#5 (87) May 2015

Edward Lucas on the search How & when 's Ancien Right-wing parties and of truth about WWII Régime can strike back movements in Ukraine

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|contents BRIEFING Philippe de Lara Sinister Shadows: on the concept of routinized Why opportunities for totalitarianism as a key to the return of Yanukovych-era understanding “decommunization” functionaries remain in place in Central and Eastern Europe 4 32 POLITICS Victory-Over-Freedom Day: Moscow-based Kateryna Barabash Dangerous Liaisons: on what Victory Day celebration means in Russia When Ukraine’s Ancien Régime is most likely to strike back 34 NEIGHBOURS 6 How Poland Made It: A Ukrainian Shaking the Foundations: businessman’s notes on why Why the Family’s financial support to SMEs should become channels must be capped Ukraine’s national idea 35 10 Margrethe and the Bear: Roman Bezsmertny: "Yanukovych and The EU’s trustbuster vs his "Family" will never give up their Gazprom—marking a big dream of returning to Kyiv Olympus" change in European policy Orange Revolution commandant and the gas business on the old guard and squabbles within the current parliamentary 38 coalition Time to Wake Up: Edward Lucas on the illusion 12 of a Europe “whole, free, The Yushchenko Syndrome: The risks of repeating the errors of and at peace” the post-Orange Revolution team by those in power today 16 40 Political Redesign: Shifts in Vytautas Landsbergis: "Ukrainians electoral preferences in the are now undergoing a long countdown to local elections endurance test" The first Seimas 18 Speaker of independent Lithuania and ex-EMP on why resistance Akhmetov’s Losing Bet: The to disenchantment is crucial Donbas master’s current clout in politics, economy and war 42 SOCIETY 22 Mastering Warfare: FOCUS Ex-US Marine volunteer Leonidas Donskis on the post-WWII alienation of Eastern Europe on his training course for 27 Ukrainian Marines and crucial elements of effective military From Munich to Yalta: The deals Western leaders struck with Hitler and 44 Stalin Neo-Nazi Tales from the Russian Crypt: Russia’s aggression has revived right-wing forces in Ukraine. But most of them 28 reject racist ideology and remain marginal A Struggle for Peace: Can the post-WWII order 46 in Europe endure in the The City of Parallel Realms: face of new challenges? Kharkiv Maidan activist Volodymyr Chystylin on 30 the perception of war, Ukraine and soviet past in his city 50

E-mail [email protected] www.ukrainianweek.com Tel. (044) 351-13-87 The Ukrainian Week № 5 (87) May 2015 Editors address 37 Mashynobudivna str., Kyiv, 03067, Ukraine Founder ECEM Media GmbH. Publisher ECEM Media GmbH Print run 15 000. Free distribution Address Austria, Am Gestade,1, 1010 Vienna Our partner State registration certificate КВ № 19823-9623ПР 19.03.2013 Chief Editor Dmytro Krapyvenko Editors Anna Korbut, Lidia Wolanskyj, Shaun Williams № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|3 4|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 |Briefing Sinister Shadows ust before Easter 2014, when Author: regenerate. It’s like the dragon- the “junta” is not seriously going af- the whiff of war was barely in Dmytro slayer fairytales where the hero ter the regime’s functionaries, lus- the air, Ukrainians were fed Krapyvenko chops off the monster’s head and a tration can be avoided following a Jrumors that Viktor Yanu- new one—or several more—ap- number of “time-tested, honest kovych would come back, to pears. The regime survived, but not methods,” and voters are exhausted Donetsk no less, on Easter Sunday. just on oligarchic flows of capital between the war and the economic The most vulnerable grew scared, and the nostalgia of Red Directors crisis. And so the golden era of pop- the most cynical among them for “order,” but also on the dema- ulism, nostalgia for the dollar that laughed. The “legitimate presi- goguery and helplessness of those was worth only UAH 8, and prom- dent”, as he referred to himself in whom Ukrainians are referred to as ises to “bring peace” has arrived. TV-interviews aired from the Rus- pro-Western democrats. These On top of all this, we have the sian Rostov-on-Don, did not, in the politicians did plenty for the enemy all-seeing eye of the world commu- end, show up, merely growling “I’ll not to take them seriously. In nity. The same community that for be back” on those records. A year 2004, when Yanukovych & Co. years gave Yanukovych its hand, has passed, Yanukovych still supposedly said their last “good- called on him to release Yulia Ty- doesn’t dare go beyond Crimea. byes,” those in power also seemed moshenko, and yet never got Ukrainians, it seems, can finally determined and threatened to “put around to introducing sanctions sigh with relief and forever let go of bandits in jail.” But childishly, wag- against him. They might get ner- their cursed past, only... ging their fingers. And just as child- vous if Kyiv decides to sue the Me- When Ukrainians say “Yanu- ishly and naively, they lost, caving zhyhiria Master’s regime in a na- kovych,” they mean the “Family.” in when the comeback kids re- tionwide Nuremburg trial: What if Has it really disappeared without a turned with the ace of “stability” up true-blue Regionals find them- trace? Has this mafia octopus not their sleeves. And after Yanu- selves behind bars or, God forbid, left any tentacles behind in kovych & Co. won, they began to go communists? Ukraine, through which it contin- after their opponents seriously, ac- The reluctance of the West to ues to siphon capital out of the tually jailing some of them. call a a spade and to properly country? Are there no more proxies And so, evil continues to regen- understand political processes in around who are operating in the erate today. We had Party of the Ukraine is yet another significant interests and on behalf of this Regions, we now have the Opposi- basis for the restoration of a crimi- criminal clan? Inspections con- tion Bloc which with a perfectly nal dictatorship. After all, any un- tinue, investigations multiply, and certain situation can simply be there’s no assurance that all kinds chalked up to “respecting Ukraine’s of little shell companies aren’t DEMAND AND SUPPLTY choice” and “taking into account pumping profits through various FOR BRIBES CONTINUES. Russia’s interests in Eastern Eu- fronts to those who see being in rope.” government as the universal tool of POLITICIANS ARE STILL WILLING Still, the controlling stake re- enrichment. TO DEFEND PRIVATE INTERESTS mains in the hands of Ukraine’s When Ukrainians say “Yanu- voters: if they lose faith, tire of kovych,” they mean the regime. AS THOUGH THEY their own activeness, turn nostalgic And not just infinite power in the ARE THE STATE’S. AND SO over paternalism and decide to hands of a semi-literate gopnik hand off responsibility for the who depended on billysticks and YANUKOVYCH’S AFFAIRS country, no reformers, prosecu- pliant prosecutors. But the entire LIVE AND THRIVE tors, western instructors or inves- system of relations, closed circles tors will be able to save the country and legalized crime rings that has straight face presents itself as a po- from catastrophe. Similar exam- access to the customs service, pro- litical alternative today, buying its ples are plenty in Ukraine’s history vides cover for business, places its way out of criminal investigations and in Georgia not long ago where, minders in government offices, with bail money, buying votes, and despite the success of a pro-West- skews tenders in favor of its bud- pretending to be the “voice of the ern team, protégés of the generous dies, freely raids the public till and industrial regions.” In short, it’s oligarchs ended up with the coun- converts it into private profit. This preparing for the next comeback. try’s reins in their hands. is the part Ukrainians have not What’s more, Ukraine’s press continues to be overcome yet. There continues to himself is not needed for the pur- in crystal-gazing mode, trying to be demand and supply for bribes, pose: the party rank-and-file predict when Putin will resort to a and there continue to be politicians turned their backs on him the min- full-scale attack. What they aren’t who are willing to defend private ute he packed up his trucks and noticing is that Yanukovych is at business interests as though they fled Mezhyhiria. the gate, setting up a game through are the state’s. Back in Spring 2014, they lost his Ukrainian henchmen—both In short, Yanukovych’s affairs their heads between the separatists genuine and indirect. This is one live and thrive. The criminal sys- and absurd candidates for president game whose outcome we will have tem of government did not appear like Mikhail Dobkin and Oleh Tsar- plenty of time to judge, if we don’t out of nowhere. Evil can and does iov. Now the worst is behind them, stop it in time. № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|5 Politics|Ancien Régime Dangerous Liaisons How and when are Ukraine’s reactionary forces most likely to strike back

ust as it happened after the Author: light through scandals in public of- trovsk Governor, drawing their at- Orange Revolution in 2004, Oles fice. For instance, on April 20, tention to a number of suspicious the new Administration has Oleksiyenko Volodymyr Rzhavskiy, advisor to rulings by the Oblast Appeals Jbeen unable to properly neu- Donetsk Governor Oleksandr Court, which in recent days began tralize reactionary forces and Kikhtenko, resigned “because he systematically setting free individ- make the renewal of the nation’s disapproves of the pro-Ukrainian uals who had been arrested for political elite irreversible. The and state-building position of the taking part in organizing the beat- lustration process has bogged President.” This came on the heels ing of Dnipropetrovsk Euro- down: functionaries from the Ya- of a scandal over Kikhtenko’s open maidan participants on January nukovych Administration and lobbying of the interests of the ter- 16, 2014. These include men con- agents representing the most in- rorists running DNR and LNR: he nected to Oleksandr Vilkul, such fluential oligarchic groups from had called for lifting restrictions on as the one-time Deputy Governor that time continue to form the movement, transportation and of Ros- backbone of the mid-level civil communication, and of the financial tyslav Botvinov and one-time service and enforcement agen- and economic blockade of the terri- Deputy Chair of the Dnipropetro- cies. Investigations against mem- tories currently under their control. vsk Oblast Council Viktor Nau- bers of that regime are slowly Meanwhile, Kharkiv continues to be menko, as well as a slew of manag- grinding to a halt, while in those run by Ghennadiy Kernes. Separat- ers of state and community enter- instances when cases actually ist forces and steel magnate Rinat prises from that time. Meanwhile, come to trial, Ukraine’s corrupted Akhmetov are also becoming more Kolomoyskiy’s other deputy, Bo- judiciary proceeds to undermine active in Zaporizhzhya. rys Filatov, announced that the them. This corrupt system has al- Even in what was until re- former deputy governor under ways played a key role in the cently a key line of defense against none other than Vilkul has now functioning of the corrupt oligar- Party of the Regions in the east, been appointed advisor to current chic model. Lately it threatens to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the influ- Governor Vadym Nesterenko. make the reincarnation of the Ya- ence of another despicable func- In recognition of public de- nukovych regime in a new guise tionary from Yanukovych days has mand to see the country cleaned not only possible, but ever-more- of reactionary forces, the Ivano- probable. Frankivsk Oblast Council made a The “deoligarchization” populist ruling on April 17 that The comeback kids announced by prohibits the registration and ac- regroup tivity of Party of the Regions, the The most dangerous situation is the current Administration Communist Party of Ukraine, the with the replacement of manage- is unashamedly opposed of former PR rial ranks and law enforcement members, and the Development units in eastern and southern by the Opposition Bloc’s Party of Yuriy Miroshnychenko, oblasts. One year ago, precisely publicly declared another one-time PR member. because they had not been re- The Council explained its deci- placed in time in the Donbas, intentions to preserve sion as intended to make any these ranks largely went over to the oligarchic model comeback by “anti-democratic, the enemy and catastrophic criminal political forces whose events followed. What’s more, lit- been growing slowly, the man who founders and members are tle has changed since then. The contended with Serhiy Arbuzov to known to have been involved in officials and police officers who replace as Premier, criminal activities” impossible. It were hired when Party of the Re- Oleksandr Viklul. Indeed, during also ordered the regional justice gions dominated what was then the Euromaidan, he was linked to department and state registrar to still Ukrainian-controlled Donbas the organization and financing of withdraw all registrations of and other eastern and southern anti-Maidan rallies and bands of branches of these parties by the regions are now merely tolerating titushky or petty thugs, both in the Council’s next session after the the “Maidan” government in the regions and in Kyiv. Not long ago, decision was published current critical situation until the the former Deputy Governor un- Still, this decision is in viola- first opportunity arises for them der Ihor Kolomoyskiy, Ghennadiy tion of Ukrainian law and the to become the basis for a vengeful Korban, wrote an open letter to Constitution, which state that comeback. the President, Prosecutor General, only a court can ban the activities Lately, this fact is more and the National Anti-Corruption Bu- of a political force. In short, other more frequently being brought to reau, and the current Dniprope- than bringing the problem to 6|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Ancien Régime|Politics Bloc’s current leaders. Chief-of- Staff under Yanukovych and the younger partner of one of the lead- ing agents of Russian influence in Ukraine for the last year, oligarch Dmytro Firtash, Liovochkin cyni- cally interchanges the terms “oli- garch” and “Big Business” as though they were identical. “The modern world has demonstrated that destroying Big Business is synonymous with the degenera- tion of an economy and the failure of modernization policy,” he has been quoted as saying. “On a civi- lized market, Big Business is the driver of economic growth and the 1 source of innovation.” What’s more, the Opposition Bloc makes no bones about the fact that their primary goal is to bring the ruling coalition down and to force a snap election as early as this fall, in addition to the local elections that are al- ready scheduled. The reality is that the current composition of the makes any serious comeback impossible, as the Opposition Bloc won only 27 out of 450 seats in the last elec- tion based on party lists. A fur- ther 71 former PR members or other members of the pro-Yanu- kovych coalition in the previous Rada gained seats in single FPTP ridings. In the current Rada, 40 2 3 deputies from the Opposition Bloc, the entire Vidrodzhennia [Renaissance] 22-deputy faction, public attention, this decision will price” and proposing a morato- 1. Ghennadiy 15-18 “independents” and a simi- Kernes, not have any legal consequences. rium on socially unpopular mea- notorious lar number from Volia Narodu On the other hand, given that sures to reduce the budget deficit Mayor of [Will of the People] could poten- most benches were appointed and bring utility rates up to justi- Kharkiv tially form a reactionary coali- during the Yanukovych regime, fied market levels. Instead of the tion, but they don’t even add up the classic mechanisms for ban- government’s plans to decentral- 2. Serhiy to 100 foot soldiers. And although ning reactionary parties that were ize power by devolving it to the Liovochkin, there is a sizeable number of fifth Chief-of-Staff in the main supports of that regime local level, they offer the putin- Yanukovych’s columnists in the current ruling are ineffective for obvious rea- esque model of “federalization,” Presidential coalition, they still don’t add up sons: the protracted and so far which involved mechanically Administration to more than 30-40 deputies. In fruitless process of banning the handing Kyiv’s powers to regional and currently short, there is not enough of the Communist Party of Ukraine in governments. For voters, this will one of the old guard to even form a “block- court has dragged on for more not change anything, because it Opposition Bloc ing group” of 151 deputies, never than 6 months. will simply set up each oblast as a leaders mind a majority. Unless some- quasi-state where it will be much 3. Borys thing truly extreme happens, Pushing easier to stir up separatist senti- Kolesnikov, there simply aren’t enough poten- for a snap election ments, leading to destabilization a close tial crossovers for pro-Russian At the end of March, one-time and the collapse of Ukraine as a associate of forces to come up with the num- “Regionals” formed a shadow country. bers. Cabinet headed by Borys Kolesn- The “deoligarchization” an- and leader of So the most realistic option for ikov, a close associate of Akhme- nounced by the current Adminis- the shadow the reactionary forces in the legis- tov. They have begun to actively tration is unashamedly opposed Cabinet formed lature is to bring down the ruling criticize the current Administra- by the Opposition Bloc’s publicly by ex-Party of coalition. Evidence of this can be Regions people tion and to develop a clear alter- declared intentions to preserve seen in a spate of recent press com- native to its policies. To counter the oligarchic model. Among oth- mentary to the effect that “Presi- what they call the “coalition war,” ers, this is being openly lobbied by dent Poroshenko no longer needs Unian photo: they are calling for “peace at any Serhiy Liovochkin, one of the Arseniy Yatseniuk to govern the № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|7 Politics|Ancien Régime country,” based on a sharp fall in the PM’s ratings and corruption scandals hitting the Government. But if Yatseniuk's Popular Front quits the coalition, it will collapse. The one possible alternative to the Front might be that same Volia Narodu faction, which is de facto associated with the coalition. But this means that all the other coali- tion members would have to agree to join forces with deputies who once voted for the draconian Janu- ary 16 laws in 2014. Since that is highly unlikely, the break-up of the Poroshenko-Yatseniuk team would probably lead to a snap election— something that many of the minor parties in the current coalition 1 2 might also be interested in seeing happen because their ratings have been steady or improved since the last campaign. Predictions for a cold, hungry electorate A snap election would be danger- ous not only for some members of the ruling coalition, but also to pro-European parties, who may be unable to regain a firm major- ity or even fail altogether. Their success in the previous election was at least partly assured by the temporary demoralization of tra- ditionally pro-Russian voters, leading to a low turnout in south- ern and eastern oblasts (32-42%) 3 and a conversely high turnout in western oblasts (60-70%). In October 2014, the five pro- 1. , pro-European course. That’s the the ATO at the beginning of next ex-Energy European parties that went on to Minister under point at which most Ukrainians year. Returning home after a form the current Constitutional Yanukovych will have run out of surplus sav- lengthy absence, these fighters are majority received only around involved in ings and patience alike, and when likely to feel the depth of the decline 10.9 million votes from 30.4mn corruption the impact of the (so far) triple in living standards among their registered voters. If we add Svo- scandals decline of the hryvnia on prices families and the absence of much- boda, Hrytsenko’s party and and rates will be fully felt: two expected positive changes in rela- 2. Vadym Praviy Sektor, which did not meet Novinski, waves of electricity rate hikes will tions between the government and the threshold to gain seats in the Russian- have passed and a third will be on ordinary Ukrainians far more legislature, the number is 12.4mn. Ukrainian the way for March 2016, while gas sharply than if they had been at The fact that the pro-Russian trio billionaire and heating rates will be maxed home all this time. On the other (Opposition Bloc, CPU and Serhiy and business out after the winter. The pressure hand, their families and neighbors Tihipko's ) only partner of Rinat on consumer demand will be will hear from the proverbial lion’s had 2.6mn ballots does not guar- Akhmetov highest, leading to a collapse of mouth what the situation was really antee that at the next election 3. Serhiy domestic sales and services, like in the war. Meanwhile, the gov- they won’t have two or three Tihipko, which will affect small and micro- ernment will be trying insistently to times more as the pro-Russian leader of Strong business the worst. At the same bring the economy out of the shad- electorate mobilizes again. At the Ukraine party time, real and hidden unemploy- ows by taxing savings and cash in- same time, disenchantment and Deputy ment alike will reach their peak. come affecting, not oligarchs, Big among voters oriented towards Head of the The explosive potential of all Business or the top officials who are Europe could lead to a much these factors will become that much determining the “logic” of the cur- lower turnout. since March higher with an anticipated restruc- rent reforms, but the middle class A snap Verkhovna Rada elec- 2012 turing of the coal industry, leading and SMEs, and radicalizing this tion called for spring 2016 would to at least a few tens of thousands of driving force behind both of be the most timely for a come- dissatisfied miners alongside the ex- Ukraine’s “revolutions.” back of the reactionaries and the pected demobilization of at least 70- In short, spring 2016 will be most dangerous for the country’s 80,000 Ukrainian participants in the ideal moment for reactionary 8|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Ancien Régime|Politics pro-Russian forces to strike and Unfortunately, the key politi- ship for the sake of reforms for at make a comeback at the national cal positions of the Opposition least some period of time is far level. They are unlikely to succeed Bloc mentioned earlier here smaller than those who are not in unbalancing the situation match the expectations of a clear prepared to do so: 35% vs 54% in enough to force VR elections to be majority of residents in Ukrai- southern oblasts, 23% vs 74% in scheduled with local ones in Octo- nian-controlled Donbas and eastern oblasts and 34% vs 63% ber 2015 because the protest po- neighboring Kharkiv and Zapori- in Ukrainian-controlled Donbas. tential is unlikely to peak by then. zhzhia Oblasts. To a lesser extent, Should this electorate consolidate The key role will be played by the they also appeal to voters in the itself under a single anti-Ukrai- predicted “cold and hungry winter remaining southern and eastern nian bloc with a name like “For of 2015-2016.” So the local elec- oblasts. peace and stability,” as the Krem- tions will more likely be a “test A March 2015 Razumkov lin is suggesting, and given the drive,” as actual election results Center poll showed that in the share of voters who did not cast provide the truest “opinion poll” East, 38% of respondents say that ballots last time but might well results, as was illustrated more DNR and LNR are not terrorist vote for such a united opposition than once by the results of Party of organizations but actually “repre- because of their dissatisfaction Regions and 's sent the people residing in the with the worsening socio-eco- BYuT in 2006, Svoboda in 2012, territories they control.” This is nomic situation, this political and Popular Front/Samopomich/ less than the 41% that consider force would likely take a majority OP in 2014, where the actual re- them terrorists, but given the in- of the vote. Or, which is no less sults were 1.5-2 times higher than ternal differences registered ear- likely, their support for this polit- the best predictions by pollsters lier among residents of Dniprop- ical force could be assured with prior to the vote. The same thing etrovsk, Kharkiv and Zaporizh- the assistance of tried-and-true was seen with the disenchantment zhya oblasts, it is likely that the methods of vote rigging. with Viktor Yushchenko's Nasha proportion of those inclined to For a national comeback by Ukraina in 2006, with Vitaliy consider DNR and LNR as legiti- reactionary forces, next year will Klitschko's UDAR in 2012 and mately representative most likely be ideal for one more reason: to with Serhiy Tihipko's Strong dominates in the last two. Even wait any longer would be danger- Ukraine and the Bloc of Petro Po- adding in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, ous. If current trends continue roshenko in 2014. This means more than half the residents of and no extreme situations arise, pushing for a snap VR election will Eastern Ukraine consider the the situation will bottom out in be more to the point after the re- conflict in the Donbas, not as de- 2016, both in terms of real de- sults of local elections are in. fense against Russian aggression cline in living standards and in but as either a “civil war among terms of voter perceptions of this Low ratings pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian decline. By the end of 2016, be- not the whole story residents of Ukraine” or a “con- ginning of 2017, utility rates will During the 2014 VR election cam- flict between the RF and the US have all reached market levels, paign, OP, CPU and Strong over spheres of influence, taking Ukraine won around 57% of the place on Ukrainian soil.” Fully A snap Verkhovna Rada vote in the districts in Luhansk 56% of residents of Luhansk and and Donetsk Oblasts that were Donetsk Oblasts living in Ukrai- election called for spring under Ukrainian control, 45% in nian-controlled areas think the 2016 would be the most Kharkiv Oblast, 39% in Zaporizh- same. zhya Oblast, 38% in Odesa Only 24% of residents of east- timely for a comeback Oblast, 33% in Dnipropetrovsk ern Ukraine, including Dniprope- of the reactionaries Oblast, 32% in Mykolayiv Oblast, trovsk Oblast, want to see the and 25% in Kherson Oblast, cov- ATO continue until Ukraine has economic growth will likely re- ering the entire south and east of complete control over all the ter- sume against a very low base, the country. The latest opinion ritories in Donbas currently occu- commercial activity should pick polls show that support for the pied by Russian forces; only 11% up pace and employment should reactionary trio has fallen some- of residents of Ukrainian-con- begin to rise again. Some Ukrai- what. For instance, in the East, of trolled parts of Donetsk and Lu- nians will have adapted them- the 63% who have decided for hansk Oblasts do. On the con- selves to the new realities better, whom they would vote locally, trary, 58% of southern Ukraini- others worse, but optimistic out- only 28% would vote for them to- ans, 56% of eastern Ukrainians looks will begin to prevail—if day, which is half of what they and 70% of Ukrainian-controlled nothing else because of a general had last fall. Indeed, only 18% Donbas residents want to see the feeling that “the worst is behind would vote for OP. In the Donbas, conflict frozen by granting inde- us.” By then, a growing share of these same indicators 46%, 20% pendence or “special status” to voters will be less interested in and 11%. Still, an unusually large the occupied region. More than reactionary rhetoric making hay proportion of voters surveyed in half the residents of the East and over belt-tightening economic Ukrainian-controlled Donbas Ukrainian-controlled Donbas are difficulties and driven by nostal- (39%), southern (31%) and east- against cutting socio-economic gia for the past, than in those who ern Ukraine (20%) still don’t links with the territories occupied will offer more attractive alterna- want to exercise their electoral by DNR and LNR terrorists. tive strategies for growth—sprin- right, while 3%, 6% and 2% say Moreover, the share of those kled, of course, with just a dash of they will spoil their ballots. prepared to suffer material hard- populism. Unian photo: № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|9 Politics|Ancien Régime Shaking the Foundations Cutting access to their financial resources is the most effective way to leave the representatives of the old regime with no chance for comeback

