INSIDE: l Kyiv accelerates pace of Minsk process – page 3 l A return to selective justice in Ukraine? – page 6 l Soyuzivka Heritage Center to reopen July 1 – page 13 The Ukrainian Weekly Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association

Vol. LXXXVIII No. 26-27 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 $2.00 Freedom House awards Chrystia Freeland Number of active COVID-19 cases makes the 2019-2020 Mark Palmer Prize Lviv Oblast most infected region of Ukraine Freedom House WASHINGTON – Freedom House on June 19 awarded the 2019-2020 Mark Palmer Prize to Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland for her tireless work championing democracy through advocacy, journalism and policymaking. The Mark Palmer Prize, given in honor of the late U.S. ambassador and foreign pol- icy innovator Mark Palmer, recognizes dip- lomats and civil servants who have gone beyond their normal course of duties to promote democracy and human rights. “Mark Palmer was a brilliant diplomat and a relentless, effective and lifelong advo- Prime Minister of Canada cate for democracy and human rights,” Chrystia Freeland, deputy prime minis- Deputy Prime Minister Freeland said. “I am ter of Canada. deeply honored and humbled to accept this dom through her outspokenness against Ministry of Health award, which I think reaffirms our collec- dictatorial regimes, and in support of Ukraine’s Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov meets with doctors in Lviv during tive obligation to uphold human rights human rights defenders and activists his working visit to the Lviv region on June 22. everywhere and always; and to work hard worldwide,” said Michael J. Abramowitz, As a result, Lviv is among those regions of every day to build a world that is more president of Freedom House. by Roman Tymotsko Ukraine where quarantine restrictions have democratic, more just, and more free.” “Just as my husband Mark was active on LVIV – As of the morning of June 24, there not been lifted to the next level. The daily dis- Ms. Freeland has resolutely condemned the frontlines of supporting democratic were 4,423 confirmed cases of the coronavi- infection of entrances and public transport, authoritarianism and human rights viola- transitions, Freeland has time and time rus in the Lviv region – 120 of them fatal. and the washing of roads and sidewalks, as tions, including the Chinese authorities’ again used her position to elevate the There are currently 3,603 active cases of well as playgrounds, continue in Lviv. violent response to protests in Hong Kong, causes of people fighting for freedom,” said COVID-19 in the region, which makes it the “Monitoring groups work in the trams the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Sushma Palmer, founder of the Mark most infected part of Ukraine. (There are and trolleybuses, and they check whether Myanmar and the abuses of the antidemo- Palmer Prize. “Freeland’s courage and passengers enter public transportation in cratic Maduro regime in Venezuela. In addi- integrity are undeniable. She has been tar- about 3,000 active cases in the city of Kyiv masks. They also check that there are no tion, she has personally advocated for the geted with sanctions by Russia and person- and nearly 2,600 active cases in the standing passengers, only sitting,” said Lviv release of sibling activists Raif and Samar ally rebuked by China, yet remains unde- Chernivtsi region.) Deputy Mayor Iryna Marunyak. “We plan to Badawi in Saudi Arabia. terred in her commitment to human rights.” Furthermore, Lviv Oblast now has the “Freeland exemplifies Mark Palmer’s highest rate of increase in infections with the organize such groups on buses. Thanks to passionate commitment to advancing free- (Continued on page 11) novel coronavirus. the work of monitoring groups, we will have information on transport, trade estab- lishments, etc. This information is then sent to the crisis headquarters and ana- lyzed, and appropriate administrative deci- Three dead, hundreds evacuated after flooding in western Ukraine sions will be made,” she explained. One of the possible reasons that Lviv has rivers, a partially submerged village, and airplane and 150 soldiers have been RFE/RL registered such a high rate of infection is the fields and roads that are covered by water. deployed in the disaster zone. number of cafés and restaurants in the city. Rainstorms in western Ukraine have An Internal Affairs Ministry statement It was easy to observe how people filled the killed three people and forced hundreds of called it the most powerful flooding in Based on reporting by Reuters and center of this tourism capital once service others to evacuate their homes. The flood- many years. It said four helicopters, one Floodlist.com. was allowed at outdoor terraces. And quar- ing has affected Ukraine’s western regions antine fatigue brought people out into the of Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Zakarpattia streets with the arrival of warm weather. and Lviv. Another reason for the high number of The three deaths occurred in the coronavirus cases may be that Lviv Oblast is Verkhovyna district of the Ivano-Frankivsk among the regions conducting the most region, an area that has been cut off by COVID-19 tests. On June 23, for example, the flooded roads. laboratory center processed 861 samples, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal of which 203 were positive – meaning that and Internal Affairs Minister Arsen Avakov 24 percent of those tested had COVID-19. have visited the disaster zone – an area Lviv Deputy Mayor Marunyak reported: where one emergency service report said “Monitoring groups go around and check about 5,000 houses in 187 villages on all facilities’ compliance with quarantine remained flooded early on June 24. conditions. First of all, they check that visi- While many residents stayed behind to tors are in masks, that social distance is guard their property, Mr. Avakov said about maintained. Also, that the sellers and 800 people had been evacuated since the employees of an institution follow the rules rains began on June 22. and that the institution has disinfectants,” Footage from regional authorities and State Emergency Service of Ukraine on social media showed raging mountain A view of the flooding in western regions of Ukraine. (Continued on page 14) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 No. 26-27

ANALYSIS

Ukraine-NATO: Politicians 940 new COVID-19 cases in one day the WHO Country Office according to the needs of the health-care facilities identified Ukraine, as of the morning of June 23, by the Ministry of Health in Ukraine. The struggle, while military acts had 20,554 COVID-19 cases, according to supplies are part of a larger assistance the National Security and Defense Council’s ter for European and Euro-Atlantic integra- package of the European Union, and its by Yuri Lapaiev epidemic monitoring system. Meanwhile, Solidarity for Health Initiative, which is Eurasia Daily Monitor tion), this document was prepared much the Public Health Center of the Health earlier, on October 2019, and yet remained implemented in partnership with the WHO Ministry of Ukraine reported that in the pre- Regional Office for Europe and aims to help Relations between Ukraine and the unsigned until late May of this year. She vious 24 hours 940 new cases of COVID-19 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) sees that as a negative sign, which sends a prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the were registered, 453 of those previously country. “The delivery of laboratory sup- have long been complicated, sometimes very clear signal of skepticism or at least infected had recovered, and 16 people had even uncertain. From hopes for member- hesitation to Ukraine’s international part- plies (equipment, consumables, reagents) died. There were 681 cases on June 22; 735 is also ongoing with further deliveries ship after the Bucharest Summit in April ners (Zn.ua, June 5). Moreover, alliance on June 21; 841 cases on June 20; and 921 2008, to effectively declaring Ukraine neu- experts are scheduled to travel to Kyiv to expected within two weeks,” the EU cases on June 19. In turn, on the website of Delegation to Ukraine said. (Ukrinform) tral during Viktor Yanukovych’s presiden- check on the implementation of the ANP the National Security and Defense Council’s cy; from the reactivation of a Euro-Atlantic already in September, which gives the COVID-19 epidemic monitoring system, the Iran to send black boxes to France integration course following Russian Ukrainian government too little time to number of people infected totally since the aggression in early 2014, to new doubts implement any concrete actions. Iran says it will send the black boxes of a beginning of the pandemic as of the morn- downed Ukrainian airliner to France for after Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s victory in the Despite all these problems, on June 12, ing of Tuesday amounted to 39,014 people, last presidential election. the North Atlantic Council recognized analysis in the “next few days” and some 17,409 people recovered and 1,051 expressed readiness to resolve the issue of For the last several years, there was at Ukraine as an Enhanced Opportunities people died. The largest number of new least one important sticking point on Partner (EOP) – the result of the long coop- compensations to the families of the victims. cases was detected in the Lviv region (203), Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Ukraine’s path toward membership in the eration between Ukraine and the alliance, Rivne region (126) and Zakarpattia region organization: the position of Hungary, in particular in operations in Afghanistan Javad Zarif made the remarks in a phone call (78). (Ukrinform) with his Canadian counterpart, Francois- whose government had officially blocked and Kosovo, as well as Kyiv’s contribution Philippe Champagne, his ministry said in a important progress at the NATO-Ukraine to the NATO Response Force and NATO EU and WHO deliver PPE to Ukraine statement on June 22. Mr. Champagne said Commission (see Eurasia Daily Monitor, exercises. Additionally, allies underlined On June 23, a shipment of medical respi- that Mr. Zarif had committed to sending the June 3, 4, 8). A new round in this struggle Ukraine’s commitment to Euro-Atlantic rators and masks, goggles, face shields and flight recorders to France without further occurred late last month, when Ukrainian security (Nato.int, June 12). gowns for health-care workers fighting the delay. The Canadian minister, who has con- Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba Hints that this recognition was forth- COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Ukraine, the sistently pressed Iran to compensate the rushed to Budapest by car (due to contin- coming emerged sporadically over the past press service of the European Union families of victims, also said Iran had “agreed ued quarantine limitations on air and rail several weeks. At the start of June, Minister Delegation to Ukraine reported. “The deliv- to enter into negotiations for reparations.” travel) to meet with his Hungarian counter- Kuleba, following his meeting with German ery of around 1 million units of personal According to the Iranian Foreign Affairs part, Péter Szijjártó (Radiosvoboda.org, Defense Minister Annegret Kramp- protective equipment (PPE), funded by the Ministry, Tehran has told Kyiv it was ready to May 29). After their talk, both politicians Karrenbauer in Berlin, said that he received European Union and procured by WHO in “resolve legal issues and discuss how to expressed hope for new steps forward in the host country’s support for Ukraine cooperation with the rest of the U.N. sys- compensate the families” of victims, but was resolving the impasse. But at the same obtaining EOP status (Ukrinform, June 2). tem, includes 500,000 medical masks, yet to receive a delegation from the other time, Mr. Szijjártó underlined that Budapest The same support was expressed days ear- 125,000 respirators, 250,000 gowns, party. Ukraine International Airlines Flight will only allow Kyiv to receive a Member­ lier by French Ambassador to Kyiv Etienne 50,000 face shields and 2,500 goggles. 752 was shot down by Iran’s air defenses ship Action Plan (MAP) for joining the de Poncins, during his meeting with These supplies cover the personal protec- after taking off from Tehran’s main airport Alliance after Ukraine resolves the lan- Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Taran tion needs for 50 COVID-19 frontline hospi- on January 8. All 176 people on board the guage and education issues facing its (Mil.gov.ua, May 28). tals in all regions of Ukraine for a minimum Kyiv-bound aircraft were killed in what Hungarian minority residing in Transcar­ Nonetheless, even with EOP status, of one month at full capacity,” reads the Tehran later acknowledged was a “mistake.” pathia (Zakarpattia Oblast). Ukraine still has a long way to go to report. According to the EU Delegation to Iranian forces had been on high alert at the A few days later, the Ukrainian Ministry becoming a full Alliance member. A recent Ukraine, all items have been checked to time of the tragedy, which came hours after of Development of Communities and study produced by the Ukrainian Strategic ensure they meet quality and safety stan- Iran had launched missile strikes on an Iraqi Territories announced the formation of a Initiative (USI) think tank emphasized dards for healthcare workers on the front- military base housing U.S. troops. The new district within the Transcarpathian another important aspect – a lack of line. The head of the Local and Human Iranian strikes were carried out in response region, which will contain most of the resi- important steps taken by the government. Development Section of the EU Delegation to the killing of a top Iranian general, Qasem dent Hungarian minority (Decentralization. According to their analysis of last year’s to Ukraine, Frederik Coene, and the World Soleimani, in a U.S. drone strike near gov.ua, June 5). Some Ukrainian observers (2019) ANP, several strategic points had Health Organization’s representative and Baghdad airport. The Ukrainian airliner’s saw that step as a possible concession to remained unfulfilled, including receiving a head of the WHO Country Office in Ukraine, cockpit voice and data “black box” recorders Hungarian demands (Radiosvoboda.org, MAP, adopting a new law on the Security Dr. Jarno Habicht, met the plane early that were the subject of an international stand- June 9). But later, on his Facebook page, Mr. Service of Ukraine (a vital reform of this morning at Kyiv Boryspil International Kuleba called that theory “fake” and organization that would bring it in line Airport. The supplies will be distributed by (Continued on page 10) reminded that the Ukrainian Foreign with European standards), preparing a Affairs Ministry has several “red lines” its new law on intelligence, as well as passing diplomats are not allowed to cross: one of a new version of the law on state procure- those lines is any requirement to change ments that would make the process The Ukrainian Weekly FOUNDED 1933 the law on education. He also insisted that (including in the defense and security no foreign state has the right to dictate to sphere) more transparent and less cor- An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., Ukraine how it should organize its internal rupt. The draft of the latter bill awaits a a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. administrative structures (Facebook.com, second round of hearings in the Ukrainian Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. June 10). parliament. Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. Meanwhile, other political obstacles to The USI experts conclude that the slow- (ISSN — 0273-9348) NATO accession are internal to Ukraine. For down in Ukraine’s path toward NATO inte- example, after just three months in office, The Weekly: UNA: gration stems from opposition of some Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for individuals in the president’s close circle European and Euro-Atlantic Integration combined with an insufficient level of com- Postmaster, send address changes to: Vadym Prystaiko (who had previously petence among the newly appointed gov- The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz headed Ukraine’s Mission to NATO) was ernment officials (Informnapalm, June 2). 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas fired. He was replaced by Olha Stefani­ Even small practical decisions taken up by P.O. Box 280 shyna, a member of President’s Zelenskyy’s the Verkhovna Rada – like bringing Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] Servant of the People party (Evropeyska Ukrainian officer and non-commissioned Pravda, June 4). Such frequent reshuffles officer (NCO) ranks in line with NATO stan- The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com involving strategically important top dards – are regularly accompanied by polit- Cabinet positions can hardly benefit the ical struggles and delays (Rada.gov.ua, June The Ukrainian Weekly, June 28-July 5, 2020, No. 26-27, Vol. LXXXVIII process of Kyiv’s integration with Europe 4). Copyright © 2020 The Ukrainian Weekly and the trans-Atlantic community. At the same time, the situation looks A further restraint on progress involves somewhat more optimistic at the military Ukraine’s Annual National Program (ANP). level. The Ukrainian Air Force has made a ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA The current ANP was signed by President significant contribution to NATO’s fight Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 Zelenskyy only on May 26 (President.gov. against the COVID-19 pandemic. According and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 ua, May 26). But according to Ivanna to Deputy Prime Minister Stefanishyna, e-mail: [email protected] Klympush-Tsintsadze (currently a member Ukrainian planes participated in the alli- Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 of the Ukraine-NATO Inter-Parliamentary e-mail: [email protected] Council and earlier a deputy prime minis- (Continued on page 15) No. 26-27 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 3

