Inside: l Cruiserweight Oleksandr Usyk makes history – page 5 l Soyuzivka’s 12th annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival – page 9 l Photo report: 2018 Ukrainian Cultural Festival – pages 10-11
ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXXVI No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 $2.00 International development minister OSCE mandate further marred of Canada visits Ukraine’s war-torn east by alleged Russian spy scandal by Mark Raczkiewycz The “OSCE suspects” an official working at the “Russian Embassy in Ukraine who is KYIV – The mandate of the 57-state seconded to the OSCE mission for several international body charged with monitor- months,” The Daily Beast reported on July ing a truce in the Donbas war may have 22, citing a former European diplomat. been further compromised after allegations All Russian members of the OSCE SMM emerged that sensitive information about in Ukraine work for their country’s intelli- the Ukraine mission was passed to Russian gence agencies, Ukrainian Foreign Affairs intelligence. Minister Pavlo Klimkin alleged after the Hundreds of internal documents of the German report was aired at a news confer- Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) of the ence in Berlin. Organization for Security and Cooperation Iryna Herashchenko, deputy chair of the in Europe (OSCE) dating to autumn 2016 Verkhovna Rada and a member of the were handed over to Russia’s Federal Trilateral Contact Group that aims to find a Security Service, according to a July 16 diplomatic resolution to the Donbas war, report aired by German channel ARD. called on the OSCE to investigate the poten- The television outlet said it obtained tial data breach. Office of the Minister of International Development nearly 400 pages of the data. They include “We also appealed to the OSCE and its Canada’s Minister of International Development Marie-Claude Bibeau (right) and observation camera locations, pictures of representatives with a request that Vienna her team, including Ambassador to Ukraine Roman Waschuk and MP Borys military bases, internal correspondence, [where the OSCE is headquartered] conduct Wrzesnewskyj, meet with women from frontline village of Kurdiumivka, located 9 addresses of monitors, their personal hab- a thorough investigation into information kilometers from the line of contact in Ukraine’s east, to learn about their key chal- its and even blood types. about the possible theft of personal data of lenges and coping mechanisms. The OSCE’s Ukraine mission hasn’t con- OSCE SMM observers,” she said on Facebook. country’s war-torn eastern region. firmed the alleged data breach, saying that “Ukraine strongly objects to the fact that by Christopher Guly it “cannot comment or speculate on docu- Special to The Ukrainian Weekly Ms. Bibeau, who before entering politics the Russians who are present on the mis- three years ago worked for the Canadian ments of unknown origin” and without sion are engaged in espionage rather than OTTAWA – Since becoming Canada’s International Development Agency that was “proper verification.” the clearly defined mandate for observers.” minister of international development in folded into Canada’s Foreign Ministry in The international body added that it is As evidence has mounted over the years 2015, Marie-Claude Bibeau has led mis- 2013, has also never spent as much time in “concerned that alleged breaches may that the Donbas war is a covert Russian sions to 30 countries, but had never visited a country as minister as she did in Ukraine. carry a potential risk for its staff, compro- Ukraine until this month when she spent mising their privacy and security.” (Continued on page 5) five days, from July 18 to 23, mainly in the (Continued on page 17) U.S. reaffirms refusal to recognize NEWS ANALYSIS: Responses in Kyiv Russia’s ‘attempted annexation’ of Crimea to the Trump-Putin summit Donald Trump’s primary goal in meeting WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of State foundations upon which our shared by Bohdan Nahaylo Special to The Ukrainian Weekly Vladimir Putin, Mr. Portnikov argued, was Mike Pompeo, in a press statement security and safety rests. to provide a spectacle that would take the released on July 25, reiterated that the U.S. As we did in the Welles Declaration in KYIV – With the Trump-Putin summit in heat off him at home stemming from accu- “rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of 1940, the United States reaffirms as poli- Helsinki behind us, there was a general sations that he and his team colluded with Crimea and pledges to maintain this poli- cy its refusal to recognize the Kremlin’s sense of relief in the air in Kyiv that has the Russians and allowed their interference cy until Ukraine’s territorial integrity is claims of sovereignty over territory now given way to renewed anxieties as in the U.S. presidential elections. Even the restored.” Furthermore, he called on seized by force in contravention of inter- additional details fueling speculation have fact that on the eve of the summit 12 Russia “to end its occupation of Crimea.” national law. In concert with allies, part- emerged. While the U.S. president’s Russian intelligence officers were indicted The full text of the statement, titled ners and the international community, attempt to publicly ingratiate himself with for interference in the 2016 U.S. election “Crimea Declaration,” follows. the United States rejects Russia’s Moscow’s strongman, even by running did not deter Mr. Trump from pressing * * * attempted annexation of Crimea and ahead with this strategy. Russia, through its 2014 invasion of pledges to maintain this policy until down U.S. intelligence, and the country’s media and justice system, did not pass By “solidarizing” with Mr. Putin and Ukraine and its attempted annexation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored. seeking his protection against the siege Crimea, sought to undermine a bedrock The United States calls on Russia to unnoticed and shocked many here, the ini- tial impression that there was no sell-out of from U.S. intelligence and media, Mr. Trump international principle shared by demo- respect the principles to which it has long humiliated his country and generated out- cratic states: that no country can change claimed to adhere and to end its occupa- Ukraine is what mattered. The general response was summed up rage all across the political spectrum, com- the borders of another by force. The tion of Crimea. As democratic states seek mented Mr. Portnikov. Ironically, the ill-con- by one of Ukraine’s leading journalists, states of the world, including Russia, to build a free, just, and prosperous ceived exercise badly backfired for the U.S. Vitaly Portnikov, in his commentary for agreed to this principle in the United world, we must uphold our commitment president, making everything connected Espreso TV. The summit produced a favor- Nations Charter, pledging to refrain from to the international principle of sovereign with Mr. Putin even more “toxic.” Thus, hav- able result for Ukraine because the out- the threat or use of force against the ter- equality and respect the territorial integ- ing set himself against his very own state ritorial integrity or political indepen- rity of other states. Through its actions, come could have been a lot worse. and raised its guard, the commentator dence of any state. This fundamental Russia has acted in a manner unworthy of Whatever the fears, clearly Ukraine was not argued, Mr. Trump will find it even more principle – which was reaffirmed in the a great nation and has chosen to isolate uppermost in the U.S. president’s mind and difficult to seek agreements with Mr. Putin Helsinki Final Act – constitutes one of the itself from the international community. hardly figured during the joint press con- ference given by the two leaders. (Continued on page 4) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 No. 30
ANALYSIS
Undisclosed agenda of Helsinki summit leads U.S. announces $200 M in security aid against Russian aggression.” (Office of Sen. Rob Portman) The United States will provide $200 mil- to speculation, worries in some quarters lion in additional security funding to U.S. on Ukraine’s energy reforms Ukraine. The U.S. Defense Department on by Pavel Felgenhauer to be bussed, together with families, to the The U.S. State Department on July 24 northwestern province of Idlib, after relin- July 20 announced it will provide the fund- Eurasia Daily Monitor issued a statement welcoming Ukraine’s quishing their heavy weapons. The U.S. ing for “training, equipment and advisory progress on energy reforms. Department Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir State Department has several times warned efforts to build the defensive capacity of spokesperson Heather Nauert stated: “The Putin seem to have established a good rap- Moscow and Damascus there “will be con- Ukraine’s forces.” The new funding will United States is pleased to note that the port during their summit in Helsinki on July sequences” if violations of the southern de- “support ongoing training programs and government of Ukraine has welcomed an 16. The Russian media enthusiastically quot- confliction zone continue. But to date, those operational needs,” the statement said. The important announcement made today ed Mr. Trump: “We got along well, which words have not been met with actions United States has provided a total of more related to reform of the Ukrainian energy truly bothered many haters who wanted to (Militarynews.ru, June 22). According to than $1 billion in security assistance to sector. The supervisory boards of Ukrainian see a boxing match. Big results will come!” Ambassador Antonov, in Helsinki Mr. Putin Ukraine since 2014, when neighboring state-owned Naftogaz and Main Gas (Interfax, July 18). Meanwhile, Russian put forward “interesting proposals” to solve Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean penin- Pipelines of Ukraine signed a Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov the problem, “taking into account Israeli sula and fomented a separatist conflict in Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), described the summit as “splendid, better security concerns” (Interfax, July 18). parts of eastern Ukraine. More than 10,300 committing to separate the production and than super” (Militarynews.ru, July 16). The Trump administration is currently people have been killed since April 2014 in But despite all this good personal chem- heavily focused on Iran’s deep involvement the conflict. Although Moscow denies inter- transmission portions of Naftogaz, istry, the summit on its face produced in the Syrian civil war. Severe anti-Iranian fering in Ukraine’s domestic affairs, the Ukraine’s state-owned gas company. This almost nothing concrete – other than a sanctions imposed by Washington will International Criminal Court (ICC) in reform is consistent with market-oriented media mega-scandal regarding widespread soon come into effect, curtailing the Islamic November 2016 determined the conflict to policies encouraged by the EU, the United perceptions of Mr. Trump too actively echo- Republic’s oil exports, undermining its be “an international armed conflict States and the international community.” ing Mr. Putin’s rheto- nuclear and ballistic between Ukraine and the Russian She futher noted that “Assistant Secretary ric at the joint press- missile ambitions, as Federation.” (RFE/RL) of State for Energy Resources Frank er and seemingly dis- Ukraine officially well as obstructing Fannon traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine, from July missing the issue of asked the U.S. to the spread of Iranian Portman praises release of funds 22 to 24, and played a key role in this effort. In meetings with Ukrainian President Petro Russia’s intervention influence in Syria, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), co- in U.S. elections. And clarify what “new Iraq, Yemen and the Poroshenko, Prime Minister Volodymyr founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Groysman, committee chairs of the though the two presi- initiatives concern- wider Gulf. The Caucus and a member of the Senate dents spent over two European Union Verkhovna Rada, and other senior officials, ing southeastern Foreign Relations Committee, praised the Assistant Secretary Fannon stressed the hours together talk- actively opposes Department of Defense’s release of $200 ing one-on-one Ukraine” were dis- renewed U.S. sanc- United States’ staunch opposition to Nord million in security assistance to fund addi- Stream 2 and broader Russian attempts to (except for their two tions on Iran, but it tional training, equipment, and advisory translators), the con- cussed in Helsinki. remains to be seen use energy to harm Ukraine and under- efforts for Ukraine’s forces. “This is good mine European security. Assistant tent of their discus- what Russia does in news, and it sends a clear message that sion has been kept private, leading to ques- this standoff (Militarynews.ru, July 17). Secretary Fannon also discussed the critical America stands with the Ukrainian people importance of continued energy sector tions about what was actually said by The Syrian civil war looks close to con- in their struggle to secure a democratic, either side and what “big results” might reforms to advance a transparent and com- cluding, with Idlib now the last major rebel- prosperous, and independent future in the come of it. petitive energy sector as key to the success held province left. The Iranian-led and face of Russian aggression,” said the sena- Russian and U.S. officials concur that sponsored Shia militias, which did much of of a stable, prosperous, democratic, and tor. ”When I was in Ukraine in April, I Syria, Iran, North Korea, Israeli security and the fighting on the ground in Syria for Mr. free Ukraine.” The statement also explained pressed the Ukrainian parliament to pass nuclear arms control were discussed by al-Assad, soon may not be needed as much that the new MOU “sets a course for the these defense reforms, and the release of Messrs. Putin and Trump. However, what as before. Moscow could choose to support creation of a gas transmission system oper- these funds marks another important mile- remains unclear was whether their a downscaling of Iran’s foothold in Syria if ator that will function under anti-corrup- stone toward fulfilling America’s promise encounter amounted to only a preliminary the U.S. and the European Union agree to tion and corporate governance standards,” to stand with Ukraine. As co-founder and exchange of views or whether there was an allow President al-Assad to remain in and added: “The Trump administration co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, I unofficial handshake agreement behind the power, help finance the rebuilding of post- places a high priority on energy security, have worked to author several provisions scenes. Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin war Syria, and recognize the permanent and these actions represent a positive step authorizing expanded U.S. military assis- apparently prefer handshake deal-making Russian military presence in Hmeimim and for Ukraine as an important transit country tance — including lethal aid — and estab- – a result of the former’s real estate busi- Tartus. The Russian military has allowed for gas delivered to Europe, and also for lishing the Ukraine Security Assistance ness experience and the latter’s reliance on the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to bomb European energy security more broadly.” Initiative. I look forward to the full imple- and adherence to semi-criminal so-called Iranian assets in Syria with impunity. (U.S. Department of State) mentation of this bipartisan legislation to “patsan” street-gang culture from his time Moscow might concede the same privileges help the Ukrainians defend themselves (Continued on page 14) in the St. Petersburg mayor’s office in the to U.S. forces if the Iranians refuse to scale 1990s. For Mr. Putin, unofficial patsan-style down their Syrian presence. An agreement obligations are much more important than is being worked out by Moscow to ban pro- any signed and ratified treaties (Newsru. Iranian forces from Quneitra province and com, April 17, 2015; Brookings.edu, anywhere close to IDF positions in the The Ukrainian Weekly FOUNDED 1933 January 13, 2015). Golan Heights. More detailed U.S.-Russian A good example is the total immunity discussions on this issue are pending An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., from any prosecution of late president (Militarynews.ru, July 16). a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Boris Yeltsin and his entourage, an immuni- According to some observers, in return for Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. ty Mr. Putin apparently unofficially guaran- a more constructive Russian role in the Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. teed when Mr. Yeltsin handed him the pres- Middle East, Mr. Trump in Helsinki appeared (ISSN — 0273-9348) idency in January 2000. This deal still to make a major concession on the Nord The Weekly: UNA: appears to be in force and covers even Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, which is Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 those former officials who have since planned to stretch under the Baltic Sea to turned into Mr. Putin’s bitterest public crit- Germany, bypassing Ukraine. During his joint Postmaster, send address changes to: ics or political opponents, such as former press conference with the Russian leader, Mr. The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov or Trump restated his opposition to Nord 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas Kremlin aide Georgy Satarov Stream 2 and promised U.S. gas producers P.O. Box 280 (Pravdareport.com, October 25, 2003). would compete with it; but importantly, he Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] The Russian ambassador in Washington, suggested that the decision to build the pipe- Anatoly Antonov, announced, “The summit line was Germany’s to make (Interfax, July The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com was productive, and important results 17). Previously, Washington had threatened were reached” (Interfax, July 19). to stop Nord Stream 2 with punitive sanc- The Ukrainian Weekly, July 29, 2018, No. 30, Vol. LXXXVI Apparently, some kind of tacit agreement tions. Handing the decision to Berlin effec- Copyright © 2018 The Ukrainian Weekly was made on how to handle the situation in tively gives this gas pipeline project the go- Daraa and Quneitra provinces (southwest- ahead and may deprive cash-strapped ern Syria), where a successful offensive by Ukraine of billions of dollars in transit fees ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad, supported for pumping Russian gas to Europe. Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 by Russian bombing, left rebel defenses in On July 19, speaking in Moscow to an tatters. The “de-confliction zone” in the and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 annual worldwide gathering of Russian e-mail: [email protected] southwest, guaranteed by Russia, the U.S. ambassadors, Mr. Putin praised Mr. Trump and Jordan, has collapsed. The rebels there Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 e-mail: [email protected] have either outright surrendered or agreed (Continued on page 6) No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 3
NEWS ANALYSIS: Did Putin overplay his hand in Helsinki?
