Batkivshchyna's old guard rebels against Oliver Bullough on the last man Why philanthropy is not popular Yatseniuk and plays into the hands of the in Russia and the struggle to in Ukraine government save the dying nation
№ 11 (53) june 2013 Identity Myths of Ukraine's East
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|contents BrieFinG PoLitics Yulia’s Move: Tymoshenko s open letter, Off With His Head! Regardless questions as to its authenticity and of its motivations, the battle of what the opposition is doing Batkivshchyna’s old guard against Arseniy Yatseniuk is playing into the hands of the Yanukovych regime 4 6 Focus The National Reserve: Ignored Potential: As the discontented The background, nature and threats electorate in South-Eastern Ukraine of the Donbas identity seeks alternative forces to support, the opposition would be wise to take advantage of the opportunity before the 8 upcoming presidential election 11 econoMics Towards the End of Poverty: Put in a Good Word for the Poor Oligarchs Nearly 1 billion people have been Oligarchs continue to imitate business in taken out of extreme poverty in Ukraine: they redistribute old Soviet industrial 20 years. The world should aim assets without creating any new ones and get to do the same again windfall profits at taxpayers’ expense 14 16 neiGhBours society British journalist and writer Oliver Help Thy Neighbour: Why Bullough: There will be much fewer philanthropy is not popular in Russians than we used to have in Ukraine the world
18 22 history cuLture & arts The Virus of Rebellion: The 1953 Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla uprising initiated by Ukrainian political Monastyrska on performances prisoners in the Norilsk forced labour with Placido Domingo, the camp was the first step towards the roles of powerful women and downfall of the GULAGs Ukrainian classical music 26 30 naviGator A selection of films to The Donbas of Halychyna: watch and festivals to Chervonohrad with its two names, visit in June from The identities and worlds Ukrainian Week
32 34
E-mail [email protected] Tel. (044) 351-13-87 www.ukrainianweek.com The Ukrainian Week № 11 (53) June 2013 Editors address 37 Mashynobudivna str., Kyiv, 03067, Ukraine Founder ECEM Media GmbH Print Novy Druk LLC, 1 Mahnitohorska str., Kyiv, 03056, Ukraine Publisher ECEM Media GmbH Ordering number 13-6727. Sent to print on 13 June 2013 Address Austria, Am Gestade,1, 1010 Vienna Print run 15 000. Free distribution State registration certificate КВ № 19823-9623ПР 19.03.2013 Head of editorial board Roman Tsupryk Our partner Editors Anna Korbut, Natalia Romaneс, Shaun Williams № 11 (53) june 2013|the ukrainian week|3 briefing| 6-12 June Journalists disclose en- Two more crossovers, MPs The opposition blocks emies of the press. The Viacheslav Kutovyi and the VR, demanding that top three are Mykola Az- Volodymyr Kupchak, leave the President delivers his arov, Viktor Yanukovych Batkivshchyna annual report to parlia- and Interior Minister ment in person Vitaliy Zakharchenko Yulia’s Move ast week, Yulia Tymoshenko released her latest open letter, which contradicted her unity- Loriented rhetoric, causing many to wonder whether the ex- premier had actually written it. During Tymoshenko’s incarcera- tion, her interviews have occasion- ally appeared in the press, and the party press-service has circulated statements and commentaries on current events. But it has long not been a secret that most of these texts were written at the Bat- kivshchyna headquarters under the control of its top leadership. As for the last letter, which has caused so much controversy, sources within the party confirm the most telling is the proposal to did not actually include such de- that that it is an authentic appeal, reject a single candidate in the cision. Having spoken with some although complete conviction is first round of the election, in or- influential people from Bat- only possible when one receives it der to avoid a struggle among the kivshchyna, The Ukrainian from her own hands. current opposition threesome for Week received explanations re- Tymoshenko’s call to put an the right to be such a candidate. garding one of the possible moti- end to the provocation of opposi- Not only opposition support- vations behind Yulia Tymoshen- tion between the government and ers, but also numerous party ko’s addresses. Arguably she thus the opposition along the “fascist” members of the lower, middle demonstrated that she does not – “anti-fascist ” line and even sus- and higher echelons of the oppo- merely want to be a repressed pend the Rise Ukraine! campaign sition forces felt that the an- symbol of the opposition, but still for this. Instead, she is proposing nouncement of such candidate has her eye on the status of a real “to sit at a round table” with the should be a culmination of an en- political player that it is too soon government in order to deter- tire Rise Ukraine!, and after some to write off. The Rise Ukraine! mine a plan of action regarding time, criticized the resolution ap- campaign quickly transformed European integration. However, proved on May 18 in Kyiv, which into a travelling promotion plat- The month in history 7 June 1848 12 June 1918 14 June 1941 Paul Gauguin, The Bolshevik government The mass Soviet deportation of French painter signs a preliminary peace Estonians, Latvians and Lithu- and a founder of treaty with the Ukrainian anians to Siberia begins. The Impressionism, is State headed by Pavlo Baltic States commemorate the born Skoropadsky victims of communist repres- sions on this day 4|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 |briefing
The National Football The NBU issues a The Kyiv DistrictC ourt rules that the Team wins the match regulation to limit daily VR Speaker should stripP avlo Baloha against Montenegro settlements in cash to and Oleksandr Dombrovskyi of their 4:0, thus retaining UAH 150,000 from MP IDs and voting cards. Both were the chance to play in September 1, 2013 FPTP candidates whose victory in the the 2014 World Cup 2012 election was appealed in court form for the opposition leaders, ality, which is forming in Ukrai- who are competing amongst nian politics. She still sees herself A No-Win Situation themselves, while slogans for the as the only agreed nominee with a release of political prisoners and real chance of defeating Yanu- for Ukraine her in particular during these “in- kovych, and to achieve this, she surgent actions” ring ever more expects to be released from The signing of the Memorandum on closer coopera- quietly. prison and have her conviction tion with the Eurasian Economic Commission by Mykola “Yatseniuk is playing for the overturned in the short term. Ac- Azarov on behalf of Ukraine in Minsk, signals that for the long-term, which will not end in cording to this logic, it would be second time since the Kharkiv deals, Moscow is foisting 2015,” says a well-known member wise for Yulia Tymoshenko to Ukraine with a game it cannot win. According to this of the opposition who is not the maintain her vagueness on the is- document, instead of the previously announced “oppor- fan of Arseniy Yatseniuk. “Having sue of the nomination of a single tunities to defend national interests” it gained generally obtained Batkivshchyna, he will opposition candidate for as long unfavourable obligations. More specifically, clause 3 in- be able to successfully capitalize as possible, otherwise she will dicates that “Ukraine declares its intent to comply with on this asset in the forthcoming lose her own chance. the principles … of the Customs Union and Common Eco- presidential election and However, if the letter was not nomic Space, refrain from actions and declarations di- strengthen his starting position in written by Tymoshenko, then rected against the interests of the Customs Union and the new political cycle.” Tymosh- several scenarios are possible. Common Economic Space”. Obviously, the Kremlin can enko possibly considered this sce- First – the group in Bat- use this as an argument against European integration. nario, and there is no way that kivshchyna that is involved in Meanwhile, the final version of the Memorandum turned she would be in favour of it. She is this is trying to use the ex-pre- out to be much less favourable in the part that Ukraine not yet ready to declare this mier as heavy artillery and last insisted on. Among other things, the representative of openly, so she is coming up with hope in the battle for influence in Ukraine will not be able to attend all meetings of the other arguments in favour of a the party, which they are losing at Commission, as was initially the case, only on (and on three-pronged attack: a single op- an alarming rate under the Yatse- condition of!) an invitation of Chairman of the Council or position candidate can only be niuk – Martynenko pressure. The the Board and on the agreement of all members of the determined by the electorate with second option – Batkivshchyna is EEC Council. Moreover, this only pertains to open meet- their votes; it is necessary to trying to gracefully withdraw ings and “without the right to participate in decision- avoid a repeat of the Kaniv Four from the long-drawn and overall making”, even on issues that affect the interests of (an alliance of presidential candi- ineffective Rise Ukraine! cam- Ukraine. Nor will Kyiv be able to receive the documents dates in the 1999 presidential paign, and also avoid the nomi- and decisions of the EEC, the Commission and its bodies, election that collapsed eventu- nation of a single candidate, since other than those that contain “information with limited ally); the teams of opposition in light of the latest polls, this circulation”. In this case, just as with documents of a nominees will be more motivated could be the leader of UDAR. Or non-confidential nature, it is generally possible to famil- to work if each works for its own the government is exploiting Yu- iarize oneself with them on the sites of these structures. candidate. This is what she or lia Tymoshenko and/or her close So even in such document as this Memorandum, those using her name in this situ- circle, (after all, her isolation has which does not have the formal status of an interna- ation think as regards opposition escalated of late), which could tional treaty, but the norms of which are not mandatory to Arseniy Yatseniuk, which has have persuaded her/them, that “a for execution, an unequal approach was demonstrated, become more intense in light of war with us will not resolve any- which under current conditions, is all that Ukraine can his hypothetical entry to Bat- thing, other than offer dividends count on in any form of “amicable” relations with Rus- kivshchyna and his position in its to others, but cooperation will sia. However, the Ukrainian leadership is not coming to leadership. win her freedom”. So letters with any conclusions. To be more specific, VR Speaker Volody- In other words, if one as- a content that is beneficial to the myr Rybak stated that there was no need for Parliament sumes that the letter was indeed Presidential Administration in to ratify the Memorandum, since Ukraine does not cur- written personally by Tymosh- the name of the imprisoned revo- rently intend to gain Customs Union membership: “We’ll enko or with her knowledge, this lutionary could continue to ap- see how the Customs Union operates on the inside and would be evidence that she is se- pear. Subsequent messages in which matters Ukraine can cooperate with it. We will riously concerned with her own signed by Tymoshenko should then make our decision. But it’s currently too soon to political prospects in the new re- clarify this situation. talk about this.”