NEWS ANALYSIS Kyiv raising the level, accelerating the pace of the Minsk process

by Vladimir Socor was a necessary part of Kyiv’s defensive as a ratings-bolstering issue). subsequent acceptance by the Rada (Levyy Eurasia Daily Monitor diplomacy during Petro Poroshenko’s pres- Under the Minsk process, the Contact Bereg, May 29, June 9). idency, whose ultimate success has made it Group should draft legislative proposals – Kyiv hopes against hope to discuss such PART I possible for Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s admin- by agreement between Kyiv and Donetsk- enactments (“elections,” “special status”) istration to introduce an ambitious, proac- Luhansk – for the Verkhovna Rada to adopt with loyal Ukrainian citizens from Donetsk- Kyiv is adding Ukrainian citizens from tive approach. as Ukrainian laws. This mechanism was Luhansk (see EDM, June 15, 17) rather than the Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine’s Messrs. Zelenskyy and Yermak are in a designed to insert Donetsk-Luhansk deeply negotiate them with the two illegitimate east as members of Kyiv’s delegation to the hurry to “end the war” through a final polit- into Ukraine’s legislative and constitutional “republics.” But on the other hand, the Minsk Contact Group (see Eurasia Daily ical settlement by certain deadlines, which processes. Thus, the Minsk political work- Zelenskyy administration is in a hurry to Monitor, June 15, 17). But this is only one seem at any given moment to be measured ing group is supposed to produce, inter alia, achieve “peace” through a political settle- aspect of the delegation’s thorough over- in months or, at a maximum, one year a special Ukrainian law on “elections” in ment by self-assumed deadlines. haul. At the same time, Kyiv has turned its hence, and keep frustratingly receding. Donetsk-Luhansk and a constitutional law That would require Moscow’s involve- Contact Group delegation from a semi-offi- Overhauling the Contact Group by raising of Ukraine on the “special status” of ment in ways that would overrule its own cial one into a fully governmental and par- its official status and decision-making Donetsk-Luhansk, as spelled out in the proxies. And this is probably why Mr. liamentary delegation, under the capacity might promise to stop the peace Minsk agreements. Yermak and some other Kyiv officials are Presidential Office’s and the government’s horizon from receding. According to Oleksandr Merezhko, the urging Moscow to beef up Russia’s delega- hands-on management, albeit bringing Kyiv’s delegation to the Contact Group chair of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Foreign tion to the Minsk Contact Group, appoint- Ukrainian citizens from Donetsk-Luhansk operates since May 6 on a fully official, Policy Committee and deputy chief of the ing Russian governmental and parliamen- along as delegation members. senior-level status, composed of govern- delegation to the Minsk Contact Group, tary officials equivalent in rank to the According to Presidential Office chief mental and parliamentary representatives, more members of the Verkhovna Rada Ukrainian delegation. This could clear the Andriy Yermak, Kyiv’s delegation to the with Mr. Yermak overseeing it from the should be involved in the Contact Group’s way for negotiation above the heads of Minsk Contact Group until recently resem- Presidential Office. work. Their involvement in working out bled a “charitable activity” (“volonterski”), President Zelenskyy has appointed legislative proposals could facilitate their (Continued on page 15) in the sense that its key figures were no lon- Oleksiy Reznikov to the triple-hatted role of ger active-duty officials, were not mandated deputy prime minister (a newly created to make significant decisions, and (as Mr. post for inter-departmental coordination), OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY Yermak implies) had basically volunteered minister for reintegration of the occupied their services (Levyy Bereg, June 17). territories, and first deputy chief of Kyiv’s Indeed, the delegation’s key figures in delegation to the Contact Group (the titular 2015-2019 were private personalities chief of delegation, former President Ukrainian civic leaders speak out retired from public service (e.g., former Kuchma, has announced his intention to President Leonid Kuchma, Yevhen Marchuk, resign) (Ukrinform, May 6). about return of political repressions Roman Bezsmertnyy). Although the key Mr. Zelenskyy has seconded the members were high-level state appointees, Ukrainian Parliament’s Legal Affairs Ukrainian civic leaders, including for­ ed and implemented by the team of the delegation on the whole had a semi- Committee chair, Andrei Kostin, as Kyiv’s mer political prisoners of the Soviet regime today’s president of Ukraine. official character, reflecting the Minsk chief delegate to the Minsk Contact Group’s Josef Zissels, Myroslav Marynovych, Mykola Most importantly, all of these unlawful Contact Group’s own ambiguities. Any con- political working group (on “elections” and Horbal, Larysa Lokhvytska, Oles Shev­chen­ actions weaken Ukraine’s position in the cessions extorted by Russia from a “special status”); Deputy Defense Minister ko and Leonid Milyavsky, on June 14 pub­ international arena. Because Poroshenko lished an open letter to President Volodymyr embodied Ukraine’s resistance to Ukrainian delegation with semi-official sta- Oleksandr Polishchuk as chief delegate to Zelenskyy. (The English-language text that Russia’s armed aggression. And against tus would not become legally binding on the Minsk security working group (mainly follows is from the Ukrainian Canadian this background, what does Zelenskyy’s Ukraine. This arrangement also avoided sit- on military affairs); Deputy Economy Congress Daily Briefing. The open letter is team represent in persecuting Poro­ uations in which Kyiv government officials Minister Yulia Svyridenko as chief delegate available in the original Ukrainian on Mr. shenko? Including for having Ukrainian would have found themselves face to face to the socio-economic working group (on Zissels’ Facebook page.) ships sail through Ukrainian territorial with the envoys of the unrecognized “peo- the territories’ reintegration); and the waters? For beginning the counteroffen- Parliament’s Social Policy And Veterans’ ple’s republics.” We have written this letter in response sive against the armies of the aggressor Being represented in the Contact Group Affairs Committee chair, Galyna Tretiakova, to recent events that are returning our that invaded Ukraine? For appointments by semi-official figures, formerly high-level as chief delegate to the humanitarian work- country to the times of [Viktor] Yanu­ko­ in the security agencies that increase their but meanwhile retired, was the cautious ing group (this deals, inter alia, with pris- vych. After the Revolution of Dignity, arbi- effectiveness? approach for Kyiv to take at that time. It oner exchanges, which Mr. Zelenskyy treats trariness, selective justice and political In fact, all of these cases, entirely fol- persecution were supposed to be gone lowing Russian standards, are aimed at from Ukraine forever. criminalizing actions in defense of FOR THE RECORD We are outraged by the actions of the Ukraine: the counteroffensive against the State Bureau of Investigations and the forces of the aggressor, the use of the Office of the Prosecutor General, which Ukrainian Navy to strengthen the defense Remembering the 100th anniversary of the end are bringing back these disgraceful phe- of Ukrainian territory, appointments to nomena to Ukrainian reality. These are security services. signs of the formation in Ukraine of a The accusation against the president of Canada’s First National Internment Operation police state. of Ukraine for issuing a decree about per- The following statement was issued on In the 1950s the Canadian government The disgraceful, illegal and unprofes- sonnel appointments in the Foreign June 20 by Canadian Member of Parliament destroyed the complete files of the sional “show,” organized around the so- Intelli­gence Service looks very strange, Yvan Baker (Etobicoke Center, Ontario). Department of Internment Operations, called “indictment” of the fifth president of given that this is the constitutional pre- making it extremely challenging for Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, does not bring rogative of the president. Moreover, this Today we mark the 100th anniversary of researchers and scholars to piece together honor to the authorities. It significantly can bring into question any personnel the official end of internment operations in the First World War Internment Operation worsens the image of our country in the appointments made by the current, or Canada during the first world war. and to tell the stories of the internees. international community. These actions future, presidents. This is a dangerous From 1914 to 1920, more than 8,000 Even with the closing of Canada’s first discredit the justice system and ruin the precedent. civilians, most of them immigrants, were national internment operation, many of the already low rating of trust in it. Society is We stress: building a just state, fulfill- interned as “enemy aliens” in 24 locations internees continued to experience the stig- receiving a dangerous signal: the law isn’t ing promises to the people about [end- across Canada. They were subjected to ma of internment for decades. The fear and written for the “authorities.” And, there- ing] “legal trash” has not been achieved xenophobia and prejudice, fired from their shame that internees carried with them is fore, tomorrow any rights can be trampled by anyone, as it has been impossible to jobs, deprived of their possessions and civil the reason that most hid their internment upon if there is a political order. hide behind it questions of ineffective rights, then forced to work as laborers in experiences from their loved ones. With great sadness, we have to state internal policies and the weakening of some of the most remote regions of By recalling Canada’s first national that repressions against political oppo- Ukraine in the international arena. It is Canada. They suffered in the internment internment operation, we are also remind- nents have returned to Ukraine. It is out- unproductive to follow the example of camps for years. ed of the suffering of Japanese Canadians rageous that the main object of these Yanukovych. To do so leads to devastating Among those that were interned were: who were interned during the second repressions is Poroshenko – a person due consequences, first of all for the authori- Alevi Kurds, Armenians, Bulgarians, world war, as well as the racism and preju- to whose efforts Ukraine was able to with- ties. Croatians, Czechs, Germans, Hungarians, dice that Black and racialized Canadians stand the confrontation with Russia in the The best thing the current authorities most difficult years. We recall that, in the can do is end the political persecutions Italians, Jews, Ottoman Turks, Poles, have faced and continue to experience. first instance, all of these cases were initi- and focus on uniting Ukrainian society in Romanians, Serbians, Slovaks, Slovenes and Commemorating these tragic events ated by former members of Yanukovych’s resistance to Russian aggression, start Ukrainians. Even some who were natural- offers an opportunity to shine a light on our circle and that they repeat the messages advocating for Ukraine’s interests in the ized Americans were caught up in the failings as a country and rededicate our- of hostile Russian propaganda. It is these international arena, and improve the liv- internment dragnet set up by the Canadian selves to the elimination of prejudice, dis- initiatives that have been gladly support- ing standards of people in Ukraine. government during this period. crimination and racism in Canada. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 No. 26-27 No. 26-27 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 5

A message to our members: The UNA and COVID-19 The coronavirus pandemic has had a Home Office staff and meeting the needs of On Monday, June 1, the Home Office Please stay safe and stay healthy! profound effect on the global community, its thousands of members. began transitioning to a multi-phased For over 126 years, the Ukrainian including the Ukrainian National During this temporary work arrange- return to regular operations. We are taking National Association has always been there Association, a fraternal benefit society ment, the UNA continued to accept mem- all precautions to make sure our staff stays for our members. While we are not yet that serves the Ukrainian community and bership applications, process claims and protected, as we are spending more time in back to operations as they were before the its members throughout North America. handle all variety of matters important to the office and increasing our interactions. coronavirus pandemic, we pledge to you And yet, we are proud to say, UNA opera- our policyholders. All the while, members The office schedules of our employees have that we will continue to serve you as we tions have continued throughout the pan- could reach us during business hours (8 slowly been increased, hand sanitizer and always have – with the utmost profession- demic. a.m.-4 p.m.) via our customer service num- disinfecting agents are available through- alism, respect and care. Please do not hesi- At the UNA’s Home Office, which is ber at 800-253-9862. We sincerely thank out the office, face masks are provided and tate to reach out to us with any questions based in Parsippany, N.J., we reacted imme- our members for their patience, coopera- required to be worn, and social distancing you may have. Our dedicated staff is ready diately and put into effect a business con- tion and understanding during this trying is encouraged. In addition, our offices are and able to respond. tingency plan previously developed for time for us all. being sanitized on a regular schedule. As we all do our part in the global fight such an eventuality. Out of an abundance of At the same time, the UNA closely moni- Just as we care about the safety of our against this novel coronavirus, remember caution, our Home Office was closed and, tored developments related to the corona- staff, we care about the well-being of our that we truly are all in this together. beginning on Monday, March 16, our virus pandemic, carefully following all members throughout the United States and employees began to work remotely in guidelines issued by government officials Canada. We encourage you to follow the Fraternally, order to continue serving our members and health authorities. As a result, the guidance and instructions issued by your Stefan Kaczaraj without disruption. Thus, the UNA was work-from-home plan was extended sever- local, state and federal authorities so that President/Chief Executive Officer focused on both protecting the health of its al times. together we can overcome COVID-19. Ukrainian National Association

