www.ukrweekly.com

INSIDE: • Freedom House releases annual report on world freedom – page 4. • Philately: The Gmu∂nd refugee camp and its postal facilities – page 9. • Ukrainian winter traditions spotlighted in New York City – page 13.

THEPublished U byKRAINIAN the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW associationEEKLY Vol. LXXVII No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 $1/$2 in Ukraine Thousands gather to honor leader Russia keeps up the pressure of Ukraine’s liberation struggle in gas conflict with Ukraine by Zenon Zawada Kyiv. “This campaign is coordinated and Bandera remembered at centennial ceremonies Kyiv Press Bureau deliberate with a strategic direction. Russia wants to expand its natural gas empire and KYIV – Repeatedly withdrawing numer- seize a greater share of production and dis- ous assurances and agreements to resume tribution.” the flow of natural gas to Ukraine and For years the Russian government has Europe throughout the week, the Russian attempted to undermine Ukraine’s role in Federation kept the pressure high on the gas distribution, as evidenced in the 2006 European Union to consider its proposals to New Year’s Day crisis, when the administra- end what it deemed the Ukrainian monopoly tion of President Vladimir Putin let up after on natural gas transport. only three days upon feeling a strong back- In shutting gas supplies for a second lash from Western leaders and policy-mak- week, the Russian government demonstrat- ers. ed that this crisis is engineered to establish a Having been accused of using natural gas new long-term plan to either take control of as a means of applying political pressure, Ukraine’s gas transport system, or more Mr. Putin, now Russia’s prime minister, and likely, convince Europeans to invest in pipe- his advisors retooled their strategy and pre- lines that bypass Ukraine, observers said. pared for this latest offensive in a far more Despite numerous attempts by Ukrainian sophisticated way that involved extensive negotiators, including Prime Minister Yulia use of the mass media. Tymoshenko, to reach a fair price for natural Russian officials delivered rehearsed gas and its transport, the Russians balked statements, punchy sound bytes and and backtracked repeatedly in what experts muddy accusations in clockwork fashion, say has been a carefully orchestrated public flooding the domestic news coverage and relations strategy to undermine Ukraine in reaching European audiences via their the energy sector. Zenon Zawada “The Russians aren’t interested in com- news media and Russian propaganda arms, Admirers of Stepan Bandera unfurled the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists ing to terms,” said Ivan Lozowy, director of such as the English-language television flag, symbolizing red blood on black Ukrainian soil, at the January 1 commemo- the Institute of Statehood and Democracy in ration of the 100th anniversary of the liberation leader’s birthday in his native (Continued on page 8) village of Staryi Uhryniv in the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.

by Zenon Zawada Nation’s Symbol” would be honored both Kyiv Press Bureau in the oblast capital and Bandera’s native Russia suspected of trying to take village of Staryi Uhryniv. STARYI UHRYNIV, Ukraine – Even as Though numerous Ukrainians led the a 10-year-old, Stepan Bandera prepared liberation struggle during the World War II over Ukraine’s gas transit network himself for leadership in the Ukrainian lib- era, history chose Bandera as the move- eration struggle. ment’s ultimate symbol, though he wasn’t by Pavel Korduban (Kommersant Ukraine, January 12). After overhearing his father, Andrii directly involved in the Ukrainian Insurgent Eurasia Daily Monitor A protocol stipulating the conditions of checking the pipelines in Ukraine was Bandera, discuss with fellow priests the tor- Army (UPA), having spent the war impris- January 14 signed by the three parties from January 10 ture of Ukrainian political activist Olha oned by the Nazis. to 12 with the mediation of Czech Prime Basarab in a Polish prison, Bandera took It was Bandera’s unbending conviction, Russia was supposed to resume pumping Minister Mirek Topolanek, who traveled needles and pushed them under his nails, rejection of any cooperation with enemies gas to the European Union through Ukraine between Moscow, Kyiv and Brussels tearing his skin and drawing shock from his and dedication to nothing less than full on January 13 following trilateral Moscow- father, who came rushing in after hearing Kyiv-Brussels talks, but the Russia-Ukraine (Interfax, January 10-12). Ukrainian Prime Ukrainian independence that elevated him Minister Yulia Tymoshenko tried to attach to his daughter shriek at the bloody scene. to symbolize the political ideal for gas row is far from over. Neither the issue of “Listening to all these discussions, Kyiv’s debts, the very existence of which the protocol a declaration that essentially Ukrainians. At the same time, he became shifted all the blame for gas transit disrup- whether at home or among the villagers, I the antithesis to a hero for his enemies, par- Ukraine denies, nor the conditions of gas understood that this struggle for Ukraine is supply to Ukraine in 2009 have been clari- tions on Russia, saying that Ukraine did not ticularly the Soviets, who cast him as the steal Russian gas and that it had been a reli- brutal and difficult,” the boy told his father. ultimate criminal and villain. fied. There are fears in Kyiv that Moscow “I simply want to be sure and convinced wants to take control of Ukraine’s gas trans- able partner in gas trade. This angered “Truly, there were more people who Moscow. It accepted the protocol only when that I could survive it all.” were allegedly more actively involved, but port network. Meanwhile, Ukrainian indus- This is one of the stories relayed by try, heavily reliant on gas, is grinding to a Ms. Tymoshenko backtracked, saying that nonetheless Bandera was the symbol the declaration was unrelated to the protocol Liubov Ivaniuk, a veteran tour guide at the [because] he remained true to the end, halt; and people are freezing in their homes Stepan Bandera Museum-Memorial in subzero temperatures. (UNIAN, January 12). which is exceptionally difficult,” said Although gas deliveries to EU are about Complex in Staryi Uhryniv, which was Volodymyr Viatrovych, an academic advi- Russia stopped delivering gas to Ukraine opened back in 2001. on January 1 in the absence of contracts for to resume, it is too early for the EU con- sor to the Security Service of Ukraine sumers of Russian gas to sigh with relief. On the 100th anniversary of the January 2009; and it stopped gas transit through (SBU). Russian President Dmitry Medvedev 1, 1909, birth of Stepan Bandera, the leg- Ukraine on January 7, accusing Ukraine of “Consider politicians from the times of warned that transit through Ukraine might endary leader of the mid-20th century siphoning off gas bound for Europe. [Mykhailo] Hrushevsky to the current be halted again if Ukraine resumed “steal- Ukrainian liberation movement who formed Ukraine’s gas monopoly Naftohaz Ukrayiny active ones, and how many of them prosti- ing” gas (Interfax, January 11). Ukraine the revolutionary wing of the Organization admitted that it had been withdrawing 20 tuted themselves and didn’t reach the end of has never admitted to “stealing,” and it is of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), thousands million to 25 million square meters of gas this cross. Bandera remained to the end,” he still not clear which side will pay for the from the pipelines a day in order to keep up of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast residents and added. “technological” gas that Ukraine uses to guests ignored frigid temperatures to partic- Undeterred by morning temperatures of pressure in the pipe needed to pump gas to maintain pressure in the pipelines. In the ipate in religious services and ceremonies 18 degrees and less, more than 1,500 admir- the EU. Gazprom agreed to resume gas tran- absence of contracts between Ukraine and that honored his life and struggle. ers gathered at Staryi Uhryniv, an isolated sit only if inspectors representing the Russia, new disruptions to the gas transit Billboards bearing Bandera’s portrait European Union, Russia and Ukraine could blanketed the oblast, announcing that “The (Continued on page 5) verify that no gas was being siphoned off (Continued on page 8) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 No. 3 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS

Russia’s gas disinformation game PRU wants government’s dismissal privatization of its own gas transportation system, said Kostiantyn Gryshchenko, by Roman Kupchinsky 2008 RUE resold this gas to a joint RUE- KYIV – The opposition Party of Ukraine’s ambassador to Russia and depu- Eurasia Daily Monitor Naftohaz Ukrayina enterprise, UkrGaz- Regions has demanded that the Ukrainian ty secretary of the National Security and January 13 Energo, which was the Ukrainian domes- Cabinet of Ministers be dismissed and the Defense Council. Speaking at a briefing on tic distributor for Central Asian gas in procedure for the impeachment of January 12, he said, “The question of Disinformation operations, as every Ukraine. President Viktor Yushchenko be launched, privatizing the Ukrainian gas transporta- former KGB operative knows, can be an The alleged 2009 wellhead price for party leader Viktor Yanukovych said in the tion system and main pipelines cannot be invaluable tool in winning a war. “Deza,” Turkmen gas is $340 for 1,000 cubic Verkhovna Rada on January 13. Mr. considered. There can be no question about as it is called by the old boys who once meters (tcm). With transit costs added on, Yanukovych made the announcement dur- any privatization of this system.” The worked on Dzerzhinsky Square in the price for Turkmen gas on the ing consideration of the question of ambassador said this is a matter of Moscow, is an art meant to be used care- Ukrainian-Russian border was announced Ukrainian-Russian relations in the gas sec- Ukraine’s energy security and there could fully by professionals; otherwise it can to be $380 and not the $450 Mr. Putin has tor and the current gas crisis affecting be no compromise here. Mr. Gryshchenko backfire and damage its disseminators. demanded that Ukraine pay. According to Ukraine and other European countries. The described speculation over Ukraine’s gas It was, therefore, not a surprise that reliable sources, however, German com- opposition party proposed considering the transportation system as unjustified and throughout the Russian-Ukrainian “gas panies will pay an average of $280 per government’s dismissal on January 15. Mr. added that this question is not being con- war” of January 2009, Russian Prime tcm for Russian gas in 2009. Why such a Yanukovych accused the country’s leader- sidered in talks with Russia. The diplomat Minister Vladimir Putin, a former KGB great price differential? ship of destroying the legal base between noted that Ukraine is seeking to find ways officer, along with key Gazprom officials, Disinformation operation No. 2: – Ukraine and Russia, disrupting direct gas to maintain constructive cooperation with many of whom are suspected of having Ukraine turned off the valves on the pipe- supplies from Turkmenistan and Russia and the European Union, but that KGB backgrounds, resorted to disinfor- line, preventing deliveries of Russian gas Uzbekistan, and the Ukrainian govern- Ukraine’s main pipelines should remain as mation on an unprecedented scale. What to European Union countries. Gazprom ment’s increasing the gas price and failing state property. The vice-chair of the is surprising, however, is how incompe- deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev, who to sign contracts for the supply of Russian Presidential Secretariat, Andrii Honcharuk, tent their efforts turned out to be. is also a member of the coordinating com- gas for 2009. The PRU leader slammed agreed with Mr. Gryshchenko that there Disinformation operation No. 1: mittee of RUE and considered by some to the parliamentary faction of the could be no question about the transfer of Ukraine buys Russian gas. Gazprom and have been a KGB agent in Vienna in the Communist Party of Ukraine, which, he Ukraine’s gas transportation system to Mr. Putin have pushed the fiction that 1980s, told a press conference in London said, last year in July refused to support someone else’s ownership, or about its rent Ukraine should pay “European prices” on January 6 that it was Ukraine that had the PRU’s idea to dismiss the Cabinet of or privatization in any other form. “The for its purchases of Russian gas. Ukraine, closed down the transit of gas to Europe Ministers. “Unfortunately, our position issue can only concern mutually beneficial however, buys little if any Russian gas – and that Russia played no role whatsoever received no understanding and support. cooperation in using this system,” Mr. its main supplier under the January 2006 in this (Vedomosti, January 6). Those who did not vote with us for the Honcharuk said. (Ukrinform) contract is Turkmenistan with some The following day Oleh Dubyna, the dismissal of [Ukrainian Prime Minister Kazakh and Uzbek gas thrown in. head of Naftohaz, called Mr. Medvedev’s Yulia] Tymoshenko’s government have PM: GTS to remain state property Russia’s Gazprom buys this gas from the statement “absurd” and pointed out that assumed responsibility for the current situ- Central Asians for a much lower price YEVPATORIA, Ukraine – Prime all the gas cutoff valves were located on ation in the country and should share this than Russian gas sells for, and then resells Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, while on a the Russian side of the border. Mr. responsibility along with the president and it to RosUkrEnergo (RUE), a Swiss-based working visit to Yevpatoria, Crimea, said Dubyna produced maps of the pipeline the government,” Mr. Yanukovych said. intermediary of which Gazprom owns 50 she would never back any form of lease or system, which clearly proved his asser- (Ukrinform) percent (the other 50 percent is owned by privatization of the Ukrainian gas transport system (GTS). The prime minister was two private Ukrainian businessmen). In (Continued on page 19) Commission to investigate gas transport commenting on January 12 on the state- KYIV – The Verkhovna Rada on ment by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir January 13 set up an Interim Parliamentary Putin regarding the possible privatization Investigation Commission to look into the of Ukraine’s GTS. “Our stance remains A war like no other: Putin functioning of the Ukrainian gas transpor- unchanged – the gas transport system tation system and the provision of gas to needs no privatization or leasing,” Ms. mishandles another gas conflict consumers in 2008-2009. Inna Tymoshenko stressed. The prime minister Bohoslovska, a national deputy from the noted that she has always maintained this by Pavel K. Baev for Ukraine’s behavior” in this “absolute- Party of Regions, was appointed to chair position and was the initiator of a draft law banning any privatization or lease of the Eurasia Daily Monitor ly abnormal situation” betrayed confusion the commission, which is to conduct its work during the next two months. Ukrainian gas transport network. “This is January 12 and a lack of planning for such an escala- tion (Moscow echo, January 7). (Ukrinform) a national asset that must remain within Two weeks after the traditional turn of Gazprom’s CEO Alexei Miller and his state ownership,” she said, adding that the valve in the first minute of the new deputies rushed to Brussels and other No to privatization of gas transport Ukraine may earn via ownership of the year, the disagreement between Russia European capitals seeking to explain their KYIV – Ukraine is not considering the (Continued on page 14) and Ukraine over the trade and transit of position, and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin natural gas is still not resolved, and it is held an extraordinary press conference for not only the duration that makes this “gas foreign journalists in order to present a war” different from the previous quarrels. coherent version of the messy squabble FOUNDED 1933 At the outset of the active phase of con- (RIA-Novosti, January 8). These moves THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY flict, the inescapable feeling of déjà vu have hardly helped to minimize the damage An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., prevailed in commentaries and risk to Gazprom’s reputation, and it is already a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. assessments by the concerned parties. possible to identify a number of serious Yearly subscription rate: $55; for UNA members — $45. It took a week for the European Union Russian mistakes in managing this crisis. Periodicals postage paid at Parsippany, NJ 07054 and additional mailing offices. to wake up to the need to take urgent One group of mistakes has to do direct- (ISSN — 0273-9348) measures. The first reaction was to issue ly with Ukraine, which shocked Moscow by walking out of the nearly completed The Weekly: UNA: a statement that the interruption of deliv- Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 eries was “completely unacceptable,” negotiations on December 31, 2008, and showing no interest in resuming them for which had no effect whatsoever. Postmaster, send address changes to: The idea about international monitoring a week after. Mr. Putin had believed that the never-ending row between President The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz of the gas flow proposed by German 2200 Route 10 Editors: Matthew Dubas Chancellor Angela Merkel on January 7 Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko would prevent the P.O. Box 280 Zenon Zawada (Kyiv) took another week to materialize, despite Parsippany, NJ 07054 the technical simplicity of such control; Ukrainian leadership from making any proactive steps, but he did not recognize but the resumption of Russian exports to The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com; e-mail: [email protected] Europe has not facilitated a deal on deliv- how desperate Mr. Yushchenko was to eries to Ukraine. Without this key part of improve his hopeless position for the The Ukrainian Weekly, January 18, 2009, No. 3, Vol. LXXVII the problem being resolved, the situation presidential elections in January 2010. Gazprom was firm and set to extract a Copyright © 2009 The Ukrainian Weekly remains unstable (RIA-Novosti, www. price from Naftohaz at least a third higher newsru.com, Kommersant, December 11). than in 2008, since it had committed itself It is not only the EU that has been to pay “European” prices to the Central caught by surprise with the intensity of Asian producers. It failed to grasp, how- ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA this “war,” which has already inflicted ever, the consequences of the fact that significant damage to the economies of Ukraine to all intents and purposes was Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3041 Bulgaria, Greece, Slovakia and several bankrupt and the “compromise” price of e-mail: [email protected] other countries that had no gas reserves. $250 was far beyond the country’s means. Maria Oscislawski, advertising manager (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 Gazprom has also encountered a crisis of Kyiv is beyond worrying about “reputa- e-mail: [email protected] far greater proportions than it had expect- tion damage,” hence its bold decision to Mariyka Pendzola, subscriptions (973) 292-9800, ext. 3042 ed, and the comments of its executives e-mail: [email protected] that they had “no rational explanations (Continued on page 19) No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 3 The Holodomor 75 years later: The Zhytomyr Oblast by Zenon Zawada Kyiv Press Bureau The Holodomor ZHYTOMYR – Zoya Tereschuk, 69, can in the Zhytomyr Oblast confirm that at least 15 relatives died in the Holodomor of 1932-33, including her grand- 49,724 established casualties* mother’s five children. 18,564 known survivors remaining There are no Tereschuks, but 10 casual- ties from the Syrovetnyk family are record- 841 population centers affected ed in the state archives – Mykola, born 76 known mass graves 1920; Hryhorii, 1924; Petro, 1925; Anastasia, 1927; Antonina, 1929; Liuba, * This official figure grossly underesti- 1930; Ivan, 1931; Maria, 1932; Mykola, mates casualties, according to the Institute 1933; and Natalia, no year listed. of National Memory Ms. Tereschuk remembers there was a Stadnyk family on her father’s side, but doesn’t know how many died. “They aren’t chair of the Popilnianskyi District in the archives,” she said. “None of them Administration, Ms. Lutai said placing the were preserved.” monument at the cemetery would only be Awakening from the Soviet government’s justified if the Holodomor’s victims were 54-year campaign of suppressing and deny- buried there. ing the Holodomor, Zhytomyr residents like Zenon Zawada “If no one knows the (burial) place, then Ms. Tereschuk are part of only a handful Zoya Tereschuk (right), with the help of Holodomor researcher Maya Lutai (left), why put it in the bushes, in the jungle, who have made the effort to retrieve their established a Holodomor victims monument in her native Zhytomyr village at her instead of the village center, where everyone lost memories, because of inadequate finan- own cost. can see it?” Ms. Lutai said. cial resources and no moral support. Furthermore, their proposed site would Maya Lutai, an assistant history professor “Our village suffered the most in our dis- as that was a sacrifice, financing turned out have fit well next to an existing monument at Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University trict and, as it stood, our children and grand- to be the easy part. to fallen soldiers of World War II, she said. in Zhytomyr, has collected more than 1,000 children would know nothing of it,” she Although the Popilnianskyi District Her view was upheld by an independent Holodomor testimonies with her history stu- said. Administration and the village council sup- consultant. dents, but doesn’t have the funds to publish Unlike Ukraine’s billionaires, who have ported the monument, its officials wanted it After months of deflected inquiries, fruit- a book. done next to nothing for Holodomor remem- put in a cemetery on the village’s outskirts, less meetings and passive opposition, ms. For Ms. Tereschuk, preserving the mem- brance, Ms. Tereschuk was an average pen- “where there isn’t even a road,” said Ms. Tereschuk and Ms. Lutai threatened to ory of the Holodomor demanded a personal sioner, receiving about $135 a month for her Tereschuk, who instead proposed the village inform the public and write an open letter to sacrifice, and it was an uphill battle all the 42 years f work as a store clerk. Her will center, in front of the Home of Culture (Dim President Yushchenko to expose the offi- way. gave birth to an idea, however. If she could Kultury), as the proper site. cials, particularly those employed by the Inspired by President Viktor rent out her Zhytomyr apartment and live Ms. Tereschuk recruited Ms. Lutai to her State Oblast Administration network that Yushchenko’s unprecedented efforts to rec- with her daughters, she figured she’d have cause after meeting her in the Zhytomyr advances the Presidential Secretariat’s agen- ognize the Holodomor and honor its victims, enough money to establish a monument in State Archives, where they both spent many da. Ms. Tereschuk contemplated how she can Makarivka. hours in their separate quests for the truth Though that moved their project forward, preserve the memory of her native village, It’s been four years that she’s been rent- about a nightmare that haunted their souls. Makarivka, where she grew up. ing the apartment to raise funds, but as much In a meeting with the cultural department (Continued on page 8)