16 June 1903 17 June 1953 19 June 1623 Henry Ford founds Ford The Soviet army Blaise Pascal, French Motor Company where the cracks down on mathematician and the large-scale manufacture of the uprising in East founder of the probability cars with assembly lines is Germany theory and the final law of introduced for the first time hydrostatics,is born
№ 11 (53) june 2013|the ukrainian week|5 Politics|Opposition Off With His Head! Regardless of its motivations, the war of Batkivshchyna’s old guard against Arseniy Yatseniuk is playing into the hands of the Yanukovych regime Author: s Batkivshchyna’s “unifying with Yatseniuk’s group within the prospects in politics will also de- Andriy congress” to fully integrate United Opposition, therefore they pend on his ability to draw conclu- Skumin its United Opposition allies are using every effort to involve the sions about Martynenko. But why A– first and foremost Arseniy Tymoshenko factor to disrupt the did the “old guard” not lament Yatseniuk and Mykola Martynenko, party’s takeover by Yatseniuk and about these threats before the elec- who will ostensibly take influential his grey cardinal, Mykola Mar- tion? It was then that the members leading positions shortly thereafter tynenko. of Yatseniuk’s Front of Change – nears, a conflict has escalated quota raised many questions among within the party. The congress is Bad company journalists and public activists, scheduled to take place on June 15. Yatseniuk is accused of bringing while The Ukrainian Week drew However, after “Tymoshenko’s ad- crossovers to parliament under his up a specific list of potential cross- dress”, to which opposition leaders quota and suspected of cooperation overs. The answer is simple: it was barely reacted, and many doubt that with those in power during the elec- the money of these crossovers, used it she wrote it, another open address tion campaign. The first accusation by the United Opposition to finance surfaced - this time from Bat- is not groundless. It is the result of its election campaign. kivshchyna members reluctant to “cooperation” with Mykola Mar- Accusations regarding Yatseni- see Yatseniuk as their leader. Their tynenko, whose political nature was uk’s cooperation with those in desperate moves probably signal known long before the campaign ac- power look strange, given the fact their weakness in the confrontation tually kicked off. Yatseniuk’s further that the group of crossovers is form- фото: phl фото:
6|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 Opposition|Politics In spite of his ing right before the Batkivshchyna boda or UDAR, but Batkivshchyna obvious party itself may well face powerful congress, made up exclusively from as well. For the old guard that built shortcomings, raider attacks on both a regional Yatseniuk’s quota. This confirms Batkivshchyna, he poses the threat Batkivshchyna has and national scale. The govern- no other leader who the regime’s targeted attack to dis- of their removal from running a is equal to Yatseniuk, ment already has relevant experi- rupt Yatseniuk’s entry into Bat- number of party organizations. nor does it have time ence. Just look at political raider to choose and kivshchyna and provoke a split Given the letter to Tymoshenko, promote a new one attacks against Batkivshchyna’s re- within it. Obviously, there are many this is already taking place. gional branches supported and more potential crossovers in all op- However, confrontation with controlled by its former sponsor, position parties and their groups. Yatseniuk under current condi- Bohdan Hubskyi, in 2010. More- According to The Ukrainian tions is just the first step to making over, the Justice Ministry headed Week’s sources, about ten more Batkivshchyna a complete outsider by Justice Minister Lavrynovych, is opposition MPs are waiting to exit and the success of the Presidential the key player in political raids; opposition parties or vote in line Administration’s scenario to pre- and the courts do whatever the with the Party of Regions (PR). But vent Yatseniuk from running for government instructs them to do. those in power are pulling out only office as the opposition candidate Thus, the groups controlled by the those MPs who came to parliament with ratings that could bring him to president’s puppeteers will be under Yatseniuk’s quota at a time the second round. Klitschko could given the green light to change when they don’t really need extra well become the next target in the party leaders at their own con- votes for anything, and shortly be- campaign to squeeze rivals out of gresses and amend party charters fore the Batkivshchyna congress. the political arena. as the party in power sees fit, to In addition, a number of Bat- The number of Batkivshchyna’s further marginalize Batkivshchyna. kivshchyna MPs linked to the anti- regional branches that rebelled On June 15, Batkivshchyna will Yatseniuk rebellion have recently against Yatseniuk’s and Martynen- have to pass the capacity test or faced the regime’s repressive ma- ko’s membership in the party as its step onto the path of an outsider. chine. A case was initiated to strip leaders is as yet unknown, but Yuriy Odarchenko, the leader of sources say that they are a minor- The confrontation with Batkivshchyna’s Kyiv branch, of his ity. Thus, this rebellion is likely to MP mandate, and closed several result in their spin-off from Bat- Yatseniuk under current months later despite the fact that kivshchyna and Yatseniuk as its conditions is just the first the Prosecutor’s Office and courts leader. As a result, they will most can fake anything against anyone if likely end up on the political side- step to making necessary. Also unclear is the price lines or turn into a spoiler political Batkivshchyna a complete of suspended proceedings against a force using the Tymoshenko brand, family member of Andriy Kozhemi- unless she publicly rejects this, to outsider and the success akin, one of Batkivshchyna’s lead- dilute the votes of the protest-ori- of the Presidential ers. Serhiy Mishchenko, another ented electorate. The real conse- ex-BYuT member, also joined the quences of the spin-off will resem- Administration’s scenario anti-Yatseniuk group and the inter- ble the cloning of several of Bat- to prevent Yatseniuk from nal conflict within Batkivshchyna. kivshchyna’s local branches in the He promotes the idea of preventing 2010 election when it lost badly in running for office the takeover of Batkivshchyna by some regions. This should encourage both con- Yatseniuk and hints at the possible Batkivshchyna has no other flicting parties to think about what creation of an alternative party un- leader who is equal to Yatseniuk, they are doing, unless they are de- der the Yulia Tymoshenko brand. nor does it have time to choose and liberately playing into the hands of promote a new one. Yulia Tymosh- the Presidential Administration. …the one-eyed man is king enko may pop up in the political They have to create a common As a would-be leader of the opposi- process before 2015, but only if the platform through mutual conces- tion, Yatseniuk has many short- Presidential Administration de- sions, stop criticizing one another comings. He does not stick to any cides that this will ultimately desta- in public, and punish those respon- firm values, has no ideology of the bilize and dilute the opposition be- sible for lapses in HR and informa- country’s transformation, nor is he fore the election. Otherwise, no- tional policy and open flirting with ready or willing to change it pro- body is going to release her. the government, including the ex- foundly (obviously, a profound Therefore, the internal struggle in clusion of political opportunist transformation takes more than the current Batkivshchyna faction Mykola Martynenko; reinforce fac- just the replacement of Yanu- and party will lead to the emer- tion and party discipline. Yatseniuk kovych with Yatseniuk). But who gence of an uncontrolled pool of should not allow people who will has it all in Batkivshchyna? Indeed, MPs that will join the pro-govern- obviously jump ship to take over Yatseniuk makes too many mis- ment majority and the teams of Batkivshchyna’s local branches, takes as an opposition politician other potential opposition presi- even if they can support them fi- with an eye on the presidency, dential candidates. nancially, because he will then be while obviously being anything but Unless it has a real candidate to held liable for their actions. Finally, an independent decision-maker. run in the presidential election, Batkivshchyna has to draw up and He often disparages his political al- Batkivshchyna will transform into promote a clear agenda of transfor- lies and ignores his faction. The lat- at least three opponent groups that mations with which it intends to est example was when Yatseniuk will focus all their efforts on an in- claim power in the country, and its announced the VR blocking which ternecine war rather than on the new leader intends to run for the came as a surprise not only to Svo- struggle against Yanukovych. The office of president. № 11 (53) june 2013|the ukrainian week|7 focus|South-Eastern Ukraine The National Reserve The background, nature and threats of the Donbas identity
Author: ill Ukraine split into sorts between pro-European and territory long ago, preferring to Ihor Losev East and West? This is Soviet Ukraine. Hence, its per- win their parliamentary seats in one of the first things petual ambivalence between the the friendlier Western and Cen- Wthat comes to mind two opposite impulses coming tral Ukraine. However, it is this with every new election cam- from different sides. Unlike Cen- huge area that is now deciding paign. In fact, regional differ- tral and Western Ukraine where Ukraine’s future. ences are not so much between the majority votes for pro-Ukrai- East and West as they are be- nian forces, and the Donbas Donbas über Alles tween most of Ukraine on one where the majority votes for the The current state of Ukraine side and Donbas and Crimea on PR as “homeboys”, other south- largely stems from the fact that the other. The latter are arguably eastern oblasts have a more equal one territorial clan with its own the most Sovietized Ukrainian divide with around half voting for regional mentality is imposing its territories. However, they have the PR and the Communist Party own rules and specific values on the potential to change, and the – these people feel nostalgic the entire country, having estab- latest parliamentary election about the USSR and the iron fist, lished tough control over Don- proved this: the locals are slowly and the other half supporting the bas, i.e. Donetsk and Luhansk but surely shedding their re- opposition – these voters prefer a Oblasts, over the past 20 years. gional tribal sentiments, servile European Ukraine. Thanks to the virtual isolation of dependence on their “homeboy” Election results in this inter- their region and cementing of bosses and mafia, and distorted nal buffer zone have lately re- Russian and Soviet practices in local patriotism, which their steel vealed a steady strengthening of it, the “Donetsk elites” have suc- barons and criminals have been pro-Ukrainian and pro-European cessfully shaped what is known exploiting for years. In this sense, forces. However, these positive as regional patriotism in these the territory covering Kharkiv, transformations are taking place two mining oblasts. In the case Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, without the due involvement of of the region’s business and bu- Kherson, Mykolayiv and Odesa the democratic opposition that reaucratic elites, known as the Oblasts is now a buffer zone of seems to have given up on this “Donetsk guys” this is clan-oli- Donbas symbols
CLOSED ACCESS: Monuments in the Donbas are mostly for people born there and their accomplish- ments. Mean- while, there is little respect for national icons
8|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 South-Eastern Ukraine|focus Donbas throughout Ukraine. No- elite with its vague “credit his- tably, Boris Kolesnikov, the then tory” found it much more chal- Infrastructure Minister, made lenging to gain a legitimate place virtually all Ukrainian-speaking in the centre because this re- top officials in Lviv Oblast speak quired a certain public identifi- to him in Russian during Euro cation with the Ukrainian lan- The National Reserve 2012 preparations, despite the guage, culture, history and iden- PR’s rhetoric of respect for every tity at that point. Unlike the region. Dnipropetrovsk region with its Unfortunately, Donetsk’s re- Cossack background and abun- gional patriotism has been fol- dant history, the Donbas had lowing the second scenario, op- much less of a cultural back- garch patriotism that has little to posing the rest of Ukraine and ground. As a result, local Soviet do with the national interests of fueling confrontation whenever the state. possible. In Soviet times, the Thanks to the virtual There are two scenarios for Donbas didn’t really stand out the evolution of regional patrio- from the many other industrial isolation and cementing tism: It can rise to the scale of regions of the USSR, enjoying of Russian and Soviet national values and merge with the widespread communist im- them as a reinforcing compo- age of being the “industrial heart practices in the Donbas, nent, or degrade into separatism of Ukraine, of the miners as the its elites have successfully and tribalism that is manifested “Guards of the working class”, of in the “homeboy – stranger” ap- the “hardworking Donbas” and shaped an exotic form proach, among others. If this is the like. Soviet mentality mo- of regional patriotism the case, the regional elite that nopolized the region. After takes over central power views Ukraine declared independence, other regions and the country the Donbas elites, mostly tech- “values” successfully filled the overall as a prize, an occupied nocratic and Moscow-oriented ideological vacuum. territory where it should set a red directors tumbling into crim- A Donbas-born journalist new order and exploit its re- inal practices, felt that they had once wrote: “A good friend of sources to the benefit of its clan. to exploit these old myths for po- mine who lives in Donetsk, “We conquered Russia, now we litical purposes as they competed shared her sociological observa- must learn to govern it,” Vladi- for control over the country’s tions: ‘Chernivtsi is a parasitic mir Lenin once said. The Donetsk centre with other regional elites. city! Ternopil is also a parasitic elites have been learning the art Their key rivals were the Dnipro- city! And Ivano-Frankivsk as of governing Ukraine for four petrovsk groups who had a better well!’ Other parasitic cities in- years now. In fact, they have understanding of the national cluded Cherkasy and Chernihiv, merely been implementing gov- context compared to their while the main parasite – Kyiv, of ernance practices tested in the Donetsk opponents. The Donetsk course. ‘We mine coal and smelt Donbas symbols
№ 11 (53) june 2013|the ukrainian week|9 focus|South-Eastern Ukraine metal here, and what about you?’ she explained.” The woman never worked at a mine or a steel plant. Since she got her university de- gree, she has worked in an office, with a computer. Just like hun- dreds of thousands of people in Kyiv, Cherkasy and Ivano- Frankivsk.” This is a classic manifest of the Donbas regional patriotism: we are the workers, while the rest are sluggards and parasites, feeding off the “hardworking Donbas”. Meanwhile, the locals are often unaware – or prefer to be so – of that fact that the ob- solete and unreformed Donbas industry is a huge burden on Ukraine. A comparison the taxes the Donbas pays to the central budget and official transfers to Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts from the central budget, indi- rect transfers through the Pen- sion Fund and subsidies to coal mining companies there shows that their taxes (UAH 21bn) do not cover even 50% of the fund- ing later allocated to them (over UAH 44bn). Moreover, without state subsidies, for instance, the extraction of Donetsk coal Donetsk is the shaped intolerance to alternative ing for the opposition compared would be so expensive that the only city outside ideas or any criticism of the re- to Western and Central Ukraine. metal it is used to smelt would of Russia that gion. Now, the local rules, in- The Donbas and Crimea are the be uncompetitive on global mar- accepted the cluding feudalism, tribalism, op- most difficult. However, they kets – and this is the core busi- Tsar Cannon, portunism and greed, are have good social and national po- ness of many oligarchs. "a symbol spreading far beyond the region. tential, which the opposition has of Russian However, nobody is about to power", as Many Ukrainians cede to this. so far been surrendering to its tell them that. This has been the a gift from One signal is the growing num- opponents without even trying to core ideology around which the the Moscow ber of those willing to make ca- really struggle for them or offer- Donbas community has been government reers in “profitable” public sec- ing South-Eastern Ukraine an carefully consolidated for the tors. More and more young peo- ideological alternative. past 20 years, while Kyiv pre- ple apply to the Tax Academy Pro-European forces still have ferred to stay out. This feeds the even though tax services are a door of opportunity in that part concept of separation into home- among the most corrupt authori- of Ukraine. But it may not stay boys and strangers. “We and you ties in Ukraine. However, many open for much longer. Their op- are common in essence,” said ponents are not exactly sitting Oleksandr Yefremov, Head of the There are two scenarios idle. Very soon, the growing pov- PR parliamentary faction, during for the evolution erty – the inevitable result of the the 2012 parliamentary cam- PR’s economic policy may radi- paign addressing to the Donbas of regional patriotism: calize sentiments in this region. voters. This essence has been it can merge with national People there will need new attrac- shaped by the decades of Soviet tive slogans, fresh and untainted industrialization, resettlement, values or degrade political leaders, and reasonable and 20 years of the region’s iso- into separatism agendas to overcome the current lated existence after indepen- crisis. This is a unique chance dence. The informational ghetto that may define Ukraine’s direc- the Donbas has been in all this tion for decades to come. Mean- time prevented the locals from Ukrainians find it easier to live while, if regional patriotism – in hearing any alternative informa- that way, and some see no sense the Donbas, Halychyna, Kyiv or tion, made it easier to brainwash in resistance. anywhere else – mounts and them, and nurtured their partic- overshadows the pan-Ukrainian ular worldview. Rebels were The door of patriotism oriented at the state made very clear – with violence opportunity development, it may put Ukraine at times – that “this is not Working in South-Eastern on a bloody path of Yugoslavia of Ukraine”. The environment Ukraine is much more challeng- the early 1990s. 10|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 South-Eastern Ukraine|focus Ignored Potential As discontent with the current regime mounts in South-Eastern Ukraine, its electorate will seek alternative forces to support. The opposition would be wise to take advantage of the opportunity before the upcoming presidential election
