INSIDE: l UCC meets with Canadian government officials – page 4 l Presentation on Jews’ and Ukrainians’ co-existence – page 9 l Community: Toms River, Philadelphia, Chicago – pages 14-15 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXV No. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2017 $2.00 “Bitter Harvest”: A universal romance White House says Trump made it clear shines a light on truth about the Holodomor Russia must ‘return Crimea’ to Ukraine RFE/RL Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman responded to that remark in a WASHINGTON – The White House has conference call with reporters on February said that President Donald Trump fully 15, saying that Moscow will not discuss the expects Russia to return control of Crimea return of Crimea to Ukraine with the to Ukraine. United States or any other country. Sean Spicer, the White House press sec- Spokesman Dmitry Peskov referred to retary, made the remarks at a contentious Crimea as Russian territory, saying that February 14 news conference that focused “Russia never discusses issues related to its largely on the abrupt departure of Mr. territories with foreign partners, including Trump’s national security adviser, Michael the United States.” Flynn. Mr. Peskov said Mr. Trump did not raise Mr. Spicer said that Mr. Trump had the issue of Crimea in his January 28 tele- “made it very clear” that he expects Russia phone conversation with Mr. Putin. to “return Crimea” and reduce violence in Less that 24 hours before Mr. Spicer’s eastern Ukraine, where a war between gov- February 14 briefing, Mr. Flynn had ernment forces and Russia-backed separat- resigned, following news reports that ists has killed more than 9,750 people since April 2014. (Continued on page 3) Mark Tillie Max Irons as Yuiry and Samantha Barks as Natalka in “Bitter Harvest.” by Adrian Bryttan composer’s most intimate opera, where he Decline of freedom continues in 2016 plumbed his heroine’s heart with a wealth NEW YORK – The film “Bitter Harvest” of poetic expression and economy of amid rising populism and autocracy unfolds on the vast canvas of one of the means. great tragedies of history. In the early Richly layered and rewarding repeated Freedom House tize and pursue European integration in 1930s, a genocidal famine known as the viewings, “Bitter Harvest” is the world- recent years, they face strong resistance WASHINGTON – Populist and nationalist Holodomor was engineered in Ukraine by class Ukrainian art film of our time. from Russia and anti-democratic elements forces made significant gains in democratic Stalin. Millions perished – while reporters within their borders. Freedom House’s pro- Dreams and omens states in 2016, while authoritarian powers lied and the world looked the other way. grams in the region support courageous engaged in brazen acts of aggression, (As Stalin shrugs in the film: “Who in the The dream-like character of “Bitter activists in their struggle to strengthen according to “Freedom in the World 2017,” world will know?”) Harvest” is established in the opening nar- basic human rights, provide independent Freedom House’s annual report on political The parallels with today’s ongoing ration over vast vistas of golden wheat news and analysis, and combat grave viola- rights and civil liberties. tions of the rule of law.” Russian predation against Ukraine are ines- fields: “Across the ages, it’s been called The report finds 2016 to mark the 11th Ukraine was judged to be “partly free” in capable. The Holodomor was not only a many things… but since I was a boy, consecutive year of decline in global free- terms of both political rights and civil liber- genocide of the Ukrainian people, but an Ukraine was simply home… life went on, dom. ties, while the Russian-occupied Crimea – attempt to erase the rich culture of Ukraine, moving to the rhythm of the seasons – wax- “We see leaders and nations pursuing which was listed and evaluated separately its poetic language and music. The true ing and waning in the eternal cycle of seed their own narrow interests without mean- – was determined to be “not free.” (See sep- scale of the Holodomor remained hidden and plow and reaping… a life of hard work ingful constraints or regard for the shared arate article, “Scoring Ukraine in ‘Freedom by the Soviets for many years. and small pleasures.” Like a fairy tale, the benefits of global peace and freedom,” said in the World,’ ” on page 7.) Midway in the film, a Kyivan Arts lyrical narration concludes: “My Ukraine Arch Puddington, one of the report’s co- In its overview of the situation in Academy professor challenges the protago- was a land where legends lived, and any- authors. “These trends are accelerating and Ukraine, “Freedom in the World 2017” nist Yuri: “As an artist, you must find the thing was possible. Before I grew up and starting to undo the international order of