InsIde: • Binghamton remembers victims of 2009 shooting – page 4. • Theater review: “Scythian Stones” at La MaMa – page 8. • Archeological field research continues at Baturyn – centerfold. THEPublished U by theKRA Ukrainian NationalIN AssociationIAN Inc., a fraternal Wnon-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXVIII No.17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2010 $1/$2 in Ukraine Secret archives from Soviet era Russia grants Ukraine gas discount presented to Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in return for extension of fleet’s lease by Larysa Syvolozhska RFE/RL of Ukrainian-Russian relations, are a clear signal of the warming ties between the KYIV – The National University of Kyiv KYIV – Ukraine has agreed to a two countries after years of hostility. Mohyla Academy has received a digital lengthy extension for the Russian Black Moscow had been unable to win a copy of historic declassified documents of Sea Fleet’s base in Crimea in exchange lease extension from President the Soviet era (1918-1991) from the for a major discount on Kyiv’s imports of Yanukovych’s predecessor, Western- Archives of the Security Service of Ukraine. Russian gas. leaning Viktor Yushchenko, who per- The transfer of previously secret NKVD- The lease on the base will be extended ceived the Russian fleet as a hostile pres- KGB (People’s Commissariat for Internal for another 25 years beyond the current ence on Ukrainian soil. Affairs – Committee for State Security) files term, which was due to expire in 2017. In Ukraine’s new government, in turn, is regarded as a remarkable event and illus- return, Russia has pledged to cut the price badly needed a Russian gas discount to trates the need for transparency and the Ukraine pays for Russian natural gas. secure the resumption of a credit from the search for a shared historical narrative. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev International Monetary Fund that is vital The official presentation ceremony took announced the landmark agreement on to helping the nation’s battered economy place on March 18 at the National University April 21 after talks with Ukrainian recover from the global downturn. of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, with the partici- President Viktor Yanukovych in Kharkiv, Ukraine had been paying over $300 pation of Volodymyr Viatrovych, former Ukraine. per 1,000 cubic meters of gas under a director of the Archives of the Security “Russia needed certainty about its navy 10-year deal negotiated last year by Mr. Service of Ukraine; Serhiy Kvit, president base stationed [in Crimea] and now we Yushchenko’s government, whose drive of the National University of Kyiv Mohyla have that certainty. We have signed an to bring Ukraine into NATO had angered Academy; Tetiana Yaroshenko, director of agreement that extends the stay of the Moscow. the Kyiv Mohyla Library; renowned schol- Russian base on Ukrainian territory for Although Mr. Medvedev was visiting ars Volodymyr Panchenko and Roman another 25 years,” Mr. Medvedev said. Ukraine for the first time since Mr. Mytsyk; and many researchers, faculty A guide to documentation from the Mr. Medvedev also explained the Yanukovych’s February election, the two members and members of the media. once-secret archives of the Soviet era. details of the gas rebate Ukraine will leaders have met five times over the past receive: “Our Ukrainian partners will get A right to know two months, with the Russian president files became accessible at the location of the a $100 discount on the price of gas if the due to travel to Ukraine again in May. Access to secret archives of the Soviet information-research rooms in Ukraine’s price is higher than $330 per 1,000 cubic Signaling the importance of the April era was closed in Ukraine until recently, oblast centers of the SBU. The “Regional meters, or a 30-percent discount if the 21 talks, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov when the Security Service of Ukraine State Archives SBU,” published in Kharkiv price is lower [than $330].” of Ukraine had met his Russian counter- (known by its Ukrainian acronym as SBU) in 2009 (Prava Liudyny Publishing House), The deals, which Mr. Yanukovych declassified and opened previously closed was the first to reveal the structure and con- hailed as “unprecedented in the history” (Continued on page 19) files. For years, historians demanded access tent of the archives of Soviet secret services. to the archives for insights into the nature Over 17,000 documents were transferred and events which transpired under Soviet to Kyiv Mohyla Academy in electronic files Exhibit of rare icons opens rule. In October 2008 archives on Soviet categorized by topics such as the Holodomor activities in Ukraine were opened for exami- of 1932-1933, Organization of Ukrainian nation and study at the archival facilities of Nationalists and Ukrainian Insurgent Army, in Lviv’s Sheptytsky Museum the SBU. Political Repressions in Ukraine, Liquidation Tens of thousands of formerly closed of Jewish Organizations, Deportation of by Natalia A. Feduschak Crimean Tatars, the Dissident