he government’s efforts to nancially-dependent population Similar trends were seen in trigger political confronta- and are following the Soviet-Rus- Odesa, Mykolayiv and Zaporizh- tion with “anti-fascist” slo- sian model. Still, every election zhia Oblasts, while Kherson Tgans signal its desperate over the past decade shows that Oblast supported the opposition search for ideas that could con- more and more of the local voters with 40% in 2012. Support even solidate the electorate before the are gravitating towards Ukrainian increased in Donetsk and Lu- upcoming presidential election identity and the European choice. hanks Oblasts. In 2004, 4% and after it failed to fulfill its latest Soviet-oriented pro-Russian par- 6% voted for the opposition can- improvement promises. Disap- ties are exhausting their electoral didate in the presidential election pointed with their choice, its one- potential here. In September respectively. In 2012, over 11% time voters mostly vote with their 2007, for instance, BYuT (The supported opposition parties in feet and join the disenchanted Bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko), Na- Donetsk Oblast, and over 12% in category. Most voters ignored the sha Ukrayina-Narodna Samoobo- Luhansk Oblast. This is not the latest local elections on June 2. rona (Our Ukraine-People’s Self- limit. This trend was already noted in Defence) and Svoboda collec- Meanwhile, there is the im- the 2012 parliamentary election, tively won 45.6% of the vote in pression that the opposition is and seems to be continuing. Just Ukraine. In October 2012, Bat- unwilling or unable to offer 22.3% of all voters cast their bal- kivshchyna, UDAR and Svoboda south-easterners a clear and per- lots in the early mayoral election ended up with over 50%. In the suasive alternative to the Yanu- in Alchevsk, Luhansk Oblast, on years between 2007 and 2012, kovych regime in order to win June 2. The PR candidate won their rating grew thanks to the their support. The Rise Ukraine! with barely half of the votes cast, south-eastern electorate. In 2012, rally in Donetsk confirmed this. i.e. nearly 12% of all voters regis- 38% voted for the opposition in The protesters were mostly activ- tered in the lists. The turnout in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast compared ists of the three opposition par- Donbas was almost half that of lo- to 32% in 2004, and 33% against ties from several eastern oblasts,
cal elections in other regions on 26% in 2004 in Kharkiv Oblast. many of them from Kyiv and unian photo: that day. The scale of voter discontent with the current situation in South-Eastern Ukraine is increas- ing. If they do not switch to the opposition, they could end up un- der the influence of anti-Ukrai- nian projects, often supported by Russia. The advocates of separat- ist initiatives in South-Eastern Ukraine often claim that this re- gion has never been Ukrainian. However, they say this after 200 and 70 years respectively of se- vere Russification under the Rus- sian Empire and Sovietization under the USSR. This included the 1932-33 Famine that hit the region very hard, oppression dur- ing Stalin’s collectivization and industrialization, and the mass The Rise Ukraine! rally in Donetsk involved mostly resettlement of ethnic Russians activists from the three opposition parties and did to the region. Today, it has the not tell the local voters anything new. This is not the highest concentration of eco- comprehensible and attractive alternative that could nomic assets in the hands of a few bring the opposition new supporters major players, mostly oligarchs, in South-Eastern Ukraine who have a monopoly over the fi- № 11 (53) june 2013|the ukrainian week|11 focus|South-Eastern Ukraine other regions. With only 2,000- activists brought in from Western a comprehensible alternative for 3,000 protesters in a city of about and Central Ukraine, which only their region and to explain why a million people, the rally was contributes to the opposition’s im- they live in misery and how they sluggish and looked like some- age of strangers in the region. can escape the vicious circle. thing set up to just tick the box or Thirdly, the expansion of the op- South-Eastern Ukraine is one create some media buzz. The position’s branches is important, of the regions most affected by the speakers once again repeated the should falsifications trigger pro- oligarchic monopoly. It desper- usual list of trivial statements. It tests. Fourthly, the regional divide ately needs to shed its proletarian looked as if they did not expect to must be eliminated in order to legacy and grow a powerful class have any effect or impact on the unite society in a potential con- of wealthy entrepreneurs and lib- protesters. This once again frontation with the regime. eral professionals, capable of brought up the long-standing In order to make the most of choosing their own position rather problem of Ukrainian “demo- the potential in south-eastern re- than a submissive mass for the ad- cratic forces”, which failed to pay gions, the opposition has to put ministration of public enterprise due attention to South-Eastern more effort into expanding a local and entities or oligarchic owners. Ukraine, especially the Donbas platform it can rely on in the up- The opposition has to communi- throughout all the years of inde- coming presidential or parlia- cate to people that the social ste- pendence, viewing it as the do- mentary election, whether regu- reotypes imposed in the Soviet main of the Donetsk guys and a lar or early, or create it from past, including the icon of a hopeless battle for the electorate. scratch in some regions. It should worker that the state will take care As a result, the East remains es- pay special attention to urban of and collectivism distorted into a sentially segregated from the rest South-Eastern Ukraine, since the herd mentality, leave them with of the country. share of urban population in the no options other than degenera- Donetsk “elites” have been Donbas is 90%, with 70-80% in tion and poverty, because they sti- running the region for decades on other parts of the region. It fle initiative and entrepreneurial end, with barely any subordina- should put more thought into al- skills, which are the key elements tion to Kyiv. Over this period, a ternative solutions for the socio- of any development. South-East- special Russian-Soviet model of economic problems of the south- ern Ukraine, especially the Don- administration has evolved in the eastern urban population, such as bas, is riddled with obsolete enter- Donbas. When the PR came to unemployment, the closure of prises and an economy that have power, it rapidly expanded all mines, stifling of SMEs, distribu- no prospects in their current state. over Ukraine. The factors dis- tion of local budgets, environ- Replacing them with new promis- couraging the opposition from mental issues and the like. The ing ones that will quickly generate proactive efforts in this region in- new jobs and income is impossible clude the “price” of one vote with current oligarchic monopo- which is two to four times higher South-Eastern Ukraine is lies or state-owned enterprises. in South-Eastern Ukraine com- one of the regions most Private ownership and numerous pared to, say, Central Ukraine; initiatives that offer a lot of new the lack of due control over local affected by the oligarchic jobs are the only options that will branches by opposition head- monopoly. It desperately lead to change. This requires the quarters, making their local func- protection of private ownership tionaries inert and obedient to lo- needs to shed its and an effective anti-monopoly cal authorities; and a high risk of proletarian legacy and policy on the part of the govern- defeat in first-past-the-post par- ment and large-scale lending to liamentary and local elections grow a powerful class of promote private business. Mean- that discourages potentially wealthy entrepreneurs while, it should be explained to strong and respected candidates the south-easterners who stick to from running as representatives and liberal professionals, their proletarian Soviet legacy, of the opposition in this region. capable of choosing their that the state will never make There are solutions to each of them wealthier. Its role is not pa- these problems, provided that own position ternalism and the feeding of de- democratic forces actually have structive illusions, but the support the will to try and change the opposition is also very passive in and creation of an environment country. rural parts of the region where where every citizen can make a administrative leverage has much prosperous life for himself. IN THE REAR OF THE REGIME more impact than in big cities. As Another important aspect of Disenchanted with their “home- a result, predominantly Ukrai- the struggle for South-Eastern boy” government, voters in the nian-speaking rural regions gave Ukraine is to help its citizens south-east deserve closer atten- the PR and the Communist Party overcome their Soviet stereotypes tion from the opposition for a more support than did most on language, history, relations number of reasons. Firstly, their oblast centres and big cities. between Ukraine and Russia, and support may well offset the impact Ukraine’s geopolitical and civili- of election rigging. Secondly, it A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE zation choice that are still fueled will help the opposition to expand EAST by local pro-Russian and the Rus- its local platform and use local ac- The crucial task for the opposi- sian mass media. Double stan- tivists as its observers and election tion is to offer the disillusioned dards, whereby the opposition of- commission members rather than voters in South-Eastern Ukraine fers one interpretation of its 12|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 South-Eastern Ukraine|focus 2015 platform stance on the language issue and The opposition had the opportunity to win in nearly 150 of 225 FPTP di ri s in the 2012 parliamentary ele ion, because it beat history in the west and the centre, the PR in party-li voting in all of these di ri s. If Batkivshchyna, UDAR and Svoboda had agreed properly on common candidates and another in the south-east, are and rategy, they would have won a majority in parliament. The opposition’s FPTP candidates had great potential to win in South-Ea ern Ukraine, given their good results in many of these unacceptable. It should stick to a di ri s (see below), although it is commonly considered to be the PR’s core region. According to our e imates, opposition consistent and reasonable posi- candidates could have won in at lea 28 FPTP di ri s in South-Ea ern Ukraine if the three opposition parties had nominated tion, carefully choosing solid ar- common candidates and condu ed a more effe ive ele ion campaign guments and communicating them to the voters. Changing stereotypes is diffi- cult but possible. For instance, many south-easterners support Di ri s where opposition Di ri the idea of Ukraine joining the candidates had the The opposition’s All opportunity to win results in party-li Customs Union with Russia. How- di ri s in the 2012 The PR’s results voting in 2012 ever, most industries in these re- parliamentary ele ion in party-li voting in 2012 gions, especially coal mining and steelworks, have strong competi- tors in Russia. Therefore, they Dnipropetrovsk Obla № 24 № 25 Zaporizhzhia Obla № 74 The opposition won 12 of 17 The opposition won 3 of have much better prospects out- 37.31% 43.55% 38.64% di ri s in party-li voting № 26 9 di ri s in party-li side the Customs Union. However, 35.46% 32.11% voting 33.05% 43.01% since the issue of Ukraine’s mem- № 75 33.40% bership has been raised yet again, 40.26% the opposition has failed to ex- № 27 33.64% 48.36% plain to Donbas voters why Cus- 29.37% toms Union membership poses a № 28 threat to their coal industry. First № 76 42.28% and foremost, it should address 40.98% 31.94% the younger generation and the 32.24% № 40 № 29 middle-aged. 37.67% 39.28% A comparison of 2007 and 36.23% 34.52% 2012 election results has revealed a partial shift of generations over № 35 № 30 these five years, which is the key 42.88% № 33 № 32 № 31 44.16% 33.34% 30.41% driver of political change in 37.95% 38.67% 39.75% Mykolayiv Obla Ukraine. A new generation of vot- 36.97% 34.36% 35.77% The opposition won one of 6 di ri s in party-li voting but the vi ory was essentially olen from its candidate, ers born in Ukraine is replacing Arkadiy Kornatskyi. The di ri is waiting for a re-ele ion the old generation of homo sovi- Kharkiv Obla № 168 eticus that bears the inferiority The opposition won 4 of № 169 complex of the past. According to 14 di ri s in party-li voting 41.46% 34.19% 41.77% exit polls, 40.1% of those who 32.62% voted for the Communist Party were over 60. Almost 30% of PR № 170 № 132 voters are over 60 years old. The 38.21% 40.41% 34.10% opposition’s share of voters of 35.14% this age is 24.7-27.2% for Svo- № 171 boda and Batkivshchyna and up 36.69% to 12.7% for UDAR. The genera- 36.22% tion shift is accompanied by the intellectual growth of voters. 30.9-33.6% of PR and Commu- nist Party voters have incomplete Kherson Obla № 182 The opposition won or completed college degrees, 47.32% 4 of 5 di ri s in compared to 39.6%, 46.9% and 28.35% party-li voting 54.2% respectively for Svoboda, Odesa Obla № 133 The opposition won Batkivshchyna and UDAR. 3 of 11 di ri s in party-li voting 36.81% № 134 Communication with south- 35.62% № 183 36.56% eastern voters will not bring an 48.1% 35.4% overnight result, especially with 28.37% the existing obstacles of adminis- trative leverage and deep-rooted № 135 Soviet and Russian stereotypes. 44.23% However, the opposition still has a 31.12% chance to create a solid electoral platform in South-Eastern Ukraine to remove the current regime of the № 136 № 186 № 184 Family and oligarchs and initiate 36.88% 40.21% 39.7% 37.91% 25.7% 29.93% the transformations that the region so desperately needs. № 11 (53) june 2013|the ukrainian week|13 economics|The world’s next great leap forward Towards the end of poverty
Nearly 1 billion people have been taken out of extreme poverty in 20 years. The world should aim to do the same again
