Inside: l The Yushchenko factor in Tymoshenko’s imprisonment – page 3 l Conference on Ukraine’s relations with Poland, Turkey – page 5 l Early survivor testimony about the Holodomor – page 9

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXIX No. 47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 $1/$2 in Ukraine Tymoshenko’s health Rada votes against reprieve for Tymoshenko PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The Ukrainian failing in prison, Parliament on November 15 voted against a proposal to downgrade the abuse of daughter says power offense in the country’s Criminal Code under which former Prime Minister RFE/RL Yulia Tymoshenko has been jailed. KYIV – The daughter of jailed former Decriminalization of the offense could Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia have led to her early release. Tymoshenko says her mother has fallen Four days earlier, Ukraine’s tax authori- seriously ill in prison and is confined to her ties said that Ms. Tymoshenko, who is bed as prosecutors interrogate her on fresh already serving seven years in prison for charges, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service report- abuse of office, has been charged with tax ed on November 11. evasion, theft and concealing foreign cur- Yevhenia Carr, Ms. Tymoshenko’s rency revenues. 31-year-old daughter, said in an interview Her lawyer Serhiy Vlasenko said she is with RFE/RL that she feared her mother’s likely to remain imprisoned for many life is in danger. She added that the authori- months, as President Viktor Yanukovych is ties continued to refuse to allow Ms. intent on keeping her in jail to keep her Tymoshenko to be examined by her person- from running in Ukraine’s elections. He predicted that the appeals court that is to al physician. hear her case next month would uphold “At the moment my mother is in a very the verdict, adding that the appeals pro- critical state; she is kept in a cell, she cannot cess usually takes up to two months. get up from the prison bed,” Mr. Carr said. He also noted that the European Court UNIAN/Aleksandr Prokopenko “And for the first time in the history of for Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, imprisonment, in criminal history, or [in Yulia Tymoshenko’s lawyer Serhiy Vlasenko on November 14 holds a copy of the which Ms. Tymoshenko hopes will over- defense’s appeal of the new charges filed against the opposition leader. He stated the history] of the prisons of Ukraine, the turn her verdict, can take 10 months or that the charges are without merit as there is absolutely no evidence that Ms. investigation is carried out in a cell when longer to make a ruling. Tymoshenko committed any crime. the person is lying on a prison bed and “Tymoshenko is a very personal issue cannot move,” she added. for Yanukovych. It’s very emotional: she is charges are linked to Ms. Tymoshenko’s ruption charges in Russia and Ukraine relat- Ms. Carr said she last saw her mother on his personal, political enemy,” Mr. activities as the head of United Energy ed to her role in the gas company; the charg- November 4, shortly before her attorney, Vlasenko told foreign reporters, including Systems of Ukraine, a position she held in es in Ukraine were dismissed about five Serhiy Vlasenko, and the Penitentiary a correspondent of the Associated Press. the 1990s. The STA said she had been years ago, apparently for lack of evidence. Service reported a worsening of the former “And, according to the logic of Mr. charged with concealing about $165 mil- Mr. Vlasenko said the new charges are prime minister’s health. Yanukovych, the enemy must be in jail.” lion in revenues and failing to pay nearly “absolutely false.“ He also said Ms. Tymoshenko The service announced the next day The State Tax Administration (STA) $6 million in taxes. that, during her morning walk, Ms. said on November 11 that the newly filed Ms. Tymoshenko previously faced cor- (Continued on page 20) Tymoshenko injured her back “due to her own negligence,” but did not elaborate. Denies all charges Ukrainian prosecutors on November 11 Archives reveal eastern Ukraine resisted Soviet rule, says researcher charged Ms. Tymoshenko with tax evasion, theft and concealing foreign-currency reve- by Tamara Olexy nues. The charges stem from her tenure in UCCA the 1990s as head of the gas-trading firm NEW YORK – On November 10, at New United Energy Systems of Ukraine. York University’s Torch Club, scholars, Ms. Tymoshenko is currently serving a community leaders and the general public seven-year sentence after being convicted had an opportunity to learn that, follow- on October 11 of abusing her powers as ing World War I, an active liberation prime minister in connection with a 2009 movement existed not only in western gas-supply deal between the Ukrainian Ukraine but also in the eastern half of the state energy company, Naftohaz, and country. Russia’s Gazprom. The special “Ukrainian Historical The former prime minister’s lawyers Encounters” series event, titled “The say they expect a preliminary hearing in People’s War: National Liberation her appeal of that conviction to take place Struggles in Eastern Ukraine (1917- on December 13. 1932)” was opened by Dr. Walter Zaryckyj Ms. Tymoshenko has denied the charges who provided a brief overview of the against her and described them as part of a series and then introduced the evening’s vendetta waged by President Viktor guest speaker, Roman Krutsyk, president Yanukovych, who narrowly defeated her in of the Kyiv Memorial Society and director the 2010 presidential election. of the Museum of Soviet Occupation. Ms. Vlasenko, a lawyer for Ms. Accompanied by a slide show presenta- Tymoshenko, dismissed the new charges tion, Yuri Symczyk, first vice-president of as baseless. the Organization for the defense of Four (Continued on page 12) UCCA Roman Krutsyk speaks at New York University’s Torch Club. (Continued on page 19) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 No. 47

ANALYSIS

Putin is ready for problems Rada decriminalizes some crimes ing to November 16 press reports. Continuing the tradition that was intro- KYIV – The Verkhovna Rada on duced during the pontificate of John Paul II November 15 passed on its second reading of installing Christmas trees from different with the United States and in full the presidential bill amending countries on the square, Ukraine will for by Pavel K. Baev to prepare the contract on constructing new certain legislative acts of Ukraine on decrim- the first time present a tree to the Holy See. nuclear power reactors to follow up on the inalization of responsibility for violations in Eurasia Daily Monitor The giant fir tree will be transported by a recently completed Bushehr project in Iran the sphere of economic activity. The Party of Slovenian carrier. (Ukrinform) The traditional meeting of the Valdai (Vedomosti, www.gazeta.ru, November 10). Regions refused, however, to decriminalize There is definitely more in this denial of a International Discussion Club with Prime Article 365, under which former Prime massive challenge to the non-proliferation 853,000 Ukrainians in green card lottery Minister Vladimir Putin on November 11 last- Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was convicted. regime than just the mercantile interest in this ed long into the night, but still was an indubi- As a result, representatives of the Yulia KYIV – Ukrainians were in third place in table letdown. The privilege of raising direct contract, particularly since the prospects for Tymoshenko Bloc-Batkivschyna Party fac- terms of the number of participants in the questions with the real master of Russian poli- entering the nuclear market in the Arab Gulf tion walked out of the evening session in current green card lottery, the winners of tics was diluted by the awkward awareness states are more enticing. Mr. Putin’s implicit protest. The issue was amending Article 365 which receive permanent U.S. residence, it that there was not much to ask about. message to the United States appears to be of the Criminal Code, which criminalizes was reported on November 11. This year, Those experts who did not see Mr. Putin that nothing short of a massive air war could the three countries that submitted the most himself as the answer to all questions tried to stop the Iranian program – and Russia would abuse of power or authority by an official entries were Nigeria, with 1.36 million; impress upon him that the potential of his then righteously condemn this aggression only in the case of corrupt practices in order Ghana, with 909,000; and Ukraine, with monocentric political system was exhausted, and harvest the profits from skyrocketing oil to obtain benefits. The majority of national