reported: “Ukraine continues to recover truth, not escape from it!” Ripping the cur- learned that dragons were real and evil the past quarter-century, including the gen- from the disorder that surrounded the tain off a window, he exclaims: “How? With roamed the earth – I fell in love.” eral respect for long-established norms for ouster of Viktor Yanukovych from the pres- light!...” Thus begins “Bitter Harvest” – an idyllic fundamental freedoms and democracy.” idency in 2014, as well as the related crisis “Bitter Harvest” does indeed cast a sear- dream that will quickly evaporate to reveal “In past years we generally saw declines sparked by Russia’s occupation of Crimea ing light on the Holodomor, Stalin’s motives a monstrous nightmare. The initial sunny in freedom among autocracies and dicta- and military support for separatists in the and Moscow’s savage repression of memory of two children playing underwa- torships, but in 2016 it was established Donbas area of eastern Ukraine. The Ukraine’s resistance to the Soviet regime. ter will resurface at key moments in the democracies that dominated the list of authorities’ failure to prosecute extensive But it is neither a history book nor an film. Such dream-like scenes and omens, countries suffering setbacks,” Mr. high-level corruption has undermined the impersonal polemic. Above all, it is the apparitions, symbols and subconscious Puddington said. Among the countries popularity of the government and affected gripping tale of Yuri and Natalka – a young links weave their way through the intricate rated “free” by the report, there were reform efforts in a wide range of sectors. In couple in love, who fight to overcome every fabric of “Bitter Harvest.” declines in Brazil, the Czech Republic, the sphere of civil liberties, political pres- obstacle life throws at them. Just one example of a striking detail in Denmark, France, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, sure and attacks on journalists have threat- Director George Mendeluk is first and “Bitter Harvest” is the burial scene of Yuri’s South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Tunisia ened freedom of the press.” foremost a master storyteller, breathing father, shown inside the casket with a lit and the United States. A total of 67 countries suffered net vivid life into the nuanced characters in his candle affixed to his hands. A central theme, Reporting on Eurasia, Freedom House declines in political rights and civil liberties epic-romance. By spinning a tale anyone this image of light is subtly recapitulated said: “Most countries in Eurasia rank at or in 2016. Only 36 registered gains. For the can identify with, Mr. Mendeluk also illumi- after Mykola Skrypnyk’s suicide: “His was a near the bottom of Freedom House’s rat- period since the 11-year slide began in nates our common humanity. “Bitter light that burned brightly… but all too brief!” ings for political rights and civil liberties. 2006, 109 countries have seen a net Harvest” stands out as a romance in the While a few – such as Georgia, Moldova, same sense as Verdi’s “La Traviata” – that (Continued on page 10) and Ukraine – have struggled to democra- (Continued on page 7) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2017 No. 8 ANALYSIS Moscow benefits from influence campaign Trump: Obama was soft on Moscow Senate. The Russia Sanctions Review Act would make it harder for the White House WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald to lift the asset freezes, visa bans and other to reinstate Ukraine-Russia economic ties Trump has said on Twitter that “Crimea was measures imposed during Barack Obama’s taken by Russia” during the administration Chernihiv regions appeared not to have presidency. Those sanctions are aimed at by Maksym Bugriy of his predecessor, Barack Obama, and Eurasia Daily Monitor been created by local residents and that punishing and pressuring Russia for its ille- “the vote results [were] falsified.” One VPN added, “Was Obama too soft on Russia?” In a gal annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea This past fall, Ukraine came under a server used in the process was notably series of tweets on February 15 two days Peninsula in 2014 and the Kremlin’s sup- media influence campaign that agitated for from Russian-occupied Luhansk (Detector after he called for and accepted the resigna- port for pro-Russia separatists who are bat- reinstating economic ties with Russia. Over Media, December 23, 2016). tion of national security adviser Michael tling Ukrainian government forces in east- the course of September-December 2016, Yet another investigative report, this one Flynn amid questions over Mr. Flynn’s con- ern Ukraine. Mr. Trump has signaled he several Ukrainian websites published a by Liga.net, revealed that a journalist on its tacts with the Russian ambassador to wants better ties with Moscow.