n his inaugural address in continuing over the next year or lines, measured in 2005 dollars 1949 Harry Truman said that so, the UN’s usual Who’s Who of and adjusted for differences in “more than half the people in politicians and officials from purchasing power): people be- Ithe world are living in condi- governments and international low that level live lives that are tions approaching misery. For agencies will meet to draw up a poor, nasty, brutish and short. the first time in history, human- new list of targets to replace the They lack not just education, ity possesses the knowledge and Millennium Development Goals health care, proper clothing and skill to relieve the suffering of (MDGs), which were set in Sep- those people.” It has taken much tember 2000 and expire in 2015. Most of the credit, must go longer than Truman hoped, but Governments should adopt as the world has lately been making their main new goal the aim of to capitalism and free extraordinary progress in lifting reducing by another billion the trade, for they enable people out of extreme poverty. number of people in extreme Between 1990 and 2010, their poverty by 2030. economies to grow number fell by half as a share of the total population in develop- Take a bow, capitalism shelter—which most people in ing countries, from 43% to Nobody in the developed world most of the world take for 21%—a reduction of almost 1 bil- comes remotely close to the pov- granted—but even enough food lion people. erty level that USD1.25 a day for physical and mental health. Now the world has a serious represents. America’s poverty Raising people above that level chance to redeem Truman’s line is USD63 a day for a family of wretchedness is not a suffi- pledge to lift the least fortunate. of four. In the richer parts of the cient ambition for a prosperous Of the 7 billion people alive on emerging world USD4 a day is planet, but it is a necessary one. the planet, 1.1 billion subsist be- the poverty barrier. But pover- The world’s achievement in low the internationally accepted ty’s scourge is fiercest below the field of poverty reduction is, extreme-poverty line of USD1.25 USD1.25 (the average of the 15 by almost any measure, impres- a day. Starting this week and poorest countries’ own poverty sive. Although many of the origi- 14|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 The world’s next great leap forward|economics nal MDGs—such as cutting ma- So caution is justified, but ternal mortality by three-quar- The fireman's helmet the goal can still be achieved. If ters and child mortality by Number of people in poverty, mn developing countries maintain two-thirds—will not be met, the Developing countries the impressive growth they have aim of halving global poverty be- USD 1.25 1990 managed since 2000; if the poor- tween 1990 and 2015 was 2010 80 est countries are not left behind achieved five years early. by faster-growing middle-in- The MDGs may have helped 2030 70 come ones; and if inequality does marginally, by creating a yard- 60 not widen so that the rich lap up stick for measuring progress, all the cream of growth—then de- 50 and by focusing minds on the veloping countries would cut ex- evil of poverty. Most of the 40 treme poverty from 16% of their credit, however, must go to capi- populations now to 3% by 2030. 30 talism and free trade, for they That would reduce the absolute enable economies to grow—and 20 numbers by 1 billion. If growth is a little faster and income more it was growth, principally, that 10 has eased destitution. equal, extreme poverty could fall Poverty rates started to col- 0 to just 1.5%—as near to zero as is 0 1 2 3 4 5 lapse towards the end of the 20th Mean daily consumption (PPP $) realistically possible. The num- century largely because develop- ber of the destitute would then ing-country growth accelerated, China be about 100m, most of them in from an average annual rate of USD 1.25 intractable countries in Africa. 4.3% in 1960-2000 to 6% in 2000- 30 Misery’s billions would be con- 10. Around two-thirds of poverty 25 signed to the annals of history. reduction within a country comes from growth. Greater equality also 20 Markets vs misery helps, contributing the other third. That is a lot of ifs. But making A 1% increase in incomes in the 15 those things happen is not as dif- most unequal countries produces a 10 ficult as cynics profess. The mere 0.6% reduction in poverty; in world now knows how to reduce the most equal countries, it yields a 5 poverty. A lot of targeted poli- 4.3% cut. cies—basic social safety nets and 0 China (which has never 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 cash-transfer schemes, such as shown any interest in MDGs) is Brazil’s Bolsa Família—help. So Mean daily consumption (PPP $) responsible for three-quarters of does binning policies like fuel the achievement. Its economy India subsidies to Indonesia’s middle has been growing so fast that, USD 1.25 class and China’s hukouhouse- even though inequality is rising 30 hold-registration system (see ar- fast, extreme poverty is disap- ticle) that boost inequality. But pearing. China pulled 680m 25 the biggest poverty-reduction people out of misery in 1981- 20 measure of all is liberalising 2010, and reduced its extreme- markets to let poor people get poverty rate from 84% in 1980 15 richer. That means freeing trade to 10% now. between countries (Africa is still That is one reason why (as 10 cruelly punished by tariffs) and the briefing explains) it will be 5 within them (China’s real great harder to take a billion more leap forward occurred because it people out of extreme poverty in 0 allowed private business to the next 20 years than it was to 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 grow). Both India and Africa are take almost a billion out in the Mean daily consumption (PPP $) crowded with monopolies and past 20. Poorer governance in Sub-saharan Africa restrictive practices. India and Africa, the next two Many Westerners have re- USD 1.25 targets, means that China’s expe- 30 acted to recession by seeking to rience is unlikely to be swiftly constrain markets and roll glo- replicated there. Another reason 25 balisation back in their own is that the bare achievement of countries, and they want to ex- pulling people over the USD1.25- 20 port these ideas to the develop- a-day line has been relatively 15 ing world, too. It does not need easy in the past few years be- such advice. It is doing quite cause so many people were just 10 nicely, largely thanks to the same below it. When growth makes economic principles that helped them even slightly better off, it 5 the developed world grow rich hauls them over the line. With 0 and could pull the poorest of the fewer people just below the offi- 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 poor out of destitution. cial misery limit, it will be more Mean daily consumption (PPP $) difficult to push large numbers Source: Laurence Chandy, Natasha Ledlie and Veronika Pensiakova © 2013 The Economist Newspaper over it. Limited. All rights reserved № 11 (53) june 2013|the ukrainian week|15 Economics|Oligarchs Put in a Good Word for the Poor Oligarchs Oligarchs continue to imitate business in Ukraine: they redistribute old Soviet industrial assets without creating any new ones and get windfall profits at taxpayers’ expense
he Cabinet of Ministers’ meeting on fits to the most socially vulnerable catego- June 5 churned out a fresh and hardly ries, let alone others. The narrow circle in- the last example of how oligarchs are cludes Rinat Akhmetov’s and Vadym Tpracticing the parasitism of state Novynskyi’s MetInvest; Ihor Kolomoyskyi’s budget financing and avoid taxes. It con- and Hennadiy Boholiubov’s Private-Inter- sidered a draft Memorandum of Under- Trading; Viktor Pinchuk’s Interpipe; the standing between the Cabinet of Ministers Industrial Union of Donbas controlled by and the mining and steel industry, approv- the Russian Evraz, and the like. The draft ing necessary actions to rescue it from cri- Memorandum does not specify signatories sis. The purpose of the Memorandum is to from the mining and steel industry, which “create conditions to stabilize the operation means that this state support could be very of the mining and steel industry, make do- selective. Perhaps, only those most loyal to mestic steel products more competitive, the government will get their piece of the and preserve jobs”. For this, the govern- pie. ment is supposed to provide mining and This support for oligarchs is a telling steel companies with a wide range of un- example of top-level corruption, which is limited tax, customs, tariff and railway likely to deprive the most vulnerable cate- transportation privileges. Under the draft gories of the population, dependant on bil- Memorandum, the Cabinet ensures that lions of hryvnias in public funding and a rates for the use of mineral resources, land surge of tax pressure on non-oligarch busi- and environmental tax will remain un- ness that will finance privileges for a hand- changed (this privilege will cost the taxpay- ful of oligarchic groups. Similarly, the state ers UAH 0.7bn); prevents the increase of is supporting the coal industry. It costs tax- railway transportation costs for mining and payers over UAH 14bn but brings more steel companies by more than 5% of 2012 and more profits to entities linked to the rates (as a result, Ukrainian Railways will Family, Rinat Akhmetov’s DTEK and end up with decreased revenues and will fill smaller coal business owners. the gap with more expensive train tickets The steel industry is indeed going for passengers); and prevents the increase through hard times. Steel exports and out- of electricity prices for mining and steel put have been shrinking for two years in a companies by more than 5% of the April 1, row now. In Q1’2013, exports dropped by 2013 rate (which means that they will be 9.2% compared to Q1’2012, while output subsidized at the expense of state-owned dropped by 7.8% (14.5% and 4.1% in 2012 nuclear power stations and state-subsi- compared to 2011 respectively). Officially dized coal for power plants) for the term of reported losses amounted to UAH 4.5bn in the Memorandum. Q1’2013 and over UAH 15bn in 2012. But The interests of 300,000 workers are the industry crisis is largely caused by the used as the government’s official explana- lack of necessary investment into modern- tion for this lobbying of mining and steel ization when the markets were on the rise, companies. In fact, however, this is a bla- sending the oligarchs’ profits soaring. On tant attempt to finance the windfall profits civilized markets with real business rules of a narrow circle of oligarchs from the and competition, more effective business meager budget that can barely cover bene- owners quickly replace unprofitable and 16|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 uncompetitive enterprises. This is not the case in Ukraine, where business really is imitated. Government support of the mining and steel industry will cause budget losses, while privileges to just one industry at the expense of the rest of the economy will push Ukraine far- ther behind developed countries. However, this support will not lead to any positive changes in the steelworks sector. Steel oli- garchs already evade taxes and report fake losses by re-selling their products to their own offshore companies at knockdown prices, which is where their profits remain. Mean- while, they view the domestic steel industry as a milk cow that helps them generate billions in offshore zones, with which they later buy assets in Ukraine for peanuts. For instance, Rinat Akhmetov just bought 93% of UkrTelecom’s shares from the Austrian company EPIC (many experts actually believed that Akhme- tov’s entities stood behind this company back in 2011 when it bought the state-owned fixed line telephone monopoly for UAH 10.5bn). The current Chairman of the State Property Fund said that the latest deal may again be worth UAH 10bn. In other words, oligarchs can afford to amass assets, but have no money to upgrade their loss-generating steelworks, from which they apparently laundered the money for the new assets in the first place. The deal with UkrTelecom proves once again that oligarchs have been pretending to do business for the past two decades. In fact, they have merely been redistributing the assets that Ukraine inherited from the USSR without creating anything new or investing into inno- vations. It looks like the next battle will be for Kryvorizhstal. The PR campaign started with Shuster Live, the most popular political talk show in Ukraine, which covered mass lay-offs at the plant as its top story, thus leading to the conclusion that it is time to take Kryvorizhstal from a bad owner and give it to a good one. The name of the potential good owner surfaced re- cently, although his trace was visible from the very beginning. The Commercial Court of Kyiv resumed the case to deem the privatization of 93% of Kryvorizhstal illegal, based on the claim of IMC (Investment-Metallurgy Union) estab- lished by Rinat Akhmetov’s SCM and Viktor Pinchuk’s Interpipe. In 2005, Tymoshenko’s Cabinet took the plant away from them. That same year, the repeated privatization of Kryvorizhstal through a public tender turned out to be the most successful one since Ukraine regained independence: Mittal Steel acquired it for USD 4.8bn, a record-breaking sum for the Ukrainian budget. The tender was held af- ter the court ruled that the first privatization of Kryvorizhstal was illegal: in 2004, it was sold to the IMC for USD 0.8bn. Overall, Ukraine’s GDP per capita con- firms that Ukrainian oligarchs only pretend to do business: it has barely changed over the past 20 years here, while multiplying in coun- tries, such as Poland that have implemented structural reforms. Neighbours|Opinion Oliver Bullough: “There will now be much fewer Russians than we used to have in the world” A British Russophile shares his views on the spiritual roots of the demographic tragedy affecting the Russian nation
Interviewer: his nation is still experi- Bohdan encing the “totalitarian ex- Tsiupyn, UK periment”; it’s sick; it’s ti- Ttle nation is dying out. This is Oliver Bullough’s latest book The Last Man in Russia and the struggle to save a dying nation published in April. This is not the work of a Russophobe gloat- ing over the agony of a nation in decline. On the contrary, Bullough is a Western Russo- phile with an Oxford education who spent years living in and ex- ploring Russia. Having worked in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Cen- tral Asia and the Caucasus, the young British writer witnessed events that would likely trauma- tize the average European. When the USSR announced that it was building a paradise on Earth in the 1960s, the Russian popula- tion began to drink itself to death, the book’s summary states. For a time, vodka was bringing more revenue to the state than oil. People like Oliver are surprised to see that “death by alcoholism” continues in Rus- sia. High death rates among Rus- sians – mostly men of working age – resulted in a gap of 240,000 in the death to birth rate in 2010. Overall, the popula- tion of Russia shrank from 148.5 to 141.9 million between 1991 and 2010. Meanwhile, the struc- ture of the population is chang- ing dramatically as any growth, even if only negative, is primarily the result of immigration from non-Russian republics and higher fertility rates among non- Russian ethnic minorities. Might China one day assume that the Russians don’t actually need their vast territories in Si- beria or the Far East? What will 18|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 Opinion|neighbours Russia be like with, say, Muslims UW: Your book is called The BIO accounting for one tenth of its Last Man in Russia. In one of Oliver Bullough studied modern history at Oxford University. After graduation in 1999, he went to Russia and lived in population? Will the Russians the recent discussions in Lon- Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan manage to stop associating don you said that Russia is for seven years. While in Russia and Kyrgyzstan, he worked themselves with the Soviet Union doomed. Can you elaborate on as a travelling Reuters reporter. His award-winning first and its gravitation toward terri- that? book, Let Our Fame Be Great, focuses on the liberation strug- tory grabbing and domination I wrote a book about Chech- gle and modern life in the Caucasus, and has achieved criti- and begin solving their own nya and the North Caucasus cal acclaim in the UK and US. In 2011, Oxfam, an interna- problems instead? Oliver which have been seen some of tional organization working to find solutions to poverty and Bullough’s book is an attempt to the bloodiest episodes in Russian related problems, awarded Oliver as a new writer. He is cur- answer these questions. In his colonialism. Russia and Russian rently working as the Caucasus editor for the Institute of War & Peace Reporting. interview with The Ukrainian government do not come out of Week, Bullough explains some that very well, to put it mildly. It of the observations behind his is basically a series of continuous ously saw. This will have aston- insightful conclusions. genocides, and no government ishing consequences in terms of would come out of that well. A the army in Russia and Russian number of my Russian friends culture: if the only way Russia who read the book said that they maintains its population is really liked it but thought it a bit through massive sustained im- unfair to single out only one epi- migration, Russian culture will sode in Russian, while ignoring see a radical change. the fact that unlike a lot of gov- My book is about the way the ernments – say in the Nazi Ger- government of the Soviet Union many or imperial Japan – the attempted to change the Russian Russian one always inflicted vio- nation. And not just Russians – it lence and torment on its own tried to inflict the same changes people as much, if not more, on Ukrainians or the Kyrgyz, but than it did on everyone else. The the books focuses on the Russians rule of Russian dictatorship was and the government’s attempts to very different from that in any change them from a very tradi- other nations. So, they said that tional peasant civilization based it was unfair to only focus on on their own traditions essentially what Russia had done to non- unchanged for hundreds of years Russians. That’s why I wanted to into a modern proletarian civiliza- write a book about ethnic Rus- tion in just one generation. That sians and difficulties they faced. And the most obvious subject to write about in that sense is its the Russian government demographic disaster. always inflicted violence Russia has a very high death rate at a very low birth rate. This and torment on its own is the Russian cross. There are people as much, if not other countries with high death rates, but they almost always more, than it did on have high birth rates, while everyone else countries with low birth rates have long life expectancy. Japan, process, which hit hard Ukraine for example, has a very low birth and other nations of course, was rate, but people live long there. particularly nasty for Russia be- Congo has low life expectancy cause it had no foreigners to but an awful lot of children. blame for it. The Georgians, for in- stance, can say “It’s the Russians UW: That’s what your subtitle who did that to us” – they have says: the struggle to save a dy- someone outside to blame. Ukrai- ing nation. Is Russia dying? nians can do the same. The Rus- Yes, it is – the Russian nation sians don’t have that. The govern- in terms of Russian