The Ukrainian Weekly, 2021
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INSIDE: l Analysis: Six questions answered about the Russia-Ukraine situation – page 3 l Scholars publish book on archaeological findings in Baturyn – page 12 l Ukrainian pro sports update: soccer – page 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXXIX No. 15 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2021 $2.00 Unruly Ukrainian judges evade justice Ukraine calls up military units in southern regions as Zelenskyy sanctions top smugglers as Zelenskyy urges NATO membership shared before getting married, and another lawyer were charged the following day of enriching themselves via “illicit gain.” Detectives from the National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) later found $3.7 million, 840,000 euros, 20,000 British pounds, and 230,000 hrv in cash during searches of their premises, in addition to antiques and documents addressed to the OASK chief justice. Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, where Mr. Zontov is employed, subsequent- ly suspended him from service during the pre-trial investigation. The two detained lawyers have stated through their lawyers that the money they had received was for “legal services.” OASK chief justice Vovk denied being National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine one of the intended recipients of the bribe. After searches were conducted in his cham- Hordes of cash in U.S. dollars, British Gleb Garanich, Reuters pounds, euros and hryvnias were found bers, Mr. Vovk spoke of constantly “living in in the premises of the brother of the chief an atmosphere of pressure from NABU” for Ukrainian Army personnel display U.S. Javelin antitank missiles during a military justice of the Kyiv Circuit Administra six years, which is why “we have long been parade marking Independence Day in Kyiv on August 24, 2018. tive Court. accustomed to provocations and violations on their part.” by Mark Raczkiewycz About 100,000 Ukrainian reservists are by Mark Raczkiewycz Mr. Vovk is under investigation for alleg- attached to 25 territorial defense units that KYIV – Territorial defense units have edly conspiring with 11 fellow judges to gain are subordinate to the Armed Forces’ lead- KYIV – Ukraine’s unruly justice system been called up in Ukraine’s southern influence over other courts and government ership. The military’s southern command regions as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was laid bare this week when additional bodies “for purposes of blackmail, as political encompasses five regions: Odesa, Kherson, has urged NATO to accelerate his country’s developments emerged in the anti-graft favors or for kickbacks,” according to the Mykolayiv, Kirovohrad, and Vinnytsia. bid to join the defensive military alliance probes of three of the country’s most noto- Financial Times. Mr. Vovk failed for the fourth The call-up comes as Russia continues rious judges. time on March 9 to appear before the High amid a massive mobilization of Russian mobilizing thousands of military personnel The brother of Pavlo Vovk, who is the Anti-Corruption Court for a bail hearing. troops near the state border. and hardware along Ukraine’s state border chief justice of the powerful Kyiv Circuit NABU is charging him and the other On April 6, units were scrambled for in the east, south and north, raising the Administrative Court (OASK), was detained judges of attempting to “seize power.” The drills in regions situated along the adminis- specter of high-intensity fighting re-emerg- on April 6 while allegedly accepting a OASK core function is to hear appeals trative border with Russia-occupied ing in a smoldering war that is entering its $100,000 bribe to secure a favorable ruling against government decisions. Crimea and the Black Sea coastline that eighth year. in the court. could be vulnerable to amphibious and Yuriy Zontov, whose surname Mr. Vovk (Continued on page 4) land attacks by Russia’s military. (Continued on page 5) Ukraine sees new pandemic lockdown as country suffers worst COVID-19 infection rate in Europe, 7th in the world by Roman Tymotsko Other Ukrainian regions remain in the orange zone, which is the level below the KYIV – With 13,276 new cases reported highest lockdown level, with limited use of on April 5, Ukraine topped the list of public places and a ban on work at night. European countries with the highest Gyms and cultural institutions are also COVID-19 infection rate, according to the closed in the orange zone. Only Kherson statistics portal Worldometer. The follow- Oblast remains in the yellow zone with the ing day, Ukraine also saw record numbers lowest rates of COVID-19 infections and of hospitalizations and fatalities since the hospitalizations. Local authorities have the pandemic began more than a year ago, right to impose additional restrictions. with 5,587 people hospitalized and 481 On April 2, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko dead on April 6. said that, due to the rapid spread of the Throughout the country