The Ukrainian Weekly, 2018
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INSIDE: l A quarter century of Fulbright Ukraine program – page 9 l Andy Warhol at The Ukrainian Museum – page 11 l Lomachenko now holds two lightweight titles – page 17 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXVI No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018 $2.00 Oleh Sentsov ‘has won,’ cousin Activist fights for freedom of Donbas tells Sakharov Prize ceremony through research, media campaigns RFE/RL Produces short documentaries STRASBROUG, France – The European on pro-Ukrainian Donbas activists Parliament has awarded imprisoned Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov its 2018 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. by Mark Raczkiewycz “Thanks to his action, the entire world has begun speaking about Russian repres- KYIV – On May 4, 2014, Dmytro sions,” Mr. Sentsov’s cousin Natalya Kaplan Tkachenko left his hometown of Donetsk said at the award ceremony in Strasbourg, for a one-day trip to Kyiv. France, on December 12. He took his laptop computer and no “Oleh has drawn a lot of attention to the change of clothing. issue of Ukrainian political prisoners [in It was a typical business trip. One that he Russia]. He has won already,” she under- often took on express trains that link the scored. two cities. This time, he came to present Mr. Sentsov has been imprisoned in survey findings of overwhelming pro- Courtesy of Dmytro Tkachenko Russia since opposing Moscow’s takeover Ukrainian sentiment in the Donbas. Dmytro Tkachenko, co-founder the of his native Crimea in March 2014, and his It was just days before Russian-led prox- Committee of Patriotic Forces of Donbas, absence at the Strasbourg ceremony was ies in the occupied parts of Luhansk and Donetsk regions were to hold sham refer- at a pro-Ukrainian rally in Donetsk on marked by an empty chair at the center of March 4, 2014. the plenary session. endums for autonomy at the point of gun Ms. Kaplan read out a letter from her barrels. Moscow was trying to use the same ens of cities and towns lost to Moscow’s Dmitry Dinze/Facebook cousin, in which he said: “The present is scenario that played out during the annexa- control. Oleh Sentsov’s cousin Natalya Kaplan often unfair. The history is always just. tion of Crimea two months earlier when a “We lost Donetsk,” he told The Ukrainian holds the European Parliament’s 2018 Everything always takes its rightful place similar vote was held. Weekly on December 11, recalling events Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought After the news conference, Mr. Tkachenko, and begins to be called for what it really is awarded to the Ukrainian political pris- that started in March 2014 and explaining 36, unexpectedly received a phone call from over time.” oner held by Russia. why the larger pro-Ukrainian segment of the Also present at the award ceremony at an officer of the Security Service of Ukraine population couldn’t hold on to the city. “But the European Parliament was Mr. Sentsov’s ger strike while in prison in a far northern (SBU) who he says told him that “people we were unarmed and law enforcement – lawyer Dmitry Dinze. region of Russia. were looking for me at checkpoints in the 80 percent of the police and 60 percent of Mr. Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in European Parliament President Antonio Donbas,” and warned him that his life would the SBU were traitors – didn’t protect us.” prison after being convicted of terrorism in Tajani said Mr. Sentsov’s “hunger strike and be in danger if he returned. Mr. Tkachenko, executive director of the a trial criticized by human rights groups courageous public stance made him a sym- Just like that, Mr. Tkachenko became an Donbas Think Tank that he co-founded two and Western governments as politically bol of the struggle for the release of politi- internally displaced person (IDP) whose years ago to research his home region and motivated. cal prisoners held in Russia and around the numbers have now swelled to beyond 1.6 devise informational and reintegration European Union officials have called on world.” million due to Russian aggression on strategies, was recounting the fateful Russia’s authorities to release the film The 50,000 euro ($57,000 U.S.) prize, Ukrainian territory. events of nearly five years ago. director, saying he continues to be in poor It happened when the Russia-instigated health as he recovers from a 145-day hun- (Continued on page 18) Donbas war was heating up, and with doz- (Continued on page 9) UCC announces leadership changes, Alexandra Chyczij elected president UCC leaves our organization stronger than he found it, and we look forward to continuing our close cooper- MONTREAL – The Ukrainian Canadian Congress ation with the UWC.” (UCC), convening a meeting of its Board of Directors Ms. Chyczij announced that Mr. Grod will chair the and its annual general