The Ukrainian Weekly 2011, No.30
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www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: l Analysis: The courts and the Tymoshenko case – page 3 l Tennis camp, tennis tournament at Soyuzivka – pages 10-11 l Photo report: Ukrainian Cultural Festival – centerfold THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXIX No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 24, 2011 $1/$2 in Ukraine Thousands converge at Soyuzivka for fifth Ukrainian Cultural Festival Christine Syzonenko Maria Burmaka (left) was the headliner of the fifth annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival. The Selo Ukrainian Dance Ensemble (right) was among the performers. by Roma Hadzewycz Maria Burmaka of Ukraine, was joined by violinist Vasyl Two masters of ceremonies – Andriy Dobriansky, a Popadiuk of Canada and opera singer Stefania Dovhan of singer, choir conductor, actor and dancer from New KERHONKSON, N.Y. – The fifth Ukrainian the U.S., as well as two energetic dance troupes, York, and Larysa Bajus, an actress, newscaster and jour- Cultural Festival at Soyuzivka demonstrated this annual Soyuzivka’s Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Dance Workshop nalist from Toronto – kept the festival program flowing event’s popularity and vitality as 3,000 visitors arrived and the Selo Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Canada. smoothly and provided information in both the English at the Ukrainian Heritage Center on July 15-17 to enjoy Also on the bill during the three-day festival’s three and Ukrainian languages to the large festival audience. performances by an assortment of singers, musicians, outdoor and two indoor concerts were the Harmonia Among the guests who arrived from near and far were dancers and choirs hailing from Ukraine, the United ensemble of folk musicians from Cleveland, the Dzvin residents of the northeastern U.S., the Midwest, Florida States and Canada. male chorus of Philadelphia and the Dumka Chorus of The headliner for the 2011 festival, folk-pop singer New York. (Continued on page 4) Kyiv Mohyla Academy cites disproportionate cuts in funding by Ukrainian government by Mark Raczkiewycz that was financially supported by the U.S. government General’s Office, Internal Affairs Ministry and Security Special to The Ukrainian Weekly and which has been praised by practitioners and educa- Service of Ukraine. Funding for health care expenses for tion experts as greatly reducing corruption in education. members of Parliament and government officials also KYIV – The National University of Kyiv Mohyla In 2010, KMA and Shevchenko University had gov- increased. Academy, one of Ukraine’s oldest and most prestigious ernment funding reduced by 25 percent and 19 percent, Ukrayinska Pravda’s analysis noted that education universities, is crying foul over what it calls “particular- respectively. financing in 2009 affected all higher education institu- ly harsh treatment” and “disproportionately high funding Budget cuts in education this year came as funding tions more or less evenly. Finance reductions in 2010- reductions” by the Ukrainian government. increased for the Presidential Administration, Procurator 2011, under new Education Minister Dmytro On July 8, Ukraine’s Education, Science, Youth and Tabachnyk, disproportionately affected KMA and educa- Sports Ministry announced for the third straight year tional institutions in western Ukraine. that it had reduced funding for higher education. Government, in particular, slashed funding by Analyses conducted by the hardest hit university, Kyiv between 43 percent and 50 percent for several KMA Mohyla Academy, as well as by the respected online departments, including philosophy, economic theory and news portal Ukrayinska Pravda, revealed that KMA finance, and its Law School, according to Marta Farion, along with Kyiv’s Taras Shevchenko University – the president of the Chicago-based Kyiv Mohyla two most popular institutions to which university Foundation. Budget reductions also terminated stipends entrants apply – and universities in western Ukraine had for students in the master’s programs in journalism and been cut back disproportionately compared to others. social work. The analyses also showed that several universities in “The university will continue its ongoing discussions the Donetsk Oblast, President Viktor Yanukovych’s and dialogue with the Ministry of Education, but we are home power base, had actually experienced funding troubled by the actions of the ministry and their impact increases. on the education of our country’s young generation,” Analyses over the last three years also showed that said KMA President Dr. Serhiy Kvit. entrants to these two Kyiv universities had the highest Dr. Serhiy Kvit and Marta Farion are concerned about Mr. Tabachnyk’s ministry has defended across-the- average standardized external test scores, an initiative the Ukrainian government’s cuts in funding for KMA. (Continued on page 9) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 24, 2011 No. 30 ANALYSIS 21st anniversary of state sovereignty tracts. Meanwhile, on July 20, Ms. Can Lukashenka survive? Tymoshenko’s