Author: Lyubomyr Shavalyuk

t looks as though in the war, which currently has two dimen- sions – of the fighting in the IDonbas and of the "peaceful" battle over reforms by civil society and some representatives of the new authorities versus the old oli- garchic-bureaucratic – a third front is emerging. This one is the fight against the ghost of Viktor Yanukovych's regime, the repre- sentatives of which are quietly working to regain the power they lost after the EuroMaidan. And as far as this intensifying struggle on the third front is con- Arbuzov Klymenko cerned, it was Yanukovych him- self, who in the late February pro- vided the perfect sound bite to describe the present develop- ments: “As soon as I get a possi- bility to return, I will. And I'll do my best to ease the life in Ukraine”. For now many view such a return as implausible at best, but the preconditions for the regime's comeback (even if in disguise and without the infa- mous ex-president) are being ac- tively created as we speak. In fact macroeconomic tendencies as Britain to unfreeze his bank ac- this is being done in more ways well as every branch of state counts with some USD 23mn. than one. Serhiy Arbuzov, ex- power. Some members of the old Eduard Stavytskyi, the ex-Minis- NBU Chief and First Vice Premier guard are working on getting the ter of Energy, is getting his assets under Yanukovych, is active on EU sanctions lifted to regain con- re-registered to third parties and Facebook posting articles to jus- trol over their assets. Take Yanu- battling in courts (with mixed tify the actions of his pre-Maidan kovych's close business associate success) over the fortune he accu- team and to slam the authorities Yuriy Ivaniushchenko (see The mulated under Yanukovych. currently in office over the cur- Azarov/Arbuzov Government Examples of Yanukovych’s rent economic situation. And at ukrainianweek.com), for ex- “Family” members and other oli- while his arguments hardly hold ample. In December 2014, he garchic clans that were part of his water, the more Ukrainians get managed to get an official state- regime, fighting to regain their disgruntled about their worsen- ment from the Prosecutor Gener- power and influence, are plenty. ing financial position, the more of al's Office (the latter had been This is beginning to resemble them will fall for such rhetoric. taking a lot of efforts to backpedal the time after the Orange Revolu- The Azarov-era Cabinet Minister the investigation of Ivaniush- tion, when some of the officials of Income and Taxes Oleksandr chenko's wrongdoings until very and oligarchs, including Rinat Klymenko has spent the last six recently) that he was not a party Akhmetov, fled Ukraine, but were months criticizing the State Fiscal to any ongoing criminal case. A later guaranteed impunity and re- Service and sending out press re- similar kind of paper enabled the turned within months. Eventually leases to the media on a regular Azarov-era Minister of Environ- they not only regained power but basis. As of late his criticism con- ment and Natural Resources led the country to another revolu- cerned the ever larger scope of Mykola Zlochevskyi to get Great tion and to bloodshed at Maidan. 10|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Ancien Régime|Politics To avoid repeating past mistakes "Family" with hundreds of mil- sentatives of the Yanukovych re- and minimize the chances of such lions every year. The subsidies gime were the banks they own. a scenario happening again the have now been done away with, They provided the means to laun- new authorities must act now. while the industry itself awaits der the money and transfer capi- The revenge-seeking old guard radical transformations. Not to tal overseas. Currently the Na- must be denied access to re- mention that with the war in the tional Bank of Ukraine is revok- sources, first and foremost finan- Donbas very few of the coal mines ing licenses of such financial cial ones. This will require action left on the Kyiv-controlled terri- institutions. As a result the "Fam- on several fronts. tory are worthy of any state invest- ily" has been deprived of many First and foremost, the revan- ment. As far as natural gas is con- pet banks, which undoubtedly chists must have their money cerned, one can go at lengths criti- complicated their task of creating flows within Ukraine taken away cizing the soaring utility bills, but fertile economic grounds for the from them. There are a few as- as soon as the tariffs reach the comeback. NBU's efforts in this pects to this. Firstly, it's common market price the vast flow of gov- area are indeed commendable, as knowledge that the "Family" capi- ernment subsidies filling the pock- transparency in the financial sys- tal under the regime used to be ets of the old guard, from the tem is one of the key factors for formed to a great extent through Firtash & Liovochkin oligarchic eliminating shady schemes along outright extortion and corporate group to certain members of the with the operators incapable of raiding with protectorate from "Family", will dry out. This will surviving in a fair competitive en- law-enforcement agencies. Most once again take away a consider- vironment. of such deals could easily be de- able source of income from those, While working away at de- clared void in court (that is if whose political orientation is anti- stroying that economic founda- Ukraine had an adequately func- Ukrainian. tion under the old oligarchic tioning judicial system). There- Thirdly, another factor of re- elites the current authorities and fore putting things in order in the vanchists' economic influence is the civil society will time and time judiciary is an indirect way to monopoly that they created for again encounter sabotage by the prevent the comeback of the old their businesses during their time corrupt policemen and judges regime. The creation of an effi- in power. Unfortunately, the idea paid out of the billions of dollars, cient court system would allow to break up the monopolies and to which the regime funneled the current government to make a remove the hurdles hampering abroad. They will do their utmost register of assets illegally seized other players from entering cer- to torpedo transformations and by representatives of the regime. tain markets isn't part of the pub- to "wind back" reforms. Hence we The government could then assist can conclude that without fair ju- the original owners in restoring diciary and effective reform of their rights through a transpar- The more successful Ukraine law enforcement Yanukovych's ent judicial process. Such a step becomes at conducting odds are looking considerably would not only strip Yanu- better. Until Ukraine has judges, kovych's cohorts off their finan- reforms, the further the prosecutors, investigators, etc. cial base, but also grant public apparition of Yanukovych that can be bought, they will de- support for the authorities in fend the material interests of the power, as justice has been in high and his revanchists will roll revanchists bankrolling them. demand in Ukraine for some Therefore the more successful time. However, launching re- lic discussion right now. This Ukraine becomes at conducting privatization of the assets priva- guarantees the representatives of reforms, first and foremost in ju- tized in 2010-2013 would be a the old regime monopoly in cer- diciary and law enforcement, the step too far. The experience of tain industries. More broadly, cur- further this apparition of Yanu- other countries shows that large- rently oligarchs have some degree kovych will roll with its founda- scale re-privatization campaigns of control over the majority of the tion kicked from under it. How- tend to scare investment away, population by either being propri- ever, should the reforms stall, the and these days investment is in etors of businesses that provide revanchists will pounce at the short supply in Ukraine even as employment, or controlling state first opportunity to extensively it is. enterprises that employ Ukraini- feature in Ukraine. Secondly, an important part of ans. This gives oligarchs their so- At the same time, for as long the "Family" income used to come cial and ideological influence. as the Kyiv-controlled territory from the state budget. And it Such a monopoly must be de- of Ukraine does not include wasn't limited to public tenders, in stroyed by creating favorable con- Crimea and the Donbas, no mat- which the current authorities have ditions for small and medium ter the economic influence, the demonstrated notable progress by business or a powerful influx of revanchists don't stand a chance implementing a transparent e- foreign businesses. Both options in free and fair elections (the ac- auction system (meanwhile the would provide an alternative to cess to nonelected positions is dodgy schemes that are still in the oligarchs and the revanchists blocked for them by the lustra- place are probably filling new among them, an alternative to the tion law). The significant enough pockets, for the most part, rather economic force, on which so many portion of the population resid- than those of the revanchists). Ukrainians are financially and ing in Ukraine's current bound- Other elements include budget therefore psychologically depend. aries remembers the exploits of subsidies, for example, in the coal Fourthly, one of the pillars of the Yanukovych regime all too industry, which enriched the economic influence for the repre- well. Unian photo: № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|11 Politics|Ancien Régime Roman Bezsmertny: "Yanukovych and his "Family" will never give up their dream of returning to Kyiv Olympus" Politician Roman Bezsmertny spoke to The Ukrainian Week about Yanukovych’s possible revenge and the current President's fear of follow the path of his predecessors

Interviewed by Roman Malko U.W.: After the victory of the Orange Revolution, few could imagine that Yanukovych would return to power and become President, but it happened. How realistic is the revenge of the previous regime today? There is the rule of the pendu- lum in politics, and we cannot re- peal it. The only way to get around it is to re-establish the state on the basic, fundamental level. When less than six months ago, a large- scale public opinion poll was con- ducted, which showed how ordi- nary Ukrainians and politicians perceived the current crisis, and of which only 12% covered the things I’m talking about, it occurred to me that, unfortunately, the law of the pendulum is likely to work this time as well. The proof is the nu- merous criminal cases that were never taken to court and very of- ten were not even initiated. The most striking example in recent days was the withdrawal of charges against Andriy Kliuyev (National Security and Defense Council Secretary at the time of the Maidan and violent police crackdowns on protesters – Ed.) over his involvement in the mas- sacre on Maidan. This apparent helplessness in criminal cases, these withdrawn charges and these news of Interpol removing someone from the wanted list are only the evidence that somewhere outside of Ukraine, some money is being transferred from some accounts to 12|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Ancien Régime|Politics some other accounts. I have to say with. Not to mention that the tool tory should not be achieved this, because this pendulum rule is for resolving the situation in through an armed conflict; it can corrupting us, destroying us as a Ukraine is changing the constitu- be won by very different means, country, as a state, as a nation, tional framework. The Constitu- and the people who currently have and the worst thing is that we sim- tion needs to be changed, not su- the power know that, because it is BIO ply acknowledge our own impo- perficially, as this would rather be Roman not their first day in politics. tence. Although in fact, it all a quick fix, but profoundly. Local Bezsmertny, comes down to one thing: all these elections will take place in the born in 1965 in U.W.: Can these failures also be court rulings have just been paid fall, and before that, the entire Kyiv Oblast, got explained by fear? for. At the same time, the General power structure needs to be his degree in His- This is more likely to have two Prosecutor's Office, the Tax Police changed radically, which is only tory at the Kyiv components: fear and unpre- and other state agencies are wal- possible by changing the Consti- Pedagogical Uni- paredness to be in such situation. lowing in bribery. The pressure tution. We should hurry, as we versity. He lec- But fear comes first. put today on businesses that are are running out of time. Such ad- tured in history barely surviving and on new polit- ministrative measures and active until the early U.W.: Is the parliamentary ical forces that are just emerging is constitutional processes would 1990s. Mr. Bezs- coalition capable of lasting, overwhelming. They are simply give people hope, despite the mertny was without repeating the mistakes being crushed by this mill. And hardships of life. of the Orange coalition? Are the Member of Parlia- Prime Minister and the President there are many more things like In foreign policy, the problem ment in the 2nd, that. I can understand why the is that in the geopolitical conflict, rd th th united in understanding their 3 , 4 and 5 mission? public keeps silent. People are im- of which Ukraine is a side and the convocations, and mediately hushed by the allega- object, it, as always, overestimates Advisor to Presi- Frankly, the coalition in the tions of being Moscow agents. its capabilities and tries to deal dent at the Verk- conventional sense did not exist When I'm saying this, I want with matters that it cannot man- hovna Rada. He then and does not exist now (see you to get me right. I have no age. The role that Ukraine should run the office of tReasonable Doubts at ukrai- assume has to do with solving its claims against , Nasha Ukrayina nianweek.com). Based on the Arseniy Yatseniuk, or Arsen Ava- internal problems in its relations (Our Ukraine), a traditional model, not the consti- kov. Each of the cases that I with Russia and the EU. Here, tutional, but the traditional one party led by Viktor quoted has an actor behind it, a Ukraine should answer the follow- that emerged during the years of Yushchenko, and person who made the decision, ing questions: what is it fighting independence, we have two op- was Deputy Head who gave orders or fulfilled ones. I for, with whom, and in which way tions: the situation à la Yanu- at the election strongly object to blaming every- will it proceed further? Either kovych, when the "Family" con- headquarters of one for everything today, claiming Ukraine says: this year we are on trols everything, or the situation à the Power of Peo- that everything is bad, and so on. I the defensive, and builds its entire la Yushchenko, that is, quicksand. ple, the coalition just want to do justice to everyone framework accordingly, making it You try to deal with it, but it just of Viktor Yush- playing a role in this process. Po- clear to Europe and the US how slips through your fingers. Today, chenko’s and Yu- roshenko does not go ahead be- they can help; or it keeps produc- Ukrainian politicians are only lia Tymoshenko’s cause he's afraid of the fate of Saa- ing tanks, making the world per- learning how to behave in a coali- forces. During the kashvili. No one here in Ukraine, ceive us as savages, because never tion. This is likely to be just the when talking about the success and nowhere in the world tanks Orange Revolu- pains of development. And they made by Georgia, understands the were considered to be weapons of tion, Mr. Bezs- hardly deserve harsh criticism for tragedy of Saakashvili's fate. And defense. They are offensive weap- mertny was the that. They look, just as all of us for he is not just close to Poroshenko, ons. In this sense, there is enough Maidan comman- that matter, like freshmen when it they are friends. And this cannot evidence that neither the Com- dant; Vice Pre- comes to forming a coalition. This but torment the Ukrainian Presi- mander-In-Chief, nor the Defense mier in Yulia Ty- is clearly visible. In the times of dent. Ministry or the General Staff actu- moshenko’s and Yushchenko, this was manifested ally defined the task for the Armed Yuriy Yekhanu- in the public conflict of political U.W.: What can be done to save Forces of Ukraine during this con- rov’s Cabinets in forces. The conflict that exists to- the situation and not to repeat flict. I’d like to stress that I do not 2005. He is one day has been pushed under the the mistakes made by the Orange distinguish between the conflict in of the founding rug, as if it didn't exist, even team? Crimea and the one in the Donbas. fathers of the though it actually continues. This It is obvious that Ukraine It is one and the same thing, and People’s Front – is evident from staff appoint- needs reforms involving amputa- that is how it should be treated. Our Ukraine, the ments, delays with appointments, tions. Some fifth wheels have to The fact that the Minsk agree- initial title for progress of reforms, financing of be eliminated urgently. Some of ments don't mention Crimea at all what later be- state-funded sectors, etc. Look at these fifth wheels include the staff is already a huge failure. This cre- came Viktor Yush- the distribution of control over the of the Cabinet of Ministers and ates two vectors that will be sepa- chenko’s Our banking and financial sectors and the Presidential Administration. rated in the long run. But since Ukraine. In 2010- production. Everything is divided We need at least to turn to consti- this has already happened, we 2011, Mr. Bezs- among the key players. The situa- tutional principles, strict ones, as have to understand how to bring mertny served as tion with Ihor Kolomoisky and they are defined in our funda- them back together, or just draft Ambassador to around Rinat Akhmetov's busi- mental law. Because, no matter two possible strategies right away. Belarus. Head of ness is exactly the same. What we what we think of the Constitu- I would like to say once again: to- the Third Ukrai- are witnessing is, to put it mildly, tion, it is the basic law, which was day, Ukraine cannot win either in nian Republic a redistribution of property or, written by well-wishing people, the conflict in the Donbas or in the party founded by rather, not the redistribution, but and which has many things in it conflict in Crimea, but it has to Yuriy Lutsenko in a confiscation from some people that simply need to be complied win tomorrow. And this future vic- July 2014 for the benefit of some other peo- № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|13 Politics|Ancien Régime ple, that manifests itself on the tion in 2006 – Ed.). I analyze the approaching government crisis. surface. This is done by manipu- situation from the contrary, and This will bring up the issue of the lating with the legislation, manip- having studied possible schemes, I coalition crisis. And it can reveal ulating with tariffs, by changing can see exactly this mechanism. to us what kind of new configura- customers and contractors, etc. Say, a person was detained and tions can emerge in the coalition. We can see all of this today. then suddenly released. What However, parliamentary elections happened? We can conclude that may put an end to this. U.W.: Can this low-down behavior some arguments were provided If the current parliamentary of high-ranking officials in times that, even though they are not in- coalition were a coalition as it is of hardship be explained by their visible in principle, are invisible understood conventionally, we not understanding the situation here in Ukraine and cannot be would already have a media ex- and being irresponsible, or by documented. This mechanism is plosion from there with all the their lack of self-preservation used very often. Who can know relevant consequences. But you instinct? In general, what is the about it? Anyone who sees these can see no signs of this happen- scale of all this? transactions and understands who ing, although everyone realizes This is happening on the scale the ultimate beneficiary is. But that some of the coalition’s top of people's animal instincts. A bird how can this be documented? officials should have resigned al- in hand is worth two in the sky. ready given the slow pace of re- That's it. A person that gets into U.W.: Yanukovych and his team forms. Excuses, such as the war this system and makes two steps are now playing for high stakes being not the best time for top forward gets hit hard. And stops, and seeking revenge. What are resignations, no longer work. I preferring to rather leave, or play these stakes, after all that think what we have is attempts of the role of a dummy, just to have happened in the country: war, top actors in the coalition to look sustainable income and not to ruins, and lost lives? for the right arrangement of chess have to fight against the wind I'll start with some basic things. pieces that could save the situa- blowing in his or her face. I read Yanukovych lost his son, and he tion, which means that there is no shy interviews with foreigners will avenge to his last day. So, we conventional coalition. Instead, working in the Ukrainian govern- must understand that we have only we are dealing with insider ar- ment. You can see that they are acquired additional problems here, rangements and deals - not con- embarrassed of being part of this. rather than solving them. I am sistent conventional coalition deeply convinced that the step that agreements, but secret deals that U.W.: Going back to the Putin made would have been made are legitimized in the eyes of the beginning of our discussion, how in any case. It's just that the events external world through the young crucial was the movement of cash of the Maidan and Yanukovych's newly-elected daydreamers who, between accounts of powerful flight accelerated the process. We not being aware of all that mess, Ukrainians in foreign banks in the have to understand that Yanu- with their romantic revolutionary first return of Yanukovych after kovych, and especially the people blah and open sincere wishes are the Orange Revolution? covering the corrupt collusions Such money always plays a big Poroshenko taking place behind their backs. role in politics. Not only in Ukrai- When I meet them, I tell them all nian politics, but in politics over- does not go ahead the time to take good care of all. This is the ultimate tool that because he's afraid themselves. People believe them, can never be used within the coun- they still believe them, so they try. But it is being used neverthe- of the fate of Saakashvili should be careful. Careful with less. By and large, this is a payoff what they say. providing a way out of deadlocked around him, primarily his "Fam- situations. When it comes to a ily", will never give up their dream U.W.: Is this treason, or are these dead-end, this tool is used some- of returning to Kyiv Olympus. just the animal instincts that you where at some point. Therefore, we will be witnessing mentioned earlier? time and again the events remind- No. All these accusations are U.W.: Can it be assumed that ing us of this dream. It is unlikely trumped up. I occasionally read Yanukovych bought his first to come true. But in today's open the allegations politicians pour revenge in this manner? world, of which Ukraine is a part, against one another: Yatseniuk is – You see, I find it difficult to we will always see evidence of their sold to someone, and Poroshenko talk about who gave what to desire to return. It is difficult to say to someone else. This is nosense. whom... But, definitely, such in which form. But I can say, judg- There is no treason, and I can tell mechanism has been used for the ing from the precedents, that this you honestly that I believe in the last 23 years. The evidence of this will continue. Yanukovych will not patriotism of the 70% of Ukrai- is the fact that in Ukraine, there give up his fight for Ukraine. Even nian politicians. I believe in their has only been one high-profile if everything prevents him from honesty and their patriotism with corruption case that was brought this, he will still think about it. And respect to the social role that they to court, even though in a foreign we have to bear in mind that he has are playing. Actual treason is fear country – that of Pavlo Lazarenko people around to inspire him. to lose voters’ support and rejec- (Dnipropetrovsk-based ex-Pre- tion of reforms for that purpose. mier of Ukraine convicted and im- U.W.: Is reconciliation possible? Politicians should work to the prisoned in the US for money This process is already under- benefit of their people and its fu- laundering, wire fraud and extor- way. And one of the exams is the ture, not their own. 14|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015

