstitute.org. nianmuseum.org. Saturday, January 24 Saturday, February 14 NEW YORK: Join us at 7 p.m. for the open- CHICAGO: The Illinois Chapter of the ing of the exhibition “Yara at 25: Looking Ukrainian Medical Association of North Back/Moving Forward,” a collection of cos- American (UMANA) holds its traditional tumes, posters, instruments, photographs Banquet and Ball with Presentation of and video. The Ukrainian Museum, is locat- Debutantes at the Palmer House Hilton. ed at 222 E. Sixth St. between Second and Dinner is $165 per person; tickets to the Third avenues; telephone, 212-228-0110; zabava only are $50. Reservations for dinner website, www.ukrainianmuseum.org. are required. Music will be provided by Klopit. Proceeds from this charity event will Sunday, January 25 benefit the UMANA Foundation’s Trauma NEW YORK: At 2 p.m., meet Prof. Roman Manikins for Ukraine Project. For more Adrian Cybriwsky, Temple University, who information call 773-486-7929 or e-mail will present a lecture based on his book [email protected].

PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a service pro- vided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian commu- nity. Items must be no more than 100 words long. Preview items must be received no later than one week before the desired date of publication. Please include payment for each time the item is to appear and indicate date(s) of issue(s) in which the item is to be published. Information should be sent to [email protected]. When e-mailing, please do not send items as attachments – simply type the text into the body of the e-mail message. Preview items and payments may be mailed to: Preview of Events, The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054.