people, eth- ment was theirs, Russian, and that nic Russians. means that they have this perma- There will now be much nent conflicted double relation- fewer Russians than we used to ship to what happened to them. have in the world, both in abso- I think, it explains why Stalin lute and in relative terms. Their is considered a great person in birth rate has been so low for so Russia to this day despite of what long that it is effectively impos- he did. It is a unique dilemma sible to have enough children to that no other European nation bring the number of Russians faces: being both the victim and back to the level that we previ- the perpetrator. № 11 (53) june 2013|the ukrainian week|19 Neighbours|Opinion UW: So, many Russians still having a democracy and being cannot break with the Soviet rich. Russia is neither very rich communist past because it’s nor a democracy. So, being an part of them? empire was its identity. When Yes. I sometimes imagine that the empire is lost, it’s obviously it’s like if you had run a hundred going to hurt. It’s difficult. Why miles as hard as you could, and the Russians drink an awful lot? sometime told you you’d been There are other questions that running in a wrong direction. accompany this one. All coun- There would be a part of you that tries in Northern Europe always would try to justify why you’d run had heavy alcohol consumption that hundred miles. Even if you – look at the Finns or the had run in a wrong direction and Swedes. I don’t really know the it hadn’t done you any good at all, reason for that. But it’s particu- you had actually run that dis- larly visible in Russia: the com- tance. The Russians, for instance, bination of oppressive political make a very big thing out of win- culture and drinking as part of ning WWII, although they didn’t the national culture has actually really. They beat the Germans but been a disaster. that didn’t mean that they won themselves. Look at what hap- UW: You mentioned Ukraine pened to the Soviet army after the and Ukrainians in your book, war: hundreds of thousands of mostly with respect to GULAGs. people were sent off to the GU- But let’s talk about the modern LAGs because they had been cap- aspect. There’s a popular saying tured by the Germans, although among Ukrainians: Russian in- that’s not their fault. That’s not tellectuals and liberals cease to what a country does to a victori- be freedom-lovers when it ous army. There is a sort of belief comes to Ukraine. Zbigniew there that “we did that”. I had a Brzezinski said that when Rus- colleague in Moscow who said sia loses its control over “We own Chelsea” when Roman Ukraine, it will no longer be an Abramovich bought it. “You don’t empire, but a normal nation fo- own Chelsea,” I said. “It’s a man cused on the well-being and life who bought the companies that that Russia was a land empire of its own people. Would you used to belong to the Russian na- with no strong countries to the agree that the Ukrainian issue tion for almost nothing and used east helped it become an empire is that important for the future his vast wealth now to buy some- in a different way. Being an em- of Russia as a nation? thing in a foreign country.” The pire for Britain, France or any I don’t know. I didn’t spend a Russians don’t own that football other nation scars the country. lot of time in Ukraine. I was there club. He owns it thanks to the That causes problems at home for the Orange Revolution, and a money that used to belong to the for the empire-making country. few times later. I think Russians Russian nation. It’s this strange The British Empire has longer struggle with Ukraine in the same identification of the Russians been gone now, so Britain has way as a lot of English people The combination of with those who oppress them. It’s dealt with it in a way although it oppressive political struggle with Ireland. I’m from very interesting psychologically. took it a long time – decades culture and drinking Wales so I’m looking at this as a probably – to get used to the fact as part of the third party. If you mention the national culture has UW: You have stated that Rus- that it no longer has the presence actually been a crimes of the British Empire, a lot sia is unique. Why do you think that significant in the world. disaster of English people would try to de- it’s different from, say, Great Russia as an empire fell apart fend it in a way they would never Britain? What stops the British relatively recently, and it did in a defend its crimes in Kenya or In- from drinking too much or wal- weird way, accidentally almost in When Putin's dia. I also think that part of it is lowing in self-pity over their 1991. Because of that a lot of generation is moved that many British people feel that lost empire? Why doesn’t the Russians haven’t come to terms aside and the new the Irish aren’t actually foreign- one comes, the latter British elite dare to undertake with the fact that they are no lon- is going to face the ers; they are British. In the same the sort of social experiments ger a world power and as signifi- most appalling way, the Russians can’t deal with legacy, and dealing that the Russians carried out cant as they used to be. Now, with it will be an the fact that Ukrainians are not among their population? they are the country of the level incredibly difficult Russians. To them, Ukrainians This is the question that goes of Britain or Germany, not the task for them are so evidently Russian but they back to the depth of historical US or China. That is something are either paid to say they are not, past. I think it also goes back to that takes long to get used to. It or they are stupid. In fact, a lot of Russia’s geographical nature. is even more difficult – and I Russian politicians have this sort Britain is an island and we’ve al- don’t mean to make too much of of an opinion that the only reason ways been a sea fare nation. That a caricature out of it – given that you have to disagree with them is meant that we would inevitably that was all Russia had. In Brit- that you’re either a traitor or stu- become a trading nation and get ain, for instance, we have other pid. This has very deep roots in rich in a certain way. The fact things to be proud of, such as their political culture. And that’s 20|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 Opinion|neighbours what they find frustrating about name of Moscow and the Soviet their own history. That’s why I Ukraine – that Ukrainians do not Union a root of the Russian focused on alcoholism, GULAGs seem to appreciate the fact that tragedy? and repressions against the Or- Russia is the best friend, the big I can see it this way if you’re thodox church. Also, as the book brother, and that Ukraine should coming from a Ukrainian per- goes on, it focuses increasingly just get along with everything spective. But inside Russia, on anti-Semitism because the Russia says. The fact that Ukraine what was done in terms of its Jews were foreigners living in- might prefer to make friends with foreign policy – outside of Rus- side Russia. In a way, they be- Poland seems insane to Russians. sia – is relatively unimportant come a representation of all mi- for the Russians. What was done UW: You lived in Russia for inside Russia was much more The Russians haven’t years. Do you sense any change important. My book is about the in that attitude over that time? Russian nation. I focused on really come to terms Do you think the Russians’ atti- what was done inside the coun- with what was done tude toward Ukraine is chang- try. Of course, what it did out- ing for the better or is it getting side of its borders was abso- in their name worse? I’ve heard, for instance, lutely appalling. If it were a that Russia’s new opposition wider book covering the Soviet norities in the Soviet Union. leader Alexei Navalny is essen- Union, then it would naturally Anti-Semitism became an in- tially a Russian chauvinist and focus more on the deportation creasingly serious movement in imperialist, especially when it of the Chechens, the Ingush and Russia in the 1980-1990s. And comes to Ukraine. the other nations; on what was that’s a fairly big part of the I haven’t noticed changes for done to the nomads in Kazakh- book. better or for worse. I think it goes stan. But this was only about the up and down depending on poli- Russians, and I wanted to try UW: Can Russia be saved as a tics in Kyiv. When Yushchenko and make them the centre of nation? Can it ever be happy was in power, he talked a lot with itself? about the 1932-33 Holodomor THE CORRECT VERSION OF THE HOLODOMOR I take a lot of heart from the and that makes the Russians in- Russian historians now have yet another series of rec- protests that have been happen- credibly angry. They are not good ommendations on how to address the issue of the 1932- ing in Russia – not particularly in admitting that it happened in 33 forced famine known as the Holodomor. Russia’s because I want Russia to be- Federal Archive Agency suggests that archival docu- the first place, and they refuse to ments be quoted in such a way that the fact of the Ho- come a liberal democracy, al- admit that it was genocide. When lodomor targeting Ukraine is refuted. though I like liberal democra- Ukrainian politicians discuss In the roundtable “On Preventing the Falsification of His- cies. But I think that the fact that, it makes the Russians’ very tory of Nations to Damage the Interests of Russia” held that young Russians are stand- angry, I think, in terms of their at the Federation Council, the upper house of the Rus- ing up and insisting that they be political stance. At the moment, sian parliament, Deputy Director of the Russian Archive treated with dignity and respect the Ukrainian government Vladimir Tarasov stated, “the Federal Archive initiated a is a very important and impres- doesn’t talk about it so much. number of media campaigns regarding the famine in sive movement. The 2011-2012 This means that the Russians can the USSR. This was clearly a response to what happened protests in Russia had very sort of stop thinking about that. in Ukraine… to neutralize what had taken place there” much in common with the Or- [he was apparently referring to the Ukrainian historical But it hasn’t gone away. discourse of the 1932-33 Holodomor – Ed.] ange Revolution in Ukraine – The Russians haven’t really “Given the Ukrainian ‘factor’, documents should be when young people insisted that come to terms with what was compiled in such a way that they prove the universal na- they be treated like citizens, not done in their name. In the same ture of grain collection in 1932, performed with similar as subjects. I think that gives way, a lot of British people methods in different crisis regions (Ukraine, North Cau- hope that the new generation in haven’t come to terms in what casus, Lower Volga),” Viktor Kandrashyn, historian and Russia will not tolerate the kind was done in our name. Although research advisor of the three-volume compilation of ar- of abuse that other Russians had that wasn’t perhaps quite as hor- chive documents, wrote in his explanatory note. to tolerate. But it is coming so rible. It’s the same with Chech- The initial title planned for the three-volume compila- late that, whatever happens, the nya. When you talk about what tion was The 1932-33 Famine in the USSR. However, Rus- Russian nation will have to be a sian officials apparently took the Ukrainian factor into was done to the Chechens and the account and altered the timeframe to avoid references lot smaller than it is now even if deportations in, say, 1944, even to the years of 1932-33 that have become a synonym for it becomes politically free. This to the nicest Russian, you face to- the Ukrainian Holodomor. The compilation is now adver- brings forth other problems. I tal disconnect – a refusal to admit tised as The 1929-1934 Famine in the USSR. would love to say that Russia that that was a crime. I think it’s The motivation behind the mass murder of Ukrainian cit- has 20 years in which the new the same with Holodomor. When izens through starvation, as suggested by the authors of generation could grow up and it comes to that, you hear in Mos- the compilation, is as follows: Joseph Stalin did this in take charge and create a more cow that, if it did happen, it order to battle external enemies. “This chapter may in- open and respectful political wasn’t only Ukrainians in it, and clude documents on the growing tension in interna- culture. Sadly, however, it does they should have shut up about it tional politics in 1932, particularly in the Far East and Eu- not have 20 years – it does not rope. This forced Stalin to take a ‘firm stance’ in domes- a long time ago anyway. It’s very tic policy”. have any time at all. When Pu- similar to how the Turks talk Kandrashyn also recommends selecting documents tin’s generation is moved aside, about Armenians. about deaths of starvation “without detailed descrip- they are going to face the most tions of cannibalism. Documents should be selected in a appalling legacy, and dealing UW: Isn’t this refusal to com- way that shows the tragedy of all Soviet peasants, with- with it will be an incredibly dif- prehend what was done in the out an emphasis on Ukraine.” ficult task for them. № 11 (53) june 2013|the ukrainian week|21 Society|Philanthropy Help Thy Neighbour
Average charity was one of the basic ele- Why philanthropy is not popular Ukrainians donate ments, and stifled any private ini- in Ukraine UAH 50 tiative in people, even philan- to charity thropic. Add to this the Soviet Author: survey conducted in 2012 by the “preventive” struggle against Bohdan Butkevych Democratic Initiatives Founda- beggars, and the discouraging ex- tion and the Razumkov Centre, perience with many fraudsters he Ministry of Justice re- confirmed that most charities in begging for money today,” she ex- ports that at the beginning Ukraine only exist on paper: only plains. of 2013, Ukraine had over 21% of Ukrainians supported T15,000 officially registered them last year, only 6% did so be- CHARITY FRAUD charity organizations and foun- cause they trusted them. Based on the above-mentioned dations. This is a lot, but quantity The poverty of Ukrainian so- survey by the Democratic Initia- does not mean quality. In a 2012 ciety is commonly considered to study of private charity develop- be the main cause of the reluc- ment in the world by the Charities tance to donate to charity. How- Aid Foundation, Ukraine landed ever, welfare is by far not the key 111th, dropping six points from factor in philanthropy. Interna- 2011. Sociologists have deter- tional surveys prove that it is mined a persistent mistrust and a much more common and efficient general lack of understanding of in some countries that are poorer the point of charity in Ukrainian than Ukraine. This attitude stems society, especially among people from the Soviet past, says psy- aged over 35. This attitude is chologist Nadia Artyshko. “The made worse by the alert attitude Soviet government kept tell- of government authorities to cor- ing people that there were no rupt charity initiatives schemes such things as problems in that they are not involved in and the USSR. Plus, it fought tax pressure. The new Law “On against the church, where Charity Activities and Charity Five steps to avoid charity Organizations” enacted in Febru- fraudsters ary 2013 has failed to solve key 1. Check the official registration of the problems in this sphere. charity organization or foundation ask- INERTNESS AND DISTRUST ing for your donation at the Justice Ministry “Up to 2,000 new charity organi- 2. Demand charity organization’s port- zations have emerged in Ukraine folio, i.e. information on earlier cam- annually in the past few years,” paigns conducted by the organizations, says Anna Hulevska-Chernysh, preferably with financial reports on ex- Director of the Ukrainian Forum penditures and the use of the funds of Philanthropists. “This surge is not surprising. It coincided with they collected many election campaigns where 3. If you or your company decides to politicians tried to buy voter sup- donate funds to a charity, the best op- port with philanthropy. This is tion is to do it via transfer through a re- why only 2,000 or 15% of the liable bank, preferably an international 15,000 officially registered chari- one ties actually work in Ukraine.” 4. Demand a report detailing what the According to the Ukrainian Fo- organization is planning to spend the rum of Philanthropists, all EU donations on, and a final report, be- member-states have 110,000 offi- fore donating money cially registered charity organiza- 5. Remember that the new law on tions. Compared to their rate of charity passed in February 2013 allows one charity organization per you to demand the reimbursement of 4,500 people, Ukraine’s one per your donation if it was misused by the 3,000 looks inspiring. However, a charity 22|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 Help Thy Neighbour