Politics|Ancien Régime The Yushchenko Syndrome

Author: Yehor Firsov

Dmytro Kolesnikov, former Head of Oblast State Administration, “master” of the attack on the Dnipropetrovsk Euromaidan, still active in politics

Oleksandr Peklushenko, the man behind the beatings of activists in Zaporizhzhya, died under mysterious circumstances one year after the Maidan. Was never indicted over the beatings

till fresh in our memories back they did. With a vengeance! cratic regime built by Viktor Ya- is the avalanche of mis- Eventually they allowed the coun- nukovych show worrying symp- takes made by Viktor Yush- try to slide into a war. Hopefully toms of the Yushchenko Syn- Schenko during his term as Viktor Yushchenko realizes that drome. And the next revenge of the president. The man's biogra- there's a considerable portion of the old elites is already looming phy could easily be titled "How his guilt in every today's victim. on the horizon. Should the au- Not to Govern the Country". It Alas, today we witness the thorities in Kyiv allow it to hap- was his inept and gutless policy very same mistakes being made pen, the consequences will be that not only failed to fulfill the by the new authorities. The far more horrifying than those promise of putting the criminals Prime Minister, the President of Yushchenko's errors from ten (read "corrupt former elites" – and the members of Parliament, years ago. Ed.) behind bars, but allowed all those unwilling to put an end So why should we take the them back into politics, and come to the criminal, utterly klepto- return of the old guard seri- 16|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Ancien Régime|Politics ously, is that a real threat? local elections and brining into carpet; sanctions against indi- There are several reasons, the the local councils another gaggle viduals, who plundered Ukraine main of which being the unwill- of renegades ready to sell out of billions of hryvnias, lifted. ingness of the authorities in and surrender the region at first And then they'll proceed fulfill- power to pursue obvious crooks, opportunity, just like their fel- ing the instructions from Krem- thieves and out-and-out crimi- low party men surrendered lin to put the country back un- nals connected to the old re- Donetsk and Luhansk. Some- der Putin's protectorate. gime. Those, who not only thing like this would be un- In the nearest future I'm go- shamelessly misappropriated thinkable in any other European ing to make a number of inqui- the taxpayers' money, but went country, but in Ukraine Dmytro ries in order to get the former as far as organizing attacks on Kolesnikov has somehow man- Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast their political opponents, in- aged to attain immunity, even State Administration to be held cluding assassinations, are at not being an active official responsible for the crimes com- large. Moreover many are still elected or otherwise. mitted. But, unfortunately, engaged in politics and are The man behind similar fighting the bureaucratic levia- hatching plans to come back to beatings in Zaporizhzhya Oblast than is an uphill struggle, even power. Oleksandr Peklushenko also es- for an MP. Therefore, once The current state of affairs is caped justice. Unfortunately, again all hope is resting on the indeed alarming. While the Va- the chance to see this figure in conscientiousness of the citi- lentyn Nalyvaychenko-led Secu- court is now gone: Peklushenko zens. I'd like to call on civic ac- rity Service of Ukraine, SBU, is is no longer with us. The official actively catching and arresting version of the Interior Ministry separatists, the rest of the law- is that the former Head of Za- the "orange team" showed enforcement seems to be stuck porizhzhya Oblast State Admin- remarkable mercy towards in idle. Here is just one exam- istration shot himself, but many ple. find this hard to believe. In all the defeated Party In January 2014, when certainty it wasn't the terror un- of Regions in the past. This clashes broke out on the streets leashed upon the citizens of Za- of Kyiv, when the reins were porizhzhya that cost him life, resulted in Yanukovych's slipping out of Yanukovych's but some of his other "business" return to power hands, and new local "Maidans" matters. It has been a full year appeared in one town after an- since the attacks on Maidan and tivists to work more with the other, the then Head of - neither Peklushenko, nor Kole- population in order to prevent petrovsk Regional State Admin- snikov have been indicted. the return of Yanukovych's istration Dmytro Kolesnikov As we remember, the "orange henchmen, to prevent Ukraini- sent titushky, the hired thugs, to team" showed remarkable mercy ans from walking into the same carry out a brutal attack on the towards the defeated Party of trap once again. Granted, help- pro-European integration pro- Regions in the past. This resulted ing the army at the frontline is testers. in Yanukovych's return to power important, but it may turn out Bats were given to these with ensuing persecution of po- to be in vain, if at the rear trai- criminals right inside the build- litical opponents. Several of tors take over the reins. The ing of the Dnipropetrovsk Yushchenko's officials, namely civic volunteers already proved Oblast State Administration. the Ministers Yulia Tymoshenko to be a force to be reckoned What ensued was a gruesome and Yuriy Lutsenko ended up in with, a force capable of carrying bloodbath on the streets of the prison. One would imagine that the country through hard times. city. Many still remember the they had enough time behind This potential must be chan- shocking scenes of people, even bars to look back at their mis- neled into working with the the ones already lying on the takes and learn their lessons. To- population to build true civil so- ground, being beaten with bats day, however, we witness history ciety. and steel rods. Those, who for- repeating. At this stage the revenge of got, may refer to the footage, The old political elites, now former elites can and has to be which is available on the inter- behind the Opposition Bloc ban- prevented. Otherwise we are in net. So who has been punished? ner, are clearly determined to for more tragedies, the conse- Nobody. Dmytro Kolesnikov, return to power. And in order to quences of which are so far hard the oblast’s former top official achieve this they employ the to predict. and the organizer of this blood- same old populist rhetoric hop- bath appears to be having a ing to grab the low hanging BIO merry time on the election cam- votes and boost their ratings Yehor Firsov, paign tour of the Dnipropetro- making the most of the society's aged 26, is currently Member of Parliament (Bloc of vsk region together with Olek- discontent about the pace of re- Petro Poroshenko). He got into the Rada in 2014 as member of Vitaliy Klitschko’s UDAR and head of its sandr Vilkul, who also had his forms and deteriorating social branch in Donetsk Oblast (since 2012), focusing on hand in the aforementioned standards. But as soon as these counteraction to separatism in his home region, then atrocities. These two have the "statesmen" regain power, we'll actively engaging in the organization of the May cheek to look people in the eye see the all too familiar policy be- 2014 presidential election in parts of Donetsk Oblast organizing meet-ups with local ing revived: all criminal cases freed from Russian-backed separatists. Member of factory workers. They are set- against Yanukovych and his as- the VR European Integration Committee in the 8th ting their sights at winning the sociates being swept under the convocation № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|17 Politics|Local elections Political Redesign Shifts in electoral preferences in the countdown to local elections

s the fighting in the Donbas Author: tration and current leader of the Mykhaylo Volynets and the Trade seems to have subdued Oles Opposition Bloc. Yatseniuk’s Popu- Union of Mine Workers led by a slightly, this spring brings Oleksiyenko lar Front then started publicly ac- former Party of Regions MP Viktor Aonce again to the forefront cusing Batkivshchyna and its other Turmanov, in fact, stood together the political tensions within the critics of being Putin’s agents who against the government's attempts ruling coalition. In March, Yulia are implementing Moscow-written to restructure the coal mining in- Tymoshenko's Batkivshchyna and scenarios to destabilize the situa- dustry by canceling state subsidies Oleh Liashko’s Radical Party tion in Ukraine. to loss-making coal enterprises and threatened to leave it, refusing to For the moment, the attack on closing unprofitable mines. It is vote for the bills necessary to get Premier Yatseniuk was bogged important to note that Deputy En- IMF loans and to implement the down primarily due to the fact that ergy Minister in charge of the coal Minsk agreements. Samopomich the Bloc of Petro Poroshenko (BPP) sector was appointed from Bat- party also excelled in selective and and his Presidential Administra- kivshchyna's quota. unpredictable voting on the coali- tion realize far too well that they As Ukrainians grow weary of tion bills. are in the "same boat" with Yatse- deteriorating living standards and The President’s conflict with niuk's Popular Front, and the col- slow reforms, populism and the Ihor Kolomoisky and offensive lapse of the coalition and political ability to dissociate from the gov- against the interests of Dmytro instability would play against the ernment's actions in the eyes of the Firtash and Rinat Akhmetov in sec- government and the country in voters brings good electoral results. tors that they traditionally believed general. The Premier is primarily According to the above survey to be their own fiefdoms urged blamed for the negative implica- of the Razumkov Center, as of them to engage in politics more ac- tions of the belt-tightening policy, March 2015, the share of the popu- tively. In April, internal squabbles but the President and his political lation willing to vote for the BPP reached a new level: the Bat- muscle have not escaped criticism decreased compared to November kivshchyna party rushed full tilt either. For instance, according to 2014 from 19.2% to 14.1%, and for into the coal-and-coalminers con- the public opinion poll conducted the Popular Front, from 15.0% to flict and joined the chorus of accu- in March by the Rozumkov Center, 4.6%. Only 6.8% of the respon- sations of the inflated new tariffs Yatseniuk's performance were fully dents improved their opinion of for housing and communal ser- supported by only 7.8% of Ukraini- the Popular Front, 8.5% - of the vices. Anton Herashchenko, advi- ans and Poroshenko's by 12.6%, Radical Party, 9.3% - of the BPP, sor to Interior Minister Arsen Ava- and 15.9% - of Samopomich. The kov, demanded that the head of attitude of 48%, 41.4%, 45% and Donetsk Oblast State Administra- Whoever wins the local 24% of the respondents, respec- tion Oleksandr Kikhtenko, who has elections will get engaged tively, changed for the worse. That long lobbied for lifting the block- is, more positive dynamics are ade of the Russian-occupied re- in the fight for early clearly visible for the coalition’s mi- gions of the Donbass, be dismissed. parliamentary and, nority stakeholders by contrast to However, the climax of the the President's and Premier's polit- confrontation was a high-profile possibly, presidential ical forces, which, with a little help- corruption scandal with the alleged elections in a longer run ing hand from their coalition part- involvement of the government in ners, are being made accountable general and Premier Arseniy Yatse- while some individual moves of the for all negative aspects of the situa- nyuk in particular, amounting to Premier were supported by 29.3%, tion in the country. For Bat- billions of hryvnyas. The key role in and of the President by 40.7% of kivshchyna, 6.5% of respondents the attack on the Prime Minister Ukrainians. 56.7% of respondents improved their perception of the was played by the members of the did not support the initiatives of party, 37.3% changed their opinion Batkivshchyna party, his former the Premier, and 39.9% of the for the worse, while more than partners in the alliance that his President. 50% did not change it. own political force, the Front of Another sign of the heated con- Thus, a de facto opposition has Change, once formed with Ty- flict within the coalition was the emerged within the formal coali- moshenko's party. The accusations confrontation around the coal in- tion in the Rada. On the one hand, were supported by the members of dustry reform, leading to a de facto its representatives, with rare ex- Svoboda party, as well as by Liash- ad hoc alliance formed by the Bat- ceptions, are unable to influence ko's Radical Party and UDAR’s Ser- kivshchyna party and the Opposi- the government's decisions. There- hiy Kaplin, who are allegedly linked tion Bloc. The Independent Trade fore, they have to either support to Serhiy Lyovochkin, former head Union of Miners headed by Yulia the initiatives of the Popular Front of Viktor Yanukovych's Adminis- Tymoshenko's long-time ally and BPP as the coalition’s majority 18|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Local elections|Politics Reforms will mo likely lead to temporary difficulties in everyday life. Are you willing to stakeholders, or to oppose them, face some belt-tightening?, % but this has little effect on the out- come of the votes. On the other We ern Ukraine Central Ukraine Southern Ukraine Ea ern Ukraine Donbas hand, Batkivshchyna, Radical (Crimea excluded) (temporarily occupied parts excluded) Party and Samopomich have a chance to publicly criticize the ac- tions of the government and the President, taking the opposition Chernihiv Sumy niche in the eyes of the voters. Lutsk Rivne Zhytomyrhytomyr KyivKyiv Tired of austerity Kharkiv Poltava Being seen as opposition can be Lviv LuLuhanskhansk very helpful in times of rapid socio- Cherkasy TernopilTernopi Khmelnytskyi economic degradation with real re- Vinnytsiainnytsia forms barely there. The cost of liv- Dnipropetrovspropetrovsk Ivano-FranIvano-Frankivskivsk Kirovohrad DonetskDonetsk ing, even according to the official Uzhhorodrod figures, has grown 1.5 times over Chernivtsi ZaZaporizhzhyaporizhzhya the last year (according to the State

Mykolayiyk v Statistics Agency, price increase from March 2014 to March 2015 Kherson OOdesadesa was 45.8%), while nominal income of the Ukrainians remained the Ukraine, total same. In April, the government Simferopol dared to take the long-needed steps to raise public utilities tariffs to ec- onomically justified levels. Yes, as long as it takes, provided that it aually results in a successful Ukraine According to the March survey I am ready to face financial difficulties for some time, but not long (up to one year) conducted by the Razumkov Cen- No, because I don’t believe reforms will be successful ter, the share of citizens who be- No, because my financial position is unbearable already lieved that the situation in the Difficult to answer country is going in the right direc- tion (17.5%) nearly halved com- pared to 32.3% in March 2014, im- If the general eleion took place next Sunday, what party would you vote for?, % mediately after the Maidan. Only 21.8% of the respondents believed that Ukraine is capable of over- coming the existing problems within the next few years, while 30.7% expected a total social and economic collapse in the near fu- ChernihivChernih SumSumyy ture. LutskLutsk In the South and East, this fig- RivnRiv e Zhytomyromyr KyivKyiv ure is close to 50% (East - 46.1%, KKharkivharkiv Ukrainian-controlled part of the Poltavva LuLuhanskhansk Donbas - 43%, South - 38.9%). In CCherkasyherkasys the Center and West, the share of TernopilTernopil KhmelnytskyKh i Vinnytsia the respondents who stated that DniDnipropetrovskpropetrovsk the situation in the country is de- Ivano-Frankivsk KirovKirovohradohrad Donetsk Uzhhorodd veloping properly was much larger. CherniChernivtsinivtsi Zaporizhzhya The results of a poll conducted in early March by the Kyiv Intrna- Mykolayiyk v tional Institute of Sociology con- KKherson firmed that people in the West and OdeOdesasa Center assessed Ukraine’s mid- term prospects more optimisti- cally: 52.5% and 50.6% expected Simferopol improvements while 17.6% and Ukraine, total 19.4% believed the situation would deteriorate. Bloc of Petro Poroshenko Opposition Bloc According to the March data Samopomich Svoboda collected by the Razumkov Center, Popular Front Communi Party of Ukraine today only 12.7% of Ukraine's pop- Oleh Liashko’s Radical Party Serhiy Tihipko’s Strong Ukraine ulation are "ready to sacrifice Batkivshchyna ’s Civic Position whatever it takes if this can result in the country's success," 28.7%

Source: polls by the Razumkov Center held on March 6-12, 2015 are "ready to suffer for a short while, but not for long (not more № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|19 Politics|Local elections than a year)," and 53% are not How has your attitude to the parties li ed below changed If the general eleion took place next Sunday, ready to suffer because they either since the Oober general eleion?, % what party would you vote for?, % do not believe in the success of the Samopomich Bloc of Petro Poroshenko reforms or their financial situation The Right Se or is already intolerable. In the West- Popular Front ern region, the total number of Bloc of Petro Poroshenko those ready to suffer at least for Oleh Liashko’s Radical Party some time exceeds the number of Popular Front those who aren’t (56.2% vs 34.5%, Oleh Liashko’s Samopomich respectively), while in the Center Radical Party these figures are almost equal Batkivshchyna Batkivshchyna (47.7% vs 48.2%, respectively). Anatoliy Hrytsenko’s However, high levels of opti- Civic Position Anatoliy Hrytsenko’s Civic Position mism about the country's pros- Svoboda pects of changes for the better and Opposition Bloc the consequent willingness to en- Opposition Bloc Communi Party Communi Party of Ukraine dure hardships for some time, which can be observed in the West of Ukraine 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 5 10 15 20 and Center, are no less dangerous. Failure to meet the voters' expec- Improved Worsened Unchanged November 2014 March 2015 tations will lead to bitter disap- Source: polls by the Razumkov Center held on March 6-12, 2015 pointment, apathy and growing protest sentiments, not necessar- Ukraine would benefit much more Whoever wins the local elec- ily the constructive ones, that can from an opposition initially formed tions will get engaged in the fight be used through political manipu- of democratic, pro-European polit- for early parliamentary and, possi- lations by anti-Ukraine forces to ical forces that would oppose the bly, presidential elections in a lon- destabilize the country. majority only in matters pertaining ger run. Besides, local elections on to the tactics of the European re- their own will be very important. Waiting for the elections form course. This would have Decentralization is very likely to ul- The formula of today's broad co- made the implementation of the timately take place under the pres- alition was initially just a ritual EU integration and the necessary sure from both internal and exter- tribute to Euromaidan. The public reforms the main focus of the po- nal sources, thus significantly in- expected all the political forces litical struggle in the country, creasing the authority of local that supported democracy and rather than questioning whether to governments and whoever controls European choice to unite in a co- continue down the chosen path, as them. The newly elected local gov- alition following the victory of the the Opposition Bloc does. Leaving ernments may turn out to be much Maidan. However, the resulting the opposition niche to it basically more ambitious in trying to influ- constitutional majority allowed helps promote it, giving it the op- ence the state policy than the cur- provided ample opportunities to rent ones that were formed five its stakeholders to ignore not only Survey results show years ago basing on the results of fellow party members, but also en- the 2010 elections largely rigged by tire partner factions, wage internal that Southern the Yanukovych regime. wars, shift responsibility to the co- and Eastern Ukraine The data of the recent polls in- alition partners and grab the dicate that the BPP is still the most neighbor's piece of the electoral are no longer pro-Russian, popular political force in the Cen- pie. but have remained ter and West, with support figures More than 300 seats held by in the South approaching the aver- the five coalition factions, plus Eurosceptical age across Ukraine. The situation is Ihor Yeremeyev's group of MPs similar for the Popular Front, ex- actually associated with the ma- portunity to claim being the only cept that in the South and East it jority, exceeded by almost 100 alternative to the entire pro-Euro- has significantly lower support votes the quorum necessary to pean political camp. rates compared to the average. pass the Parliament's bills. A num- The situation will escalate fur- Samopomich already today enjoys ber of key decisions were passed ther as Ukraine enters the season electoral sympathies at the same by 227-230 votes, 15-20 out of of local elections. Even if they are level as the BPP in the West, where which belonged to MPs that for- not accompanied by early parlia- it will soon be able to come out on mally were not part of the coali- mentary elections, the local ones top. At the same time, its support tion. This allowed it to keep ignor- will still be a very important indi- in the Center of the country is ing the lack of consensus among cator of change in political prefer- equally high, while in the South its members when making diffi- ences. Another important ques- and East it is popular enough to cult decisions and not to notice the tion is how the protest votes will overcome the electoral threshold in resistance of the above mentioned be distributed: how many will go local elections. The Popular Front, "minority stakeholders." to the pro-European opposition, on the contrary, has no such With the current majority con- including new political projects, chances in the South and East. figuration, the opposition niche has and how many will be given to re- Batkivshchyna's support are actually been left to the reactionary actionary projects, primarily, the higher than average in the South Opposition Bloc. However, Opposition Bloc. and Center, as well as in the West. 20|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Local elections|Politics However, its popularity is not suf- uncontested leader in the Donbas whom they would support if the ficient to get into local govern- and in the East, also having consid- Maidan were taking place today by ments, both in the East and in the erable support in the South. the Razumkov Center, 25.4% of Donbas. Oleh Liashko's Radical respondents in Eastern Ukraine Party has a good chance of entering Uncommitted resources supported Maidan, 21.1% sup- local governments all over the The situation remains utterly un- ported Antimaidan and 41.9% country, enjoying the highest pop- certain in Southern and Eastern were against both, while in the ularity in Western and Central Ukraine, where the majority of the South these figures were 23.1%, Ukraine. In the West and Center, population are still hesitating or 10.6% and 52.8%, and in Ukrai- Anatoliy Hrytsenko's Civic Position have no intentions of going to the nian-controlled Donbas, 19.6%, has rather high chances of getting polls. In the Donbas and South, 10.1% and 63.6%, respectively. into the local governmens, while about 50% of respondents are ei- This creates a favorable environ- the stands good ther not planning to vote at all or ment for promoting new "centrist" chances in all regions, except for have not yet finalized their sympa- political projects and self-nomi- the East and the Donbas. Svoboda, thies, for various reasons. nated candidates for first-past- however, today has a chance to en- KIIS survey results show that the-post constituencies. ter local authorities only in West- the South and East are no longer Local elections are a real ern Ukraine and in some areas of pro-Russian, but have remained chance to secure, consolidate and Central Ukraine. Eurosceptical. According to the even extend their influence in The Opposition Bloc currently poll, 32.2% of the population in Southern and Eastern Ukraine for has no prospects to enter local gov- Southern Ukraine support joining Rinat Akhmetov’s group, thus in- ernments on party lists in the Cen- the EU, 31.4% support joining nei- creasing its weight in political ter and West. However, they could ther the EU, nor the Customs bargaining with the President remedy the situation by sending Union, and 21.8% support joining and the ruling coalition in the their well disguised candidates to the Customs Union. In the East, Rada, especially in light of the po- first-past-the-post constituencies, these figures are 32.2%, 32.7% and tential parliamentary and presi- who could end up making their 19%, respectively, and 28.5%, dential elections. The same goes way into local governments in 28.5% and 23.6% respectively in for the Dnipropetrovsk-based other regions as well. Besides, its the Donbas. Ihor Kolomoisky, for whom win- members could run in local elec- The respondents are rather in- ning the local elections would tions in different regions under the different with respect to internal mean a chance to translate his in- disguise of several new parties with polarization of Ukrainian society. creased influence into control of neutral names. At any rate, it is an For example, when asked about the lower echelons of power. Politics|Oligarchs Akhmetov’s Losing Bet