of some 41 virus and the increase in mortality, the million people, 11 of Ukraine’s 27 regions capital would impose stricter restrictions are now under the highest level of lock- starting on April 5. down, with all public places closed and “This is a forced step. We understand events canceled. Schools, restaurants, how unpopular it is. But the situation is shopping malls, cinemas, theaters, educa- critical,” the Kyiv mayor said. “If we do not tional institutions, food markets, and other stop the rapid spread of the disease quick- Roman Tymotsko institutions are all officially closed in those regions. Police officers check special passes at a metro entrance in Kyiv. (Continued on page 11) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2021 No. 15 ANALYSIS Ten charged over downing of airliner urged NATO member states to strengthen War scare is Putin’s natural element their military presence in the Black Sea Iran says it has charged 10 officials over Merkel and French President Emmanuel region as a “powerful deterrent” to by Pavel K. Baev the crash of a Ukraine International Moscow. Mr. Stoltenberg tweeted that Eurasia Daily Monitor Macron held a video-conference with Mr. Airlines (UIA) jet that was shot down last “#NATO firmly supports #Ukraine’s sover- Putin on March 30 (Kommersant, March year, killing all 176 people on board. The current escalation of tensions 31; see EDM, April 1). The departure from eignty and territorial integrity. We remain Gholam Abbas Torki, the former military committed to our close partnership.” A around eastern Ukraine is dangerous and the principle of never discussing Ukraine prosecutor for Tehran Province, said on may appear untimely and inopportune behind its back was upsetting for Kyiv, but spokesman for Russian President Vladimir April 6 that the 10 have been “brought to while Europe and Russia seek to focus on the Kremlin had few reasons to revel Putin later misleadingly characterized the responsibility” and will face trial to deter- managing the latest COVID-19 pandemic because the European duo insisted on dis- situation as a “domestic problem” and said mine “the necessary conclusions” over the wave as well as addressing its accumulat- cussing matters not to Mr. Putin’s liking Ukrainian membership in the transatlantic incident in January 2020, the semiofficial ing economic and social consequences. (Rosbalt, March 31). The harsh persecu- military alliance would make things worse. ISNA news agency reported. Mr. Torki, who Nevertheless, a deliberate political choice tion of Alexei Navalny, who has been Since occupying and annexing Crimea from made the comments at a ceremony where is dictating the uptick in violence in the denied medical support while suffering in Ukraine early in 2014, overwhelming evi- he was handing over the office to his suc- Donbas war zone, raising the risk of prison, is a particularly sensitive issue for dence suggests Russia has continued to cessor, gave no further details. Tehran ini- renewed major military conflict. This the Russian president, so the high-level lend diplomatic and military aid to armed tially claimed the plane had crashed, but choice is being made in the Kremlin, and chat with Ms. Merkel and Mr. Macron left separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine, admitted three days after the tragedy that the rationale becomes comprehensible him even more anxious (Grani.ru, April 1). despite denials to the contrary. “We very Flight PS752, which was headed to Kyiv, only within the context of the ongoing Russian pressure on Ukraine intensified much doubt that this will help Ukraine set- had been shot down “unintentionally” by transformation of President Vladimir with a series of snap military exercises tle its domestic problem,” Kremlin spokes- the country’s air defenses. Iranian forces Putin’s regime into an autocratic police near its borders and the deployment of man Dmitry Peskov said on April 6. “From say they downed the Boeing 737 after mis- state (VTimes, March 31). heavy armor into Crimea (Nezavisimaya our point of view, it will only worsen the taking it for an incoming missile at a time of The latest spike in frontline clashes (see Gazeta, April 1). The Kremlin confirmed situation.” Earlier in the day, Russian high tensions with the United States. Iran EDM, March 11, 15, 24) was triggered in the rise in tensions but placed the blame Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei later called it a “disastrous mistake” by part by United States President Joseph for “multiple provocations” squarely on Ryabkov said high-level Russian and U.S. forces who were on high alert. Iran’s Civil Biden’s statement last month labeling Mr. Ukraine, noting that Russia moved its officials had discussed the situation in Aviation Organization’s interim report Putin a “killer,” which Russian Foreign troops as it saw fit and needed no justifica- southeastern Ukraine. That TASS report blamed the tragedy on the misalignment of Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov continues to tion (Meduza.io, April 1).