MISSION The Ukrainian National Association exists: As a fraternal insurance society, • to promote the principles of fraternalism; the Ukrainian National Association STATEMENT • to preserve the Ukrainian, Ukrainian American and reinvests its earnings for Ukrainian Canadian heritage and culture; and the benefit of its members and • to provide quality financial services and products to its members. the Ukrainian community. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 No. 26-27

COMMENTARY The Ukrainian Weekly Questions about justice in Ukraine Return to Yanukovych’s selective justice condemned There’ve been some strange goings on lately in Ukraine, as former President as thousands protest plan to arrest Poroshenko Petro Poroshenko has been repeatedly called in for court hearings on a variety of criminal charges. Among them were such ludicrous charges as “treason” and “incit- by Halya Coynash Small wonder that there have been warn- ing religious enmity.” (We refer you to the commentary on the right.) Many observ- Kharkiv Human Rights Protection ings over recent days from former Polish ers see these cases as political persecution by the administration of President Group President Aleksander Kwasniewski, from Volodymyr Zelenskyy of his predecessor and opponent in the most recent presiden- the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv and from the tial election. Former Soviet dissidents have added European Parliament against any attempt On June 14, a group of civic leaders, including former Soviet political prisoners, their voices to a strong statement protest- to take Mr. Poroshenko, who is now the released an open letter to President Zelenskyy (see page 3) to express their outrage ing the ever-increasing criminal prosecu- leader of the largest opposition party in the over the actions of the State Bureau of Investigations and the Prosecutor General’s tions brought against former President Verkhovna Rada into custody. Office, which are bringing back “arbitrariness, selective justice and political persecu- Petro Poroshenko. They consider these It is unclear whether it was these warn- tion.” They underscored: “With great sadness, we have to state that repressions against “selective justice and political persecution,” ings or the likely reaction to Mr. Poro­ political opponents have returned to Ukraine. It is outrageous that the main object of returning Ukraine to the times of Mr. shenko’s detention on the eve of his father’s these repressions is Poroshenko – a person due to whose efforts Ukraine was able to Poroshenko’s predecessor, Viktor funeral that prompted Prosecutor General withstand the confrontation with Russia in the most difficult years. …all of these cases Yanukovych. Iryna Venediktova to announce that she were initiated by former members of [Viktor] Yanukovych’s circle and that they Their warning that this damages was seeking adjournment of the court repeat the messages of hostile Russian propaganda. It is these initiatives that have Ukraine’s image in the world was surely hearing. Having spoken until June 16 (the been gladly supported and implemented by the team of today’s president of Ukraine.” confirmed on June 18 by reports in the day that Oleksiy Poroshenko died) of plans Canada’s Embassy in Ukraine posted this on Facebook on June 18: “Since 2014, international media about the thousands to ask for the former president to be Ukraine has been travelling the arduous but necessary journey of democratic trans- who came to show support for Mr. remanded in custody, the prosecutors now formation. Society’s insistence on #RuleOfLaw was expressed in the Revolution of Poroshenko at a court hearing that had ini- said that they would be asking for him to Dignity. These principles remain fundamental today & Ukrainians expect their gov- tially been to seek his detention. The hear- give an undertaking to appear at all hear- ernment to uphold them. Ukrainians expect equality of all in front of the law. And all ing was eventually adjourned until July 1, ings and to inform them of his where- citizens deserve the presumption of innocence, fair process & a justice system free of however concerns about selective justice abouts, at least up until July 10. political interference. History tells us that appearance of interference and revan- are hardly allayed by the fact that the judge In fact, any other outcome but adjourn- chism only breeds more of the same.” hearing the case is Serhiy Vovk, who gained ment of the June 18 hearing would have The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine wrote on Facebook that same day. “All citizens in a notoriety under the Yanukovych regime for been suicidally foolish given not only the democracy deserve to be treated equally and fairly under the law. The justice system his role in the politically motivated prose- above-mentioned reactions, but also the should not be used for the purpose of settling political scores,” it stated succinctly. cution and imprisonment of Yuriy thousands of Ukrainians who came out to The references were obvious. Both were reacting to the court hearing being held Lutsenko. show their support and solidarity with the that day in Kyiv to seek Mr. Poroshenko’s detention. The hearing was adjourned until Outside the Pechersky District Court on former president. July 1, but this case – and more than a dozen others registered against Mr. Poroshenko June 18, Mr. Poroshenko stated that yet There had been so many criminal cases – is far from over. That is why the leading organizations of the Ukrainian diaspora have another criminal case had been initiated against Mr. Poroshenko that the announce- issued statements about the importance of upholding the rule of law in Ukraine. against him – this time over the Tomos, the ment on June 10 of plans to remand him On June 18, the president of the Ukrainian World Congress, Paul Grod, underscored recognition of the autocephaly of the into custody was initially reported by many that “No one is above the law. But selective justice today threatens Ukraine’s future Orthodox Church of Ukraine in January journalists to be over a previous “investiga- and undermines the very foundations of the democratic and lawful society: those of 2019. The criminal proceedings, he tion.” It turned out, however, that the charg- the equality before the law, the presumption of innocence, the right to a fair trial.” He explained, were for supposedly “inciting es of “abuse of power” pertained to what added, “Ruining of these principles may lead to an explosive reaction of the society in religious enmity” through this move. the SBI investigators called Mr. Poroshen­ Ukraine, as well as to the loss of credibility with foreign partners and investors.” It would be nice to dismiss this sugges- ko’s “evidently criminal order to get a mili- Also that day, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress stated: “Recent charges against tion as preposterous or to assume that the tary official, the head of the Foreign former President Petro Poroshenko, who is accused of a crime for exercising his con- State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) would Intelligence Service, to exceed his power stitutional prerogative as president, give cause for concern. In other cases before the terminate such an “investigation” immedi- and official duties” and his appointment of courts we have seen the administration violating the presumption of innocence, ately after formally initiating it. Unfortu­ Serhiy Semochko as first deputy head of depriving these individuals of due process.” nately, the fact of such an investigation, ini- the Foreign Intelligence Service. On June 19, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America said it is “deeply tially begun by the State Security Service of It was under the presidency of Mr. alarmed by the recent signs of selective justice in Ukraine, and is compelled to con- Ukraine (known by the Ukrainian-based Yanukovych that Ukraine was heavily criti- demn attempts by the Ukrainian government to pursue politically motivated cases acronym as SBU), has been confirmed as cized by the international community for against former government officials and leaders of Ukraine’s civic society – including ongoing. In fact, the first criminal proceed- application of “selective justice.” While their expressed desire to detain former President Petro Poroshenko before a politi- ings against Mr. Poroshenko over alleged occasionally one charge or another might cal show trial.” “treason” had seemed just as absurd, yet refer to an actual infringement, it was gen- On June 20, the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations weighed in, cit- they resulted in an active SBI investigation erally understood that Ukrainian legisla- ing growing concern about “the lack of independence in the justice system” and “cor- that has only helped Russia’s propaganda tion, as well as the enforcement bodies and ruptibility of justices.” The AFUO stated: “Recent examples of political reprisals machine against Ukraine. certain judges, were being used for political against activists of the Revolution of Dignity and the leadership of the previous gov- As reported, in May 2019, Andriy motives. ernment – whether in the form of false charges, investigations or interrogations – Portnov, former deputy head of the Yanuko­ The above-mentioned statement in the has weakened Ukraine’s position internally and externally.” It added: “Abuse of the vych administration, returned to Ukraine form of an open letter to President legal system leads to a lack of confidence in the president and the government.” on the eve of Volodymyr Zelenskyy­ ’s presi- Zelenskyy was posted on June 14 by Josef We sincerely hope that Ukraine’s authorities hear these concerns and change dential inauguration and immediately Zissels, former Soviet dissident and now course to uphold the rule of law for all and end politically motivated selective justice. lodged the first of a large number of crimi- head of Vaad, the Association of Jewish nal allegations, most against Mr. Organizations and Communities of Ukraine. Poroshenko. On that occasion, he claimed Among the first signatories were Myroslav that Mr. Poroshenko had “provoked Russia’s Marynovych, one of the first members of attack on three Ukrainian naval ships near the Ukrainian Helsinki Group, who spent June Turning the pages back... Crimea on November 25, 2018, and its sei- 10 years in a Soviet labor camp and exile zure of 24 Ukrainian POWs. This parroted for his courage, and also Ihor Kozlovsky, a Five years ago, on June 30, 2015, Refat Chubarov, the head of the Kremlin’s own narrative and seemed religious scholar who was held hostage in 30 the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, spoke during a panel dis- quite ludicrous, yet months later, the SBI the Russian proxy ‘Donetsk people’s repub- cussion, “Crimea: Memories, Reality and Vision,” at Ukraine Crisis proved to be questioning the finally lic’ for two years. 2015 Media Center in Kyiv, where he stressed to state policymakers on released POWs and, therefore, effectively The authors write: the importance of a strategy in returning Crimea to Ukraine. assisting the Kremlin. “We have been prompted to turn to you “Strategy is not somebody’s whim or a word in fashion. Even if the SBI does decide that criminal over recent events which are returning our Strategy drives many daily practical decisions. It provides direction on how we must pro- charges over the establishment of a fully country to the times of Yanukovych. tect the rights of Ukrainians who remain in Crimea,” Mr. Chubarov said. autonomous Orthodox Church of Ukraine Ukraine was supposed to have been freed Aslan Omer Kyrymly, director of the State Agency on Crimea, said he blamed bureau- are excessive, that will still leave 17 crimi- of arbitrary rule; selective justice and politi- cracy for the delay in defining policy on Crimea, although civil society organizations had nal proceedings against Mr. Poroshenko ini- already submitted proposed strategies. However, the government must make the final tiated since Mr. Zelenskyy came to power. (Continued on page 12) decision, he added. Mr. Kyrymly also noted the crucial role of European diplomats and their clear position in denouncing Russia’s illegal occupation of the peninsula. “Diplomats and the entire international community took the civilized side and did not OUR NEXT ISSUE support the Crimean annexation,” Mr. Kyrymly added. “This was a turning point when the civilized world told the aggressors that the 21st century countries of the civilized world will This issue of The Ukrainian Weekly dated June 28/July 5 is being mailed to not accept aggression, disorder or brutal violent acts toward an independent Ukraine.” readers on June 26. Following the Independence Day holiday in the U.S., The Weekly’s next issue will be dated July 12. (Continued on page 10) No. 26-27 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 7