ne of Ukraine’s most in- Author: piece of evidence is quite indisput- fluential oligarchs, Rinat Denys able, however: all the assets belong- Akhmetov is beginning to Kazanskyi ing to murdered businessmen and Olose his position today. criminal bosses ended up becoming Placing his bets on Viktor Yanu- part of Akhmetov’s business empire kovych, who became drunk with upon their deaths. One way or an- power and made a number of fatal other, all those deaths around mistakes, has turned out, ulti- Akhmetov certainly proved profit- mately, to have been a mistake. able for him. His next bet, on the ‘separatists,’ In fact, most contract killings in which he made immediately after Donetsk in the 1990s were never ex- Yanukovych fled Ukraine, has only posed and, at this point, are highly brought him greater losses. Still, unlikely to be so, given how much this does not mean that the power- time has gone by. After the gang- ful Donetsk billionaire is broken or land-style slaying of Donetsk’s most defeated. Akhmetov is not the kind influential MP, Yevhen Shcherban, to give up and he is more than ready in 1996, an obscure local by the to defend his interests. As in 2004, name of Viktor Yanukovych was ap- the Donetsk clan is counting on a pointed governor of the oblast, comeback. something that would never have happened while Shcherban was An explosive rise alive. This is the point at which the Rinat Akhmetov’s thorny life differs swift rise of the Donetsk clan to the considerably from the success sto- very top of political power in ries of other . Ukraine began. close to the source of the separatist While Andriy Kliuyev was doing his putsch in Donbas in Spring 2014. Masters, Hryhoriy Surkis worked as Steering the ship Although any number of facts point a foreman for a building trust, and For a long time, Viktor Yanukovych to this, it’s quite unlikely that he will Viktor Pinchuk defended his disser- was seen as Akhmetov’s man and ever face criminal charges for spon- tation on manufacturing steel pipes, was completely dependent on him. soring separatism. Clearly, the After the gangland- Akhmetov was studying at a com- style slaying of This only changed in 2010, when Donetsk oligarch did not personally pletely different “university.” People Donetsk’s most influ- Yanukovych finally won the presi- marshal the militants from the bar- ential MP, Yevhen who knew him when he was grow- Shcherban, in 1996, dency. The fourth president of ricades. His involvement was much ing up in the village of Oktiabrske an obscure local by Ukraine was, in fact, Akhmetov’s more subtle, more a matter of pull- the name of Viktor say that he earned his living playing Yanukovych was ap- longest and costliest investment ing the strings backstage. cards and hung out with criminals. pointed governor of project. But catastrophe struck just Those who have only a vague His tight relationship with Donetsk the oblast, some- when everyone was least expecting idea of how things work in the thing that would mafia boss Akhat “Alik the Greek” never have hap- it. Yanukovych was merely acting Donbas might think that the situa- Bragin makes it very clear what pened while Shcher- the way one might expect of a small- tion in Spring 2014 evolved quite Akhmetov did prior to becoming a ban was alive town bumpkin who had come to naturally. But Donetsk residents bigwig businessman and politician. enormous power: intoxicated with themselves don’t need anyone to Rinat Akhmetov’s star began to an excess of permissiveness, he be- tell them that things could never rise after Bragin was assassinated gan to make one mistake after an- have evolved the way they did during an underworld war. Rumors other. When the crash came to the spontaneously. Local clans have that Akhmetov himself was behind president, it also hit his partners. tightly controlled the region since the explosion that killed Bragin and Akhmetov continued to support Ya- the 1990s and there have never his six bodyguards at the Shakhtar nukovych to the very end, but that been any “surprises” without their Stadium in Donetsk in October could not save a sinking ship. approval. So that when it became 1995 persist to this day and the inci- With Yanukovych gone and the obvious that Akhmetov was doing dent certainly cleared the path to change of government in Kyiv, nothing to stop the “chaos” but was Akhmetov’s rise in the criminal Akhmetov could see which way the pretending that the situation was world. Needless to say, no evidence wind was blowing—and chose to out of his control, there could be no has been found linking him—just as dive headlong into a new game. doubt at all that, in fact, he failed to none has been found to link Akhme- There’s little doubt that he was one act, not because he had no power to tov to any number of other high- of the architects of DNR, the stop the unrest, but because he had profile murders in Donetsk. One Donetsk People’s Republic, and was no desire to. 22|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Oligarchs|Politics the March 2014 putsch in the Don- bas would have been over just as soon as it started. The people of Donetsk remember very well with what speed local officials crushed any rallies by those in opposition to Party of the Regions over 2011- 2014, when Yanukovych and Akhmetov wanted it. In November 2011, the police violently dispersed a protest rally by Chornobyl liquidators in downtown Donetsk, even killing one of the demonstrators. To prevent locals from joining an opposition rally in 2012, Horlivka officials had the Donetsk-Horlivka highway blocked off, stopping all traffic on this major artery for over an hour. In early 2014, local officials did everything they could to stop the Donetsk Eu- romaidan from spreading. Yet the organizers of anti-Ukrai- nian rallies and riots in Donetsk in the spring of 2014 were given the green light at every step. No one stopped them from bussing people in, blocking roads with checkpoints, or setting up barricades on the high- ways. In early spring 2014, when the anti-Ukrainian putsch had rela- tively few supporters, this could have been done fairly easily. Later

phoто: ар phoто: on, of course, the situation went out of control. Rinat Akhmetov has always had had unlimited power and could eas- DNR So what did Rinat Akhmetov mercenaries complete control over the situation ily have suppressed the unrest that guarded Rinat need all this for? Perhaps, like most in Donetsk Oblast and it’s a fairly began in the Donbas in Spring 2014. Akhmetov's Ukrainians, the billionaire as- open secret that all officials of any Did the oligarch really have the home in sumed at first that the unrest real significance in the oblast were power to stop the conflict? Abso- Donetsk would never turn into anything generally appointed with his ap- lutely yes. For one thing, Akhmetov when the more serious and figured he would proval. This was even the case in the could have done in Donetsk exactly locals rallied make use of the situation to keep last few years, when Yanukovych the same as Ihor Kolomoyskiy did in protest to the pressure on Kyiv. Once Yanu- was president and had taken virtu- in Dnipropetrovsk: set up a defen- it during the kovych fled, however, the Donetsk ally unlimited power into his own sive territorial battalion, and order Maidan clan scrambled to at least maintain hands. local officials and the police to work control in its home region. Accord- Andriy Shyshatskiy was also an in emergency mode and not allow ing to various reports, Akhmetov, Akhmetov man: he was appointed illegal actions. Boris Kolesnikov, Yukhym Zviahil- Governor of Donetsk in 2011 and Every single Ukrainian oligarch skiy and other representatives of remained in his post until early has always had something akin to a Donetsk clans initially paid off the 2014. Another Akhmetov hench- small private army that, if neces- militants, persuading themselves man was Donetsk Mayor Oleksandr sary, could be called on to protect in this way that they would con- Lukianchenko, who held his post their interests. The fighters in these tinue to manage the anti-Ukrainian for many years, always granted easy “armies” typically worked for differ- insurgency. But by Summer 2014, victory at every election. Many dep- ent security agencies or trained in when control over the militant uties on both the city and oblast sports clubs that were funded by groups had clearly been estab- councils represented Akhmetov’s one moneybag or another. When lished by diversionary groups from interests, as did the mayors of sev- the time came, these fighters came Russia, the Donetsk oligarchs un- eral other Donetsk Oblast cities, in- to the side of their boss. During the derstood that they had lost any cluding the second largest, the port Maidan in Winter 2013-4, they possible leverage against the anti- city of Mariupol. Akhmetov also played the role of titushky. Prior to Ukrainian movement. And it was controlled the police. that, they had formed the ranks in too late to do anything about it. raider attacks. The fine art of All Akhmetov had to do was to Lockstep placing a bet issue a few orders, talk to the lead- with the proxies As one of the pillars of the Yanu- ers of any separatist groups, engage Today, relations between Rinat kovych regime, Rinat Akhmetov the forces under his control—and Akhmetov and the DNR are based № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|23 Politics|Oligarchs on mutually beneficial cooperation. In return for this supposed fa- broadcaster of infomercials about The oligarch doesn’t control the vor from the DNR militants, Boro- the achievements of the Donetsk terrorists, but coexists with them dai explained, Akhmetov promised oligarch and his satellites. Live symbiotically. Not long ago, the to supply food to the Russian prox- broadcasts regularly feature depu- one-time leader of DNR, Aleksandr ies. That’s what his humanitarian ties from the Opposition Bloc, the Borodai, explained this situation in convoys to the self-proclaimed re- rump Party of the Regions group, great detail at a meeting with Rus- public are all about. giving prepared answers to pre- sian nationalists in Moscow. Borodai’s revelations did not pared questions. Every news pro- “Let’s imagine that we nation- create much of a stir. After all, the gram includes commercials for the alized Mr. Akhmetov,” said Boro- arrangement between Akhmetov Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, dai. “Companies belonging to him and the terrorists was a bit too obvi- which helps the DNR terrorists not that are located on DNR territory ous not to be noticed. Still, this bold to starve the residents of occupied have continued to function with admission once again raised the Donbas to death. This flow of infor- miraculous normalcy this entire question of the Donetsk don’s role mation is intended to get the time. Given that all this time Mr. in assisting the militants. masses to once again trust the Akhmetov was the root and branch The billionaire’s assistance to Donetsk clan, to support it in elec- of Ukrainian politics, that is, the DNR recalls what Ostap Bender tions, and to save Akhmetov’s busi- person who has informally but ef- once called “a relatively honest way ness empire. fectively ‘controlled Ukraine,’ the of taking money from people.” Offi- The next elections will be the current situation is very conve- cially, Akhmetov is shipping food to decisive game for the once-powerful nient. Let me explain why. local civilians in occupied Donetsk Donetsk oligarch. And how well he “He has too many enemies places his bet will determine among the current administration whether his empire dies or he suc- in Kyiv, the Ukrainian establish- Even if Akhmetov himself ceeds in multiplying his power ment...” Borodai claimed. “And is no fan of Putin or bases once more and regaining con- chief among these is a certain Kolo- trol over the country. This time, moyskiy. So, for Akhmetov, it’s the Kremlin, he has no Akhmetov’s main ally is the Russian convenient that his enterprises are other powerful partners. Federation, which is also keen to see located on DNR territory and con- the Donetsk mafia, its familiar old tinue to manufacture products. It’s For the time being, partner, return to power. also convenient for him that these his interests and those Russia needs a fifth column in products are exported and they Ukraine to keep the country in its need to be shipped. Where? To It- of Russia coincide thrall. And Ukraine’s fifth column aly. How can they be shipped obviously needs Russia, without there? Through ports. Which Oblast, not to the militants. But this whose support success would be ports? The only port he has access aid allows the terrorists to save on hard to imagine. So even if Akhme- to is Mariupol.” salaries and pensions, and to use tov himself is no fan of Putin or the Borodai quite explicitly stated the tithes they collect from Donetsk Kremlin, he has no other powerful that Mariupol was not taken by the business to buy arms and ammuni- partners. For the time being, militants only because a deal was tion. Every package of buckwheat Akhmetov’s interests and those of basically cut between them and Akhmetov brings to DNR is trans- Russia coincide. Akhmetov. The Russian proxies left formed into a bullet that, sooner or In short, it’s early to celebrate For a long time, Vik- the oligarch a Ukrainian port so that tor Yanukovych was later, is aimed at Ukrainian troops. victory over the Donetsk clan. Its he could ship his companies’ prod- seen as Akhmetov’s comeback is still quite possible and man and was com- ucts from the occupied territories in pletely dependent on Playing both will depend primarily on how pow- return for supplying them with him. This only sides against the middle... erful Akhmetov remains. For changed in 2010, Ukraine, the only way to eliminate food. when Yanukovych fi- At the same time, Akhmetov is not “So, guess why we didn’t take nally won the presi- keen to lose his positions in the threat posed by internal ene- Mariupol in September, although dency Ukraine, either. And so he contin- mies is to finally punish the the opportunities were there,” ues to support his much-reduced Donetsk clan for its many crimes. Borodai went on. “Because how is faction in the Verkhovna Rada—and There’s no question that punish- he supposed to get his production makes plans for their comeback. ment has been merited. All that is from the territory occupied by The current situation does little to needed is political will—and that’s DNR terrorists—as the western encourage optimism: too many where the real problem lies. We world sees it—to Italy? There’s no sharks are circling the oligarch may not be privy to the deals cut way. He can’t get it out of there. these days, all of them with an eye between the Poroshenko Adminis- He has to be exporting it from to his assets and chief among them tration and Rinat Akhmetov, but Ukrainian territory and the only Ihor Kolomoyskiy, the Dnipropetro- there’s hardly doubt at all that port he has access to is Mariupol. vsk oligarch. Still, poor economic deals have been cut. Odesa is not available. Kolomoys- conditions do suggest that a come- At one time, Viktor Yush- kiy controls it and he will never al- back might be possible. All that is chenko also cut a deal with the low Akhmetov in there. So the necessary is to survive until the next Donetsk clan, as a result of which only way for Akhmetov’s busi- elections. he became a political corpse and a nesses to continue to function suc- Clearly, Rinat Akhmetov is pre- laughing stock. We can only hope cessfully is for Mariupol to remain paring very carefully for this even- that the current President of under the blue and yellow flag of tuality. The Ukraina television Ukraine has not forgotten this Ukraine.” channel has turned into a 24/7 mistake. 24|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 focus|Europe after 1945

26|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Europe after 1945|focus The Second Birth of Europe he year 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the nifying geography, history, and culture; instead, they end of the Second World War. Therefore, it invites have become purely political, since Vienna, Prague, and a closer look at postwar Europe and its brief as- Bratislava are all Central European cities par excellence. Tsessment. What happened to Europe then? His- (I would also add from myself here that 70 kilometers torically and politically speaking, Europe changed be- from Tallinn to Helsinki before 1991, curiously enough, yond recognition. For centuries, war was as unavoidable drew the dividing line between the East and the West in in the old continent as clashes over faith and (dis)loyalty the political sense.) Kundera warned the West that East- to the king or the queen. After WWII, it became obvious ern Europe has become the term referring to alienation that peace came as a new political identity of Europe. and despair of half of Europe, also exposing self-decep- This was the second birth of Europe. Needless to say, tion, complacency, and hypocrisy of the West unwilling this applied for a long time exclusively for Western Eu- and unable to take its Significant Other, Central Europe, rope. otherwise than Eastern Europe. When the Iron Curtain was drawn, Europe found itself The USSR remained for decades what it has been from fundamentally split and divided. Whereas Western Eu- its inception: namely, the gravedigger of Eastern and rope laid the foundations of peace through NATO and Central Europe, and a mortal threat to democracies and historic reconciliation of old adversaries, first and fore- free nations of Western Europe. Challenged by protests most, Germany and France, Eastern and Central Europe in Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968, and Poland melted into one in the political sense assuming the ge- in 1980, the USSR was doomed to inexorable failure. neric and stigmatizing name of Eastern Europe. To put The Helsinki Accords in 1975, whose 40th anniversary it simple, for Western Europe, WWII ended on 8 May we mark in 2015, was as instrumental in a gradual dis- 1945. For the (re)occupied and (re)annexed lands of credit and moral bankruptcy of the Evil Empire as Ron- Author: Eastern and Central Europe, with its states and peoples, ald Reagan who coined that term for the USSR. The So- Leonidas this date signified the second phase of war, the latter as- viet Union assumed responsibility for human rights Donskis, suming the form of George Orwell’s prophecy. From which gave new impetus and raison d’être to Russian, Lithuania then on, war was peace, and peace was war. Ukrainian, and Baltic dissident movements. 1989 was Czeslaw Milosz and Milan Kundera had an extremely truly the Annus Mirabilis, or the Miraculous Year, as sensitive grasp of this transformation. In his ground- Adam Michnik called it. The fall of the Berlin Wall sent breaking collection of political essays, The Captive the message to the world about the imminent demise of Mind, for which Karl Jaspers the USSR. In fact, the end of wrote the Foreword (a sym- Milan Kundera warned the war for Eastern and Cen- bolic gesture of a great antito- tral Europe was nigh. 11 March talitarian German philoso- the West that Eastern 1990, exactly twenty five years pher who understood that the Europe has become the ago, marked Lithuania’s inde- humanism of Communism as pendence and its becoming seemingly opposed to the ex- term referring to the first breakaway republic of clusive barbarity of the Nazis alienation and despair the USSR, which dealt a blow was just a fraud and a naïve il- to the Empire. In 1991, it lusion of Western Europe- of half of Europe, also seemed that Europe began to ans), Milosz wrote about the exposing self-deception, live in the new political time inability of Americans and zone. Western European to under- complacency, and Europe has become a different stand the tragedy of half of hypocrisy of the West continent. The EU and NATO Europe only due to the fact have provided a unique win- that they chose to believe that dow of opportunity to over- Eastern Europe was a natural zone of Soviet ideas, come old traumas, uncertainties, and animosities. geopolitics and influence. They chose to forget Central Europe and the Baltic States joined the ex- Eastern Europe for the sake of their own convenience, clusive club fundamentally changing the pattern of their safety, and security. This Western European strategy of history and politics. 2004 marked the point of no return forgetting was especially exposed in Milosz’s essay The for the Baltic States – accession to NATO and the EU. Baltic Lessons as early as 1953. Franco-Germanic animosities, just like British-French Milan Kundera raised his voice later than Milosz – with tensions, were relegated to the margins and history be- an historic essay The Tragedy of Central Europe pub- coming a joke. Equality between men and women, life lished in 1984. He mentions for the first time a curious without borders, and a humane attitude to LGBT people fact that putting someone into the category of an East- have become trademarks of European life. ern European becomes an act of political stigmatization Two nations should be mentioned here as both were left and betrayal, rather than a move toward an accurate po- out of this picture. One of them chose to turn down ev- litical geography. He wrote that although Bratislava is erything that present Europe is standing for –Vladimir merely 60 kilometers away from Vienna, Bratislava is in Putin’s Russia which may well be described as being Eastern Europe, and Vienna in Western Europe. Prague about everything Europe is not, from xenophobia and is more westward geographically than Vienna, and yet it overt forms of fascism to the denial of human rights and is Prague that solemnly joins Bratislava as a sister in the political liberty. Another nation will sooner or later join congregation of Eastern European capitals. This is to say the EU – for neither Europe nor peace is complete with- that the concepts of East and West in Europe ceased sig- out Ukraine. № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|27 focus|Europe after 1945 From Munich to Yalta The beginning and end of World War II brought about political collusions that greatly discredited the leaders of Western democracies