and he reassured them that it was not (RIA prices (Moskovskiy Novosti, November 9). deputies did not support any of the more 853,000. Only 8 million people tried to win a Novosti, www.newsru.com, November 12). This by no means hypothetical scenario than 200 amendments made by opposition green card in the latest U.S. Diversity Visa They tried to probe whether new experience looks far more interesting for Moscow than deputies and supported by the committee in Lottery, compared with a record 15 million had altered his political preferences and preju- it does for Beijing, since China is deeply charge. After none of 100 amendments from last year. The drop in the number of entries dices, and he demonstrated that all the famil- worried about any interruption of oil sup- the opposition was adopted at the morning this year was attributed to the fact that iar spots were in the same places. “Stagnation” plies from the Gulf. Mr. Putin had an oppor- meeting, National Deputy Andriy Parubii of Bangladeshis – for many years the most is the word that marks the bottom line of tunity to discuss the joint stance against the Our Ukraine-People’s Self-Defense fac- numerous applicants – weren’t eligible to experts’ warnings but Mr. Putin, soon to once Iranian sanctions with Chinese Prime tion said that the day’s ineffective vote for participate. Last year, Bangladesh accounted again hold the Russian presidency, appears Minister Wen Jiabao at the meeting of the decriminalization of Article 365 of the for 7.6 million entries. The diversity-visa lot- ready to embrace it, while granting Dmitry Shanghai Cooperation Organization in St. Criminal Code in fact puts an end to tery is an immigration program that offers a Medvedev some leeway to act on his agenda Petersburg (Kommersant, November 8). Ukraine’s European integration. “Not only quick path to permanent U.S. residence for of “modernization” in the post of prime Despite the limited achievement record did the legalization of political repression 50,000 people each year who are selected minister (www.gazeta.ru, November 12). of this 10-year-old organization, several take place in the session hall today, but also randomly by the U.S. government from Mr. Putin definitely tried his best to con- countries, including Turkey, are negotiating the abandonment of Ukraine’s European countries that send relatively few immi- accession, and this fits perfectly into Mr. vince the influential messengers gathered for integration idea,” he stressed. The Party of grants to the U.S. (Ukrinform) the global forum on Russia that Russia was Putin’s new (or rather recycled) vision of Regions faction is of the opposite opinion. on an even keel and open to cooperative Eurasian cooperation. He eagerly elaborat- As explained by its leader, Oleksander Culture Ministry against cutting quotas work with the West, and it was only once ed on this theme for the Valdai experts, but Yefremov, the party did not support the KYIV – The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine that he mentioned problems looming in the it is hard to take this seriously against the amendment to the bill on the decriminaliza- does not support the law on the reduction of relationship with the U.S. – and his readiness background of a nasty quarrel with tion of economic crimes under Article 365, Tajikistan, in which Russia has found no quotas for Ukrainian broadcasting from 50 to face them (RIA Novosti, November 12). as it would be a “rewrite of the law for one better way to prevail than by expelling hun- to 25 percent, First Vice-Minister of Culture The issue in question was the deployment person.” He added, “We will not change leg- dreds of illegal Tajik migrants from Moscow of a ballistic missile system, on which no islation for one person, because it is danger- Yurii Bohutsky told journalists on November agreement is even probable, but the disagree- (Moskovsky Komsomolets, November 12). 16. The official believes that national depu- Mr. Putin is confident that the severe and ous and could set a precedent for irrespon- ment could be dramatized or played down as sible officials to take advantage and jeopar- ties did not fully realize what they had voted political expediency dictates (Nezavisimaya still deepening financial crisis in the European for. In particular, the very term “national Union secures for Russia’s foreign policy a dize the situation in this country, with which Gazeta, November 7). The necessary precon- our group strongly disagrees.” (Ukrinform) product” is ambiguous. “There was a misun- dition for escalating this quarrel is restoring position of strength, and that the U.S. cannot derstanding. Not everyone understood what Russia’s rusting nuclear arsenal, and Mr. escape from the path of setbacks and retreats, Ukrainian tree in St. Peter’s Square they voted for. The document is about a including those related to the escalating Putin did a walkabout on the deck of a new national product, which means music writ- domestic political discord. The cordial meet- KYIV – A 30-meter fir tree has been cho- strategic submarine last week after finalizing ten by Ukrainian citizens – not only in the ing between Russian President Medvedev and sen from the Zakarpattia region of Ukraine the package of contracts between the Defense Ukrainian language but the languages of all Ministry and the consortium of shipbuilding U.S. President Barack Obama in Honolulu is of to decorate St. Peter’s Square in Rome and corporations on laying new keels for the navy little import as Mr. Putin is keen to exploit the the Apostolic Palace at Christmas, accord- (Continued on page 14) (Kommersant, November 10). perceived weakness of the troubled world leader (www.newsru.com, November 13). On the same day, the fiasco over launching This opportunistic course may bring some the Fobos mission to Mars proved yet again moments of personal gratification but it is self- that Russian missile technologies had become defeating for Russia, which misses opportuni- FOUNDED 1933 dangerously unstable (www.lenta.ru, The Ukrainian Weekly ties to connect better with the West through November 11). No amount of money can joint efforts to contain the crisis and finds itself restore quality control in the cyclopean Soviet- An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., isolated even in such peripheral positions as a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. era shipyards and missile plants, and the over Syria where “principled” support for Yearly subscription rate: $65; for UNA members — $55. astronomic sums that Mr. Putin has solemnly Bashar al-Assad has damaged Russia’s reputa- promised to allocate for rearmament will be – Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. tion (www.gazeta.ru, November 9). as the former Finance Minister Aleksei Kudrin (ISSN — 0273-9348) The “reset” with the U.S. may have keeps arguing – slashed and eaten by inflation The Weekly: UNA: exhausted its drive, but it has deleted anti- Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 (www.gazeta.ru, November 12). Americanism from the list of exploitable Strategic armaments with all their expen- political topics, and Mr. Putin has not quite Postmaster, send address changes to: sive deadliness are merely playthings in the internalized this effect. He still presumes that old show-biz of deterrence, but one real The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz his firm foreign policy course would mobilize 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas controversy with the U.S. that Mr. Putin public support for his monocentric system of appears ready to play up is centered on Iran. P.O. Box 280 power but, in fact, the fast-eroding respect Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] The International Atomic Energy Agency for this corrupt system makes Russia’s exter- (IAEA) report on the Iranian nuclear pro- nal behavior ambivalent and erratic. The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com gram was released last week, and Moscow In the coming farcical elections, Mr. Putin had little to say on the substance of the new could establish the Russian variation of the The Ukrainian Weekly, November 20, 2011, No. 47, Vol. LXXIX evidence of the program’s weaponization, so Pareto principle, where by 20 percent of the Copyright © 2011 The Ukrainian Weekly it tried to undermine the credibility of the supporters of his United Russia party score 80 agency by blaming it for leaking the confi- percent of the votes, but that would only signi- dential annexes (RIA Novosti, November 8). fy a big leap in destroying the credibility of Another questionable point in the report is Putinism. The Valdai experts concur that ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA the allegedly crucial contribution to the forceful regime change is not a probable sce- Iranian program of Russian physicist Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3041 nario in Russia, but Mr. Putin is set to disprove e-mail: [email protected] Vyacheslav Danilenko, who denies any them. involvement in nuclear matters (Kommersant, Maria Oscislawski, advertising manager (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 fax: (973) 644-9510 November 10). The Russian Foreign Ministry The article above is reprinted from Eurasia e-mail: [email protected] cut short any discussions on possible new Daily Monitor with permission from its publish- Mariyka Pendzola, subscriptions (973) 292-9800, ext. 3042 sanctions against Iran, and Mr. Putin has er, the Jamestown Foundation, www.james- e-mail: [email protected] instructed Rosatom, Russia’s nuclear agency, town.org. No. 47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 3