REFLECTIONS: A look at the founding of the Harvard Ukrainian Research institute by Bohdan Vitvitsky them happen. They were instead funded by by Andrew Fedynsky the Ukrainian community, mostly by the I read Thomas Prymak’s “The genera- Ukrainian American community but also tion of 1919: Pritsak, Luckyj and Rudnyt­ by some important contributions by the sky” (May 24) with considerable interest. I Ukrainian Canadian community. now write to make one rather important It was the Federation of Ukrainian Musings on race correction and to share a personal anec- Student Organizations in America, whose I was limited when it came to integration dote. Ukrainian-based acronym was SUSTA, that Ukrainian word conveying an overwhelm- into mainstream America. As a result, I Whereas Dr. Prymak writes about it in 1957 began the campaign to raise money ing“Стихія” elemental (stykhiya): force of nature: it’s a a wonderfulhurricane, found my freshman year difficult; it was being the Ukrainian Canadian community to establish a chair in Ukrainian studies at drought, famine, locust infestation, forest hard to relate to classmates who I per- that established the Canadian Institute of an American university. In 1958, those stu- fire, flood, plague. But it also has a social/ ceived came from well-to-do mainstream political connotation characterizing as American families, at least compared to Ukrainian Studies, he writes that it was dents incorporated an organization under mine. In the tight dormitory environment, I Prof. Omeljan Pritsak who “made a special the name of the “Ukrainian Studies, Chair seemingly spontaneous actions: a national buried conflicted feelings about my mark by founding the Harvard Ukrainian Fund, Inc.,” also known as the “Ukrainian “стихія”uprising, a revolution.population erupting in massive, Ukrainian identity, even as I was reminded Research Institute (HURI) and its journal Studies Fund” and for a while as the “Harvard University Ukrainian Studies Ukrainian history is rife with these kinds of it. A guy in the room next to mine would Harvard Ukrainian Studies (HUS)…” - coin nicknames: usually vulgar and deroga- Perhaps because Dr. Prymak is a Canadian, Fund,” but most often referred to by its Ukrainian name “Fond Katedr Ukrayino­ ants endured serfdom and national oppres- tory. I was the “refugee bastard.” he might be less informed about the history sion until Bohdan Khmelnytsky in 1648 About that time, Notre Dame President znav ­stva” or its acronym “FKU.” of “стихії” (plural). For generations, peas of events in the U.S. Whereas the statement was moved to right a personal wrong and, Father Theodore Hesburgh launched a con- It was that organization, headed up by about Prof. Pritsak founding the journal is to his astonishment, channeled pent-up certed campaign to integrate the university. Stephan Chemych and Bohdan Tarnawsky, certainly accurate, the statement about rage to establish the first Ukrainian state I was 18 and feeling marginalized, was remarkable individuals who devoted their HURI is only half true. since Kyivan Rus’. His statue dominates St. more comfortable relating to two African The reality is that at a private university lives to soliciting support for research and Sophia Square in Kyiv. More recently, we American basketball players, their room in such as Harvard, nothing new happens scholarship in Ukrainian history and other had the Orange Revolution in 2004-2005 the freshman dorm just three or four doors without money, and when it came either to disciplines, and the more than 13,000 indi- and the Revolution of Dignity in 2013-2014 away. the three endowed professorships of vidual donors in the Ukrainian communi- – both spontaneous, both transformative. In 1965 Civil Rights was the social move- ties that contributed the money required Ukrainian studies at Harvard or to HURI, It seems to me, America is now experi- ment in America with Freedom Riders, to make anything at all happen at Harvard neither Harvard nor Prof. Pritsak dipped Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Stokely or at any other university. into their respective pockets to come up video of handcuffed and helpless George Carmichael and others working to disman- To summarize, Prof. Pritsak was the co- with the $3.8 million required to make encingFloyd, a a Black “стихія.” man Itlying was on sparked his back by asthe a tle Jim Crow and integrate Black America. founder of HURI. He was Mr. Inside – the white policeman nonchalantly asphyxiates That’s what we talked about. individual within Harvard who was able to him. That horrific moment has evoked uni- During late-night discussions with Bob Bohdan Vitvitsky has been a member of explain to and persuade Harvard that versal revulsion and worldwide demon- Whitmore and Dwight Murphy, I expressed the board of the Ukrainian Studies Fund Ukrainian studies made sense. There would strations. How that came to be the tipping a tolerant, liberal position on civil rights, since 2005 and currently serves as its presi­ not exist a Ukrainian program at Harvard point at this specific time is a question which I held then, espoused as an inner city dent. The views expressed and the experi­ future historians will study, but to appreci- school teacher in Cleveland in the 1970s ence recounted here are his own. (Continued on page 15) ate its source, consider the incalculable and which I hold today. Not all Americans number – tens, perhaps hundreds of mil- are prejudiced, I said, and to prove it added: lions – of similar incidents over the years, “I’d let a Black family live next door.” LETTERS TO THE EDITOR decades and centuries since Africans were Dwight replied: “That’s the problem, Andy. first brought to America as slaves 400 years Why does a Black family need your permis- York and California in the form of hospital ago. What’s different today is how police sion or any white person’s to buy a home in President Trump ships, and assisted in the construction of body cameras, bystanders with iPhones your neighborhood?” emergency hospitals in New York City and and random security cameras record inci- Immigrant that I was and discriminated and coronavirus elsewhere. dents like the assault on Mr. Floyd and send against as I had been, Dwight pointed out To say that President Trump’s response them to the world. The video of his death that as a white man, I considered myself Dear Editor: was feckless and contributed to the loss of almost immediately went “viral,” an eerie privileged and entitled. And indeed I was. I American lives is not only irresponsible but echo of the coronavirus gripping America grew up with built-in advantages. This is in response to the letter to the edi- untrue and not based upon the facts. Call it what it was and what it is: system- tor titled “Has coronavirus become Trump’s I’m an immigrant who came to America ic racism. Its origins go back to slavery and Chornobyl?” by Andrij Skyba (June 7). Michael A. Cholewka andin 1948 the worldwhen (aI was “стихія”). 8 months old. Growing subsequent Jim Crow laws and practices in To equate Chornobyl with the coronavi- Brooklyn up in Cleveland, I experienced discrimina- the generations following. It was embed- rus is like comparing apples and oranges. tion – probably most humiliating when I ded in the condescending mindset I had President Donald Trump did not cover up a was 10 years old in 1958 and a fifth grader acquired without being aware of it toward disaster. He banned travel from China to at Benjamin Franklin School. I took January Black classmates and in society itself. May I the U.S.A. on January 31 amid protests from Thanks for reporting 7 off from school to celebrate Ukrainian note that my classmates Dwight and Bob many political leaders. His travel ban saved by Mark Raczkiewycz Christmas with my family. The next morn- graduated from Notre Dame Law School many thousands of lives here in the U.S.A. ing, Miss M. announced to the class that I and went on to careers in their communi- had been truant, which would be recorded ties, helping to transform America. Sadly There was an impeachment going on at Dear Editor: the time and the U.S. Congress completely on my “permanent record” and I would they have both passed away. ignored the approaching pandemic. I look forward with great pleasure to the therefore never be accepted to a major Just as sadly, racism persists in America Also, remember that the World Health reportage by Mark Raczkiewycz on events American university. today, more than half a century after our Organization downplayed the dangers for in the Chicago Ukrainian community. I have American History records how common dormitory talks and after the election in over two months in December and January. worked in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village most hostile attitudes toward immigrants and 2008 of a Black president. The statistics their “alien practices” have been, targeting speak for themselves: African Americans Dr. Anthony Fauci said in March that it was of my adult life, and can attest to the veraci- Irish, Chinese, Japanese, Jewish, Italian and have fewer educational opportunities, high- OK for healthy young people to go on cruis- ty and accuracy of Mr. Raczkiewycz’s arti- cles. His stories (May 10, June 6, June 21) other communities. For me, that mindset er incarceration rates, more COVID-19 es, and in February the New York City spilled out into the school yard and I’d infections, greater unemployment and, yes, Health Commissioner said it was OK to go are not only spot on, but he captures the essential mood of the Village’s diverse come home with a fat lip from fighting bul- a vastly higher incidence of police stops to Chinatown to celebrate the New Year lies who taunted me as a “DP” (displaced and deaths from encounters, as illustrated festivities there. community in these difficult times. The Ukrainian Weekly is fortunate to person). I replied in kind and gave as good by the death of George Floyd and multiple, The writer misquotes President Trump. as I got. Ironically, I learned much later that high-profile shootings. He did not say coronavirus was a “hoax” have this competent reporter on board. He adds new breadth and dimension to the my tormentors were grandchildren of Recently, my wife and I received an e-mail that would disappear like a “miracle.” Ukrainian and Irish immigrants. inviting us to join the “Ukrainian Antiracist Weekly’s geographic coverage of Ukrainian He abided by the “science” and held reg- My fifth grade teacher notwithstanding, Community.” Led by young folks who grew events in the Midwest. ular public briefings with CDC and NIH offi- in 1965 I enrolled in the University of Notre up interacting with Black folks way more cials. He got ventilators manufactured and George Hrycelak, M.D. Dame – all-male and almost exclusively than I did, they want to “advance racial equity shipped to hospitals, sent resources to New Chicago white – because of its sophomore studies in North America,” to work toward systemic program in Innsbruck, Austria, the city change in America and Canada with a specific where I was born a DP. list of action items. The group asks folks to OPINIONS I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood commit toward that goal, to be part of the in Cleveland where I received a first rate, Opinions expressed by columnists, commentators and letter-writers are their 100 percent segregated, public school edu- laudable and its authors are to be commend- own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of either The Weekly editorial cation. The first time I sat in a classroom “стихія,”ed. My wife the and change I signed we need. on. See: The https:// goal is staff or its publisher, the Ukrainian National Association. with an African American was freshman ukrainianantiracistcommunity.com/. Similarly, paid advertisements do not reflect the opinions of either The year in college. Ukrainian or its publisher. Being heavily engaged from my earliest Andrew Fedynsky’s e-mail address is years in the diaspora Ukrainian community, [email protected]. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 No. 26-27

OPINION Why Ukrainians should support the Black Lives Matter movement

by Andriy Semotiuk Initially, the Civil War began to assert armed forces helped move the cause for- forbade job discrimination and the segrega- national unity against the southern seces- ward, Black people still remained under- tion of public accommodations and the Ukrainians in the United States and else­ sionist Confederate states, but it ultimately privileged and racism continued largely Voting Rights Act of 1965 that assured where have much in common with African turned into a war to abolish slavery. unabated. minority registration and voting. The strug- Americans. We can learn a lot about their President Abraham Lincoln realized that The valiant struggle of Black people to gle has continued over the years that fol- shared struggle by comparing African the mistreatment of Black people and the gain their rights began heating up again in lowed. American and Ukrainian history. abolition of slavery was a central issue for 1955 in Montgomery, Ala., when Rosa Once Barack Obama was elected as the future welfare of America. Over Parks refused to surrender her bus seat to a America’s first African American president African American history 600,000 American soldiers laid down their white passenger at the behest of the bus in 2008 one would have thought the matter in America lives in what was effectively a “vote by the driver. On October 1, 1962, James Meredith of racism against Black people was finally For over 350 years Black people endured death of soldiers” to decide what course became the first African American student vanquished. But that was not the case. the cruelty of slavery, racism and Jim Crow was right for the future of America. The to enroll at the all-white University of Despite these events, the status of laws in America. Historians have estimated assassination of Lincoln was in large part Mississippi. He did so over the objection of African Americans in the United States that of the over 10 million Africans that fell the result of his effort to gain the freedom Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett who tried to remains tenuous and opportunities are still victim to the slave trade, between 300,000 of Black slaves and his support for the 13th block Meredith’s entrance on live televi- severely restricted. The recent spate of and 400,000 were brought to the United Amendment to the constitution that finally sion, proclaiming, “I’m a Mississippi segre- deaths of unarmed Black men and women, States during the 17th and 18th centuries. abolished slavery in 1865. gationist and I am proud of it.” It took including the death of George Floyd, reig- One source points out that, outside of the In 1868 the 14th Amendment, which 30,000 U.S. troops, federal marshals and nited the simmering anger of Black traditional count of the slave trade, an addi- gave former slaves the right to vote, was national guardsmen to get Meredith to his Americans over their mistreatment by U.S. tional 500,000 Africans also came against passed by Congress. It was left to President classroom after a violent campus uprising. authorities. Ulysses S. Grant to implement the amend- Two people were killed and more than 300 their will, under compulsion or duress, as So, what’s that got to do ment and to enforce post-Civil War mea- injured. But the door had opened. indentured servants, or perished en route to with Ukrainians? America. Taken together, as many as sures to crush the rebellions of the Ku Klux The mayhem in the years that followed 900,000 Africans were forced in a variety of Klan and other white supremacist groups. included a succession of murders of Black Ukrainians, like African Americans, ways to come to the United States, or per- Despite his efforts, in the years that fol- activists and freedom marches throughout share a history of slavery. ished along the way. lowed segregation flourished and racial the south. Several leaders heavily involved From the 15th to the first half of the 17th oppression escalated across the United in advancing the cause of African Americans century, about 2.5 million Ukrainians were States. In 1909 the National Association for in the United States met violent deaths. kidnapped and rounded up to be sold into Andriy Semotiuk is a U.S. and Canadian the Advancement of Colored People President John F. Kennedy was assassinated slavery in the Ottoman empire. Further­ immigration lawyer. He became an immi­ (NAACP) was formed to fight this trend. The on November 22, 1963. Malcom X was more, until the middle of the 19th century, gration lawyer because his parents were NAACP used the federal courts to challenge killed on February 21,1965. Dr. Martin millions of Ukrainian serfs were considered immigrants and he identified with their disenfranchisement and residential segre- Luther King, was assassinated on April 4, the property of their landlords, under a feu- hardships. He is a former United Nations gation. 1968, and Robert Kennedy was assassinat- dal form of slavery, in territory controlled correspondent and tribunal panel member In 1910, job opportunities for Black ed on June 6, 1968. by Austro-Hungary, Poland and tsarist of the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Americans became the primary focus of the When Lyndon B. Johnson stepped in to Russia. A member of the New York and California National Urban League. However, these replace President Kennedy, he committed The common heritage between African bars in the U.S., and the Ontario and British efforts through the courts and the political himself to implementing Kennedy’s entire Americans and Ukrainians is well por- Columbia bars in Canada, he writes a col­ system made marginal progress. Although civil rights reform program. This included umn on immigration for Forbes. during World War II the integration of the passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that (Continued on page 14)

What do Russia, Antifa and Black Lives Matter have in common?