tives Foundation, the key charity venue. They normally ask people instruments in Ukraine include to help them buy a train ticket contributions through charity home, pay for a surgery for a fam- boxes (43%), the purchase of ily member, and the like. Most goods where part of the income is have some kind of certificate, os- donated to charity (21%), and tensibly confirming the diagno- participation in charity events or- sis. However, police statistics ganized by employers (16%). claims that up to 95% of them are These are the methods most often fraudsters. used by fraudsters. “Fraudsters went from door to Most fraudsters ask for money door, telling people that a sick girl in public transport. In Kyiv, the needs treatment in Germany,” subway is the most popular volunteer Oleksiy Savka says of a recent fraud discovered by a Kyiv- based charity organization. “They said that the state wouldn’t help the girl, so they had to collect the money from the public. They were only ex- posed two months later, but the police re- fused to charge them. That’s the reality. No wonder peo- ple often treat charity vol- unteers like sales agents.” “I once decided to help a sick child,” says Oleksandr Trosh- kin, a manager at an international company in Kyiv. “There was a large plastic box with the ba- by’s photo and a plea to help the parents pay for treatment abroad. Below was a contact number. As I had read about the latest news on charity frauds, I called the number to ask how the baby was doing. No-one answered. I later discovered that this was a scam that brought the people behind it over UAH FROM HEART TO HEART: 200,000. Now, I treat charity or- Volunteers have recently ganizations with caution.” organized campaigns in most “Unfortunately, the number of cities of Ukraine to draw public attention to charity charity fraudsters is growing,” says Dmytro Struk, President of Society|Philanthropy the Sertse do Sertsia (Heart to on many channels, we received a companies record their donations Heart) Foundation. And they goodly sum,” Serhiy says. “But to charity as marketing or PR ex- have been using new ways to get fraudsters gained access to the penses rather than charity ex- money. “They call commercial account because of staff negli- penses which can account for 1-4% companies and ask for permis- gence, or so we were told by bank of their total budget. Under the sion to collect money for a charity employees, and stole all the current Tax Code, donors have to cause,” Serhiy, an investigator in money, nearly USD 5,000.” pay income tax on aid to recipi- Kyiv, shares. “Or they propose ents.” And banks rarely warn peo- that companies support a charity THE GREEDY STATE ple opening a charity account that event, preferably a one-time one. The new law has made it much current legislation does not clas- According to our statistics, up to easier to register a charity organi- sify incoming funds as special- 40% of all frauds are done this zation or foundation in Ukraine. purpose funding, thus they are way because it’s fairly easy. If the Even a group of individuals with subject to taxation, plus bank fees. fraudsters manage to fool the a founding act and a charter list- This burden virtually stifles company, the latter collect money ing their goals and expected the development of some popular from their employees or the com- sources of income, will almost and effective charity technologies pany pays for the cause from its surely get a registration at the that are used all over the world, budget. The amounts they earn Justice Ministry. At year-end, such as mobile donations. Mobile this way are much higher than they are obliged to disclose finan- operators in Ukraine say that any those they collect on the streets. cial statements, have independent text message, even if it is sent as a The risk is higher, of course, but supervisory boards and report to charity donation, is subject to a the fraudsters have become the tax inspection. Experts claim, 20% VAT and 7.5% Pension Fund skilled in this art, and make au- however, that 90% of all existing fee. As a result, the recipient gets thentic-looking fake documents.” charity organizations ignore 45 kopiykas at most from a char- Experts believe that an im- these requirements. ity text message costing UAH 1. portant step in changing this “There are barely any charity In addition to the tax burden, would be to switch from cash do- statistics in Ukraine,” claims Anna another big problem is the mis- nations to non-cash bank trans- Hulevska-Chernysh. “On the one THE MOST appropriation of charity funds. fers. However, this will not elimi- hand, the state, represented by the HELPFUL? In the recent past, state institu- nate charity fraud altogether. Ser- tax authority, is not providing this Boxes for tions including hospitals, or- hiy and Oksana Frolov information. If published, it will donations in phanages and social services, experienced one eighteen months reveal that charity is subject to stores and would often sell the medicines, ago when their nine-year old son taxation in Ukraine, which is non- other public humanitarian aid and equipment was diagnosed with thyroid can- sense in most other countries. On premises sent to them as aid. This bitter are the most cer. The couple opened an ac- the other hand, most charity orga- popular charity experience has now taught char- count at one of the largest banks nizations do not disclose their fi- tool in Ukraine. ity organizations to try to super- in Ukraine. “Thanks to our nancial statements. The huge tax Each one brings vise them more closely. As a re- friends who work on TV and pressure urges those willing to do- in up to UAH sult, many recipients often refuse helped us air our appeal for help nate to do so unofficially, while 8,000 annually to work with donors. Social ser- photo: andriy lomakin photo:
24|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 Philanthropy|Society vices boycott most private char- MAJOR SOURCES OF CHARITY IN UKRAINE ity initiatives because this blocks the traditional corrupt scams used for embezzling funds allo- 43% 21% 16% 11% cated for social aid and work. “Our state authorities, with only a few rare exceptions, don’t like charity organizations, because they can provoke inspections or The average turn media attention to the mis- Ukrainian philanthropist is a appropriation of funds, while woman from a big city striking a bargain with charity in Western Ukraine, Charity donations The purchase of Donations Volunteering organizations is more difficult aged 33-39 boxes in public goods, part of the through events than with inspection authorities, places, ores, income going to at work because the former are mostly on public transport charity driven by enthusiasts,” says vol- and the like unteer Andriy Vlasianets. “In fact, whenever it comes to private initiatives, the government im- 9% 6% 5% 2% mediately sees this as a threat to itself, some sort of politics. Therefore, the best thing would be for government authorities not to interfere, issue all necessary licenses and keep tax inspections to a minimum. Lately, tax au- Bank transfers The purchase Mobile donations The purchase thorities have been visiting effi- of tickets of charity cards cient charity organizations, espe- to charity concerts cially international ones, on a Source: December 2012 survey by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Razumkov Centre regular basis.” history|Norilsk Uprising The Virus of Rebellion The 1953 uprising initiated by Ukrainian political prisoners in the Norilsk forced labour camp was the first step towards the downfall of the Gulag
Author: s the entire world was re- lagi (special-purpose camps)— Living in special-purpose Ihor thinking militarist ideol- for “especially dangerous state camps Derevianyi ogies and returning to criminals” (see Notes). After The residential quarters of osob- A the humanist ideas re- the Second World War, this cat- lagi were kept under prison-like flected in the UN Universal Dec- egory comprised primarily security: windows had iron bars; laration of Human Rights (De- members of armed resistance barracks were locked up for the cember 1948), the totalitarian forces who had fought against night; inmates were not allowed Soviet Union remained quite the Soviet regime and were to leave the barracks outside of 26 May 2013 marks the “exotic” with its Gulag, an infa- taken captive: OUN under- working hours. The residential 60th mous system of concentration ground activists, UPA fighters, space afforded to inmates in 1948 anniversary of the camps. Moreover, the Soviets Baltic “forest brothers”, mem- was half the size of that in gen- Gorlag uprising had just begun to designate spe- bers of the Polish Armija Kraj- eral-purpose forced labour cial camps—the so-called osob- owa (Home Army), etc. camps: one square metre per per- viv e m nt, L M ov of th e L ib ration Sourc e : A rchiv of th Ce ntr for Study
26|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 Norilsk Uprising|history As of 5 June son. Inmates of special-purpose sturdy young fellows, fresh from 1953, black banner of freedom that camps were utilized for especially the guerrilla trails, looked around as many as six later became a symbol for other difficult work, including mining themselves in Dubovka, were divisions – a total of uprisings in Vorkuta (1953) and and industrial and residential horrified by the apathy and slav- Kengir (1954). construction. The excesses of ery they saw, and reached for 16,379 In order to “restore order” inmates – were on camp administration, armed their knives...A law indeed strike in the Norilsk and on instructions from Gorlag guards and MGB escorts were emerged, but it was a new and camp chief General Ivan Semenov, a outrageous and, most impor- surprising law: ‘You whose con- group of criminals was moved to tantly, they acted with total im- science is unclean — this night the 2nd camp division on 21 May punity. Special-purpose camps you die!’ Murders now followed 1953. They were armed with were the final and most cynical one another in quicker succes- knives, and the resulting slaugh- Stalinist invention in the long sion than escapes in the best pe- ter left many casualties. How- history of the Gulag, a system de- riod. They were carried out confi- ever, the political prisoners still signed to destroy people first dently and anonymously: no one refused to end their strike. On morally and then physically. went with a bloodstained knife to 25-26 May, armed guards twice Convicted criminals were an- give himself up; they saved them- shot at columns of inmates in the other tool used by the authorities selves and their knives for an- 1st, 4th and 5th divisions, killing a to harass inmates. According to other deed. At their favourite few and wounding many more. official documents, such convicts time — [in the early morning] This is when the Norilsk uprising (urki, urkagany or blatari in when a single warder was unlock- actually started. A week after its criminal slang) were not sup- ing huts one after another, and posed to be placed in special-pur- while nearly all the prisoners pose camps, but the authorities were still sleeping — the masked Even though the Gorlag intentionally sent groups of them avengers entered a particular uprising was eventually there. Camp administrators section, went up to a particular turned a blind eye to the abuses bunk, and unhesitatingly killed suppressed by the of criminals, who bullied political the traitor, who might be awake authorities, it provided prisoners and established much- and howling in terror or might be desired discipline in the camps. still asleep.” the first glimmer Still, criminals were a minority in In the early 1950s, the camps of hope and an example the osoblagi, with political pris- were divided into two parts. The oners outnumbering them five to inmates had their own order and of resistance in the vast one. Camp administration as- clearly split the territory between Gulag system signed criminals to do lighter political prisoners and criminals. work, largely on the territory of Outside the camp, the adminis- inception, the uprising had the camp and issued them full ra- tration continued to function as reached a massive scale: six camp tions for meeting work quotas. before. But the situation was be- divisions – a total of 16,379 in- This was done to ensure that the coming increasingly tense: pris- mates – were on strike as of 5 criminals were in good physical oners demanded changes in secu- June. It lasted from the end of condition to fulfil their main task rity, while warders wanted to re- May until early August 1953. – maintaining discipline and “or- store their lost authority. For The resistance was strictly or- der” among the prisoners. In this example, in order to instil order ganized: inmates formed “com- way, camp administrations ig- in Peshchlag (Karaganda, Ka- mittees” which acted openly and nored the typical crimes carried zakhstan), some 1,200 inmates regulated the duties of strikers. out against political prisoners: from Western Ukraine who were One person in each barrack was theft of private belongings, psy- imprisoned for anti-Soviet activ- Notes chological harassment, physical ity were moved to the Gorlag – a Osoblagi (from Russian “special-purpose camps”) were abuse and sometimes murder. mountain mining camp. This special concentration camps in the Gulag system designed to However, the situation contingent became the catalyst isolate political opponents that posed the greatest danger to changed after former OUN activ- for the Norilsk uprising. the Soviet regime. They operated from 1948-54 and differed ists and UPA fighters arrived and from general-purpose forced labour camps in their strict took control of the osoblagi. “I do Under the banner of prison-like security and their assignment of inmates to espe- not know about other places freedom cially difficult work in construction, mining industry, etc.- Ato (they started killing in all the After the death of Joseph Stalin tal of 12 special camps were set up in the USSR with a com- Special Camps, even the Spask in March 1953 and with a presen- bined capacity of 275,000 inmates. The largest were Re- chlag in Vorkuta, Ozerlag in Taishet, Berlag (popularly camp for the sick and disabled), timent of amnesty, political pris- known as Kolyma) in Magadan, Steplag in Jezkazgan and but in our camp [in Kengir] it be- oners in Soviet camps expected Gorlag in Norilsk. gan with the arrival of the not merely changes but a review Dubovka transport — mainly of criminal cases and release. Un- Gorlag (from Russian “mountain camp”; also known as Western Ukrainians, OUN mem- der the “Beria amnesty”, around “special camp No. 2”) was a special-purpose concentration bers,” Alexander Solzhenitsyn 1 million of 2.5 million inmates camp that replaced the Norilsk Forced Labour Camp on 28 wrote. “The movement every- were released, but this did not af- February 1948. It operated until 25 June 1954. Its inmates where owed a lot to these people, fect special-purpose camps for worked in ore mining quarries, coal mines, road construc- and indeed it was they who set political prisoners. Outraged in- tion and the Norilsk Copper Smelting Plant. As of 1 January the wheels in motion. The mates in the Gorlag camp in No- 1953, there were 20,167 inmates in the camp. MGB Major Dubovka transport brought us rilsk were the first to go on strike General Ivan Semenov became chief of the Gorlag camp in the bacillus of rebellion.… These in the osoblagi. They raised the 1952. № 11 (53) june 2013|the ukrainian week|27 history|Norilsk Uprising Camp cemetery in Minlag. However, these attempts Unnamed inmates are were thwarted by the self-defence buried beneath the plaques units that inmates had formed. viv In order to break their resistance, camp administrators decided to resort to the field-tested practice of using groups of armed crimi- nals. However, the rebels foresaw this move and successfully re- pelled the attack. According to eyewitness accounts, the crimi- nals fled shouting to the armed guards for help: “Save us! The Banderites are killing us!” The strike persisted, and con- fused party functionaries resorted to unprecedented measures: for the first time in decades they made concessions to the rebels and set up a special Interior Min-
e m nt, L M ov of th e L ib ration Sourc e : A rchiv of th Ce ntr for Study istry commission headed by Colo- nel Mikhail Kuznetsov which designated to lead the protests. was previously done in the OUN came from Moscow to Norilsk on These leaders made up depart- underground. The majority of in- 5 June. The commission had the ment committees, up to 20 peo- mates were informed about task of ending the strike at any ple in each. However, Soviet in- forthcoming events via leaflets. cost. The camp administration vestigators found in 1956 that They braced for possible attacks arranged for a radio broadcast of there were also secret groups of by equipping themselves with the address from the commission real organizers and leaders who handmade knives and clubs. chief intended to calm the in- were never identified. The com- Camp administration and the Mykhailo mates and normalize the situa- mittees were formed several days Soviet Interior Ministry tried to Soroka (1911- tion. Kuznetsov assured the reb- 71), a leader after the uprising started as a use various means (some ex- of the Kengir els that their demands (review of necessary form of organization. traordinary) to quell the upris- uprising in cases, cutting prison terms, can- However, they acted following a ing. Their main goal was to move May-June celling special security, etc.) clear, pre-determined plan, the inmates out of the barracks, 1954, became would be taken to the leadership which led investigators to believe split them into smaller groups of a symbol of of the USSR for discussion and that they were implementing the 100 people each and then cap- enduring action. Some inmates fell for the decisions of a secret group. ture active insurgents and orga- strength promises: rebels in the 1st division Insurgents from different di- nizers. To this end, warders for political of the Gorlag reported their lead- visions coordinated their ac- armed with clubs were sent to prisoners ers to the administration and tions, passing information enter the prison territory and ended the strike. through trustworthy people, as make arrests. The commission met some of the strikers’ demands regarding Ukrainian political prisoners at camp security measures and, at work in a stone quarry, Norilsk the same time, prepared to crush the uprising. As of early August, the uprising in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th divisions had ended.