NEWS ANALYSIS: Russia hides gas shortfall by touting multiple export routes by Vladimir Socor regard in his January 10 and 12 press by a fleet of tankers. Eurasia Daily Monitor conferences. He warned and, alternately, Russian natural Moscow claims that those putative January 13 tantalized the international audience. He options are not intended to bypass or threatened to prolong the halt of deliver- gas is becoming a eliminate the Ukrainian route, but rather Russia is using the gas supply crisis, ies via Ukraine to Europe while in the to supplement it. The Nord Stream con- which it has itself triggered, to induce a next breath boasting that Russia could use “defitsitnyi tovar” sortium takes the same line publicly, as contest among consumer countries over multiple routes of delivery to the con- its German chief, ex-Chancellor Gerhard imports of Russian natural gas. Russian- sumer countries of Russia’s choice. Those (commodity in Schroeder, reiterated in Mr. Putin’s pres- produced gas has become a commodity in routes, however, are for the most part yet ence in St. Petersburg (www.premier.gov. short supply when measured against to be financed and built – and hardly like- short supply), ru, January 7; Interfax, January 10; Russia’s internal requirements and its ly to materialize, barring some monumen- Moscow Times, January 12). If so, those existing export commitments. tal policy miscalculations in Berlin or and the cause of multiple Russian export options become The shortfall had been prognosticated Brussels. this process is even less credible in the aggregate. to set in by 2010-2011 but can already be In that vein, Mr. Putin ticked off Gazprom and the Kremlin currently observed. Anatoly Chubais’s public fore- Russia’s delivery options: Nord Stream ultimately trace- seem to be giving Nord Stream the first cast in 2008 (while he was head of (the planned Russo-German pipeline on priority in terms of planning, seeking Russia’s electricity monopoly) that the the Baltic seabed); Yamal Two (a pro- able to faulty international financing and the hypotheti- gas shortfall might occur as early as in posed pipeline via Belarus and Poland cal allocation of future gas volumes. 2009 seems on the mark. The structural westward), “if there is demand after state planning in There is no comparable Russian activity cause of this shortfall is chronic underin- building Nord Stream”; South Stream Moscow. behind South Stream or other pipeline vestment in new Russian gas fields. (Gazprom’s proposed export system via projects at this time. Gazprom’s produc- Compounding this factor, the recent cred- the seabed of the Black Sea and the tion and revenue shortfalls have forced it crisis and falling oil and gas prices are Balkans to Central Europe); expansion of Moscow to select one priority at this stage Western companies and governments, derailing Gazprom’s investment plans in Blue Stream (also via the Black Sea, from and that appears to be Nord Stream. which would compete against each other new fields and pipelines. This process Russia to Turkey); and a proposed gas Behind the public relations hype, for access to Russian gas in short supply. will prolong the period of production pipeline to China (parallel with the Moscow is trying to pressure its Nord Hardly anyone at Mr. Putin’s news shortfalls and stagnant exports of Russian planned oil pipeline to China) and possi- Stream consortium partners into lobbying conferences and few in the subsequent gas. It will also widen still further the gap bly to other gas consumer countries in the the European Union to finance this proj- media commentaries called that bluff. between rising European and world Asian Far East. ect. In his press conferences, Prime Perhaps it was too transparent. Russia is demand on one hand and Russia’s stag- These are just the delivery options by Minister Putin warned that Russia could far short of the potential to fill those pipe- nant export potential on the other hand. pipelines-to-be-built, if Mr. Putin is to be change its plans with the future gas out- lines to anything near their putative annu- Recalling a Soviet-era term, Russian nat- believed. But he added liquefied-natural- put from the Shtokman field, earmarking al capacities (55 billion cubic meters ural gas is becoming a “defitsitnyi tovar” gas (LNG) options: Russia, he said, could that output for future export to the United [bcm] for Nord Stream, hypothetically (commodity in short supply), and the cause build gas liquefaction plants as well as an States, instead of Germany and other some 15 bcm for Yamal Two, a seemingly of this process is ultimately traceable to LNG tanker fleet for exports of Russian West European countries. Mr. Putin arbitrary figure of 50 bcm for South faulty state planning in Moscow. Russia as gas to worldwide destinations such as declared: “Yes, really, the American part- well as the Western consumers who had North America. “Thank God, we have Stream, an extra 8 bcm for Blue Stream, ners have long been asking us to do it. We counted on Russian gas must brace them- that gas,” Mr. Putin bluffed (Interfax, plus an undeclared but presumably mas- will do it. We have reallocated the bulk of selves for that situation. Moscow is seeking ITAR-TASS, Vesti TV, January 8, 10). sive figures for China and other Asian the [projected] output from Shtokman to to turn the situation to its own advantage by But Russia has neither all that gas nor countries). All this would supposedly the European market, but if things go as playing off various consumer countries the financing to develop it, the industrial come on top of the volumes that Russia they are going now, we may reassign it against each other. capacity to make the steel pipes, or the traditionally exports via Ukraine (some again to America” (Interfax, January 12). Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin LNG technology. Moscow, however, 120 bcm annually); and on top of all that made particularly crude attempts in this hopes to strike bilateral deals with comes the declared intent to export LNG (Continued on page 16) 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 No. 3 Freedom retreats for third year, according to Freedom House Freedom House focus on the need to protect fundamental freedoms and support the frontline defen- WASHINGTON – Freedom retreated in ders and advocates,” said Jennifer Windsor, much of the world in 2008, marking the Freedom House executive director. third year of global decline as measured by Although setbacks in 2008 did not repre- Freedom House’s annual survey of political sent substantial declines for most countries, rights and civil liberties which was released setbacks were numerous and affected most on January 12. Sub-Saharan Africa and the regions. Overall, 34 countries registered former Soviet Union saw the most reversals, declines in freedom and 14 registered impro- while South Asia showed significant impro- vements. vement. Three countries saw declines in scores “The advance of freedom in South Asia that resulted in status changes: Afghanistan, was a rare bright spot in a year that was which moved from partly free to not free; otherwise marked by setbacks and stagna- Mauritania, partly free to not free; and tion,” said Freedom House Director of Senegal, free to partly free. Three countries, Research Arch Puddington, who pegged the all from South Asia, moved from not free to start of the global downturn to the period partly free: Pakistan, Maldives and Bhutan. directly following the “color revolutions” in Two countries in Western Europe, Italy and Europe. “Powerful regimes worldwide have Greece, experienced modest declines. Freedom House reacted to the ‘color revolutions’ with calcu- Key global findings include: lated and forceful measures designed to • Free: The number of countries judged ral democracy list, while Bosnia- Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of suppress democratic reformers, international by Freedom in the World as free in 2008 Herzegovina and Bangladesh became elec- Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, assistance to those reformers and ultimately stands at 89, representing 46 percent of the toral democracies. Guinea, Namibia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and the very idea of democracy itself.” world’s countries and 46 percent of the glo- Key regional findings include: Somaliland. The region’s downturn comes Freedom in the World 2009 examines the bal population. The number of free countries • Worst of the worst: Of the 42 countries after several years of modest improvement. state of freedom in all 193 countries and 16 declined by one from 2007. Positive developments include gains in strategic territories. The survey analyzes designated not free, eight received the • Partly free: The number of partly free survey’s lowest possible ranking for both Zambia, Comoros, Angola and Cote developments that occurred in 2008 and countries is 62, or 32 percent of all countries political rights and civil liberties: North d’Ivoire. assigns each country a freedom status — assessed by the survey and 20 percent of the Korea, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Libya, • Asia: The most significant progress either “free,” “partly free” or “not free” world’s total population. The number of Sudan, Burma, Equatorial Guinea and occurred in South Asia, where several coun- based on a scoring of performance in key partly free countries increased by two. tries saw improvements linked to elections. freedoms. • Not Free: The report designates 42 Somalia. Two territories are in the same category: Tibet and Chechnya. Eleven other In addition to significant improvements in The overview includes an analysis of countries as not free, representing 22 percent Pakistan, Maldives and Bhutan, some pro- countries and territories received scores that changes during the Bush administration and of the total number of countries and 34 per- gress was also seen in Nepal, Kashmir, were slightly better: Belarus, Chad, China, suggests priorities for the incoming Obama cent of the world population. Nearly 60 per- Malaysia and Thailand. Declines were regis- Cuba, Eritrea, Laos, Saudi Arabia, Syria, administration and the leaders of other esta- cent of this number lives in China. The tered in Afghanistan, Burma, Fiji, Papua blished democracies. The survey firmly number of not free countries declined by Zimbabwe, South Ossetia and Western New Guinea, Singapore and Tibet. China rejects the premise that engaging with autho- one. Sahara. increased repression instead of delivering ritarian leaders means ignoring their policies • Electoral democracies: The number of • Sub-Saharan Africa: Twelve countries human rights reforms pledged in connection of domestic repression. electoral democracies dropped by two and and one territory — about one-fourth of the to hosting the Summer Olympics. “At a time when democracy’s antagonists stands at 119. Developments in Mauritania, regional total — experienced setbacks in • Former Soviet Union/Central and are increasingly assertive and its supporters Georgia, Venezuela and Central African 2008. In addition to Senegal and Mauritania, are in disarray, the new administration must Republic disqualified them from the electo- declines were also registered in Burundi, (Continued on page 16) Decline in freedom accelerates across former Soviet Union

by Nikola Krastev adopts its policies toward the former explained, many regimes were able to use Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Soviet states. their wealth to successfully deflect grow- At the same time, however, countries Freedom House ing public unrest, and to postpone social NEW YORK – The latest “Freedom in with significant oil and gas resources have rated Ukraine as and political reforms. The World” report by the U.S.-based rights demonstrated repeatedly that they are will- “If you look carefully at Kazakhstan, watchdog Freedom House indicates that ing to ignore the democratic concerns of “free,” giving it a and in particular Azerbaijan and Russia, in authoritarian regimes across a broad geo- the United States or the European Union. most of the fundamental areas where the graphical range are stepping up their sup- In addition, Mr. Puddington noted, the score of 3 for polit- markets and outside observers are looking pression of freedom. West has even taken steps to legitimize for reforms – it’s been very slow-moving,” Arch Puddington and Christopher freedom-suppressing regimes – such as ical rights and a Mr. Walker noted. “And one school of Walker, the principal authors of this year’s Kazakhstan, which in 2010 assumes the thought is that the enormous windfalls at report, told RFE/RL that, since 2001, the chairmanship of the Organization for 2 for civil liber- the disposal of these regimes have allowed only region in the world where political Security and Cooperation in Europe ties. (The score of them to postpone meaningful reform in the rights and civil liberties have witnessed a (OSCE). social sector, and the education sector, and steady decline are the countries of the for- “That is a significant step to approve 1 represents the so forth.” mer Soviet Union, minus the Baltic states. what really amounts to a dictatorship as Mr. Walker emphasized that most of the The authors say there is no general the chairman of an organization whose most free and 7 the freedom ratings of the countries of the for- explanation for the region’s downward responsibilities, among other things, is to mer Soviet Union have declined in recent trend. see that elections meet democratic stan- least free rating.) years, even though their starting point was But Mr. Puddington, Freedom House’s dards,” Mr. Puddington said. “And the Ukraine’s status very low. What we see now, he said, are director of research, points to three possi- elections in Kazakhstan certainly haven’t repressive systems that are intent on ratch- ble factors. One is the economic power done that.” was unchanged eting up their control over societies even attained by undemocratic regimes in petro- Mr. Walker, Freedom House’s director higher. leum-rich countries like Russia, of studies, says the 2009 findings reflect in from the previous “The challenges for the democratic Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. part the cumulative effect of several years community given the pressures that are The other is the legacy of the Soviet of gradually increased repression, as well year. likely to grow in these systems, where Union, and the third is Russia’s influence. as severe anti-freedom measures imple- there aren’t safety valves, the margin for “Russia is the big power in the region. mented in 2008 – placing most of the for- error by the authorities is shrinking – it all It is huge, it has a lot of influence. And it mer Soviet republics among the worst per- Past Freedom House surveys have really suggests potential looming crises in is an aggressively antidemocratic country formers in the 2009 survey. shown that former Soviet countries that any number of countries in the region,” Mr. Walker pointed out. right now under [Prime Minister Vladimir] “The political-rights scores in recent are rich in energy resources have acceler- Published since 1972, “Freedom in the Putin,” Mr. Puddington noted. years for the non-Baltic former Soviet ated their authoritarian tactics as oil and World” has been widely recognized as an “It’s not simply that Russia is moving Union have deteriorated sharply, suggest- gas prices soared. authoritative source on the state of politi- away from democratic standards – it’s ing that power holders in these countries What will falling prices do? cal rights and civil liberties in every coun- moving away from democratic standards, are circumscribing the opportunity for any try in the world. and it’s being very assertive about its sys- sort of meaningful participation in a way As oil prices tumble, Mr. Walker said, a The annual survey noted a decline in tem as superior to democracy,” he contin- that suggests very severe problems going new concern is what impact the losses will freedoms in 2008 in Russia, Armenia, ued. forward,” Mr. Walker said. have on the political stance of these Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia, Iran, “Right now what we see is what can be Oil, gas no friend to freedom regimes, who often depend on energy Kyrgyzstan and Macedonia. The ratings described as a monopolization of power windfalls to deliver the social benefits for Belarus and Turkmenistan are Mr. Puddington said that the United that’s being intensified across the lion’s needed to secure their popularity with the unchanged, although Freedom House indi- States has been making some efforts to share of countries in the non-Baltic [for- public. consider the question of freedom as it mer Soviet Union],” he added. While oil prices were high, he (Continued on page 16) No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 5

around those politicians who preach the Thousands gather... Ukrainian idea.” (Continued from page 1) The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc was absent village tucked amidst the steep, curving from the anniversary ceremony, Mr. Tkach foothills that unfold for miles before blend- pointed out, because “they don’t love and ing into the Carpathian Mountains. honor this day.” Pristine ice-encased leafless branches “We should understand that we never arched over the road leading into the vil- had such a Ukrainian president lage, forming a sparkling natural arcade that [Yushchenko] and likely won’t have one dazzled admirers headed toward the muse- [like him] again,” he said. “I plead with you um-memorial complex amidst rustic homes that we take pride in him and rally around festooned with blue-yellow and red-black him.” flags, the latter symbolizing blood spilled Jeers were heard in response to Mr. on Ukrainian black soil. Tkach’s allusions to Mr. Yushchenko’s can- To mark the 100th anniversary, Ivano- didacy and led to chants of “Tiahnybok,” Frankivsk officials dedicated the renovated offering the nationalist leader shouts of sup- Bandera family home, a 1,830-square-foot port when he took the stage. “plebaniya” (a parish priest’s residence), Bandera is an unparalleled Ukrainian which belonged to the Ukrainian Catholic leader because he took responsibility for his Church at the time. actions – whether it was his command to After the Soviet takeover, the home assassinate Polish Interior Minister became a school and then was sold during Bronislaw Pieracki for his brutal persecu- the period of perebudova (perestroika) to a tion of Ukrainians, or his stern refusal village resident, on the condition that he before the Nazis to recall the June 30, 1941, destroy it to build his new home. independence declaration, Mr. Tiahnybok said. Most of the home’s furnishings also Zenon Zawada The Soviet government deceived the were destroyed, including its extensive masses when asserting that Bandera had Ukrainian library – the largest in the Kalush The bronze monument to Stepan Bandera that was unveiled in Ivano-Frankivsk collaborated with the Nazi Germans – an district – which drew the region’s priests on the centennial of the Ukrainian liberation leader’s birth on January 1, 2009. absurd notion considering he sat in German and scholars to visit before the war. prisons and the Sachsenhausen concentra- In 1982 the Soviets destroyed the pleban- nationalist party and Our Ukraine set up “Stepan Bandera is a symbol of all those tion camp between 1941 and 1944. iya’s neighboring chapel, where the Rev. campaign tents, waved flags and distributed called ‘bandery,’ ‘banderivtsi’ only because “Remember in Soviet times, as if to insult Andrii Bandera led divine liturgies. Many newspapers. they wanted a free Ukraine and loved what us, they called us ‘banderivtsi’?,” Mr. icons survived, however, and two of them The commemoration was opened with is Ukrainian,” Mr. Bandera said. “Therefore, Tiahnybok said. “And that was pleasant for are on display in the restored home. the singing of the Ukrainian national to understand the word ‘bandera’ and what us. We took pride that we were ‘bandery,’ With about $430,000 from the Oblast anthem and a panakhyda (memorial ser- the Bandera family is – it’s practically all of that we are ‘banderivtsi.’” Council, according to Village Council Chair vice) in honor of the freedom fighter, who us who gathered here today, one big Later that afternoon more than 5,000 Taras Fedoriv, workers labored throughout was slain on October 15, 1959, by KGB Ukrainian family.” patriots gathered for the official opening of 2008 to restore seven of the home’s eight agent Bohdan Stashynsky. The best way to remember his grandfa- the Bandera Museum-Memorial Complex rooms to their original form, as well as its Instead of reaching his face, a three-mil- ther is to build a prosperous Ukraine so that at European Square in Ivano-Frankivsk, wide front porch, wood-burning stove and limeter poison ampoule shot by Stashynsky its citizens could live as “true Europeans,” replacing a Soviet tank monument that once family items – a chess table, a clock and burst when striking a tomato in a bag of he said. His remarks were followed by a stood there. Father Andrii’s prayer book. groceries held by Bandera as he exited his choir’s rendition of “Khai Zhyve Bandera i The site was chosen despite protests that Munich apartment, exuding lethal fumes Yoho Derzhava” (Long Live Bandera and The site of Stepan Bandera’s birth, the any Bandera statue should be centrally that the slain leader inhaled, Ms. Ivaniuk of His State). plebaniya and the restored St. Mary the located, instead of on the city’s edge. the Bandera Museum said. Medical authori- Kalush native Yevhen Hirnyk, former Protectress Chapel remain in their original At the ceremony’s start, officials ties ruled that Bandera died of a heart vice-chair of the Congress of Ukrainian location, a few hundred feet from the removed a white shroud to reveal the attack. It wasn’t known that he was assassi- Nationalists, echoed the widely held view 12,000-square-foot, three-story museum bronze statue of a youthful, wide-eyed nated until Stashynsky surrendered to among patriots that Bandera carried the building that was built with oblast and Bandera, dressed in a suit and trench coat German authorities in 1961 in hopes of same Ukrainian vision and leadership as diaspora support and dedicated on January his right arm stretched across his chest and defecting to the West and revealed the plot, that held by Kozak Hetman Ivan Mazepa 1, 2001. hand on his heart. The figure stands on a she said. and Ukrainian National Republic military Among those attending the centennial small pedestal in front of a towering red On behalf of his family, Stephen leader Symon Petliura. commemoration were OUN-UPA marble OUN cross. Bandera, 38, expressed gratitude to those “Only three individuals’ names are used Brotherhood Chair Mykola Zelenchuk, Designed by Lviv architect Mykola to label our people – ‘mazepyntsi,’ ‘petli- Carpathian Region OUN-UPA Brotherhood who worked to restore the home, as well as Posykyra, the statue sits atop an approxi- Chair Fotii Volodymyrskyi, Bandera’s those who organized and attended the day’s urivtsi’ and ‘banderivtsi,’ ” he said. mately 6,500-square-foot circular concrete grandson Stephen Bandera, Ivano- ceremony. “[Bandera] demonstrated with his life that foundation, erected at a 30-degree angle to Frankivsk State Oblast Administration “Having been born in Canada, I never he’s not only for the Ukrainian idea, but that form the roof of the museum underneath, Chair Mykola Paliichuk, National Deputy thought I would be celebrating the 100th he’s actually doing something for the idea, which has a ground-level entrance but Roman Tkach, nationalist leader Oleh anniversary of Stepan Bandera’s birthday in even risking his life under all the occupa- whose floor is about six feet below ground. Tiahnybok and Presidential Secretariat First Ukraine,” said Mr. Bandera, whose aunt tional regimes. He gave the example.” The 320-foot-diameter foundation’s red, Vice-Chair Andrii Kyslynskyi, who read a Oksana died last year in Stryi the day after Signaling the onset of the presidential white and black pavement forms the OUN statement from the president. celebrating her 91st birthday on December campaign, Mr. Tkach, an Orange symbol, visible when viewed from over- UPA veterans and admirers decked out in 22. She was the last surviving sibling of Revolution leader and Our Ukraine law- head. Its perimeter is coated with Zhytomyr uniforms sang UPA songs, choir and orches- Stepan Bandera. The oldest surviving maker, stumped for President Viktor marble tiles, news reports said. tra members performed in folk costumes, Bandera child is 60-year-old Lesia, who Yushchenko’s re-election, telling the crowd and political activists of the Svoboda resides in Toronto. that “we are supposed to embrace and rally (Continued on page 8)

A Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) veteran (center) poses with a framed picture The Bandera family home in the village of Staryi Uhryniv was restored for the of Stepan Bandera at the Ukrainian liberation hero’s monument in the village of 100th anniversary of Stepan Bandera’s birth. Staryi Uhryniv. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 No. 3

THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Behind the gas war With so much being reported by all the news media about the latest develop- ments in the gas war between Russia and Ukraine, it is sometimes difficult to understand what exactly is going on. Who is at fault? Cui bono – who benefits – from this crisis? And what is the end goal of this conflict? A war of accusations in Ukraine As of the writing of this editorial, the news was that Russia continued to Ukrainian politics was a lot simpler in Tymoshenko when he alleged that she used blame Ukraine for blocking natural gas intended for Europe, that Ukraine said the days of former President Leonid her authority as prime minister to write off Russia was preventing it from transporting the gas, that European monitors were Kuchma. He was the bad guy, responsible 7.5 billion hrv ($1.5 billion U.S.) in debt in both countries in an attempt to determine what the hold-up is, and that an for everything bad about Ukraine, and he her former gas trading company owed the international gas summit has been scheduled to be held over the weekend in had to go. government. Europe. Many news stories continued to refer to the conflict over gas as “bicker- Viktor Yushchenko spoke Ukrainian, His punishment? Renounce your state- ing,” thus downplaying the real stakes in this “cold war.” It is important to note, supported Euro-Atlantic integration and ment, the court ruled. (Even if he commit- however, that the gas crisis is no mere “commercial dispute,” although it all did had an American-born wife, so the diaspora ted a murder, he wouldn’t sit in jail. Mr. seem to start with a quarrel over pricing. unanimously threw its support behind him. Kravchenko has a deputy’s immunity.) A New York Times story on January 14 noted: “Nationalists in Moscow could But the political scene has gotten quite Even if a libel judgment is delivered, it swallow the loss of the Baltic states and Russia’s former colonies in Central Asia, complicated in the last few years, and doesn’t erase the political damage inflicted but they will never accept the notion of Ukrainians, nearly half [sic] of whom are diaspora Ukrainians are divided. by the original accusation, particularly in a ethnic Russians, as members of an independent, Western-oriented state, and A reckless information war between country like Ukraine where the courts are potentially in NATO, no less.” (In fact, according to the CIA’s World Factbook, President Yushchenko and Prime Minister not trusted. Such judgments get less media only 17.3 percent of Ukraine’s population is composed of Russians.) Yulia Tymoshenko has decimated trust and attention and rarely erase the stain achieved The article went on to quote Vladimir S. Milov, president of the Institute of bolstered skepticism, leaving us to wonder: by the original accusation. Energy Policy in Moscow and a former deputy energy minister of Russia, who Whom do we believe? And what do we Ukraine’s electorate has not matured to said, “It’s very clear to see the desire to pressure the Ukrainian politicians, and believe? the point of refusing to vote for politicians pressure them that if they continue to pursue a pro-Western course and not adhere If you believe the most serious accusa- who hurl offensive, outrageous accusations to the rules imposed by Moscow on the post-Soviet space, they will face difficul- tions of President Yushchenko’s enemies, at one another. ties.” Speaking with The Times from Kyiv, Hryhorii Perepylytsia of the Foreign As demonstrated by their conduct, none Policy Research Institute, said, “This is a continuation of the Russian-Georgian he’s: • allegedly plundered the hryvnia’s value of Ukraine’s current leading politicians are war, only by other means. There it was tanks, here it is gas.” above scrutiny. Indeed, if price alone were the issue, then why did Russia repeatedly change intentionally (in December) as part of a cur- rency speculation scheme that enriched If Ukrainian politics has proven anything the asking price for gas sent to Ukraine (during the past month it cited various in the last few years, it’s that all the leading prices ranging from $250 to $450 per thousand cubic meters) and why are himself and his partners to the tune of $650 million (according to Prime Minister politicians are willing to resort to the most Russian officials trying to damage Ukraine’s international image and denigrate extreme measures, including bringing in the country’s leaders as incapable of managing the pipeline network, gleefully Tymoshenko); • suffered an accidental food poisoning armed forces, intimidating and bullying pointing to what they see as failures of the Orange Revolution? judges, engaging in violence and making The Washington Post quoted Russian Ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin that conveniently occurred at the peak of the 2004 presidential campaign, enabling libelous statements. as saying, “It’s clear that if Europe wants to have guaranteed natural gas supplies, Unfortunately, Ukrainian political cul- as well as oil in its pipelines, then it cannot fully rely on its wonderful ally, Mr. him to paint himself as the victim of a poi- soning plot, thereby inspiring sympathetic ture has yet to develop unspoken boundar- [Viktor] Yushchenko.” And, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has suggest- ies which are understood by all the players ed on a number of occasions that Ukraine should sell or lease its transport system voters (according to the godfather of Yushchenko’s youngest son Taras, David not to be crossed, lest they inflict severe to Russia, or Russia and Europe. Russia would jump at the chance to seize con- damage to the country as a whole. trol of Ukraine’s gas transport network and thus consolidate its control over natu- Zhvania); • allegedly laundered $53 million from Whereas in Western societies politics is ral gas production and distribution. (For a precedent for such moves, read up on like boxing or wrestling, it looks more like the 2006-2007 gas crisis in Belarus.) government coffers through the corrupt RosUkrEnergo intermediary into a compa- the bloody Ultimate Fighting Championship What the current crisis has revealed for all to see is the lack of transparency in in Ukraine. the gas realm. From the shadowy deals involving dubious middlemen, such as ny registered in the United Arab Emirates and created by his brother Petro Most of the above-mentioned accusa- RosUkrEnergo, to the questionable way prices are set by Russia’s Gazprom with tions have some kernel of truth to them. different prices charged to various client-states, there is much here that needs to Yushchenko, (according to former national deputy Ihor Shurma and Communist Often the challenge is to find out to what be out in the open for the good of all parties – except Russia, of course, which extent they’ve been exaggerated. has been benefitting handsomely from the current opaqueness. Oleksander Holub). If you believe the harsher accusations of Ukrainian institutions, such as the courts Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s ene- and the media, aren’t empowered or strong mies, then she’s: enough to serve as referees in this informa- Jan. • allegedly approved, and possibly bene- tion war, not only keeping the players in Turning the pages back... fited from, the theft of $2.1 billion from line but also investigating whether the accu- Naftohaz Ukrayiny, the state-owned natural sations are true. gas and oil distributor, which paid its Without available financing to investi- 23 December debt to Gazprom only with a gate the accusations, most Ukrainian jour- Last year, on January 23, 2008, 61-year-old reputed crime loan from the National Bank of Ukraine, nalists are left shrugging their shoulders, boss Semyon Mogilevich, who was believed to have played a along with the rest of the public, as to what 2008 leading role in the gas trade between Russia and Ukraine, was thereby not only stealing from the govern- ment but driving it further into debt (accord- to make of them. arrested by Russian authorities on large-scale tax evasion Ukrainian journalism nowadays is large- charges. ing to Dmytro Firtash, a partner in RosUkrEnergo); ly limited to reporting news or trends; there Mr. Mogilevich, who remains in Russian police custody, was also wanted by the is very little investigation corruption or United States Federal Bureau of Investigation since 2003 for racketeering, money • committed treason by maintaining a passive stance during the South Ossetian wrongdoing. Owners and publishers don’t laundering and wire fraud. Russian officials refused to extradite Mr. Mogilevich to the want to spend the money, nor are they par- War in order to gain the Kremlin’s political U.S. ticularly interested if they’ve got their own support, as well as $1 billion in financing At the time of his arrest Mr. Mogilevich denied his alleged ties with RosUkrEnergo, skeletons to hide. for her 2009-2010 presidential campaign, the opaque intermediary between Russia’s Gazprom and Ukraine’s Naftohaz. Shortly Talented journalist Yegor Sobolyev was (according to Andrii Kyslynskyi, a after his arrest an official from the U.S. Justice Department said that its Organized tossed from Channel 5 (the “honest news Presidential Secretariat official); Crime and Racketeering Section, in the course of its investigations, was following up network”) partly for his investigations of • a “vorovka” (thief) and an “avanti- on Mr. Moglievich’s suspected ties with RosUkrEnergo. network owner Petro Poroshenko’s role in uryst” (schemer who aims for an easy result The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) also investigated Mr. Mogilevich’s involve- financing the Volodymyr Lytvyn Bloc. without considering negative consequenc- ment with RosUkrEnergo, but the investigation was dropped after Prime Minister Unfortunately for President Yushchenko, es) willing to stomp on anyone in her quest Yulia Tymoshenko was fired by President Viktor Yushchenko in 2005. Oleksander in their mutual war of unproven accusa- for unlimited political power, viewing other Turchynov, head of the SBU under Ms. Tymoshenko, claimed that the order to close tions, Ms. Tymoshenko has the advantage politicians only as whipped lackeys or ene- the investigation came from President Yushchenko. for several reasons. She has stronger orator- mies, (according to President Yushchenko, Mr. Mogilevich is also accused by U.S. officials of running a powerful organized ical skills and a better television presence. echoing a view held by numerous promi- crime ring in the 1990s and the manipulation of stock of YBM Magnex, a Pennsylvania Unfortunately for those of us limited in ver- company that collapsed in 1998. nent politicians). bal communication, it’s often not what you Analysts in Kyiv and Moscow hailed Mr. Mogilevich’s arrest as an indicator of What we can certainly believe is that say, but how you say it. Anyone who’s lis- Moscow’s shift away from energy intermediaries. Ukrainian politicians hurl outrageous accu- tened to President Yushchenko speak knows Mr. Mogilevich’s attorney, Alexander Pogonchekov, denied his client’s involvement sations at each other because they are rarely that he has no gift for gab. Ms. in RosUkrEnergo. Dmytro Firtash, principal owner of the energy intermediary, denied punished by the courts for their comments Tymoshenko’s charisma, meanwhile, is having business relations with Mr. Mogilevich. or held accountable by journalists. unparalleled in Ukrainian politics. The arrest of Mr. Mogilevich came after Prime Minister Tymoshenko called for When Ukrainian courts do reach a libel Having been thrown into prison by Gazprom and Ukraine to cut out RosUkrEnergo from its role as middleman in Russian judgment, it is not enough to deter future President Kuchma and being despised by gas exports such incidents. her current rivals, Ms. Tymoshenko still For example, a Kyiv district court ruled maintains the image of an anti-establish- Source: “Russia arrests reputed crime boss believed to have ties to RosUkrEnergo,” in June 2007 that Communist Party law- The Ukrainian Weekly, February 3, 2008. maker Mykola Kravchenko slandered Ms. (Continued on page 16) No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 7

IN THE PRESS: The gas war faces and places between Russia and Ukraine Facesby myron b.and kurpoas Places “Mr. Putin’s Cold War,” editorial, agree. Reduce it from today,’ declared by Myron B. Kuropas The Washington Post, January 8: Russia’s prime minister. Who is in charge “Russia has been piously insisting that here? its latest midwinter cutoff of gas deliveries “Such displays undermine Gazprom’s to Ukraine – and now the rest of Europe – claims to be commercially driven, rein- More on the Holodomor is the result of a commercial dispute and forcing impressions it is an arm of the Kremlin. Even if Gazprom is 51 percent At the end of the 75th anniversary com- ethnos willfully and exclusively targeting not a part of Moscow’s long-standing cam- state-owned, Mr. Putin is not a director memorations of the Holodomor, there another ethnos), British scholar Donald paign to undermine Ukraine’s pro-Western (though a deputy premier is chairman, government. So why, then, would Russian appears to be an international consensus Rayfield points out that the death of non- with two other ministers on the board). state television have devoted prime time that millions of people starved to death in Jews during the Holocaust in no way mini- “With gas exports a sensitive diplomatic on both Monday and Tuesday to broad- Soviet Ukraine during the early 1930s. mizes Nazi selectivity of Jews. Jews also issue, high-level political involvement may casting staged meetings at which Prime That’s progress. participated in the Holocaust against other be inevitable. But Mr. Putin’s visible role Minister Vladimir Putin ostentatiously vil- A lack of clarity still exists, however, Jews as kapos and members of the Judenrat. still highlights a fundamental investment ified Ukraine’s president and ordered the regarding two other questions: the number “One’s conclusion,” writes Dr. Rayfield, “is issue. With his administration having state gas company to cut off deliveries? of Ukrainians who died during the that the word genocide has to be applied to restored de facto and de jure state control, “Mr. Putin’s televised ‘working ses- Holodomor and the question on whether the Ukrainian famine, the Holodomor, for does Gazprom serve state or shareholder sions’ with Alexei Miller, the chairman of the Holodomor was an intentional act of if it is not, then the word genocide loses all interests? …” the state gas monopoly Gazprom, were mass murder specifically targeting useful meaning.” scripted with ludicrous heavy-handedness. Ukrainians, i.e., genocide. Rabbi Steven Jacobs reviews the work In each, Mr. Putin disingenuously inquired “Putin, pipe down on Ukraine,” by Both questions are addressed in of Raphael Lemkin, who coined the term about details of Russia’s dispute with the editorial board, Christian Science “Holodomor: Reflections on the Great “genocide.” Prof. Lemkin once wrote that Ukraine, and Mr. Miller replied by por- Monitor, January 8: Famine of 1932-1933 in Soviet Ukraine.” Ukraine’s Great Famine was not simply “a traying the Ukrainian government as thiev- Published by Kashtan Press and edited by case of mass murder” but “a case of geno- “…if Russia only looked in the mirror, Prof. Lubomyr Luciuk, this invaluable new cide, of the destruction, not of individuals ing, deceptive and unreliable. On Monday, it would find its own policies have exacer- Mr. Putin cynically sympathized with the book includes maps and nuanced commen- only, but of a culture and nation.” Rabbi bated its woes. By blaming outsiders, it taries by scholars and national leaders. The Jacobs asks why Mr. Lemkin’s thoughts consumers of Ukraine, then ordered a misses an opportunity to strengthen the reduction in the gas that transits Ukraine to appendix is replete with full texts of rele- weren’t expanded when he was pushing for economy, which must be done. vant documents. the United Nations to define genocide. other European countries. On Tuesday, he “One reason that Russia’s behemoth gas decreed that the pipeline be shut down As to actual deaths, there is little agree- Answer? Had Ukraine been mentioned, the supplier, Gazprom, is tightening the screws ment, even among Ukrainians. “Just how Soviet Union would have never endorsed altogether – a measure that left not just on Ukraine is that it needs money. Instead Ukraine but a dozen other countries with- many perished during the Great Famine the U.N. definition. of investing adequately in operations, it may never be calculated precisely, but that In “The Genocide Loophole,” Joshua out energy deliveries. … borrowed heavily to buy up private con- “…the real message of this cold week is millions were scythed down as Ukrainian Goldberg, syndicated columnist and author cerns – part of Mr. Putin’s ill-conceived resistance to Soviet rule was consummated of “Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the same that European governments have strategy of renationalizing Russia’s oil and repeatedly received – and largely ignored is no longer in doubt,” concludes Dr. the American Left, from Mussolini to the gas industry. Gazprom is now deep in debt Luciuk in the book’s preface. “Even if the Politics of Meaning” (one of my favorite – in recent years. Mr. Putin’s regime plain- (about $50 billion) and is negotiating a victim total was ‘only’ 2.6 million, and it books of 2008), believes that the main rea- ly intends to use Europe’s dependence on rescue with the government. … was likely higher, the intensity of mortality son Hitler is more reviled today than Stalin, Russian energy to advance an imperialist “Meanwhile, the Russian economy may in Soviet Ukraine over a duration of less Mao or Pol Pot, is that Hitler’s crimes were and anti-Western geopolitical agenda. …” grow by only 1 to 2 percent in 2009, or than a year confers upon the Holodomor racially motivated while Communist mass perhaps even contract – this after seven the unenviable status of being a crime executioners “elude the genocide charge – years of annual growth of 6.5 to 7 percent. “Short End of the Pipeline,” op-ed against humanity arguably without parallel and hence the status of ultimate villains – And, Russia will face a budget deficit, article by Anne Applebaum, The in European history.” despite having murdered scores of millions Washington Post, January 13: because money from oil and gas exports In Dr. Roman Serbyn’s commentary of people in the 20th century, in large part provides 60 percent of official revenue. (“The Holodomor: Genocide Against the “…This year, as in previous years, the Russia must evolve from a one-trick econ- because their victims stood in the way of negotiations are almost too complicated to Ukrainians”), we read that “Soviet and for- progress.” Good intentions are what counts. omy and diversify. eign observers mentioned 6, 7 and 10 mil- explain, involving not only Gazprom, the “Corruption and unreliability have also Renowned British historian Norman Russian gas behemoth, but also various lion” Famine victims. President Viktor Davies recalls his university training of 40 caught up with Russia. Before the Wall Yuschenko has staked his international rep- shady intermediaries, dubious deals and Street crisis, investors were fleeing years ago, and laments the fact that the differing price mechanisms. This year, as utation on a count of 10 million. Holodomor, “if mentioned at all, was not Moscow’s stock market, which fell by Jacques Vallin, France Mesle, Serguei in previous years, the Russians are claim- more than 70 percent in 2008. particularly high on the long list of 20th ing that the conflict is purely commercial, Adamets and Serhiy Pyrozhkov suggest 2.6 century disasters... Only slowly did I learn,” “Putin is doing everything but actually million victims as the most accurate esti- not political; that Ukraine is stealing addressing these problems. Domestically, he writes, “that all our knowledge about Europe’s gas; that Ukraine is not paying a mate in their joint commentary. “It is a shocking mass crimes is conditioned by an he’s shoring up his grip on the state. He still pity,” they conclude, “that those who, very fair price. But this year, unlike in some has high approval ratings, but just in case emotional climate, by a political context previous years, those claims are sounding sincerely, intend to preserve the memory of and by the swirling currents of conflicting public criticism swells, he’s got a handy Holodomor use estimates that are exagger- exceptionally hollow. excuse in all those enemies abroad – from information.” “For one thing, it was the Russian prime ated.” Prof. Paul R. Magocsi wonders why Georgia, to Ukraine, to the West – and he Like other contributors to the book, Prof. minister, Vladimir Putin, not the Gazprom could always manufacture more threats. …” “Ukrainians at home and in the diaspora CEO, who openly made the decision to Hiroaki Kuromiya of Indiana rejects the feel that they need to have the imprimatur switch off the gas. More important, the idea that the Great Famine was a genocide. of foreign governments before Ukraine’s Ukrainians, who have engaged in plenty of “The Winter Gas War,” Opinion “Not enough evidence exists,” he writes, Great Famine can be classified as geno- pipeline hanky-panky in the past, have this Journal, The Wall Street Journal, “to conclude that Stalin engineered the cide... International approval, or lack there- famine to punish specifically Ukrainians.” time around readily agreed to let January 7: of, is not going to change the historic reali- Dr. Ihor Stebelsky puts to rest the argu- Europeans and Russians monitor their ty...” Good point. Given how miserably “Five months after sending Russian ment that the Holodomor was due to transit pipelines. They have also paid their tanks into Georgia, Vladimir Putin has informed history professors in the West weather conditions. He points out that (very large) Gazprom debt and have asked turned his sights to another pesky demo- were about Ukraine’s past (many still are), when weather threatened starvation in – at last – for a more transparent system of cratic neighbor, Ukraine. His weapon of the same can be said about the need for the Siberia, Stalin ordered “the purchase of price-setting, one similar to those used in choice this time is natural gas. approval of certain academics. Isn’t it time 48,000 tons of grain from Canada” to Western Europe (an algorithm that relates “Try to ignore the noise about transit we stopped relying on others to define who relieve the stricken regions. When Ukraine the price of gas to the price of oil). … fees, back payments and market prices. we are as a people? was starving, there was no relief from “…Gazprom – no longer pretending to Here’s the salient fact about the conflict Prof. Colin A.M. Duncan suggests Stalin. Ukrainians were targeted, inhabit- be anything but a tool of Russian foreign between Russia and Ukraine over gas sup- Ukrainians might want to look closer to ants of Siberia were not. policy – still does deals with European gas plies: Russia’s strongman is wielding the home for the criminals who aided and abet- A commentary by the late Dr. James concerns one country at a time, picking energy club to undermine the pro-Western ted Stalin’s genocidal policies, a thought Mace supports the premise that the Famine them off one by one. Putin still deploys government in Kiev [sic] and scare the was a genocide. The best proof lies in try- supported by Prof. Luciuk who writes: “divide and rule” tactics to deal with European Union into submission. … ing to understand Ukraine’s current inabili- “Just as Holodomor victims remain alive, Europe, making special arrangements for “...the Kremlin’s motivations are plain- ty to transform itself in the way “its people so do some of the perpetrators.” Italy, buying politicians in Germany and ly political, not commercial. For starters, deserve,” Dr. Mace wrote. It all begins to Prof. Luciuk’s book is proof that the cutting off the gas to Ukraine. And the tac- no ‘market price’ for natural gas exists make sense once we realize that Ukraine is Holodomor discussion is only beginning. tics work…” because Gazprom happens to be a monop- “a post-genocidal society.” The book costs $45 (U.S.) plus $10 ship- oly supplier to Ukraine. Russia won’t Demolishing arguments that since ping and is available from Kashtan Press, allow Kiev [sic] to make up the shortfall “Putin on airs,” editorial, Financial Russians and others died during the 840 Wartman Ave., Kingston, Ontario, with supplies from another source like Times, January 12: Holodomor (negating, thereby, the idea that Canada, K7M 2Y6. Buy it, read it and join Turkmenistan, which uses Russian pipe- Ukrainians were specifically targeted) and the discussion. “Russian television last week showed lines. And Russia continues to let its that Ukrainians participated in the purpose- Alexei Miller, Gazprom’s chief executive, ‘friends,’ such as the dictatorship in outlining to Vladimir Putin plans to reduce ful starvation of other Ukrainians (negating, Myron Kuropas’s e-mail address is further the gas flow to Ukraine. ‘All right, I (Continued on page 21) thereby, the genocide requirement of one [email protected]. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 No. 3