by Pavel K. Baev resolved (TASS, July 18). Yet, Mr. Trump, 19). ru, July 17). Eurasia Daily Monitor some Russian analysts argue, is reluctant to This defense of the much-cherished vic- Mr. Putin is keenly interested in the con- embrace this major achievement of tory illuminates the fact that it has deliv- fusion inside NATO caused by Mr. Trump’s The summit between Presidents Donald President Barack Obama and cannot single- ered no tangible results so far, except for pressure to increase the allies’ defense Trump and Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on handedly dismiss the case of Russian viola- what some Russian experts describe as expenditures and the U.S. president’s July 16 continues to generate strong inter- tions of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear “moral satisfaction” (Valdaiclub.com, July apparent ambivalence regarding Article 5 national resonance, despite apparently pro- Forces (INF) treaty (Russiancouncil.ru, July 18). Common ground was allegedly found security guarantees, revealed yet again by ducing few if any tangible results. In 11). Mr. Putin apparently presumes that his regarding Syria, where “de-confliction” his remarks about “aggressive” Washington, politicians and experts are at firm rejection of these accusations will between the Russian forces and U.S. troops Montenegro, the newest member of the odds about interpreting Mr. Trump’s bon- make them disappear; recently, instead of works rather well, despite the ongoing alliance (Rosbalt, July 20). The Russian homie with Mr. Putin shown at this long- clarifying the question of Russia’s dubious offensive by President Bashar al-Assad’s leader has plenty of opportunities for sub- anticipated rendezvous, particularly follow- Iskander missile tests, which may violate forces into the Daraa “de-escalation zone,” tly exploiting this confusion, but he instead ing the disagreeable North Atlantic Treaty the INF, the Russian military has carried out which was established after the meeting preferred to issue another blunt warning Organization summit in Brussels; but in tests of the air-based version of the same between Messrs. Trump and Putin in about the grave consequences of the “irre- Moscow, the opinion-makers are exuberant missile, dubbed Kinzhal (TASS, July 18). Hamburg a year ago (Vedomosti, July 20). sponsible policy” of accepting Georgia and (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 17). The most consequential of Mr. Putin’s Now, the two leaders ostensibly agree Ukraine into NATO (Kremlin.ru, The Russian leader seemingly believes “extremely strong and powerful” (in Mr. about granting priority to Israel’s security Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 19). that the initial success in making the Trump’s words) denials concerns Moscow’s interests (Gazeta.ru, July 17). Moscow, how- He also apparently tried to sell Mr. desired summit happen was multiplied by interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential ever, cannot make any meaningful commit- Trump on the old proposal to stage a refer- his outsmarting and outperforming of Mr. elections. Russian experts now venture cau- ments regarding the withdrawal of pro-Ira- endum in Donbas on the status of this war Trump during their 130-minute face-to- tious opinions about Mr. Trump’s mistake in nian forces and needs to secure Tehran’s zone, seeking to show Ukraine that its face; and he is now looking to collect the accepting this argument. But in fact, they approval for every step it takes in the shift- future can be discussed and decided behind fruits from this apparent victory suggest, Mr. Putin tactically miscalculated by ing sands of the Syrian war (Nezavisimaya its back (Vedomosti, July 20). (Kommersant, July 18). However, such tri- so categorically rejecting the mounting evi- Gazeta, July 18; see Eurasia Daily Monitor, This proposal, along with other “incredi- umphalism both devalues and undermines dence of a massive operation, involving the July 18). Moscow’s alliance with Tehran is ble suggestions,” have all been duly rejected the breakthrough he presumes to achieve in Russian special services (most specifically, non-negotiable with Washington because by the U.S. government, likely surprising Mr. bilateral relations with the United States. military intelligence, known as the GRU) the sustainability of the Russian interven- Putin as to why his seemingly successful per- Mr. Putin could have offered some sym- working hand-in-hand with hackers and tion depends upon cultivating this “broth- formance in Helsinki actually turned out to bolic concessions in Helsinki but did not, trolls (Rossiiskaya Gazeta, July 17). This erhood-in-arms.” be counterproductive. Instead of granting relying instead on his skill at handling the unyielding stance inevitably draws Mr. Putin Mr. Putin feigned Russian support for Mr. Mr. Trump a “victory” by offering some mercurial interlocutor and on careful prepa- into the heart of U.S. domestic political tur- Trump’s management of the North Korean minor compromises, he opted to play a rations for the unstructured conversation. moil: by ridiculing the investigation of problem, playing on the latter’s obvious strong and confident leader – and the pre- During the summit talks, he apparently put Special Counsel Robert Mueller, he directly need to prove the success of the Singapore dictable backlash has taken him by surprise. several suggestions on the table, and now engages in Mr. Trump’s battles with his summit with Kim Jong-un (Republic.ru, July The desire to score a public relations tri- Russian officials have been publicly inter- numerous opponents in the U.S. political 17). But in reality, the Kremlin has to follow umph prevailed over an elementary assess- preting them as attained agreements – establishment (RBC, July 17). Beijing’s lead when it comes to relaxing the ment of the consequences. And this vanity much to the consternation of the U.S. politi- This forceful support is not at all helpful sanctions regime (which Moscow never reveals that Mr. Putin is by no means a mas- cal establishment (RIA Novosti, July 20). The for Mr. Trump, who needs to disassociate liked in the first place), while declaring ter-statesman, much the same way as he was Russian Ministry of Defense set this tone by himself from the 12 GRU suspects indicted Russia’s dedication to the ambivalent denu- a rather unexceptional KGB operative. While asserting, the day after the Putin-Trump by Mr. Mueller on the eve of the summit in clearization of the Korean peninsula intending to harvest dividends from his meeting, its readiness to implement the pur- Helsinki as well as from any other compro- (Forbes.ru, July 13). The only issue where “beautiful friendship” with Mr. Trump, Mr. ported specific accords reached by the two mising connections with the Kremlin (New Mr. Putin had to cut short Mr. Trump’s Putin’s political greed all but guarantees fur- presidents (Rossiiskaya Gazeta, July 17). Times, July 17). Nevertheless, Mr. Putin has attempt to have a conversation is Russia’s ther deterioration of U.S.-Russian relations. An urgency certainly exists to advance not stopped effectively fighting for the relations with China. Indeed, the dependen- the nuclear arms control agenda, starting “common cause” alongside Mr. Trump, con- cy has grown so deep that in China’s loom- The article above is reprinted from with extending the New START treaty, demning U.S. critics of the “Helsinki spirit” ing trade war with the U.S., Moscow’s space Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from which is set to expire in February 2021. And as both malevolently influential and utterly for maneuver is strictly limited by Beijing’s its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, Moscow now claims that this issue is pathetic (Moskovsky Komsomolets, July choices and instructions (Russiancouncil. www.jamestown.org.
U.S. ‘not considering’ Putin proposal for referendum in Ukraine’s east
RFE/RL itself and not a proposal for a referendum. U.S. officials have repeatedly said that With reporting by Bloomberg, AP, AFP, He said that “concrete proposals were Russia must do much more to implement DPA, Interfax and TASS. The administration of U.S. President made on how to resolve this issue,” but did the agreement and create conditions under Copyright 2018, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted Donald Trump says it is “not considering not describe them. which it could succeed. with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ supporting” a proposal made by Russian Mr. Trump has said on Twitter that he The U.S. president’s special envoy on Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, President Vladimir Putin during his sum- and Mr. Putin discussed the situation in Ukraine, Kurt Volker said in January that Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org mit with Mr. Trump to hold a referendum in Ukraine at the July 16 summit in Helsinki, there was “a very strong sense of disap- (abridged from the story found at https:// regions of eastern Ukraine where an armed but he did not mention a potential referen- pointment and frustration in Washington www.rferl.org/a/trump-putin-discussed- conflict is being waged against the dum or provide any other details related to that Russia has done absolutely nothing to concrete-proposals-on-ukraine-envoy- Ukrainian government. Ukraine. end the conflict.” says/29378363.html). U.S. National Security Council spokes- The Bloomberg report cited two people man Garrett Marquis said on July 20 that who attended a closed-door speech by organizing a “so-called referendum” would President Putin to Russian diplomats on have “no legitimacy.” July 19. The report said Mr. Putin told the Shortly after the White House rejected diplomats he had agreed not to disclose the Ukraine Caucus co-chairs condemn conducting a referendum in eastern referendum plan publicly, in order to give Ukraine, the Pentagon announced that it is President Trump time to consider it. Trump’s Helsinki meeting with Putin providing an additional $200 million in Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokes- security assistance to Ukraine to help it woman Maria Zakharova declined to com- Congressional Ukraine Caucus democratic institutions in the U.S. and our build its “defensive capacity.” ment on Mr. Putin’s reported proposal for a allies abroad. Earlier the same day, Russian referendum, saying on July 20 that it was WASHINGTON – Congressional Ukraine Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and its Ambassador to the United States Anatoly beyond her competence to comment on Caucus chairs, Reps. Marcy Kaptur assault on peace and security in Europe has Antonov said Messrs. Trump and Putin dis- details of the talks between the two presi- (D-Ohio), Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), and Brian led to the death of thousands of Ukrainians cussed “concrete proposals” for resolving dents. Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) issued a joint statement and the displacement of millions. the conflict in eastern Ukraine during the But she added that “if the global commu- after President Donald Trump’s summit We are also concerned that the presi- summit in Helsinki on July 16. nity, first and foremost the United States, with Russian President Vladimir Putin in dent did not condemn the Russian govern- Mr. Antonov spoke a day after has failed to make Kyiv implement the Helsinki. ment’s assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty, Bloomberg quoted sources as saying that Minsk Agreements, then other options to The full text of their statement follows. including cyberattacks on its institutions, Mr. Putin told Russian diplomats he had resolve [the conflict] may be discussed.” * * * aggression in the Donbas region and the proposed to Mr. Trump that a referendum At a joint press conference with Mr. As co-chairs of the bipartisan Ukraine illegal occupation of Crimea. be held in the region, where Russia-backed Trump following their talks in Helsinki, Mr. Caucus, we are deeply troubled by the pres- We urge President Trump to stand separatists hold parts of two oblasts. Putin repeated Russian calls for the United ident’s subservient behavior towards shoulder-to-shoulder with our NATO allies “This issue was discussed,” the ambassa- States to press Kyiv harder to implement President Putin. The United States must in the face of continued threats from Russia dor said, apparently referring to the conflict the Minsk agreement. never tolerate actions that seek to weaken and its aggression in Ukraine. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 No. 30
‘Murderers not found’ two years after journalist Sheremet killed in Kyiv
by Christopher Miller administration either could not be reached RFE/RL by RFE/RL for comment or declined to comment when asked whether there had KYIV – Dozens of people have commem- been any new developments in the case. orated journalist Pavel Sheremet on July In a pithy and accusatory text message 20, the second anniversary of his killing in to Sevhil Musayeva, the editor-in-chief of a car-bomb blast in central Kyiv. the independent Ukrainian news site Journalists, rights defenders, civil soci- Ukrayinska Pravda and a close friend of ety activists, U.S. diplomats, friends and col- Sheremet before his death, Internal Affairs leagues placed flowers at a makeshift Minister Arsen Avakov said investigators memorial at the busy intersection in Kyiv weren’t working with the intention of where Sheremet was killed. Many held pleasing journalists by solving the case on a black-and-red posters saying: “Pavel notable day, such as the anniversary of the Sheremet. 20.07.2016. Murderers still not killing. found.” “Stop speculating. [You’re] dividing the Sheremet, a Belarusian-born Russian country with [your] statements,” Mr. citizen who had made Kyiv his permanent Avakov wrote in the message, which was home, was leaving the apartment he seen by RFE/RL. shared with his partner, Olena Prytula, and svoboda.org (RFE/RL) Ms. Musayeva said she was “disappoint- driving to the studio where he hosted a Mourners held posters saying, “Pavel Sheremet. 20.07.2016. Murderers still not found.” ed” and “can’t believe that after two years morning radio program when an impro- we still have no results” in the case. It is ter- vised explosive device planted under the Ukrainian officials, who promised to find Ukrainian authorities made no public rifying to know that Sheremet’s killers are Subaru the couple shared exploded at 7:45 those responsible for Sheremet’s death, but statements on the anniversary. Officials still out there somewhere, she added. a.m. on July 20, 2016. He was 44. nobody has been arrested and no police from the Internal Affairs Ministry, National The attack was condemned by leads have been made public. Police, and President Petro Poroshenko’s (Continued on page 15)
Putin had, in effect, acknowledged that it responded. “Moreover, we stand ready to European Ukraine. Reponses in Kyiv... was Russia that organized the so-called ref- extend this transit contract that’s about to But much of the confidence began to dis- erendum in Crimea while it was still part of expire next year in case, if the dispute appear again as details began to emerge, (Continued from page 1) Ukraine, and not some local “Crimean” enti- between the economic entities — dispute first from the Kremlin and then from the above the heads of the American political ty as Moscow has usually claimed. will be settled in Stockholm arbitration White House, that Messrs. Trump and Putin establishment and society – including any The vice-chair of the Ukrainian court,” he added. had indeed discussed Ukraine behind deals on Ukraine. Parliament, Iryna Herashchenko, went as So, all in all, Ukrainian commentators closed doors. The Russian president sug- Other Ukrainian observers also noted far as to say this on her Facebook page: initially felt that Ukraine’s interests had not gested that the two sides were considering positive elements emerging from the U.S.- “The most important thing that was heard been damaged by the Trump-Putin summit proposals they had floated, which commen- Russia summit for Ukraine. Former at the press conference was the confirma- meeting, and that, if anything, the country tators in both Ukraine and the U.S. suspect- Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs tion of Putin’s guilt, who admitted that it had reaped some benefits from it. What ed would be damaging to Ukraine’s inter- Volodymr Ohryzko was particularly pleased. was the Russian Federation that organized was missing were attempts to place an ests. In both Kyiv and Washington, officials Commenting in the weekly Novoye Vremya, the ‘referendum’ in Crimea. Our lawyers assessment of what transpired in Helsinki and analysts quickly rejected any idea of a he stressed that Mr. Trump, “despite all his and diplomats should make use of this against the broader background of the referendum being held in the areas under quirks,” stated “unequivocally and clearly admission in preparing their lawsuits to other significant events of the last weeks, occupation in the Donbas along the lines that Crimea is not Russia, but Ukraine.” international courts.” ranging from the end of the soccer World favored by Moscow. But the nerves Although there was no movement forward What few Ukrainian commentators Cup Final in Russia, to the EU-Ukraine and remained frayed. from the Ukrainian point of view on the appeared to give Mr. Trump credit for was NATO summits and the anniversary on July Oleh Petrovets, for example, wrote in his issues of Crimea and Russia’s aggression in his reiteration in Europe of his strong 17 of the downing of Malaysian Airlines blog for Ukrayinska Pravda that, with more the Donbas, neither was there any retreat at opposition to the North Stream 2 gas pipe- Flight 17 over Ukrainian territory by a and more information emerging, it appears Ukraine’s expense. Not only was the status line scheme that is potentially so dangerous Russian missile. that in actual fact Ukraine could have been quo thereby preserved, but in view of the both economically and geopolitically for And the critical question that was left the central issue discussed during the affirmation of support for Ukraine’s position Ukraine, and strategically for Europe as largely unaddressed was what would be closed meeting. voiced repeatedly a week before at the such. Yet this issue, or rather Germany’s the longer-term effect of President Trump’s President Trump has since continued to EU-Ukraine and NATO summits that preced- determination to cooperate with Russia on meetings and statements in Europe not defy the mighty chorus of criticism that his ed the meeting in Helsinki, the net effect, the this project – to bring natural gas to only on U.S. politics, but also on the unity of wooing of Mr. Putin has generated, and has diplomat concluded, was a boon for Ukraine. Germany through a pipeline via the Baltic the Euro-Atlantic structures into which even invited the Russian president to Mr. Ohryzko and other Ukrainian ana- Sea that bypasses Ukraine – has become a Ukraine wants to be integrated. And how Washington to continue their talks. To the lysts also spotted what appears to have source of major concern for Ukraine. should Ukraine respond? dismay of Kyiv and the Ukrainian media, he been a costly slip of the tongue by Mr. Trump was outspoken on this sub- At first, the post-summit situation has also made it clear that Ukraine will be President Putin. During the press confer- ject at the NATO summit in Brussels on July seemed comfortable enough for Ukraine. on the agenda. Given the continuing lack of ence the Russian leader said: “The posture 11-12 and reaffirmed his stance, albeit less On July 18 the EU ambassadors announced transparency, hidden agendas and personal- of President Trump on Crimea is well forcefully, at the Helsinki press conference additional sanctions against Russia, this ities involved, it is not surprising that the known and he stands firmly by it. He con- with Mr. Putin on July 16. This forced the time targeting persons involved in the ille- Ukrainian media, and officialdom too, tinues to maintain that it was illegal to Russian president to adopt a reassuring gal construction of the Kerch Strait bridge remain in a state of shock and relative help- annex it. Our viewpoint is different. We tone: “Mr. President [Trump] voices his connecting Crimea to the Russian main- lessness as they await further developments. held a referendum in strict compliance concerns about the possibility of disap- land. On the previous day, President Petro with the U.N. Charter and international pearance of transit through Ukraine. I reas- Poroshenko declared that more than half of Bohdan Nahaylo, journalist, veteran law” It is the use of the word “we” that the sured Mr. President that Russia stands the country supports membership in NATO, Ukraine watcher and former U.N. official, is Ukrainian observers picked up on. Mr. ready to maintain this transit,” Mr. Putin for it represents peace, security and a currently based in Kyiv.