nable to this, though he did haggle a bit more, to which Churchill yielded. The poor Greek Commu- nists, who would continue to fight for many years in the ranks of the Democratic Army of Greece (DSE), had no idea that the “great leader” had sold them out to the cursed bourgeoisie. Equally frustrated were mil- lions of citizens of Poland, Czecho- slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bul- garia, and Yugoslavia, who believed that the Western democracies would not betray them and free them from the Nazi yoke only to hand them over to the Soviets. Pol- ish Prime Minister Stanisław Mikołajczyk in his memoirs de- scribed how Churchill twisted his arm, forcing him to agree to Sta- lin’s plan for the post-war resettle- ment of Poland. And Roosevelt did not object. Mikołajczyk was so out- Author: divided spheres of influence, and The peace raged that he asked Churchill to Ihor Losev conference laid the weak foundation for the in Potsdam, have him parachuted into Poland United Nations (still no more ef- similarly to so that he could join the anti-Ger- he Munich Agreement of fective than the League of Nations, those in Yalta man resistance. When Churchill 1938 that sacrificed the which at least managed to expel and Tehran, asked why, Mikolajczyk replied, “I Czechoslovak state to Hitler the Soviet Union for its aggression resulted prefer to die fighting for the inde- Tis often called a conspiracy against Finland). eventually in a pendence of my country than to be because the Western democratic Churchill visited Moscow in mere division hanged later by the Russians in full leaders, Chamberlain and Dala- October 1944, even before the Yalta of spheres view of your British ambassador!”. dier (from Britain and France, re- Conference. He made proposals to of influence Churchill later admitted to his phy- spectively), gave parts of Europe Stalin that made the division of Eu- between Stalin sician, “It's very one-sided. They and Western to the totalitarian leaders of Ger- rope, as well as decision of the fate leaders achieve their demands through de- many and Italy in order to avoid of many peoples without their in- ceit, flattery and strength”. confrontation with these criminal volvement, quite possible. As he Thus, Soviet-Russian diplo- regimes. Some analysts are still admitted in his memoirs, the Brit- macy remains loyal to its tradi- trying to excuse the Western ish Prime Minister told the Soviet tions... leaders, saying that they had no dictator, “Let us settle about our af- Churchill and Roosevelt be- other choice but to pursue realpo- fairs in the Balkans. Your armies came the architects of the UN in litik. Yet by choosing not to fight are in Rumania and Bulgaria. We its current form, trying to main- with them, they found themselves have interests, missions and agents tain a controlling stake for their in far worse conditions when the there. Don't let us get at cross-pur- ‘club of privileged states’, reminis- war began. The Munich Agree- poses in small ways. So far as Brit- cent of the classic dystopian text: ment became a symbol of the ain and Russia are concerned, how “All creatures are equal, but some great powers’ immoral consensus would it do for you to have ninety are more equal than others.” Of at the expense of the weak. per cent predominance in Ruma- the UN, historian Jonathan Fenby However, in this context little nia, for us to have ninety per cent wrote, “Churchill reassured Stalin mention is made of the Yalta con- of the say in Greece, and go fifty- that, while the behaviour of the spiracy of 1945 (it would later be fifty about Yugoslavia?” Churchill great powers could be criticised solidified at Potsdam), where went on to propose that Britain verbally, the veto system would Roosevelt (USA), Churchill (Brit- and the USSR should split their in- make it virtually powerless for the ain), and Stalin (USSR) agreed to fluence in Hungary fifty-fifty, while organisation to act against the US, give half of Europe to the Führer giving the Soviets a 75% stake in the USSR, Britain, or China. Stalin of Moscow for the next 45 years, Bulgaria. Stalin was generally ame- asked if it would be unable to 28|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Europe after 1945|focus move against Britain over Hong prosecutors and investigators. countries all suffered under the Kong or British interests in Egypt. Russian historian Irina Pavlova, Red Terror—though not on as Churchill told him this was so. who now lives in Boston, writes: large a scale as the USSR—and Still suspicious, Stalin recalled “Stalin feared public opinion in their peoples were excluded from how the League of Nations had ex- Europe and America, and worried history for nearly fifty years. pelled the USSR after its attack on that he would find himself in According to Jonathan Fenby, Finland in 1939. That would now Nuremberg sharing a bench with “The Yalta Conference was later be impossible, [British Foreign Nazi war criminals. But he had se- demonized for excluding the Secretary] Eden said”. rious grounds for such fears”. That French at the moment when the It is unlikely that Churchill is why the Soviets took such ex- Big Three were cynically defining and Roosevelt had illusions about traordinary measures. Though it is the contours of Europe and laying Stalin and his regime, especially unlikely that the Western allies the foundation for the Cold War. since he did not try to make a would have insisted on condemn- The Yalta Conference became the “democratic” impression on them. ing the Stalinist regime as equally main item on McCarthy’s list of When, at Yalta, Roosevelt pointed culpable in kindling Second World accusations against Roosevelt, toward Lavrentiy Beria and asked, War. They preferred to turn a for which the former urged Re- “Who is that man wearing blind eye to even the most incrimi- publicans to accuse him of be- glasses?” Stalin quite seriously re- nating statements, such as that of traying state secrets. Half a cen- plied, “That man is our Himmler”. former German Foreign Minister tury later in Warsaw, George W. Thus, in the fight against Satan, Ribbentrop, who after the an- Bush declared: “There will be no Roosevelt and Churchill entered nouncement of his death sentence more Munichs, no more Yaltas”. into an alliance with Lucifer. And made the final statement: “When I Really? There is a widespread they were certainly well aware of went to Marshal Stalin in Moscow idea in the West today—especially it. For this very reason, today’s in 1939, he did not discuss the in the European Union—that Western Europe does not sympa- possibility of a peaceful settlement spheres of influence still exist and thize with the desire of the East to of the Polish problem against the that Ukraine belongs to the Rus- prosecute communism on the background of the Briand-Kellog sian sphere. Consequently, there same basis as Nazism. Pact. Rather he let me understand is always the danger of a new Mu- Having agreed once to a divi- that if in addition to half Poland nich-Yalta conspiracy. However, sion of Europe, the US and Britain and the Baltic States he did not re- it is possible that its effects will be were forced to continue to bend to ceive the harbour of Lithuania I even worse; Yalta left us balanc- the demands of the communist might as well pack my bags and go ing on the edge of nuclear war for dictator. These concessions clearly home. War in 1939 was not con- affected the reality of the Nurem- sidered an international crime Having agreed once to berg trials that occurred shortly against peace”. after the Yalta Conference. At that Due to the compromising po- a division of Europe, time, Stalin created a top-secret sition of the USA and Britain at agency that is named differently in Yalta, Stalin took control of seven the US and Britain were various documents: “Government Eastern European states and East forced to continue to Commission for the Nuremberg Germany, pressured Finland, and Trials”, “Government Commission threatened Turkey. Churchill’s fa- bend to the demands on the Organization of the Court mous “Iron Curtain” speech at of the Kremlin at Nuremberg”, or “Commission Fulton was an attempt to protect for the Management of the at least Western Europe from 45 years, and this time we might Nuremberg Trials”. Stalin ap- forced communization. Though actually fall. This is not only a re- pointed Andrey Vyshinsky, the fa- this attempt was somewhat be- sult of the further expansion of mous “conductor” of the Moscow lated because Moscow had al- Russian nuclear blackmail, but political trials of the 1930s, to ready launched a furious political also the realization by the entire head the commission. The com- and propaganda war there, now “non-elite” world (i.e. countries mittee included Procurator Gen- popularly known as a “hybrid” that are not nuclear giants) that, eral Gorshenin, Supreme Court war. following the West’s betrayal of Chairman Golyakov, People’s Meanwhile, the countries of Ukraine, it is not the worthless Commissar of Justice Rychkov, Eastern Europe found a strictly promises of big states that can and Beria’s deputies Abakumov, conditional sovereignty under the guarantee a state’s sovereignty Kobulov, and Merkulov. The com- heel of the Kremlin. Their leaders and territorial integrity, but one’s mission’s primary task was to pre- were appointed and removed from own nuclear weapons. vent any discussion at the Nurem- office with the approval of the So- Russian political analyst Stan- berg trials pertaining to Soviet- viet Union, but they were formally islav Belkovsky argues that Putin German relations in 1939-1941, sovereign states, members of the is opposed to the Western world in the secret protocols of the Molo- UN and so on. Moscow’s approval the name of a new division of the tov-Ribbentrop pact, the joint So- was needed even to repress some- world, Yalta-2. But such a division viet-German attack on Poland, one in the capitals of the “socialist does not give the West any guar- and Moscow’s occupation of the camp”. Representatives of the So- antees; on the contrary, the more Baltic states. viet KGB sat as “advisers” (and se- concessions the “Western ene- Beria sent a special investiga- cret bosses) to the special services mies” (as seen in the Kremlin) tive team led by Colonel Likhachev of Poland, Hungary, Czechoslova- make, the more emboldened Mos- to supervise the Soviet judges, kia, and other countries. These cow will feel. № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|29 focus|Europe after 1945 A Struggle for Peace The veterans fought for freedom and a better life in Europe. Can that peace and prosperity now endure in the face of so many new challenges? hey still parade through the Author: form a European Coal and Steel streets, straight-backed, Michael community, to prevent the two proud, bedecked with med- Binyon, UK countries becoming political and Tals, honouring their com- economic rivals again. This led to rades who fell in countless battles the founding of the Common Mar- across the continent. But the vet- ket in 1957, comprising six core erans who won victory at Stalin- members: France, Germany, Italy, grad, on the beaches of Normandy Belgium, the Netherlands and or in the ruins of Berlin are few in Luxembourg with a secretariat number now, many are in wheel- and headquarters in Brussels. chairs and most are in their 90s. It Seven of the countries left out, is now 70 years since VE (Victory including Britain, Austria and in Europe) Day. And Europe has Scandinavia, formed a rival Euro- any future military threat to arise changed beyond all recognition for pean Free Trade Area. Europe was from the West and his insistence the men and women who fought divided into sixes and sevens. But on the political domination of for the continent’s freedom. gradually most applied for full neighbouring countries meant The Second World War left membership of the Common Mar- that Moscow engineered a series two important legacies that still ket, which soon changed its name of revolutions and coups in Po- endure. After the horrors of Nazi to the European Economic Com- land, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, rule and the brutalities of the con- munity. This, in turn, became Bulgaria, Romania and Yugosla- centration camps, it underlined much more than just an economic via, assisted by the Soviet pres- the vital importance of upholding arrangement, was renamed the ence in all those countries liber- human rights and individual lib- European Union and adopted a ated from the Nazis by Soviet erty. The result was the founding commitment to work towards po- troops. These coups established of the Council of Europe in 1949. litical union. In the past 20 years, communist governments in all This body, based in Strasbourg, since the fall of communism, the Eastern Europe and totalitarian now includes 47 members and en- dictatorships in every Soviet “sat- acted the landmark European Europe, especially the ellite” country. Convention on Human Rights in Western Europe was increas- 1950. Its court in Strasbourg is the former Soviet republics ingly worried by this Soviet expan- highest court of appeal on human and Warsaw Pact nations, sionism. Stalin had already at- rights issues for all the European tempted to upset the post-war ar- signatories, creating a common are again feeling rangements for the occupation of European legal space for 850 mil- challenged by the Germany by trying to force the al- lion people. lies out of West Berlin with a The second legacy of 1945 was resurgent nationalism blockade. But the success of the the universal determination that of Russia Berlin airlift in 1948 showed that European states should never go if the West stood firm, Moscow to war with each other in the fu- EU has opened its doors to the would back down. And with the ture. Leading statesmen of the day states of Eastern Europe, and now help of America, which increas- resolved to bind the core countries comprises a total of 28 members. ingly saw the Soviet Union as a of Western Europe together in a But there was one other all- military rival intent on world common economic community to important result of the Second domination, the west Europeans strengthen political links and lead, World War: the rise of the Soviet decided to form a collective de- in the end, to some form of politi- Union, the spread of communism fence treaty to protect themselves cal union. This became the core of into Eastern Europe, the division from Russia. This landmark what is now known as the Euro- of Germany and Europe and the treaty, signed in 1949, became the pean Union. It began as a treaty beginning of the Cold War. Sta- basis for the North Atlantic Treaty between France and Germany to lin’s determination never to allow Organisation – NATO. Its key pro- 30|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Europe after 1945|focus From then on, communism in tain conditions, in many coun- Eastern Europe was doomed. It tries despite opposition from collapsed also in the Soviet Union some church groups. Homosexu- after the attempted coup against ality, which was once a criminal Gorbachev in 1991. Suddenly, offence throughout most of Eu- Eastern Europe was free. Ger- rope, was no longer illegal and many was swiftly reunited. Coun- the younger generations were tol- tries long cut off from their west- erant of gay people. Indeed, by ern neighbours rediscovered their 2010 many countries, including historic links. Europe was made Britain, France and Spain – usu- whole again, politically and cul- ally traditional in social attitudes turally, and people began flocking – had passed laws allowing gay across the borders in their mil- marriage. lions. But demographic changes The Eastern Europeans then have also changed the face of Eu- discovered other massive changes rope in 70 years. Millions of mi- that had been going on in the West grants have arrived, especially in since the 1950s. First, the West Britain, Germany and France, had become richer than it had ever from Africa, the Caribbean and been before. West German indus- Asia, many coming in search of try led the world. Italy, despite work in the 1960s. Black, Indian, poor government, prospered. Arab, Turkish and others from mi- Spain and Portugal threw off fas- norities, once rare in Europe’s cit- cist dictatorships. France and ies, now account for almost half Britain both lost global empires, the population in some areas. which caused considerable politi- There have been tensions and ri- cal pain, but were modernising ots in some countries, but most their traditional societies. There West European societies are now was a massive movement from the multicultural. Even Scandinavia, countryside to towns across West- once peopled by blond Nordic vision was that any attack on one One legacy ern Europe, and huge advances in races, now has large numbers of of 1945 was of its members would be seen by the universal education and health care. By the dark-skinned citizens. the others as an attack on all of determination mid-80s most countries had de- The elderly veterans have seen them, so that all would come to that European veloped social security networks, progress in all areas of life in the aid of any country threatened states should with unemployment payments Western Europe. But things may with a Soviet attack. never go to and health care systems that were not be so smooth in future. Eu- The next 40 years were war with each either free or paid for through in- rope is now facing economic chal- marked by the stalemate in Eu- other in the surance. lenges from Asia, and has had to rope caused by the Cold War. The future. Leading The other big change was the cut back its generous social secu- communist countries formed the statesmen huge increase in personal free- rity arrangements. There is wide- Warsaw Pact, as a Soviet rival to of the day dom. Class divisions became less spread disillusion with the Euro- resolved to NATO. But every so often the bind the core marked, and educational and em- pean Union, local nationalisms longing for freedom led to sponta- countries of ployment opportunities were open are growing, and many countries, neous uprisings – brutally sup- Western Europe to all. People had money to buy especially Britain and Spain, have pressed by the local governments together in cars, and car ownership increased seen the growth of separatist with Soviet help: in East Germany a common tenfold. People began travelling movements. The Muslim popula- in 1953, in Poland and Hungary in economic much more, and the vast growth tion of Europe now numbers 1956, in Czechoslovakia in 1968. community in tourism saw millions of Europe- around 15 million people, but is East Germany erected the Berlin to strengthen ans taking summer holidays in being shaken by radicalism and Wall in 1961 to try to stop the political links. foreign countries. Spain was re- extremism, and Europe is having flight of Germans to the West. This became the ceiving about 40 million foreign to fight a global wave of terrorism. core of what is Berlin was cut in two. The attempt now known as tourists every year. Above all, Europe, especially the by the Polish trade union Solidar- the European In the 1980s East Europeans former Soviet republics and War- ity to challenge communist power Union based on also suddenly discovered the sex saw Pact nations, are again feeling almost led to another Soviet inva- the Maastricht revolution that swept the West in challenged by the resurgent na- sion; instead, the Poles themselves Treaty signed in the 1960s. Traditional attitudes tionalism of Russia. The “peace introduced martial law. 1992 and taboos were being broken. dividend”, widely anticipated after Change did not come until Young people were having sex the fall of the Berlin Wall, may not Gorbachev came to power in Mos- regularly before marriage. The be so easily cashed. cow. Poland again led the way, contraceptive pill was freely The veterans fought for free- and when it was clear that Mos- available to women and com- dom and a better life in Europe. cow would not intervene, change pletely changed women’s atti- They gave the continent 70 years accelerated rapidly. By 1989 all tudes, making them less worried of peace and breakneck change Eastern Europe was in revolt about getting pregnant. Advertis- and development. But can that against communism. The culmi- ing, films, television and theatre peace and prosperity now endure nation came with the opening of regularly featured sexual themes. in the face of so many new chal- the Berlin Wall in November. Abortion was legalised, with cer- lenges? № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|31 focus|Europe after 1945 The “Normal Life” Argument

Author: mong the criticisms tent. Contradicting the view that point of view, one can say that Philippe raised by the “decommu- totalitarianism cannot amend it- honest people lived happily, had de Lara, nization bills” passed by self, there were economic and a decent life, were stirred by France Athe Verkhovna Rada in cultural changes, even under Gagarin’s achievement, by the April, there is an interesting ar- Brezhnev (one of the foremost victories of the Moscow Spartak gument worth reflecting upon. It pro-Putin lobbyist in France, (not to mention the Kyiv Dy- says that the soviet era cannot Jacques Sapir, is a fan of Alexei namo). There were members of be reduced to the crimes of the Kosygin), even more under Gor- the nomenklatura, and they soviet regime, that it had posi- bachev. From an individual don’t understand the global tive aspects or, at least, that it allowed millions of people to lead a normal life, to be happy, to go to school, have a job, etc. The argument is flawed but has a partial truth which makes it plausible. Let’s unfold the thing. There were indeed, mar- riages and divorces, ordinary crimes, fair trials (there must have been some!), scientific dis- coveries made, artistic master- pieces created, joy and sorrow experienced, as in any normal society. They left recollections and traces one cannot mistake for the misdeeds of the regime. In the academic discussion, some scholars argue that com- munist societies were complex, that one should not reduce them to ideocracy, to the power of the Party. There would be some- thing inaccurate and misleading in the very concept of totalitari- anism: first, it mistakes the party-state for the society as a whole, and therefore ratifies the self-image built by the regime, that is a unanimous society, without conflicts, merging with the power that leads and con- trols it. The totalitarianism the- ory ignores then that despite all the efforts of the “organs”, there was an independent civil society, which imposed its own agenda and dynamics to a reluctant ide- ology. Second, this theory ig- nores history and time: soviet rule lasted for 74 years and in- cluded very different phases. Af- ter Stalin’s death, the Thaw re- laxed the vice, liberty or at least normality appeared to some ex- 32|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Europe after 1945|focus bashing of the soviet legacy. One ning to the end. Communism least “achievement of socialism”, should respect their feelings. managed to stabilize, to ratio- be it the building of vacation vil- This is flawed but very per- nalize itself so to speak, by shift- lages or the soviet supremacy suasive, both at the academic ing from world revolution to the concerning great pianists (Rich- level (complexity etc.) and at the world communist system. This ter, Gilels… one born in Zhyto- common level of discussion (the makes communism a bewilder- myr, the other in Odesa, both normal happiness). It looks Ukrainian cities) seems able to sound because long lasting mitigate the failures and crimes changes everything. By becom- We have to go further of the communist regime. Such a ing a long-term routinized re- in the study of routinized binary accounting leads no- gime, “socialism in one country” where (or to the idea of a “glob- did not amount to the end of to- totalitarianism ally positive assessment”, as talitarianism, but it created a to understand what is at used to say Georges Marchais, special unheard of system, dif- Secretary General of the French ferent from “normal” totalitari- stake in “decommunization” Communist Party in the 1970s). anism, if I may say so. in Central and Eastern We have to go further in the To put it briefly, the secret of study of routinized totalitarian- soviet totalitarianism, is its sur- Europe ism to understand what is at vival by withdrawal of its revolu- stake in “decommunization” in tionary dimension. Meanwhile ing political experience. The Central and Eastern Europe. fascist and Nazi totalitarianism power of the party was omni- Treating as separate facts politi- were revolutionary from begin- present but softened. Nepotism cal oppression on the one hand, and cynicism replaced frenzied and daily life and positive politization and revolutionary achievements on the other, is not faith, so that the board between the right way of understanding party-state and civil society, be- what it is about. The pockets of tween oppressed or corrupted daily normal life, the admirable sectors of society, and the grow- achievements, notably in arts ing sectors of more or less auton- and science, are not a quantity omous activity, went blurred. to put in balance with the quan- Did the hormonal manipulations tity of oppression and corrup- of female Olympic swimmers af- tion, because oppression and fect the whole practice of sports corruption were diffused and in- in GDR? Did the mandatory filtrated in the normal life. Some study of Marxism-Leninism pre- domains, such as press, univer- vented universities to produce sity and literature, were more good engineers and good physi- affected than others, but none cians? One cannot answer either escaped from the totalitarian “yes” or “no” period. Daily life routine. This is the meaning of under “socialism” entailed small the third term coining the cowardice, small corruption, Maidan: revolution of freedom, small fear, which can be easily of dignity, and of truth. forgotten, downplayed or even I am not a Ukrainian citizen idealised. They were intertwined and my purpose is not to urge in the honourable or glorious the President to sign or not to features of soviet life, as for in- sign the four bills of April. There stance the lies and silences of may be concerns regarding free- the myth of the Great Patriotic dom of speech although I do not War are intertwined in the genu- detect them until now. Some ine heroic deeds and sacrifices great scholars, in Ukraine and of soviet population and army abroad, like David Marples or during the war. John-Paul Himka, did detect At this point, the obvious them; others did not - the dis- analogy between totalitarian- cussion is legitimate. My point is isms may be misleading. The to stress the specific dimension Nazi type, apocalyptic and brief, of communist ideology and ex- does not suffice to understand perience and the long-lasting the communist type, routinized global lie surrounding and pro- and never ending. tecting them (the ban on com- Everybody knows that Mus- paring Nazi and Soviet regimes solini dewatered the Pontine is central to this global lie). This Marshes and that Hitler calls for specific understanding equipped Germany with a re- categories and specific policies markable highway network, but of liberation, which should this does not affect much the match the European standards judgement of history on their re- of free speech, but are neverthe- gime. On the other hand, the less specific. № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|33 focus|Europe after 1945 Victory-Over-Freedom Day …A Land Cruiser with an orange-and-black striped St. to note that they fought only for their own conve- George ribbon hanging from its rear-view mirror and a nience, for their own liberation from Nazism, while bumper sticker saying “Thanks to Grand-dad that we the Soviet Union was concerned about the entire won!” is parked in the yard on the only pathway lead- world. By and large, the allies were not the victors, ing to the building entrance. This same “grand-dad” is but rather the heirs of Hitler, and European liberal- limping home from the nearest grocery store with a ism is really the younger brother of Nazism. And pack of kefir and a loaf of the cheapest bread, mutter- their American and English “granddads’ fight” was ing curses under his breath as he tries to squeeze by to strictly to save their own skins, while soon after the his apartment entry. The driver whose patriotism has war their sons and grandsons quickly went down the sent him into such transports looks on lazily, giving the wrong path. old man a bit of advice now and then how not to scratch The obedient Russian people really do not want to see up his expensive car in passing. or know any of this. National memory is a strange crea- ...Russian neo-freedom fighters—cossacks decorated ture: where it should be long, it turns out to be short, with intricate, imaginative knots of the same orange- and where it should be shortened, it stretches end- and-black stripe—are in the process of raiding night- lessly. For instance, try telling the average Russian citi- clubs to determine whether Orthodox traditions are zen that the St. George ribbon was never a symbol of being upheld there. victory, that it was invented by Vladislav Surkov as a ... Here and there, kids in camouflage with the same St. huge PR project launched in 2006—they simply won’t George’s ribbons on their chests march through the believe you. Explain that this ribbon was introduced by streets of Moscow. Catherine II in 1769 during the Russo-Turkish War …The Minister of Defense in a surfeit of patriotism and that afterwards it was added to the Order of Glory tweets a cute joke about riding into Europe, not on and the Medal “For Victory over Germany,” and they Author: bikes, but on tanks. The vassals roar with laughter. The will laugh at you: “What have you been eating? What Kateryna Night Wolves bikers’ club that was refused entry into does Surkov have to do with this? Our granddads Barabash, Europe growls “We’ll get you.” fought with this ribbon.” But if you tell them that veter- Moscow ...The handful of heads of state who have confirmed ans will not be included in the Victory Parade in Mos- that they will attend the 70th anniversary of “Pobeda” cow on May 9, and the average Russian will take it include North Korea, Cuba, Mongolia, Vietnam, India, completely in stride. “I mean, Moscow’s not exactly and China. The rest will find out where crabs spend elastic.” their winters in the not-too-distant future, as soon as Among freedom-loving folks in Russia—yes, yes, these kids in camo grow up... there still are some around, strange as it may seem—, Tied up in orange-and-black ribbons, the country is go- you can hear more and more concern being expressed ing mad, grimacing and hooting in an absolute frenzy that Russia is turning, slowly but surely, into the of patriotism. Well and truly USSR at the height of Stalin- fertilized with 18 months of The upcoming ist repressions. And although hatred towards Ukraine, Eu- mass executions have not rope and America, Russia has anniversary, instead of started, it seems like the situ- locked itself around its new being a demonstration ation with brainwashing is spiritual yoke, the jubilee of far worse. All permeating Victory. The luminous yet sad of peaceful aspirations terror, born in 1917 during commemoration that this day has been transformed the civil war, then the deku- deserves to be has turned lakization and finally repres- into a Night on Bald Moun- into its opposite sions. Soviet citizens chanted tain that has drawn every “Glory to the Great Stalin!” imaginable and unimaginable foul thing to itself. and “Shoot them all like rabid dogs!” Everyone The 70th anniversary of Victory has blown away knew: if you don’t shout today, tomorrow you will any doubts and shreds of common sense, laying bare be screaming in the underground cells of Lubianka. the main component of Russian “patriotism”… the There was simply no choice. The least hint of dissent Great National Pride of Great Russians mixed up with meant death. a harsh contempt for all that is other and alive. Today, Russia is governed by a generation that never The upcoming anniversary, instead of being a demon- felt that fear. Today, no one will shoot you if you stration of peaceful aspirations has been transformed aren’t with everybody claiming your great love of Pu- into its opposite. Not long ago, the “granddads’ fight” tin, if you don’t wear the black-and-orange ribbon meant the memory that served as a foundation on and if you sing Ukraine’s national anthem of Ukraine which would be established the peaceful life of the instead of Russia’s. Today, the people of Russia are grandsons who promised not to betray what their doing everything voluntarily. And that’s far scarier granddads had achieved. Today, the “granddads’ fight” than the 4 million denunciations of 1937. This is the is a stoplight, a break that threatens to stop any move- unforgivable betrayal of memory that has suffocated ment in the wrong direction. to death, hanged on that same St. George’s ribbon Meanwhile, the word “allies” has pretty much disap- that is now a symbol of treason. peared from the victorious lexicon: this is our cele- The “Great State” is preparing to celebrate 70 years bration and ours alone. And when officials do some- of Victory. Russia’s own, personal, not-to-be-shared- how mention allies in passing in their speeches, it’s with-anyone, privatized—and trampled—victory. 34|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Reforms|neighbours How Poland Made It. Notes of a Businessman