pipeline deal will arrive this weekend at an Svoboda permission to march, the nation- Russia keeps up... international natural gas summit, which the Thousands gather... alists participated in a panakhyda at the (Continued from page 1) Russian government wanted to host in (Continued from page 5) Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Moscow but Ukrainian leaders insisted must Clergymen’s Youth Park, where they lit network Russia Today. Designed by local architect Yaroslav take place in a European country. Doroshenko, the museum-memorial com- candles, prayed, preached and sang. Deliberately in front of television report- While Ukraine mustered Western support President Yushchenko considered ers, Gazprom Chair Alexei Miller placed plex cost about $3 million to build. The during the 2006 New Year gas crisis, its lead- Ivano-Frankivsk City Council earmarked attending the Staryi Uhryniv commemora- telephone calls authorizing international ers have shown an inability to effectively tion, Ms. Ivaniuk said, and agents of the inspectors to examine Russian pipelines in $1.1 million for the Bandera statue alone. rebuff the coordinated campaign this time Not yet fully outfitted, the 6,030-square- Security Service of Ukraine had spent the order to demonstrate the government’s coop- around. prior week inspecting the Staryi Uhryniv eration with European investigation. foot museum will consist of sections devot- President Yushchenko and Prime Minister ed to Bandera and the liberation movement. museum and preparing its security for his As President Viktor Yushchenko traveled Tymoshenko offered little follow-up to a possible arrival. to Poland in search of support, Mr. Putin met Tracking muddy snow into the muse- January 1 joint statement that presented a um’s central hall, visitors on January 1 Though relaxing with his family nearby with his German counterparts and offered a united front between the Presidential in the Carpathian Mountains at the time, rare, extensive interview on German televi- viewed 21 portraits of Ukrainian liberation Secretariat and the Cabinet of Ministers. leaders, created as a pantheon of Bandera’s the president chose not to attend, sidelined sion in which he argued that either Ukraine’s Placed in a constant defensive stance by by the Russian Federation’s declaration gas transport system, which is government- compatriots, including Yevhen Konovalets the Kremlin’s attacks, Mr. Yushchenko was and Gen. Roman Shukhevych. that it was cutting natural gas supplies to owned, should be privatized or that new forced to issue statements denying any Ukraine. pipelines should be built. Ivano-Frankivsk Mayor Viktor involvement in corruption schemes involving Anushkevychus, who led local citizens in Some speculated that the president He described how the Orange Revolution’s gas, while other government spokesmen con- didn’t want to worsen tensions with Russia leaders had abused the trust of their support- collecting tens of thousands of hryvni for tinued to deny accusations that Ukraine was the complex, told the assembled patriots by attending the commemoration of a ers in order to gain power, pursue selfish pilfering gas. Ukrainian leader vilified by the Soviets, as ambitions and gain access to financial that he would continue to demand that Observers said the issue of gas theft is President Yushchenko recognize Bandera the government of Prime Minister Vladimir streams, among them the natural gas trade, intentionally played by the Kremlin in order Putin has continued to use false, outdated within Ukraine’s borders and beyond. as a Hero of Ukraine and that UPA veter- to hurt Ukraine’s international image and propaganda in its information war against “To emerge from this condition, indepen- ans gain state recognition. foster a subconscious stereotype of thievery the Yushchenko administration. dent of what occurs internally in Ukraine “Today in the 18th year of indepen- in the European perception of Ukraine. Additionally, many Ukrainians would have itself, it’s necessary to diversify (gas) streams dence, we don’t have the Ukraine that With plans to visit Moscow, Ms. reacted unfavorably to the president attend- and delivery options from the producer in Bandera and his compatriots hoped for,” he Tymoshenko called on Mr. Putin to uphold said, adding that Ukrainophobes will one ing the Bandera anniversary instead of Russia to the consumer in Europe,” Mr. Putin dealing with the natural gas crisis. said. the natural gas agreement they reached in day know that Bandera had no allies – not early October 2008 in what she had hoped Nazi, Polish or Bolshevik – except for the The president also did not issue a decree As solutions, Mr. Putin suggested an inter- declaring Bandera a Hero of Ukraine, the national consortium that involves Italy, were strides made in improving relations Ukrainian people. with the Russian government. After the politicians and crowds had left, government’s highest honor, thereby ignor- France and other European states could pay ing requests from western Ukrainian oblast rent for Ukraine’s natural gas system. She had secured a price of $300 per 1,000 members of the Kolomyia OUN-UPA councils, national deputies and civic Or the Russian government could buy the cubic meters, far less than the $417 to $450 Choir led the remaining 30 or so dedicated groups. pipelines from the Ukrainian government, price per thousand cubic meters the Russians patriots in singing Ukrainian liberation Such a decree would have introduced which “somehow makes a fetish of the gas are currently demanding from Ukraine but songs, such as “Oy u Lisi na Poliantsi, national educational and cultural programs transport system, considers it its national her- nevertheless out of line with the currently Stoyaly Povstantsi” (In the Forest and the to better inform a Ukrainian public misled itage, almost as if getting it from heaven, and depressed markets wracked by the autumn Glade, the Insurgents Stood), “Tam Pid by decades of Soviet propaganda, as was as not subject to privatization,” the prime banking collapse, which made $225 to $250 Lvivskym Zamkom” (There Near the Lviv done for UPA Commander-in-Chief Roman minister said mockingly. a more reasonable range, experts said. Castle) and “Chervona Kalyna” (The Shukhevych after the president posthu- Mainly, he touted the advantages of Nord “Their agreement means nothing to Putin Guelder Rose). mously awarded him the Hero of Ukraine Stream, a $9.2 billion pipeline project pro- and (Russian President Dmitry) Medvedev, The Svoboda All-Ukrainian Union was title on October 14, 2007. posed by the Russian government to trans- and they know it means nothing to her,” Mr. the only organization to lead nationwide port gas under the Baltic Sea into Germany. Lozowy said. commemorations of the 100th anniversary The Institute of National Memory led by The main advantage of Nord Stream, Meanwhile, the pro-Russian Party of of Bandera’s birth, organizing evening Ihor Yukhnovskyi has declared 2009 the Mr. Putin explained, is it would reduce gas Regions of Ukraine formed temporary inves- torch marches of more than 2,000 patriots Year of Bandera, during which it will dis- prices by bypassing transit countries such tigative committees to examine the govern- in Kyiv and drawing more than 100 march- tribute literature throughout Ukrainian as Ukraine, which continue to demand ment’s handling of the crisis and to consider ers in Symferopol and Zaporizhia, where institutions and schools, which will also higher rent for their pipelines and lower gas impeaching the president, also calling for they set ablaze Communist flags. host traveling exhibits. prices – a cost that is passed on to European Prime Minister Tymoshenko’s resignation at After pro-Russian parties threatened to “With regard to Bandera, we need to consumers. the January 14 session of Parliament. bring 1,500 demonstrators (only 30 showed win the fight for Ukraine’s youth,” Dr. “The Russians are going to keep pressing A day earlier, Parliamentary Chair up) and the Kharkiv City Council denied Yukhnovskyi stated. until they get some firm commitments from Volodymyr Lytvyn declared that Ukraine had Germans to activate the Nord Stream proj- lost the natural gas conflict with Russia ect,” Mr. Lozowy commented because its leaders failed to perform a com- tains that Ukraine’s gas storage and its own The first opportunity for Russia to strike a plex review of the conflict. Russia suspected... extraction will suffice for more than just (Continued from page 1) surviving the winter without new contracts. This appears to be mere bluffing. Holodomor 1932-1933, Residents of the cannot be ruled out. Disruptions to hot water and the heating The Holodomor... Village of Makarivka.” Russia insists that Ukraine owes $600 supply to households have been reported (Continued from page 3) It was designed by Zhytomyr sculptor million for gas delivered in 2008, and from eastern and southern Ukraine and Kostiantyn Vasylchenko. Gazprom wants Ukraine to reimburse $800 Kyiv (Ukrayinska Pravda, January 9, 11). officials offered no assistance in erecting the The words, “Steps to all you fellow villag- million that it lost because of the transit halt Naftohaz Deputy CEO Volodymyr monument, despite their assurances. Ms. ers, memory and sorrow upon you, the hun- (Ekho Moskvy, January 12). But the issue Trikolych admitted that Ukraine’s chemical Tereschuk hired a few laborers, including a gry years mowed you down, sharper and of the gas price for 2009 remains the thorni- industry had halved its gas consumption schoolboy. more vicious than a sword,” quoted from est. According to Kommersant, Ukraine has (UNIAN, January 8). The Sievierodonetsk- “No architects, no officials, no one,” she Zhytomyr writer Mykhailo Pasichnyk, are agreed to pay $250 per 1,000 square meters based Azot, one of Ukraine’s biggest chem- said. “I did everything. There wasn’t even engraved on a plaque. of gas – a price Gazprom offered at the end ical factories, stopped production (UNIAN, anyone to mix the concrete.” The devastation in Makarivka was excep- of December and Naftohaz rejected. But January 9). During the month the workers were set- tional, as the village hasn’t rebuilt its church, Moscow now wants “the market price” of It is feared in the Yushchenko adminis- ting the monument, Ms. Tereschuk served as destroyed during the collectivization years $450, something that Kyiv simply cannot tration that the gas row may result in the political lobbyist, public relations official leading up to the Holodomor. afford (Kommersant Ukraine, January 13). Ukraine losing the gas transit network, and construction manager, traveling from A family of 17 members perished, Ms. It is also not clear from whom Ukraine which is probably the country’s most lucra- Zhytomyr to Makarivka and back – a trek Tereschuk’s relatives recalled, and they cited will be buying gas. Ms. Tymoshenko insists tive asset. Mr. Putin said in a recent inter- that amounted to 112 miles each day. stories of cannibalism and live burials. on dropping RosUkrEnergo, a joint venture view that Russia was not against taking part “I am very ill, and I have sores,” said Ms. Though there were an estimated 1,000 between Gazprom and Ukrainian business- in the network’s privatization (Interfax, Teleschuk, who has diabetes. “But I did it all casualties, the Popilnianskyi District State man Dmytro Firtash, as middleman, a role January 11). The head of Ukraine’s with satisfaction.” Administration in 2008 published a book, it has been playing since early 2006. Both Presidential Secretariat, Viktor Baloha, None among Makarivka’s 950-plus resi- “Popilnianschyna Remembers,” confirming Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and accused Russia of “blackmailing” Ukraine dents contributed money to the monument, only 62 deaths in Makarivka. Its officials Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in order to grab the network. According to figuring Ms. Tereschuk was wealthy. “Why made minimal efforts to establish more casu- reportedly share this position. Mr. Firtash Mr. Baloha, if Kyiv did not agree to did you put up this monument?” one villager alties through documents and testimonies, said in a recent interview that Moscow’s conditions, Moscow expected an remarked. “You could have given me the Ms. Lutai said of the “soulless” book. RosUkrEnergo’s removal from the Russia- uprising against Mr. Yushchenko in the money.” At the same time, “we are late by 75 Ukraine trade would be no tragedy for him industrial east prompted by a stoppage of Despite all the trials, the village finally years,” she said, acknowledging the difficulty as RosUkrEnergo’s mediation, according to the local industry and freezing cold in dedicated and blessed its Holodomor monu- of current efforts. him, amounted to subsidizing Ukraine homes as a result of the absence of gas ment on November 21, 2008, in front of the “If we had recorded everything after (Vedomosti, January 11). Russia stated on (Ukrayinska Pravda, January 10). Ukrainian Home of Culture, seven months after it was World War II, when there were thousands of earlier occasions that Ukraine would have laws forbid the network’s privatization. erected. eyewitnesses, we would have an accurate to pay much more than the $179.50 that it A portrait of the Virgin Mary, her expres- estimate of how many perished,” Ms. Lutai was paying in 2008 if RosUkrEnergo’s The article above is reprinted from sion sorrowful and her hands folded over her said. “Now we’ll never know. But whether mediation is dropped. Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission heart, adorns the black granite monument two, four, five or 10 million died, a nation Russia is seemingly in a strong position from its publisher, the Jamestown bearing the words, “To the Victims of the within a nation died.” in the price talks. Ms. Tymoshenko main- Foundation, www.jamestown.org. No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 9

FOCUS ON PHILATELY

The World War I refugee camp at Gmünd and its postal facilities by Ingert Kuzych, Roman Dubyniak and of the barracks had to be renovated to some Peter Cybaniak extent. Each barrack was 40 meters long and 12 meters wide, and constructed of wood. The early weeks of World War I did not Each had four entrances with 12 high-set at all go as the Austrians had planned. windows along its length. Glowing hopes for a speedy victory by The camp was divided into 15 sections, Austrian troops over their nemesis, Serbia, each with eight housing barracks and one were dashed when Russia, Serbia’s ally, large additional building, half of which mobilized more quickly and attacked both served as a kitchen barrack and the other Figure 1. Galician refugees walking and riding to safety. the Austro-Hungarian Empire and its ally half for camp institutions. In addition to Germany, making substantial initial gains. these accommodations for shelter and board, Large portions of the Austrian crownlands there were other camp buildings dedicated of Galicia (Halychyna) and Bukovyna were to camp organization, security, maintenance occupied in the fall of 1914 and even though and support. Electricity and water were pro- many of the territories were cleared of the vided to the camp. Until lodging could be Russians by the summer of 1915 some completed at the camp, refugees were shel- remained under occupation throughout the tered in guest houses in the Gmünd vicinity. conflict. The living-quarters were each designed By the end of September 1914, less than to hold 200 to 250 persons, and some 25,000 two months after the outbreak of the war, to 30,000 inhabitants were regularly accom- between 60,000 and 70,000 refugees had modated in the camp. At one point the num- arrived in Vienna from the Russian-occupied ber of inhabitants reached over 36,000. (This eastern front. By 1915, the Austrian Ministry figure dwarfs the 1915 population total of of the Interior estimated that the number of 5,000 for the town of Gmünd itself). A sec- refugees who were eligible for state support tion built in the western portion of the camp had reached 600,000, of whom 450,000 in 1917 was for “superior-status refugees” came from Galicia and Bukovyna on the (including minor nobility and intelligentsia), eastern front and 150,000 came from the as well as administrative staff. It attempted southwestern front on the Italian border. to meet the needs of this more privileged Transported by train to refugee camps in the portion of society. Hence, each house was German-speaking hinterlands, the refugees allotted a bit of acreage where a vegetable were groped by the Austrian War Ministry patch could be grown and a storage shed Figure 2. A concert at the camp’s open-air pavilion. Note that a piano was pro- according to nationality for ease and speed could be set up. Because these buildings vided for the choristers. The large flag on the right would be the red-white-red of repatriation, and to prevent their assimila- were constructed of more durable materials, Austrian flag. The one on the left is bi-colored. It could have been blue over yel- tion into the surrounding communities. a more comfortable existence was possible low (the Ukrainian colors as well as those of Lower Austria) or black over yellow One of the largest camps was in the town in this area. (Some of these houses survive (the colors of the Habsburg monarchy). of Gmünd, Lower Austria (Niederosterriech), to the present day.) apothecary storehouse, an outpatient center, 1916 a drainage system was set up for the some 120 kilometers (75 miles) northwest The vast majority of refugees were and a building for disinfecting the sick and of Vienna, very close to the Austrian- Ukrainians, but Slovenians, Italians and camp’s sewerage. The wastewater was Bohemian border.1 In September of 1914, Croats were also housed at the camp. All new arrivals. In the middle of the camp was cleaned in coke “distilleries” and then chan- Gmünd was designated as the site of a refu- these nationalities of the empire did not nec- a large, open area some 200 meters square, neled into the nearby stream. gee camp for Ruthenian (Ukrainian) evacu- essarily get along even during peacetime; and in the center of this site was a covered All in all, the first year of 1915 was the ees from the eastern Austrian crownlands2 the crowded conditions made for an explo- stage where school children and camp resi- hardest and most frightful for the camp’s and a barracks camp (barackenlager) was sive situation and riots occasionally broke dents could present various programs. inhabitants. It was also the period of greatest hastily constructed south of the town.3 out. The Croats were particularly Fronting the open area was a large wooden crowding. Many internees did not receive Around 30,000 Ukrainians were housed in Russophilic and their removal in January church designed to meet the people’s spiri- adequate shelter until the second half of that this locale, while another 10,000 Ukrainians 1916 was met with relief. They were tual needs. year. Food shortages and crowding led to were interned in Wolfsberg and St. Andra, replaced with 10,000 new refugees from A camp school provided rudimentary stress, sickness and, for the weakest, death. Carinthia (Kärnten).4 Galicia. education for the youngsters, as well as By 1916 conditions had improved markedly. Ukrainian refugees underwent all sorts of Behind the camp gate was a section advanced training courses for adults. More buildings and services became avail- hardships in seeking to flee from the ravages devoted to the camp security. Three barracks Lessons for children began in the spring of able and a more normal life could be lived. and misery of the war; we have been able to housed guards and the gendarmerie, which 1915 and a five-grade curriculum was set Continued improvements in 1917 made obtain several postcards showing their was composed entirely of Czech speakers. up. By the time the camp closed in 1918, a camp life even more tolerable. plight. The hardest part for many was get- The Ukrainians had absolutely no problems total of 1,628 children had taken advantage Life in the camp ting from their relatively isolated villages to coming to an understanding with these fel- of this educational system, which awarded towns or cities where they could sometimes low-Slav protectors. semiannual report cards. In addition to tradi- Many of the able-bodied males in the board trains to take them to safety. However, The main street into the camp and two tional school subjects, other activities such camp, as well as some females, went to families with livestock were often not able side streets were asphalted; the others were as singing, handicrafts and theater presenta- work in jobs outside the camp. They were to obtain conveyance and had to make the covered with gravel. Separate buildings tions were organized. In the fall of 1915, a employed working in fields (planting or har- journey of hundreds of kilometers on foot. existed for post, telegraph, telephone, a can- first-year gymnasium (high school) curricu- vesting), in forests (cutting wood), in facto- Figure 1 depicts some of the more fortunate tina and administration; behind the latter lum was begun. In the evenings, adult cours- ries (industrial or munitions plants), or as refugees who were able to harness animals was a warehouse and a group of buildings es were offered for illiterate internees (to household servants. During the years that to wagons to make their escape. containing a storehouse, a bakery, the elec- learn to read and write Ukrainian), as well the camp functioned, some 22,000 internees as for those who wished to learn German. A Constructing the camp tric station, a butcher, the cold-storage depot, found work in the surrounding towns and stables, disinfection chemicals depository total of 917 adults are recorded as having villages; all of their labor was recompensed. The building of large barrack living quar- and a fire department. Additionally, 11 attended these sessions. A sizeable Ukrainian community lived in ters in Gmünd began in December 1914, clothes-washing kitchens were set up. For Although strict sanitary rules and proce- Vienna during the early part of the 20th cen- and by September 1915 a total of 144 units the aged, children and orphans separate resi- dures were enforced, the crowded condi- tury, and it maintained close ties with the was complete. When construction began, dences, nurseries and play centers were con- tions of the camp made the refugees suscep- Gmünd refugee camp. the barracks were hastily thrown together structed. tible to a variety of ills, and periodic disease A number of social and cultural activities and rather flimsy, since no one thought the Across from the administration building outbreaks did occur, particularly typhus. were organized, including some of the afore- war would last as long as it did. Originally, was the hospital section with 15 hospitals, These epidemics contributed to a fairly high the buildings had no floors. Eventually, all an apothecary, a hospital warehouse, an death rate in the camp. During the course of (Continued on page 10)