Movement Special to The Ukrainian Weekly Larysa Syvolozhska heads the Press Center of the National University of Kyiv and other subject areas. LVIV – One depicts a concerned Mohyla Academy. (Continued on page 19) Jesus Christ looking down at the disci- ple next to him, who is resting an elbow and head on a table. Another shows a sorrowful Jesus crucified on the cross, while a mournful Mary Magdalene looks on. A third shows an almost child-like Christ as he holds the hand of one of his followers gathered at the Resurrection tomb. The Andrey Sheptytsky National Museum in Lviv unveiled its most important exhibit in over five years on March 30. Titled “From the Last Supper to the Resurrection,” the exhib- it focuses on the finals days of Christ’s life and his resurrection. It displays 120 icons and shrouds – most of which have never before been seen by the public. Spanning the course of nearly five “The Resurrection,” a 16th century centuries, the exhibition is specifically icon that is the showpiece of the At a press conference (from left) are: scholar Volodymyr Panchenko, Serhiy Kvit, exhibit of rare icons at the Andrey president of the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, and Volodymyr (Continued on page 17) Sheptytsky National Museum in Lviv. Viatrovych, former director of the Archives of the Security Service of Ukraine. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2010 No. 17 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS Ruling coalition expected to expand Orlyk Constitution presented in Sweden Khmelnytskyi reactors to be completed KYIV – The National Archives of KYIV – The Cabinet of Ministers has following Constitutional Court ruling Sweden has opened an exhibition dedi- approved the draft intergovernmental by Pavel Korduban must consist of deputies’ factions, implying cated to the 300th anniversary of the first Ukrainian-Russian agreement on the Eurasia Daily Monitor a ban on individual membership for depu- modern European constitution, whose completion of the third and fourth reac- ties. However, it was clear from the outset author was Ukrainian Hetman Pylyp tors at the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power The Ukrainian Constitutional Court on that the court would approve the coalition, Orlyk (1672-1742). It was reported on plant in western Ukraine, First Vice- April 8 approved the formation of the pro- given the perceived need to preserve gov- April 20 that the exposition includes doc- Minister for Fuel and Energy Volodymyr presidential coalition in Parliament in early ernment stability, which is shared in the uments linked to the life and work of the Makukha said on April 21. “The agree- March. The main controversy was over the West. Ms. Tymoshenko, aware of this, tried famous Kozak leader, as well as the only ment provides for joint work on the right of individual national deputies to join to influence the court by alleging that sever- original copy of the Constitution that has installation of reactors on the the coalition against the will of their fac- al judges were offered $1 million each for survived. It is among the most valuable Khmelnytskyi station platforms. In addi- tions. The court decided that deputies are ruling in favor of the coalition (UNIAN, assets of the Swedish archives. A seminar tion, it is envisaged that the Russian side free to do so. The main implication for March 29). with the participation of Swedish histori- will provide a loan to the Ukrainian side Ukrainian politics is that this strengthens the The PRU accused her of exerting pres- ans studying the activities of Orlyk took for the implementation of works,” Mr. rule of the Party of Regions (PRU), which sure on the court, and the Procurator place during the exhibition. The Makukha noted. He stressed that specific backs President Viktor Yanukovych and General’s Office summoned Ms. Constitution of Pylyp Orlyk established a parameters of cooperation on the comple- Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. Now the Tymoshenko for an explanation. On April 8 democratic standard for the separation of tion of the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power coalition is set to expand at the expense of the court delivered its verdict on the coali- powers in government among the legisla- plant will be the subject of separate addi- defectors from the opposition, diminishing tion, and the Procurator General’s Office tive, executive and judiciary branches. tional agreements. Ukraine currently has the influence of the Communists and said it did not find evidence of bribery in the (Ukrinform) four nuclear power plants with 15 gener- Parliament Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn’s court (Kommersant-Ukraine, April 9). ating units. (Ukrinform) Hillary Clinton to visit Ukraine bloc as junior coalition partners. Also, the During the coalition’s formation, six Population falls to 45.923 million opposition in Parliament is weakening. more deputies defected from the KYIV – Ukraine and the United States The opposition appealed to the court Tymoshenko Bloc and Our Ukraine, the two have reached an agreement that U.S.