by Jaroslaw Martyniuk to the first, what Antifa represents, as you The anarcho-communist movement is familiar not only with American politics but will see, is clear. The answer to the second decentralized, composed of small cells, with Russian special operations aimed at During the past several years, the is less clear because the link between some of whom openly vow to engage in an creating chaos in the U.S. and Ukraine. Past Atlantic Council has been running reports Antifa and Russia is well camouflaged. armed struggle to trigger a civil war to patterns of behavior and some new sources on how Russian cyberwarfare and disinfor- What is unquestionable is that the goals of abolish the current system and replace it corroborate Ambassador Chaly’s assertion. mation have been working overtime to Antifa and Russia are, for all practical pur- with communism. Although they claim to A CNN investigative report by Clarissa undermine Western democracies in gener- poses, indistinguishable: to sow mayhem be antifascists, in reality they are fascism Ward and other CNN reporters in April of al, and Ukraine in particular. While Ukraine and chaos to discredit democracy and sub- personified. this year uncovered how Russian trolls are has been the target of Moscow’s attention, vert the government of the United States. Despite abundant evidence that neo- trying to poison the political atmosphere in recently its tactics have evolved and shifted Antifa’s and Russia’s aims largely over- Marxists have a hand in these protests and the United States. “This time,” the report to exploit civil unrest in the United States. lap, although the reasons behind those riots, very few journalists have been willing concludes, “they were better disguised, The United States today is in the midst of aims differ. Antifa believes that America is a to expose the truth. Mainstream media por- harder to identify and track.” an existential crisis that is tearing the coun- fascist state and questions the legitimacy of tray them as a well-meaning alliance of ide- “In 2016, much of the trolling aimed at try apart at its seams. Much of the harm is its very existence. Russia’s leaders, on the alists who seek nothing more than to the U.S. election operated from an office self-inflicted, but a good part is due to hos- other hand, see the United States as thwart the evils of right-wing “fascism.” block in St. Petersburg, Russia.” The tile outside players such as Russia and Russia’s existential enemy. The point is that Although the Black Lives Matter move- months-long CNN investigation has discov- China sowing discord. The civic unrest and both are working assiduously here in the ment has become mainstream, it’s unfortu- ered that, in this election cycle, part of the riots that rocked major cities across the U.S. and Europe to cause turmoil, under- nate that so many well-intentioned Black campaign has been outsourced to trolls in United States in the aftermath of the mine stability and the rule of law, and abol- and other good people have been duped the West African nations of Ghana and George Floyd killing were aggravated by a ish the liberal capitalist order with the pro- into helping achieve Antifa’s nefarious Nigeria. These trolls have focused almost radical movement known as Antifa and its fessed aim to bring down the United States ends. In truth, recent riots have little to do exclusively on racial issues in the U.S., pro- collaborator Black Lives Matter. Although a using racial riots, violence and intimidation. with race and everything to do with regime moting Black empowerment and often dis- relatively small segment of the demonstra- The term “Antifa” has a certain appeal to change and revolution. playing anger towards white Americans. tors, these groups have created mayhem, the uninitiated, and that is why it’s easy to There is an ancient saying, “the enemy of According to experts who follow Russian causing incalculable property damage well pull the wool over the eyes of the masses. At my enemy is my friend.” Given Russia’s long disinformation campaigns, the goal was to beyond their small numbers. its core, it’s an extremist neo-Marxist record of subversion in U.S. affairs, politics inflame divisions among Americans and provoke social unrest. (The full report is The questions Ukrainians in America Communist-anarchist movement that explic- and elections, Russia’s connection to an available at https://www.cnn.com/2020/ ought to be asking are: Who is Antifa and itly advocates the overthrow of the capitalis- organization like Antifa is not only plausi- 03/12/world/russia-ghana-troll-farms- its partner in arms, Black Lives Matter? tic system and the destruction of America ble but likely. The only thing missing is 2020-ward/index.html.) What has been Russia’s role in aiding and because it is a racist, sexist, homophobic, direct evidence of collusion and the extent In effect, the CNN investigative report is abetting these radical groups? The answer xenophobic culture not worthy of existing. of involvement. A little research, however, the smoking gun that confirms Moreover, the movement falsely and reveals that dirty Russian fingerprints are Ambassador Chaly’s assertion of Russian Jaroslaw Martyniuk is a former diplomat slanderously equates fascism with virtually ubiquitous. involvement in fanning riots and distur- with the International Energy Agency/ all of the people holding conservative val- In his interview on the Ukrainian televi- bances in the U.S. This, however, is only Organization for Economic Cooperation ues and the idea that Western traditions – sion program “Pryamyi,” Ukraine’s former what has been discovered by one tenacious and Development in Paris and a retired tolerance of opposing viewpoints, individu- Ambassador to the United States Valeriy investigative team and probably represents researcher affiliated with Radio Liberty in al rights and responsibilities as opposed to Chaly said he sees a Russian hand in stirring merely the tip of the iceberg. Munich and Washington. He is the author of group rights and collective identity – are up the civil unrest in the U.S. Mr. Chaly, who “Monte Rosa: Memoir of an Accidental Spy.” worthy of respect, served as an ambassador for four years, is (Continued on page 15) No. 26-27 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 9 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 No. 26-27

tion began to change in January and, as you after Russia illegally annexed Ukraine’s support for militants in the eastern NEWSBRIEFS can see, already against the background of Crimean peninsula and starting providing Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk (Continued from page 2) the coronavirus, our last measurements in military support for pro-Russia separatists in a conflict that has killed more than 13,000 May and June showed a change in this bal- in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than people since April 2014. (RFE/RL) ance and now the balance of trust is nega- 13,000 people. Since then, the sanctions off after the plane was shot down. They are Zelenskyy denies political persecution expected to contain information about the tive,” Ms. Balakireva reported, presenting a have been extended every six months. A for- last moments before the aircraft was struck study by the Center for Social Monitoring at mal decision to prolong the sanctions Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and crashed. The 176 victims included 82 a press conference on June 23 titled beyond their current July 31 expiration date said he was not behind what opponents says Iranian citizens and 63 Canadians, many of “Monitoring of Ukrainian Population’s is to be taken by EU ambassadors in the is political persecution of his predecessor them of Iranian origin. France’s BEA air Public Opinion: June 2020. Radicalization of coming weeks. Russian President Vladimir Petro Poroshenko, who now is a national accident investigation agency is known as Sentiment against Backdrop of Economic, Putin earlier this year proposed a freeze on deputy in the Verkhovna Rada. “He just one of the world’s leading organizations for Political Crisis.” Mr. Zelenskyy is fully trust- economic sanctions on “humanitarian” wants to be a victim, wants everyone to reading flight recorders. (RFE/RL, with ed by 13 percent of respondents, 28.3 per- grounds in order to allow countries to bet- think that there are political persecutions in reporting by AFP and Reuters) cent trust him somewhat, 25.4 percent do ter combat the coronavirus pandemic. But Ukraine,” Mr. Zelenskyy said in an interview not trust him somewhat and 24.8 percent EU officials have rejected Mr. Putin’s call, with the Canadian newspaper The Globe Fatal gas explosion in Kyiv building do not trust him at all. “Thus, 50 percent of with both European Commission President and Mail. “I am not interested in Mr. At least one person was killed in a gas the population today does not trust Ursula von der Leyen and European Council Poroshenko, I am not interested in political explosion at an apartment building in Kyiv, President Zelenskyy,” Ms. Balakireva sum- President Charles Michel insisting the mea- persecutions, I just don’t do these things. I rescuers said on June 21. Several people marized. During the study, conducted on sures “do not impede Russia’s capacity” to am sure that he is simply heating up the situ- could be trapped under wreckage after four June 10-19 via personal interviews at combat the epidemic. The sanctions mainly ation: he has not been heard from for half a floors of the nine-story building were respondents’ places of residence, 3,037 target Russia’s financial, energy and defense year before elections, his political force in the destroyed, the State Emergency Services people were interviewed in all regions of industries. (RFE/RL) Parliament did not vote for any of the cur- said in a statement that day. “As of 11 a.m., Ukraine, except for the occupied territories Call for more integration of Eastern Partners rent big reforms in our country. I have not one person was found dead. Twenty-one of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions and seen anything, except this latest story, they people were evacuated. Three people have Crimea. The sampling error is 1.1-1.9 per- European lawmakers are calling for the started compiling ratings on this hype. I am been released and further evacuation of the cent. (Ukrinform) creation of a “common economic space” taking it in my stride,” Mr. Zelenskyy said. between the European Union and the six (Ukrinform) house’s residents is under way,” the state- EU leaders OK extension of sanctions ment said. It said 21 residents had been former Soviet republics of its Eastern IKEA products use illegally felled wood evacuated from the building, but it was not European Union leaders on June 19 sup- Partnership program as part of a process of immediately clear how many people had ported a six-month extension of economic “gradual integration” into the bloc. The The British NGO Earthsight reported been inside. (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, sanctions imposed against Russia over its European Parliament made the call in a that its 18-month-long investigation has with reporting by Reuters) role in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. report supported on June 19 by 507 mem- found that IKEA is selling beech chairs French President Emmanuel Macron and bers of the European Parliament (MEPs), made from wood that was illegally felled in Zelenskyy not trusted by 50 percent German Chancellor Angela Merkel briefed with 119 voting against and 37 abstaining. the forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians, The document is supposed to serve as the Trust in Ukraine’s President Volodymyr other EU heads of state and government home to endangered lynx and bear. “This chamber’s wish list regarding the future of Zelenskyy, said the board chairperson of during a videoconference and said, accord- illegal harvesting is being enabled by the the Eastern Partnership program, which the Oleksandr Yaremenko Ukrainian ing to RFE/RL sources familiar with the corrupt state-owned forestry enterprises includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Institute for Social Research, Olha matter, that no progress had been made in which run most of Ukraine’s forests. Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The pro- Balakireva. “After the election, a positive implementing the Minsk agreement. The Continued illegal logging to supply IKEA’s gram, launched in 2009, is meant to bring balance of trust was maintained. The situa- sanctions were first adopted in July 2014 beech chairs was even detected by Earth­ the six former Soviet republics closer to the sight during the worldwide Corona­virus EU without clearly offering future member- (Covid-19) lockdown of April 2020,” ship. “While accession is not foreseen under Earthsight said on June 23. “Many of IKEA’s the framework of the Eastern Partnership, melamine-coated chipboard furniture the Eastern Partnership policy can facilitate products are also made from Ukrainian a process of gradual integration into the EU,” wood of suspect origin. During the reign of TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL WALTER HONCHARYK (973) 292-9800 x3040 the report reads. It proposes to “embark on the notoriously corrupt President Viktor or e-mail [email protected] a process to create a common economic Yanukovych in 2011-2014, millions of dol- space” and says Brussels should “focus on lars in bribes were being paid into offshore SERVICES PROFESSIONALS telecommunications and prioritize the cre- accounts of his corrupt cronies by overseas ation of a roaming-fees-free regime between companies to access timber. Earthsight’s the EU and Eastern Partnership countries investigation shows it is highly likely that ОКСАНА СТАНЬКО and an intra-Eastern Partnership one as wood on which such bribes had been paid Ліцензований продавець soon as possible.” Other suggestions include Страхування Життя subsequently made its way into IKEA prod- the establishment of an Eastern Partnership ucts,” the NGO noted. Reuters reported on OKSANA STANKO University in Kyiv and the appointment of June that IKEA said it would review its Licensed Life Insurance Agent an EU special envoy for Crimea and eastern Ukrainian National Assn., Inc. wood supply chain in Ukraine after the Ukraine. The EU has imposed sanctions on Earthsight report was released. “We Tel.: 908-872-2192 Russia over its forcible seizure of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in March 2014 and its (Continued on page 11) email: [email protected]

she commented, but a full blockade could OPPORTUNITIES МАРІЯ ДРИЧ Ліцензований Продавець Turning... lead to a loss of Crimea and the connection Страхування Життя (Continued from page 6) to pro-Ukrainian individuals there. EARN EXTRA INCOME! МАRІA DRICH Latvia’s ambassador to Ukraine, Dr. Licensed Life Insurance Agent Olha Skrypnyk, deputy head of the Argita Daudze, urged the Ukrainian govern- The Ukrainian Weekly is looking Ukrainian National Assn., Inc. Crimea Field Mission on Human Rights, ment to understand that “The policy of non- for advertising sales agents. recognition of the annexation is a basis that For additional information contact 2200 Route 10, Parsippany, NJ 07054 highlighted the targeting of resistance to Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, Tel.: 973-292-9800 ext. 3035 the Russian occupation and pro-Ukrainian will help return the situation to its pre-occu- The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. e-mail: [email protected] viewpoints of Ukrainian citizens who pation condition.” She underscored the need remain in the occupied territory. She for closer cooperation between the underscored that there are no means of European Union and Ukraine, not only in legal protection in Crimea, only “the public institutions, but also in civil society’s ephemeral nature of the Russian law – even advocacy for the return of Crimea to Ukraine. if its applied there, it is for the purpose of A former ambassador of Lithuania to continuing repression.” Ms. Skrypnyk said Ukraine, Petras Vaitiekunas, said Ukraine that the Ukrainian government needed to needed to understand the EU mindset and differentiate between issues of territorial attempt to appeal to the hearts of Europeans control and the circumstances of those who by implementing reforms within Ukraine. remain nearly forgotten in Crimea. The The fault, he added, was with both Ukraine, non-residential status for people in Crimea for its failure to implement reforms, and the is discriminatory and authorities must reg- EU, for its own weak position. A clear geopo- ulate the new administrative border-cross- litical agenda from Ukraine’s leadership on ing procedures, she said. EU or NATO, he said, could facilitate this pro- She also called for regulations to prevent cess. Mr. Vaitiekunas stated clearly: this is authorities from refusing entry to foreign Russia’s war, or more precisely, Vladimir nationals, which also prevent lawyers – Putin’s war against Ukraine. who actively engage with Ukraine – from Source: “Mejlis leader says Ukraine’s gov­ Run your advertisement here, effectively defending Crimean residents. ernment must adopt strategy on occupied in The Ukrainian Weekly’s CLASSIFIEDS section. There is a need for restrictions related to Crimea,” (Ukraine Media Crisis Center), The commerce between Ukraine and Crimea, Ukrainian Weekly, July 19, 2015. No. 26-27 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 11