1 Following World War I the new Austrian- fiercest early fighting of the conflict took place. construct such a camp and subsequently, all man- Bruck an der Leitha, Lower Austria. Czechoslovak border ran through the town of At the outbreak, 43 percent of the inhabitants of ner of supplies to keep the camp functioning- 5 According to the 1951 history of the Gmünd Gmünd. A section north of the River Lainsitz the crownlands were Ukrainian. Many Austrians could be brought in at regular intervals. refugee camp prepared by city archivist Rupert went to Czechoslovakia and was renamed Ceske still referred to these people as Ruthenians, but 4 Examples of camps for other nationalities from Hauer, the Barackenlager Gmünd housed some Velenice. The southern, main part of the town, by the war years the description Ukrainian(s) Galicia and Bukovyna included those for Poles 25,000 Ukrainian refugee families by May of however, remained with Austria. was becoming more widely used. in Leibnitz, Styria (Steiermark; for 30,000 intern- 1915 and within a year the number reached 2 The Crownlands of Galicia and Bukovyna were 3 Gmünd was a major railway center, which ees) and Chotzen, Bohemia (for 20,000); some 70,000. Based on the number of buildings and heavily populated by Ukrainians and it was in made the locale an ideal site for such a camp. 20,000 Jews were housed in Nikolsburg, Pohrlitz, their capacity, however, these figures seem very the Ukrainian-inhabited lands that some of the Buildng materials could be quickly ferried in to and Gaya in Moravia, and another 3,000 Jews in much inflated. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 No. 3

Figure 3. Dedication of a monument to Austrian Emperor Franz-Joseph on his 85th Figure 4. Type III Gmünd camp official envelope (thick print, shortened second birthday, August 18, 1915. Note some of the barracks buildings in the background. line). Sent registered to the Ukrainian Relief Committee in Vienna on April 30, 1917, it bears a hand-stamp of the Work Procurement Department of Camp the Imperial Austrian Army (about 8 percent Gmünd, as well as the circular Gmünd “c” cancel. The World War I... were Ukrainian) as young men of Galicia (Continued from page 9) were called up for military service irrespec- mentioned courses for illiterate camp inhab- tive of ethnicity. Since on the eastern front itants and the staging of plays and concerts. Austria was engaged in fighting Tsarist Eventually, a fairly rich cultural life devel- Russia, Ukrainians who had not been called oped at the camp. Several singing groups up or who had been exempted from call-up emerged (Figure 2) and the theater program volunteered to form a separate Ukrainian gave the internees something to look for- Legion of Ukrainian officers and men within ward to and promoted morale. the Austrian Army. The Austrian authorities, On August 18, 1915, the 85th birthday of though at first a bit reluctant, soon agreed. Emperor Franz Josef, a monument was ded- One of the aims of this unit was to support icated at the camp in the presence of high- Ukrainian aspirations of national sovereign- ranking Austrian and Ukrainian dignitaries ty within the Russian Empire. (Figure 3). The governor of Lower Austria, The Barackenlager Gmünd was an Count Richard Bienert-Schmerling, visited important support facility for the the camp on September 10, 1915 (Figure Ukrainian Legion, and the camp also pro- 14). In September of 1917 the Ukrainian vided volunteer recruits for this military Greek-Catholic Metropolitan Andrey unit. We have come across a photograph Sheptytsky visited the camp for three days. showing a group of about 130 volunteers Squabbling did not necessarily occur only in April of 1916, all smartly dressed in among the different ethnic groups within the uniforms and marching four abreast, leav- camp. There were plenty of disgruntled ing the camp and heading for the Legion’s internees who were unhappy with the recruiting center. A hospital at the Gmünd Figure 5. Registered letter mailed to “Lev” Levitsky, the senior Ukrainian mem- Austrian government that brought them to camp was set aside for wounded ber in the Austrian Parliament, on June 21, 1915. Since this was not an official their sorry condition. On the other hand, Ukrainian soldiers. dispatch, full postage was required: 15-heller letter rate and 20-heller registry. there were others who supported the monar- Camp mails Note the Gmünd “a” cancel. chy and who agitated against the idea of a greater Ukraine – the merging of the A post office also existed in the camp, Austrian Ukrainians with those in the and it used a circular, double-ring, bridged Russian Empire. The possibility of such a postmark “Barackenlager/ Gmünd, N.O.” notion had begun to be discussed after with one of four counter-letters, a through d. Ukrainians from various parts of the Each cover had the same pre-printed return Austrian Empire were thrown together in address, but prepared slightly differently the camp, some of whom also met fellow (four different types). The address itself “K. Ukrainians from the Russian Empire who k. Barackenverwaltung, Gmünd N.O.” had deserted or were POWs. translates as the “Imperial and Royal One episode that left a bitter taste had to Barracks’ Administration in Gmünd, Lower do with the Ukrainians from Bukovyna. Austria.” The return address types differ in Initially there were only a few hundred in the thickness of the lettering or in the length the camp and they were repatriated in the of the underlying lines. The illustrated cover summer of 1915. In June of 1916, however, displays the “c” postmark. Note that no a Russian offensive drove a much larger postage was required for mail sent on offi- number of Bukovyna Ukrainians to the cial business. Gmünd camp. These new refugees were for The addressees on the covers we have the most part Orthodox Christians, while the come across are Ukrainian relief organiza- Galicians were Greek-Catholic. Since the tions that sought to improve the condition of Russian enemy was Orthodox, the the camp’s inhabitants. The vast majority of Bukovyna Orthodox Ukrainians felt them- the letters went to the “Hilfskomitee für selves a threatened minority amongst so ukrainische Flüchtlinge aus Galizien und der Figure 6. Ukrainian Legion field post correspondence card sent via the Gmünd many Greek-Catholics. Under the strident Bukowina” (the Relief Committee for post office on July 21, 1916 franked with a 5-heller stamp to pay the postcard rate. influence of a group of intellectuals, they Galician and Bukovinian Refugees), which Note the two-line receiving hand-stamp of the Ukrainian Legion office in Vienna. demanded their “own” church, barracks, in 1915 was at Mezzanin 5, Piaristengasse, school, teachers, inspectors, etc. – in short, a but by late 1916 was located on Strozzigasse istered mail – straight to the top, to “Lev” We have also been able to locate a few complete separation with the Galicians. 32 (both in Wien VIII) in Vienna. Some let- Levitsky, the senior Ukrainian member in pieces of mail from the Bukovinian These Bukovyna Ukrainians numbered ters went to the “Gesamt-ukrainischen the Austrian Parliament (Figure 5).9 (In this Ukrainian refugee camp at Enzersdorf, sent about 2,200 and they raised such a clamor Kulturrates” (United Ukrainian Cultural case, an “a” circular postmark was utilized.) via that camp’s Field Post No. 182. that eventually the camp administrators Council), which was located at the same Since the Ukrainian Legion was part of About 200,000 to 300,000 people are relented and on September 6, 1916, all of address, and provided supplies and publica- the Imperial Austrian Army, its various units estimated to have passed through the the Bukovynians were resettled into another tions of an educational nature. Several letter- utilized the Austrian Field Post. The Barackenlager Gmünd during the years that camp at Enzersdorf, outside of Vienna. writers we found decided to ignore regular Ukrainian Legion’s Facilities at Camp the camp remained open (1915-1918). A large number of Ukrainians served in channels and sent their petitions – using reg- Gmünd were assigned Field Post No. 445. However, many refugees arrived ill, debili- Thus, outgoing military mail from the camp tated, emaciated or wounded. At least 20,000 6 Prior to World War I, Ukrainian ethnographic Gmünd 2 on August 1, 1920. was marked “Field Post 445” and required inhabitants (including Legionaries) died and territories were divided between the Russian 8 The envelopes used in these official dis- no postage. However, some military mails were buried in Gmünd. Some sources cite a death total of 30,000 or 35,000. (On aver- Empire in the east (roughly 90 percent) and patches differ in their color, having been pre- were sent via the camp post office and did the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the west pared with whatever paper was available at age, over two dozen people were interred require franking. Figure 6 presents a distinc- (some 10 percent). the printer at the time the request for pre- daily.) On September 26, 1964, the 50th 7 tive Ukrainian Legion field post correspon- Counter-letters “a,” “b” and “c” were known printed envelopes was made. Colors we have anniversary of the camp’s founding, a mon- to be used in 1915-1920; “d” used in seen range from cream, to buff, to light brown, dence card – with its prominent Ukrainian 1915-1926, although the office was renamed to greenish-blue. Legion seal – sent from Camp Gmünd. (Continued on page 15) No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 11 CONCERT NOTES: “Colors and Keys” spotlights Dolnycky and Semenova by Oksana Zholkewych tinct sections, each one featuring music reflective of a certain mood exuded by TORONTO – “Colors and Keys” was colors. The first, “Evocative Colors,” the name of a unique concert held at stirred the soul and touched the imagina- Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation tion with romantic memories. Gallery in Toronto on November 2, 2008, Montreal-born and Vienna-trained pia- as the opening event in the second season nist Ms. Dolnycky performed Gabriel of the “Music on Canvas” concert series. Faure’s Improvisation No. 5 with great The recital featured pianists Maria sensitivity. She was then joined by duet Dolnycky and Irina Semenova, and took partner Ms. Semenova, an accomplished place against the backdrop of abstract art- concert pianist from St. Petersburg, work by contemporary Canadian artists Russia, in two pieces by Claude Debussy, Sonia Cyhynka, Rina Gottesman, Leonore whereby listeners were able to perceive Johnston and Charlene Mandelbaum. the play between colour, light and tone. Between musical works, modern art spe- Ms. Dolnycky went on to perform solo cialist Dr. Gerald Needham of York works by Eric Satie, among them the University showed slides and entertained rarely played “Three Distinguished the audience with various quirks on the his- Waltzes of a Jaded Dandy” and “Ragtime” torical interaction between art and music, in from the ballet “Parade.” It is interesting particular on how colors influence our per- to note that the aforesaid ballet was a col- ception of both art forms. To quote Wassily laborative project of the composer artist Kandinsky: “Color is the keyboard, the eyes Pablo Picasso and writer Jean Cocteau. The three participants of the concert “Colors and Keys” (from left) Irina are the hammers, the soul is the piano with In the second part, “Intriguing Colors,” Semenova, Dr. Gerald Needham and Maria Dolnycky. strings, and the artist is the hand that plays, the audience was introduced to the mys- touching various keys and causing vibra- tery of colors in conjunction with abstract performed by Ms. Dolnycky and Ms. show-stopper by Mr. Matton, a Canadian tions to stir within the soul.” works by composers Robert Starer and Semenova, namely by Maurice Ravel, composer from Quebec. For the past year, gallery visitors have Arnold Schoenberg, both born and edu- Francis Poulenc, George Gershwin, The concept of directly uniting music had the opportunity to become acquainted cated in Vienna and evidently influenced Myroslaw Skoryk and Roger Matton. The and art – a first for this Ukrainian venue with the work of Ms. Dolnycky, founder by Kandinsky, who wrote much about the true highlight of the evening was the jazz – gave everyone present the opportunity and artistic director of “Music on interaction of colour and sound. At this music of Ukrainian composer Mr. Skoryk. to witness first-hand how the two art Canvas.” Last year at the gallery Prof. point, slides were shown of works by The pianists were able to underscore the forms can not only co-exist, but mutually Needham offered a series of informative Kandinsky and Schoenberg himself; the humor, light-heartedness and phenomenal enhance one another, creating a new and lectures on 19th and 20th century art. latter having been both a composer and rhythmic drive of this composer from unforeseen experience for the viewer and Thus, an artistic collaboration was created an artist. Ms. Dolnycky then performed Lviv. The performance was at once dra- listener alike. that led to this unprecedented and highly Schoenberg’s Six Little Piano Pieces Op. matic and playful, manifesting great tem- The performers were greeted with successful event. 19, a suite written in the captivating perament as well as a remarkable sense of heartfelt and enthusiastic applause from The concert was divided into three dis- 12-tone style of musical arrangement interaction and precise ensemble work the audience, and an overwhelming num- which the composer himself co-created. between the two musicians. As the final ber of those present later expressed a Oksana Zholkewych is a music educa- The third and final part, “Vibrant work on the program, they performed strong desire to see more such events in tor from Toronto. Colors,” featured dynamic, upbeat duets “Brazilian Dance,” a fiery and dazzling the future.

Andriana Chuchman: a new diva and “Star of Tomorrow” by Orysia Paszczak Tracz Chuchman and countertenor David Trudgen. The former delivered Dorinda’s music flawlessly and charmingly...” WINNIPEG – Ukrainians in North America have a new – Richard Covello, Opera Canada, 2008. cultural treasure, and she is only 26 years old. Andriana ”…Chuchman looked fabulous in Art Deco dresses… Chuchman, a Winnipeg-born soprano, “seems on her way But her real stardom was vocal…” – John Bender, Opera to a major place on the world’s operatic stages,” wrote John Canada, 2006. Bender in Opera Canada back in 2006. “The afternoon’s clear star was soprano Andriana Ms. Chuchman is now in her second year as a member Chuchman, who brought crisp coloratura, tender phrasing of the Patrick G. & Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at the and assured comic timing to the part of Carolina… Lyric Opera of Chicago. During the summers of 2005 and Chuchman played the character as a wide-eyed ingénue in 2006 she sang in the prestigious Merola Program of the San the Marilyn Monroe vein, and she pulled it off flawlessly.” Francisco Opera Center. Ms. Chuchman was the soprano – Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, 2006. soloist for the 2008 Bank of America Do-It-Yourself “Radiant soprano Andriana Chuchman possesses a clear, “Messiah” concerts at the Civic Opera House in Chicago in mature voice that could make a grown woman weep…” – December 2008. Holly Harris, Winnipeg Free Press, 2005. On February 7, 10 and 12, she will be performing with “The audience was treated to a sneak preview of a por- The Edmonton Opera in Gaetano Donizetti’s “Daughter of tion of Massenet’s ‘manon,’ the opera that will open the the Regiment.” The announcement for this event states: Lyric’s next season, when Andriana Chuchman gave a truly “Join the adventures of this exuberant band of brothers and rousing performance of Manon’s gavotte. New to the pro- their adopted ‘daughter’ Marie, played by star of tomorrow gram, the Canadian singer exuded poise and grace. Her Andriana Chuchman.” spectacular voice and physical beauty made for a true pres- Ms. Chuchman grew up singing. She is the younger ence on the stage.” – Rebecca Henllan-Jones, LASPLASH. daughter of Dr. George Chuchman, a professor of econom- COM, 2008. ics at the University of Manitoba, and Irene Kuzmych “Those who believe an opera is not an opera unless the Chuchman, a music teacher and accompanist, originally leading lady delivers impeccable, stratospheric sounds got from Sudbury, Ontario. Andriana and her sister Olesia sang their fill with Chuchman’s portrayal of the capricious together all the time. As a duet, they performed at many Adina…” – Walter Thiessen, Opera Canada, 2007. Winnipeg and Manitoba events, from Plast get-togethers to Chuchman often includes works composed or arranged the Kyiv Pavilion at Folklorama, to winning the duet sing- by Ukrainian composers, such as Yakiv Stepovy and ing classes for five consecutive years at the Winnipeg Larry Lapidus Anatolii Kos-Anatolsky, in her many recitals, leaving Music Festival. Andriana Chuchman reviewers asking for more of the same: “We should be They also performed outside of Manitoba, including the grateful to Andriana, a Canadian of Ukrainian origin, for Yonkers Ukrainian Heritage Festival in Yonkers, N.Y., in Manitoba Arts Festivals. In the Canadian Music introducing these songs to us. Let’s hear more of them,” 2000. Olesia’s and Andriana’s CD “Vesniani Nochi/Spring Competition, held in Toronto on June-July 2004, Ms. wrote Brian Dickie in his blog “Life as General Director of Nights,” released in 1999, has been popular among young Chuchman was the top overall vocalist, national level Chicago Opera Theater” in 2008. and old alike. The sisters were a big hit performing under (vocal category 22 and under), and in Charlottetown, Prince Reviewer Gwenda Nemerofsky of the Winnipeg Free the full moon for all the participants of the International Edward Island, at that competition in August 2004, she was Press probably said all there was to say about Andriana Plast Jamboree at the velyka bonfire in Birds Hill Park in the runner-up National Vocal Scholarship winner. During Chuchman in her 2005 debut in the Manitoba Opera’s “The Manitoba in 1998. 1999-2004, she studied under acclaimed Canadian soprano Elixir of Love” by Donizetti. Ms. Chuchman is a graduate of the School of Music at Tracy Dahl. “Andrianna Chuchman was impressive in her profes- the University of Manitoba. During her student years she On June 16, 2007, Ms. Chuchman appeared as a special sional debut as Giannetta, a peasant girl. She showed all the performed in many concerts and operas, and was awarded guest in the live broadcast of Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie poise and polish of a seasoned veteran, with the appealing numerous top music awards and scholarships, including the Home Companion.” The performances are archived on freshness of youth. Add to this a pure tone, expressive inter- prestigious Rose Bowl at the Winnipeg Music Competition http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2007/06/16/. pretation, and a striking appearance, and she’s someone to Festival. She was the first place scholarship winner, senior The superlatives for Ms. Chuchman keep flowing: watch for in the future.” And that was at the beginning of voice class, at the Provincial Music Finals of the Associated “There were two Canadians – soprano Andriana the young soprano’s career. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 No. 3 No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 13 Hutsul villagers transport winter traditions to New York by Helen Smindak gurdy), a rih (shepherd’s horn) and the trembity. NEW YORK – Since early childhood, They also brought with them priceless Ivan Zelenchuk of Kryvorivnia, high in treasures that could not be packed into Ukraine’s Carpathian Mountains, has been valises – age-old Hutsul winter songs writ- following unique winter traditions handed ten down in a notebook by Ivan Zelenchuk’s down by his father and grandfather and father and lovingly preserved by Petro for countless others before them. The best- more than 50 years. known koliadnyk (winter song singer) in In the weeks that followed, the moun- the region, Mr. Zelenchuk fervently believes taineers moved with characteristic Hutsul it is his personal mission to preserve aplomb through hours of tiring rehearsals as Koliada, the most important Hutsul event of they prepared for three major appearances – the year, for future generations. a concert at The Ukrainian Museum in the He is also eager to convey the spirit and East Village, a concert combined with an art good cheer of ancient winter songs to any- exhibit and food tasting at the Ukrainian one who will listen, including blasé New Institute of America on Fifth Avenue, and a Yorkers. Customs and rituals which now stage production with a cast of singers, coincide with the celebration of Christmas musicians, dancers and puppet players at have been practiced in Ukraine’s Carpathian the famed La MaMa Experimental Theater region for ages. Club in lower Manhattan. Ivan Zelenchuk arrived in this city last Their itinerary also included a stop at St. month with his brother Petro and 25-year- George Ukrainian School, where some 300 old son Mykola after a 12-hour bus and excited students cheered the carolers during Alexander Khantaev plane trip from their native village, a popu- a concert in the school auditorium. Ivan Zelenchuk, the “bereza” of the Koliadnyky of Kryvorivnia. lar vacation spot for such famous Ivan Zelenchuk got his chance to bring Ukrainians as Lesia Ukrainka, Ivan Franko, Hutsul winter songs to the world – at least and Ukraine’s first president, Mykhailo to a small but important part of it – when Hrushevsky. They were accompanied by ethnographer Virlana Tkacz, founder and master fiddler and volynka (bagpipe) player artistic director of the Yara Arts Group in Dmytro Tafiychuk and his brother New York, visited Kryvorivnia during a Mykhailo, who hail from the neighboring 2002 expedition to Ukraine. village of Bukovtse. Embarking in Kyiv on Ms. Tkacz agreed with Ivan Zelenchuk a Delta flight to New York, the men reluc- that people outside Ukraine should become tantly left behind a 200-year-old handcraft- acquainted with Hutsul winter songs. As the ed violin which customs officials would not director of the Yara Arts Group, a resident let out of the country because of its historic company of the La MaMa Theater, she has value. created 19 original shows that have been At Kennedy Airport, toting valises hold- performed in New York, Kyiv, Lviv, ing heavy beaded and tasseled costumes Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Ulan Ude (Buryatia) and musical instruments, including two and Ulan Bator (Mongolia). Her transla- 12-foot-long mountain horns (trembity) car- tions of poetry were published as a book ried in six-foot lengths for easier transport, “In a Different Light: A Bilingual Anthology they passed through U.S. Customs with of Ukrainian Literature,” translated by Ms. nary a hitch. They arrived in Manhattan Tkacz and Wanda Phipps). Named Honored with three violins, five sopilky (flutes), a Winter song singers gather in a circle before heading out to sing at village homes volynka or duda (bagpipe), a lira (hurdy- (Continued on page 18) in Kryvorivnia.

