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The Ukrainian Weekly, 2020 INSIDE: l UIA’s virtual anniversary gala – page 9 l Manor College’s Ukrainian Dialogue – page 10 l Notes on People – page 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXXVIII No. 47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2020 $2.00 NEWS ANALYSIS Amid surge in Ukraine’s coronavirus cases, Ukraine and the ongoing Belarus factor opposition to ‘weekend quarantine’ grows by Bohdan Nahaylo and the motives of the leaders of the Belarusian liberation movement. As Ukraine prepares to mark the anni- Whether warranted or not, some in versaries of the beginning of the Orange Ukraine were initially suspicious that what Revolution on November 22, 2004, and the was under way in Belarus was an attempt Euro-Maidan, which was launched on by Moscow to replace the obstreperous Mr. November 23, 2013, and by the beginning Lukashenka through a democratic election of the following year evolved into the with a more appealing but docile pro-Rus- Revolution of Dignity, Belarusians on sian candidate. November 16 marked the 100th day of Mr. Lukashenka, a wary megalomaniac, their white-red-white national revolution. put an end to that possibility and specula- They have revolted against the dictator- tion and forcefully rejected any notion of ship of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who after 26 regime change – whatever its source. But, years in power has once again imprisoned disowned by his own people, he has had to rivals and rigged the August 9 presidential dispense with any pretense of balancing election. The Belarusian people’s resistance between Russia and the West, and to pros- has now lasted longer than the 95-day trate himself before the Kremlin. Ukrainian popular insurrection against the Russia’s Vladimir Putin may not like Mr. kleptocracy of President Viktor Yanukovych Lukashenka, but he has chosen to back him and his pro-Russian lurch when Ukraine was for the time being rather than see another poised to enter into an Association democratic revolution succeed on his door- Petro Zadorozhnyy Agreement with the European Union. step. On November 13, Kremlin spokesper- Police officers on patrol in Lviv’s city center to prevent people from entering restau- Both the political leadership and civil son Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed that Moscow rants during the weekend quarantine. society of Ukraine have been challenged by – unlike the EU, the U.S., Canada and questions about the extent to which they Ukraine – continues to regard Mr. Luka- by Roman Tymotsko Saturdays and Sundays, bars, restaurants, should support the Belarusian democratic shenka as the legitimate president of cafes and other catering establishments are movement. Natural impulses to support a Belarus, whose economy Russia has long LVIV – On Saturday, November 14, closed. Shopping centers and entertain- neighbor in need as it seeks to throw off a ”subsidized.” Ukraine entered the first weekend of its ment establishments are closed. Establish- stifling dictatorship have been counter-bal- new quarantine regime, whereby there are ments of trade and consumer services are anced by concerns about national interests (Continued on page 14) additional restrictions on weekends. On closed, with few exceptions. Gyms and swimming pools are closed. The govern- ment’s “weekend quarantine” is slated to last until November 30. In addition, previ- UCC’s first-ever online annual meeting ous anti-epidemic restrictions that affected regions with the worst coronavirus out- begins celebrations of its 80th anniversary breaks will now apply to all regions. However, many Ukrainians are not OTTAWA – The Ukrainian Canadian happy with the government’s decision, and Congress (UCC) held its annual general the weekend quarantine has provoked meeting (AGM) on Saturday, November 7. strong opposition from small businesses Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AGM which say the government is depriving was held online for the first time ever, them of the means to survive. The Cabinet with over 80 delegates and guests in of Ministers, meanwhile, has offered assur- attendance. ances that it is preparing compensation for This meeting marked 80 years since businesses affected by the restrictions. the founding of the UCC, and special greet- The most powerful resistance against ings were presented by dignitaries to the new restrictions came from local coun- mark this auspicious anniversary. These cils in several Ukrainian cities. The mayors video greetings will be available on the of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Mukachevo, UCC’s website in the coming days. The Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, Mykolayiv, Ternopil UCC’s 80th anniversary project was and Odesa stated that the weekend quaran- launched at the AGM. The video can be tine would not be enforced in their cities. viewed at https://www.youtube.com/ UCC In Lviv, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi reported watch?v=rBm17SNFjso. Delegates to the first-ever online annual general meeting of the Ukrainian that the city’s executive committee had ”Our community has responded