The Ukrainian Weekly 1991
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ІізЬе(1 by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association! rainian WeeklУ Vol. LIX Ш No. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 19,1991 50 cents Ukraine's Parliament discusses Khmara trial begins amid protests drafts of new constitution Judge postpones sessions indefinitely by Marta Kolomayets tenter and not vice-versa. But, in order by Marta Kolomayets to do this, he continued, Ukraine has to Kiev Press Bureau KIEV - Although the Declaration have something to delegate. And, thus, on the State Sovereignty of Ukraine Ukraine must be the master in its own KIEV - Ukrainian SSR Supreme was passed almost one year ago home and rule over its own resources, Court Judge Vasyl Bilousenko indefi - on July 16, 1990 - Ukraine's he said. nitely postponed the trial of radical Parliament began discussing the con Mr. Kravchuk also suggested a new opposition leader Stepan Khmara and cept of a new constitution during last name for the Ukrainian SSR, the his five co-defendants on Thursday weeks work in the Supreme Soviet. Republic of Ukraine. He expressed his morning, May 16. Supreme Soviet Chairman Leonid M. hopes for a presidential form of govern Leaving his courtroom in the Kiev Kravchuk began outlining his ideas for ment and a discussion ensued whether City Court, Judge Bilousenko told over the new constitution during the Tues or not historically, the president of 1,000 demonstrators that he was post day morning, May 14, session. Mr. Ukraine should be a hetman. Mr. poning the trial due to the interference Kravchuk began by saying that it is the Kravchuk answered, diplomatically, of what he called "illegal picketers." people's will to be part of a union, as that if the people of Ukraine vote for More than 1,000 Khmara supporters reflected by the results of the March 17 this title, it will be accepted. have gathered across the street from the referendum. However, he added, that it Mr. Kravchuk's proposal included courthouse since the trial started on should be the kind of union where the structure of a new Parliament di Tuesday, May 14. They have held Ukraine is in a commonwealth of vided into two houses. Questions arose banners demanding freedom for Dr. sovereign states, an equal and plenipo as to what these two divisions should Khmara and his fellow political pri tentiary member of the union. be called and this topic will still be up soners, and condemning the Communist According to Mr, Kravchuk, Ukraine for discussion. Mr. Kravchuk stated Party of Ukraine, singling out such should delegate certain powers to the (Continued on page 8) figures as Mykhailo Potebenko, the head of the republican prosecutor's office, and Leonid Kravchuk, chair man of the Supreme Soviet of the UNA executive allocates grants Ukrainian SSR. On Tuesday, May 14, Dr. Khmara from Ukrainian rebirth fund made an appearance at the courthouse, Stepan Khmara but refused to go into the courtroom defendants, Oleksander Kovalchuk, JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The Mr. Blahitka reported that as of the until the trial was given a bigger court began yelling and pointing his finger at Ukrainian National Association's Su end of 1990, UNA income totalled room, the system of passesTFor observers Col. Ihor Hryhoriev, the supposed vic preme Executive Committee, meeting 511,308,673, or 5130,755 more than in was abolished and what he called agents tim of the November 7, 1990, incident at its regularly scheduled session here the previous year. Expenses came to from the KGB were banned from the that has turned into a political trial on April 20, began to systematically 510,988,374, a sum greater by 5870,000 proceedings. against Dr. Khmara, a Chervonohrad review requests for grants from the than in 1989. The major portion of this As more than 100 observers - demo dentist, and his five co-defendants. UNA Fund for the Rebirth of Ukraine increase in disbursements, the treasurer cratic deputies, family members of the According to Mykhailo Ratushny, - requests emanating both from U- reminded his fellow officers, was the defendants, public defenders and scores the head of the Kiev Strike Committee, kraine and the diaspora. cost of the UNA's convention last year of press (the press had gone to the who has been charged in the Khmara The fund, as reported on the pages of in Baltimore, which was approximately Supreme Court to receive special case and has been imprisoned since this newspaper, has grown to nearly 5400,000. passes) crowded their way into the tiny November, Mr. Kovalchuk has been fed SI75,000 in donations since its esta In general, Mr. Blahitka noted, UNA courtroom, one of Dr. Khmara co- (Continued on page 2) blishment just under one year ago by an expenses for 1990 were equivalent to act of the quadrennial convention of the expenses of the prior year. He then Ukrainian National Association. In proceeded to provide a detailed compa Sheptytsky's remains identified addition, the UNA has pledged a sum of rison of income and disbursements for 5100,000 each year for the next four 1989 and 1990. years, thus bringing the fund for the During the first two months of 1991, by special commission in Lviv year 1990-1991 to nearly 5275,000 - he continued, UNA assets grew by by Sonya Hlutkowsky Roman Shafran, vice-chancellor of the well over the annual target of 5250,000. 