go to Poland on a working visit Author: ther in the housing and utility or fixed and unified exchange rate of every year. And every time I Volodymyr in the monetary and financial the zloty against the dollar. see a sharp contrast with Popereshnyuk area. Can a transparent market These and a number of other I Ukraine. Our western neigh- exist alongside government mo- measures served as an anti-infla- bor today is different from what it nopolies or banks that enjoy pref- tion anchor for the country, min- was only two or three years ago, erences of the Ministry of Fi- imizing the imbalance of the at least for an observant business nance? The Polish answer was a economy and providing the basis traveler. The progress is manifest conclusive "no," so all state- for establishing an effective almost everywhere: in transport owned financial institutions were money market. communications, financial ser- turned into private ones. Fifteen Already a few years later, in vices, investment opportunities, years later, Georgians did the early 2000s, Poland turned from real sector, and small businesses. same. But not Ukrainians. an eternal debtor into a respect- It fills me with contradictory Ukraine has, as we know, a able player on the global invest- emotions. No, it's not because a huge subsidized state-run seg- ment market, with 2.4–2.9% in- Ukrainian, as the saying goes, ment of the real economy. Infra- flation and over USD 80bn of would envy that his neighbor's structure management has been own foreign exchange reserves. cow is alive when his cow dies. monopolized by all kinds of state After just one year of shock ther- It's just that our state, com- agencies and other bottomless apy (I want to stress it: one year!), pared to Poland, seems to be a sources of budget siphoning. the government achieved GDP land of missed opportunities, growth that has been stable ever even though we started on the IF YOU WANT TO SAVE since. In 1992, it was at 2.6%, and path of capitalism from approxi- in 1995 it was already 7%. mately the same starting point. THE COUNTRY FROM Why? I would identify sev- So, I decided to investigate in THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, eral reasons that are directly re- more detail the nature of the lated to the Ukrainian format of "Polish miracle." Why did Poland MAKE THE PROTECTION transformation and, in my opin- succeed, while we are still lagging OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ion, were quite unjustly ne- behind not only the European glected by the "post-Maidan" countries, but also the post-So- ENTERPRISES A NATIONAL IDEA Cabinet during its first year. viet states? And what experience of economic and administrative Moreover, there are three state- SMEs rule reforms would be beneficial to owned banks, which last year The Polish reformers realized Ukraine in its strive to overcome showed astronomical loss figures that they had to make the most the crisis and become a truly in- of over UAH 20bn, according to of whatever their compatriots' dependent, business-oriented official statements. They are re- cultural code had preserved: en- and prosperous nation? capitalized using treasury funds, trepreneurship and natural re- that is, at the account of the tax spect for private property. So, Denationalization payments. SMEs became the locomotives Probably the most important In Poland, however, during of the government's anti-crisis thing is that the Poles under just two years of reforms, the campaign and minimized the so- BIO Balcerowicz and Mazowiecki, at Volodymyr state was completely taken out of cial implications of the mass a stroke of the pen, eliminated Popereshnyuk the real economy in 50% of in- scale liquidation of the state- everything that is still a stum- was born in dustrial facilities. Privatization owned sector of the economy. bling block for Ukraine. Firstly, 1975. He gradu- took place at public auctions, Creating an enabling busi- they let the unprofitable state- ated from the with cash payments instead of ness environment became one of owned companies that had no Zhukovsky voucher schemes that were used the embodiments of the Polish market-oriented production Kharkiv Aviation in Ukraine. national idea and took place un- policy to go bankrupt. Secondly, Institute and By the way, despite a galloping der the national slogan. they mandatorily passed the earned his MBA inflation, the government of Bal- By the end of the 1990s, Po- management of the entire state- from the Interna- cerowicz–Mazowiecki did not let land had about 3.5 million SMEs, tional Institute of run utility sector to the home- Business in Kyiv. the exchange rate to float freely, that is, one business per 10 citi- owners. Thirdly, they eliminated He is Operations the move that the National Bank zens, including minors. Propor- the state banking system. Director and co- of Ukraine proudly announced a tionally, it is more than in the According to Polish reform- founder of the few months ago. On the contrary, home countries of modern entre- ers, the state cannot be the sub- Nova Poshta cou- the Poles resorted to strict mone- preneurship: Switzerland and ject of commercial relations, ei- rier service group tary regulation, introducing a the Netherlands. № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|35 neighbours|Reforms The contribution of small holidays for a period from sev- and medium-sized enterprises to eral months to several years. Poland's economic recovery re- Most import licenses were ally cannot be overemphasized. canceled. Obtaining the remain- Today, they account for about ing ones was made as easy as half of the national GDP, that is, possible. Likewise, with just one more than USD 200bn. stroke, all export quotas without By comparison, before the exception were eliminated. There last year's crisis, their share in the are no restrictions on taking rev- Ukrainian economy never ex- enues out of the country and on ceeded 10% of GDP, amounting investment volumes. Nothing to only USD 14bn. That is despite like that exists in Ukraine. the fact that the economic poten- As a result, already by 1997, tial of the Ukrainian SSR in late foreign direct investment in Po- 1980s was twice higher than that land reached USD 20.6bn. Ten of the socialist Poland. The older years later, this figure exceeded generation of Poles still remem- USD 160bn. This is almost five bers going to Ukraine to buy con- times more than in Ukraine dur- sumer goods, tea and fertilizers, ing the same period. similar to today's Ukrainian shut- tle traders going to Polish whole- Laffer curve sale markets to buy a whole vari- During the industrial crisis of the ety of products. early 1980s, American econo- As long as our country holds mists identified a fatal pattern: the "honorary" 96th place in the tax increase at a certain point World Bank's Doing Business in- does not increase budget reve- dex, with the 150th position in nues, but reduces them instead, Trading Across Borders category because fiscal pressure destroys and the fourth from the bottom business, which is the donor of (among 189 participants) in the treasury. some other categories, such as, The Ukrainian government, for instance, Getting Electricity, despite the collapse of the econ- the problems with the national omy and finance, failed to drasti- currency exchange rate and capi- cally reduce the tax burden on the tal outflow are not surprising. corporate sector over the last Today, foreign business has year. In Poland, such reform also no motivation to come to Ukraine was not carried out immediately, and to invest money in its econ- but only in the early 2000s. How- omy. Domestic metallurgy and ever, its results could be for us a chemistry keep losing global ex- vital lesson in efficient economy. port markets, and the supply of Following the reduction of foreign currency is increasingly the income tax for businesses dependent on migrant workers from 27% to 19% during the very alone. first year after the adoption of The Polish experience in this the new budget code, Poland's Ukrainian challenge and a pain shock. Hun- officials study sense is like an icon for us: if you budget received more than USD Balcerowicz’s dreds of thousands of workers of want to save the country from 1bn of additional tax revenues. reforms but different skill levels found them- the economic collapse, make the Using the Laffer curve principle hardly rush to selves in the labor market. Un- protection of small and medium gave the economy a chance to apply them employment that affected one in enterprises a national idea. flourish, despite a significant re- five economically active Polish duction in the tax rate. citizens had the potential of Open marketplace Today, the median income of splitting the country and stirring Balcerowicz's anti-crisis govern- an average Pole is much higher up a wave of leftist protests. ment saw the task of opening than USD 1,000 per month. Po- However, the Poles perse- the domestic market to foreign land is one of the six largest vered. They had been waiting too capital as one of its highest pri- economies in the European long for liberalization, both po- orities. Foreign Investment Law Union. The EU keeps investing litical and economic, and were was one of the first government in it. Why? Because the money is not ready to give up their free- decrees. It completely abolished used to enrich the country, not to dom for the sake of the socialist any restrictions on the share of increase the wealth of the indi- welfare myths. equity capital owned by foreign- viduals close to the channels of Polish reformers realized ers and established tax incen- foreign aid reception and distri- that the radical transformation tives for foreign investors. bution, as it is in Greece. was an extremely painful pro- In provinces where due to cess. They had to launch the re- real sector privatization, labor Pain shock forms flywheel immediately, market suffered the worst col- The rapid deregulation of the while the nation still lived in lapse, these benefits included tax economy was a difficult social the atmosphere of a patriotic 36|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Reforms|neighbours faces and party banners have changed, but the methods of managing the wheels of state have remained the same. At least, business felt no sig- nificant liberalization. As a con- sequence, the results of the last year for Ukraine were the drop in GDP by 35%, 70% devalua- tion, and 50% investment out- flow from the real economy. Taking into account the ex- change rate fluctuations, we lost investments of non-residents amounting to about USD 13.6bn. The effect was exactly the oppo- site of what was observed in Po- land already in the first year of reforms. This means that the shock therapy was without doubt the right step made by the govern- ment of Mazowiecki and Bal- cerowicz. The gradual and pru- dent approach in this case would have obviously exhausted the impatient (in a good sense) Pol- ish society, reviving the leftist and conservative moods. It's like removing a court plaster from the body: you can do it slowly and carefully, over- POLES DID NOT SAY: "GIVE US MONEY, FOR WE ARE POOR." THEY SAID: "GIVE US MONEY, BECAUSE WE ARE IMPLEMENTING REFORMS AND CHANGING THE SYSTEM

phoто: Unian phoто: FROM WITHIN" enthusiasm in the years follow- of corporate taxation, proximity coming pain and discomfort, or ing the elimination of Soviet to commodity and sales markets, you can do it in one lightening- dictatorship. as well as with respect to state speed operation, requiring con- History has shown that the regulation. siderable willpower. In Poland, government was right. Already in The reformers made full use everything happened in the most three or four years, the country's of the Polish sense of national resolute manner. economy started generating far dignity while the nation was Poles did not say: "Give us more jobs than were lost after highly euphoric. This helped money, for we are poor." They the elimination of the subsidized suppress social pain, minimize said: "Give us money, because we public sector. protest aftermaths, and leave are implementing reforms and About a third of migrant leftist populists without their changing the system from workers returned to the country, grateful audience, with the ex- within." Europeans know that including former employees of ception of obvious outsiders. providing funds does not mean the liquidated public sector com- What about Ukraine? Our solving systemic problems, let panies. It was not because the reformers apparently slept alone starting the flywheel of crisis was raging in Europe in the through this "heroic" period. transformation. Today's Greece late 1990s, and not because Over the year, when the enthusi- is a striking example. working in Germany became un- asm ignited by the Euromaidan Which scenario Ukraine will profitable, but because German events naturally increased the follow, Polish or Greek, will be production began to move to Po- society's ability to endure sacri- clear in the coming months. If land en masse. In Poland, a busi- fice, there has been almost no the government opts for the de- ness environment was created radical change in judicial, fiscal fault, there will be no chance to that was more favorable in terms or administrative area. The go ahead on the Polish path. № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|37 neighbours|Gazprom Margrethe and the Bear The European Union’s trustbuster turns her fire on Gazprom— marking a big change in European policy and the gas business

azprom revelled in its fell on April 22 when the EU’s The EU claims Gazprom is untouchability. It was the competition commissioner, Mar- “pursuing an overall strategy to main supplier of impor­ grethe Vestager, sent the com- partition central and eastern Eu- Gted gas to the European pany a long-expected “statement ropean gas markets.” It curbs Union, benefiting both from of objections” (Euro-parlance for customers’ ability to resell gas, close Kremlin patronage (the a charge-sheet) alleging market which allows it to charge “unfair Russian state is its largest share- abuses. The unpublished docu- prices” in five countries: Bul- holder) and from a web of busi- ment runs to hundreds of pages. garia, Poland and the Baltic ness and political relationships They detail the murky world of states of Estonia, Latvia and in countries it sold gas to, nota- Russian gas exports, featuring Lithuania. Moreover, the EU bly Germany. Alternatives to lucrative intermediary compa- says, Gazprom abused its domi- Russian gas were scant, as was nies with unknown beneficial nant market position to try to customers’ willingness to resist ownership, deals struck by poli- keep control of the Yamal transit Gazprom’s dominance. ticians not businessmen, and a pipeline across Poland, and to Now the EU is taking on the hefty dose of geopolitical favou- bully Bulgaria into supporting Russian gas beast. The first blow ritism. South Stream, a now-cancelled 38|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Gazprom|neighbours Kremlin project to bring gas the EU. That brings speedy pen- across the Black Sea into the EU. Sagging alties—and also potential law- Gazprom had put out feelers EU natural gas, exajoules suits from customers who have to Brussels in previous months been overcharged, notes Alan to see if it could reach a settle- Imports from Russia Riley, a British law professor. ment. But those talks broke 25 Another option is to mount legal down amid the freeze in East- Consumption challenges—including ones clai­ West relations over Ukraine. 20 ming abuse of property rights. Now Gazprom has 12 weeks to Total imports Vaclav Bartuska, the Czech Re- deal with the charges—by rebut- 15 public’s energy envoy, forecasts tal, concessions or both. If it a climbdown, masked by a fails to satisfy the commission, 10 showy but empty deal on future the next stage is enforcement. exports to China to show the This could mean fines of EUR1 Russian public that the Kremlin billion (USD1.1 billion) or 5 is punishing Europe for its im- more—in theory up to 10% of its pudence. turnover—and legally mandated 0 Russia may also press ahead changes to its business model. 2000 02 04 06 08 10 12 14* with Turk Stream, a Black Sea Such options are still in reserve. Source: Euro at *E imate pipeline which would deliver gas “All roads are open,” says Ms. just as far as the Turkey-Greece Vestager. “We would like Gaz- border, to avoid the EU rules prom to answer and we would that stymied South Stream. The like to talk.” cious prosecutorial powers. And Kremlin is wooing Greece to sup- Gazprom’s initial response the more the EU looked at Rus- port the project, with a USD5 bil- was icy. It said the EU’s com- sian gas imports, the less it liked lion sweetener. More such di- plaint was “unfounded”, insisted what it saw. In 2011, in the big- vide-and-rule tactics in Europe that it already abides by interna- gest antitrust raid in the EU’s are likely: Russia’s pipelines ex- tional law and the domestic leg- history, officials with search port political influence even islation of the countries where it warrants seized documents and when they are still mere lines on does business, and argued that computers from dozens of offices a map. the dispute should be settled at a belonging to Gazprom and its af- But turning off the gas taps, governmental level. Gazprom filiates. In 2012 the EU followed to punish the EU, seems un- was established “beyond the ju- this up by opening a formal in- likely. Russia is losing market risdiction of the EU”, it noted. vestigation. share in Europe already, and Revealingly, it said that Russian The statement of objections cannot afford to annoy its cus- law gave it “special, socially sig- has been largely ready since tomers or endanger its USD40 nificant functions…and the sta- 2013, but was subject to a long billion export revenues. tus of a strategic government- and timorous delay. Ms. Vestag- controlled business entity”. Back A cold climate in 2012 President Vladimir Putin Worries about dependence on banned such “strategic” compa- Russia is losing market Russian gas have in any case di- nies from disclosing information share in Europe already, minished. Not only is the winter to foreign regulators or obeying over but Europe is generally in their orders. and cannot afford to better shape to withstand a Rus- The EU began its move annoy its customers sian tantrum. It has improved against Gazprom with the launch storage, and built north-south of the “Third Energy Package” in gas links, so that a cut in ship- 2007. That was a deceptively er’s predecessor, Joaquín Almu- ments across, say, Ukraine, can bland title for a series of mea- nia, repeatedly promised to be made up with other supplies. sures that “unbundled”—in fact, launch charges, but left office in Lithuania, once wholly depen- upended—Europe’s energy mar- November with that pledge un- dent on Russian gas, has built a ket. The main effect was to ban fulfilled. Senior people in the terminal to import liquefied nat- the same company from owning commission thought a deal ural gas (LNG), gaining a swift both the gas pipelines and the would be better than worsening price cut from Gazprom. This molecules that flow through relations with Russia. year America will start LNG ex- them. Russia objected harshly to Now Europe is in a more ro- ports, creating yet more supply this, seeing it as a politicised, un- bust frame of mind. Ms. Ve- options. provoked and confiscatory attack stager, a steely Dane, insists that For Mr Putin, the commis- on Gazprom’s assets and busi- her directorate is part of the jus- sion’s move underlines the ness model. tice system and acts without fear scale of Russia’s isolation. However, rather like Micro- or favour. The move against Gaz- Trust and patience have ebbed, soft, which fell foul of EU compe- prom came only a week after it even in Germany. His friends tition law for bundling its Inter- © 2015 The launched a statement of objec- are fewer in number. By using net Explorer browser with its Economist tions against another corporate energy as a weapon, he has Windows operating system, the Newspaper giant, Google. prompted defence and counter- company and its political mas- Limited. All For Gazprom the most petu- attack. The bear is not as feared ters did not grasp the EU’s fero- rights reserved lant option would be to ignore as it was. № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|39 neighbours|Russia vs Europe Time to Wake Up Europe “whole, free, and at peace” was the mantra of the glory days of Euro-Atlanticism, when Russia was docile and history was ending. It was never a statement of reality