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Hayda Ihor Providence RI Mysyshyn Maryann Springfield MA Holowinsky Natalia Somerset NJ $10.00 Beck Robert Lubbock TX The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund is the only Klachko Luba Mendham NJ Brodylo Maria Elmont NY fund dedicated exclusively to supporting Melnyk Irene Plains PA Dytiuk John Wethersfield CT the work of this publication. No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 5 Usyk makes history, first to unify four cruiserweight titles by Ihor N. Stelmach Usyk was quick to acknowledge a team effort in the victory. “My team made me Oleksandr Usyk made history on look like I looked in the ring,” he said Saturday, July 21, when he became the through an interpreter in a post-fight undisputed cruiserweight world champion media session. “This is our victory.” – retaining the WBC and WBO and picking The Ukrainian became the third undis- up the WBA and IBF crusierweight titles – puted cruiserweight world champion in before a sellout crowd of 24,000 at Olympic division history, joining three-belt champi- Stadium in Moscow. His unanimous deci- ons Evander Holyfield and O’Neil Bell. He is sion victory over Murat Gassiev in the World only the fourth fighter to unify four major Boxing Super Series final earned Usyk the titles in any weight class in the four-belt era, Muhammad Ali Trophy for the single-elimi- joining former middleweight champions nation tournament that began last Bernard Hopkins (2004) and Jermain September. Usyk, the No. 1 seed in the eight- Taylor (2005) and former junior welter- man field became the first fighter in cruiser- weight champion Terence Crawford (2017). weight history to unify all four world title Usyk (15-0, 11 KO), a 31-year-old left- belts. Usyk was also awarded the honorary handed puncher and 2012 Olympic heavy- cruiserweight title by The Ring magazine. weight gold medalist, relied heavily on his Judges scoring the bout were in com- primary weapon, his right jab. No. 2 seed plete agreement after 12 rounds – 120- Gassiev (26-1, 19 KO), famous for his body 108, 119-109 and 119-109 for Usyk’s total punches, had little success damaging Olga Ivashchenko domination with his superior speed and Usyk’s midsection. Oleksandr Usyk (right) lands a right hook against Murat Gassiev in Moscow. The two combatants displayed strong skills. Usyk landed 252 of 939 punches their trainers, Russ Anber (Usyk) and Abel backward, while the Russian’s offense was respect for each other prior to their bout, while his opponent Gassiev landed a mere Sanchez (Gassiev). The respect was there very sporadic. Gassiev landed a few heavy probably due to the long-time friendship of 91 out of 313. after the fight with Gassiev giving due cred- lefts to the body in the second round, land- it to the winner. ed a right hand to the head in the fourth “Best opponent in my professional and a clean right hand in the seventh. The career. Oleksandr Usyk did a great job. tough Ukrainian with an excellent chin Thank you for this fight,” Gassiev said in a hardly budged. post-fight press briefing. “Oleksandr was Gassiev’s third title defense was reduced the favorite and he proved it.” to a strategy of hoping for one big punch, In his fourth successful title defense, needing a knockout to win. The faster, more Usyk not only became the undisputed skilled Usyk boxed circles around Gassiev, champion, but he did so by winning each swelling his left eye, bloodying his nose in tournament fight on the road. All six of his the 10th round and hammering him with world title bouts have been away from uppercuts, jabs and combinations. home: his first belt was won in Poland, the The champion showed off his tremen- first two defenses in the United States, the dous conditioning in the 12th round by tournament quarterfinal in Germany, the throwing 117 punches and landing 47 – semifinals decision in Latvia and now his the most in either category for the fight – victory over Gassiev in his home country. capping off a historic victory. Usyk suffered an elbow injury that Usyk was presented the Muhammad Ali forced postponement of the tournament Trophy commissioned for the winner of the final from May 11 in Saudi Arabia, but he tournament by Ali’s widow, Lonnie Ali. WBSS showed no ill effects from the injury, using Upon hoisting the trophy, Usyk admitted Oleksandr Usyk, decorated with four title belts, receives the Muhammad Ali Trophy his strong jab throughout the fight. Usyk’s from Lonnie Ali and boxing promoter Karl-Robin “Kalle” Sauerland. jab consistently rocked Gassiev’s head (Continued on page 18)
those posed by mines and unexploded ord- OSCE mandate... nance, as well as other impediments. Its drones are often targeted and one of (Continued from page 1) its monitors, an American, died last year in invasion of Ukraine that started with Crimea a landmine blast. Joseph Stone, a paramed- in late February 2014 and spread to the two ic by training, in April 2017 was traveling in easternmost regions of Luhansk and a car in Russia-occupied Luhansk Oblast Donetsk, the inclusion of Russian observers when the vehicle hit a mine. Two other in the OSCE mission has been questioned. monitors were wounded in the incident. Russia has the fourth largest contingent The former OSCE staff member with in the monitoring mission with 37 mem- whom The Ukrainian Weekly spoke said bers, accounting for 5 percent of mission that it’s quite possible that squabbles occur monitors. in the field – before anything is included in When The Ukrainian Weekly asked the a report, all patrol members must agree on OSCE in 2017 why, as an aggressor, Russia the information. still has monitors in the field, the security “OK, I will say (as a former OSCE staffer) body said that it has a “number of mecha- that I witnessed no such bickering. But that OSCE nisms in place to ensure the impartiality of doesn’t rule out that happening in the field,” OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Angelino Alfano (right) is accompanied by Ambassador the information we provide” and that its the individual said. Ertugrul Apakan, chief monitor of the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission in Mykhailo Samus, deputy director for conduct code “requires all OSCE officials to Ukraine, to an entry-exit checkpoint near government-controlled Pyshchevyk, where international affairs at the Ukrainian Center conduct themselves at the highest personal they saw first-hand the situation on the ground along the contact line in eastern and professional level at all times.” Ukraine on January 31 of this year. for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Following the purported data breach, Studies, said he believes that Russia’s pres- the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based Ukrainian Weekly that the image of the that he had worked for Russian intelli- ence in the OSCE Ukraine mission compro- policy center, published an opinion piece security body has diminished. gence. The Russian, Maksim Udovichenko, mises its mandate to monitor the non-exis- that called for expelling Russian monitors “I will also say as a former OSCE staffer was expelled from the SMM after the video tent ceasefire. from the OSCE’s Ukraine mission in a July that, given this last piece by Paul [Niland], I was aired. “Despite the fact that throughout the 23 blog written by Paul Niland, a British believe the tide in public opinion has turned In another incident, published in whole period of waging aggression and entrepreneur and publisher and longtime severely against the OSCE in Ukraine,” said November 2017 on YouTube by the self-pro- committing a whole range of crimes both resident of Kyiv. the former OSCE staffer who asked for ano- claimed militia in “separatist”-controlled against Ukraine and other countries “Russia is without doubt a party to the nymity because the situation “is too sensi- Luhansk Oblast, a Russian OSCE monitor is [downing of MH17, poisoning in Salisbury, conflict in Ukraine, and without doubt so, tive and it’s too easy to identify [me].” seen chummily greeting and shaking hands U.S. election meddling], Russia is a full too, is Ukraine,” he wrote. “For this reason, The individual added that “it can only be with a member of the occupying force. After member of the OSCE and therefore it has there aren’t any Ukrainian monitors… downhill from here and perhaps another being shown three corpses of Ukrainian sol- the full right for her interests to be taken Ukrainian citizens are employed by the solution needs to be found.” diers that were being handed over, the OSCE into account as well,” he said OSCE in Ukraine in a variety of administra- monitor salutes the militant. Mr. Samus concluded: “Therefore, I Compromised mandate tive roles… therefore there should be no The OSCE has from the outset of its SMM doubt that the OSCE will respond different- Russian monitors.” Disgrace also followed the OSCE three in Ukraine in March 2014 also faced restric- ly than before. Of course, there will be an One former international staffer at the years ago when a Russian monitor told a tions of movement in the war zone due to investigation, but I can’t say for sure that OSCE mission in Ukraine told The Ukrainian camera crew in Luhansk Oblast security hazards and threats, including some credible truth will be established.” 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 No. 30
WINDOW ON EURASIA The Ukrainian Weekly The Crimea Declaration Ukraine was the elephant in the room In case anyone was wondering – due to the mixed messages being sent out by the Trump administration – what the U.S. stand really is on Russia’s occupation of at U.S.-Russia meeting in Helsinki Crimea, the answer came on July 25 in the form of a statement titled “Crimea by Paul Goble implicitly raised Ukraine by not talking Declaration.” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo thus announced a formal policy reaf- about it. firming U.S. rejection of “Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea.” At the same time, Many Ukrainian commentators have After Neville Chamberlain made his con- he underscored that the U.S. would “maintain this policy until Ukraine’s territorial suggested that the “laconic” way in which cessions to Hitler at Munich, Winston integrity is restored.” He also called on Russia “to respect the principles to which it Vladimir Putin referred to the Crimean Churchill observed in the House of has long claimed to adhere and to end its occupation of Crimea.” issue and the failure of Donald Trump to Commons that he had to mention the most The Crimea Declaration was issued about an hour before Secretary Pompeo say anything at all about Ukraine at the horrible thing first. England, he said, “had appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he insisted that the joint press conference in Helsinki means suffered a defeat without a war” by failing administration is taking a tough stance against Russia and emphasized that the U.S. that, in the words of one, “Ukraine was not to oppose the Nazi dictator and believing “does not and will not recognize the Kremlin’s purported annexation of Crimea” and in the epicenter” of their talks, including that deals with him were possible. that “there will be no relief from Crimea-related sanctions until Russia returns con- their one-on-one sessions. That observation can now be updated trol of the Crimean peninsula to Ukraine.” Such a conclusion represents a funda- for the United States and the world. At Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., Valeriy Chaly, posted on Facebook that, while mental misunderstanding of what hap- Helsinki, the U.S. and Ukraine “suffered a Mr. Pompeo was testifying in Congress, Mr. Chaly, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of pened because Mr. Trump’s failure to raise defeat without a word” because Mr. Foreign Affairs Serhiy Kyslytsia and Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev were the issue given the certainty that Mr. Putin Trump’s failure to mention Ukraine is a at the State Department, where they received a copy of the Crimea Declaration from would react badly means that the U.S. lead- defeat for the West and a victory for Mr. Dr. A. Wess Mitchell, assistant secretary of state, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Mr. Chaly characterized the declaration as “A historic, timely and powerful er has deferred to his Russian counterpart Putin. One can only hope that this time decision of our strategic partner – the United States.” by ignoring Moscow’s greatest current around too, the initial victory of the aggres- Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement welcoming the Crimea crime and given Mr. Putin a victory he sor will lead to his ultimate defeat. Declaration, which it said “confirms the consistency of U.S. policy concerning the doesn’t deserve and must not be allowed to But for that to happen, one must not respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The MFA also said: “We applaud the retain. comfort oneself with the notion that U.S. resolve in urging the Russian Federation to respect international law and restore By not raising Ukraine in fact, Mr. Trump Ukraine wasn’t discussed at Helsinki as the territorial integrity of Ukraine.” in fact made it clear that he, personally at some have done (apostrophe.ua/article/ The United Kingdom said it “echoes the United States’ firm statement of opposi- least, wants to overlook Russian aggression world/2018-07-17/mnogo-nyuansov- tion to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. The U.K. position is clear: We condemn there in the name of some grand bargain pochemu-tramp-ne-davil-na-putina-po- Russia’s continued breach of international law; Crimea is Ukrainian territory.” And elsewhere. Mr. Putin could not be more ukraine/19356). It very much was even if, the European Union said it remains “firmly committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty and pleased, because that means Mr. Trump as many think, not a word was said. territorial integrity and to fully implementing our non-recognition policy, including through restrictive measures.” The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and the Ukrainian World Congress both issued statements on the Crimea Declaration. The UCCA called the document “a strong message of support to those living under direct threat from Kremlin site drops Putin’s admission Russia’s unrelenting aggressive behavior,” while the UWC commended the U.S. and its secretary of state for “taking this principled position.” that Moscow organized Crimean referendum So, just what is the significance of this Crimea Declaration, which Secretary of by Paul Goble illegality of joining Crimea to the Russian State Pompeo said is analogous to the historic Welles Declaration of 1940? The Federation” (kremlin.ru/events/president/ Welles Declaration (named for U.S. acting Secretary of State Sumner Welles) con- Donald Trump’s correction of the record news/58017). demned the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states and proclaimed the official policy of his remarks in Helsinki about Russian “We have a different point of view. We of non-recognition of the forcible incorporation of the Baltics into the USSR. It interference in the 2016 U.S. elections has consider that we conducted the referen- applied the Stimson Doctrine of 1932, which had declared the policy of non-recogni- attracted a great deal of attention, much of dum in strict correspondence with interna- tion of states created as a result of aggression. it skeptical. But, so far, there has been less As expected, the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry responded to the Crimea tional law and the U.N. Charter. For Russia,” attention to a similar “correction” by his Declaration with a sneering comment: “We know the value of such momentous dec- Mr. Putin added, “this question is closed.” Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. larations.” And yet, the policy announced in the Welles Declaration outlived the But Russia’s Insider portal has called In his remarks at the joint press confer- USSR. For 51 years, under successive administrations and Congresses, the U.S. recog- attention to the fact that the official ence in Helsinki, the Kremlin leader said in nized the independent diplomatic missions of the Baltic states and protected Baltic Kremlin website has modified the Russian financial assets; it supported the aspirations of the Baltic nations for independence response to a question about Crimea, president’s words. It has dropped the word from the Soviet Union. “President Trump’s position is well-known, “we” throughout, lest there be any notion In fact, critics of U.S. policy on Russian-occupied Crimea had specifically called for and he maintains it. He speaks about the that Moscow was behind the Crimean ref- a Welles-type declaration. The UCCA says it started its advocacy for such a policy erendum rather than that the vote was an immediately after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2014. Paul Goble is a long-time specialist on expression of the free will of the Crimean The Crimea Declaration of July 25, 2018, is both historic and consequential. We ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia population (theins.ru/news/110464). applaud the Trump administration for eliminating any ambiguity about the U.S. posi- who has served in various capacities in the In Helsinki and quite possibly just like tion and stating clearly that “no country can change the borders of another by force.” U.S. State Department, the Central his opposite counterpart on a different Intelligence Agency and the International issue, Mr. Putin let slip his real view – one Broadcasting Bureau, as well as at the Voice that is closer to the truth: Moscow orches- of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio trated the referendum to ratify its military Liberty and the Carnegie Endowment for seizure of Ukrainian territory. However, Aug. Turning the pages back... International Peace. The article above is once back in Moscow, certainly with his reprinted with permission from his blog approval, the record has been “corrected” Three years ago, on August 2, 2015, the second World called “Window on Eurasia” (http://windo- to reflect Moscow’s official position rather Congress of the Crimean Tatar People ended in Ankara, Turkey. woneurasia2.blogspot.com/). than reality. 