NEWS ANALYSIS Yulia Tymoshenko’s imprisonment: The Yushchenko factor by Taras Kuzio prime minister in 2006-2007, and does not need the presi- first vice-chairman of the SBU. Three months later Mr. Eurasia Daily Monitor dent’s official residence. Khoroshkovsky ordered the SBU’s Alpha Spetsnaz unit to A Razumkov Center opinion poll conducted one week raid Naftohaz Ukrainy’s offices over the January gas con- Former President Viktor Yushchenko is an important, after the sentence confirmed Mr. Omelchenko’s views, find- tract. The contract became the basis for the charge of but underestimated, aspect of the sentencing of opposition ing Mr. Yushchenko to have the highest negative rating of “abuse of office” against Ms. Tymoshenko. leader Yulia Tymoshenko to seven years imprisonment any Ukrainian politician. Indeed, 80 percent of Ukrainians Our Ukraine leader and former SBU Chairman Valentyn and a three-year ban from government work. did not support his actions – that’s higher than Communist Nalyvachenko said in an interview with Komentari on Our Ukraine Honorary Chairman Mr. Yushchenko’s sup- Party leader Petro Symonenko’s 69 percent negative rat- March 5, 2010, that “it would be personal satisfaction” if port for the sentence was in contradiction with the Our ing. Only 1.5 percent of Ukrainians expressed support for Khoroshkovsky was promoted to the post of SBU chair- Ukraine political party, which condemned it as a return to Mr. Yushchenko (Interfax-Ukraine, October 18). man, “which he had recommended him for.” Mr. authoritarianism. Every other opposition political party Party of Regions deputies have pointed out that the Khoroshkovsky became the SBU Chairman shortly after- also condemned the sentence. criminal investigation against Ms. Tymoshenko was wards. Party of Regions Deputy Taras Chornovil said in a recent launched in 2008-2009 by President Yushchenko and they Mr. Yushchenko’s anti-Ms. Tymoshenko vendetta has interview with Radio Svoboda that “Mr. Yushchenko was have merely brought the case to its logical conclusion. brought three negative consequences for Ukraine. the only well-known public person in Ukraine who sup- The Tymoshenko case has had three stages. The first First, it has led to widespread voter disenchantment ported the sentence.” Mr. Yushchenko was the only person stage in the summer of 2008 was the collection of a dossier and disillusionment in Ukrainian politicians, especially who “applauded and said that he supported it and was sat- on Ms. Tymoshenko’s alleged “treason” by the Presidential among former “Orange” voters. This has generated passivi- isfied with it” (Radio Svoboda, October 17). Secretariat (Mr. Yushchenko has continued to use her ty among Ukrainians, making it easier for President In interviews given to the BBC’s Ukrainian service on “treason” to justify his support for the sentence). The Yanukovych to roll back the democratic gains achieved in October 12 and Der Spiegel on October 18, Mr. Yushchenko “research” operation was led by the chief of staff, Viktor the 2004 Orange Revolution. Only 3,000 Ukrainians pro- publicly supported Ms. Tymoshenko’s sentence. Speaking Baloha, who resigned in May 2009 after which he defected tested against Ms. Tymoshenko’s sentence – fewer in num- on the Inter television channel on October 23, Mr. to the Yanukovych camp. During the 2010 presidential ber than the Berkut riot police who had been drafted into Yushchenko stated his opposition to the decriminalization elections Mr. Baloha organized the first-round victory for Kyiv. of the 1962 Soviet Criminal Code articles that were includ- Mr. Yanukovych in Zakarpattia, the only western Ukrainian Moreover, Ukraine fatigue undermined Ukraine’s inte- ed in the 2001 Ukrainian Criminal Code used to sentence region that he won. In October 2010, Mr. Baloha was gration into NATO, which looked promising in 2005-2006. Ms. Tymoshenko. Officials, he argued, should be held appointed as the minister of emergency situations (www. Mr. Khoroshkovsky’s SBU is a major factor in contributing responsible for their actions. kmu.gov.ua). to Ukraine’s democratic regression. Mr. Yushchenko’s sup- The European Union, it must be noted, had sought to During the second stage, Mr. Yushchenko undermined port for Ms. Tymoshenko’s sentence undermines his claim use decriminalization as a compromise for Viktor his prime minister’s 2010 election campaign. He signed that he is a supporter of Ukraine’s European integration as Yanukovych to release Ms. Tymoshenko. into law increases in populist social benefits that led to a the case has derailed the chances of Kyiv signing an Former U.S. Ambassadors to Ukraine William Taylor and suspension of the 2008 IMF stand-by agreement and Association Agreement. Steven Pifer described the trial as a “farce” (Interfax- signed last-minute changes to the election law that Finally, Ukraine fatigue led most countries to initially Ukraine, August 29; Kyiv Post, July 28, September 20). Mr. increased opportunities for election fraud. In his final press welcome Mr. Yanukovych’s victory because they believed it Yushchenko, in contrast, said it was “rather a normal judi- conference, President Yushchenko revived criminal charg- would end Orange chaos and bring stability. Mr. cial process,” believing the charges arose from her “trea- es from the Kuchma era related to Ms. Tymoshenko’s Yanukovych was therefore given a long honeymoon period son.” chairmanship of United Energy Systems in 1995-1997. for most of 2010, during which criticism of democratic Mr. Yushchenko continued, “I do not see a show trial, The same charges were revived on October 12; the day regression was muted and phrased diplomatically. Political but rather a normal judicial process. Even politicians are after Ms. Tymoshenko was sentenced by the Security repression of dozens of opponents led to negative conse- not above the law. Was not the former French President Service of Ukraine (SBU). The intervention by the SBU quences in EU-Ukraine relations only after August 5 of this Jacques Chirac also forced to stand trial?” he asked. Chairman Valeriy Khoroshkovsky is the latest in a string of year when Ms. Tymoshenko was imprisoned for contempt Former Kyiv Mayor Oleksander Omelchenko, who was similar steps that seek to destroy Ukraine’s European inte- of court. elected to Parliament on the pro-Mr. Yushchenko Our gration. Mr. Yushchenko’s support for Ms. Tymoshenko’s sen- Ukraine-People’s Self Defense bloc, said he believes that In the second round of the 2010 presidential election tence reveals political immaturity, a lack of dignity and a Mr. Yushchenko’s support for the sentence is a product of Mr. Yushchenko called upon Ukrainians to vote against willingness to prioritize personal revenge over Ukraine’s his personality, as he showed himself to be a “very low both candidates, which only reduced Ms. Tymoshenko’s national interests. Thus, in 2006 and 2011, respectively, he moral person” who “betrayed tens of millions of people.” vote. Between the first and second rounds of the election, has supported policies that have undermined Ukraine’s Mr. Omelchenko and other “Orange” politicians have Mr. Yushchenko posthumously awarded nationalist leader paths to NATO and the EU. pointed to Mr. Yushchenko continuing to live in the presi- Stepan Bandera with a state medal – an act that increased dent’s dacha as a “reward” for his anti-Ms. Tymoshenko the anti-nationalist turn-out of eastern Ukrainian voters. The article above is reprinted from Eurasia Daily Monitor vendetta. Mr. Yanukovych lives in his palatial Mezhyhiria, a The third step, in January 2009, was marked by Mr. with permission from its publisher, the Jamestown former Soviet complex illegally privatized when he was Khoroshkovsky’s promotion by President Yushchenko to Foundation, www.jamestown.org.