THEATER NOTES: “Still the River Flows” based on timeless traditions by Ihor Slabicky “That’s a wrap!” The first impression was that the piece had ended. Ms. Tarnawsky NEW YORK – Virlana Tkacz’s produc- then took off her smock, revealing her beau- tions with the Yara Arts Group are always tiful folk costume, and started singing “Mii astounding and brilliantly executed. This Mylenkii” (My Beloved), gracefully danc- year’s offering, “Still the River Flows: ing with the broom, in a reverie over her Winter Songs from the Carpathian beloved. Mountains,” presented December 26-28, As she danced off stage, Mykhailo 2008, at the La MaMa ETC was no excep- Tafiychuk and Dmytro Tafiychuk came out tion. The three-act piece created by Ms. and played traditional Hutsul fiddle tunes. Tkacz is based on the timeless Ukrainian Svitanya performed “Sadi Moma,” accom- Christmas traditions. panying themselves on dumbek, guitar, tam- The first act, “Cosmos,” presented the bura and gaida. Ms. Ermolenko sang Creation Story – when there was no world, “Kazala Meni Maty” (As Mother Told Me) nothing, except an endless expanse of water with accompaniment by Mr. Vance on vio- – as it is sung in the koliady. This featured lin, and Ms. Juslin danced “Time Passes,” to Lilia Pavlovsky (as the Sun), with dancers name just a few. Inka Juslin (as the Breath) and Kayla They did this against the backdrop of a Alexander Khantaev Ankeny (as the Moon). set designed by Watoku Ueno that imparted The angels (Zoya and Kyrylo Pavlovsky) comfort Rachel (Lilia Pavlovsky). Act 2 was “Cave,” the “vertep” Nativity the dynamics of a river flowing through the play that is usually presented with puppets. snow-covered Carpathians, flowing through Here, Virlana Tkacz had the actors playing and around mountains and valleys, sur- those roles: Herod (played in a most evil rounded by birch trees. manner by Taras Pavlovsky), the Three Wise Several things truly impressed me about Men (who spoke three different languages), this work by Ms. Tkacz. First was the sheer Rachel (Lilia Pavlovsky), the Angel size of the cast. I counted 30 members on (Antonina Ermolenko), seductive Death stage for the final curtain call – all dressed in (portrayed by Nina Ariadna) and the Devil authentic and ornately detailed costumes. (Brandon Vance, whose violin plays the They were balanced by the minimalist set deadly song that ends Herod’s life). The design. I do not recall more than five stage chorus was directed by Julian Kytasty. All props being used through the whole piece; were quite serious and profound, as it should four of them appeared in the first act. be. Most impressive was the fact that the The third act, “Celebration,” was light- cast members were performers of various hearted entertainment to ease the solemnity ethnic backgrounds from all over the of the second act. This allowed the perform- world. Although the Yara Arts Group is ers to highlight their own talents. based in New York City, for this piece Ms. The third act began (or, the second act Tkacz brought in the Svitanya Women’s finished) with Nadia Tarnawsky coming out Ensemble (Susan Anderson, Kayla of the wings, dressed in a smock, sweeping the stage with a huge broom, exclaiming (Continued on page 18) The Svitanya Women’s Vocal Ensemble presents solstice songs. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 No. 3

ber-countries. NATO’s indecision on this NEWSBRIEFS issue at its November 2008 ministerial (Continued from page 2) meeting underscored the urgency of pro- GTS a lot of money if it manages to build ceeding with U.S.-Georgia bilateral secu- the system correctly. (Ukrinform) rity arrangements. The development of a strategic partnership with Georgia rests Ukrainians killed in Gaza on bipartisan consensus in the United States. Public statements and visits to KYIV – A Ukrainian woman, Al-Jar Georgia by key Democrats in Congress Albina Volodymyrivna, and her 2-year-old and in the presidential campaign of child died in a shell blast during an attack Barack Obama in the aftermath of the by an Israeli tank on the Tufah district of Russian invasion underscored that con- eastern Gaza. The 12-year-old daughter of sensus, as did bipartisan Congressional the deceased woman was taken to the approval for massive civil and military intensive care unit of the local hospital, reconstruction assistance to Georgia. The according to Ukraine’s Representation in charter defines U.S.-Georgia relations as the Palestinian Authority, said Ukraine’s a “strategic partnership” for the first time Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 8. and enshrines a U.S. “vital interest in a CLACLASSSSIFIEDIFIEDSS The Representation is now taking mea- strong, independent, sovereign, unified sures to find out details of the tragedy and and democratic Georgia, capable of TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL MARIA OSCISLAWSKI (973) 292-9800 x 3040 establish contacts with relatives of the responsible self-defense.” It describes this Ukrainian citizens killed. (Ukrinform) OR E-MAIL [email protected] partnership as “based on shared values 300 Ukrainians remain in Gaza and common interests,” thereby elevating it above any expediency-dictated arrange- SERVICES KYIV – Around 300 Ukrainian citizens ments with unfriendly third parties such wishing to leave the Gaza Strip remain in as Russia. (Eurasia Daily Monitor) the conflict zone, according to a spokes- man for the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ukraine to buy US navy frigates Ministry, Vasyl Kyrylych. At a press con- KYIV – During 2009 Ukraine is plan- ference on January 12 he said that up to ning to buy from the United States frigate 100 citizens had submitted official state- vessels for its domestic naval forces, ments in order to return to their homeland Defense Minister Yurii Yekhanurov report- or leave the Gaza Strip. However, Mr. ed on January 8. He said the cost of a new Kyrylych said that there is no agreement ship is approximately $400 million (U.S.); yet on an air corridor to evacuate the citi- a used ship costs between $50 million and zens. “The Ukrainian Embassy in Israel PROFESSIONALS $60 million. Also planned, according to has received queries from Ukrainian citi- Mr. Yekhanurov, are a new Ukrainian cor- zens regarding their possible evacuation. vette vessel, the design for a multifunc- This question is being worked out. The tional missile complex and the moderniza- obstacle in the urgent evacuation [of citi- tion of MIG-29 pursuit planes and helicop- zens] from the conflict zone is the difficul- ters. (Ukrinform) ty of forming an air corridor for aircraft. I want to stress that the Ukrainian Embassy Two new Polish Consulates in Israel, the [country’s] office in Palestine and the [Ukrainian] Embassy in Jordan are KYIV – Poland is planning to open new working out a scheme of possible evacua- consulates in Ivano-Frankivsk and tion of Ukrainian citizens, but this scheme Vinnytsia to deal with the issuance of will be realized after resolving all the visas. The announcement was made on issues linked to the safe travel of aircraft January 12 by Polish Consul General in through checkpoints,” he said. Lviv Grzegorz Opalinski. (Ukrinform) (Ukrinform) Vinnytsia commemorates Vasyl Stus One-on-One Faina hostage talks continue VINNYTSIA, Ukraine – Ukraine’s PSAT / SAT / ACT Tutoring KYIV – The Ministry of Foreign Vinnytsia region on January 13 commem- Foundation for Learning Affairs (MFA) of Ukraine is continuing orated a renowned native son, poet Vasyl Locations in Harding & Randolph work toward the release of the ship Faina Stus, who was born on January 6, 1938, 973-895-1774 and its crew, which are held hostage by in the village of Rakhnivtsi, Haisyn dis- Somali pirates, MFA press secretary Vasyl trict. This year on his birthday, the region- Kyrylych said at a news briefing on al office of the Writers’ Union of Ukraine, MERCHANDISE January 12. The press secretary said that, in association with the Congress of the at the request of the hostages’ relatives, Ukrainian Intellectuals and the the ministry is seeking a chance to get a Department of Culture of the Vinnytsia group picture of the crew members, and Regional State Administration, have organize direct telephone talks with those launched an unusual commemoration near and dear to them in Ukraine to con- titled, “Koliada based on Vasyl Stus.” The firm they are alive. Mr. Kyrylych noted meeting participants remembered the poet the problems that appeared in the negotia- by reciting his poetry and singing songs tions as they were close to being com- based on his poetry. The village of pleted “because of a third party’s involve- Rakhnivtsi held official commemorative OPPORTUNITY ment.” It was in late September 2008 that events. “The traditional Stus Readings pirates from Somalia hijacked the Faina took place. All libraries of the region with 33 T-72 tanks, anti-aircraft weapon- opened book subject exhibitions,” report- ry, rocket-propelled grenades and ammu- ed regional administration official Maria EARN EXTRA INCOME! nition aboard. The majority of crew mem- Skrypnyk. (Ukrinform) bers are citizens of Ukraine; two are citi- New coin honors anthem’s author The Ukrainian Weekly is looking zens of Russia. One Russian crew mem- for advertising sales agents. ber, Capt. Vladimir Korobkov, died of a KIV – The National Bank of Ukraine For additional information contact heart attack. (Ukrinform) (NBU), continuing its series “Outstanding Maria Oscislawski, Advertising Strategic partnership of U.S.. Georgia Persons of Ukraine,” and as of January 14 Manager, The Ukrainian Weekly, has put into circulation a jubilee coin with WASHINGTON – On January 9 in a face value of 2 hrv dedicated to Pavlo (973) 292-9800, ext 3040. Washington, barely a week before the Chubynsky, ethnographer, specialist in change of presidential administrations, folklore, poet, public and cultural figure, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and author of the Ukrainian national and Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs anthem “Sche Ne Vmerla Ukraina.” The Grigol Vashadze signed the U.S.-Georgia coin is made of German silver; the quality Charter on Strategic Partnership. The of coinage is “special uncirculated”; its WANT IMPACT? document and the overall guiding concept mass is 12.8 grams. The coin has a diame- Run your advertisement here, primarily involve issues of hard security ter of 31 millimeters; its rim is grooved. Insure and be sure. and defense. Russia’s August 2008 inva- The coin’s circulation is 35,000. in The Ukrainian Weekly’s sion of Georgia helped catalyze Chubynsky is one of founders of the field CLASSIFIEDS section. Washington’s work on this document, of Ukrainian ethnography; he headed eth- Join the UNA! while inspiring the opposite response in nographic expeditions studying Ukraine, several Western European NATO mem- Belarus and Moldova. (Ukrinform) No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 15

in this new part of the town. In 1921 the The World War I... dye manufacturer Heinisch (today Eybl (Continued from page 10) International AG) moved into the former ument titled “Refugees” by the renowned hospital laundry and the hospital surgery; Ukrainian sculptor Gregor Kruk was dedi- the factory Bobbin (a furniture builder cated to these victims of the war at the that became one of the biggest firms in Gmünd refugee cemetery. the area) moved into the facility for disin- The commemorative envelope shown in fection. During the following years, Figure 7 was issued on October 18, 1997, in Agrana – the biggest industrial facility in Gmünd for a memorial exhibition. Shown Gmünd-Neustadt – also moved into the on both the cachet and cancellation are the area. Today the factory largely produces entrance to the Barackenlager Gmünd as products based on potato starch. Another well as the “Refugees” memorial. very important company in this area is Leyrer und Graf, a construction company. What happened to the camp? But small businesses, cooking, and com- There was a continuous turnover of ref- mercial operations also continue to pump ugees in the camp for a variety of reasons. life into this part of the town. During the course of the war, if the enemy On the main street of the camp, where was driven out of a certain region and if the former camp administration was once the area now seemed secure, the inhabit- situated, today there is a Cafe Pub, a plant ants were allowed to return to rebuild their center and a fashion boutique. Various lives. At other times, refugees were able to housing developments (obviously of more find accommodations with extended fami- durable design) have been built along ly or with friends. Or, they would leave some of the streets that formerly ran Figure 7. Cover sponsored by the Ukrainian Stamp Collectors Club of Austria because they had found employment and a alongside the barracks. depicts the entrance to the Gmünd camp and the “Refugees” monument by sculptor Gregor Kruk. place to live in some city or town. These, Bibliography as well as many other circumstances help explain why there is no definite accounting 1. The Gmünd website features a 76-77. (Originally appeared in Osterreichisch- for the total number of refugees that passed Themenweg (guided tour) with Infotafeln 3. Hugel, Lubomyr. “The Ukrainian Ukrainische Rundschau, Sonderausgabe Nr. through the camp. (information signs), many of which describe Refugee Camp in Gmünd, Austria, 5 (October 1977). In early 1918, Austria-Hungary and and show what life was like at the refugee 1914-1917, and its Postal Facilities.” 5. Thorpe, Julie. “Belonging in Austria: Germany signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk camp: http://gmuend.riskommunal.net/sys- Ukrainian Philatelist No. 53/54 (1988): Citizens, Minorities and Refugees in the with Soviet Russia, ending the war in the tem/web/zusatzseite.aspx?menuonr= 39-43. Twentieth Century” in Matt Killingsworth east. During the course of the year the 219170187&deta ilonr=219399089. 4. Ostheim-Dzerowycz, Maria. “Das (ed.), Europe: New Voices, New Gmünd Camp was emptied as people sim- 2. Hnatkova, Ya. “Ukrainskyi Tabir Fluchtlingslager in Gmünd” (The Refugee Perspectives (Melbourne: The ply went home or left to start new lives else- Bizhentsiv u Gmindi, Avstria, 1914-1917 Camp in Gmünd). Die Briefmarke (July Contemporary Europe Research Center, where. ta Yikhnie Poshtove Ustatkuvannia” (The 2000): 34-37 and (August 2000): 28-29. University of Melbourne, 2007): 90-104. After the war, numerous Austrian com- Ukrainian Refugee Camp in Gmünd, panies bought up the cheap plots of land Austria, 1914-1917 and its Postal and settled into the abandoned buildings Facilities). Visti Kombatanta No.1 (2004): '$(*-6 -/()*7 -.&*7, 5*  -!,! /, 10 ,/ ) 2008 ,.  %4* / *"/ 3)-.6 )4 )% *,*"3$% 9 Lev (Leo) was a nickname; his true name in the Parliament and the Diet, he became the was Kost Levytsky, He was elected to the most influential Ukrainian political leader in , 
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mic concerns, an increase in violent crime in Freedom retreats... some countries and the rise of populist (Continued from page 4) demagogues. Paraguay and Cuba saw Shevchenko Society offers Eastern Europe: Non-Baltic countries of the improvements in 2008, although the Castro former Soviet Union continued their decade- government continues to be one of the fellowship in Ukrainian studies long decline, now ranking below Sub- world’s most repressive regimes. Colombia, Saharan Africa and the Middle East on seve- Nicaragua, Mexico and Venezuela were NEW YORK – The Shevchenko [email protected]. Applicants must ral survey indicators. Russia and Georgia, among the countries registering declines. Scientific Society is inviting applications send a letter with their name, citizenship, • Western Europe and North America: which went to war over South Ossetia, were for the Shevchenko Society Postdoctoral current position (title), work address, The region continues to earn the highest among the region’s notable declines, as well Fellowship for the 2009-2010 academic home address, e-mail and phone number, scores in Freedom in the World. The elec- as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and year. Funded by generous contributions research field or discipline, and the month tion of Barack Obama as U.S. president from the Ukrainian American community, and year they received a Ph.D., the name Moldova. Democracy in Central and Eastern could lead to reforms of problematic coun- Europe remains strong, despite setbacks in the fellowship is intended to support aspir- of the proposed host institution for the fel- terterrorism policies. Two European coun- ing young scholars in the United States lowship and name and e-mail address of a Bulgaria and Macedonia. tries experienced declines in 2008: Italy and and Canada who work in Ukrainian stud- mentor/academic liaison they have con- • Middle East/North Africa: After several Greece. The survey also voices concern ies. The society is especially seeking a fel- tacted at the host institution. Applicants years of modest gains earlier in the decade, about potential threats to freedom of expres- low who will study and teach modern must also describe in the letter the envi- the Middle East/North Africa is now expe- sion in Canada and Great Britain. Ukrainian history. sioned course(s) to be taught at the host riencing stagnation. Iraq is the only country Freedom House, an independent non- The fellowship award will be up to institution and proposed dates for the fel- to show improvement because of reductions governmental organization that supports the $35,000, commensurate with the qualifi- lowship period; they must give the names in violence, political terror and government- expansion of freedom in the world, has been cations of a candidate, and requires the and contact information of two scholars sponsored Shia militias, although it retains monitoring political rights and civil liberties recipient to be affiliated with an accredited who are qualified to evaluate their work its not free status. Jordan, Bahrain, Iran, the worldwide since 1972. North American university, preferably one and who agree to submit recommenda- Palestinian Authority and the Israeli- To read the complete 2009 report on with a program in Ukrainian studies, dur- tions on their behalf. Occupied Territories also declined. world freedom, readers may log on to http:// ing the fellowship period. Preference will The letter of application and a separate • Americas: The region managed to main- www.freedomhouse.org/template. be given to individuals who will have an two-page summary of goals and research tain its democratic character despite econo- cfm?page=445. opportunity to teach at their university. interests and curriculum vitae must be The award period is for one year, with the received before February 23. Applicants potential for renewal during the second are encouraged to also send a copy of a year. scholarly paper written in the past two Candidates must have earned a Ph.D. years. The reprint can be forwarded elec- degree with a concentration in Ukrainian- tronically or mailed separately to: area studies within the past 5 years, have a Fellowship Committee, Shevchenko strong potential for developing indepen- Scientific Society Inc., 63 Fourth Ave., dent research and be interested in pursu- New York, NY 10003. ing a career in Ukrainian studies at the The fellowship award will be university level. announced in April by e-mail and will Applications are accepted by e-mail at begin after July 1.