2 During the congress, and in the face of the Russian invasion of 2015 Crimea, the Tatars demonstrated their resolve, why they are a real asset for Ukraine, and why its movement, which the Kremlin southeastern Ukraine [Donbas] because of has tried so hard to disrupt, represents a large and growing Undisclosed... Ukrainian authorities refusing to honor problem for Moscow, noted Paul Goble in his analysis. their obligations” (Kremlin.ru, July 19). In (Continued from page 2) Kyiv commentator Andrey Strelets said on Novy Region-2 that the latest meeting Kyiv, the Helsinki summit caused near showed that the Crimean Tatars would increase activity in pushing their arguments to res- and attacked his U.S. opponents as “low- panic. Ukraine officially asked the United onate internationally. lifes” who purportedly weaken U.S. and States to clarify what “new initiatives con- The first congress of Crimean Tatars took place in 2009, but was unable to ratify its Israeli national security, cause billions of cerning southeastern Ukraine” were dis- charter until the latest meeting in 2015, creating the World Congress of Crimean Tatars. dollars in damage to U.S. business interests cussed in Helsinki over Ukrainian heads The body is tasked with promoting at the international level the rights, powers and aspira- by imposing sanctions, and spread ridicu- (Interfax, July 18). Reportedly, Kyiv is still tions of the national Qurultay and national Mejlis, both of which have faced difficulties in lous falsehoods to undermine Mr. Trump. waiting for a reply. working under a Russian occupation of the Crimean Tatar homeland but who are the The U.S. president, Mr. Putin asserted, is unique articulators of the position of the Crimean Tatar people. trying to improve relations with Russia. The article above is reprinted from Notably, the congress adopted a declaration stating that the “the right to self-determi- In the same speech, the Kremlin leader Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from nation belongs to the indigenous Crimean Tatar people.” Crimea must be freed as soon as its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, possible from the Russian occupation, it must be returned to Ukraine, and the Crimean also made an ominous statement: “There is Tatars have the right to decide their own fate, the congress declared. serious risk of further military escalation in www.jamestown.org. The congress also called on the international community to recognize that “the actions of Russia in Crimea are a genocide, beginning from the moment of the inclusion of the Visit our archive online: www.ukrweekly.com (Continued on page 14) No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 7
COMMENTARY With Trump on his side, Putin admits Russia staged the Crimean ‘referendum’
by Halya Coynash Russian, Mr. Putin has always tried to claim endum if one side faced physical danger if channels. This was also of critical impor- Kharkiv Human Rights that the so-called “referendum” was the ini- they expressed their point of view. The tance, as the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights noted in Protection Group tiative of “the Crimean people.” No longer, it Russian soldiers without insignia (often would seem, thanks to U.S. President called the “little green men”) were accom- its report on April 15, 2014: It is devastating that the only positive Trump – it was us all along, Mr. Putin panied and helped by so-called self-defense “New restrictions on free access to infor- thing to be said about the Helsinki summit admitted. armed paramilitaries. Russia has tried to mation came with the beginning of the on July 16 is that U.S. President Donald There is nothing at all in international claim that these were all locals, but they Crimea crisis. Media monitors indicated a Trump did not, as feared, recognize Crimea law to allow one country to “hold a referen- were led by people like Mr. Girkin, included significant rise of propaganda on the televi- as Russian. At least, not publicly. Mr. Trump dum” on the sovereign territory of another very many Russians and probably also the sion of the Russian Federation, which was was unable or unwilling to mention even country. Mr. Trump may not know that, or members of private military companies building up in parallel to developments in one of the grave crimes which the regime not care, but it is of relevance, since Russia who are known to have been brought from and around Crimea. Cases of hate propa- of Russian President Vladimir Putin has is still pushing a narrative about a sup- Sevastopol the day before. ganda were also reported. Dmitri Kiselev, committed over recent years. posed referendum that is as false as the After finally admitting to lying about the Russian journalist and recently appointed In fact, according to Mr. Trump, the low cosmetic “elections” that Joseph Stalin used Russian soldiers, Mr. Putin denied that this deputy general director of the Russian in U.S.-Russian relations was not because of to take over Eastern Europe after World could be an invasion since nobody had State Television and Radio Broadcasting its interference in the U.S. presidential elec- War II. been killed. Even from the point of view of Company, while leading news on the TV tions, as confirmed by all U.S. intelligence Russian soldiers seized control of the military deaths, this is not totally true, but Channel Rossiya has portrayed Ukraine as services, Russia’s invasion and annexation Crimean Parliament and critical infrastruc- it also conveniently brushes over the use of a ‘country overrun by violent fascists,’ dis- of Crimea and military aggression against ture in the morning of February 27, 2014, the armed paramilitaries to abduct, beat guising information about Kyiv events, Ukraine, the downing by a Russian Buk after around 10,000 Crimean Tatars and up, torture and generally terrorize those claimed that the Russians in Ukraine are missile of Malaysian airliner MH17, the use other Ukrainians prevented an attempt to Ukrainians who did not want to be seriously threatened and put in physical of radioactive polonium and nerve gas imitate a homegrown coup d’état the previ- annexed. Those paramilitaries are known danger, thus justifying Crimea’s ‘return’ to against perceived enemies on British terri- ous day. Within hours, they had forced a to have carried out the savage killing of the Russian Federation. As a result, there tory, war crimes in Syria and much more. “parliamentary session,” with an obscure Reshat Ametov and many other violent are serious concerns that people – both in No, it was because, Mr. Trump tweeted, of pro-Russian politician Sergei Aksyonov abductions, and are believed to have been Russia and Ukraine, and especially in “many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidi- declaring himself Crimean prime minister. behind the disappearance and assumed Crimea – may be subject to propaganda ty and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!” The fact that force was required to ensure murder of three other pro-Ukrainian civic and misinformation, through widespread It is for U.S. citizens to consider whether that the members of Parliament agreed to activists. misuse of the media, leading to a distortion their president should reject U.S. intelli- this “shift in leadership” is not disputed The state-owned TV Krym had been of the facts.” gence in favor of a former KGB agent’s even by Igor Girkin, the former Russian seized by March 1, 2014, the main private Russia had thus tried to guarantee a pos- assurances. They might also wonder how, military intelligence officer who played a TV channel Chornomorska was closed two itive account through the use of armed on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the critical role in the invasion. It was these days later, and all Ukrainian channels were downing of MH17, Mr. Trump should have leaders, installed at gunpoint, who swiftly taken off the air and replaced by Russian (Continued on page 16) been waxing effusive about a new dawn in announced the so-called referendum to be U.S.-Russia relations and totally silent held on March 16. about the murder of 298 passengers. Since This was in breach of Ukraine’s Mr. Trump had cast doubt on Russia’s prov- Constitution, which would require any IN THE PRESS: Trump and Putin, en involvement in that crime earlier, the change in territory or status to be deter- silence was not unexpected. That doesn’t mined by a national, not local, referendum. make it any the less disturbing. This was one of the reasons why it was the World Cup and Oleh Sentsov Mr. Trump’s failure to mention Russia’s immediately declared illegitimate not only “Trump Is Being Manipulated by “A Siberian Prisoner Spoils Putin’s aggression against Ukraine as a cause of by the Mejlis, the representative assembly Putin. What Should We Do?” by Will Hurd Extravaganza,” Editorial, The New York the worsening in Russia’s relations with of the Crimean Tatar people, the main (R-Texas), The New York Times, July 19 Times, June 18 (https://www.nytimes. the entire democratic world was also deep- indigenous people of Crimea, but also by (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/ com/2018/06/18/opinion/russia-world- ly worrying. Mr. Putin’s lip service to the the European Union, the Organization for opinion/trump-russia-putin-republican-con- cup-oleg-sentsov-putin.html): fact that Mr. Trump had not overturned the Security and Cooperation in Europe gress.html) In the midst of hosting the World Cup U.S.A.’s correct condemnation of Russia’s (OSCE), the European Parliament and all … Somehow many Americans have for- soccer extravaganza, the last thing Vladimir annexation was scarcely enough when he democratic countries, including the U.S.A. gotten that Russia is our adversary, not our Putin wants to be reminded of is human went on, unchallenged, to try to justify its The questions produced for this event ally, and the reasons for today’s tensions go rights, Crimea or Ukraine. That’s a good actions. also offered no possibility of voting for the back much farther than the 2016 election. reason to raise the case of Oleg Sentsov, a Mr. Putin claimed that “we consider that status quo. No. 1 asked: Are you for the For more than a decade, Russia has med- Ukrainian filmmaker who has been on a we held a referendum in strict compliance Crimea re-uniting with Russia, as a subject dled in elections around the world, sup- hunger strike for more than a month in a with the U.N. charter and international law. of the Russian Federation? No. 2: Are you ported brutal dictators and invaded sover- remote Siberian penal colony, to remind For us, for the Russian Federation, this for the reinstatement of the 1992 eign nations — all to the detriment of the Russian president that his costly sport issue is closed. That’s all.” Constitution of the Republic of the Crimea United States interests. Mitt Romney had it show does not wipe away his government’s Mr. Putin was clearly feeling particularly and for the status of the Crimea as part of right in 2012 when he told President crimes. … emboldened by the gift that Mr. Trump Ukraine? Since the second alternative Barack Obama that Russia was “without The case has raised an international out- bestowed upon him through this “summit” required knowledge of a largely theoretical question our No. 1 geopolitical foe.” cry. Prominent film directors, Russian and and did not even bother to hide behind his constitution in force for only around 13 …Russia is an adversary not just of the international, declared their support for Mr. customary subterfuge. Even after admitting days in 1992, it was relatively unlikely that United States but of freedom-loving people Sentsov; the European Union called the that the soldiers without insignia who had anybody would choose that option everywhere. Disinformation and chaos is a case a “breach of international law and ele- seized control of Ukrainian territory were It is also impossible to speak of a refer- Russian art form developed during the mentary standards of justice”; …the Soviet era that Russia has now updated European Parliament passed a resolution using modern tools. The result has been demanding the immediate release of Mr. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Russian disinformation spreading like a Sentsov and the other Ukrainian prisoners. virus throughout the Western world. From …The State Department has also spoken 2014 when Barack Obama was president elections in Britain, France and Montenegro out on behalf of Mr. Sentsov… that Russia invaded Crimea? Wasn’t it 2014 to invasions of Georgia and Ukraine, Moscow The Kremlin …maliciously claimed that 2014 was the time when Mr. Obama stated that NATO couldn’t has pursued an aggressive foreign policy Mr. Sentsov’s bruises were not torture to stop Russia protect Ukraine because Ukraine was not a aimed at spreading disorder and expanding marks but a result of his “sadomasochism.” member of NATO? (The Budapest memoran- Russian influence in states formerly under Kremlin-allied media have cast aspersions Dear Editor: dum of 1994 didn’t mention membership the heel of Soviet Communism. These efforts on his filmmaking and, of course, have weaken our allies and strengthen those who claimed that Western protests over his In its letter to President Donald Trump, in NATO as a requirement for protection.) Isn’t it obvious that 2014 was the time to seek to undermine the democratic order incarceration are a ploy to undermine the Ukrainian Congress Committee of that has helped prevent another world war Russia’s World Cup tournament. America notes: “In 2014 the United States stop Russia and not give it the opportunity to use its nefarious methods to get a boot in Europe since 1945. No, no and no. Mr. Putin’s regime alone reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine’s Moreover, the threat of Russian meddling print in Crimea? is responsible for the assaults on Ukraine, sovereignty, independence, territorial in United States elections is not behind us. for Mr. Sentsov’s torture and phony trial Hurrah for the Obama administration’s integrity and the inviolability of borders Just last week, Dan Coats, the director of and for whatever shadow Russia’s actions approval of the Ukraine Freedom Support with the passage of the Ukraine Freedom national intelligence, cautioned that “the cast over the soccer games. Act. Apparently it was enough to satisfy the Support Act. ...” warning lights are blinking red” that Russia Mr. Sentsov is risking his life to draw UCCA. The United States reaffirmed its commit- and other adversaries will undertake fur- attention to all this. He and the truth he ment to Ukraine’s sovereignty? Wasn’t it John Batz ther cyberattacks on our digital infrastruc- proclaims deserve the full support of the 2014 when Russia seized Crimea? Wasn’t it Burlingame, Calif. ture. … West… 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 No. 30 No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 9
Adrian Bryttan At the “Retro Lviv” fund-raiser for Soyuzivka (from left) are: Ukrainian National Association Advisor Nicholas Fil, Ukrainian National Foundation President Dr. Wasyl Szeremeta, Consul Ilona Lapa of Ukraine’s Consulate General in New York, UNA Levko Khmelkovsky Advisor Bohdana Puzyk and UNA First Vice-President Slavko Tysiak. The Dobriansky Brothers vocal trio. Soyuzivka’s 12th Ukrainian Cultural Festival celebrates global Ukrainian community
by Adrian Bryttan Special to The Ukrainian Weekly KERHONKSON, N.Y. – More than mere merrymaking, Soyuzivka’s 12th annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival was above all, a celebration of the global Ukrainian family. At the same time, this festival not only illustrated changes already in place at Soyuzivka, but also pointed to bigger transforma- tions just around the corner for all our communities. Thousands of guests from many corners of the world, young and old, flocked to the Ukrainian National Foundation’s (UNF) mountain eyrie in the airy heights of the Shawangunk Ridge on July 13-15. In addition to shar- ing ethnic pride, participants were united by deep concern over issues affecting all Ukrainians: their war-torn home- land, help for students and orphans, and finding ways to popularize their rich culture. When two star performers could not appear due to visa issues, the festival’s tireless artistic administrator Roma Lisovich (who is also the UNF’s treasurer) arranged to fly in fiery singer Anastasia Prykhodko. Ukrainian adaptability was further tested when a thunderstorm drenched the Saturday evening outdoor show, sending the audience scurrying for cover. Yet, the resilient fans did not go home. Adrian Bryttan Many sheltered under vendor tents, singing their own Just a few chairs are left as the crowd gathers for the songs. Eventually, the concert resumed inside the Veselka start of Saturday evening concert. Pavilion, hosted by witty TV celebrity Petro Maha of Kyiv. “Retro Lviv” fund-raiser On Friday evening, under a tent near the Lviv Building, an event was held that addressed the heart of the matter: questions about the future not only for Soyuzivka, but for the Ukrainian community at large. Before an audience of donors, the newly elected president of the Ukrainian National Foundation, Dr. Wasyl Szeremeta outlined the foundation’s concerns, and what its activities will mean for all of us in coming years. “There is no place like Soyuzivka!” he declared, “Yet at the same time, Soyuzivka is much more than a recreational center. I’m from Philly. Sadly, I have witnessed organiza- tions and properties go belly-up because communities took them for granted. When the UNF took over Soyuzivka, we were able to establish this center as a non-for-profit, where Adrian Bryttan Adrian Bryttan (Continued on page 13) Only a small sample of Orest Lutiy’s personal tattoo Maria Zhukevych hopes to win a Kindle, as Maria collection. Drich of the Ukrainian National Association looks on.
