The Ukrainian Weekly 2010, No.20
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www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: • Update on the case of John Demjanjuk – page 4. • Myroslav Marynovych speaks on religious freedom – page 9. • D.C. Flower Mart festival focuses on Ukraine – page 12. THEPublished U by theKRA Ukrainian NationalIN AssociationIAN Inc., a fraternal Wnon-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXVIII No.20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2010 $1/$2 in Ukraine UNA introduces new logo Ukraine in danger: Authoritarianism seen as returning under Yanukovych by Zenon Zawada Kyiv Press Bureau Ukraine’s civil society has begun to report on authoritarian policies and human rights abuses by the administration of President Viktor Yanukovych and the government led by Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, which was formed on March 11 with the appoint- ment of the Cabinet of Ministers. This is the first part in a series of articles examining the abuses of power already being observed. The Ukrainian National Association’s new logo, which includes updated ele- ments of its previous logo. KYIV – The administration of President Viktor Yanukovych has begun to repress PARSIPPANY, N.J. – As the 37th feel. This revised logo will appear on all Ukraine’s opposition, mass media and civic Regular Convention of the Ukrainian future UNA communications, represent- institutions, threatening Ukraine’s fragile National Association (UNA) approaches, ing a company that is ready for whatever democracy and allowing for authoritarianism what better time to review past accom- the future may bring. to return to Ukrainian society, say members plishments and set a course for the In addition to a fresh look for the UNA of the opposition and the news media. future? logo, the UNA is updating its official let- “Today Yanukovych is not simply curtail- With this in mind, the UNA will intro- terhead and business cards. Also, the ing democracy, but openly and cynically duce its new look at the convention, to be UNA website will be totally reconstruct- building authoritarianism,” declared opposi- held May 20-23 at the Soyuzivka ed, allowing for access to information in tion leader Yulia Tymoshenko on May 11, Heritage Center. The logo is meant to English or Ukrainian, easy navigation, after the opposition was denied the chance to updated information, and useful tools for reflect the UNA’s forward-looking per- select the Parliament’s first vice-chair, as was members, potential members and agents. spective on members, marketing and the the tradition during the Orange years. Although the new UNA website will not way its does business. Ms. Tymoshenko appeared on May 12 at be completed in time for the convention, The herald of the updated look for the the Procurator General’s Office, which re- the site’s home page will be unveiled, UNA is its revised logo. While staying opened a bribery investigation against her true to the roots of the organization and presenting a glimpse of what will be com- Zenon Zawada ing over the next several months. (Be that began in 2003 but was closed when she not discarding any of the vital elements became prime minister. Her first questioning Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs that have defined the UNA for over 100 sure to watch closely for news about the has employed Berkut special forces (seen debut of the new UNA website.) is scheduled for May 17, the same day she years, the new version of the logo is sim- planned to lead a protest against the visit to above), who have enhanced authority to plified, with cleaner lines and an updated – UNA Executive Committee use force, in dealing with thousands of (Continued on page 21) anti-government protesters. Shamokin parish celebrates its 125th anniversary by Vincent Chesney The children of Transfiguration parish, dressed in traditional folk costumes, greet- SHAMOKIN, Pa. – Parishioners gath- ed the archbishop with bread and salt. ered at Transfiguration of Our Lord Although these children are fifth- and Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in sixth-generation Americans the customs of Shamokin, Pa., on Saturday, April 24. Eastern Europe are observed with pride. That statement of fact is neither remark- In his homily Archbishop Soroka able nor grandiose, except in the fact that spoke of the rich heritage of the Church. parishioners have been celebrating as a He was impressed by the parish’s connec- community in Shamokin for the past 125 tion to music over its century and a quar- years. ter of existence: from choirs to bands. The parishioners celebrated this mile- Supporting the voices of the faithful at stone with a hierarchical divine liturgy the liturgy were two choirs from the bor- featuring Archbishop-Metropolitan of ough of McAdoo and the city of Hazelton, Philadelphia Stefan Soroka. The arch- both from to the Anthracite Coal Region bishop was joined at the altar by a former of Pennsylvania. pastor, the Rev. Daniel Troyan, and the After communion the archbishop current pastor, the Rev. Stepan Bilyk, in blessed an icon written by parishioner addition to others. Vincent