After all, in the brutal world of politics, A war of accusations... it’s not so much whether the accusation is (Continued from page 6) true, but whether it will affect how the aver- ment underdog, even though she achieved age voter feels about a politician when elec- her marvelous wealth through access to tion day arrives. power and is currently surrounded by shady Unable to base their voting decisions on establishment figures (i.e., Viktor any real policy positions (e.g., taxes, mone- tary policy, education), Ukrainian voters Medvedchuk, Mr. Lytvyn). once again will be forced to decide on Additionally, Ms. Tymoshenko has built issues that trigger emotional buttons (accu- a strong network of advisors, political pun- sations of theft, the Russian language, dits and public relations staff. Among NATO) but don’t improve their tangible President Yushchenko’s biggest weaknesses ability to generate wealth and create a stable is his lousy political team. life. The Presidential Secretariat press staff is In this way, an electorate that spent many always in a defensive position, reacting frigid hours and nights listening to Orange rather than taking initiative. The Revolution speeches on Independence Tymoshenko staff is proactive, ahead of the Square is not much interested anymore in curve in planning and executing media what those same politicians have to say. attacks and deflections. Are you?

possible switch of preferences, back to Russia hides... North America. He speaks of “reassign- (Continued from page 3) ing” and “reallocating” as an ongoing pro- Shtokman is Russia’s richest gas field cess, trying to play potential consumers off and its development lags years behind against each other and finance Russia’s schedule. By 2005-2006, the Kremlin was strategic projects. Russia is seeking to con- discussing with U.S. and Canadian compa- vert its gas shortfall into strategic leverage as long as Europe does not manage to open nies the possibility of launching liquefac- direct access to non-Russian gas in Central tion projects in Russia to supply North Asia and the Middle East. America with Russian gas. From 2006 onward, Moscow signaled a preference for The article above is reprinted from German and other European consumer Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission countries to receive Shtokman gas in the from its publisher, the Jamestown future. Now, Mr. Putin is signaling another Foundation, www.jamestown.org.

upgraded from “not free” to “partly free” Decline in freedom... in its political rights ratings, due to the end (Continued from page 4) of military-dominated rule and the election cated there are small indications of future of a civilian parliament and president. improvement. This year’s survey also examined the impact of authoritarian reprisals in the Afghanistan is among the big losers, “colored revolution” countries of Georgia, according to the report. The country was Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. downgraded from “partly free” to “not It also attempted to assess the effective- free” in its civil liberties ratings. The main ness of the “freedom agenda” of the outgo- reasons for such a downgrade are rising ing two-term administration of U.S. insecurity, increasing corruption and inef- President George W. Bush, as well as the ficiency in government institutions. challenges facing the incoming adminis- Pakistan, on the other hand, was tration of Barack Obama. No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 17 New Ukrainian courses offered at York University in Toronto the book that dares to ask: TORONTO – The official launch of a must there always new initiative at York University in Toronto took place on December 1, 2008, be an england? at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada. Established thanks to a $150,000 donation from a prominent statesman and lawyer, the Hon. John Yaremko, QC, and Mary Yaremko Endowment Fund in Ukrainian Studies, the initiative will allow the uni- versity to offer on a permanent basis two fourth-year half courses dedicated to the history of Ukrainian culture. These courses, Ukrainian Culture with- The House in the European Context (HUMA 4195) Ukrainian Culture in 20th Century Europe of Widows (HUMA 4196) have been and will contin- AskoldAklAkA k ldld ue to be offered as part of the European Studies Program in the Division of MelnyczukMMeMelnyczuMelelnyczukelllnnynyycczuukk Humanities and will count toward a major A big novel... in humanities. about love, war, Born in Hamilton, Ontario, in a family duty, honor, betrayal, history, of Ukrainian immigrants, John Yaremko and politics...Hard to put down was first elected to the Ontario Provincial John Yaremko presents his donation to Dean Robert Drummond of York and harder to forget. Parliament in 1951. He ended up serving University, as William Sametz, president of the Yaremko Foundation, looks on. 25 years in the Parliament, longer than Booklist, starred review anyone in the history of Ontario. During ment of the Yaremko Fund. about the history and culture of this his illustrious career, Mr. Yaremko served Dean Robert Drummond spoke on important country – the largest in Europe as Ontario’s minister of public welfare, behalf of York University, expressing but still unknown to the majority of North minister of social and family services, gratitude for Mr. Yaremko’s generosity Americans. *QQDRHRSHAKD and minister of citizenship, as well as in and underscoring the university’s com- The program was moderated by Dr. +TLOG@
-@GHQH other positions. He played a crucial role mitment to the continuation of teaching Marko R. Stech, a well-known scholar at in the process of developing Canada’s Ukrainian studies courses. the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian multicultural policies and was responsible The chair of the Humanities Division, Studies, who had designed both courses Melnyczuk is a master at for coining the very term “multicultural- Pro. Patrick Taylor, described the courses and currently teaches them. …It’s ism.” Mr. Yaremko is also known and in question as an integral component of York University’s new initiative, sup- sustaining intrigue respected for his philanthropic activities the division’s European studies program. ported generously by Mr. Yaremko, will a beautiful novel and – one aspect of which is his generous He also spoke of the overwhelmingly help to ensure the preservation and future redemptive in it own way— support of education and scholarship. positive response of the students who had expansion of Ukrainian studies at one of Apart from Mr. Yaremko himself, the taken them. the largest and fastest growing universities Tbe Los Angeles Times John and Mary Yaremko Foundation was One such former student, Katherine in Canada. At a time when Ukrainian stud- represented at the December 1 event by Chewchuk, who graduated with honors in ies programs at many universities are ...ambitious...Melnyczuk shows off the foundation’s president, William 2008, described her personal impressions being downsized or eliminated, this impor- his virtuosity and writes exchanges Sametz, and Rose Sametz, both of whom of these courses and stressed how impor- tant positive development is particularly had played a crucial role in the establish- tant it was for Canadian students to learn welcome and significant, noted Dr. Stech. that are funny, pointed, and layered. The New York Times

HURI announces visiting fellows for spring 2009 ...Melnyczuk’s hallucinatory tale achieves some of the by Peter T. Woloschuk the Institute of Literature at the National • Moshe Taube, who will hold the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv, Mihaychuk post-doctoral research fellow- fierce, distracting power of CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard will look at and analyze cultural con- ship, is professor of Slavic studies and D.H. Lawrence’s nerve-grating Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI) will sciousness in the Ukrainian literary move- linguistics at the Hebrew University in host four research fellows during the masterpiece Women in Love ment of “narodnytstvo” from the perspec- Jerusalem. His research project deals with . upcoming spring semester. tive of popular culture. At the conclusion Jewish-Christian cultural contacts in 15th Two of the fellows are recipients of Kirkus of her fellowship she will stay on for the century Kyiv. Prof. Taube is a long-time Eugene and Daymel Shklar Research Harvard Ukrainian Summer Institute colleague of HURI, having spent two full Fellowships in Ukrainian Studies, funded (HUSI), during which she will teach the sabbatical years (1992-1993 and ...a small gem of a through a generous annual gift from the course Ukrainian Literature and Popular 1998-1999) at the institute, which result- novel thatʼs filled with Eugene and Daymel Shklar Foundation Culture. In the fall of 2001 she was a ed in several publications, including some of California; one scholar will be in resi- more crucial questions Shklar Fellow writing on “Post- papers that appeared in Harvard Ukrainian about the meaning of dence as the Petro Jacyk Distinguished Chornobyl Text: Ukrainian Literary Post- Studies (HUS) and two monographs. Research Fellow; and one will hold the Modernism.” The Jaroslaw and Nadia Mihaychuk history than a hundred Jaroslaw and Nadia Mihaychuk • Konstantin Jerusalimsky is an assis- Post-doctoral Research Fellowship in textbooks.

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in tant professor at the Russian State Ukrainian Studies is being awarded for the Ukrainian Studies. University for the Humanities in Moscow. first time to a named scholar who has been The Boston Globe The purpose of all these fellowships is He will research the topic “Muscovites in selected as a result of a competition and to bring distinguished scholars to the Ruthenian Lands: Social Integration, will be awarded annually. The Mihaychuks ...a tale that has all Institute from around the world for wide- Cultural Identity and Historical Memory first gave funds for Ukrainian Studies in ranging research on important projects (1540s-1640s).” Mr. Jerusalimsky seeks 1981 and have added to them periodically. the richness of Doctor concerning Ukrainian history, politics, lit- to reconstruct the social status, cultural They reside in Parma, Ohio and are noted erature, linguistics and culture. In addition Zhivago meeting The identities and memory of Muscovites on community activists. Odessa Files... to conducting research, each fellow will Polish and Lithuanian service in the east- In addition to his support of scholar- present a formal lecture as part of HURI’s ern Ruthenian lands of the Polish- ship, Dr. Mihaychuk was instrumental in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel weekly Seminars in Ukrainian Studies. Lithuanian Commonwealth from the sending state-of-the-art dental equipment • Olena Haleta is an associate profes- 1540s to the 1640s. He hopes to come to to Ukraine; he paid a number of visits sor at Ivan Franko National University, a better understanding of the reasons and there to work with his professional col- Dazzling. Lviv. Her research on the topic “Literary motives for their flight from Russia. leagues. Anthologies as a Means of Shaping Howard Zinn National Literary Identity” will explore the history and context of original and translated anthologies of Ukrainian litera- An open invitation to local community activists nearly perfect prose...almost ture beyond the country’s borders and endlessly quotable. Would you like fellow Ukrainians to know about events in your community? will attempt to define the basic precondi- Tricycle tions of their appearance and their influ- Would you like to become one of The Ukrainian Weekly’s correspondents? ence on the literary process, both in Then what are you waiting for? A superbly written tale of intrigue Ukraine and in the diaspora. ...almost every sentence perfect. • As recipient of HURI’s Petro Jacyk The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes submissions from local community activists. Distinguished Fellowship in Ukrainian You may reach The Weekly by phone, (973) 292-9800; fax, (973) 644-9510; JSOnline Studies, Tamara Hundorova will be at e-mail, [email protected]; or mail, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, HURI for a total of four months. Ms. Parsippany, NJ 07054. Available at Graywolfpress.org Hundorova, who holds an appointment at & at Independent Bookstores everywhere 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 No. 3

featuring a wide range of music of Ukraine, Odezynska’s video installation titled “Song Captivating visuals accompanied the Hutsul villagers... Bulgaria, Croatia and other Eastern to a Young Lady,” picturing a young woman singing of ancient Hutsul koliady about the (Continued from page 13) European countries. weaving a peacock feather wreath later creation of the world, and sections of a Artist of Ukraine in 2003 for her work on Performing at the Ukrainian Institute two found floating down a river by three young Nativity puppet play from the 18th century behalf of Ukrainian culture, Ms. Tkacz has weeks later, the winter song singers and men, evoking mysterious and romantic were presented with traditional music been recording the winter songs of Svitanya were joined by Ukraine-born images. A painting on silk by Mariya Sklar arranged by Mr. Kytasty. The Svitanya Kryvorivnia for more than five years. Antonina Ermolenko, an up-and-coming captured many aspects of Ukrainian culture ensemble performed solstice songs from With the support of the Yara Arts Group opera singer with an enchanting soprano with vibrant, saturated colors and the flat East European countries. and benefactors like the Self Reliance New voice, bandurist Nadia Tarnawsky, whose shapes of folk painting, the bright colors Adding to his laurels, Ivan Zelenchuk York Federal Credit Union, the New York delightful singing echoed the “white voice” representing the joy of the winter holidays. appeared as one of the Three Wise Men State Council on the Arts and New York singing of Ukrainian village women, and Sampling mini versions of Ukrainian who brought gifts to the newborn Christ City’s Department of Cultural Affairs, Ms. her accompanist, violinist Vance Brandon. holiday foods concocted by Brooklyn chef Child, all the while concealing his Hutsul Tkacz organized and coordinated the winter Children of the Shepko-Hamilton and Olesia Lew, guests and performers com- attire with a tan-colored trench coat. song singers’ first trip from Kryvorivnia to Pavlovsky families travelled, respectively, mented on the delectable flavors of such Members of New York’s Syzokryli New York City in 2005. Ivan Zelenchuk from upstate New York and New Jersey, to offerings as wheat grains cooked with Dance Ensemble Ksenia Hentisz, Artem was a member of that first group and was perform with Mr. Kytasty and the New poppy seeds and honey, simulating kutia, Derkatch and Vitaliy Simonian skipped out included in the next two excursions as well. York Bandura Ensemble. With musical pro- served on tiny crackers, and a beet mixture onto the dance floor to perform a sprightly ficiency gained at the Kobzarska Sich on crisp crackers masquerading as borsch. “Hutsulka.” Among other performers in the Trembity bellow Bandura Camp in Emlenton, Pa., Alexandra, Liquid refreshments included a honey- production were Lilia and Taras Pavlovsky, Inka Juslin, Nina Ariadna, Kayla Ankeny This year’s appearances of the winter Roxolyana, Stefan and Zoya Shepko- based drink called medivka. and Kat Yew. song singers opened with the bellow of Hamilton teamed up with Kyrylo and Zoya “Still the River Flows” For the finale, the entire cast came on trembity, played by Mykola Zelenchuk and Pavlovsky for a vocal/musical rendition of stage to offer a rendition of “Raduysia Dmytro Tafiychuk, merging with the blare Ukrainian Christmas music. At the La MaMa Theater later in Zemle, Syn Narodyvsia” (Rejoice, O Earth, of Mykhailo Tafiychuk’s curved shepherd’s Afterwards, singers and musicians min- December 2008, the production “Still the the Son of God is born). As Ivan Zelenchuk horn (rih). gled with visitors, walking through galleries River Flows: Winter Rituals from the completed each verse, performers and audi- The Christmas season concert at The on three floors to view an exhibit, curated Carpathian Mountains,” which ran for three ence members lifted voices in unison, Ukrainian Museum on December 7 includ- by Ms. Tkacz and Svitlana Matviyenko, evening performances and a matinee, the repeating the refrain. ed the Kryvorivnia singers and well-known that displayed art works and video installa- winter song singers, ensembles and soloists On December 29, 2008, the Kryvorivnia bandurist/flutist Julian Kytasty, violinist tions inspired by the texts of Ukrainian car- appeared in a multidisciplinary event direct- winter song singers made their return flight Valeriy Zhmud and the Svitanya Women’s ols. ed by Ms. Tkacz and designed by Watoku home, anticipating the winter festivities Eastern European Vocal Ensemble, a group Among the pieces was Andrea Ueno. about to begin in their native village. Though they admire life in the U.S., where “everyone is equal before the law,” they are proud of their Hutsul traditions, and contin- ue to give time and energy to Hutsul rituals and customs, even though each has a daily occupation (except for Ivan Zelenchuk, who at 57 is now retired). Some are busy in construction work or toiling as a black- smith, as in the case of fiddler Mykhailo Tafiychuk, who also creates musical instru- ments for the group and the tools required to make them. Mykola Zelenchuk builds Hutsul log homes and fabricates Hutsul costumes for the troupe. Like groups of singers in other sections of Kryvorivnia, they are presently spending 12 days in ritual singing, trudging through the snow from house to house, each holding a wooden walking stick (topirets) and ask- ing householders, “May we enter your house?” Because Hutsul villagers believe that the spring and harvest will not come unless their winter songs are heard in every household, the koliadnyky spend hours in each home, intoning long, repetitive songs that exhibit traces of the worship of sun, ancestors and nature. Addressing each member of the fam- ily separately in song, they wish prosperity and hard work for the master of the house, skill and diligence for the lady of the house, great beauty for young ladies, and heroic deeds, courage and strength for young men. As is customary, Ivan Zelenchuk leads the singing. Before his group leaves a dwelling, he extends traditional felicitations to the master and mistress of the house, wishing for them happiness, good health and prosperity.

“Still the River...” (Continued from page 13) Ankeny, Anne Ehrhart, Leela Ehrhart, Mary Kalyna, Chrissy Steele and Petia Zamfirova) from Philadelphia, Nadia Tarnawsky and Brandon Vance from Cleveland, the Shepko family from upstate New York and the Pavlovsky family from New Jersey. Ms. Juslin is from Finland, Kat Yew is of Korean background, and, of course, the Koliadnyky from Kryvorivnia, arrived from Ukraine. One cannot imagine the time expended and the miles traveled by these talented performers to come to New York City for rehearsals and then to perform in this piece. They all deserve special recognition for their efforts. Most of all, Ms. Tkacz must be lauded for assembling such a talented ensemble and inspiring them to perform at their best. No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 19