Crimean Tatar leader skeptical about Crimea’s new prime minister RFE/RL other ethnic groups deported purely because of SYMFEROPOL, Ukraine – The leader of the their ethnicity.” unofficial Crimean Tatar Assembly (Mejlis), On May 18, 1944, Soviet Army and Internal Mustafa Dzhemilev, has questioned the choice of Affairs Ministry troops deported the entire Tatar Ukrainian Internal Affairs Minister Anatolii population of Crimea – some 180,000 people – Mohyliov as prime minister of Ukraine’s to Siberia and Central Asia. Soviet leader Joseph Autonomous Republic of Crimea, RFE/RL’s Stalin ordered the deportation on the grounds Ukrainian Service reported. that the Crimean Tatars had allegedly collaborat- President Viktor Yanukovych officially ed with Nazi Germany. Thousands of people died approved Mr. Mohyliov’s new appointment on en route. November 7. Mr. Mohyliov was named internal In 1991, the Crimean Tatars received official affairs minister in March 2010. Before that, he permission to return to Crimea. They currently headed the Internal Affairs Ministry’s General Directorate in Crimea since 2007. account for more than 12 percent of the penin- Mr. Dzhemilev told RFE/RL on November 7 sula’s population of some 2.1 million. that Mr. Mohyliov’s track record in Crimea leads Crimea’s previous prime minister, Vasyl him to conclude that his appointment as Crimean Dzharty, who died in August, was known for his prime minister was “not a thoughtful decision” support for the Crimean Tatars’ efforts to estab- and could fuel interethnic tensions. lish a dialogue with local and central govern- “Police opened fire at unarmed people near the ment on the restitution of their land and proper- peak of Ai-Petri in Crimea, when Mr. Mohyliov was ty. in charge,” he said. “But the major concern is, of Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov was course, his attitude to the mass deportation of expected to introduce Mr. Mohyliov to the Crimean Tatars [to Central Asia in 1944]. In his Crimean government and Parliament on statements, he tried to justify the atrocities of UNIAN/Andrey Kanishchev November 8. The Parliament of Crimea must for- Stalin’s regime against the Crimean Tatars and Anatolii Mohyliov, Crimea’s new prime minister. mally approve his appointment. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 No. 47 U.S. congressman pledges to push Ukrainian civil liberties groups for ICC indictment of Lukashenka hold joint conclave in Saskatoon by Richard Solash media, and democratic activists.” Analysts say Mr. Lukashenka has long RFE/RL employed the tactic of pledging to loosen to WASHINGTON – The chairman of the U.S. grip on the country in exchange for a Helsinki Commission has pledged to call on reprieve from sanctions – a tactic that has the Obama administration to push for the worked in the past. indictment of hard-line Belarusian President Observers say he has also sought to capi- Alyaksandr Lukashenka by the International talize on rifts between the United States and Criminal Court (ICC). the European Union, as well as between While the chances of an indictment are neighboring Russia and the West, to inhibit unlikely, the pledge by Rep. Chris Smith united action against his regime. (R-N.J.) was a clear sign that U.S. lawmakers After testifying, Mr. Mikhalevich told RFE/ have not forgotten the egregious human RL that he hoped the United States would rights situation in the country ruled by the more fully take on the role of “bad cop” if the man some dub “Europe’s last dictator.” EU, which borders Belarus and relies on it as At a Helsinki Commission hearing that a transit country for gas from Russia, hesi- focused on Minsk’s continuing crackdown tates to do so. on political opposition and civil society, Rep. “I’m absolutely sure than in order to suc- Smith said he would send a letter to mem- ceed, the international community should bers of the Obama administration and the have both the good cop and bad cop. United Nations Security Council asking them Someone should play the role of the bad cop to push for the indictment. and, unfortunately, the European Union In an interview with RFE/RL, he later would not play this role. So I hope that the UCCLA said, “When you commit atrocities for 17 United States will be ready to do it,” Mr. Members of the UCCLA and UCCLF executives at a joint annual conclave in Saskatoon, years, as [Lukashenka] has done, the time Mikhalevich said. Saskatchewan (from left): Andriy Harasymiw, Andrea Malysh, John Gregorovich, has come.” Mr. Mikhalevich also offered a harrowing Roman Zakaluzny, Prof. Lubomyr Luciuk, Ryan Boyko and Borys Sydoruk. “[Although] Belarus is not a signatory to account of what he called “constant mental the ICC, to the Rome Statute – and nor are and physical torture” during his two months SASKATOON, Saskatchewan – The UCCLA executive began three days we, frankly – we’ve done this before, and we in custody, including being “stripped naked Representatives of the Ukrainian of meetings with a public lecture at the did it with [President Omar al-] Bashir in and forced to assume various positions.” Canadian Civil Liberties Association Ukrainian Museum of Canada by Prof. Sudan. It will take a lot of work, but we need “Our legs were pulled apart with ropes (UCCLA) and officials from the Canadian Lubomyr Luciuk, the UCCLA’s director of to begin that effort now to get the Security and we could feel our ligaments tear,” Mr. Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) research, who gave a fulsome speech on Council to make a special referral to begin Mikhalevich said in his prepared remarks. spoke during UCCLA’s annual conclave, Canada’s first national internment opera- that process,” he said. Rep. Smith appeared visibly moved by held this year in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. tions, and how those operations related “I’m sure China and Russia will object, but the account. “We were very pleased that Stuart to the human rights museum. that’s worth the fight, because this man “Rather than calling them the KGB, it Murray, CEO of the national museum, The UCCLA met with Slawko commits atrocities on a daily basis against ought to be called the KGB ‘P’ for ‘perverts.’ arranged for our teleconference with Kindrachuk, president of the Saskatchewan his own people,” Rep. Smith added. Masked men who strip other men naked, museum content experts Dr. Rhonda Provincial Council of the Ukrainian ​The congressman made his pledge fol- and women, presumably, as well – those are Hinther and Dr. Clint Curle,” said R.W. Canadian Congress, and Catherine Schabel, lowing the testimony of former Belarusian acts of perversion that should not go unno- Zakaluzny, chair of the UCCLA. “Both they chair of its Holodomor Awareness presidential candidate Ales Mikhalevich, ticed by the international community,” said and Communications director Angela Committee. Both groups shared informa- who is in Washington for the first time since the congressman. Cassie assured us that the CMHR remains tion and vowed to work together on sever- his release from a detention center in Minsk In July, the U.S. House of Representatives dedicated to reaching out and consulting al projects of mutual interest. on February 19. approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Smith with all Canadians.” Members of the Ukrainian Canadian Mr. Mikhalevich was one of seven opposi- that would strengthen existing sanctions “In response, the UCCLA confirmed Civil Liberties Foundation (UCCLF) also tion candidates and more than 600 people against Minsk. It is awaiting consideration that we remain dedicated to ensuring all met for their annual general meeting in arrested during the regime’s violent crack- in the Senate. 12 galleries in this publicly funded muse- Saskatoon, initiating a series of new book down on protesters following President Rep. Smith told RFE/RL that Western um are inclusive, comparative and the- prizes for academic achievement at five Lukashenka’s disputed re-election in attention on the situation in Belarus had matic in their treatment of the many epi- universities in Canada. December 2010. The official reaction to dem- been “obscured” to some extent by the sodes of crimes against humanity and It is hoped that book prizes will be cre- events of the Arab Spring, and especially by onstrations drew widespread international genocide that occurred before, during ated in memory of Kari Moore at the the global economic downturn. He said that condemnation and a coordinated sanctions and after the Second World War. We will Slavic Studies Department of the pushing for ICC action would be a sign that program by Brussels and Washington. continue to insist upon that, even after University of Victoria; to honor Yevhen human rights are not “taking a back seat.” The financial and travel restrictions were the museum opens next year,” Mr. “I’ve been very much involved for years in accompanied by a boost in funding for the Zakaluzny explained. (Continued on page 7) country’s beleaguered civil society, journal- the special [U.N.