Chesney. After the final benedic- Also in attendance were the Sister tion Mr. Chesney was honored for this Servants of Mary Immaculate, who gift and his vocation to the Church, as his served as teachers at Transfiguration’s ancestors were instrumental in the pur- elementary school during its 60 years of chase of the original church. At Transfiguration of Our Lord Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in Shamokin, existence. Also in attendance were the A reception followed at Masser’s ban- Pa. (from left) are: Alexa Yonkovig-Zmudzin, Michael M. Yonkovig, Dr. Michael Basilian Sisters as well as the Franciscan quet hall, hosted by parishioner David J. Yonkovig, Vincent Chesney, Claudia Yonkovig-Chesney, Ukrainian National pastor from the neighboring Roman Association President Stefan Kaczaraj and Robert Chesney. They are seen with Catholic church, Mother Cabrini. (Continued on page 8) the Protection of the Theotokos icon. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2010 No. 20 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS Yanukovych administration promotes April 27 riot will cost $1M to be signed between Ukraine and Russia during Russian President Dmitry radical shift to Soviet-Russian identity KYIV – According to calculations Medvedev’s official visit to Kyiv the made by the Verkhovna Rada administra- same day. (RFE/RL) by Taras Kuzio Moscow. Parades in four Ukrainian cities tion for law enforcement bodies, the cost Eurasia Daily Monitor for the first time included 1,000 Russian of damage caused to the Parliament build- Opposition remains divided troops (Ukrayinska Pravda, April 8). Mr. ing during the confrontation of opposition KYIV – Civil Position leader Anatoliy The administration of President Viktor Tabachnyk ordered that school textbooks and coalition deputies on April 27 Grytsenko, who is also the chairman of Yanukovych is undertaking a radical no longer refer to “World War II” but to exceeds $1 million (U.S.). According to the Parliament’s Committee on National overhaul of Ukraine’s national identity the “Great Patriotic War.” In his view, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Security and Defense, said that there can that turns its back not only on the there were heroes from the Great Patriotic Lytvyn, the recovery of technical equip- Yushchenko era, but also on two earlier War and “collaborators,” among which he ment in the session hall will cost about be no single leader of the Ukrainian oppo- sition at the current stage, as “there is no presidents. All three presidents promoted includes Ukrainian nationalists 98,000 hrv, and the restoration of flooring trust among the leaders themselves.” He Ukrainophile national identity that was (Ukrayinska Pravda, April 12). and furniture about 912,000 hrv. Mr. said this on his website, while comment- based on the doyen of Ukrainian histori- Secondly, Mr. Tabachnyk has returned Lytvyn said that the damage will be cov- ing on his refusal to join the Committee ography, Mykhailo Hrushevsky, the presi- to the Soviet-era ideological views of ered, but not at public expense. Therefore, for the Protection of Ukraine, which was dent of the 1918 Ukrainian independent Ukrainian nationalists as Nazi hirelings. he will soon turn to the leaders of the fac- formed by the opposition on May 10. Mr. state who was murdered by the Soviet Attacks on nationalists returned during tions involved in the confrontation with a Grytsenko said that at a founding meeting authorities in 1934. the 2002 and 2004 elections as a way of “proposal” that they pay for the damage. of the committee he felt that the President Yanukovych and Minister of portraying Our Ukraine and Mr. (Ukrinform) Education Dmytro Tabachnyk have out- Yushchenko as “nationalists.” In the 2004 Committee for the Protection of Ukraine lined policies to rewrite school textbooks elections, fake “nationalists” were regis- Committee to Protect Ukraine is founded was a precocious and premature project – in some cases together with Russia created for one person. “Today we have tered as technical candidates and SS-style KYIV – The Ukrainian opposition on (Ukrayinska Pravda, April 27). These street parades were organized in Kyiv, not gotten closer to unity. If the commit- May 10 announced the creation of an would no longer be based on the voicing support for Mr. Yushchenko. tee remains as it is, then let it save [oppo- opposition movement, the Committee to Hrushevsky framework, while also per- These views were then given widespread sition leader Yulia] Tymoshenko. If she Protect Ukraine, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian mitting Soviet-Russian national identity media coverage aimed at reducing sup- draws serious conclusions, and, first of Service reported. The committee is made to influence Ukraine’s education system. port for him in eastern Ukraine. all, if she takes serious and responsible up of opposition parties represented in the The Yanukovych administration is Today, Ukrainian television, which is steps, then there will be a different con- Verkhovna Rada: Batkivschyna, the unashamedly moving Ukraine toward a under the control of oligarchs and since versation,” he said.