5254,000, whereas during the same two- Archeparchy of Lviv. During the executive committee month period in 1990 they had in LVIV — The mortal remains of the A team of medical experts headed by meeting, grants totalling 513,750 were creased by 5188,744. As regards ex Servant of God Metropolitan Andrey Profs. Pavlo Sochiy, Borys Bilynsky approved. Previously the UNA had penses during this two-month period, Sheptytsky (1865-1944) were positively and Victor Nartikov were also part of awarded 527,000 from the Fund for the once again these were about the same in identified on May 9 by a commission of the commission. Also present from the Rebirth of Ukraine for various projects. 1991 as in 1990. experts ied by Cardinal Ivan Myroslav regional attorney's office was Leonid The meeting was attended by Su Mr. Blahitka reported also that the Lubachivsky, major archbishop of Lviv Izosimov. preme President Ulana Diachuk, who cost of medical insurance coverage for of the Ukrainians, metropolitan of The process began at 11:15 a.m. on chaired the meeting, Supreme Vice- the UNA's employees had increased Halych and head of the Ukrainian May 7 when the commission convened President Nestor Olesnycky, Supreme markedly to the point that it amounts to Greek Catholic Church. and went to the crypt in St. George Director for Canada John Hewryk, about 40 percent of an employee's The commission included Arch Cathedral. A part of the wall to the Supreme Vice-Presfdentess Gloria Pa- salary. The UNA is now looking into bishop Volodymyr Sterniuk and Bishop crypt where Metropolitan Andrey's schen, Supreme Secretary Walter So- other insurance policies in an attempt to Julian Voronovsky both of the Arch- coffin rested was removed, and two chan and Supreme Treasurer Alex bring costs down. eparchy of Lviv; the Rev. Osyp Ho- coffins were found in the crypt, Metro ander Blahitka. The UNA Supreme Efforts are continuing toward com dunko and Vasyl Voronovsky, who politan Andrey's was resting on what is Auditing Committee was represented puterizing the printing of branch dues were present at the burial of Metropoli believed to be the coffin of Cardinal at the meeting by William Pastuszek, bills and secretaries' rewards, the trea tan Sheptytsky in the crypt of the Sylvester Sembratovych (died 1898). chairman. surer noted. Cathedral of St. George 47 years ago; According to the Rev. Hodunko, As is customary, the meeting began Mr. Blahitka said that he continues to the Rt. Rev. Iwan Dacko, chancellor of who had been one of the persons to with officers' reports. (Continued on page b) the Archeparchy of Lviv; and the Rev. (Continued on page 2) і THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 19,1991 No. 20 the repression of the freedom move was over 2 meters tall. Khmara trial... ment there; his skull was fractured Sheptytsky's... ^ Finally, the body was buried with and he wound up in a psychiatric hospi slippers rather than shoes. At the end of (Continued from page 1) tal, where he was injected with psycho- (Continued from page 1) his life, Metropolitan Sheptytsky could psychotropic drugs during the last six tropic drugs. His immune system has place the coffin of Metropolitan An not wear shoes, only soft slippers. months, in attempts by the authorities to also been damaged; he was sent to drey in the crypt, this was not its The father of the modern Ukrainian break him and force him to testify Chornobyl to help with the clean-up original resting place. It seems that the Greek Catholic Church, Metropolitan against Dr. Khmara. after the 1986 nuclear explosion. coffin had been later moved. It was Andrey was born in Prylbychi, western Before the trial even began, Judge Supporters of these accused political found resting on bars above the first Ukraine, in 1865. He became the head Bilousenko adjourned the proceedings prisoners have faithfully attended coffin. The crypt was covered by a wall of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic until the next day, Wednesday, May 15. meetings demanding their freedom, upon which were plaques noting that Church as metropolitan of Halych in That morning People's Deputy Khmara demonstrated near the courthouse, Cardinal Sembratovych and Metropo 1901. As metropolitan, he promoted did enter the tiny courtroom, but once litan Sheptytsky were buried there.