Author: urope was not whole (coun- Edward Lucas, tries such as Moldova were in- UK dubitably European and clear­ E­ly not where they wanted to be). It was not free (Belarus). It was not at peace (half-frozen conflicts scarred the map of Europe from Cy- prus to Azerbaijan). Now that aspiration is in tatters. Europe is not marching toward prosperity and freedom. It is retreat- ing to a harsh world of power poli- tics, where might is right, truth with- ers in the face of propaganda, and the ethnos—old ideas about blood, language, and soil—matters more than modern rules of democracy and international cooperation. The Kremlin clock is sounding the death knell of Euro-Atlanticism. Not because Russia is strong—it is the Baltic littoral (Denmark, Esto- in Estonia and Tbilisi in Georgia not—but because the rest of Europe nia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lith- where totalitarian ideologies had is weak and the glue that holds the uania, Poland, and Sweden). All wrought such havoc in past decades. United States to the continent’s se- these countries face Kremlin attacks But the Cold War did not end. It just curity arrangements has aged and on a spectrum ranging from clan- took a few years of recess. Russia re- grown brittle. destine influence peddling to direct mains a geopolitical contestant and At first sight, it is perplexing that Russian military pressure. antagonist. Russia—a country of 140 million The elements of the problem The situation of each country is and with a USD 2 trillion GDP—can have long been clear, but we have unique, but the overall picture is threaten Europe (with a population failed to see how they combine. We that the West is in retreat and Rus- of 600 million and a USD 20 trillion bemoaned the thuggish and repres- sia is winning. The sharpest conflict GDP), let alone NATO (950 million sive behavior of some supposed al- is over Ukraine. Russia decapitated and USD 40 trillion). But Russia has lies (the Aliyev regime in Azerbaijan, and dismembered its closest and three advantages: It is willing to ac- and the hot-headed and heavy- most important neighbor without cept economic pain; it is willing to handed Mikheil Saakashvili in Geor­ firing a shot. It so demoralized and threaten (and use) force; and it is ­gia), the Bulgarian feebleness to- confused the leadership in Kiev willing to lie, prolifically and ex- ward gangsterdom, the disrespect through a mixture of subversion, pertly, about what it is does. that Viktor Orbán in Hungary and propaganda, and special operations The Kremlin’s arsenal includes Robert Fico in Slovakia showed for (sometimes called “hybrid war”) economic pressure (especially the the rule of law, Czech weakness on that it was able to seize the strategi- use of gas, oil, and nuclear energy), corruption, and the persistent Polish cally important peninsula of Crimea corruption, subversion, propagan­ failure to deal with overbearing and in March 2014. ­da, and military saber rattling. Rus- incompetent bureaucracies. Ukraine failed to play its diplo- sia deploys these weapons against But we assumed, wrongly, that matic cards. It could have raised an the frontline states in Europe’s new we were in competition with the international storm over Russia’s cold war. ghosts of the past, not the demons of actions. It did not. Moreover, Ukrai- The new arc of instability the future. And we failed to see how nian forces in Crimea could have re- reaches from the Caucasus (Arme- Russia was stoking and exploiting sisted. They could have blocked the nia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia) across these weaknesses. After the spectac- airfields and ports used by the Rus- Ukraine and Moldova to southeast- ular failure of the Soviet empire in sians, paralyzed their communica- ern Europe (Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croa- the late 1980s and the chaos of the tions, taken control of road junc- tia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Roma- 1990s, it was hard to imagine that tions, and knocked out the Russian- nia, Serbia, and Slovenia), throu­­gh the Kremlin could ever again call the language media. They could have Central Europe (Austria, the Czech tune in the old “bloodlands"—the made it impossible for Russia to Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia) to swathe of territory between Tallinn seize the territory without waging a 40|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Russia vs Europe|neighbours full-scale war. But they didn’t. tic Sea. When the United States hardened steel and high explosives, Ukrainian military commanders protested, Russia replied menac- is what matters most in the new had no orders, no contingency ingly: “America is not a Baltic po­­ cold war. Russian money buys poli- plans, inadequate supplies, and no wer. Russia is”—laying the rhetorical ticians, political parties, think tanks, secure communications. One even foundation for a no-fly zone should media, academics, and officials— contacted me on Facebook asking the United States wish to reinforce not just in the frontline states but for advice. They retreated with their its NATO allies in a hurry. also in citadel countries. Some is morale in tatters. The military security of north- public—such as the 15-million-euro That set the scene for Russia’s eastern Europe hangs by a thread. loan to Marine Le Pen’s National next offensive, in the eastern Ukrai- Russia has carried out dummy nu- Front in France, or the hefty stipend nian regions of Luhansk and Donet­ clear attacks on Sweden and Den- paid to Germany’s Gerhard Schrö­­ ­sk. Here, Russia raised the stakes, mark. Both countries, having re- der, who as chancellor endorsed using its regular forces (disguised duced their defense capabilities be- deals with Gazprom and, after leav- lightly or not at all) in a more tradi- low the threadbare, are now ing office, took a job with the Rus- tional war. The conflict in eastern scram­­bling to restore the naval, avi- sian gas company. America applies Ukraine rumbles on, largely ignored ation, armored, and intelligence as- higher standards: amid stormy con- by Western news outlets, which hew sets that they so recklessly dis- troversy, former Congressman Curt to the idea that the “cease-fire” de- carded. Estonia—the only country in Weldon was investigated by the FBI clared in February in the Belarusian Europe to spend even 2 percent of over his ties with Russia and lost a capital of Minsk marks the end of its GDP on defense—is grimly wait- re-election bid. No public figure the conflict. ing for its allies to follow suit. Po- anywhere in Europe has yet paid a Russia has by now achieved its land, Lithuania, and even laggardly price for taking money from the main goals in Ukraine. It has shown Latvia are scrambling to increase Kremlin. it can destroy the European security their defense budgets. Poland—the Even the most powerful politi- order that dates back to the Helsinki only economic heavyweight in the cian in Europe, Angela Merkel, is agreements of 1975. It has repudi- region—is following Finland’s lead struggling to maintain European ated the Budapest Memorandum of in buying TASM stealth missiles, the solidarity on sanctions over Ukrai­ 1994, in which Russia, along with closest thing to a nuclear deterrent ­ne. Politicians in Cyprus say openly Britain and the United States, sol- for a non-nuclear country. It is also that they share confidential Euro- emnly promised to respect Ukrai­­ buying the American-built Patriot pean Union documents with Russia: ne’s territorial integrity and refrain missile-defense system. Brussels is faraway, but Moscow is a from any kind of coercion, in return But Poland stands almost alone. friend. Hungary, despairing of EU for the Kyiv authorities’ agreement NATO plans require Poland to takes solidarity on energy, has signed a to give up their Soviet-era endow- the brunt of reinforcing the Baltic, sweetheart deal with Russia for nu- ment of nuclear weapons. deploying a third of the Polish army clear-power stations. Those promises are now re- there, pending the arrival of other The tide is slowly turning. Ger- vealed as worthless paper. That allies. But arrival with what? After many, for example, is changing its opens a broad and inviting avenue post-WWII pacifist posture, bring- of attack for Russia in the Baltic ing 100 tanks out of storage and states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithu- Money is what matters tweaking its defense plans. Ireland, ania. Snap drills—often involving most in the new cold war. which has no air force, is worriedly nuclear weapons—have been met awakening to its dependence on the with a puny Western response. If No public figure anywhere aging warplanes of Britain’s RAF to America is not willing to risk World in Europe has yet paid intercept the Russian bombers that War III with Russia over a provoca- buzz its airspace. Russia does not tion in the Baltics, NATO will be a price for taking money seem to care that Ireland is not a over by breakfast. That is a huge and from the Kremlin member of NATO—any more than it tempting prize for the Kremlin. has refrained from bullying non- Vladimir Putin knows this. So 20 years of scrimping on defence NATO Sweden and Finland. Those do America’s European allies. The budgets, no European country has two Scandinavian countries, to- question is not whether Russia men- enough deployable, mobile, high- gether with their Nordic partners aces the Baltics, but when and how. readiness forces to fill this role. Denmark, Iceland, and Norway, Already Estonia has experienced the NATO has ditched its taboos about have issued an unprecedented joint humiliation of having a senior offi- Russia and now talks a good game declaration, decrying Russia’s war cial kidnapped on its territory and about rapid-reaction forces, but its games, military buildup, and dan- abducted to Moscow, only days after real capabilities are painfully re- gerous aviation stunts. That promp­­ President Obama, speaking in Tal- duced. The United States is indis- ted a rebuke from the Russian for- linn, vowed that an “attack on one is pensable to Baltic security. But is eign ministry. Russia is offended an attack on all.” But after the sei- Baltic security indispensable to the when foreigners do not take it seri- zure of this official—Eston Kohver, a United States? ously. It is even more offended when high-ranking police officer in Esto- For all NATO’s weakness, it still they do. nia’s internal-security agency—the retains a symbolic power that may The hard truth is that Europe West did nothing. be enough to deter Russia. But Rus- won’t bear the cost or the risk for Russian warplanes regularly in- sia does not need to outgun the the defences it needs. That won’t trude into Baltic airspace. One re- West militarily. It just needs to out- change until Europeans are a lot cently harassed an American recon- spend it on other fronts. That is the more scared or angry than they are naissance plane flying over the Bal- Kremlin’s real victory. Money, not now—which may be too late. № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|41 neighbours|Opinion Vytautas Landsbergis: "Ukrainians are now undergoing a long endurance test" The Ukrainian Week spoke to the first Speaker of the Seimas of the independent Lithuania and the recent Member of the European Parliament about the way Europe is changing its perception of Russia, the shifting "center of Europeanness", and why it is crucial for Ukrainians to resist disenchantment

Interviewed by Anna Korbut U.W.: It has been over a year since Russia launched its aggression against Ukraine, and de-facto against the West as well. Prior to this the East Europeans, and in particular the ones from the Baltics, who voiced their concerns about the Russian threat used to be dismissed as alarmists. In your opinion, how much has the assessment of the situation by the EU and their approaches changed since then? It was a big surprise for Europe to see someone dying for the EU. That was the moment they began to appreciate Ukrainians. The reas- sessment of the events by Europe is gradual and partial. They are al- ready willing to admit that we were right in forewarning them. But no- body wants to get involved in a war, so they turn a blind eye to the fact that war is indeed taking place. They are too afraid to face the truth and to start working on a strategy. lems of external and organizational The situation in your society is Unfortunately, it will take some democracy. But the spirit of free- in part typical, but what is untypi- kind of an unprecedented blow for dom and dignity has to be pre- cal about it is the extreme spiritual them to realize this. They need to served. And this brings us to the uplift. Russia has faced a choice of regain their sense of dignity like importance of the rule of law: with- holding on or letting go of its for- Ukrainians did. And Ukrainians out it dignity is lost. mer colony. When Ukraine decided should be reminded that in spite of that it wants to change, it had mili- all the hardships and letdowns one U.W.: Actually, this is a very hard tary force used against it. That was shouldn't get disenchanted with task for Ukrainians, because after the first phase of confrontation, dignity, because choosing enslave- the Maidan, more than a year of which perhaps might have looked ment would be a disaster. emotionally exhausting war they somewhat embarrassing, but in Even if the EU gets divided into are now dealing with economic fact it was a historical triumph – those who have the sense and dig- problems and have mounting the establishment of Ukrainian na- nity and those, who are willing to be unresolved questions for their new tion. That is how I see it. That's bought, there will still be the first government. Your society how Ukraine established itself, not group and they are on your side, be- experienced a somewhat similar in terms of geography or some cause you are on their side. The cen- situation in the 1990s. Is there are population of certain territory, but ter of "Europeanness" will shift to- particular way to avoid the general will, the conscientious- wards Ukraine despite all the prob- disenchantment? ness that united people regardless 42|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Opinion|neighbours of their language or religious dif- Ukraine will be shown how enjoy a BIO constantly bring up examples of ferences. This triumph is still felt, better life in the meantime. But one Vytautas brainwashed people believing in a but new challenges arise, chal- can have golden loafs of bread on Landsbergis Russian boy being crucified in lenges to the psychological forti- the table, like Yanukovych did, or is Lithuanian pol- Ukraine just because he spoke Rus- tude and the faith in building own have a well-earned loaf of bread on itician and public sian or something along those state. What is crucial is whether the your table. There is crucial differ- figure, first head lines. People must be shown that ence. of Lithuania after this is what Hitlerites did, saying disgruntlement or, perhaps, anger it regained inde- comes to dominate. If this does In order to wreak frustration pendence from "Let's go kill Jews because they happen, it will be bad news, as this tremendous work is being con- the USSR. He drank blood of our children". It's is exactly what the enemy is count- ducted for brainwashing, and this served as the same thing. ing on. We had a similar situation, skullduggery is effective. The Rus- Speaker of the Keep reminding the brain- albeit on a smaller scale. We found sian media is an instrument of mass Seimas in 1992 washed people that what is being ourselves in a blockade designed to brainwashing. But people must be and 1996-2000, done to them is a crime. Turning destroy everything so that the peo- able to tell the difference between being one of the people into bloodthirsty animals is a ple would rise against those, who that and the real media and infor- founders and crime. sought independence. It didn't mation. leaders of the lib- In January 1991, when Rus- eral-conservative happen, though, as the collapse (of party Homeland sian tank crews pushed forwards the Soviet Union – Ed.) was inevi- U.W.: The general public is so far Union. In 2004- the people, the latter would yell table. We managed to avoid chaos not able to tell the difference, 2014, Mr. Lands- "fascists" at them. And it worked. (chaos meaning freedom without because of the lacking bergis was Mem- And so it will work today. Seeing democracy), while Russia didn't. "information hygiene" and critical ber of the Euro- the threat of Russian fascism the Striving towards freedom and ex- reflection about what they see in pean Parliament, Ukrainian society is faced with periencing partial freedom in the the media. And this problem is not member of the will be unifying. In case the Rus- first years of the Yeltsin term, but exclusive to Ukraine. How can one European Peo- sian fascism is depicted as par- not experiencing justice and the fight against this in the current ple's Party group tially righteous and justified, there rule of law left people disillusioned. circumstances? will be no Ukraine. It will be de- This is what happened in the 1920s One shouldn't repeat Putin's stroyed. in Germany and Italy, and after the tales. I remember when Lithuania Cold War it happened in Russia. It was making its decision about the U.W.: In your opinion as a former was the arrival of populism in the course towards the EU (the refer- EU parliamentary, is Europe really shape of fascism already familiar to endum on joining the EU took prepared to defend itself and its us. Ukraine should strive to be very place in Lithuania in 2003. 90% values? different to Russia both in terms of voted in favour and in 2004 Lithu- One should always rely one the state system and the type of ania joined the EU – Ed.) we had himself first and foremost. That economy. You should move away Romano Prodi visiting (President much we've learned already. We from dictator economy, the system of the European Commission in have lost a lot thinking that the de- that's in a way much alike the Latin 1999-2004 – Ed.). He was told fence didn't necessitate much in- American one with extremely rich about the public movements vestment and that the NATO would generals. The local generals, that is against Europe and then speaking protect the country and all would oligarchs, can have certain precon- in the Seimas he said that he had be taken care of. Now we've real- ditions to be allowed into the gov- never seen a single EU tank forcing ized this. We brought back military ernment. But there should be some us to join the united Europe. On conscription in Lithuania and there scrutiny to determine whether that the other hand there was Russia, are a number of other programmes. person is to become a rich dictator quite a terrifying alternative. It's or not. It wasn't the case in Russia hard to convey this to other coun- and the dictator did come to power. tries that never experienced living The Maidan was merely a Ukrainians are now undergoing under Soviet communism. They es- key that opened the door. a long endurance test. What Ukrai- caped the Stalin's curse, they never nians received when they broke free really experienced being "under What lies ahead is hard is a chance for democracy. And it Stalin". work on tenacity and shouldn't be lost, it has to be main- Today Russia's information tained. I'm hearing that democratic warfare is mobilizing people to an power to resist transformations are taking place in extent. There are countermeasures frustration Ukraine, the new government is being taken. For too long have we taking the steps, so Putin and his turned a blind eye to the necessity Even if there is no war, we'll have cohorts are now having to wreak of doing this work, but now it is be- good defence capability in few frustration before Ukraine manages ing talked about openly, we're get- years. We've had socialists and to reform itself. Therefore it should ting to real action like banning the communists in power for almost be explained to Ukrainians that they lying TV channels with propaganda eight years. Everything went into are now moving towards changes of war against Ukraine. The indoc- decline, just like for you during the they've been anticipating for 25 trination, however, is carried out Yanukovych era. We were also told years. The Maidan was merely a key using the old paradigm: "This is a that we don't need that (defence that opened the door, and now what righteous war. They must be de- capability – Ed.) because it makes lies ahead is not just a happy jog to- stroyed because they are different. us angry. So it turns out to be okay wards the finish, but hard work on Different means fascist". So we for them to be hostile, but it's tenacity and power to resist frustra- should be more responsible when somehow not okay for us to be pre- tion, when the ones struggling in talking about this. And we must cautious? № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|43 Society |Volunteers Interviewed by Anna Korbut Mastering he website of US Marines looks like a portal of a high- end publication. Hollywood- Tlike videos show the marines bringing aid to the victims of Hur- Warfare ricane Sandy and floods in Paki- stan, opening schools in Afghani- stan and training Somalians to Ex-US Marine volunteer on his training course fight against the Al-Shabaab. “No Marine passes through our gates for Ukrainian Marines and crucial aspects without gaining leadership traits of effective military that can be called upon through- out a lifetime. Judgment, integrity and tact are a few of the leadership traits that not only make for out- standing Marines – they make for outstanding citizens” – this is the portrait of a US Marine. The re- cruitment website also provides information on preparation to be- come a Marine, career opportuni- ties, benefits and a proud history. “The military in the US definitely have more patriotism after service than before it. There will be more appreciation for the United States after being in the military than be- fore,” says Mike Wilson, a former US Marine who has come to Ukraine as a volunteer to hold a two-week marksmanship training for the Ukrainian Marines. Mike spoke to The Ukrainian Week about motivations that encourage young Americans to join the mili- tary, benefits of it, and why disci- pline is a key element of success in the military.

Motivations There are a lot of reasons to join the military in the US. It can be a career. It’s not the best-paying job in the world, but the pay gets better as one grows in rank. The serviceman re- ceives all kinds of benefits, from medical to food, clothing and housing. Plus, one can still live a normal life. On top of that, one gets education. Recruiters moti- vate many young men and women, many of them not knowing where they want to go after they finish school, with education opportuni- ties. Future officers have an option to join the ROTC (Reserve Offi- cers’ Training Corps) program that can prepare the student to be- come an officer. Officers have to graduate. Prior to university, an Mike Wilson doing tactical individual can enlist for the offi- ground training with cers program, but he or she must Ukrainian Marines have grades good enough to do 44|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Volunteers|Society this. Once the person is on the bed. He is going to make you put concealment to get the men used program, they go to the military that bed together again as fast as to thinking in a combat situation. academies (they are very highly- you can. When he says “done” and Under stress, the body and mind accredited schools) and can in- you’re not done, he will do that can fail you, but with the proper stantly become officers. That offi- again and again, until he is satis- training, you will be able to act cer has to serve for six years. After fied. The military teach service- appropriately and save your life that time, he is guaranteed the men history, order, rank, respect, as well as your comrades life too. rank of captain or major. After keeping clean and looking nice. Week two was practical use of the that, the person can quit the army, The way to establish discipline knowledge given to the men in or continue. is uncomfortable but I would say the first week. Since the Marines When a military person com- that it makes sense to begin with in Mykolayiv were removed from pletes his or her contract of three having physical exercise in the their base in Crimea, we didn't or four years, the company where morning. Then, stand in forma- have the proper tools or equip- he used to work before joining the tions at a certain time in the morn- ment to work more efficiently. military has to hire him back pro- ing when orders are read out for But as Marines, we are taught to vided that he wants that job. If he the day. The platoons that are spe- overcome and adapt. Their inten- doesn’t want that job, he’s on his cifically formed for fighting with tion is to build their own training own. Benefits stop after military weapons need to train continu- base and I was invited to design a service, unless the person is in- ously so that they know what to do training facility here after the jured or retired. when they confront the enemy. course. The course has been used Basically, being in the military Officers need to go through train- since before WWII and will con- is a job. It just has stricter rules. ing programs, classes. They need tinue to work for generations to One can either make a career to become skilled, read books on there, or go for other professions. how to fight a war. Nobody knows I have never seen such how to fight naturally. It’s some- devotion and an intimate Discipline Military service in thing people learn. the US is based on a contract of What separates an officer from connection like I did here three years minimum. If the con- an enlisted man is education. Offi- tract is broken within that time cers need to have a degree. They between the volunteers span, the one who breaches it goes shouldn’t have one in war, but in and Marines to military prison. science, maths, literature, psy- There is a huge difference be- chology or whatever else. That de- come. None of this could have tween discipline in the Ukrainian gree is a proof that they know how happened without the help of army and the American one. The to be educated. many people around the world Ukrainian military don’t have a At the end of the day, this helping. The volunteers here in discipline structure. When I strictness and discipline helps Mykolayiv are priceless. I appre- walked down the hallway at the keep your mind clear for urgent ciate them so much for their tire- base, there were officers and en- decisions. It helps you stay fo- less help for our Marines. I have listed people walking around. No- cused when you encounter pres- never seen such devotion and an body saluted one another. It can’t sure and have bullets flying over intimate connection like I did be that in the US. If you walk past your head. That’s another purpose here between the volunteers and an officer there, you salute him be- of it. Marines. cause you respect his position. Nobody likes to get disci- Training for the Ukrai- Psychological assistance plined. But when you join the mili- nian marines We gathered at The military provides psycholo- tary, in time of war or peace, you 8a.m. I then sent the men down gists for soldiers who come back subject yourself to that kind of dis- stairs and put them in exercise from war and have post-trau- cipline. When I joined the Ma- formation. It was difficult ini- matic stress disorder (PTSD). rines, I was going to do what I was tially. The first day we repeated Along with that, the military has told, I was going to listen, and I all the exercises at least ten times. groups where the war veteran can was going to take my punishment There is no better way to get join other soldiers like that or for failure to do that. The punish- young men to listen than to exer- people he or she can relate to. ment came for silly things, such as cise it out of them. After our exer- They help veterans to get back not moving fast enough or not cises, the first week was class- from war emotionally. War is in- making your bed right. But when room and position training only. deed a very traumatic stress. It’s everyone is getting punished, you The body does not know how to not natural for us to take anoth- are not singled out. Say, it’s morn- naturally hold a weapon, this ed- er’s life. When we do that, it af- ing time, and you were dead asleep ucation process is vital in becom- fects our minds and hearts. It but now up, standing in front of ing a good marksman. It usually doesn’t change us into evil or your bed, which was supposed to is very painful the first few days. cruel people - the ones it does be made and you were supposed By the end of that first week, the change probably had issues with to get ready to go in just one min- pain is over and now the body be- that before the service. I think ute. The officer comes down to a gins to remember these positions. that post-traumatic comes from barrack where sixty beds stand. If This is all in preparation for the the fear that your life can be taken just one bed is made wrong, not live fire training. The second half away at any moment, they stay only will he tear that bed apart, of each day was used for tactical alert every day and night and but he will do so with everybody’s ground training, maneuvers, and don’t sleep normally. № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|45 Society|Right-wing groups Neo-Nazi Tales from the Russian Crypt Russia’s aggression has revived right-wing forces in Ukraine. Still, their actual popularity remains marginal compared to most EU countries