Manher must remain under pretrial arrest a half years for organizing and executing Borzenkov, born in 1981, is suspected of NEWSBRIEFS without bail until July 28. On June 16, offi- the attack, after they made plea deals with collecting classified information for (Continued from page 10) cers of the Security Service of Ukraine investigators. (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) Ukraine while allegedly being recruited by detained Mr. Manher while he was at a hos- its intelligence service. The Kursk regional pital in the city of Kherson and transferred Russian police chief suspected of spying acknowledge that illegal logging remains a Internal Affairs Ministry said that Col. him to Kyiv. Mr. Manher had failed twice to widespread global issue, and work proac- A police chief in Russia’s western region Borzenkov, who has worked at the post show up for the hearing about his pretrial tively to implement measures to verify that of Kursk has been arrested on suspicion of since mid-April, will be fired. The Kursk restrictions, citing his own health prob- our suppliers comply with legality,” IKEA spying for Ukraine. The Lefortovo District region borders with Ukraine’s eastern lems, as well as those of his daughter. Mr. added, saying it had begun an independent Court in Moscow said on June 22 that region of Sumy. Relations between Russia Manher has denied any involvement in the audit into practices in Ukraine. (Ukrainian Dmitry Borzenkov, the police chief in the and Ukraine have been tense after Moscow attack. Handzyuk, a 33-year-old civil activ- Canadian Congress Daily Briefing) Zolotukha district in Kursk, was placed in illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and threw ist and adviser to the mayor of the Black pretrial detention over the weekend and support to pro-Russia militants in Ukraine’s Bail denied for Handzyuk case suspect Sea port city of Kherson, died in November will be held until August 18. The Federal east, where almost 13,200 people were 2018 – three months after she was severely Security Service said on June 22 that Col. killed in the ongoing conflict. (RFE/RL) A court in Kyiv has sent the head of the injured in an acid attack. Prosecutors Kherson Oblast Council to pretrial deten- arrested Mr. Manher in February last year tion under suspicion of ordering a deadly and charged him with ordering the attack. attack on anti-corruption activist Kateryna Mr. Manher was later released on bail. In With a deep sorrow and grief we announce Handzyuk in 2018. The Pechersk district June 2019, five men were sentenced to the passing on March 21, 2020, of court late on June 18 ruled that Vladyslav prison terms of between three and six and Dr. Volodymyr Petryshyn by Freedom House, in partnership with the Mathematician, Freedom House... Community of Democracies. It was estab- born on January 22, 1929 in Murovane, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine. (Continued from page 1) lished in 2011 to honor diplomats and civil He was laid to rest on March 26, 2020 servants whose work has advanced democ- at St. Andrew Cemetery, South Bound Brook, N.J. Ms. Freeland also demonstrated her sup- racy and human rights. The award was port for protesters leading up to the 2014 inspired by the late U.S. Ambassador to Education: Columbia University, New York City, N.Y. Ukrainian revolution in her position as a Hungary Mark Palmer, who devoted his life BA, MA, PhD member of the Canadian Parliament. Under to supporting democratic transitions in her leadership as minister of foreign affairs, Hungary and in closed societies globally. Taught at New York University, University of Chicago, Canada in 2019 launched updated guide- Among his many achievements were per- Rutgers University (from 1972 distinguished professor) suading the U.S. Congress to enact pro- lines for supporting human rights defend- Visiting professor at universities in Ukraine, Germany, China and Israel ers. democracy legislation and multiple U.S. Freedom House applauds Ms. Freeland’s administrations to advance and implement Author of numerous articles published in distinguished 2019 appointment as Canadian deputy new democracy policies, working directly publications in the USA and Europe prime minister as a positive sign for North with authoritarian leaders to facilitate America’s commitment to human rights. peaceful political transitions, and cofound- He is survived by: “We know that Chrystia Freeland will ing NOVA, the media enterprise that sister - Olha Hnateyko with her husband Myron continue to provide excellent leadership in spurred the creation of independent televi- nephew - Timish Hnateyko with his wife Anya and their children advancing democracy and standing up for sion stations across Eastern Europe. niece - Roxana Charkewycz with her husband Bohdan and those who are persecuted,” Mr. Abramowitz The Mark Palmer Prize is meant to their children said. honor individuals working tirelessly to family in Ukraine defend democracy, human rights and civil About the Palmer Prize society, and has been awarded to individu- We are grateful to our family and friends for their prayers and The Mark Palmer Prize is administered als from all over the world. condolences. May He rest in Eternal peace! Вічна Йому пам’ять! ______With deep sorrow we announce In Memory of Dr. Volodymyr Petryshyn donations can be made to: that our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother The Ukrainian Museum 222 East 6th St., New York, NY 10003; Stephania Sawchyn Shevchenko Scienti c Society née Sadowa 63 Fourth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10003; passed away on June 15, 2020, in her 103rd year. Ukrainian Institute of America Stephania was born November 22, 1917 in 2 East 79th St., New York, N.Y. 10075; Liubachiw, Poland, to Ivan and Anastasia Sadovij. Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation (UCEF) Stephania graduated with honors from the Second 2247 West Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622 Governmental Seminarium in Peremyshl, and taught school in the town of Ulaziw, where she met and married in 1940 Petro Sawchyn, son of Natalia and Fr. Antin Sawchyn, pastor of Ulaziw and Nimstiv. In 1950 the Sawchyn family emigrated from Belgium to Montreal With deep sorrow and heavy heart we announce the death of Canada, and to New York City in 1957. Stephania was chef at the Plast Scout camp in East Chatham, NY, for several years, and then with her family were owners of the Ukrainian National Home restaurant in New Teo l Kleban York from 1963-1975. Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great-grandfather, Stephania lived guided by her faith in God, her love of Ukraine, and her who peacefully passed away on April 24, 2020 at the age of 101. deep devotion to her family. Teo l was born in the village of Stanyn, Ukraine on May 24,1918 Remaining in deep sorrow: and a long time resident of Union, NJ. He left Ukraine in 1939 during the European upheaval and made it to Germany, where he eventually - sister Yaroslava Ivanivna Vowk in Lviv, Ukraine; ended up in Regensburg Displaced Persons’ Camp. There he met Justyna - son George and wife Tetiana Gerych Hermanowska, whom he married in 1948, just before they came to the - daughter Irene and husband Ronald Doll United States in 1949. - daughter-in-law Marijetka, widow of deceased son Marko He leaves behind: - grandchildren: Christina and husband Daniel Baum; Tamara; wife: Justyna Kleban Marta; Melania and husband Andrew Nynka; Lydia and husband sons: Myroslaw Kleban with wife Mary Anna, Yarema Belej; Andrij; Larissa and husband Gordon Tomaszic Roman Kleban with wife Linda - great-grandchildren Malina and Nathanael grandchildren: Marusia Kleban - as well as family in the US, Canada and Ukraine Christian Kleban with wife Dayna Due to Covid-19 restrictions, burial services will be held at a later date Peter Kleban with wife Monica at St. Andrew cemetery in South Bound Brook, N.J. Katherine Tabatchouk with husband Roman Alex Kleban with wife Brittany Eternal memory. Вічная пам’ять! great-grandchildren: In lieu of  owers, donations can be made to Hunter Kleban • Charitable Program “Feed the Hungry” – St. John the Baptist Daniel Tabatchouk Ukrainian Catholic Church, 719 Sanford Ave., Newark, N.J. 07106 Funeral arrangements were handled by Lytwyn & Lytwyn Funeral • Guardian Angels Ukraine (humanitarian project of the League Home. Grave site services were conducted by Rev. Taras Svirchuk, CssR of Ukrainian Canadian Women), 2282 Bloor Street West, Suite 204, on April 28, 2020 at St. Andrew Cemetery, South Bound Brook, N.J. Toronto, ON M6S 1N9; lucw.ca/guardian-angels.html May he rest in peace. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 No. 26-27

continue in his role as the main man off the bench. Kuzma still a game-changer The signing of power forward Markieff Morris may ease for L.A. Lakers the dynamic in the future. Before Morris’ arrival, Kuzma was tasked with filling inside duties with Davis or Dwight Los Angeles Laker Kyle Kuzma jack-hammered a third- Howard whenever James was rested. Kuzma’s usual part- quarter dunk over Golden State Warriors’ Juan Toscano- ners on the court minus James were Alex Caruso, Anderson in the third quarter of a February 26 NBA game, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo and Davis, the lat- eliciting a raucous celebration from his two all-star team- ter being the only one standing above 6-foot-5. mates. LeBron James happened to be sitting on the Lakers’ The 6-foot-8 Morris will permit Kuzma to spend time bench in a black coat, while Anthony Davis was nearby out on the perimeter, letting him be involved in a wider after diving into the stands to save a loose ball from going variety of offensive sets, including ball handling situations out of bounds. The slam was “with authority” and emphati- at the top of the arc with a live dribble to baseline post-ups. cally emphasized Kuzma’s turnaround performance in the In other words, it will help Kuzma to play the distributor 116-86 win over Golden State. role more with the ball in his hands and the option to Having unsuccessfully delivered consistent results in his attack the hoop, not limited to a pick-and-pop, spot-up type role as a primary scoring option for much of the 2019- of player. 2020 season, the 24-year-old Ukrainian pumped in 18 The Lakers would profit greatly if the new rotation points and helped build a lead big enough to rest L.A. start- assists in ending Kuzma’s funk. He has posted career lows ers the entire fourth quarter. A self-gratified Kuzma in nearly every statistical category this year. A showing like stepped up big time in the absence of James, out with a the Warriors game was a vivid reminder of the game- groin injury. Kuzma relished the chance to make plays, han- changing scoring weapon he can be when everything dle the ball more and facilitate exactly the way LeBron clicks. would, being the focal point of the team’s offense. The Lakers were optimistic Kuzma would be a more The Lakers have been waiting most of the season for consistent threat prior to the onset of the postseason. The these types of contributions from Kuzma, who was slated coaching staff felt Kuzma’s inefficiency was a product of to be the main bucket-getter behind the James-Davis duo. adjusting to a new offensive scheme and new role rather The team has suffered from its lack of bench scoring and than deeper faults. He was expected to bring energy like he has been desperate for secondary offense. Kuzma’s 15 has in the past and contribute by doing what he does best, games with 25 or more points since entering the league are which is score points. His continued development within way more than any other Lakers reserve over that time the team’s defensive scheme would make Kuzma an even frame. more valuable player. For much of the current campaign Kuzma has not done Kuzma was rumored to be on NBA general managers’ his part. He is particularly ineffective when not on the radar at the league’s trade deadline in February. Lakers court with James. Heading into the late-February tilt management never seriously entertained any offers to against Golden State, Kuzma was shooting 40.1 percent trade their young talented forward. On the Western Wikipedia Conference’s top team, Kuzma is still looked upon as a from the field in minutes without James versus 46.4 per- Kelly Olynyk cent with James on the floor. This must change if he is to valuable asset and potentially a key component of a cham- pionship squad. with the team. The Heat made the playoffs with a 44-38 Kuzma gives back in Flint record in Olynyk’s first year with the team (2017-2018) and found themselves on the outs at 39-43 in 2018-2019. Kuzma stepped up big-time during the COVID-19 pan- This year it was a return to the postseason and back to demic, giving back to his hometown of Flint, Mich. Kuzma some extra cash, $400,000 to be exact. partnered with the YMCA to donate 550 meals per week The second bonus of $1 million for hitting the 1,700 for kids and seniors. The food donation was scheduled for minutes level was another issue. Before joining the Heat, a minimum of six weeks and included a dinner and snack Olynyk had never reached the threshold during his first given to the needy, beginning March 23, seven days a week. four NBA seasons with the Boston Celtics. He then played 1,779 minutes for Miami in 2017-2018 and a career-high Olynyk earns one of two bonuses 1,812 in 2018-2019. This season, with Meyers Leonard emerging as the starting center and Bam Adebayo earning Miami Heat forward Kelly Olynyk faces a split decision a larger role in the power rotation – and with games often when it comes to the potential $1.4 million in bonuses he turning into small ball – Olynyk had played 1,092 minutes was eligible for in the 2019-2020 season. As part of the prior to the season being suspended. Even if the rest of the four-year free agent deal he signed with Miami in the 2017 regular season games were played, Olynyk would have to offseason, there are annual bonuses for making the play- play some 35 minutes per game, a definite impossibility offs and for playing at least 1,700 minutes. based on his averaging 18.5 minutes per game in 2019- The playoff element of the question was formally 2020. clinched the second week of March, right before the NBA For Olynyk, as with the playoff bonus, the focus has been shut down due to the coronavirus. The minutes question, on team success and his contributions in the games. He unfortunately, was one the 6-foot-11 Ukrainian Canadian accepts it for what it is, a bonus to a contract which already failed to realize for the first time. pays him in excess of $11 million per year. NBA.com For Olynyk, the bonuses reflect the overall success of Kyle Kuzma what turned out to be the winningest season in his tenure Ihor Stelmach may be reached at [email protected].