-backed] court that [U.S. ists and activists. prosecutor] David Crane oversaw for Sierra As the one-year anniversary of the elec- Leone, and what I learned from that, and tion approaches, watchdogs say the jailing from the Rwandan court, and of course from and harassment of human rights defenders the Yugoslav court, which held [Slobodan] Group places KGB man under surveillance and protesters continues, while the indepen- Milosevic and [Ratko] Mladic and [Radovan] dent media and judiciary face intense, often Karadzic to account, is that these thugs are OTTAWA – Concerned about the fail- three years later, openly defying our institutionalized, pressure. frightened by the fact that they may be held ure of the Canada Border Services country’s laws. Repeated calls upon the Mr. Mikhalevich says he had to sign agree- to account. And Lukashenka will fear it, I Agency to remove a known veteran of government of Canada to enforce the believe, if we make a very serious effort to ment on collaborating with the Belarusian the notorious Soviet secret police, the decisions of both the IRB and the Federal hold him to account at the International state security forces, which are still called KGB, from Canada, the Ukrainian Court of Canada have not been acted Criminal Court,” said Rep. Smith. the KGB, in order to secure his release. He Canadian Civil Liberties Association on upon,” the UCCLA state. “As a result, we has since been granted political asylum in Mr. Mikhalevich told RFE/RL that he thinks the chances of ICC action against October 14 announced that it has have begun another campaign calling the Czech Republic. engaged the services of a private investi- upon Mr. Toews to instruct the CBSA Ahead of meetings with State President Lukashenka are slim, but that the prospect of such a move could help pressure gation firm to put a Lutheran church [Canadian Border ServicesAgency] to do Department officials and Washington-based basement in east Vancouver, British their job while letting all MPs and sena- NGOs, he told U.S. lawmakers that support- the regime to release its political prisoners. “I think that definitely, it’s very difficult Columbia, under surveillance: tors in Parliament know about what ing Belarusian civil society – and not holding to organize any [such] political process “According to the Minister of Public needs to be done and why. Until this KGB out hope that Mr. Lukashenka will reform – unless thousands of people are being Security, the Honorable Vic Toews, this man is returned to his country of origin, is the only way to effect change. killed, but still, it’s necessary to do all KGB man had no right to enter Canada, we are placing the site under surveil- “I’m absolutely sure that Lukashenka is attempts,” he said. and he has no right to remain. He is not a lance. If he attempts to leave his cellar, he ready to defend his power by all possible “And you never know how this regime will be apprehended and turned over to means. Unfortunately, we can compare refugee, as confirmed by the Immigration will develop – and how many victims we Lukashenka with [former Libyan leader and Refugee Board (IRB). His appeal of the RCMP/CBSA.” will have next year.” Muammar] Qaddafi. So I urge the United that finding was dismissed by the “This man was a part of the Soviet States, the European Union and the inter- Copyright 2011, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted Honourable Mr. Justice R. Zinn of the apparatus, a willing and promoted national community not to trust another with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ Federal Court of Canada,” the UCCLA noted enabler of a corrupt, undemocratic and game of liberalization badly played by the Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, in a statement. “He should have been violently ruthless secret police force. We regime,” he said. Washington DC 20036 (see http://www. removed immediately, but he claimed must, at a minimum, ensure that the “Cooperate only with independent civil rferl.org/content/helsinki_commission_ ‘sanctuary’ in a pre-prepared bolt-hole in a freedoms we enjoy in Canada are shared society in Belarus: non-governmental chairman_vows_obama_push_icc_indict- church basement, even though no right of with the tens of thousands of real refu- organizations, both unregistered and regis- ment_lukashenko_belarus_mikhalev- sanctuary exists in Canadian law.” gees who wish to come here,” the UCCLA tered, independent newspapers and ich/24392191.html). “He remains there to this day, nearly underscored. No. 47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 5 Washington conference focuses on Ukraine’s relations with Poland and Turkey

UCCA WASHINGTON – The 12th annual “Ukraine’s Quest for Mature Nation Statehood Roundtable” was held in Washington on October 19-20. This year’s forum explored two relationships that carry deep strategic significance and powerful cultural and his- torical meanings for Ukraine. The roundtable’s theme was “Compelling Bilateral Ties: Poland-Ukraine and Turkey- Ukraine,” focusing on interrelations of Ukraine and Poland (which presently holds the presidency of the European Union), as well as Turkey (which has been a very important player with a growing economy in the Middle East). As noted during the two-day conference, strengthening these bilateral relations is very important to Ukraine’s political and economic development, as well as Ukraine’s stated goal of integration into the European Union. The conference’s host moderator, Dr. Walter Zaryckyj Lesyk Balaban (Center for U.S.-Ukrainian Relations), opened the proceedings At the conference on “Compelling Bilateral Ties: Poland-Ukraine and Turkey-Ukraine” (from left) are: former by asking representatives of the forum’s three focus countries Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Borys Tarasyuk, panel moderator John O’Keefe from the Open World – Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Olexander Motsyk, Deputy Leadership Program and Janusz Onyszkiewicz, former minister of defense of the Republic of Poland. Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Poland to the U.S. Maciej Pisarski and Counselor of the Embassy of Turkey to the U.S. President Biden was able to visit Ukraine in 2009, and I “reset” policy with the Russian Federation. Dr. Brzezinski Huseyin Dogan – to deliver opening remarks. hope that similar bilateral visits are possible in the future… shared his belief that there was no danger of this happen- Several speakers then addressed the spotlighted bilater- Ukraine needs and deserves trade and investment, and the ing as he felt Ukraine would not be willing to isolate itself al relationships in the broader context of “seeking a United States could be an important partner in that effort. from the European Union nor the United States. Europe whole, free and prosperous.” But that cannot happen until the Yanukovych government The Thursday afternoon panels concentrated on the past, The U.S. perspective was elaborated by Baxter Hunt, direc- takes steps to improve the political climate in the country present and future relations between Turkey and Ukraine. In tor of Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus at the U.S. Department of and restore confidence in its institutions.” assessing the past, Dr. Lubomyr Hajda of Harvard University State. He underscored that the United States is pursuing a pol- The second day continued with the presentation of and Dr. Hakan Kirimli of Bilkent University explored the his- icy that encourages Ukraine to choose a democratic future, Yevhen Burkat, deputy head of Eurointegration in Ukraine’s toric inter-relations and cultural similarities of the two coun- because, “Ukraine’s political and economic development as an presidential administration. Outlining the government’s tries, even pointing out that the Ukrainian word “Kozak” is a independent nation is a vital part of our efforts to realize the reforms to bring Ukraine closer to European standards, he Turkish word meaning “free person.” They also maintained dream of a Europe that is whole, free and prosperous.” said, “a potential gap exists between general European aspi- that the two nations had traded and maintained friendly rela- “We support Ukraine’s European integration in part rations of the society and actual awareness of how everyday tions for centuries, from the time of the Kozak Sich, and that because it will lead to long-term stability for Ukraine and life should change to improve its values for each and every in 1914 the Ottoman Empire was one of the first four states the region as it did for Ukraine’s formerly communist Ukrainian home.” He added, “Education is key, but it takes to recognize the independence of Ukraine. neighbors to the West, such as Poland,” he continued. “We time and resources, resources which we are still short of.” With Andrew Bihun of The Washington Group moderat- also support it because the Ukrainian people want free- The morning panels addressed Ukrainian-Polish rela- ing, Diba Nigar Goksel of the Turkish Policy Quarterly and dom and prosperity, and even during this period of finan- tions in the past, present and future. Both Krzysztof Serhiy Korsunsky, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Turkey, shared cial crisis, we are convinced of the EU’s transformative Bobinski (Unia & Polska) in reviewing the past, as well as their thoughts on the present and future bilateral relation- power and that a Ukraine that is closer to Europe will be a Janusz Onyszkiewicz (former minister of defense of ship, stressing the importance of building the economies of Ukraine that is freer and more prosperous.” Poland) and Borys Tarasyuk (former minister of foreign both nations, as Turkey is a vital ally of Ukraine for trade James Sherr, director of Eurasia Programs at the London- affairs of Ukraine) in assessing the present made it clear and energy diversification due to its geographical location. based Chatham House, addressed the question: Is Europe that a Polish-Ukrainian entente would have enormous pos- One of the critical points reiterated was the importance still interested in seeing itself whole and free? He under- itive consequences for the region. However, all stressed of Turkey as a strategic partner in light of the many chal- lined the ambiguity of Europe’s position and made it clear that without Ukraine’s full acceptance of European stan- lenges facing Ukraine, including energy security, the Black that Europe would soon have to take a decisive stance. dards such an entente would not be possible. Sea Fleet, and the need to expand Ukraine’s economy The evening concluded with the presentation of the Jan Pieklo (Polish American Ukrainian Cooperation through infrastructure projects. Also discussed was how UCCA’s prestigious Mykhailo Hrushevsky Award in com- Initiative/PAUCI) and Oleh Rybachuk (New Citizen, Turkey can serve as a facilitator for opening up third world memoration of Ukraine’s 20th anniversary