Adrian Bryttan Blue-and-yellow unicorns were all the rage in Adrian Bryttan face-painting at the Ukrainian National Sasha Gutmakher and a couple of competi- Adrian Bryttan Association gazebo. Just ask Kateryna Golovko. tors at the popular varenyky-eating contest. Tension mounts as the varenyky-eating contest is about to get under way. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 No. 30
The Ukrainian Dance Workshop in a number from Hutsulshchyna. Festival guests enjoy the show. Photo report: Soyuzivka’s 12th Ukrainian Cultural Festival Photos by Bo Photography
MC Petro Maha
Vocalist Khrystyna V.
Filmmakers Borys Buniak (“When We Starve”) Dumka soloist Andrew Gavdanovich. A modern dance number performed by the workshop. and Yurij Luhovy (“Recovery Room”).
Vasyl Hrechynsky conducts the Dumka Choir. No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 11
“Pryvit” by the Ukrainian Dance Workshop of Roma Pryma Bohachevsky opens the show.
Folk rock/pop singer Anastasia Prykhodko Actor Orest Lutiy. Violinist and MC Vasyl Popadiuk.
Wounded Ukrainian warrior Mykola Levkun is welcomed by Petro Maha, The Veselka Hall fills up after rain interrupted the outdoor concert. Orest Lutiy, Anastasia Prykhodko and Vasyl Popadiuk.
The Malvy duo of Ulana and Kalyna Leshchuk. The crowd as the outdoor concert begins. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 No. 30 No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 13
ones visible on his arms show a likeness of his mother, a able. But what to do when it rains? It would be nice to have Soyuzivka’s... drawing of Kozak Mamai, the words “Love, Gratitude, a permanent performing arts center, or a chamber-size Ukraine” and “No Slaves Are Allowed In Heaven.” concert hall that could also be utilized by local performers (Continued from page 9) There was also the recreation of a Ukrainian village, or and organizations.” donors are now able to deduct most of the amounts they “selo,” coordinated by Halyna Shepko that offered demon- “We would be happy, for example, to host the Detroit contribute. More importantly, people must realize that strations of Ukrainian arts and crafts by skilled artisans. The Bandurist Chorus for their summer camp. Or have a series while Soyuzivka is one important part, the UNF’s vision band Brattya z Prykarpattya (Liubomyr Chermak, Bohdan of Ukrainian artists in residence, and even our own muse- must involve far-reaching plans in the areas of culture and Zaets and Stefan Chermak) provided live music on Saturday um and library. And why couldn’t all our cities contribute heritage for all of our Ukrainian communities.” afternoon and during the evening. toward a centralized Holodomor museum right here? Consul Ilona Lapa then explained how Ukraine’s The long-anticipated varenyky-eating contest attracted Eventually, the foundation might take Ukrainian publica- Consulate General in New York cares for Ukrainian cheering, partisan fans on Saturday afternoon, prefaced by tions under its wing as well. The important point is for the orphans adopted by American families. (Over the following Khrystyna V (who also sang on the festival stage) warbling public to understand and support the wide-ranging work two days, I was to have more opportunities to speak at the official contest song. Refereed tongue-in-cheek by Sasha of this foundation.” Gutmakher, nine contestants (suspiciously, many from length with Dr. Szeremeta and Ms. Lapa.) Best buddies for life Meanwhile, stars from Ukraine took turns performing at Ivano-Frankivsk) dove into the dainty dumplings, which this elegant dinner, superbly catered by the Soyuzivka disappeared deftly down their digestive ducts. When the A truly heart-warming story is the attentive care devot- kitchens. On this occasion, multi-talented violin virtuoso smoke cleared, neophyte Pavlo Schyka emerged the victor. ed to adopted children at Soyuzivka. Even after they Vasyl Popadiuk took over the keyboard, improvising cock- Maintaining he nibbles only modest portions back home, receive their new American parents, Ukrainian orphans are tail tunes. Mr. Schyka ruminated, “Maybe I won because I washed legally still citizens of Ukraine until they reach the age of Garbed in uncompromising black, pop singer Ms. these varenyky down with two beers… oh, and I used my 18. Consul Lapa manages the adoptive families program Prykhodko cranked up the temperature with her silky con- hands and fingers.” There you have it, bachelorettes – this through the Consulate General of Ukraine in New York. tralto voice, belting out two songs, including “Embrace the bachelor is a real go-getter, sure to polish off anything you More than merely making sure the children are safe and Wings,” set to her own words and music. The popular Ms. serve up. (Naturally, he deploys knife and fork when seated well-cared-for, Ms. Lapa helps arrange the annual weekend Prykhodko had represented Russia in the 2009 Eurovision at dinner with a lady.) when all parents and their adoptees can meet while stay- Song Contest, but in 2014 she vowed never to perform in And speaking of food… ing at Soyuzivka Heritage Center. Ms. Lapa explained to me the problems facing children Russia again, where she still has a huge following. Soyuzivka’s Chef “Snake” The first time she spoke Ukrainian was when she who previously had only lived in institutional buildings: engaged a lady to teach her the language of her ancestors. Andrey Sonevytsky, the cheerful chef presiding over “Their new form of life within a nuclear family can be com- Ms. Prykhodko appeared before the participants of the Soyuzivka’s kitchen, is a graduate of the Culinary Institute plicated for children. It is most crucial that they feel genu- Maidan, actively supported a united Ukraine during of America. Though he’s christened after Metropolitan ine love and warmth, that their identity and self-esteem are Russian invasions and recently went on a tour for Andrey Sheptytsky, everyone here calls him “Snake.” Since respected and reinforced.” Indeed, several loving American Ukrainian troops in the Donbas region. becoming head chef in 1995, Chef Snake has prepared over families have even adopted and are raising Ukrainian chil- Remarkably, the evening’s second performer, “Orest 1 million servings at Soyuzivka. (Confidentially, his reptili- dren born with physical handicaps. Lutiy,” had grown up unawares in the same Kyiv building as an nickname evolved when the Yonkers, N.Y., Krylati soccer During these get-togethers at Soyuzivka, families partic- Ms. Prykhodko. Actor Antin Mukharsky developed the coach remarked at his “snaking” around the playing field.) ipate in cultural programs: the adopted children are eager stage persona of “Orest Lutiy,” a fictitious “professor of For this three-day festival, the Soyuzivka kitchen staff to learn of their heritage and history, and some of the lan- anthropology from Stryi.” made 20,000 varenyky (never powdered potatoes!), 800 guage. They enjoy trying folk dances, singing songs, hear- To troll Moscow, Mr. Lutiy revels in smash-mouth songs stuffed cabbages, 700 pieces of chicken, 600 sausages, ing the bandura, and creating their own vases or pysanky. like “Kill the Muscovite Inside You,” “O Bandera, You 1,200 shashlyky, 400 pounds of cabbage, 60 gallons of hot Children who have attended several of these annual events Ukrainian Apostle,” as well as other tunes with unprintable and cold borshch, and roasted 25 pounds of swordfish and look forward to seeing their friends from previous years. lyrics. (Due to his political activism, Mr. Lutiy said his family 50 pounds of filet mignon. (When questioned about his vel- Many become soul-mates and buddies for life. vety filet mignon, the chef replied with good humor why life was well-nigh shattered in 2011.) A big fan of the subver- Student workers from Ukraine sive style of the earlier Hadyukin Brothers band, he believes this particular cut should never be well-done.) the counter-culture will eventually succeed in Ukraine. But how can anyone manage to cook hundreds of differ- Volunteer Bohdana Puzyk, who is an advisor on the ent meals daily and still serve them fresh and warm? Ukrainian National Association’s General Assembly, has Performers on the festival stage Mr. Sonevytsky divulged: “When cooking for large groups, been Soyuzivka’s liaison with the U.S. State Department, The following day on the great outdoor stage, after the the secret is to prep items ahead of time and to learn how to coordinating Ukrainian students who arrive for summers presentation of colors by Ukrainian American Veterans, the undercook. Once the final cooking is complete, we keep the on Work and Travel permits. About 20 students annually Ukrainian Dumka Chorus kicked off the concert with a portions warm in huge “thermoses” which can be set up any- are admitted via this program. Each is responsible for reg- series of appropriately light and festive songs, including a where on the estate grounds. You must learn to strike a balance istration costs and airfare, but after a summer’s work, stu- new arrangement by conductor Vasyl Hrechynsky. and include extra portions just in case. My staff always enjoys dents can pay off those fees and still have enough left to The master of ceremonies, Mr. Maha, continued to any servings left over.” (No anorexics in the Snake Kitchen.) finance one year of college education back in Ukraine. delight everyone with his witty banter, while interspersing Mr. Sonevytsky runs an efficient but happy crew under Third-generation Ukrainian, lifeguard Patrick Monks sincere reflections on today’s problems in Ukraine. Also the buff lights of his subterranean galley in Main House. His resides with the Ukrainian students, and told me many featured in the afternoon show were the Dobriansky assistant for 17 years, Svitlana Mycak, described all the speak four or five languages and are very hard-working. Brothers vocal trio and singer Khrystyna V. The Malvy duo intricate stages of prep and cooking during their some- During their free time, students travel to sightsee America. of Ulana and Kalyna Leshchuk beguiled listeners with their times 16-hour-long days. Chef Snake has catered 500 wed- Worker success stories include a local Ukrainian girl who vocals and bandura playing. dings at Soyuzivka and over 2,000 additional special func- married a boy from Dnipro; both are now successfully Vasyl Popadiuk demonstrated once again why he is a tions, often singlehandedly. Often, he pipes in music for his employed on the West Coast. Others have also made world-class jazz violin virtuoso, whether improvising on a workers, but always keeps a hockey stick handy for the arrangements to remain behind legally, in order to study soulful ballad, or off to the races with his lightning bow occasional slap-shot at a rare burnt croissant (they’re for careers in medicine and photography. arm. Mr. Popadiuk, Mr. Maha, Andrij Dobriansky and made fresh in his kitchen). Another success story is that of Miss Soyuzivka 2018 Marianka Hawryluk constituted the quartet of masters of Summing up, Mr. Sonevytsky said simply: “I love this Bella White, a Ukrainian orphan from Odesa adopted by a ceremonies for the festival weekend’s events. place. It’s my home, not just a job.” Pennsylvania family. She plans to study linguistics in col- lege. Ms. White explained: “I first visited Soyuzivka three The Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Soyuzivka today Workshop, under executive director Ania Lonkevych and years ago as a guest; I liked it so much I signed on to work artistic director Orlando Pagan, presented its unique brand of Anyone who visited Soyuzivka 50 years ago would now for the next two summers. Here you learn responsibility evocative compositions, based on folk dances and structured be struck by many changes. According to Ms. Lisovich, the and leadership. In general, America is amazing. The first with the elegance of classical ballet. Particularly lovely was UNF’s extensive renovation program has included: Main time I went to a grocery store, I couldn’t understand why the composition “Melodia,” choreographed by Stefan Calka. House ($700,000), a new water tank and reservoir folks smiled at me. People were so nice and helpful, and Sunday, the final day of the festival, featured two docu- ($400,000), roads ($250,000). Still needed are a new bar- even if you don’t know them, they’ll help you.” racks for children’s camps ($300,000), renovations for the mentary films: “Recovery Room” directed by Adriana More than a great festival Luhovy, which tells the story of a Canadian medical mission pool deck ($225,000), Uzhhorod ($180,000), Odesa to Ukraine and the wounded warriors they treat; and ($65,000), and a steam room and spa for Poltava ($50,000). There’s festivals… and then there’s festivals. To under- “When we Starve,” prepared for the 85th anniversary of the But it is not only that physical facilities have been updat- score this point, I’d like to add a bit of historical lore. genocidal famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine, and presented ed. Mushrooming camp activities draw more and more par- Just under 30 miles via County Road 3 from Soyuzivka by the U.S. Holodomor Committee and the Ukrainian ticipants, especially after Maidan. These include the popular lies Woodstock, site of the “legendary” 1969 mega-event Medical Association of North America. Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Dance Academy, the Sitch sports that hosted a six-months-pregnant Joan Baez, a rain- camp, USCAK tennis tournaments, Plast Ukrainian Scouting drenched Ravi Shankar and a wacked-out Jimmy Hendrix, Fun and games Organization’s “Ptashata” day camp program, and Heritage just one pluck away from exploding his psychedelic guitar, The Ukrainian Cultural Festival weekend also offered plen- and Discovery camps for children. There are also wellness, spazzing his way through the national anthem. ty of fun and good-natured silliness. The vendors’ diverse alternative medicine and yoga weekends, cooking work- For thousands of Woodstock’s attendees it became a offerings drew hundreds of guests. Meanwhile, near the shops by the chef, and hiking. During the “off season,” local massive, teeming, squalid nightmare: traffic jams, reeking Veselka pavilion, at the Ukrainian National Association’s infor- groups such as Polish Bible camp and ballroom dancing are portable johns, scorched eyeballs and tons of resulting gar- mation center in the gazebo, girls vied to have their faces paint- hosted at Soyuzivka Heritage Center. bage. But, as we’ve been told, it was peace, love, music – that sort of thing. Yet even now, people are still wondering ed by Shelly from Athena Entertainment. A blue-and-yellow UNF’s new president unicorn design was the clear favorite amid the youngest set. just what the heck was all that fuss about? Not to be outdone, two guest artists from Ukraine con- On Saturday, Dr. Szeremeta shared more of the By contrast, in coming years the annual Ukrainian ceded nothing in the body-painting department. Ms. Ukrainian National Foundation’s hopes: “Soyuzivka is only Cultural Festival and Soyuzivka itself have the potential to Prykhodko exhibited arm tattoos: a crow, a lotus flower one part of the UNF’s vision, which involves Ukrainian evolve beyond a unifying hub for North American commu- and a peony, plus the names and birthdates of her two chil- communities at large. The plan is to continue developing nities and emerge as a vibrant cultural and heritage center dren. But the supreme “Illustrated Man” was Mr. more cultural activities and for Soyuzivka to evolve into a for all Ukrainians. That is, provided everyone gets behind it Mukharsky (a.k.a. Orest Lutiy), who claims to have carved a real Heritage Center. Change is hard and slow. This has and supports the UNF. If we succeed – wow! That’ll be just treasure-trove of tattoos over most of his hirsute hide; the been the first summer where all the rooms have been avail- outtasight!… Peace. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 No. 30