viv Pacification with consequences The uprising was suppressed us- ing different measures. One was the show of force: the Gorlag ad- ministration expanded the so- called “off-limits zone” to intimi- date inmates – armed guards could shoot to kill any inmates, including strikers, who crossed the line. Some unique measures were also employed to quell the upris- ing: water cannons were used in the 6th division where women were kept, and firearms in the 1st division of the Gorlag. In the 6th
e m nt, L M ov of th e L ib ration Sourc e : A rchiv of th Ce ntr for Study division, the administration used 28|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 Norilsk Uprising|history
Tree felling, 1948 the strikers. According to official sources, 4 were killed and 14 viv wounded. The unofficial count was up to 150 dead. Even though the Gorlag up- rising was eventually suppressed by the authorities, it provided the first glimmer of hope and an example of resistance in the vast UPA Colonel Gulag system. The Norilsk events Vasyl Levkovych, spread the virus of rebellion commander across the entire system. Cheka of the Buh reports on the Norilsk special unit, at work camp dated 17 July 1953 contain in a Dubravlag information on the suppression camp, of uprisings in the 5th, 6th, 13th Mordovia, and 35th divisions. Later, a wave 1963. He of large uprisings swept across served 25 years the Rechlag (July 1953), Kur- starting from e m nt, L M ov of th e L ib ration Sourc e : A rchiv of th Ce ntr for Study gansk, Unzha and Viatka camps 1946. (January 1954). Another erupted fire trucks to disperse the in- killing 11 inmates, seriously in Bodaybo in February 1954. mates by shooting them with jets wounding 14 (of which 12 later The largest one occurred in of water. Then, guards entered died) and lightly wounding 22 Steplag in May-June 1954. They the territory of the camp and iso- more. The 3rd division held out all ended like the Norilsk upris- lated the organizers of the strike. the longest. On 4 August 1953, ing but still succeeded in trigger- In the 1st division of the Gorlag, troops from the 4th division of ing the irreversible downfall of MGB troops opened fire and suc- military unit 7580 broke into the the Gulag system and led to its ceeded in capturing the camp, camp’s territory and fired upon ultimate liquidation in 1960.
Testimonies about the Norilsk uprising Ivan Hubka: Yevhen Hryt- Interior Ministry, to Deputy Interior Minis- “It happened siak: ter Ivan Serov: on 26 May 1953 “Indeed, our “In late May, inmates kept in the special when Diatlov, spontaneous Gorlag camp learned about the fact that in- who escorted outrage turned mates from the general-purpose camps in guards to the into a well-or- Norilsk had begun to be released and trans- production zone ganized protest. ported by steamships under the Amnesty in a brick plant The Gorlag ad- Decree. Some Ukrainian nationalists among where female ministration them began to express their sentiments inmates from was suddenly and started talking about extending the division No. 6 quiet. No one amnesty to prisoners in special camps… worked, began was shooting or Later, some OUN members in the 4th and 5th shooting from a submachine gun at prison- even threatening us. But they decided to divisions of the Gorlag camp provoked a ers in male division No. 5. Seven of them break us by famine. They did not deliver large group of inmates into disobedience. were wounded: Klymchuk (who later died food to Gorstroi for days on end. In the They refused to come to work and then re- of his wounds), Medvedev, Korzhev, Na- morning of the third day, we were ap- fused to eat… deiko, Uvarov, Yurkevych and Kuznetsov. A proached by Major General Paniukov, es- Acting through our agents, we have identi- submachine gun burst directed at innocent corted by Lieutenant Colonel Sarychev and fied the instigators of the unrest. In particu- people was the last straw. At some point, several senior officers. Paniukov had flown lar, the most active organizer is inmate Pavly- without any thought of the consequences, there from Kranoyarsk specifically to ad- shyn, b. 1907, a Ukrainian with a teacher’s the oppressed raises his head and declares dress this issue. Speaking in an authorita- diploma from Prague University, who was that he is also a human being and defends tive and self-assured tone, he demanded convicted of high treason and organized his rights to life. that we resume work and promised to in- struggle against the Soviet authorities and …The tragedy of shooting innocent inmates vestigate any violations that had taken sentenced to 25 years. His accomplice was was framed by the administration as an ac- place. We refused and said we would re- inmate Omelianiuk, b. 1922, a Ukrainian cident: the escort allegedly shot at the sume work only if a government commis- convicted for high treason and sentenced to ground, but the bullets ricocheted off of the sion comes from Moscow to Norilsk… We 10 years. Successful measures have been permafrost. But it didn’t matter. The shoot- understood that the Gulag would not toler- taken to remove Omelianiuk from among ing was a fact, and the inmates decided to ate this situation and would take severe the inmates… have their say. Concentration camps had no measures against us. We were ready for Some of the Russian inmates are inclined to history of strikes [or uprisings] until then, anything, but we were not yielding our posi- punish the Ukrainians who initiated the un- because strikers would have been shot to tions.” rest. As of 3 June of this year, Ukrainian na- death on the spot. (I mean in the times of tionalists in camp divisions continue to re- Lenin and Stalin.) But here the camp admin- Excerpt from a report by Mikhail Kuznetsov, fuse to come to work. Internal order is being istration was at a loss.” chief of the Prison Department in the USSR strictly maintained.” № 11 (53) june 2013|the ukrainian week|29 Culture & Arts|Music Liudmyla Monastyrska: “I would like to promote Ukrainian classical music abroad”
his spring, the Royal Opera embodiment of power. Her spinto pieces as difficult as this one,” House staged a production floats easily over orchestra tuttis Author: she shares. “Although he’s not of Verdi’s Nabucco, with and vocal ensembles without Roman young, Nucci is reliable. He’s a Tthe acclaimed Leo Nucci muffling them. Anch'io dischiuso Horbyk, fantastic person: nice, polite and living legend Placido Do- un giorno, an aria in the second London and, like all Italians, he appreci- mingo taking turns in the lead act, performed in a tender piano ates a good voice and talent. He role as baritones. This staging of reiterates all of Abigaille’s pain as never treated me like he was a Nabucco was especially impor- she holds a torch and watches the grande persona and I was a tant for Ukrainians because two clothes of the Hebrews executed young nobody. If he likes some- Ukrainian singers performed upon her order burn on stage. thing or respects someone, he al- alongside the renowned legends. The next day, I meet with Li- ways says so. Unfortunately, Vitaliy Kovaliov who began his udmyla backstage at Covent Gar- things are often different with opera career abroad sang the den. “I always leave the stage my compatriots.” bass role and Liudmyla Monas- happy when I have colleagues Still, Liudmyla is always tyrska sang the soprano. In re- like these and such a welcoming happy to sing with Ukrainians cent years, she has been wel- audience”, she says. I recollect abroad. She recently sang in At- comed by several world-re- Leo Nucci giving her a warm sin- tila with Vitaliy Bilyi in Santiago nowned stages, such as the cere hug after the performance. and is now working with Vitaliy Deutsche Oper, La Scala and the “It is important to have a reliable Kovaliov in Nabucco. “I feel very Metropolitan Opera. partner on stage, especially in privileged to be able to promote Yet she remains close to her native Ukraine. Liudmyla Mona- styrska still sings Ukrainian folk songs in her dressing room. To her, they are the best warm-up, although Western singers do not share her passion and advise her to “be careful with her voice”. On the stage, she switches to Italian. All seats are sold out. The British dress code for opera venues is casual and smart. After the concert, the audience thanks the artists with a generous round of applause and “bravos”— the emotional standing ovations that usually follow performances in Ukraine are a rarity in Brit- ain. Nabucco, co-produced by the Royal Opera House and La Scala, is minimal- istic and timeless. In terms of vocal perfor- mance, the cast is perfect - from the statuesque and lively choirs to the master- ful Nucci, able to speak vol- umes with a single gesture. Clad in a simple black coat, Monastyrska in the role of Abigaille is the 30|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 Music|Culture & Arts Ukrainian culture,” she com- Verdi, but every singer strives to era House of Ukraine did not ex- ments. “It inspires me. More- add versatility to his or her rep- tend my contract although I had over, my mother is a linguist so ertoire. Opera connoisseurs look been singing solo there since I’m interested in anything re- forward to hearing Liudmyla’s 1998. Perhaps this was because I lated to Ukrainian songs, poetry, powerful voice in Wagner’s op- had young children and the op- traditions and roots, especially eras, while she prefers to move era house administration from Western Ukraine.” to the bel canto of early Roman- thought I wasn’t ready to go on “Mykola Lysenko’s Taras ticism rather than the late Ro- stage and sing, especially diffi- Bulba in Covent Garden – why mantic era. cult roles.” Today, Liudmyla not? Nothing is impossible. Es- “I would rather sing Bellini, continues to work with the Na- pecially now, with new ideas, a not Wagner or Richard Strauss,” tional Opera House of Ukraine, new contemporary vision, and a she comments. “I have an offer so Ukrainians have a chance to new generation of talented direc- to sing Norma. It’s another level see and hear her on a regular ba- tors.” However, Western artists sis. have shown little interest in The Kyiv stage reveals her Ukrainian classical music so far, Performers process their acting talent. “We work with di- Liudmyla notes. “I would eagerly roles through themselves, rectors, they give us tips; they promote Ukrainian classical mu- see us better than we see our- sic abroad if my Western col- add their personal selves, so they can somehow fit leagues were interested in it. Of experiences, and improve what they see to our singing and course, if there were any oppor- vocals. This requires an individ- tunities at all, I would support with every new ual approach for each singer: any initiatives. More people performance everyone has his or her own psy- should represent our country chophysics and self-perception. abroad and show its roots, cul- for me and I would like to reach A lot depends on the singer’s life ture and unique melodies.” it. Overall, I love difficult roles – experience. Directors are not in Lady Macbeth, Odabella, all of control of everything. Perform- Challenging roles the early Verdi. As a profes- ers process their roles through “I take all criticism seriously,” Li- sional, I find them interesting themselves, add their personal udmyla says. “Learning and im- and challenging: can I master experiences, and improve with proving should be a lifelong endea- them or not? Actually, learning every new performance. A role vour. No one can sing perfectly— something new is not a problem. can never be played the same not even the greatest masters”. But given some technical issues, way twice. Actually, it’s good for Liudmyla Monastyrska is I would stick to Verdi for a little singers to listen to and watch re- known for singing the works of longer… Verdi, Verdi, and Verdi cordings of their performances. again! Apart from that, singing This helps them improve their Wagner requires very good Ger- plastiques and work on their man. We have no right to cheat role. We can’t step back and on that.” look at ourselves from afar. I American agents have offered even watch my concerts on the Liudmyla mezzo-soprano roles. Internet to see what I have to do They should not be a problem for differently and what I shouldn’t her surprisingly wide and even do at all. When you’re on the range and dark timbre. But she is stage, carried away with emo- not excited about the idea: “I’m tions and music, you don’t no- not going to switch to mezzo-so- tice gestures or movements that prano as long as I have so many don’t fit”. soprano roles I haven’t sung yet. I “Lately, I have been singing do, however, find mezzo-soprano the roles of powerful women. But roles extremely interesting. The they all eventually go through re- role of Amneris in Aida is so dra- pentance or a catharsis of sorts. matic that I think it’s more inter- They are not just criminals who esting than the role of Aida. And do not deserve forgiveness. All it would definitely be more inter- these women – Lady Macbeth, esting for me as a woman. Con- Abigaille, Odabella - are strong, servatories and auditions always but there is still light at the end of use Amneris’ trial scene from Act the tunnel for them. The singer’s 3 for mezzo-sopranos.” personality is extremely impor- tant in opera. A weak person “I love to sing would never make it in this busi- the roles of powerful ness”. women” Liudmyla’s schedule is full hmor e As Liudmyla Monastyrska’s path to for the next two years with I due e rin ath a brilliant career was not always Foscari (The Two Foscari), At- C
smooth. Once, she had a hard tila, Tosca, Un ballo in maschera / ROH time getting a role in Ukraine. (A Masked Ball) and Aida in the
“In early 2002, the National Op- UK, Italy, USA and Germany. photo: № 11 (53) june 2013|the ukrainian week|31 Culture & Arts|Films The Wrong Triangle
n May 30, a Eastalgia directed by nian boy is about to go to his mother in Ger- do not seem to be very interesting, and the Daria Onyshchenko premiered in many. In the other, his mother is waiting for Ukrainian language spoken by the actors OUkraine. At first sight, it is a well- him. Everything seems to have been done sounds fake. The German part has every- made project involving international co-pro- just right. But the dull poster with noac- thing that fully draws the viewer into the duction, cooperation with funds, a good ti- cents or attractiveness was the first disap- drama of the characters, their solitude and tle, an important theme and a well-known pointment. So was the dramatic aspect of pain. Nina Nizheradze who plays the lead cast. The film focuses on a burning issue in the film which was promoted as a social female role in the German novel acts bril- Ukraine: the massive migration to the West drama. The Ukrainian and Serbian novels liantly. With the tiny apartment as her set- in search of better earn- ting, she makes the acting dra- ings and these people’s matic and versatile with mim- nostalgia for their home- icry, gestures and body plastics, land. The director’s without running around too choice of a modern prob- much or showing explosions of lem makes sense: fi- emotion. Talented Austrian ac- nally, the audience will tor Karl Markovics helps her see something about create the necessary atmo- Ukraine today rather sphere. Their tandem is equal: than its distant past. The they naturally portray a rela- film incorporates three tionship of two different na- novels set in Germany, tions living in a strange world Serbia and Ukraine. Shot far from home. It is this tandem with a hand camera, that makes it worth watching they cover the most in- Eastalgia and counting it as a teresting aspect of hu- success of Ukrainian cinema- man life – love. And they tography. The film has already are all intertwined. In taken part in many festivals one, a 23-year old Ukrai- and won an award in Germany.