to the Canadian Congress, which was held on November 7. declared all Saturdays and Sundays challenges brought on by the COVID-19 through the end of November as working pandemic with unity, strength and pur- The AGM heard President Chyczij’s ting and Advancing our Ukrainian days. “This means that it’s impossible to pose,” stated Alexandra Chyczij, national report. Delegates reviewed progress on Canadian Identity; Supporting Ukraine.” introduce a weekend quarantine in Lviv president of the UCC. “Thank you to the the resolutions adopted by the XXVI The AGM heard reports from the UCC because we do not have weekends. People dedicated volunteers and generous Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians Charitable and Educational Trust, the have the right to work,” he said. donors and sponsors from coast to coast last year and discussed plans for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, the Ukrainian “Every Lviv establishment that will be who make the work of the UCC possible. upcoming year, along the three pillars of Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko, fined this weekend will show police offi- On behalf of the UCC, thank you to every- the UCC’s work: “Developing our cers a photo of the president [Volodymyr one who made this year’s AGM a success.” Ukrainian Canadian Community; Celebra- (Continued on page 11) (Continued on page 11) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2020 No. 47 ANALYSIS Turkey and Ukraine boost 12,496 new COVID-19 cases in one day Ukrainian Service, with reporting by Reuters and Interfax) Ukraine’s Public Health Center reported mutual ties in defense sphere that as of November 18, there are 12,496 Biden speaks of war in Ukraine’s east officially confirmed case of COVID-19 in the forces could soon begin employing by Can Kasapoglu country, including 535 children and 529 U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, during Turkish-made UASs in their operations Eurasia Daily Monitor health-care workers. During the previous telephone conversations with a number of against Russia-backed military units in the 24 hours, 1,668 persons were hospitalized, European leaders, expressed readiness to Turkey and Ukraine have been building eastern part of the country. If this happens, 256 patients died and 8,096 persons recov- work with them to seek a solution to the the pillars of a promising defense coopera- such a development would mark the fourth ered. On November 17, 11,968 new cases military conflict in eastern Ukraine. tion partnership for some time. The two front where Turkish drones are or have of coronavirus were recorded. On According to Mr. Biden’s headquarters, he countries currently engage in joint endeav- faced off against Russian-manufactured November 16, there were 9,832 new cases; touched on this topic during conversations ors in game-changing military areas such weaponry – after Libya, Syria and Kara- on November 15 – 10,681; on November with French President Emmanuel Macron as drone warfare, aerospace engines and bakh. Following in Azerbaijan’s footsteps, 14 – 12,524; and November 13 – 11,787 and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. missile technology. Following the October gaining an edge in advanced drone warfare and on November 12 – 11,057. (Interfax- Mr. Biden expressed interest to Mr. Macron 16-17 summit between President Recep could significantly bolster Kyiv’s military Ukraine) in working together to resolve conflicts in capabilities (see EDM, November 9). Ukraine and Syria, as well as on the Iranian Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, Turkish- Another interesting arms transaction Zelenskyy defends partial lockdown nuclear program. He told Mr. Johnson that UkrainianTayyip Erdoğan strategic of ties Turkey look poisedand President to bring between Ankara and Kyiv was the recent Ukrainian President Volodymyr he wants to work together on such topics about a new geopolitical reality in the Black sale of a modernized S-125 (Goa-3) variant as the Balkans and Ukraine. (Interfax- Sea region. surface-to-air missile (SAM) system to Zelenskyy has said that a short-term quar- Ukraine) The most notable current area of coop- Turkey (TRT Haber, October 7). The antine, introduced amid a record surge in eration between Turkey and Ukraine is in Ukrainian modernization program has coronavirus cases, could help the country U.N. agency urges Iran to speed up probe unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Turkey’s increased the Soviet-legacy S-125’s range avoid stricter measures. “A weekend quar- forthcoming high-end combat drone, the of 25 kilometers against maneuvering tar- antine is a chance to avoid a full lockdown,” A United Nations agency has called on Akinci (the Raider), was notably powered gets to some 40 kilometers (Ukrainian Mr. Zelenskyy wrote on Facebook on Iran to speed up its investigation into a by Ukraine’s Ivachenko-Progress AI-450T Defense Review, January-March 2019). November 14. “If we have such a chance, Kyiv-bound passenger plane mistakenly turboprop engines during its prototype test The Turkish military could employ the we should use it.
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