two lines of railway tracks that are still found in her apartment in Paris. According allegedly by members of right-wing NEWSBRIEFS under construction. The $3.7 billion to her friends, she left a suicide note.” The extremist groups. The latest violence was Russian construction project began in second secretary at the Ukrainian Embassy on July 2 when media reports stated that a (Continued from page 2) 2016. (RFE/RL, with reporting by RFE/RL in Paris, Oksana Lovha, confirmed Ms. 30-year Romany woman was killed in the Merkel, Russian officials discuss Ukraine correspondent Rikard Jozwiak in Brussels) Shachko’s death to Current Time TV, the city of Berehove. Local authorities in Russian-language network run by RFE/RL Berehove said unidentified attackers German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Joyous crowd greets champion Usyk in cooperation with VOA. There was no slashed the woman’s throat. In late June, a July 24 in Berlin with Russia’s Foreign public comment from French authorities, 24-year-old Romany man from a village in Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov and the chief Elated Ukrainians greeted boxer Oleksandr Usyk at the airport in Kyiv as he and Lovha said Ukrainian diplomats were western Ukraine was killed in an attack by of Russia’s military General Staff, Gen. Valery awaiting further details from police. a group of masked men on a Romany camp Gerasimov, to discuss the conflicts in Syria returned home after defeating Russia’s Murat Gassiev in Moscow to unify the Founded in Ukraine a decade ago, Femen is in a forest outside the city of Lviv. Seven and Ukraine. The meeting was also attended known mainly for protests in which activ- people were arrested in connection with by Germany’s Foreign Affairs Minister Heiko cruiserweight division’s four titles. A choir sang a Ukrainian folk song and the crowd ists often bare their breasts – sometimes that attack. (RFE/RL) Maas, Merkel’s spokeswoman Ulrike exposing slogans written on their skin – chanted, “Glory to Ukraine!” when Mr. Usyk Demmer said in a statement, adding that the and disrupt political events or gatherings. A Hryb case halted for investigation talks were arranged in a telephone call last appeared in the arrivals section of Boryspil native of Ukraine who had lived in Paris in A court in Russia halted the trial of a week by Chancellor Merkel and Russian airport. Mr. Usyk expressed his gratitude to recent years, Ms. Shachko, 31, was one of a 20-year-old Ukrainian man charged with President Vladimir Putin. “The focus of the all who came to greet him and said he had group of Femen activists who rushed Putin abetting terrorism shortly after it got under talks was the situation in the Middle East, in devoted his victory “to our fathers.” Asked and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in way, sending the case back for additional particular in Syria. The conflict in eastern about his future plans, the champion said Hannover, Germany, in 2013. Femen now investigation. Pavlo Hryb, who denies the Ukraine was also discussed,” added Ms. that he hopes to rest for a while. “I haven’t has branches on at least four continents. charge and whose family contends he was Demmer. The meeting also touched upon seen my children for a month and a half. (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, with report- set up by the Russian Federal Security “ongoing work within the ‘Normandy for- I’m dreaming about taking a shower and ing by the BBC) Service (FSB), went on trial at the North mat’ to fulfill the Minsk agreements” as well just... having a rest,” Mr. Usyk said. Despite Caucasus Regional Military Court in as several bilateral issues, the ministry said facing an away crowd in Moscow amid U.N. urges Ukraine to protect Roma Rostov-on-Don on July 23. But the court in a statement, referring to the 2015 political tension on July 21, Mr. Usyk con- The United Nations has called on said it found that the formal charge against Ukraine peace plan brokered by France and trolled the fight with his jab to add Mr. Ukraine to take “immediate action” to end Mr. Hryb was based on a clause of the Germany in the Belarusian capital of Minsk. Gassiev’s WBA and IBF titles to his own what it called the “systematic persecution” Criminal Code that had not been in place at The so called “Normandy four” consists of WBC and WBO belts. Mr. Usyk, a former of the country’s Roma minority population. the time of the alleged crime. There was no Germany, France, Ukraine, and Russia. Olympic gold medalist, holds all four major “We unequivocally condemn these heinous indication that he would be released from (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Reuters, titles after just 15 professional fights, all of which he won. The Crimean-born boxer acts of intimidation and violence against custody. Mr. Hryb pleaded not guilty after AFP, DPA and Interfax) members of the Roma minority in Ukraine,” has said he was forced to leave the peninsu- the hearing began, saying that “critical mis- a panel of U.N. experts said in a statement EU to sanction six more Russian entities la after Russia seized it from Ukraine in takes have been made during the investiga- on July 18. “We are also seriously con- 2014. (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) tion.” Mr. Hryb went missing in August European Union ambassadors have cerned at the growing hatred and racially 2017 after he traveled to Belarus to meet a decided to add six Russian entities to its Femen founding member found dead motivated violence against this community woman he met online. Relatives believe he asset freeze and visa ban list for being – and in particular against its most vulnera- walked into a trap set by the FSB, which involved in the recent construction of the A founding member of the prominent ble members – women and children,” the later told Ukraine that Mr. Hryb was being Kerch Strait Bridge – a 19-kilometer-long protest group Femen, Oksana Shachko, has experts added. The experts urged held in a detention center in Russia on sus- bridge linking the mainland of southern died in Paris in an apparent suicide, fellow Ukrainian authorities “to take all appropri- picion of abetting terrorism. Russian inves- Russia with the Crimean peninsula. members say, mourning the loss of a ate measures to comply with their interna- tigators accuse the young man of using the According to the EU, Russia’s construction woman they called “a heroine of our time.” tional human rights obligations, including Internet to instruct a teenage girl in of the bridge since Moscow illegally Femen co-founder Anna Hutsol told RFE/ with regard to the protection of the rights Russia’s southern city of Sochi to carry out annexed the Crimean peninsula from RL’s Ukrainian Service on July 24 that Ms. of individuals belonging to national, ethnic, a terrorist act using an explosive device. Mr. Ukraine has contributed to the destabiliza- Shachko was dead, following reports that religious or linguistic minorities.” Just Hryb’s father, Ihor Hryb, has argued that tion of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. EU her body was found in her Paris apartment hours after the U.N. experts issued their call the case against his son was Russian retali- officials who spoke to RFE/RL on July 18 the previous day. “As far as I know, she was for action, a court in Kyiv’s Holosiv district ation for Internet posts that were openly on condition of anonymity say a formal concerned that everything is going badly in on July 18 placed Serhiy Mazur, coordinator critical of Russia’s interference in Ukraine. decision to add the six entities to the sanc- the world,” Ms. Hutsol said. “RIP. The most of the Sich C-14 ultranationalist group, (RFE/RL, with reporting by TASS, tions list is expected in the coming days. At fearless and vulnerable Oksana Shachko under two months of house arrest in con- Rapsinews, and RIA Novosti) present, the sanctions list contains the has left us,” a post on the Femen website nection with a May attack against a Roma Police search Crimean Tatar’s home names of 155 individuals from Russia and said. “We mourn together with her relatives camp near Kyiv. Mr. Mazur was detained Ukraine and 38 entities. The Kerch Strait and friends and [await] the official version after police searched his apartment in Kyiv Police in Ukraine’s Russia-annexed Bridge was opened for cars and buses in from the police. At the moment it is known on May 10 and charged him with hooligan- Crimea region have searched the house of May. It contains a four-lane highway and that yesterday, July 23, Oksana’s body was ism. The Council of Europe has estimated detained Crimean Tatar Muslim Aliyev. Mr. there are 260,000 Roma in Ukraine out of a Aliyev was arrested in 2016 along with five population of 48.5 million. There have been other men for what Russia-controlled at least six reported attacks on Romany camps in western Ukraine since April 2018, (Continued on page 15)
TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL Walter Honcharyk (973) 292-9800 x3040 or e-mail [email protected] own agents and ‘useful idiots’ among Turning... Crimean Tatars to argue its case. But as ‘peo- ple of the older generation remember,’ (Continued from page 6) SERVICES PROFESSIONALS Moscow set up the Anti-Zionist Committee peninsula in the Russian Empire in 1783 of Soviet Society to oppose Jewish emigra- МАРІЯ ДРИЧ up to the present day.” Since that period, tion from the USSR. These pocket Crimean Ліцензований Продавець “more than a million and a half Crimean Tatar group are only a new iteration of that.” Страхування Життя Tatars were forced to leave their mother- Mr. Strelets suggested that the most МАRІA DRICH land,” and half of those deported in 1944 by important fact is that the Crimean Tatars Licensed Life Insurance Agent Stalin died as a result. will never want to be part of the Russian Ukrainian National Assn., Inc. What is most important, Mr. Strelets Federation even if by some miracle the eco- 2200 Route 10, Parsippany, NJ 07054 underscored, was the context of these decla- nomic disaster there were to be overcome. Tel.: 973-292-9800 ext. 3035 rations rather than the content: “the shame- They associate Russia today with the USSR e-mail: [email protected] ful Russian veto on the U.N. Security Council and the Russian Empire, and those associa- resolution calling for the establishment of tions are anything but good. an international tribunal to investigate the This year, President Vladimir Putin dur- OPPORTUNITIES causes of the crash of the Malaysian Boeing ing the press conference at the U.S.-Russia [MH17], the judicial controversies around Summit in Helsinki, stated: “We held a refer- the murder of [Alexander] Litvinenko, the endum in Crimea.” That Russian- Earn extra income! new sanctions of the U.S., the seizures of orchestrated vote in 2014 followed Russia’s Russian property abroad, and the participa- military invasion and seizure of the peninsu- The Ukrainian Weekly is looking tion of the Russian Federation in the war in for advertising sales agents. la. The admission was not lost on keen For additional information contact the Donbas.” observers, who said this was additional legal Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, The Kremlin talking points of comparing ammunition against Russia’s actions and an The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. Crimea to Kosovo did not hold water, Mr. admission of Russia’s involvement. Strelets continued, as no one joined Kosovo to Albania, but rather Kosovo remained Source: “Why Crimean Tatars are such an Run your advertisement here, independent. asset for Ukraine and a problem for Moscow,” Mr. Goble noted: “As it has done so often by Paul Goble, (Windows on Eurasia), The in The Ukrainian Weekly’s CLASSIFIEDS section. elsewhere, Moscow has sought to use its Ukrainian Weekly, August 9, 2015. No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 15
said. “[Sheremet] played an immensely lutely essential in any democracy to report not answer RFE/RL’s questions about the ‘Murderers...’ important role here in Ukraine, in terms of honestly, objectively, clearly, without fear or matter. finding out what was happening and pre- favor, so that the Ukrainian people, in this Sheremet, who was honored by the CPJ (Continued from page 4) senting it to the Ukrainian people so that case, can make up their own minds about with the International Press Freedom ‘Immensely important role’ they could make their own decisions about how they want to move forward,” she said. Award in 1998, was well-known as a hard- the situation in Ukraine. That’s a really President Poroshenko had said in July hitting reporter and commentator who had Human rights organizations, groups pro- important role in democracy, and he played 2016 that it was a “matter of honor” that worked at prominent media outlets in tecting journalists’ rights, the United States his part in bringing about the changes that Sheremet’s case be promptly solved. Belarus, Russia and Ukraine during his and European governments have urged we see here today.” At a meeting with members of decades-long career. Ukrainian officials to thoroughly investigate Ambassador Yovanovitch also remarked Sheremet’s family and the Committee to Often critical of political leaders, he had the attack. on the chilling effect Sheremet’s death has Protect Journalists (CPJ) in Kyiv nearly a received threats and been harassed on sev- Marie Yovanovitch, the U.S. ambassador to had on the journalist community in year later, when it had not been solved, Mr. eral occasions. His Belarusian cameraman Ukraine, laid a bouquet of white flowers at Ukraine. Poroshenko proposed incorporating an Dzmitry Zavadski was abducted and killed the site of Sheremet’s death. She told RFE/RL “We’ve certainly heard from some of our internationally recognized investigator into in 2000 after the two returned from a in a brief interview that it was very impor- friends in the journalist community that the Ukrainian team investigating the case in reporting trip in Russia’s Chechnya region. tant that the authorities renew their investi- they feel under greater pressure, and I hopes of jump-starting it. Sheremet was stripped of his Belarusian gation into what happened two years ago. think, again, it is the role of a government He said he would “happily accept” a citizenship in 2010 while he was living in “I think the Ukrainian people deserve to to create an environment where journalists “professional, trustworthy” investigator, Russia, where he had moved in 1997 to know the truth about what happened,” she can pursue their profession, which is abso- such as someone “from the FBI or Scotland avoid persecution following his reports Yard” to oversee the high-profile case “if it criticizing Belarusian President Alyaksandr is agreed by the family.” Lukashenka’s government. that former Defense Minister Mykhaylo That proposal has not been implement- With reporting by RFE/RL’s Ukrainian NEWSBRIEFS Yezhel, who is wanted in Ukraine for the ed, and the Poroshenko administration did Service alleged misuse of state finances, has (Continued from page 14) received political asylum in Belarus. authorities said was “membership in the According to a ruling by Kyiv’s Solomianka On the 40-th day of the passing into eternity of Hizb ut-Tahrir Islamic group,” which is District that allowed Mr. Yezhel’s trial in banned in Russia but legal in Ukraine.The absentia and was made public on July 18, arrested men and their supporters say the Mr. Yezhel and his family live in Minsk as case is politically motivated. Crimea-based political refugees. Mr. Yezhel served as Ulana Kobzar human rights group Crimean Solidarity Ukraine’s defense minister between says the search of Mr. Aliyev’s house was March 2010 and February 2012. In May Divine Liturgies for the repose of her soul conducted on July 19 as part of a separate 2013, he was appointed ambassador to investigation of his daughter, Gulsum will be held on Sunday, August 5, 2018, at: Belarus. In 2014, after Russia-friendly Aliyeva, who is facing charges of inciting Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych ethnic strife. Authorities have not com- • Chapel of Camp St. Basil, Beach Lake, PA (Narrowsburg); mented on the search. Rights groups and was toppled by mass anti-government protests, Ukrainian authorities charged • St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church Western governments have denounced 7890 W Price Blvd., North Port, FL 34291 what they call a campaign of repression Mr. Yezhel with misuse of 43 million hrv ($1.6 million) from the state treasury. In targeting members of the Turkic-speaking Please remember her in your prayers. Crimean Tatars and others who opposed 2015, Ukrainian President Petro Moscow’s seizure of the peninsula. (Crimea Poroshenko dismissed Mr. Yezhel from the Вічна Їй пам’ять! Desk, RFE/RL/s Ukrainian Service) post of ambassador, but Mr. Yezhel did not return to Ukraine. (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Ex-defense minister has asylum in Belarus Husband - Bohdan with family Service, with reporting by depo.ua and A Ukrainian court ruling has revealed obozrevatel.ua) 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 No. 30 USCAK-East tennis tournament played at Soyuzivka by Yurko Sawchak which made the competition very challenging for the players. KERHONKSON, N.Y. – Soyuzivka The tournament was conducted in Heritage Center was again the site of singles and doubles events, with a an USCAK-East tennis tournament. total of eight categories. Many of the Held during the weekend of June players were part of the staff and 30-July 1, this 62nd annual tourna- campers of the Soyuzivka Tennis ment will be remembered as proba- Camp being held at this same time. bly the hottest in the history of the During the closing ceremonies, tro- event, with temperatures on the phies funded by the Ukrainian Sports courts reaching over 100 degrees Federation of the U.S.A. and Canada