of independence Ukraine) in looking at the future bilateral relationship reit- markets for Ukrainian businesses. to John Herbst, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine (2003 to erated the previous panel’s sentiments but added, in the The final speaker of the conference’s focus sessions was 2006). Michael Sawkiw, director of the Ukrainian National spirit of the conference, that a Polish-Ukrainian-Turkish Stefan Romaniw, general secretary of the Ukrainian World Information Service (UNIS), and Tamara Olexy, UCCA presi- entente would have global consequences. Congress. Addressing the global Ukrainian “Hromada’s” dent, presented the ambassador the award for “his efforts in The roundtable also provided a forum for leaders of community’s viewpoint on “seeking a Europe whole, free advancing Ukraine’s cause.” Ukraine’s opposition to address many of the concerns about and prosperous,” Mr. Romaniw underscored that such con- In his eloquent remarks Ambassador Herbst thanked the events transpiring in Ukraine. Chaired by Nico Lange from ferences are important vehicles in highlighting issues of UCCA for bestowing upon him this honor, and thanked those the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, panel participants such as importance to Ukrainians worldwide. with whom he has worked to promote democracy in Ukraine. Mykhaylo Sokolov (member of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc), In sharing his recent travel experiences in eastern Ukraine Jason Bruder, senior policy advisor on the Senate Foreign Volodymyr Ariev (leading member of the National Self- during the summer of 2011 he reaffirmed his belief that east- Relations Committee, greeted the participants of the confer- Defense bloc) and Valentyn Nalyvaichenko (head of the Our ern Ukrainians ardently wish for a united and strong Ukraine. ence in its opening session on Thursday, October 20. Ukraine Political Council) shared their views on the current However, one of the main challenges that Ukraine faces is the Mr. Bruder read a statement from Sen. John Kerry, chair- political situation and Ukraine’s future prospects. establishment of a strong people’s movement, covering all man of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in which All three speakers highlighted the current backsliding of sectors of society that would teach the citizens to “believe in the senator noted: “Ukraine is a dynamic country with a democracy in Ukraine, as well as the political repressions themselves and be prepared to take responsibility so as not to strong civil society, and our relationship with its people is that have led to the arrest and detention of political oppo- be manipulated by politicians and political parties.” important to the United States. I’m delighted that Vice- nents of the current regime, specifically Ukraine’s former He continued by stating that if Ukraine is to go down the Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and former Minister of European route, “parties must agree to focus on the build- Internal Affairs Yurii Lutsenko. ing and development of nationhood, statehood and every- The opposition panelists emphasized that hope still thing that stands behind this.” exists, as the citizens of Ukraine see their future in Europe. Mr. Romaniw added that Ukraine has a very long road They all agreed that reversing the anti-democratic tide in ahead, but as the conference proceedings have shown, Ukraine lies is dependent upon the upcoming parliamenta- Ukraine does not need to take that road alone – Poland and ry elections, and they appealed to the international com- Turkey can be its companions. munity to ensure that the 2012 elections are free and fair. * * * The most anticipated speaker of the Conference was Dr. The roundtable conference co-sponsors were: American Zbigniew Brzezinski, former U.S. national security advisor Foreign Policy Council, Center for U.S.-Ukrainian Relations, under President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981). Addressing “The Embassy of Ukraine to the United States, Institute for Euro- Global Benefits of Achieving a Europe Whole, Free and Atlantic Cooperation International Republican Institute, Prosperous,” Dr. Brzezinski stressed that, if Ukraine hopes to Konrad Adenauer Stiftung/UA, Library of Congress/Open join the EU, it must meet the standards of European democ- World Institute, Polish Ukrainian Cooperation Initiative, racy. He pointed out that nations such as Poland became EU Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Ukrainian National members only after first becoming NATO members. Dr. Association and the Ukrainian National Information Service. Brzezinski also noted that, though the West has assisted and Financial support was provided by the following spon- will assist Ukraine in its transition to the Euro-Atlantic com- sors: Self Reliance (NY) Federal Credit Union, Self Reliance munity, Ukraine’s leader must show determination and pro- (NJ) Federal Credit Union, Cleveland Selfreliance Federal vide effective means of governance to achieve this goal. Credit Union, SUMA Yonkers Federal Credit Union, Following Dr. Brzezinski’s remarks, many questions Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union, Ukrainian Home were posed regarding the possibility of Ukraine turning Dnipro Federal Credit Union, The Heritage Foundation of James Scherr, director of Eurasia Programs at the away from Europe and towards Russia and about the 1st Security Bank, the Ukrainian National Association and Chatham House, addresses the conference. effects on U.S.-Ukraine bilateral relations of the official U.S. the American Foreign Policy Council. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 No. 47

The Ukrainian Weekly Let’s talk about it by Yaro Bihun Holodomor memorial days In November, Ukrainians worldwide commemorate the Holodomor, or Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933 – one of the world’s most brutal examples of genocide, a crime that is almost beyond human comprehension. Many Ukrainian Remembering our veterans Americans and Ukrainian Canadians will light candles of remembrance for the 10 million victims who died as a result of forced starvation – in other words, they were deliberately killed. Here in the United States, the day that most communities focus on is the Saturday before Thanksgiving – this year that date is November 19 – when the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) holds the annual requiem service at the landmark St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Many communi- ties throughout the U.S. hold other special events around that time to focus attention on the Holodomor. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress has announced that the annual Holodomor Awareness Week will be observed on November 21-27, with Holodomor Memorial Day to be marked nationwide on Saturday, November 26. Indeed, Holodomor Memorial Day has been established by both federal and provincial legislation in Canada. As these memorial days approach, it behooves us to note some recent devel- opments regarding the state of Holodomor awareness. There is progress to report regarding the construction of a Holodomor memorial in Washington, as the first of several required hearings has approved the memorial’s design, the beautifully engaging “Field of Wheat” project by Larysa Kurylas. In the state of Massachusetts, community activists continue their mission to have the Holodomor enshrined as part of the state curriculum on genocide and human rights. Ukrainian Canadian filmmaker Yurij Luhovy has Yaro Bihun had much success promoting his feature-length documentary about the These two of 19 stainless steel statues representing a U.S. military squad on patrol Holodomor, called “Genocide Revealed,” at various film festivals – where it has in Korea are part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, which was dedicated by President Bill Clinton in 1995. already won 12 international awards – and at screenings throughout North America. And he is preparing a 52-minute version of the film specially geared to Unlike most veterans, I don’t look for- Fallen” presenting the most recent available schools and universities. ward to Veterans Day. Yes, it is that special list of those who died in “Operation But… there is much more we need to do to tell the story of the Holodomor to day for remembering and honoring those Enduring Freedom” in Afghanistan and in a largely uninformed public. who – willingly or otherwise – put their lives “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” For example, the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown, N.J., recently held a on the line for this country in times of war. Downer was killed by a rocket-propelled teachers’ workshop titled “Learning from the Nation’s Experts: New Resources Most of them lived to pass on their experi- grenade in Kandahar province in Afghanistan for Holocaust/Genocide Education.” We decided to attend in order to see for ence to the next generation; many never on August 5. The last headshot in the mon- ourselves how the Ukrainian Genocide – which the New Jersey Commission on returned. But that experience is something tage was that of Spec. Adrian G. Mills, 23, of Holocaust Education has suggested as one of the genocides to be studied in the that we – and all of mankind – would be bet- Newnan, Ga., who was killed by mortar fire in state’s schools – fares at such teacher-training programs. As was to be expected ter off without. Kirkuk, Iraq. That installment of “Faces of the from a look at the conference agenda, 99 percent of the program was about the While President Barack Obama was Fallen” brought the totals of our soldiers Holocaust; other genocides were mere footnotes. The conference offered a marking Veterans Day on November 11 by killed in those operations to more than 1,800 bounty of handouts and catalogues of resources for elementary and secondary laying a wreath and expressing this nation’s in Afghanistan and 4,400 in Iraq. school teachers (books, films, maps, curriculum units, posters, activities, etc.), as gratitude “where our heroes come to rest,” at My encounter with “Faces of the Fallen” well as information about museums and exhibits. And that is where we really Arlington National Cemetery, our country’s was not coincidental. Since The Washington fall short. Among the resources offered in catalogues were materials about the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient – Post began periodically running this list of genocides in Rwanda, Armenia, Cambodia, Darfur – but not the Holodomor. 