the first blockade of Russian gas to Russia's gas... Europe, the Russian side (and Mr. Putin ANALYSIS (Continued from page 2) personally) insisted that RUE become the tion (UNIAN press agency, January 8). intermediary in the Central Asian gas Then, to make matters worse for trade to Ukraine. Gazprom’s gas price shell game Gazprom and Mr. Putin’s disinformation It is also on record that Prime Minister operation, the world press reported on Yulia Tymoshenko has been calling for by Roman Kupchinsky common with the wellhead price for gas in Russia), it would now be forced to pay January 8 that “Russia said on Thursday the ouster of RUE from the Ukrainian gas Eurasia Daily Monitor $418. A few days later Mr. Miller (possi- it would restore gas supplies to Europe market since late 2004 and her greatest January 8 bly on instructions from Mr. Putin), with through Ukraine, once international mon- opponents have been Mr. Medvedev of How does Russia’s Gazprom set the no market justification for his actions, itors were in place…” (Ukrayinska Gazprom and Russian Prime Minister Putin. price for the gas it sells its customers in raised the price by $32, back to $450. Pravda, January 8). If Gazprom’s original Furthermore, at a press conference on the former Soviet republics and the According to Gazprom spokesmen, the claim that Ukraine had shut down the January 8, Mr. Putin stated, “From our European Union? Few, if any, managers average price for Russian gas in the flow of gas to Europe were true, how side, 50 percent of RUE belongs to in Gazprom can answer this question with fourth quarter of 2008 for EU countries could Russia now be ready to resume Gazprom, and the Ukrainian side belongs any measure of certainty. The formula for was $460 to $520 per tcm (Kommersant, shipments of gas that it claimed not to to certain persons we do not know, except calculating this seemingly capricious November 11, 2008). Yet, the former have shut down in the first place? Would that we were shown Mr. [Dmytro] Firtash price – if there is such a formula – Ukrainian vice minister of foreign affairs Russian troops move into Ukrainian terri- once. I never met with him” (Ukrayinska remains a highly confidential “commer- minister responsible for energy negotia- tory, occupy the pipelines in that country Pravda, January 8). cial secret” closely guarded by Gazprom tions with Russia, Oleksander Chalii, told and open the nonexistent valves? How could Gazprom, a Russian state- and its customers. For years, opacity, the BBC’s Ukrainian Service on January Disinformation operation No. 3: – owned company listed on the London secrecy and backroom deals seem to have 6 that German companies buying gas Corrupt Ukrainian politicians are attempt- Exchange and closely monitored by Mr. been the main factors used to establish from Russia had paid $290 per tcm in ing to keep RosUkrEnergo in business. Putin and the Russian government, enter the price for Russian gas. 2008. Why were they getting such a deal? On January 8 Mr. Putin told a press con- into an agreement to create a company, During the current “gas war” between Which countries in the EU were paying ference in Moscow that high-level 50 percent of which was owned by per- Ukraine and Gazprom, Gazprom managers the alleged price of more than $500 for Ukrainian officials were intent on keep- sons it claims not to know? Was due dili- and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Russian gas in 2008? ing RUE in business in order to steal gence conducted by Gazprom to learn Putin have managed to quote four different The answer is unknown because of profits from the company to fund their more about its mysterious partners? Did prices for gas in less than a month ranging Gazprom’s non-transparent pricing poli- forthcoming presidential election cam- Dmitry Medvedev, a lawyer and the from $250 to $450 for 1,000 cubic meters cy, the use of murky intermediaries and paign; and this, according to Mr. Putin, chairman of the board of Gazprom at the (tcm). Gazprom has been playing fast and the self-inflicted silence of its customers played a role in the gas conflict with time, know this? If not, he was negligent furious with numbers, while accusing the who refuse to disclose at what price and Russia (Ukrayinska Pravda, January 8). in his duties. If, on the other hand, the Ukrainian buyers of “stealing gas” without for what political payback they purchase Anyone familiar with the history of now-president of Russia knew and offering a shred of hard evidence that this Russian gas. RUE will recall that it was Mr. Putin, remained silent, he, along with Mr. Putin, theft actually took place. One possible explanation for the chaos along with then-Ukrainian President was part of a criminal conspiracy to In December 2008 Alexei Miller, the in Russian gas prices might be that the Leonid Kuchma, who oversaw and defraud the Russian people of services CEO of Gazprom, announced that begin- Russian government headed by Prime approved the creation of RUE at a meet- and tax revenues for the Russian budget ning in January 2009 Ukraine would pay Minister Putin and Russian President ing in Yalta in July 2004. Both men knew (www.gazpromukrainefacts.com). $450 per tcm of Russian gas. During the Dmitry Medvedev are co-conspirators in the ownership structure of the company December negotiations between Ukraine a criminal scheme to defraud European and presumably had been briefed on the The article above is reprinted from and Russia, the Russians set the price at consumers. By first artificially raising gas role, if any, that Russian organized crime Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission $250, a difference of $200 from what Mr. prices and then attempting to raise prices played in the company. It is also common from its publisher, the Jamestown Miller initially stated. How was this pos- even higher by cutting off most gas deliv- knowledge that in January 2006, during Foundation, www.jamestown.org. sible? Did the price of oil, which is eries in the middle of a freezing winter, indexed to the price of gas, suddenly drop their hope might be to create a panic- in a few days to warrant this change? The driven market in which spot prices for oil price did indeed go into free fall in the Russian gas would go through the roof. A war like no other.... nontraditional sources of energy are unvi- second half of 2008, but the indexing lags Can such tactics be prevented? The able in the time of crisis. six to seven months before it has an first step should be to legally require all (Continued from page 2) Although Messrs. Putin and Miller impact on gas prices. energy companies to publish the price let Europe freeze (Moscow Echo, January keep repeating the thesis that the “epoch Mr. Miller, it appears, was talking on they pay for gas and the terms of the pur- 7; Vedomosti, January 11). of cheap gas is over,” they have been per- behalf of his alter-ego, Vladimir Putin, chase contracts. A breath of fresh air in Here lies another set of Russia’s mis- fectly aware that with the nine-month lag who at that time had decided to punish the the gas business would help prevent situ- calculations that involve European reac- following the collapse of oil prices, the Ukrainians for various pro-Western politi- ations like the January 2009 gas cutoff tion and responses. Gazprom assumed benchmark European price is scheduled cal sins. Mr. Putin quoted the absurd price from recurring. that its position was rock solid and that it to drop from the current peak above $500 of $450, thereby showing that he was not Gazprom and most other gas compa- would be clear for the European consum- per 1,000 cubic meters to below $200 in fully versed in gas price formation. nies are infamous for hiding the terms ers where the blame belonged. Mr. Putin the second half of the year (RIA-Novosti, Mr. Putin kept juggling his figures. On under which they sell their product to dif- believed that his relentless efforts at clari- November 12; www.gazeta.ru, January January 2 ITAR-TASS reported that ferent companies. The practice of calling fying the content of the 2006 “gas skir- 11). It appears plausible that Russia aims Russia had updated its contract to pur- the terms of almost any transaction a mish” would bear fruit so that the to revise the old formula that connects oil chase gas from Turkmenistan “at world “commercial secret” is more often than European leaders would not listen to the and gas prices and replace it with a prices” and would now pay $340 per tcm. not a vehicle for bestowing favors on cer- predictable choir of commentary about Soviet-style calculation based on rising “If transit prices are added to this price, tain countries or key individuals in return Russia’s “imperial ambitions” and “gas production costs. the price of gas for Ukraine will be $380 for their support. It goes this way: We blackmail.” He misunderstood, however, Mr. Putin never admits mistakes and per 1,000 cubic meters,” the Russian give you a better price for gas; you give that despite all the irritation about the will certainly insist that the tough line prime minister said – a far cry from the us your souls. political mess in Kyiv, for the Europeans taken against Ukraine’s cheating and $450 he had quoted a day earlier. Ukraine remained a democratic country bluffing has given Russia a “victory.” When the Ukrainian side rejected the The article above is reprinted from that deserved a measure of support. Public opinion, however, would hardly be $250 price, Mr. Miller weighed in again Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission He also failed to see how deeply the much impressed with this seasonal brawl, and stated that since Ukraine had rejected from its publisher, the Jamestown August war with Georgia had undermined particularly as the end of the long holi- a reasonable offer (one that had little in Foundation, www.jamestown.org. trust between Russia and the EU, despite days marks the start of layoffs and bank- the resumption of dialogue. The key point ruptcies (Ezhednevny Zhurnal, January for Mr. Putin was that Germany, his “grav- 11). Nor would Europe relax about its ity center” in European politics, was not energy supplies, as Gazprom has further affected by the gas cuts; but he did not built on its reputation as an irresponsible expect the very even-handed mediation by bully whose favorite business methods the Czechs who hold the rotating EU pres- are arm-twisting and hostage-taking. idency (Moscow Echo, January 10). Waging a “gas war” against the back- European criticism of Russia’s inflexi- ground of a deepening crisis, Russia has ble behavior, unpleasant as it was, has not pushed itself further into international changed the basic assumption in Moscow isolation and has fooled itself, maybe for that Russia simply cannot lose this “gas the last time, that it can make the neigh- war.” Tactically, this confidence stems bors respect it. Mr. Putin has delivered from the reality that Europe is highly vul- unsteady and blundering leadership, nerable to interruptions in the gas flow, President Dmitry Medvedev was demon- while Russia has huge reserves of cash stratively irrelevant in conducting this and can therefore ignore the delays in the war, and the notion of “stability of pros- flow of money. Strategically, this asym- perity” that remains the core value of metric dependence is strengthened by the their regime has evaporated. nearly certain proposition that Europe, whatever dreams about “diversification” The article above is reprinted from it might entertain, has no alternative to Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission Russian gas, since the Caspian production from its publisher, the Jamestown is largely booked by Gazprom and the Foundation, www.jamestown.org. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 No. 3

NOTES ON PEOPLE

degree in physical therapy from the Physical therapist, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s School of Health Related chiropractor join forces Professions and specializes in orthopedics PARSIPPANY, N.J. – On Sunday, and spine rehab. Dr. Kotlar has an office in New York January 25, from 2 p.m. through 5 p.m., City, where she provides conservative spi- an open house will be hosted by nal manipulation, physical therapy modali- Volodymyr Stashchyshyn, a registered ties, nutritional and herbal advice, and physical therapist (RPT) with eight years remedial corrective exercises. The office of experience, and Petrusia Kotlar, a specializes in flexion/distraction technique licensed doctor of chiropractic medicine for acute lower back conditions. (DC) with over 25 years of experience, Using leading-edge methods, the prac- whose new offices, Academy Physical titioners assist patients recovering from Therapy, and Acute Back and Wellness stroke, and motor vehicle accidents, cor- Clinic, offers clients a range of services. Mr. Stashchyshyn holds a master’s (Continued on page 21) Dr. Petrusia Kotlar Volodymyr Stashchyshyn No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 21 OUT AND ABOUT

January 24 Concert by Vitaly Samoshko, featuring piano works January 29 Musical program, “Carol of the Bells,” Arlington Washington of Scarlatti, Schubert, Beethoven and Chopin, Washington Sister City – Ivano Frankivsk Committee, Embassy Embassy of Austria, 202-625-2361 of Ukraine, [email protected] or www.arlingtonsistercity.org January 24 Malanka, featuring music by Zahrava, Ukrainian Warren, MI Youth Organizations of Metro Detroit, Ukrainian January 30 Lecture by Henry E. Hale, “Democracy, Autocracy Cultural Center, 586-757-1980 or 586-558-8508 Washington and Revolution in the Former Soviet Union,” Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, January 24 Malanka, Ukrainian American Youth Association 202-691-4000 Montreal and Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 514-409-0179 or 514-502-6237 January 31 Malanka, featuring music by Zolota Bulava and New Britain, CT Hrim, Zolotij Promin, St. George’s Hall, January 24 Malanka, featuring music by Svitanok, Ukrainian 860-738-2303 Bethesda, MD Association of Washington, Marriott Bethesda, 240-426-053 or 410-696-2464 January 31 Presentation of debutantes, featuring music by Whippany, NJ Tempo, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization – January 24 Malanka, featuring music by Na Zdorovya, Newark Branch, Hanover Marriott, 908-647-0758 Dedham, MA Ukrainian American Educational Center of Boston, Church of St. John Damascus, 508-245-1890 or January 31 Memorial concert for Alexander Slobodyanik, [email protected] New York Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center, 212-501-3330 January 24 Malanka, featuring music by Vechirka, Ukrainian Buffalo, NY American Youth Association, Ukrainian Cultural January 31 Zabava and silent auction for scholarship fundraiser, Center Dnipro, 716-847-1281 North Port, FL Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, St. Andrew’s Religious and Cultural Center, January 25 Open House, Academy Physical Therapy and Acute 941-613-5923 Parsippany, NJ Back & Wellness Clinic, Vladimir Stashchyshyn and Petrusia Kotlar, 212-599-2554 or February 3 Ramon John Hnatyshyn Memorial Lecture by Sen. [email protected] Ottawa Raynell Andrychuk, “The Famine (Holodomor) and the Political Battle for Recognition,” University of January 25 through Art exhibit, “A Generous Vision: A Major Gift of Ottawa, 613-562-5800 ext. 3692 September 6 Works by Mychajlo Moroz,” The Ukrainian New York Museum, 212-228-0110

January 27 Literary evening with Viktor Neborak, “The Flying New York Head and Other Poems,” Columbia University, 212-854-4697 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions January 29 Poetry readings by Viktor Neborak, “The Flying from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors Washington Head and Other Poems,” Ronald Reagan Building and as space allows; photos will be considered. Please note: items will be printed and International Trade Center, 202-691-4100 a maximum of two times each. Please send e-mail to [email protected].

  from politics. It suits Gazprom’s Kremlin  The gas war... masters to put Ukraine in a position where  (Continued from page 7) it can be portrayed as a flaky partner for Belarus, buy gas on the cheap. … the European Union. Supply disruptions in  “For the new Obama Administration, half a dozen European countries resulting from the dispute with Ukraine bolster  Mr. Putin has offered yet another tutorial  in its coming challenges in Eurasia. The arguments for a controversial alternative President-elect’s German friends will urge pipeline Gazprom is building under the  him to be nice to Mr. Putin. But in the Baltic Sea to Germany. …”  Senate and on the campaign trail, Mr. Obama said he wanted to let Ukraine and “Settle the Ukraine gas dispute,” edi- Georgia make their free choice to join the torial, The Financial Times, January 6: Western camp, starting with a roadmap for NATO membership. The best American “The European Union is, rather belated- response to the latest Russian provocations ly, waking up to the fact that the Russia- 

Ukrainian Scouting Organization and is a Notes on people... member of the Social Club Committee at

5DWHVDUHVXEMHFWWRFKDQJHZLWKRXWQRWLFH  (Continued from page 20) the Ukrainian American Cultural Center (48$/23325781,7< Ɋɚɬɢɦɨɠɭɬɶɛɭɬɢɡɦɿɧɟɧɿɛɟɡɩɨɩɟɪɟɞɠɟɧɹ /(1'(5 rect posture and balance, and help regain of New Jersey. full range of motion. Mr. Stashchyshyn reminds persons Academy Physical Therapy, and Acute who are involved in accidents that they do not need a prescription from a doctor Back and Wellness Clinic, are fundamen- for a consultation or to begin a therapeu- tally different from many other therapy tic program. The facility accepts all major clinics in their approach to their practice, insurance, including Medicare. which helps the patient with a speedy For more information, readers may recovery period through commitment to telephone 973-449-1394 or e-mail high quality service rather than the size of [email protected]. Academy Physical &RWWPDQ$YHQXH3KLODGHOSKLD3$ their client base. Therapy, and Acute Back and Wellness When not in the office, Dr. Kotlar is a Clinic are located on the second floor of ZZZXNUIFXFRP member of the Spartanky sorority of Plast 2200 Route 10, Parsippany, N.J. 07054. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 No. 3 UKELODEON FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

Unique collection features St. George students present Ukrainian-attired creatures afternoon Christmas concert

LAKE WYLIE, S.C. – Gerald and Stephanie Orlick of South Carolina have collected Christmas mice by Annalee for more than 20 years. Their collection of the little creations is quite different, however, as 30 mice are dressed up in native Ukrainian costumes complete with various accessories, such as a “sha- blia” (sabre) and a “bulava” (mace). Mr. Orlick says the biggest challenge was finding a tiny gold cross and making a miniature necklace (“korali”). NEW YORK – On December 14, 2008, students of the St. George School Seen above are Kozak Myshka and Myshka Maryna, which were lovingly cre- and Academy presented an afternoon Christmas concert of songs, poetry and ated by the Orlicks. Also in the unique collection are mouse carolers and instrumental music at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in Manhattan. mouse villagers who inhabit (What else?) a Ukrainian village. Thus, the Parents and guests enjoyed Ukrainian and American Christmas carols sung Orlicks have found a very different way to wish one and all “Veselykh Sviat” by student choirs and student soloists; violin, accordion and sopilka perfor- (Happy Holidays). Incidentally, the Orlicks’ Christmas collection was recently mances; poetry recitations; and a final Nativity tableau complete with shep- featured in their local newspaper, the Lake Wylie Pilot. herd and three kings. The Very Rev. Bernard Panczuk presided over the con- cert. Anna Bachynska was the choir director. – Adrian Bryttan Kalyna Dancers perform at Wisconsin holiday fair Parma cathedral introduces its five new altar servers

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Kalyna Ukrainian Youth Dancers, under the direc- tion of Amy Mulhall, Tanya Franckowiak, Marianna Kit, Luke Albrecht and Russ Bachmaga, performed on November 23, 2008, at the Holiday Folk Fair. The children, ranging in age from 6 to 14, performed a lively dance, winning PARMA, Ohio – On Sunday, November 23, at the conclusion of the divine the loudest applause. The adult dance group, Dnipro, and the teen dance group, liturgy, the clergy at St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral intro- Promin, also performed at the three-day event on November 21-23. Held at the duced five new boys to the ranks of altar servers at the cathedral. Each boy Wisconsin State Fair Park, the Holiday Folk Fair brings together the cultures of was presented with an icon as a gift from the senior chapter of the Ukrainian many ethnic groups. Among the features are an international bazaar, interactive Orthodox League and a certificate of recognition signed by the clergy. exhibits, an international kitchen and dance stages. The Holiday Folk Fair Special prayers were read for their health and well-being and they were International is produced by the International Institute of Wisconsin, a not-for- blessed with holy water. Seen above (from left) are: Andriy Kinash, Orest profit social service organization dedicated to racial, cultural and ethnic under- Mahlay, Jonathan Greaves, Mykailo Samerdak, Severyn Kushmeliuk, standing. Protodeacon Ihor Mahlay, the Very Rev. Michael Strapko, the Rev. John R. – Raisa Markiw Horstmeier Nakonachny and the Rev. Michael Hontaruk. No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 23 St. Nicholas visits Hillside, N.J. St. Nicholas traditions live on in Ukrainian community

by Roman Yereniuk believer in the youth and secretly Many Ukrainians celebrate St. gave many gifts to children, espe- Nicholas Day, which occurs cially the poor. according to happens on the The Ukrainian community also Julian Calendar on December honors St. Nicholas with concerts. 19. (According to the Gregorian Many parishes, Ukrainian schools calendar the day falls on and Ukrainian youth organizations December 6). This day is devot- host a St. Nicholas concert on his ed to gift giving and love for chil- feast day or the closest Sunday. dren – this is the original date of Songs to St. Nicholas are sung, the gift-giving season, which now verses are recited and his biogra- is now moved to Christmas day. phy is read. At the end St. The saint is actually a histori- Nicholas, dressed like a Byzantine cal figure from the Third and rite bishops, expresses his love of Fourth centuries. St. Nicholas children and, of course, distrib- was born in 270 and died in 346, utes gifts. This has become a clas- on December 19 – hence his sic Ukrainian celebration wherev- feast day. St. Nicholas was a er Ukrainians live. prominent bishop (in the city of Myr in HILLSIDE, N.J. – On Sunday, December 7, 2008, St. Nicholas visited the present day Turkey) children and adults at Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church of the early Church in Hillside, N.J., as he was passing through Union County. The children – Julia Pelesz, Ariana and Julianna Shatynski, Sonya Khedr, Sofia, Maria and was a miracle and John Soroka, and Ariadna and Sophika Stockert – joined adults to Worker, thus he is present a beautiful bilingual program in honor of St. Nicholas. The Revs. often called St. Joseph Szupa and Vasyl Vladyka led the audience in prayer and Christmas Nicholas the caroling. Russ Pencak served as liaison to St. Nicholas. Above, St. Nicholas Miracle-worker. St. is seen with the local angels. Nicholas, as tradition has it, was a great A postage stamp from Ukraine depicts St. Nicholas. Mishanyna To solve this month’s Mishanyna find the names of the months St. Nicholas pays a visit of the year in Ukrainian and English – the first six months in English, and the second six in Ukrainian – hidden in the to St. Nicholas School Mishanyna grid. Bonus: What is the Ukrainian name for the first month of the year? Find that also in the grid.

JANUARY MAY VERESEN FEBRUARY JUNE ZHOVTEN MARCH LYPEN LYSTOPAD APRIL SERPEN HRUDEN

PASSAIC, N.J. – St. Nicholas came to visit the children of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School in honor of the Feast Day of St. Nicholas, December 6. The school’s patron saint made a special appearance in church after divine liturgy on December 5, 2008. With warm holiday wishes, he greeted each child and gave them traditional chocolate treats and candy canes. The happy students enjoyed the annual visit of their beloved saint and returned to their classes filled with the spirit of Christmas. – Tosia Oliver and Natalka Doblosky 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2009 No. 3 PREVIEW OF EVENTS Saturday, February 14 ball only. All proceeds from this year’s ball will be donated to the Foundation of the CHICAGO: The Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) Ukrainian Medical Association of North Illinois Chapter requests the honor of your America. A special room rate of $149 has company at the traditional banquet and ball been arranged for those interested in stay- with presentation of the 2009 debutantes in ing at the Palmer House Hilton during the the Grand Ballroom of the Palmer House UMANA debutante ball. In order to obtain Hilton Hotel. Cocktails are at 6 p.m. and the discounted rate, reservations must be dinner is at 7 p.m.; evening attire is made before January 30. Please mention requested. Participation is limited to guests the “Ukrainian Medical Association” when age 17 and over. Only guests with a pre- making your reservations; telephone, paid ticket may view the presentation of 312-726-7500. For information call Katia debutantes. Tickets for the banquet and ball Hrynewycz, 312-282-7017, or e-mail are $150 per person; $40 per person for the [email protected].

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