And therefore, tomorrow any rights can be epitomizing by persecuting Mr. Bohdan, was prohibited from holding that Return... stamped on, all you need is the political Poroshenko? They refer in particular to the post because of his role twice during the (Continued from page 6) commissioning. above-mentioned criminal investigation Yanukovych regime. Mr. Zelenskyy got “We are forced, with great sadness, to over the attack by Russia on Ukrainian around this by changing the name of the cal persecution after the Revolution of note that repression against political oppo- naval ships in Ukraine’s territorial waters. Presidential Administration to Presidential Dignity. We are appalled by the actions of nents has returned to Ukraine. It is shock- This, as mentioned, was claimed by Mr. Office. Since the law on lustration mentions the Prosecutor General’s Office and the SBI, ing that the main target of this repression Portnov to be Mr. Poroshenko’s “treason” “Presidential Administration,” not this new which are reinstating those foul phenome- should be Petro Poroshenko, a person and has actually resulted in an SBI investi- name for the same entity, this seems an na to Ukrainian reality. These contain ele- thanks to whose efforts Ukraine was able to gation. The authors are convinced that the obvious attempt to bypass a law in force. ments of the formation in Ukraine of a hold out in confrontation with Russia dur- charges over Mr. Poroshenko’s appoint- Furthermore, are all Ukrainian presi- police state. ing the hardest years.” ment of Mr. Semochko are also bizarre, dents to anticipate prosecution for alleged “The shameful, unlawful and unprofes- The authors express frustration that the given that such appointments are among “abuse of power” as soon as they leave sional stunt staged around the supposed criminal investigations were initiated by the president’s constitutional powers. They office? ‘informing of suspicion’ of the fifth presi- members of Mr. Yanukovych’s team and stress that this “can place in doubt any The authors of the appeal call on the dent of Ukraine and MP, Petro Poroshenko, echo the messages of hostile Russian pro- staffing questions, passed both by the cur- country’s present leaders to “stop political ill serves the authorities. It significantly paganda, and say that these have now been rent and future leaders of the state. This is a persecution and concentrate on uniting the worsens the image of our country in the taken up by the current president’s people. dangerous precedent.” Ukrainian public in countering Russian world. Such actions discredit the law All of this, they stress, hurts Ukraine’s repu- As reported earlier, President Zelenskyy aggression and to begin upholding enforcement system itself and demolish the tation in the world. If Mr. Poroshenko epito- has already used manipulative and legally Ukraine’s interests on the international already low level of confidence in it. The mized for the international community questionable methods for at least one scene and improving the lives of people in public are sent a dangerous signal that laws decisive resistance to Russia’s armed appointment. His choice for head of the Ukraine.” are not written for the enforcement bodies. aggression, what is Mr. Zelenskyy’s team Presidential Administration, Andriy No. 26-27 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 13

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE UNWLA branch in North Port holds virtual literary evening

by Patricia Zalisko Oksana Lyniw. Thereafter, Ms. Popel recited a poem, “My Native Language,” and intro- NORTH PORT, Fla. – On Sunday, June 7, duced the event’s organizer, Ksenia Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Rakowsky. Women’s League of America, which is Ms. Rakowsky, who is the cultural affairs based in North Port, Fla., broke the tedium chairperson for the branch, conceived the of the coronavirus pandemic by hosting a event, and organized the performers, vid- literary evening. The branch did so safely eography and marketing for the produc- and in full compliance with CDC guidelines tion. She also served as the master of cere- by hosting the evening’s entertainment on monies for this highly successful event. an online platform, offering live virtual Performances included readings, anec- meetings with audio and video features. dotes, lighthearted and often humorous The president of UNWLA Branch 56, poetry readings, a bandura performance by Alexandra Popel, opened the event by wel- Roma Long, an organ and musical perfor- coming all participants, which at times mance by Mykhailo Tsapar, and a comic topped 80 guests. The participants joined performance by guest performer Oleh the virtual program from around the world. Chmyr along with a video featuring him in The program opened with a video of a a Ukrainian operetta. Mr. Chmyr is an moving Ukrainian melody by composer Honored Artist of Ukraine and a renowned Myroslav Skoryk, with performances by opera singer. Bogdana Pivnenko, violinist, and conductor Poetry reading, more comedy and stories

Patricia and Walter Zalisko UNWLA Branch 56 President Alexandra Popel (top) and event organizer and direc- tor Ksenia Rakowsky (bottom).

were also included, starring Olya Hron, Lidia about 85 minutes and concluded with Bilous, Lyubov Dmytryshyn Chasto, Ihor resounding applause. Rakowsky and Lana Yarymovych. Technical assistance for the event was provided by Patricia Zalisko is the English-language Lyubomir Boychuk and Alexandra Popel. press secretary of UNWLA Branch 56 in Balladier and bandurist Roma Long. The evening’s performances lasted North Port, Fla.

Soyuzivka is ready to welcome guests and will reopen Wednesday, July 1

The Ukrainian National Foundation Health and safety – Check-ins will be streamlined to min- and Soyuzivka management are pleased imize interaction with other guests and If you or any member of your family to announce that Soyuzivka will reopen staff. are experiencing virus symptoms prior to on July 1, 2020, with enhanced health and – Guests will be required to disclose if your arrival, please stay home. safety protocols. As we are preparing to they have symptoms or if they have been reopen, please be assured that we are giv- Staff in contact with anyone who has had ing the utmost attention to the safety of COVID-19 within the last two weeks. all our guests and staff, and will continue The continued health and safety of our – Guests will be required to sign an to follow the latest advice and directives staff is our utmost priority. Here’s what “Assumption of Risk” waiver. of our state and local authorities. Below you can expect from our team: – Masks are required in public areas you will find an update to our operational – Approved personal protective equip- and whenever you are around other staff changes to address the current COVID-19 ment (PPE) will be supplied to all employ- and/or guests. outbreak. ees. Reservations We cannot do this alone; we will need – Staff members will be required to your help and support. Please be patient wear face coverings until further notice. – Soyuzivka will reopen on Wednesday, as we institute social distancing guide- – Gloves will be required by food and July 1. lines. We also ask for you to take personal beverage staff, according to Department – A three-night minimum is required responsibility for your safety and the safe- of Health guidelines. for the Fourth of July weekend. ty of friends, family and staff. Please be – Continual and enhanced training will – All other stays require a two-night assured we will continue to provide our be provided to all staff on cleanliness and minimum. guests with exceptional service to ensure physical distancing standards. – Advance reservations are required our guests continue to have a wonderful – Frequent and proper handwashing with a credit card guarantee. experience at Soyuzivka. will be required of all staff members. – A 48-hour cancellation policy will be – Wellness screenings will be required in effect. Our heartfelt thanks for all staff members in order to be per- – Soyuzivka will contact all who previ- As we constantly evaluate and update mitted on the property to begin their ously cancelled summer reservations and policies and protocols, we want to extend shifts. offer them an opportunity to rebook their a special advance thank-you to our guests Guests rooms. Visit our archive online: for their cooperation and patience. We also would like to thank our staff for – Upon arrival, guests may be required Further information about operations www.ukrweekly.com working tirelessly to make our guests’ to have their temperature taken with a and services at Soyuzivka is available at stay enjoyable, as well as safe. noncontact thermometer. www.soyuzivka.com. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 No. 26-27

but there was nowhere to go, except even- ple gain their freedom from serfdom. In a Consider the 2014 Maidan Revolution of Why Ukrainians... tually to return to his original home where cruel twist of fate, Shevchenko died in 1861 Dignity, where Ukrainians called for demo- (Continued from page 8) he was, once again, a serf. mere days before the feudal law was cratic reforms that their government was His master made many trips to Kyiv, revoked in the Russian Empire and serfs not prepared to accept. Consider the young trayed by the relationship between the Vilna and St. Petersburg, and took were freed. His beloved homeland of people who were shot in the streets of Kyiv Black American Ira Aldridge and the Shevchenko along to help him. While Ukraine would finally gain its indepen- by the military police during their peaceful Ukrainian Taras Shevchenko. According to accompanying his master, Shevchenko had dence in 1991, more than a century after protests. Consider the prejudice that is now an article in the Odessa Review, “In 1858, an irrepressible desire to paint or, rather, to the poet’s death. a form of hybrid warfare carried out by make copies of every drawing he had seen. Putinists to divide and further weaken the the African American Shakespearean actor Modern parallels Ira Aldridge – who was playing ‘King Lear’ In this way, he cultivated his artistic talent. Ukrainian people. and ‘Othello’ in St. Petersburg, then the cap- Eventually he met Ivan Soshenko, a fellow In the 1940s, during World War II, the In short, prejudice and discrimination ital of Russia – met Taras Shevchenko, the Ukrainian and artist, who encouraged him Nazis took over 2 million workers into have been a historical reality for Ukrainians Ukrainian painter, poet, political exile and to paint and became like a brother to him. bondage to Germany to serve as for centuries, so they should fight any dis- spiritual leader of his nation.” Aldridge was In 1837 Soshenko and other artists in “Ostarbeiter” slaves on estates owned by play or cover-up of it, covert or overt, iso- the descendant of slaves; Shevchenko was a the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg German bauers. These forced laborers taken lated or systemic, subtle or blunt. For these former serf. Their friendship is explained rallied together to purchase Shevchenko’s primarily from Ukrainian lands were classi- reasons Ukrainians must understand the by reflecting on their personal histories. freedom from serfdom. K. R Bryullov, a fied as “untermenschen,” or subhumans. fear and suffering of Black America and Ira Frederick Aldridge, one of the first prominent artist in the academy, painted a The cruelties, trauma, hardships and dislo- why the death of George Floyd has sparked great African American theatrical actors portrait that was sold for 2,500 rubles. cations occasioned by these forced deporta- such outrage. Shevchenko’s freedom from serfdom was tions were endured by many Ukrainians and a descendant of slaves, was born on What can we do to help each other? July 24, 1807, into the family of a preacher. bought on April 22, 1838, with this money. who subsequently immigrated to the United Back then, a Black actor performing on He was 24 years old. From that day on, he States. This common history of mistreat- In terms of what can be done by both com- stage shocked and infuriated the American studied at the academy, and soon became ment has never been adequately shared munities working together, we can either public. It was mostly for this reason that one of Bryullov’s favorite pupils and his between the Ukrainian American and build walls and fences, buy guns and live in Aldridge left the country of his birth and friend. An accomplished artist, Shevchenko African American communities. fear of one another, or we can adopt a creed moved to London. He gained wide turned his talent to writing and became Unlike Ukrainians, African Americans where we care for and help one another. European fame for his brilliant perfor- Ukraine’s greatest poet. have suffered from racism because of the We can adopt the creed so well described mances in Shakespeare’s tragedies When Aldridge and Shevchenko met, color of their skin. However, similar to by the late American motivational speaker “Hamlet,” “King Lear,” “Othello” and the they became friends, undoubtedly because African Americans, Ukrainians have a long Zig Ziglar, who taught us, “You can get any- “The Merchant of Venice.” But even in Aldridge recognized a kindred spirit in history of being the targets of prejudice and thing you want in life, so long as you help London, Aldridge was often subjected to Shevchenko. Both men carried a deep discrimination because of who they are. enough other people get what they want.” persecution by racists and proponents of understanding of the tragedy of the Consider the prejudice that justified col- We can also adopt the creed so very well slavery. To escape this hostile atmosphere, oppressed individual as well as that of the lective farming enforced by the Soviet Union, presented by the late Dr. Martin Luther King he spent time in other European cities oppressed nation – and the knowledge of which really was just a modern form of feu- Jr. in his “I Have a Dream” speech, when he where people were less prone to judge him this shared pain served as a basis for their dalism. Consider the genocide against said, “I have a dream that my four little chil- on the color of his skin. It was after one of friendship. Aldridge visited Kyiv, Odessa, Ukrainians during the Holodomor and dren will one day live in a nation where they his performances in St. Petersburg in 1858 Kharkiv, Poltava, Zhytomyr and Russia’s attempts to Russify Ukrainians for will not be judged by the color of their skin that the fateful meeting between the actor Yelizavetgrad between 1861 and 1866 and hundreds of years by destroying their lan- but by the content of their character. … With and the poet Shevchenko took place. was met by an adoring public in each city. guage and culture. Consider the arrests of this faith we will be able to work together, to Shevchenko was so overwhelmed by Aldridge lived to see slavery abolished in Ukrainians by the Soviet secret police and pray together, to struggle together, to go to Aldridge’s performance that, after the play, his homeland of America in December those who were sent into exile or concentra- jail together, to stand up for freedom togeth- he literally barged into the actor’s dressing 1865. He was so affected by this news that, tion camps in the Gulag for being Ukrainian. er, knowing that we will be free one day ... room and kissed him on the cheek. despite being firmly established in London Consider the prejudice against the early we will be able to speed up that day when Shevchenko was much like Aldridge. with a wife and several children, he decided Ukrainian pioneers in the United States and all of God’s children, Black men and white Born on March 9, 1814, in Ukraine as a to return home. Tragically, he would never the forced internment of Ukrainians into men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and peasant and a serf on the estate of a land- make it – he died suddenly in 1867 in labor camps in Canada simply for being Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing owner, he was orphaned at the age of 8. Poland. By that time, Shevchenko was also Ukrainian. Consider the prejudice faced by in the words of the old Negro spiritual, ’Free There was no one in the world he could no longer alive. Unlike Aldridge, however, those who came to America as displaced at last, free at last. Great God Almighty, we turn to for help. Shevchenko tried to flee, Shevchenko did not live to witness his peo- persons after World War II. are free at last.’ ”

