INSIDE: l News analysis: What’s at stake in the Sea of Azov – page 3 l Grand opening of Nova credit union’s new building – page 4 l Yuriy Shcherbak awarded Antonovych Foundation prize – page 5 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXVI No. 45 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2018 $2.00 Ukrainian civic activist Germany’s Merkel, U.S. energy secretary and IMF visit Ukraine doused with acid dies by Mark Raczkiewycz by Christopher Miller KYIV – Angela Merkel’s fourth visit to RFE/RL Ukraine as Germany’s chancellor on KYIV – Kateryna Handzyuk, a November 1 coincided with bomb threats Ukrainian civic activist and adviser to in the capital and Russia imposing more the mayor of the Black Sea port city of sanctions on the country. Kherson, died on November 4 from The goal of her one-day visit was to dis- wounds she suffered from an acid cuss the Russia-fueled Donbas war and, in attack three months earlier. particular, discuss Ukraine’s reform policy. “The armed conflict in the Donbas region The 33-year-old Handzyuk died in a in eastern Ukraine is still the greatest chal- Kyiv hospital where she was being lenge to European security since the end of treated for burns from the attack, col- the Cold War,” the federal chancellor’s web- leagues and officials said. site noted, referring to Moscow’s invasion Local media suggested that Ms. that has killed more than 10,400 people. Handzyuk’s death was caused by a In her first bilateral visit to Ukraine since blood clot. August 2014, Ms. Merkel emphasized that Several hundred supporters gath- there currently is no alternative document ered around Ukraine’s Internal Affairs to the Minsk peace agreement to resolve Ministry building in Kyiv late on the Donbas war. She added that since prog- November 4, demanding that those ress “can be measured in millimeters,” the responsible for her death be brought European Union’s sanctions on Russia will to justice. remain in place. [RFE/RL later reported that Thus, she said, in view of the lack of Presidential Administration of Ukraine Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Yuriy progress, “Germany will be advocating an On her fourth visit to Ukraine as Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel on November Lutsenko submitted his resignation to extension of sanctions [on Russia] in 1 receives a bouquet of flowers from President Petro Poroshenko at the Mariyinsky Palace in Kyiv before meetings with top officials to discuss bilateral issues and the President Petro Poroshenko amid December, as things stand at the moment.” Donbas war. public outrage over the handling of an Her comment came in a joint news confer- investigation into the acid attack on ence with President Petro Poroshenko. million people who’ve been displaced as a She also stressed that Germany supports Ms. Handzyuk. However, it remains Regarding the institutionalization of the result of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the idea of deploying a United Nations uncertain whether Mr. Lutsenko will rule of law, as well as other improvements subsequent invasion of the Donbas. peacekeeping mission to the Donbas. actually step down after Iryna in governance, Germany’s first female “I am very glad that I can talk today Currently, the Organization for Security and Herashchenko, the first deputy chair chancellor said during a meeting with about our readiness to allocate additional Cooperation in Europe monitors the war, of the Verkhovna Rada, said on Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman that funds in the amount of almost 85 million yet its mandate has been impaired due to November 6 that Mr. Poroshenko’s installing reforms is “a very painful process euros,” Ms. Merkel said. The funds will be limited access and freedom of movement in governing coalition would not support that is demanding.” used “to improve the prospect of employ- the war zone. his resignation and a later vote in Germany has given 490 million euros ment of young Ukrainians through profes- An additional 2 million euros will be since 2014 to help Ukraine make infra- sional education and improvement of the (Continued on page 19) structural improvements and assist the 1.6 housing situation.” (Continued on page 11) Holy Ascension Orthodox Church celebrates centennial by Matthew Dubas MAPLEWOOD, N.J. – Metropolitan Antony and Archbishop Daniel, hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A., concelebrated a hierarchical divine liturgy on October 20 to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Maplewood, N.J. Speaking afterwards at the anniversary reception, Parish Board President Lynne Gulak noted the sacrifices made by the pio- neers of Holy Ascension parish, with its founding in Newark, N.J., in 1918 with over 700 members. She stated in her greeting: “…As we celebrate 100 years, the faithful church family worshipped in four different church buildings; three buildings were uocofusa.org Metropolitan Antony (center, right) and Archbishop Daniel with clergy and faithful at the centennial of Holy Ascension Ukrainian (Continued on page 8) Orthodox Church. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2018 No. 45 ANALYSIS Resolution introduced in House strives Calls for law enforcement officials’ ouster ous specific instances, but this must now change.” Reformist lawmaker Mustafa Dozens of Ukrainian human rights Nayyem wrote on the Novoye Vremya news to affirm freedom of Russia’s neighbors groups and civic organizations have called site: “These killers, potential and actual, will for the resignation of the country’s top law icies to help these nations strengthen be stopped only by real actions, not virtual U.S.-Ukraine Foundation enforcement officials after anti-corruption ones. …Whether they will continue to domestic vulnerabilities and impose penal- activist Kateryna Handzyuk succumbed to WASHINGTON – Reps. Marcy Kaptur ties on those violating their sovereignty drench us with acid, slaughter us in door- wounds suffered during an acid attack. In an ways, and shoot us in the back in our own (D-Ohio), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.,), Andy and territorial integrity.” open letter published by the Kyiv-based Harris (R-Md.) and Sander Levin (D-Mich.) In their “Dear Colleague” letter Reps. country depends on how and what we do Center for Human Rights Information on now.” His brother, Masi Nayyem, a lawyer have introduced House Joint Resolution 139 Kaptur, Fitzpatrick, Harris and Levin also November 5, 75 Ukrainian organizations inviting the president to proclaim a “Freedom underscore that: representing Ms. Handzyuk’s interests, told said they were “outraged” by the state of the RFE/RL that the “very first thing” needed to to Choose Their Destiny for the Nations of “Since the fall of communism, the coun- investigation into a wave of attacks against Eastern Europe and Eurasia Week.” tries of Eastern Europe and Eurasia have bring her killers to justice is political will. Ukraine’s civic activists. Ms. Handzyuk, who (Christopher Miller of RFE.RL) In a letter to their colleagues on Capitol made great progress to develop democratic was known for her scathing criticism of Hill, the four lawmakers – all co-chairs of the institutions, free markets, and strong civil police corruption, was doused with sulfuric Ukrainian soldier, ‘separatists’ killed House Ukraine Caucus — invited their fellow societies. Many have demonstrated their acid outside of her Kherson home on July Ukraine’s government says one of its sol- congressmen and congresswomen to commitment to these important ideals 31. The 33-year-old activist died on become co-sponsors of the bipartisan reso- through their accession in liberal institu- diers has been killed and four wounded as a November 4 in a Kyiv hospital where she result of clashes with Russia-backed sepa- lution aimed at affirming the right of Russia’s tions such as the NATO Alliance and the was being treated for burns from the attack. neighbors to pursue their democratic and European Union, which are critical to our ratists in eastern Ukraine. The Defense Five suspects, including a law enforcement Ministry in Kyiv said on November 5 that Western aspirations free from Russian inter- national security. officer, have been arrested for their alleged ference, coercion and aggression. “Indeed, the American people have stood separatist fighters violated a ceasefire 18 involvement, but the mastermind of the times during the previous 24 hours by fir- As described in the October 16 letter: with freedom-lovers across this region, to attack remains unknown. The 75 human “This resolution builds on the [Cold-War- spread the blessings of liberty and democ- ing machine guns, grenade launchers, and rights groups and civic organizations wrote mortars. It said Ukrainian government forc- era] ‘Captive Nations Week’ Resolution, and racy to these nations. For this reason, since in their joint letter that the attack against invites the President through an annual 1959, the President of the United States has es killed three pro-Russia fighters and Ms. Handzyuk was meant to “intimidate” wounded four others. Russia-backed “sepa- proclamation to set the record straight that proclaimed the third week of July as those who “rebel against decades of rooted all nations have the right to self-determina- ‘Captive Nations Week.’ This very special ratists,” meanwhile, accused Ukrainian gov- corruption and organized crime.” The ernment forces of violating the ceasefire 21 tion, territorial sovereignty, and to choose occasion shined a light on the plight of groups demanded “the dismissal of the their own destinies. It sends a message to nations oppressed by [the] Soviet Russian times during the previous 24 hours using leadership of the Kherson police,” which guns, grenade launchers, and mortars. our partners in the region that we stand regime, and continues to reaffirm America’s they said “from the very beginning sabo- with those that embrace liberty, instead of commitment to those dedicated to democ- Since April 2014, more than 10,300 people taged the investigation into the attack.” They have been killed in fighting between Kyiv’s those that seek to tear it down.