94-year-old Ukrainian American World War war fatalities (which also includes those Clearly, we Ukrainian Americans have our work cut out for us if we want our II veteran from New Jersey Nicholas Oresko – who died from friendly fire, accidents, homi- homeland’s genocide to be known. And we will need funds. But what we need was honoring his comrades-in-arms on New cides, suicides and natural causes) I have most of all is some sort of structure – perhaps within an umbrella organization York’s Fifth Avenue. The former master ser- made it a point to personally acknowledge – like the UCCA – that could coordinate our efforts (utilizing the work already being geant who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and not ignore – each of their passing. done by dedicated activists on the state level, for example in Massachusetts, was asked about his experience in combat by In so doing, I have also tried to determine Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut) to create a Holodomor curricu- a reporter from the New York Daily News. if any of them may perchance be of lum and teachers’ materials appropriate for use in various states. “It’s difficult to talk about,” he responded, Ukrainian American origin. I found none. This year, as we remember the Holodomor and pray for the repose of the mil- adding, “I’m happy to come to these things as I may have missed a list or two, because lions of souls murdered in those dreadful years, we must also remember that it a survivor. Thank God for America.” other sources, including The Ukrainian Weekly, reported that there was at least one, is our moral obligation to share and preserve their story. Sgt. Oresko was one of three Ukrainian American Medal of Honor winners honored Army Sgt. Yevgeniy Ryndych of Brooklyn, at the 64th annual national convention of who was killed in December 2006 in Iraq by an improvised explosive device. He was part the Ukrainian American Veterans on of the most recent wave of Ukrainian immi- September 30-October 2 in Willow Grove, grants to the United States. His family came Pa. The other two — also of New Jersey — Nov. here from Kyiv in 1998. Turning the pages back... were Pvt. Nicholas Minue of Carteret, who Also serving multiple tours of duty in Iraq died during a charge against a German around that time – and surviving, as far as I machine-gun position in Tunisia in 1943, could determine – was another recent 26 Seventy years ago, on November 26, 1941, President Franklin and 1st Sgt. John Dutko, of Riverside Ukrainian immigrant: Pvt. 1st Class D. Roosevelt signed a bill officially establishing the fourth Township, who was killed while storming a 1941 Stanislaw Mykhaylichenko, 20, of New York. Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day in the United States. German artillery and machine-gun position “I just care about my friends – this pla- The origins of Thanksgiving can be traced to harvest festivals, in Italy in 1944. toon, that everybody will come home,” was with one of the earliest recorded festivals dating to the Biblical Canaanites, and a similar I, meanwhile, was on the other side of the how he expressed his feelings about the war one celebrated by the Hebrews, called the “Feast of the Tabernacles.” Potomac River from Arlington, on the to Washington Post correspondent Bill Similar festivals and their origins were described according to Greek (Feast of Capital Mall between the Washington and Murphy, whose story appeared February 23, Demeter), Roman (Feast of Ceres), Druid and Native American traditions. Lincoln monuments, visiting our nation’s 2007. Mykhaylichenko’s participation on the In the New World, as it was called, the first Thanksgiving was noted as probably occur- memorials to those who fought in the four U.S. side of this regional conflict has an ironic ring on May 27, 1578, by the Martin Frobisher expedition on the shores of New major 20th century conflicts in which many twist: his father served in the Soviet army Foundland, with the feast officiated by an English minister, Robert Wolfall. And in the of our veterans perished: World Wars I and battling the mujahideen in Afghanistan in United States, the earliest record of Thanksgiving was held by the Popham colony, located II, and our conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. the 1980s, when the United States was clan- on the coast of Maine in August 1607. The veterans of our latest overseas “opera- destinely helping the mujahideen. tions” have yet to be collectively memorial- The Pilgrims held the first Thanksgiving ceremony in December 1620 soon after the As I approached the most-recently con- ized in stone. arrival of the Mayflower. Thanksgiving Day, as it is currently celebrated, was originated by structed World War II memorial – the only My normal gloominess on this day inten- Gov. William Bradford of Plymouth, Mass. Following a harsh winter, the springtime crops one I dislike, because it looks like something sified over breakfast when Spec. Mark J. were carefully monitored and the resulting bumper crop ensured that the Pilgrims would one would expect to find in Moscow or Peking Downer stared at me from the small head- endure another winter more comfortably. This first Thanksgiving was observed for three – I thought about how many thousands of shot photograph on top of page A6 in that days, and local Native Americans were invited to join in the harvest celebration. Ukrainian Americans fought and died in that morning’s The Washington Post. The In 1623 a drought had nearly destroyed that year’s crops, but a rain that lasted for sev- war. In our extended family in Pennsylvania 23-year-old African-American from Warner eral days saved the harvest. In addition, Captain Miles Standish returned from a trip in most everybody served: both of my aunt Robins, Ga., was the first of 99 faces in a two- (Continued on page 15) page photo-montage titled “Faces of the (Continued on page 16) No. 47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 7

NEWS AND VIEWS The things we do ... by Orysia Paszczak Tracz A KGB man in Canada

by Lubomyr Luciuk known variously as the Cheka, NKVD, Smersh and KGB. Some victims were This particular KGB man arrived in even Lutherans. Giving “Captain KGB” the September 1997. He was found out in boot would earn “ethnic votes.” A willing stereotype 2002. He said he was a refugee, but he Supporters argue that this former I know I’m not the only one. There are the distance. A family was strolling down failed to convince the Immigration and Soviet agent should stay because he is a quite a few of us out there, and we recog- the middle of the street; the beautiful Refugee Board of that in May 2006. So he well-educated family man and Mozart nize, admire, and appreciate each other. woman and her daughter and mother appealed. In June 2009 the Justice Russel aficionado who only worked as a transla- No, this has nothing to do with the X-Files. were carrying the blessed baskets of fruit, Zinn of the Federal Court of Canada tor. They say he poses no security threat This is much closer to home. flowers and medicinal plants. The whole upheld the deportation order. (The same since the USSR collapsed more than two I’m talking about the women, and some family was so attractive, with the man judge, on June 4, 2009, ruled Ottawa decades ago. Would they rally behind men, who are fans of a touch of Ukrainian and his female family members all must return Abousfian Abdelrazik from someone with a Ph.D. who treasured in contemporary clothing – the embroi- dressed in embroidery, with the raven- Sudan, a decision applauded by those Tchaikovsky and was “only” a Russian- dery on a dress or blouse, the coral or haired woman especially striking. She who otherwise studiously ignore his con- language translator while in the Gestapo amber necklace, the earrings, the sunflow- was dressed in a white-on-white soroch- temporaneous decision in this KGB or SS? Not likely. Whether someone per- er or poppy or paisley shawls. The possi- ka, long black skirt, black shawl and a man’s case.) sonally “pulled the trigger” is not the bilities are endless. I am guilty of all of the bosom-full of namysto (coral, dukachi, Justice Zinn wrote: “The applicant has point. Simply being part of an organiza- above. and other necklaces). had the benefit of every procedure avail- tion that perpetrated crimes against For me, that touch of something “ridne” I pretended I was photographing the able to him under the act. At some point, humanity, even if you were “only” a cook, (my own, in the Ukrainian sense) just architecture, but zoomed in on them. As a deportation order must be carried out, bottle washer or translator, renders you comes naturally. My various coral earrings they approached, I realized that I knew the otherwise the integrity of the process is inadmissible. All KGB veterans fit that are part of my everyday outfits. I am just family and they had recognized me! It was called into question.” He also cited Mr. description. That’s Canadian law, like it drawn to the shawl or silk scarf or fabric Taras and Roksoliana Lozynsky, the Hutsul Justice Evans: “…the balance of conve- or not. with something that’s “mine.” I get excited antique folk art collectors! nience does not favor delaying further Of course, our KGB man is a white over my finds, be they in a store, in a mar- There is some reverse thinking going the discharge of either the applicant’s