When Svoboda joined the coalition Government after the Maidan, it failed to meet the voters' expectations about efficiency and anti-corruption efforts. As a result, its support collapsed from 10.4% in 2012 to 4.7% in 2014 and continues to decline

Author: n April 17, political ana- genuine involvement in some of Shortly afterwards, the Secu- Oles lyst Volodymyr Fesenko the assassinations, the e-mail in- rity Bureau of Ukraine’s Main Oleksiyenko reported that he had re- cluded information about the Investigative Administration Di- Oceived an e-mail from a caliber of weapon that was used rector Vasyl Vovk announced hitherto unknown organization in at least one of the murders, that “although the Ukrainian In- pretentiously named UPA, which supposedly would not surgent Army is a renowned “Ukrainian Insurgent Army,” have been widely known. The e- name, this organization is a com- claiming responsibility for the mail closed with a warning about plete fake.” Of course, the possi- murder of the “anti-Ukrainian a “merciless revolutionary strug- bility that some murders were bastards: Chechetov, Peklush- gle against members of the anti- indeed carried out by a newly- enko, Melnyk, Kalashnikov, and Ukrainian regime of traitors... formed group using terrorist Buzyna.” As though to prove its and their total destruction.” methods to reach its radical 46|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Right-wing groups|Society goals cannot be completely ig- tional Front won 13.6% of the fend hired labor, to protest ille- nored. However, both Ukraine’s vote in 2012 while its leader gal construction or government security forces and its expert cir- Marine Le Pen took nearly 20% socio-economic initiatives. Cou- cles believe that the phantom of the vote in the presidential pled with growing demand “UPA” name is being used either election. Austria’s Freedom among a certain portion of to cover the tracks of the real Party took 21.4% of the popular Ukrainian voters to take a force- killers of individuals listed in the vote in the 2013 parliamentary ful stand against the ruling letter, or as part of a deliberate elections, and an additional Party of Regions in the Verk- Russian special forces operation 3.6% went to the breakaway Al- hovna Rada, Svoboda found it- to revive the ghost of neo-nazi liance for Austria’s Future. self enjoying an unexpectedly and ultra-radical “lawlessness” Hungary’s ultra-nationalist high result, over 10%, in 2012. that supposedly stoked all the Jobbik party took 20.5% in the In reality, many who voted for events in Ukraine starting with 2014 parliamentary election, Tiahnybok’s party at the time Euromaidan. Social networks while at its peak in 2000, the knew little about its ideology, were a-buzz over the fact that in Greater Rumania nationalist enabling it to benefit from what his speech to the nation, Vladi- party took 19.5% of the vote. In was largely a protest vote among mir Putin mentioned the murder Russia, the so-called Liberal- those radicalized by the Yanu- of anti-Ukrainian journalist Oles Democratic party run by the kovych regime. Buzyna just 10 minutes after it chauvinist Vladimir Zhiri- By 2012, Svoboda had man- became known in the Ukrainian novsky has had a steady 8-12% aged to largely eliminate its press. of the vote in recent years. “neo-nazi” label and instead Yet if we look at the ideology took on a virtual monopoly posi- “Neo-nazi zombies and history of Ukrainian nation- tion as a radical defender of the on the march” alist forces, it turns out that neo- and culture Whatever else it may promul- nazi attitudes are rare and their against the onslaught of pro- gate, Russian propaganda is par- political success has not been Russian Regionals, especially ticularly obsessed with the based on ideology. the actions of much-hated and meme “rampant neo-nazism in corrupt Education Minister Ukraine.” This is the main bo- Svoboda: The protest Dmytro Tabachnyk and the geyman aimed at discrediting vote that fizzled Kivalov-Kolesnichenko lan- Ukraine before the world and Svoboda was originally founded guage law, whose aim was to re- scaring Ukrainians themselves. back in 1991 as the Social Na- vive russification in Ukraine. In reality, not just neo-nazism, tionalist Party of Ukraine Meanwhile, opposition voters but even garden-variety nation- (SNPU), but remained a mar- were fed up with the toothless- alism is far less popular in ginal regional force even in ness of the relatively democratic Ukraine than in most countries Western Ukraine, never mind at opposition, which came across in Western, Central and Eastern as hapless victims unable to Europe. stand up to Yanukovych’s usur- In the more than two decades Many who voted for pation of power or his traitorous that Ukraine has been indepen- Svoboda party saw it largely policies that were sacrificing the dent, the 2012 Verkhovna Rada national interest in favor of Pu- elections were the only ones to as protest vote against tin’s Russia. see a short-lived surge in popu- the Yanukovych regime In short, this part of larity for Svoboda, the main na- Ukraine’s electorate wanted to tionalist party, and it barely the national level. When its cur- see a political force that at least scraped together 10.4% of the rent leader, Oleh Tiahnybok, appeared capable of confronting vote or 2.13 million ballots. By took over in 2004, the party un- the arrogance of the then-ruling contrast, the first elections after derwent major changes, includ- Party of the Regions. In the case the Euromaidan, in October ing a change of name, and its of Svoboda, demonstrative radi- 2014, gave all three nationalist popularity began to rise. In calism and shock value clearly contenders—Svoboda, Praviy 2007, an internal clash resulted won out over ideology and plat- Sektor and the Congress of in the formation of a splinter form. When Svoboda joined the Ukrainian Nationalists (CUN) — group known as the Social Na- coalition Government after the 1.036 million votes, i.e. only tionalist Assembly (SNA) and its Maidan, expectations were not 6.6%. This was particularly strik- military wing, Patriot Ukrainy. met and the situation in the ing as, unlike 2012, occupied Still, Svoboda was unable to country shifted: Svoboda was Crimea and the Donbas, which muster even 200,000 votes, that quickly discredited by its ineffec- traditionally were least likely to is 0.3-0.8% of those who actually tive Defense Minister and Prose- cast ballots for nationalist par- voted, prior to 2010. cutor General, not to mention ties, did not even participate. In Without rejecting the party’s Agricultural Policy and Environ- the end, none of the three parties classic nationalist slogans, Tiah- ment Ministers who were sus- passed the threshold to gain nybok began to focus more on pected of corruption. So the pro- seats in the Rada. social issues, which led to tur- test vote that was not nationalist By comparison, nationalist bulent internal debates among in any real sense was completely parties in other countries in party faithful. These changes disillusioned and the party’s sup- Europe have done remarkably were reflected in a growing port collapsed from 10.4% in well. For instance, France’s Na- number of street actions to de- 2012 to 4.7% in 2014. The latest № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|47 Society|Right-wing groups polls suggest that this trend con- tinues. Praviy Sektor: A many-colored coat Meanwhile, Euromaidan’s crest raised a new nationalist organi- zation, Praviy Sektor. Initially an informal civic movement that brought together radically-in- clined activists with right-wing views when it emerged at the very beginning of the revolution- ary process in November 2013, PS eventually turned into a po- litical party. The initiative to form Praviy Sektor came from a nationalist organization called Tryzub, but it also included UNA-UNSO—based on which the movement was renamed “Praviy Sektor” or Right Sector and the political party was formed—, Pa- triot Ukrainy, and a number of smaller organizations, such as Karpatska Sich, Biliy Molot, Chorniy Komitet, the Committee to Free Political Prisoners, and individual nationalists and foot- ball ultras. As a result, Praviy Sektor never formed a monolithic orga- nization. During the protests on the Maidan and later, when it Dmytro Yarosh, to serve as an ideological plat- mindless slave.” It also estab- the leader of was necessary to stand up to Praviy Sektor, form for internal consolidation. lishes a high level of religious Russian aggression, some seri- a new So, instead of a public, visible and ethnic tolerance: “We be- ous ideological disagreements nationalist platform for external use, PS is lieve that Jews, Christians and among the various organizations organization based on an internal document Muslims share a common belief were moved to the back burner, that emerged that reveals its real ideological in one God... For the true be- but they did not disappear. To during the foundations: “A Brief Ideological liever, there is actually no insur- this day, at least three different Maidan as Training Course...” Since this mountable barrier between these centers of power can be seen in a union of document is used jointly by both various faiths... To use these dif- Praviy Sektor: Tryzub, where the a number Tryzub and PS, it appears to be a ferences for self-aggrandize- current PS leader Dmytro Yarosh of various reflection of Tryzub views with ment, to set up confrontations nationalist came from, UNA-UNSO and Pa- organizations. the aim of extending these views among these religions or to en- triot Ukrainy. Because most of It is not a to the entire movement. gage in religious chauvinism is a these organizations are not monolithic Tryzub was founded in 1993 sin before God and a crime equally represented across the organization as the paramilitary wing of the against humanity.” country at the local level, the dis- to this day Congress of Ukrainian National- Not only does Tryzub ideol- tribution of responsibility within ists. In 2007, Dmytro Yarosh be- ogy not equate nation with eth- Praviy Sektor reflected this: the came its leader. Ideologically, nicity, it does not espouse any informal leader responsible for the organization, which sees it- racist views. A nation is seen as Western Ukraine was the late self as an order and not a party, “a conscious, functional union of Oleksandr Muzychko, known as is conservative nationalist, with people who jointly support the Sashko Biliy, from UNA-UNSO, considerable weight given to idea of freedom based on ethnic, while Eastern Ukraine is the re- Christian ideals: “Christianity is social, spiritual and cultural val- mit of Patriot Ukrainy’s Andriy the foundation, essence and goal ues.” This means openness to the Biletskiy. of human existence and there- integration of other ethnic fore our ideology. Without Chris- groups into Ukrainian society. Tryzub: No beasts tianity, there can be no Ukrai- “Our attitude to non-Ukrainians or mindless slaves nian nationalism.” is fraternal towards those who Given Praviy Sektor’s diversity at In terms of its ideological join us in the struggle for a this time, on April 23, 2015, the and educational approach, Try- Ukrainian national state, toler- organization’s leadership de- zub “unequivocally condemns ant towards those are supportive cided to activate ideological national-socialism, which turned of our struggle for the right to be training at the local level follow- the individual into a beast,” and masters of our fates on our own ing a document that is intended “communism, which created a soil, and hostile towards those 48|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015 Right-wing groups|Society who stand in the way of Ukraine’s consists of New Humans, that is, hoping to restore pre-revolution- national rebirth and state-build- physically, intellectually and ary order and capitulate to Rus- ing.” spiritually evolved individuals. sia. However, in the political From the mass of such individu- To understand the weight of platform of the Praviy Sektor als shall rise the Nation, and the these groups in Ukraine today, party, “the high proportion of weak modern individual shall it’s significant that not one na- citizens who are the descendants become a Superman.” tionalist political force gained of individuals transplanted to Biletskiy has stated baldly seats as a party in the October Ukraine in one manner or an- that “Ukrainians are a part of the 2014 Verkhovna Rada elections. other from other regions of the European White Race, moreover Not one. Only individual leaders Soviet Union, who have never ac- one of the biggest and of the gained seats in FPTP districts, cepted the right of the Ukrainian highest quality. The historic mis- those same “men of action”—in- people to have their own state, sion of our Nation in this water- cluding the racist Andriy Bilets- and who continue to be oriented shed century is to lead and to kiy, who got 31.8% of the vote in on Moscow” is seen as a problem bring into its ranks the White his riding. But this was not be- inherited from the period of so- Peoples of the entire world in a cause so many voters in this Kyiv viet occupation. It follows that final crusade against the subhu- district support his racist and there is a need to complete the mans led by Semites.” The eth- anti-semitic views, but because national revolution whose goal is nic, social, cultural and spiritual he was the commander of a vol- to set up a “nation-state,” where concepts of the nation that can unteer battalion that, in extreme “the citizens of other nations rec- be seen in Tryzub are in sharp circumstances, stood in defense ognize the indigenous people as contrast to Biletskiy’s ultra-rac- of the country against outside in charge of the country, while ist approach: “All our national- aggression. By comparison, enjoying equal rights and duties, Praviy Sektor gained only 3.0% knowing and respecting the in- Most nationalist parties of the vote in this same riding, digenous language, laws and his- while all the nationalist forces tory, being given the necessary in Ukraine reject neo-nazism, together mustered only 10.4%. conditions to maintain and de- xenophobia, anti-semitism Another Praviy Sektor candidate, velop their own national iden- Boryslav Bereza, got 29.4% of tity, and being authorized repre- and racism in their official the vote in a neighboring riding sentatives of the culture of their platforms in Kyiv, while Praviy Sektor as a own people.” party got only 3.2%, and nation- ism is nothing, a mere castle alist parties as a whole 9.7%. The Patriot Ukrainy: built on sand, unless it is based leader of Praviy Sektor, Dmytro The ghost of white on the foundation of blood and Yarosh, won his own riding in supremacists of Race... The healing of our Na- Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with Patriot Ukrainy is a completely tional Body must start with a Ra- 30.3% of the vote although his different story. The organization cial Purification of the Nation. party got only 3.5%, and all the was set up in Kharkiv in 2005-6 Then, in a healthy Racial Body, a nationalist parties barely man- by Andriy Biletskiy, who was healthy National Spirit will be aged 5.0%. The Congress of then deputy to Svoboda’s ideo- reborn.” Ukrainian Nationalists’ Andriy logical chief, Prof. Oleh Odnoro- Crucially, in the oblasts of Lopushanskiy got 32.1% of the zhenko but is better known today Eastern Ukraine where people vote in his Lviv Oblast riding, al- as the founder and commander from Biletskiy’s circle are re- though CUN itself got only of the Azov volunteer battalion sponsible for Praviy Sektor, Pa- 0.24%— all of 279 votes!—and all that has since become the Azov triot Ukrainy’s ratings are even the nationalist parties together Company at the National Guard more marginal than the average 9.4%. of Ukraine. After a scandalous across Ukraine, ranging from Of course, any nationalist or- split with Svoboda in 2007 over 0.6% in Ukraine-controlled ganization can include individu- its openly racist views, Patriot counties of Luhansk Oblast to als who are inclined to neo-na- Ukrainy established its own po- 1.4% in Kharkiv Oblast. The or- zism, xenophobia, anti-semitism litical entity, the Social National ganization also has a very high and racism. But most nationalist Assembly or SNA. In contrast to proportion of football ultras. parties in Ukraine do not iden- Tryzub and UNA-UNSO, Patriot tify with such ideas and even re- Ukrainy and the SNA can really Ideology vs image, ject them altogether in their offi- be called “neo-nazi” forces. Its ideas vs actions cial platforms. The fact is that leaders and ideologists follow an In the end, the popularity of na- ethnic or religious superiority ideology based on maximalism, tionalist political organizations and intolerance find little sup- national-racial egoism, love of is based, not so much on their port among ordinary Ukrainians. one’s own and intolerance of the ideologies as on their image as Indeed, over the quarter-century other. Its main goal is: “To estab- “men of action,” their willing- of independence, nationalist par- lish, instead of lumps of different ness to take radical action in ex- ties have only been able to count individuals mechanically united treme conditions in the struggle on more than a few tenths of a by the name ‘Ukrainian’ and the against a foreign aggressor—and percent of popularity and sup- possession of a Ukrainian pass- against the reactionary forces port when they showed that they port, a National Supersociety, a representing the Yanukovych re- were able to distance themselves single biological organism that gime within the country who are from such ideologies. № 5 (87) May 2015|the ukrainian week|49 Society |Sentiments in Kharkiv The City of Parallel Realms f you suddenly find yourself in the "front-line city" of one should keep in mind that the city is still run by the Kharkiv you'll be struck by its ever-present dichot- "little Yanukovych" (the infamous Mayor Hennadiy omy. On one hand this city situated mere 40 kilome- Kernes – Ed.) and so it isn't rare for teachers to be Iters from the state border with Russia has become a taken to Russia for "experience exchange in patriotic real centre of the volunteer movement. Ukrainian flags education", or for pro-communist organizations to be and symbols are ubiquitous, and on the main square, allowed into schools. just opposite the Oblast State Administration building Kharkiv Oblast authorities are also passive and do not you'll find a large tent where citizens bring their dona- come up with initiatives to somehow promote the tions for the soldiers on the front line. On the other Ukrainian identity. Evident is the shortage of adequate hand, however, the majority of the locals seem to pre- staff, lack of strategic planning and readiness to think fer living in a completely different dimension. outside the box. The overall impression is that nobody This distorted reality is dominated by the fear of war, really cares about anything, and this total indifference social lethargy, creative impotence and an overbear- can sometimes be more daunting than the constant ing feeling of utter displeasure about seemingly ev- threat of terrorist acts that the region is gradually Author: erything. Meanwhile in some parallel universe exists growing accustomed to. Volodymyr the Ukrainian, pro-European and free Kharkiv, com- It is obvious that Kharkiv is in need of true leaders, Chystylin pletely separated from the grey, panicky and decid- responsible businesses, creative thinking, a critical edly post-Soviet "first capital", as some of the locals mass of moral authorities, notable artists, among still insist on calling it since the communist times many other things. Yet it will never be a Donetsk-like (Kharkiv was the capital of the Ukrainian SSR in proletarian city. Despite all the deficiency in patriotic 1920-1934 – Ed.). upbringing, you'll not going to see the emergence of a This geometry of parallel realms that never meet is es- "Kharkiv People's Republic" or any sort of Donbas pecially striking on the cultural front. According to the scenario being played out. Kharkiv can be a lot of front man of the band "Papa Carlo" Vasyl Riabko, until things – mercantile, politically inert, immature and recently even speaking Ukrainian in Kharkiv used to be reckless, aesthetically vulgar – but it will always find a akin to a political act. Even now, one is unlikely to way to preserve its own traditional order. The cus- come across Ukrainian language books, newspapers, tomary tolerance, and utter aversion to any kind of local television programmes or large patriotic public violence, heroic and eclectic history, groundless events in Kharkiv. The city of 1.5 million has only a claims to the capital status, border-town mentality handful of Ukrainian churches, art scenes, little islands with all of its perks and drawbacks – these things of modern European cinema, contemporary theatre aren't going anywhere. Yet pouring new wine of post- societies or music bands that openly demonstrate their modern Ukrainianism into old wineskins of Kharkiv's civic position. This "inner diaspora" is trying to break pragmatism may well produce a tasty drink. All it through the wall of patriotic ignorance and social apa- takes is some will from everyone concerned: the au- thy through the events organized by the Literature Mu- thorities, the civil society, the local elites, the regular seum, the Ye Bookstore, or citizens. And Kharkiv will no through events by Prosvita, Kharkiv is in need of doubt retain its unmistak- an educational community, able audacity, the unique re- EuroMaidan-birthed demo- true leaders, lationships between the cratic initiatives, various vol- responsible businesses, dwellers of the "big village", unteer projects or simply its national diversity and bi- through the efforts of inde- creative thinking and a lingualism, the thirst for jus- pendent mavericks. But this critical mass of moral tice and inviolability of per- is simply not enough to break sonal space. the information vacuum, as authorities However, today's geometry of well as to overpower the Kharkiv's parallel realms is other extreme – the recently proliferating shallow best seen in its polyphony of worldviews captured flag-waving kind of patriotism. within graffiti, where "Ukraine above all!" in an al- Naturally, all these cultural efforts happen in spite of leyway borders with something completely opposite the idleness of the local authorities and government decorating the next wall. There is no despair, no doom agencies. The era of Donbkin & Kernes (the former and gloom. Writer Serhiy Zhadan was spot-on in his Head of Oblast State Administration and the city reflections about Kharkiv and the war: 'Walk in the Mayor respectively. See p. 6 for details – Ed.), both of city, talking to the locals living in these streets and whom made no bones about their aversion to every- quarters, share metro cars with them and you see no thing Ukrainian, had a lasting impact on the art scene fear whatsoever. It's just not there, for some reason. of the city. Kharkiv is suffocating from bureaucratic ar- Perhaps, some don't quite realize what is happening. bitrariness, overbearing Soviet heritage, Russian pro- Perhaps some do realize all too well that things are paganda, provinciality of education and the mass mi- rather dire and has no fear for that very reason. Each gration of the local artists. The municipal education has its own understanding, own vision, own set of and cultural establishments turned into snake pits of complaints and the list of demands'. And it is in con- like-minded budget-consuming pencil pushers. All fronting own fear that these fixations of the "front-line" kinds of pro-Ukrainian initiatives are deliberately hin- Kharkiv are to be overcome. Fixations of the city fight- dered in case something untoward might happen. And ing for its own independence as it wakes from 50|the ukrainian week|№ 5 (87) May 2015