lawyer Mykola Siryi said, by David Marples appeared as usual at his father’s side. Yet, KYIV – The 21st anniversary of the “We will demand that the letter of accusa- Declaration of State Sovereignty was Eurasia Daily Monitor even within this family, few would sug- tion will be repeatedly read out in view of gest or predict that one of the sons could marked in Ukraine on July 16. President the fact that Yulia Tymoshenko, in viola- Belarusian President Alyaksandr take over. Their relative eminence is Viktor Yanukovych addressed Ukrainian tion of the criminal procedural law, was Lukashenka is facing the greatest crisis of entirely at the behest of their father, as citizens, saying: “The declaration deter- removed from the courtroom.” On July his 17 years in office. With inflation ram- President Lukashenka has acknowledged mined trends of the future state formation, 15, Judge Rodion Kireyev had removed pant, hard currency unavailable, bank (www.telegraf.by, October 28, 2010). the right of our people for independence in Ms. Tymoshenko from the courtroom for reserves dwindling, power cuts caused by Mr. Lukashenka has deliberately culti- the economic, military and international “direct contempt”; hearing in the case con- non-payment of electricity costs to Russia, vated the support of the KGB and the spheres, implemented self-determination tinued, however. On July 18 it was report- and growing dissatisfaction with his rule army. In the case of the latter, the presi- of the Ukrainian nation.” On July 16, ed that Serhii Vlasenko, was dismissed among the population, media speculation dent has elevated the cult of the Great 1990, the Verkhovna Rada of the from defense team of Ms. Tymoshenko has been rife that his days in office may Patriotic War to a defining national sym- Ukrainian SSR adopted the Declaration of via a ruling of the Pechersk District Court, be numbered, and that he can expect the bol. Concerning the July 3 parade, report- State Sovereignty of Ukraine. (Ukrinform) which is hearing the case. He was not only fate of other hard-line rulers removed in edly only veterans could be applauded by Independence Day parade cancelled dismissed from the duties of defense law- recent times, such as Hosni Mubarak in the public (Belarusian Television, July 2) yer, but was banned from presence in the Egypt or Kurmanbek Bakiyev in and the 35,000 or so remaining from KYIV – Ukrainian President Viktor courtroom until the completion of the Kyrgyzstan. 1941-1945 are regularly feted and fea- Yanukovych on July 15 signed a decree case. Judge Kireyev said Mr. Vlasenko Can Mr. Lukashenka overcome his cur- tured in the official media. The regular amending the list of events to mark the regularly violated established court proce- rent problems and remain in office? police have shown no signs of disaffec- 20th anniversary of Ukraine’s indepen- dures. The judge Kireyev said he consid- As Olga Karatch has noted (Our tion. On the contrary they have exhibited dence, the presidential press service ers it expedient to approach the Verkhovna House, June 28), Belarus is unique among marked enthusiasm for harassing and reported. Mr. Yanukovych ordered the Rada Committee on Regulation and former Soviet countries for its lack of arresting youngsters protesting peacefully cancellation of military parades on August Deputies’ Ethics, since Mr. Vlasenko is a elites. There are no alternative sources of on the streets. 24 in Kyiv, Kerch, Odesa and Sevastopol, member of Parliament, and to recommend power. Unlike Ukraine there is no ruling The opposition has been in disarray as well as in cities where the headquarters the Highest Qualification Commission political party that conceivably could offer since the brutal crackdown that followed of operational commands and branches of under the Cabinet to consider disbarring an alternative leader. Prime Ministers the December 2010 presidential elections. the armed forces of Ukraine are located. him. (Ukrinform) remain in office for short terms and the The main challenger to President In addition, the president decided to aban- current incumbent, Mikhail Lukashenka in terms of the official vote, don the production of a commemorative Lutsenko criminal proceedings resume Myasnikovich, is a well-known Andrey Sannikau, is serving five years in jubilee badge “Twenty Years of Ukraine’s KYIV – The Pechersk District Court in Lukashenka acolyte lacking in charisma a penal colony. Mikalay Statkevich, a Independence.” The government should and popular appeal. Thus, there is an Kyiv on July 19 resumed consideration of leader of the Social Democrats, received a spend budgetary savings on financing the criminal case against former Internal absence of the means for change from six-year term. Uladimizir Nyaklayeu, who measures to strengthen the social protec- within the ruling structure. All positions Affairs Minister Yurii Lutsenko on charg- formed an alliance with Mr. Sannikau in tion of the public, President Yanukovych es of misappropriation of state property derive from the president. the latter part of the election campaign, is stated. (Ukrinform) In some areas, nepotism clearly pre- and abuse of power. The session was under house arrest.