TOURNAMENT RESULTS Event Winner Finalist Feed-In Winner Men’s Singles Mykola Stroynick Marko Gural Pavlo Busko Men’s 45 Singles Steve Sosiak Dmitri Pidvysocky Men’s 65 Singles George Petrykevych George Walchuk Walter Dziwak Petrusia Sawchak Boys’ Singles Marko Gural Daniel Bula At the USCAK-East tennis tournament at Soyuzivka (from left) are: Steve Sosiak, Marko Girls’ Singles Diana Kozenyatko Natalia Bula Daria Gural Gural, Markian Nychka, Daniel Bula, Bohdan Kucyna, Lucas Bula, Dmitri Pidvysocky, Diana Kozenyatko, Natalia Bula, Adam Bis, Juliette Louer, Ivan Durbak (USCAK), Ariadna Louer, Men’s Doubles Don Kopach Steve Sosiak Roman Rakoczy, Daria Gural, Don Kopach, Yurko Sawchak (tournament director). Roman Rakoczy Bohdan Kucyna Boys’ Doubles Adam Bis Markian Nychka (known by its Ukrainian-based acronym as held at Soyuzivka during Labor Day weekend. Daniel Bula Lucas Bula USCAK) were presented by Ivan Durbak and For entry information, readers are advised to go Girls’ Doubles Adriadna Louer Natalia Bula Yurko (George) Sawchak of the USCAK Tennis to the USCAK website, www.USCAK.org, or Juliette Louer Diana Kozenyatko Committee. Soyuzivka’s website, www.soyuzivka.com, or to The next USCAK tennis tournament will be contact Mr. Sawchak at 215-266-3943.
With Trump... Maria Hanchuk a soft ball dual threat (Continued from page 7) by Ihor N. Stelmach thugs and toxic lies in the media. It also ensured that the event, condemned by all those who respect international Shohei Ohtani is a Japanese baseball player who is a law, was “observed” by the Kremlin’s friends from the far right-handed throwing starting pitcher and left-handed bat- right and extreme left in European politics. ting designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels baseball At least some of the “observers” were financed by the team. His successful first year has made him a star headlin- Russian-based Eurasian Observatory for Democracy and er in the 2018 Major League Baseball season. Ohtani wins Elections headed by Luc Michel and Jean-Pierre games with his arm (4-1, 3.10 ERA) and his bat (.289 AVG, Vandersmissen, both supporters of the neo-Nazi Jean- six HR, 20 RBI). He was born with prodigious talent and has François Thiriart and members of the extreme right showed a wealth of tenacity in the big leagues. Parti Communautaire National-Européen (PCN-NCP). Maria Hanchuk is a Ukrainian softball player who is a The list of supposedly 135 observers included represen- left-handed starting pitcher and lefty swinging hitter for tatives of the far-right parties Jobbik (Hungary), Ataka the South Windsor Bobcats softball team. Her successful (Bulgaria), Vlaams Belang (Belgium), Freedom Party third year has made her a star headliner in the 2018 (Austria) and others. There were also members of neo- Central Connecticut Conference softball season. She wins Stalinist or extreme left-wing parties, including games with her arm (17-5, 11 shutouts, 248 strikeouts in Germany’s Die Linke. 156 innings) and her bat (.410 AVG, 32 hits, six doubles). Mr. Putin could hope that Russian viewers would not She inherited skills from her baseball-playing father, was question his lies about supposed compliance with inter- inspired by her sister Julia and has demonstrated true grit national law. Russian state-controlled media had, for determination on the softball field. example, tried to palm off far-right Belgian politician Mr. The example was set by older sisters Julia and Anna, Maria Hanchuk Michel as being from the OSCE, which had wanted noth- with young Maria following along and mirroring their ing to do with this stunt. actions and interests. When father Mark practiced with master the art of pitching, learning which pitch will fool a It is, in fact, only Russia and its cronies who even Julia, Maria came along and found herself playing first base. batter versus simply throwing her best pitch. Let’s not for- attempt to call the event on March 16, 2014, a referen- She went to her sister’s travel games, practiced with her get she’s no slouch in the batter’s box, with her timely hits dum. Even Mr. Putin’s own Human Rights Council con- and began her softball career at age 8, playing in a youth making a difference in her team’s wins. She again led her firmed, after a visit to Crimea, that the turnout had been league as a pitcher. team to the Class LL tournament, losing a 1-0 heartbreaker much lower than reported and the results far less over- “I started pitching right from the beginning,” Hanchuk to No.1-seeded Southington in the quarterfinals. Hanchuk’s whelmingly in favor of joining Russia. The report found said. “I like to be in control of the game. I knew I had the continued superior performance earned her All-State first that, while a large majority of residents of Sevastopol dedication to be a pitcher because it’s a lot of work, and I team honors for the second consecutive year. (where the Russian Black Sea Fleet was based) had voted knew I had the potential to succeed at that position.” Hanchuk has received interest from several Division II for “joining Russia” (turnout of 50-80 percent), the turn- At age 12 Hanchuk began taking lessons from a local and III programs, especially after strong efforts at summer out for all of Crimea was 30-50 percent and only 50-60 pitching instructor, desiring to upgrade her mound skills to prospect camps. She projects as a pitcher, but also gets percent of those voted for joining Russia. a higher level. The results were recognized immediately raves for her play at first base with above-average speed, It is also important that the Crimean Tatar Mejlis called with improved physical and mental development. strong base-running skills and power at the plate. The pro- on all Crimean Tatars and other Ukrainians to boycott the When she was 9, Hanchuk joined the CT Mirage softball jections say Hanchuk will make an impact and continue to event. As Bill Bowring, professor of law from the U.K.’s team, the first of four local travel teams she played for in a be a successful softball dual threat at the next level. Her top Birkbeck College and well-known expert on international search for more challenging competition. The travel circuit three college choices include Endicott College in Beverly law, has pointed out, it is essentially only the Crimean allowed her to continue to develop physically and mentally. Mass., St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., and Bentley Tatars, as indigenous people of Crimea, who have the She made the South Windsor High varsity team as a University in Waltham, Mass. right to self-determination. The Crimean Tatars have con- freshman, but was very limited in game action due to the Hanchuk is a parishioner of St. Michael Ukrainian sistently made it clear that they view Crimea as part of presence of senior ace Peyton Silverman. She did hit .452 Catholic Church in Hartford, Conn., attended St. Michael’s Ukraine. (third-best on the team) and was second in hits, RBI’s and Ukrainian School and is a member of the local Ukrainian Russia’s attempt to claim that its land grab was not runs scored for her 15-7 Bobcats. The fundamentally American Youth Association branch. Her favorite player is achieved by armed soldiers and paramilitaries, backed by sound, very well prepared, travel team-experienced Jackie Trayna, a Team U.S.A./University of Alabama softball warmongering propaganda, but by a “referendum” Hanchuk would shine in her sophomore year. star. She is a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan. Her favorite class expressing “the will of the Crimean people” has no basis She posted a 15-4 record, 0.95 ERA, completing all 19 is English and a potential career choice may be in market- in international law or fact. starts with 10 shutouts. In 133 innings she gave up a mere ing/sales. With the human rights situation in Crimea having 24 runs (18 earned), struck out 243 batters, hit .288 with In her early travel team days, Hanchuk adopted the fol- plummeted under Russian occupation and over 70 19 hits, 13 RBI’s and 17 runs scored. Her team went 17-4 lowing motivational phrase, which may explain her softball Crimean Tatar and other Ukrainian political prisoners and made the Class LL tournament. success: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work now held in Crimea and Russia, the U.S. president’s Her 2018 statistics above prove Hanchuk continues to hard!” silence is baffling and profoundly disturbing. No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 17
through was how artificial this International... war is. We heard it over and over from the people coming across (Continued from page 1) the line of contact, and we heard In fact, no previous Canadian minister has been on the it from a couple of villages we ground in Ukraine for as long – and none have come any- traveled to in the grey zone that where close to Ukraine’s grey zone, according to Ukrainian have regularly been shelled. No Canadian Member of Parliament Borys Wrzesnewskyj, one understands why there is who accompanied Ms. Bibeau on her recent trip. war.” On an official level, the major takeaway from the minis- “In the West, there’s a narra- ter’s visit was her announcement on July 19 in Kyiv that as tive that the Kremlin has been part of the Canadian government’s $50 million (Canadian, very good at propagating – that or about $38 million U.S.) annual commitment toward assis- this is a civil war. I’ve traveled tance programs in Ukraine, $30 million ($23 million U.S.) of through civil-war zones, and this that money will fund projects to “enhance” the economic is not one. People don’t have a security of rural women – particularly those caught up in lot of respect for the [Russian] the conflict in eastern Ukraine – as well as projects that will proxies and their regime; they provide support for small and medium-sized businesses, are not happy that this war was and “increase employment and entrepreneurship opportu- launched against Ukraine – but nities for women, and for vulnerable and marginalized they don’t have hatred,” he groups,” according to a Canadian government release. explained. Office of the Minister of International Development Ottawa is accepting proposals for projects that The Canadian minister in Kyiv with members of would access funds from that multimillion-dollar ini- the Ukrainian Association of Women in Law tiative, officially called “Growth that Works for Enforcement. Everyone: Inclusive and Shared Prosperity in Ukraine,” until October 24. (More information is war against Ukraine ends. The people of this region available here: http://international.gc.ca/world- will have lived for years under a culture of violence monde/funding-financement/ukraine-2018. that saturates their lives, which has all kinds of conse- aspx?lang=eng&_ga=2.220713496.1810174198. quences on families – and often women bear the 1531938070-929344189.1524241080.) brunt of that.” But at a personal level, Minister Bibeau has Mr. Wrzesnewskyj, a Liberal member of acquired a greater appreciation for what’s needed in Parliament for the Toronto riding of Etobicoke Center, Ukraine following her visit. said the shelter has expanded its reach to provide “Life is not easy,” she said in a July 22 telephone shelter and psychological support for women and interview from Kharkiv International Airport follow- their children living in and around Kharkiv, Ukraine’s ing a meeting with Ukrainians who have to regularly second-largest city with a metropolitan population of cross the Ukrainian-controlled checkpoint at more than 1.7 million people. Mobile units are also Mayorsk in the Donetsk region. available to provide emergency support. “They told me this checkpoint is working very Alexandra Chyczij, first vice-president of the well, but they didn’t have such good words for the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, who was with Ms. checkpoint on the other side that is controlled by the Bibeau and Mr. Wrzesnewskyj in Ukraine, remem- pro-Russian forces,” she said. bered their visit to the shelter and had high praise for Mr. Wrzesnewskyj said that one man told him and the minister. the minister that he has to regularly cross the faux- “She met with some of the women who are being border to purchase medicine on the Ukrainian- sheltered and we were both reduced to tears,” said controlled side, where it is a third of the price Ms. Chyczij, a lawyer by profession, who was part of a charged in the occupied territory. “He said that on the group of lawyers from the diaspora that attempted to Ukrainian side, things are more efficient, and people assist Ukraine with legal reform shortly after the get processed within five minutes on the Ukrainian country gained independence in 1991. side. Whereas he said it took him six hours on the “Our minister led this mission with amazing grace. other side. But he said that’s not the worst. She has a genuine interest in the lives and fate of the Sometimes you could wait a full day. It depends on people in Ukraine, and her compassion was evident the mood of the soldiers on the other side.” Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau takes a group selfie with the girls in her conversations with the people we met,” Ms. “There’s no rule of law, there’s no security,” Mr. living at an internat (institution for vulnerable children). Standing Chyczij observed. Wrzesnewskyj underlined. in the rear (from left) are: Mykola Kuleba, children’s ombuds- Mr. Wrzesnewskyj witnessed the same social Ms. Bibeau said she was also told that seniors liv- man; Alexandra Chyczij, vice-president, Ukrainian Canadian dynamic with Ms. Bibeau as they visited four cities ing on the Russian-controlled side must check in on Congress; and Canadian MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj. and four towns during their five days in Ukraine. the Ukrainian side every two months to ensure that “She wanted to talk with people and ask questions, they continue receiving social assistance or pensions from “We heard over and over that people have family on and people in Ukraine want to talk and want people to the Ukrainian government. “It’s quite a challenge for those both sides of the border, and they don’t understand why know,” he said. “Some of the stories she heard were very who are older or disabled, and who have to wait for hours,” there is fighting,” Mr. Wrzesnewskyj said. “This is some- hard, and I saw how the minister’s eyes welled up listening she said. thing that Western politicians need to hear firsthand.” to very personal stories they shared with her.” “But unlike other regions of the world, you don’t feel Minister Bibeau explained that the funding package she As Mr. Wrzesnewskyj highlighted, Ms. Bibeau is the first hate. People don’t want this war. They want it to end. The unveiled will address some of the fallout from the war in government minister from a G-7 country to visit the con- contact line is separating families. People don’t have drink- the Donbas by helping to stimulate Ukraine’s economy, flict zone in eastern Ukraine, and can now bring to Prime ing water because the infrastructure has been destroyed such as by supporting agricultural cooperatives and creat- Minister Justin Trudeau’s Cabinet table first-hand experi- and it’s right on the border, so it’s not safe to be repaired,” ing jobs, especially for men unemployed because of the ence that complements the knowledge of Ukraine of her she continued. “There are so many people suffering. They conflict. Ukrainian Canadian and senior Cabinet colleague, Foreign have to sleep in their basements on a regular basis because “When men lose their jobs, some start drinking and we Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland. they hear gunfire, and showed me the damage done to end up seeing much more domestic violence,” explained Minister Bibeau, who met with Prime Minister doors and windows of their homes.” Ms. Bibeau, who visited a women’s shelter in Kharkiv that Volodymyr Groysman in Kyiv, left Ukraine with several Added Mr. Wrzesnewskyj: “One thing that really came has received funding from the Canadian government. impressions of its people. Mr. Wrzesnewskyj, who also “They are very resilient, but very suspicious in the spoke to The Ukrainian Weekly beginning, until you gain their trust,” she said, before from Kharkiv, said the shelter ini- boarding a flight to Kyiv. tially targeted women from “In the east, people are very, very poor. Seniors don’t among the estimated 250,000 want to leave their homes because that’s all they have – people forced to flee their homes and they have kids in different cities in Ukraine and Russia, because of the war, and who had and don’t get any support from them,” she noted. “This is suffered some form of abuse, typ- something I don’t understand. They are in safe cities, but ically from their husbands. [seniors] I spoke to said they hadn’t seen their kids since “A psychologist told us that the beginning of the war [in 2014].” there is a real culture of violence, However, Ms. Bibeau also saw signs of optimism. which you normally have in a “I was very impressed with the reforms that I saw conflict zone, but which has also regarding the police and health sector,” said the minister, developed in the two so-called who added that she also met with Ukraine’s acting minis- people’s republics [of Donetsk ter of health, Ulana Suprun, an American-born physician and Luhansk],” he explained. who moved to Ukraine with her husband in 2013 and par- “Everything is based on power ticipated in the Revolution of Dignity on Kyiv’s Maidan the and violence, and everything is following year. resolved in violent ways. There “To me, this woman is a national hero for having gone will be some substantive issues back to the country of her origin when the Maidan started,” The Canadian minister of international development and her team prepare to fly to Kramatorsk by military helicopter. in the future when this Russian said Ms. Bibeau. 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 No. 30
August 3-5 Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival, Selo Ukraina, August 19 Ukrainian Day, Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, Dauphin, MB http://cnuf.ca or 877-474-2683 Edmonton, AB www.ukrainianvillage.ca
August 3-26 Photography exhibit, “Ukraine: Overcoming Crisis,” curated August 23 USCAK Beach Soccer Tournament, Ukrainian Sports Chicago by Olenka Prokopenko, Ukrainian National Museum, Wildwood Crest, Federation of the U.S.A. and Canada, beach in front of www.ukrainiannationalmuseum.org or 312-421-8090 NJ Pan Am Hotel, [email protected] or www.uscak.org
August 4 80th birthday concert in honor of Myroslav Skoryk, with August 24 Fund-raiser dance, with music by Torn Boots and DJ Jewett, NY violinist Nazar Pylatiuk, cellist Natalia Khoma and Wildwood, NJ Orest, Khmelnychenky Plast fraternity, Wildwood pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky, Grazhda Music and Art American Legion hall, www.facebook.com/xmeli Center of Greene County, www.grazhdamusicandart.org August 25 Concert, featuring pianist Stanislav Khristenko, Grazhda or 518-989-6479 Jewett, NY Music and Art Center of Greene County, www.grazhdamusicandart.org or 518-989-6479 August 5-18 Folklorama Multicultural Festival, Spirit of Ukraine Winnipeg, MB Pavilion at Soul Sanctuary, Ukraine/Kyiv Pavilion at August 25 Ukrainian Day in the Park, Rotary Park, Maples Collegiate, www.spiritofukraine.ca or Saskatoon, SK [email protected] or www.kyivpavilion.ca www.ukrainiandayinthepark.ca
August 11 Softball tournament, Ukrainian American Youth August 25-26 Ukrainian Village Independence Day Parade, with Ellenville, NY Association camp, www.cym.org/us-ellenville Parma, OH festival at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, https://ukrainianvillageparma.org or 440-886-2108 August 11 Film screening, “The First Lions: Founding of the Chicago Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art,” Chopin Theater, August 25-26 Babas and Borshch Ukrainian Festival, Lamont Recreation www.chopintheatre.com or 773-278-1500 Lamont, AB Center Complex, 780-365-2434 or www.babasandborshch.ca
August 16-18 Folkfest, Ukrainian Karpaty Pavilion, Hall D Exhibition, August 25-26 Ukrainian Days Festival, Ukrainian Congress Committee Saskatoon, SK Prairieland Park, www.saskatoonfolkfest.com Chicago of America – Illinois Division, Chicago Avenue between Western Avenue and Leavitt Street, http://uccaillinois.org August 16-19 St. Josaphat Ukrainian Festival, St. Josaphat Ukrainian Rochester, NY Catholic Church, www.rochesterukrainianfestival.com August 26 Ukrainian Independence Day Festival, Ukrainian American Horsham, PA Sports Center – Tryzub, www.tryzub.org or 267-664-3857 August 18 Fund-raiser concert with chamber music trio Kyiv, Jewett, NY with violinist Nazar Pylatiuk, cellist Natalia Khoma and August 26 Vyshyvanka Run, Ukrainian Running Club New York, pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky, Grazhda Music and Art New York Central Park, [email protected] Center of Greene County, www.grazhdamusicandart.org or 518-989-6479 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions August 18-19 Ukrainian Festival, Ukrainian Homestead, from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors Lehighton, PA www.ukrhomestead.com and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. Conference to address 100th anniversary of Ukrainian National Republic
UCCA This special gathering of the Ukrainian Historical Encounters Series, which will NEW YORK – In mid-September, several commemorate the 100th anniversary of the of the world’s most knowledgeable schol- Ukrainian National Republic (as well as the ars of Ukrainian history, hailing from the Western Ukrainian National Republic), will United States, Canada and Ukraine, will take place in New York City at the Princeton gather in New York City to present their University Club on Saturday, September 22. research at a conference titled In addressing Ukraine’s first attempt in “Commemorating the Ukrainian National the 20th century to establish a sovereign Republic and Its Legacy.” nation state, scholars will discuss, during The landmark conference will bring four panel discussions and three highlight together nearly two dozen experts to exam- presentations, the impact that the forma- ine the scope and ultimate meaning of the tion of the UNR had on Ukraine. They will Ukrainian National Republic (UNR) – the take a fresh, critical look and evaluate predecessor of the modern Ukrainian state – and the legacy it engendered. (Continued on page 19)
have initiated talks for a super fight against Usyk makes... Usyk with a stadium in England as a likely venue. Bellew, a former WBC cruiserweight (Continued from page 5) champion, is currently a big force in British that his wife, Katarina, had already picked boxing after two high-profile victories over out a special place for it in their home. retired heavyweight David Haye. Coincidentally, Usyk shares a birthday with Post-fight in Moscow, Usyk called out Muhammad Ali (January 17). Bellew as a possible next opponent and the The plan for Usyk is to take some time to two challenged each other on social media. enjoy this hard-won fight and decide what “That was a big win for Usyk and he has is next on the boxing agenda. When he established himself as arguably the pound- turned pro, Usyk said his goal was to for-pound No. 1 in boxing right now,” Hearn become the undisputed cruiserweight told Sky Sports News. “Bellew versus Usyk champion and then move up to heavy- is one of the best fights that can be made weight to pursue another title. Former right now.” cruiserweight world titlist and potential Hearn has a close relationship with the heavyweight Tony Bellew (30-2-1, 20 KO’s) Sauerland brothers, Usyk’s promoters, and may be the next boxing card for Usyk. if the fight can be signed, it would make millions for both men. The boxer from Usyk-Bellew talks under way Ukraine would open as a heavy favorite Bellew and his promoter Eddie Hearn over the 35-year-old Englishman. No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 19 Ukrainian Village Voices releases debut album with concert
by Xandra Clark and Laryssa Czebiniak NEW YORK – The folk ensemble Ukrainian Village Voices (UVV) launched its self-titled, debut album to an enthusiastic crowd at St. George Academy on June 3. It was a joyous celebration of UVV’s LP, released on Jalopy Records, and also a fund-raiser for the group’s upcoming expedition to Ukraine. Founded in 2012, UVV is dedicated to the polyphonic singing style traditional in Ukraine’s villages. Members learn songs by ear; the songs have been passed down for generations and recorded by ethnomusi-
Daniel Graindorge Women sing a piercing song from the Chornobyl region. Orchard) from Kyiv’s left bank region, showered Members will spend two intensive weeks traveling blessings upon the audience. throughout Ukraine, documenting songs and ritu- The show also featured two musical groups that als. Led by Ihor Perevertniuk, a highly respected are dear friends and supporters of UVV. Supruli, a tra- ethnomusicologist and folk singer in Ukraine, the ditional Georgian folk and liturgical polyphonic choir group will stay in the homes of the singers in each led by musical director Carl Linich, opened the show. village and learn songs that are quickly disappear- The concert continued with Cheres, a vibrant four- ing. UVV will share this music at a culminating per- piece band led by Andriy Milavsky, playing spirited formance at The Ukrainian Museum on November songs from countries of the Carpathian Mountains. 17 and at a vocal workshop, both in New York City. UVV has performed over 50 times at venues such To support UVV on its upcoming expedition to as Brooklyn Folk Festival, Zlatne Uste Golden Festival, Ukraine in pursuit of keeping village music alive in Roots n’ Ruckus Fest and the St. George Ukrainian the contemporary world, readers can donate via a Festival, and on New Jersey radio station WFMU. The GoFundMe campaign at gofundme.com/ group has also organized more than 45 public vocal UVVUkraineTrip2018. Digital and CD albums are workshops led by native and diaspora Ukrainians. available for purchase on bandcamp.com. Readers This July, the choir will be making its first trip to may reach out to UVV through the website ukraini- The cover of the debut album released by Ukrainian Village Voices. Ukraine to learn songs directly from the source. anvillagevoices.com. cologists from the oldest village dwellers. Incredibly, of the 18 current season mem- bers, merely half have a Ukrainian ethnic connection and only six singers speak Ukrainian fluently. However, what all mem- bers share is a deep love for this unique and powerful music tradition. The concert was well attended by a mix- ture of Ukrainian expats, Americans of Eastern European heritage, ethnomusicol- ogy students, and curious friends. Crowd favorites from UVV’s performance included the mournful “Kolo Richky” (By the River) from Poltava Oblast, and Vinnytsia Oblast’s lively “Svatav Mene Popiv Syn (The Priest’s Son Was Courting Me), in which a girl laments turning down a man’s marriage proposal because she could have used his money to hire a handsome farmhand. A boisterous women’s toasting song, “Shcho u Sadu Vyshnevomu” (In the Cherry
Conference... (Continued from page 18) UNR’s legacy during five critical periods: immediately following; the 1920s and early 1930s; late 1930s to the 1950s; the 1960s to the 1990s; and the era of Post Euro- Maidan Ukraine. Following the forum, an evening ban- quet will be held at the Princeton University Club, with senior high-level gov- ernment officials from the United States and Ukraine who will reflect upon Ukraine’s present-day situation. The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and the Center for U.S.-Ukrainian Relations, the co-sponsoring organizations, are inviting the Ukrainian American com- munity to attend the “Commemorating the Ukrainian National Republic and Its Legacy” forum and banquet. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2018 No. 30
PREVIEW OF EVENTS Subscribe to Saturday, August 4 gram titled “Celebrate Liberty and Unity,” another collaborative effort of prior per- JEWETT, N.Y.: Music at Grazhda presents formers: Voloshky Ukrainian Dance the 80th Birthday Concert of Composer Ensemble, Iskra Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Myroslav Skoryk. Music by the composer violinist Innesa Tymochko Dekajlo and the will be performed by violinist Nazar Vox Ethnika orchestra. Special guests Pylatyuk, cellist Natalia Khoma, pianist include singer-songwriter from Ukraine Volodymyr Vynnytsky and Mr. Skoryk him- Iryna Lonchyna and talented local singers self. Tickets prices are: general admission, Yuliya Stupen, Vika Slobodyan and Philly he krainian eekly $20; seniors, $15; members, $12; students, friends. A social dance to the live music of T U W free. For reservations and additional infor- the Vox Ethnika will follow the concert at mation call 518-989-6479. The concert 4:30 p.m. Delicious Ukrainian foods and begins at 8 p.m. at Grazhda Concert Hall, baked goods, picnic fare, cool beverages and Route 23A, Jewett, N.Y. See http://www. refreshments will be plentiful. Vendors are grazhdamusicandart.org. welcome. An arts and crafts bazaar and a $90 per year children’s fun area will be open all day. Sunday, August 26 Admission: $15, $10 for students, free for $80 for UNA members HORSHAM, Pa.: The Ukrainian American children under age 15; parking is free. A lim- Sport Center Tryzub will host the 27th ited number of discount tickets is available annual Ukrainian Independence Folk online. For further information: 267-664- For an additional $5 get Festival and Outdoor Summer Concert at 3857, [email protected], or www.tryzub.org. Tryzubivka, County Line and Lower State The sponsor is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non- an online subscription as well. roads, Horsham, PA 19044. Doors will open profit charitable organization. Proceeds at noon. The concert in the park will begin benefit youth and adult amateur sports and at 1:30 p.m. It is an integrated, dynamic pro- cultural, fraternal and community programs.
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