Events 15 June, 7 p.m. 18 June, 7 p.m. 21 - 23 June Blackmore's Night Dialogue 2013 Leopolis Grand Prix Palats Sportu Ukrayina Palace of Arts All over the city (1, Sportyvna Ploshcha, Kyiv) (103, vul. Velyka Vasylkivska, (Lviv) Kyiv)
The original and sophisticated music This will be the night of Denys Ukraine’s art capital churns out one of the British folk-rock band will thrill Matvienko’s ballet dialogue with pleasant surprise after another. the most demanding audience. The the audience. The owner of four Shortly after the series of huge duo of Ritchie Blackmore on acoustic Grand Prix awards from the most rock and jazz festivals, it will host and electric guitar, and Candice Night prestigious ballet competitions an international festival of retro as lead vocalist, lyricist and multi- in the world, he will dance at the cars. For several years now, the instrumentalist, it plays exquisite Palace of Arts to show his gratitude lovers of old cars have been trying harmonies that hearken back to the to the viewers for their love and to recreate the Grand Prix race that romantic Medieval and Renaissance support. Other solo dancers of the took place in Lviv eighty years ago. eras, with musketeers, beautiful ladies National Opera House of Ukraine The retro cars will drive through the and all-night ballroom dancing. When will perform on stage alongside Lviv Triangle, a historical road in British guitarist and songwriter Ritchie Denys, including his wife Anastasia the heart of the old city, between Blackmore started the band, he said: and Nina Ananishvili. The show will the streets of Vitovsky, Stryiska and “I love that period include the popular Hvardiyska. – it’s simpler and and most requested In addition to nobler, more Radio and Juliet, a the race, the romantic and modern ballet to programme enchanting than music by Radiohead. includes a it is now.” The car festival band performs for kids and in medieval a navigation costumes and quest. encourages all fans to dress so for the concerts. 32|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 Films|Culture & Arts A New Look at the Old
omething in the Air by French director Olivier Assayas is spiritual and mental trials. At some point, he realizes that he about France in 1971 and the local youth, showing how so- would like to act in movies. However, the pro-communist films Scial sentiments changed after May of 1968 – the French ti- of the older generation make him think that their cinematogra- tle of the film, Après mai, actually translates as ‘after May’. The phy is boring, and the politics primitive. Despite the fact that echo of revolution remained because the rich and poor did not the events took place 40 years ago, Something in the Air is very disappear, but the exhilaration of radical leftist ideas faded like modern. Whether he wanted this or not, Assayas showed the a headache after a party where the drink flowed. In this film, evolution of ideas that are virtually identical at all times, where Assayas does not lie or idealize about anything: he paints – lit- people spark with an idea, and act quickly and skillfully to im- erally and metaphorically. It is not so much a tribute to that plement it, talking about it before and after, but actually doing time, as it is to his personal past, the ideals of his youth, and his something in the process. This vision may serve the youth and beliefs that changed along with his life. It looks like a retrospec- politicians of today well: if you want to do something, do it, tive of the 1970s, where events are related to certain people and don’t just talk about it. serve as a general conclusion of sorts. Gilles, the main character, is an average young man of that time, carried away by revolutionary turmoil, pro- testing against the police regime, loving women, weed and films. This is a typical set of hobbies for his age. But his young adulthood passes, leaving him with the following questions: where will you go and will you ever grow up? Unlike The Dream- ers by Bernardo Bertolucci where the 1968 tur- moil went hand in hand with the hero’s new sex- ual and philosophical experiences – a step- brother of Something in the Air – the latter is not all that dreamy. Assayas makes his film clear, lin- ear and unemotional, yet it has its very noticeable atmosphere. And it is deeper than The Dreamers. The hero in Something in the Air goes through
21 - 23 June 27 June, 10 a.m. 28 – 30 June 29 June, 7 p.m. 2013 Trypillian Circle. 2013 Lviv on a Platter Depeche Mode Water All over the city NSK Olimpiyskyi Rzhyshchiv (Lviv) 55, vul. Velyka Vasylkivska , (Kyiv Oblast) Kyiv
2013 marks the 120th anniversary of Gourmets, as well as anyone who The legendary British electronic-rock the discovery of the Trypillan culture likes good food, will have the band will play a long-awaited concert by archeologist Vikentiy Khvoika. opportunity to taste the versatile in Ukraine as part of its Depeche Therefore, the 6th international Lviv cuisine at the 2nd food festival. It Mode World Tour 2013. Ukrainian arts festival, Trypilske Kolo, or will kick off with a huge gala dinner, fans are eagerly anticipating listening Trypillian Circle, will be special. Just just like it did last year. In 2012, to what critics have already described as in previous years, this year’s the common dinner took place as powerful, dark, gloomy and programme includes performances in the yard of the Potocki Palace, bluesy. The musicians spent all year by folk groups, book readings, where almost 300 guests tasted the in the studio, working on their new, mystical theater performances, delicacies. The festival continued thirteenth album. Very soon now, folk dance workshops, and much with a fair where Lviv restaurants the audience will hear Delta Machine more. As always, the festival area and coffee shops presented their – the title was a long-kept secret – is tobacco, alcohol and drug-free. food to everyone in town. And there live. The first single on the album The drive to was plenty of called Heaven Rzhyshchiv will music. This year, was released take you around the organizers on February 1, 1.5 hours, but promise an 2013. This time, plenty of public equally intense Depeche Mode buses are programme plans to visit 25 available at the and more countries and Podil bus station mouth-watering wrap up the to take you there. surprises. European part of the tour on July 29, in Minsk, Belarus. № 11 (53) june 2013|the ukrainian week|33 Navigator|WESTERN UKRAINE The Donbas of Halychyna A town of two names and two worlds
Author: How to Arisen from the ashes tury icons and attire and a huge Oleksandr Syrtsov get there th Kyiv-Lviv train Chervonohrad is a fairly young collection of 17-18 century books #141 arrives at town compared to other towns in and archives – a total of 10,000 n the early 1950s, the USSR Chervonohrad at Halychyna. Grand Hetman of the items with their own team of con- and the People’s Republic of 4p.m. Another Crown Feliks Kazimierz Potocki servators. In addition, the palace Poland swapped territories option is to take founded it in 1692 and named it serves as Chervonohrad’s unoffi- Iand populations one last a route bus after his wife, Krystyna. His cial ethnographic museum, while time. As a result, Nyzhnio-Us- (marshrutka) grandson Franz Potocki built the also telling the story of the Po- tritskyi or Lower Ustriky county, from Lviv to palace that remains the town’s tocki family. previously part of Drohobych Chervonohrad or main attraction despite its turbu- The adjacent stadium hosts Oblast in Ukraine and now Sokal. The buses lent past. Known as the “little Ver- international speedway champi- leave Bus Sta- known as Ustrzyki Dolne county tion #2 every 10- sailles”, it was built in accordance onships, and the locals have de- in Poland, was annexed to Po- 15 minutes. Lviv- with the day’s standards of palace veloped a penchant for motorcycle land. Meanwhile, Lviv Oblast Sokal or Lviv- architecture. Unfortunately, the racing. Kayaking is another fa- was given the historic towns of Kovel local trains postwar years were more trau- vourite sport here. International Belz, Uhniv and Krystynopol, will also take matic for this residence than for teams begin their journey at where coal deposits were later you to Chervo- the royal family’s other former Staryi Dobrotvir and navigate the discovered. Thus, the city of nohrad from palaces. In Soviet times, it served many rapids and whirlpools of the Krystynopol, later renamed Lviv. purely utilitarian purposes. It did Western Buh River and its tribu- Chervonohrad, became the not fit the proletarian spirit of the taries to cross the Ukrainian bor- county seat of what is now Sokal town, and the palace was soon der and finish their trip in Hru- County in Lviv Oblast. Due to its stripped of its adjacent territories. bieszów County in Poland. Their unique history, the city repre- A school emerged where the gate path includes the only river bor- sents a union of disparate tradi- once stood and a stadium replaced der crossing on the Ukrainian- tions that sets it apart from the palace garden. The palace it- Polish frontier created specifically other towns of the region. Cher- self was turned into an art school. for athletes. vonohrad is simultaneously a In the late 1980s, it hosted the proletarian mining centre and a Chervonohrad branch of the Lviv Chervonohrad’s coal historic Halychyna town replete Museum of Religious History, and mining traditions with architectural and religious was almost completely destroyed Of the 80,000 residents of Cher- monuments. In the 1990s, the by a fire. The renovations con- vonohrad and its satellites, majority of the town’s residents tinue to this day, with staff fixing Hirnyk and Sosnivka, 10,000 are opposed a referendum to revert everything from the roof to the working miners. Named for the to the name Krystynopol, yet plumbing. Now the building has patron saint of miners, St. this remains a contentious issue almost been returned to its for- Varvara’s Day (December 17) is an and the name is still used along- mer glory. Despite its provincial important day in Chervonohrad. side Chervonohrad in many in- status, the museum hosts a According to Father Oleh, the stances. unique collection of 15-18th cen- priest at the local St. Varvara
34|the ukrainian week|№ 11 (53) june 2013 WESTERN UKRAINE|Navigator Church, sermons in the miners’ The Potocki's Palace also church are nearly identical to known as the Krystynopol those in other churches, but they Palace now hosts the more often focus on health and Museum of Religious protection from incidents in the History mines. The miners don’t have any special traditions for the day of their patron saint. They quietly flock to the church that stands be- side the Grieving Mother, a monu- ment to those who have perished in the mines. While the mining technolo- gies used in Chervonohrad and Donetsk are similar, I wonder how the miners themselves differ between these two cities. Olena Shovkova, a local historian and art expert, claims that the differ- ence is actually quite stark. She noticed it when miners from the Donbas region came to Chervo- nohrad as election observers dur- ing the Orange Revolution. Here, they found a mining town with a different lifestyle from their own. In addition, the mines in Halychyna are considered safer Key Sites velop,” Olena says of her compa- than those in the Donbas. Per- St. Volodymyr’s Church, formerly the Church of the Advent triots. There are many talented haps this is because Chervono- of the Holy Spirit, is the oldest building in Chervonohrad. people among the miners. “You hrad’s mines pay more attention Erected in 1692 in the Baroque style, the church still has will find these special people frescoes from the 18th century. to safety measures. After all, de- even among the average workers, spite its many social problems, St. Yuriy’s (St. George) Monastery was founded in 1763, and especially among the engi- Chervonohrad has not had to shut down in 1946, and restored in 1990 after Ukrainian neers working in the mines,” she deal with the issue of kopanky— Greek Catholic priests returned to it. says. small, shoddy mining operations Chervonohrad is a unique fu- with low safety standards (see World War II-era defence structures are located near the sion of disparate elements: pre- Digging for Billions at ukrai- Tartakiv village on the outskirts of Chervonohrad. Those in- war history and culture reborn nianweek.com). Actually, the terested in war history can see the remains of Soviet de- from the ashes, a uniquely Haly town’s biggest problem is the fence structures as well as bunkers from the Second World chyna-Ukrainian environment, mines’ uncertain future. Some of War. the special nature of a mining them have already shut down, The palace in Tartakiv was another residence of the Po- town, and traditions brought by and others will soon follow. tocki family. In the 19th century, the village landlord Zbig- people of different ethnic back- “People tend to underesti- niew Lianzkoronski built a palace on the remains of the res- grounds who settled here to work mate miners. Hard physical work idence. In 2010, the Lviv Oblast State Administration leased in the Lviv-Volyn coal basin. breaks the weak, while the strong it to a private owner for 49 years on the condition that he There is no place quite like it any- rise and are encouraged to de- must renovate it. where else in Halychyna.
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