local laboratory center, whose work result- to Kyiv on a plane after the Lviv airport been increasing for a week. At the same Number of active... ed in long lines for testing. “I decided to reopened. time, he said, a “complete lockdown” (Continued from page 1) strengthen the management of the labora- The new age of air travel involves seri- destroys the economy; it can cause more tory center because of the queue created ous quarantine measures: temperature irreparable harm than the coronavirus epi- said Ms. Marunyak. She noted that if an insti- here, and which we then unloaded at the checks at the airport entrance, a mask demic. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers tution does not comply with the require- expense of laboratory centers located else- regime throughout the airport and inside extended the quarantine. ments, it is issued a warning. However, if the where. These are all unacceptable things,” the planes, and social distancing at each According to Mr. Shmyhal, society violation is significant and poses a danger to Mr. Stepanov emphasized. point of pre-flight procedures. relaxed too early. “The easing of quarantine The airport in Lviv appears to be better measures and the general quarantine visitors, then a report is drawn up, or the Travel to and from Lviv institution could be closed by the police. prepared than Kyiv Boryspil International fatigue” had a negative effect. “People for- Since the beginning of the quarantine, eight Ukrainian Railways reopened its first Airport, where checks are chaotic, distanc- got about being afraid of the coronavirus, facilities in the city have been closed due to routes on June 1, but Lviv was not among es are poorly marked, and the overall and some started spreading myths and various violations. “Once all the faults are the available destinations. For three months, impression is one of confusion. At Lviv falsehoods that the coronavirus does not eliminated, a facility can resume operation. this popular tourism center was reachable Danylo Halytskyi International Airport, the exist,” Mr. Shmyhal said. He added that However, its work continues to be closely only by car and, later, by bus. Due to the personnel seem well-prepared and all pro- Ukrainians must cultivate the habit of com- monitored,“ the deputy mayor explained. coronavirus situation in the Lviv region, the cedures are conducted systematically. plying with safety measures, such as wear- dates for resumption of train and airline However, this writer experienced mis- ing masks in indoor spaces, hand disinfec- A visit from the Health Ministry travel were postponed several times. The communication at the airport as regards tion and social distancing, and then the epi- Officials of Ukraine’s Ministry of Health director of Lviv airport said its losses are contactless procedures. While the move to demic can be kept under control. arrived on an urgent visit to the Lviv Region around 20 million hrv each month. digital documents was announced by the The prime minister also emphasized that, because of the sharp increase in the num- This writer booked one of the first sched- Zelenskyy administration, in practice it does despite the continuation of the adaptive ber of coronavirus cases and the number of uled flights to Lviv from Kyiv, but two days not work as designed. Airport officials do quarantine model, the government’s plans hospitalized people. before the scheduled departure, the Lviv not recognize the digital passport in the gov- for the recovery of the economy remain “Today I am with the leading doctors of airport’s closure was extended for another ernment’s Diia app, which was advertised by strong: “The concept that the economy will Ukraine in Lviv to understand the situation, three days. Thus, air travel from Ukraine’s the Ministry of Digital Transformation as a see growth in the second half of the year to help both in the epidemiological situation capital operated to Ivano-Frankivsk, and air- full-fledged substitute for a paper passport. remains relevant. We are doing everything to and in the medical field in general,” Minister lines proposed using a bus transfer to Lviv. Ukrzaliznytsia will resume railway con- kick off this upturn. That is why we are talk- of Health Maksym Stepanov said on June 22. Finally, on June 19, Lviv airport nections with Lviv on June 26. The first ing about an adaptive quarantine, not a lock- Mr. Stepanov said he thinks the outbreak reopened. The first flights arrived from intercity trains and high-speed overnight down, which is a complete shutdown of the of COVID-19 in Lviv Oblast is connected, Germany and Hungary. However, due to trains will depart from Kyiv and Odesa. In whole country, the whole economy. We will among other things, to incompetent deci- European Union restrictions, Ukrainians addition, according to information on the be cautious in approaching and maintaining sions made by some regional heads of the cannot visit EU countries without working online ticket sales service, trains that used a balance between economic stability and health-care system, and he promised that visas or diplomatic passports. The borders to pass through Lviv in transit will now stop the development and preservation of human appropriate personnel decisions will be of most countries are still closed to tourism in the city. It is also possible to buy tickets to health and life. Otherwise, we might see made. “I see an issue of management, and I for Ukrainians, and the approximate dates Kharkiv, Uzhhorod and Ivano-Frankivsk. incalculable consequences and losses.” see an issue with control of medicines. If for reopening are shifting due to the rise in According to the data presented by the Adaptive quarantine continues there are no real changes this week, I will the number of infections. Public Health Center of Ukraine, as of June raise the issue of changing the leadership of Ukrainian airlines have an opportunity Commenting on the government’s deci- 24 there were 39,014 officially confirmed the Department of Health of the Lviv Regional to boost internal air travel in the country. sion to extend the adaptive quarantine until COVID-19 cases, 17,409 people have recov- Administration,” the minister noted. With their low-cost approach, airlines com- July 31, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said ered and 1,051 patients have died. During He also said that a decision had been pete with railways in terms of price, travel the move was triggered by the fact that the the past 24 hours, 940 new cases were con- made to change the management at the time and safety. This writer chose to return number of new patients in Ukraine has firmed in Ukraine. No. 26-27 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 15

dispensation (see EDM, December 9, 11, Kyiv raising... 12, 2019). As Moscow invidiously describes (Continued from page 3) it, Kyiv is “rewriting the Minsk agreements by means of drawing Ukrainian red lines” Donetsk and Luhansk. It would also there- (TASS, June 15). The main reinterpretation by negate Russia’s own logic that shaped concerns the sequencing of key steps: with- the Minsk process from 2014 onward. drawal of Russian forces, disbandment of Through Harvard Ukrainian Summer Institute, Harvard University, According to Mr. Merezhko again, a heavier the Donetsk-Luhansk unlawful forces and August 8 [email protected] or Russian presence – e.g., adding Russian securing the Ukraine-Russia border in that Online www.huri.harvard.edu/husi parliamentarians to the Contact Group – territory (whether under Ukrainian or would increase the latter’s authority and its international control), to be accomplished June 29 Webinar, “Securing Capital Investment in Ukraine’s Electric sense of responsibility for decisions to be in advance of any local elections. This has Online Grid: The Road to the Future,” Center for U.S.-Ukraine made, boost confidence in and respect for become Ukraine’s firmly entrenched posi- Relations, International Tax and Investment Center, the Minsk process and its goals on all sides, tion by now, reversing the Minsk agree- [email protected] and, ultimately, facilitate Ukraine’s adop- ments’ Russian-dictated sequence. tion of those laws that must be enacted Kyiv’s refusal to negotiate with Donetsk- June 29 Online discussion, with panelists Olga Andriewsky, Yaroslav (Levyy Bereg, May 29, June 9). Luhansk not only remains intact but has Online Hrytsak, Marko Robert Stech and Frank Sysyn, “The Builders acquired an additional supportive argu- of Ukrainian Studies in North America, The Generation of 1919: PART II ment. In the latest Contact Group session, Omeljan Pritsak, George Luckyj and Ivan Lysiak Rudnytsky,” Ukraine’s move to raise its delegation to on June 15, the Ukrainian delegation’s dep- Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta, the Minsk Contact Group from a semi-offi- uty chief, Mr. Merezhko, declared (as the 587-590-2902 or [email protected] cial level to a full-fledged, senior-level gov- Russian side summarized it from the ses- ernmental and parliamentary delegation sion’s protocol) that the Minsk II agree- July 5-18 Diocesan Church School Camp, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of marks a shift from defensive to offensive ment’s endorsement by the United Nations Online the U.S.A. – Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, diplomacy. According to President Security Council (February 2015) has the www.uocyouth.org Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Mr. Yermak, when character of a recommendation that does adumbrating this shift, “Our conduct will not impose any obligations on Ukraine. The July 19- Teenage Conference, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the be proactive, Ukraine will come forward as Russian delegation’s chief, Boris Gryzlov, August 1 U.S.A. – Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, the initiating side, the dominant side in the retorted that this unprecedented Ukrainian Online www.uocyouth.org negotiations” (Ukrinform, May 7). statement “denies the legal basis of the As Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro [Minsk] agreements” and “attempts to Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events Kuleba elaborated during the latest Contact destroy the negotiating process.” Mr. advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Group negotiating round (June 9-15), “We Gryzlov, Donetsk and Luhansk all noted from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors are taking over the initiative, we shall con- that Kyiv’s view denies its “obligation” to and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. duct offensive-type diplomacy to impose negotiate the political and legal aspects of our own agenda, we shall create situations the peace settlement with the representa- in which Russia has to react to us, not the tives of Donetsk and Luhansk (TASS, June other way around” (Ukrinform, June 14). 15, 17; Donetskoye Agentstvo Novostey, Beast based in Moscow, reported that sev- At the same time, Kyiv is comprehensive- June 17). What do Russia... eral Russian officials were gloating that ly challenging Russia’s interpretation of the In the Contact Group’s latest session (Continued from page 8) “the weakening of the United States is very Minsk agreements – the interpretation that (held by video-conference, June 10-15), beneficial for us.” Ms. Nemtsova also has thus far prevailed in the Contact Group Kyiv again demanded the withdrawal of We do not know the extent of Russian referred to a story in The New York Times and the Normandy processes. The goal of foreign forces, the disarmament of unlaw- involvement because the Russians have that the Russian government has been try- accelerating the negotiations and that of ful formations and Ukrainian control of the been employing ever more sophisticated ing to incite violence by white supremacist changing the foundation of the negotiations, border in advance of any “elections” in ways of covering their tracks. Earlier this groups and to stoke anger among Blacks. however, would seem to be potentially con- Donetsk-Luhansk. And it went further than year, the social media analysis firm Also, Zach Dorfman of the Aspen tradictory goals. Mr. Yermak has attempted merely declining Donetsk-Luhansk’s pro- Graphika identified the phenomenon Institute wrote recently that the 2020 elec- to address this potential contradiction after posal to work out a roadmap toward dubbed “Secondary Infektion.” Its analysis tion provides the perfect opportunity for the latest Minsk round: “The people of restoring social-economic ties between reveals an entity that prioritizes covering Russian-backed online disinformation cam- Ukraine want peace more than anything “Ukraine and the republics” (Donetskoye its tracks; virtually all Secondary Infektion paigns to exploit American protests over else. Peace in line with Ukraine’s interests Agentstvo, June 17). Proactively, Kyiv called campaigns incorporate robust operational police brutality and systemic racism in and on Ukraine’s conditions. We are only for: restoring Ukraine’s legislation and its security, including a hallmark use of burner order to foment division and distrust. talking about a peace that would end the monetary and tax systems in the Donetsk- accounts that stay alive only long enough to Taken as a whole, the evidence that Russia fighting, return our territories, return our Luhansk territory (where the ruble is now publish one post or comment. is exploiting the breakdown of law and people” (Levyy Bereg, June 17). in circulation); ascertaining the situation of At the end of May, Anna Nemtsova, a cor- order in American cities is beyond ques- Mr. Yermak is clearly also trying to Ukrainian state-owned and privately respondent for Newsweek and The Daily tion. square his president’s electoral promise of a owned enterprises and other economic quick peace with the goal of changing the assets, illegally expropriated by the basis of negotiations. Moreover, he seems Donetsk-Luhansk “people’s republics”; and ture at HURI related to my writings on the intent on overcoming his credibility prob- ensuring the operation of Ukrainian mobile A look at the founding... Slavic and Gypsy victims of the Nazi lems after mishandling the negotiations phone networks on these territories (Continued from page 7) Holocaust. After the lecture, Prof. Pritsak leading up to the December 2019 Norman­ (President.gov.ua, June 10, 15; Ukrinform, invited me into his office for a chat, during dy summit, accepting the Steinmeier formu- June 17). had it not been for Prof. Pritsak, but, equal- which I lobbied him to get HURI to devote la in a Russian reformulation even worse Kyiv, however, remains ensnared in its ly, there would not exist a Ukrainian pro- at least some resources to researching and than the German original, and accepting acceptance of the Steinmeier formula. gram at Harvard had it not been for the analyzing what had happened in Ukraine again from Moscow’s hands the project of a Eager for another Normandy summit, generosity of the Ukrainian community, as prior to and during World War II. To my “consultative council“ that would have Messrs. Zelenskyy and Yermak feel bound mobilized by the extraordinary efforts of amazement, Prof. Pritsak told me that HURI reconfigured the Contact Group to Ukraine’s to incorporate the Steinmeier formula into the Ukrainian Studies Fund. couldn’t or wouldn’t do that because one detriment (see EDM, October 3, 2019 and Ukraine’s existing law on Donetsk- As to the personal anecdote, in the early couldn’t really do history until at least 100 March 26). Mr. Yermak seemed at a loss for Luhansk’s “special status,” such incorpora- 1980s I was invited to deliver a guest lec- years had passed. an answer when queried by star interview- tion being a precondition to holding the er Sonia Koshkina as to the reasons behind next Normandy summit in Berlin. The dele- his credibility problem (Levyy Bereg, June gations from Kyiv and Donetsk-Luhansk Many other units of all branches of the 17). But, as Oleksiy Reznikov, Ukraine’s poli- exchanged documents about their respec- Ukraine-NATO... Ukrainian Armed Forces periodically par- cy coordinator regarding the occupied terri- tive views on this matter at the latest (Continued from page 2) ticipate in NATO-led exercises. And as con- tories, has made clear a number of times Contact Group session. Moscow and firmed by the United States’ permanent since then, “We have forgotten about the Donetsk-Luhansk demand a more binding ance-supported Strategic Airlift Inter­ representative to NATO, Ambassador Kay ‘consultative council’ and are moving on” version of that clause than Kyiv would national Solution (SALIS) program, con- Bailey Hutchison, in her recent video brief- (Interfax-Ukraine, June 9). allow in the existing, but inoperative, law ducting 17 missions since mid-March and ing on June 16, EOP status will further Ukraine’s official reinterpretation of the on special status. airlifting over 950 tons of medical supplies boost Ukraine’s interoperability, training Minsk agreements has advanced consider- in record time (Facebook.com/UA.EU. and exercises with the alliance. Ukraine is ably since the December 2019 Normandy The article above is reprinted from NATO, June 9). “very much important to NATO,” she summit, when President Zelenskyy and the Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from Additionally, after the first-ever declared and expressed hope that the coun- Ukrainian government had collectively its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, Ukrainian special operations forces (SOF) try will eventually become a full treaty ally announced their intentions to revise that www.jamestown.org. unit (the 140th Separate Center of Special inside the Euro-Atlantic political-military Forces) was certified to join the NATO bloc (Tyzhden, June 16). Response Force, a second unit (3rd Separate Special Forces Regiment’s Special The article above is reprinted from The Ukrainian Weekly Operations Land Task Group) is presently Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from undergoing the same certification its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, LIKE on Facebook! (Tyzhden, March 13). www.jamestown.org. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 28-JULY 5, 2020 No. 26-27