meeting in Montreal, unani- UCC Endowment Fund-Raising Campaign. mously elected Alexandra Chyczij as the organiza- Mr. Grod commented: “It was a deep personal tion’s national president on December 8. honor for me to serve as president of the UCC, and to That day, Paul Grod, who was recently elected be asked to chair the UCC Endowment Campaign. All president of the Ukrainian World Congress at the XI the successes of the UCC in the past decade are not Ukrainian World Congress in Kyiv, had announced mine. They are the result of the hard work and com- his resignation as UCC president. mitment of our volunteers, the generosity of our Ms. Chyczij was sworn in as UCC president by Mr. donors, and the abilities and vision of our leadership Grod. Andrea Kopylech becomes the UCC’s first vice- team and staff.” president, and Alex Ilchenko joins the UCC Executive Mr. Grod added: “President Chyczij and Vice- Committee as second vice-president. Presidents Kopylech and Ilchenko have a long and Newly elected UCC President Chyczij stated: “Paul successful track record of community and profes- has served our community with honor, distinction sional leadership, and I am certain that they, togeth- and dedication for many years, including the last er with our accomplished Board of Directors, will decade as president of the UCC. On behalf of the UCC continue to capably and skillfully lead the UCC.” Board of Directors, we thank Paul for his service, Alexandra Chyczij is sworn in as national president of the The leadership changes came during the UCC’s and wish him success as president of the UWC. He Ukrainian Canadian Congress by her predecessor, Paul Grod. annual general meeting held on December 7-9. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018 No. 50 ANALYSIS Prospects for strategic military partnership Law ends Friendship Treaty with Russia 1162, which: “(1) condemns the Russian Federation’s firing upon, ramming, and seiz- President Petro Poroshenko has signed ing Ukrainian vessels and crews attempting between Turkey and Ukraine into law a bill to terminate Ukraine’s friend- to pass through the Kerch Strait on ship treaty with Russia. In a video comment Russia’s passage through the straits consid- November 25, 2018, as violations of binding by Ridvan Bari Urcosta posted on the presidential website, ering Moscow’s aggression in the Black and international norms and agreements; (2) Eurasia Daily Monitor Poroshenko called the law “part of our strat- Azov seas (5.ua, September 10). In light of calls on the Russian Federation to immedi- egy towards fully breaking with the colonial Russia’s November 25 aggression against ately return the Ukrainian vessels and their One of the most undesirable geopolitical past and reorientation towards Europe.” The Ukraine at sea, that idea has recently crews to Ukraine; (3) calls on the Russian scenarios for Russia would be the estab- treaty is due to expire on March 31. On gained additional momentum in Kyiv Federation to cease its violation of Ukraine’s lishment of a strategic alliance between the December 6, Ukrainian lawmakers voted not (UNIAN, November 30). sovereignty and its efforts to prevent two other major Black Sea regional powers to prolong it beyond that date. Signed in To date, Ukrainian-Turkish cooperation Ukrainian vessels from transiting the Kerch – Turkey and Ukraine. Such an outcome 1997, the treaty obliges Russia and Ukraine in the military sphere has materialized in Strait, as is Ukraine’s right under internation- would not only hamper the Kremlin’s plans to “respect the territorial integrity of each in Europe’s East and the wider Black Sea the following practical initiatives: al norms and agreements; (4) reaffirms the other and confirm the inviolability of current United States commitment to provide the region but also undermine its ambitions in mutual borders.” It also says that Ukraine within the NATO framework and hold regu- people of Ukraine with political, economic, the Middle East. And, though little noticed and Russia should build bilateral relations in the West, just such a process appears to lar •high-level Turkey and bilateral Ukraine meetings. jointly participate and security assistance to enable them to “based on principles of mutual respect of secure their independence, democracy, and quietly and gradually be under way sovereign equality, inviolability of borders, defense-industry enterprise Ukroboron- (5) encourages the President and allies and between Ankara and Kyiv. peaceful resolution of differences, without prom• In began April cooperating 2016, Ukraine’s with Turkishstate-owned com- partners of the United States to hold the When relations between Moscow and the use of force or the threat to use force.” pany Havelsan on operating passive radar Russian Federation accountable for its ongo- Ankara rapidly deteriorated in late 2015, Ukrainian government forces have been production facilities (Ukroboronprom.com.