European. Most other n’er-do-wells ket, in a vintage shop or at a garage sale. on. A new style is to wear the rough duty…to leave Canada immediately, or being hunted down are Third Worlders, In Winnipeg, you never know what unbleached off-white or natural linen – the minister’s duty to remove them as people of color. And although you’ll find at the estate or garage sale or at something no self-respecting selianyn or soon as reasonably practicable… This is Communists are atheists by definition, Value Village, Goodwill or Sally Ann. A full selianka (peasant) would do (linen was not simply a question of administrative this one was clever enough to steal away Bukovyna outfit? Korali? A “kylym” or sun-bleached). The sorochka must be convenience, but implicates the integrity, into a church. Since the remarkably deli- “lizhnyk?” Fine openwork embroidery on “bila-bila” (as mentioned in so many songs, and fairness of, and public confidence, in cate souls of the CBSA won’t enter a place old linen? Hah, even the “embroidered” for example, “Chom na tobi, chumachenku, Canada’s system of immigration control.” of worship to do their jobs, God forbid ceramic dishes are considered collectibles sorochka ne bila?” – Why are you not The applicant’s duty was to leave. any of Canada’s other most wanted read here! And if you ever need a Shevchenko or wearing a white shirt, chumak/salt trader) Instead he decamped into a pre-pre- this. Any law-breaker who absconds into Franko carved plaque for the wall, just wait – but times change, and now the natural pared suite in Vancouver’s First Lutheran a mosque, synagogue or temple can a while, it will show up. unbleached color indicates to those who Church, asserting a “right of sanctuary.” apparently chortle “home free!” What a thrill it is to find even-weave or may not know that it is indeed linen. There is no such thing. Offering citizenship to KGB or Gestapo fine-weave linen or hempen fabric – only a Ukrainian designers have been creating Minister of Public Safety Vice Towes is veterans is unconscionable. And soul-sister would understand. When it lovely linen machine-embroidered shirts responsible for the Canada Border Canadians want federal laws upheld. Yet comes to clothing patterns, I look for the and outfits, with either traditional embroi- Services Agency (CBSA). On January 28, that’s not happening. Deploying the Vogue one with just the right neckline or dery, or more contemporary Ukrainian- 2010, he insisted: “The Immigration and usual remedies – chiding ministers, seam that would be suitable for embroi- styled flowers such as poppies and sun- Refugee Board and the courts have sending protest cards to members of dery. But – and I’m sure I’m not the only flowers, or Trypillian-motif designs. But determined that Mr. Lennikov is not Parliament, alerting the media – has had one – the outfits have been designed, there is still a difference between wearing admissible to Canada under our laws.” little consequence. The taxpayer-funded embroidered, sewn and already worn – in one of these and a real vyshyvanka. It He has done little since. CBC even broadcast reports sympathetic my imagination. depends upon the occasion. Supposedly, Conservatives favor a “law to this bogus refugee claimant and illegal Sadly, in reality the fabric and patterns When it comes to jewelry, there are so and order agenda.” Yet, someone openly alien, obfuscating the KGB’s murderous are still in their boxes. But it is still enjoy- many choices. I feel good with that one defying our laws remains untroubled. role. Those claiming there’s no left-wing able to dream. I’ll be organized in my next strand of coral around my neck. Or, I can Recently Prime Minister Stephen bias at the CBC must be joking. life. At least I can rely on my super sister pile many more on. Amber is lovely in its Harper’s government circulated descrip- So we hired a private investigator and Nusia Denysyk, who is a designer who tions of alleged “war criminals,” encour- put this KGB man’s bolthole under sur- (Continued on page 11) sews. Her motto is, “If you can find it in a aging snitches to help the CBSA deport veillance. If he leaves, the authorities will store, don’t come to me.” bad guys (a few were). Since this KGB be alerted immediately and will deport For the gentlemen, a tradition in man’s whereabouts are known, why him. Alternatively, he can spend the rest Winnipeg for a long time, especially for wasn’t he removed? of his days in his hidey-hole at First The Conservatives also cater to ethnic Malanka (embroidery) and weddings, is Lutheran. That’s fine with us. communities. Over 1.2 million Canadians the wearing of a vyshyvanka with a tuxedo, Some hint that this once loyal servant are of Ukrainian heritage; many thou- and sometimes even a woven poyas (sash) and beneficiary of the Soviet regime sands more are of other eastern instead of the cummerbund. Many men “found God” in their midst. How nice, if European origins, and more than a few wear their “sorochka” (embroidered shirt) true. As Christians we might have have family members who suffered per- with a suit jacket for special occasions. “turned the other cheek” if there was secution by the Communist secret police, Priests often wear embroidered shirt credible evidence this KGB man genuine- fronts, which really look good. My son ly sought forgiveness for what he was, Dobryan took a handwoven kraika I Lubomyr Luciuk, Ph.D., is director of made public his repentance. He hasn’t. So brought back from Staryi Kosiv, Ukraine, research for the Ukrainian Canadian Civil we say: “No wolf in sheep’s clothing will had it backed with leather and now has a Liberties Association (www.uccla.ca) ever be welcome in the flock.” unique guitar strap. I confess that I am a stealth photogra- pher – I collect traditional and contempo- The UCCLF also elected a new execu- rary styles and designs wherever I can. tive. Andriy Harasymiw of Edmonton has Ukrainian civil... Ukraine is a feast for the vyshyvanka taken over as chair, assisted by Ryan (Continued from page 4) lover, where for every feast and on Boyko of Toronto as a director, with Sundays people wear their embroidered Harasymiw at the University of Alberta’s Calgary’s Borys Sydoruk continuing in the and woven finery. Where possible, I ask Faculty of Law; to recall the service of 1st role of treasurer. for permission to photograph a particular Lt. Bohdan Panchuk at the Prairie Center The next joint UCCLA and UCCLF con- sorochka. Or, if the person is in the dis- for Ukrainian Heritage at the University of clave will be on September 27-30, in tance, I just try to zoom in. Saskatchewan; to mark the valor of Cpl. Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the groups Filip Konowal at the Royal Military will hold a commemoration ceremony at One year, in Lviv on the Feast of Spasa College of Canada; and to remember The Citadel, site of one of the 24 intern- (Harvest Feast, in August) on Virmenska (Armenian Street), I saw a lovely sight in internee survivor Mary Manko Haskett ment camps that held Ukrainians and Dress with embroidery designed and with a prize through the Chair of other Europeans during Canada’s first sewn by Heirloom Transformations by Ukrainian Studies at the University of national internment operations of 1914- Orysia Tracz may be contacted at orysia. Anna Denysyk, based on a design idea by Toronto. 1920. [email protected]. Orysia Tracz. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 No. 47

Researching ukrainian history Erroneous methods in a scholar’s challenge to “Ukrainian myths” by Roman Serbyn Prof. Himka today, Mr. Tottle did not deny the In another passage, Prof. Himka leaves it was the same throughout the Soviet Union. Famine: the gradual opening of Soviet to the reader to guess whether or not there There are two problems with his argu- PART I archives was making that argument unten- were Jewish doctors in the UPA: “The myth ment. First, as Prof. Himka himself admits, able. The similarity in Messrs. Tottle’s and maintains that Jews served as doctors in UPA, there were local and specific conditions in For some time now, Prof. John-Paul Himka Himka’s positions resides in their rejection of and therefore UPA rescued, rather than Ukraine: “particularly severe measures has been campaigning against what he calls the Ukrainian Genocide and their paramount killed, Jews.” A logical interpretation of this applied in those regions.” The Famine there “Ukrainian myths about traumatic aspects of interest in the Ukrainian involvement in the sentence leads to the conclusion that since “was connected with a major offensive the 20th century.” Back on March 28, he Holocaust. the UPA killed Jews, there could not have against perceived nationalism in the explained his chosen mission in an address at Calling on his training as a historian, been any Jews in its ranks. Other historians, Communist Party of Ukraine”; as a result the University of Alberta. An abridged ver- Prof. Himka writes: “Once I took up the however, claim otherwise. Was it to dissimu- “the Famine in Soviet Ukraine and in the sion of his text can be found on the Internet project of clarifying the history of the late these and other ambiguities and appar- Ukrainian-inhabited Kuban region of Soviet under the title “Interventions: Challenging Holocaust, I submitted the topic [to] the ent falsities in his text that Prof. Himka offers Russia was more intense than elsewhere in the Myths of 20th Century Ukrainian usual disciplinary procedures, which this confusing explanation: “In speaking of the Soviet Union.” Prof. Himka even quotes History” (http://www.foa.ualberta.ca/ include researching in primary sources the views I oppose as mythologies, I do not a clause from the U.N. Convention on Research/~/media/University%20of%20 and rethinking in relation to existing always mean to make truth claims”? Genocide to show that “what happened in Alberta/Faculties/Arts/Faculty%20Site/ research.” In line with such sound scholar- Ukraine in 1932-1933 could fit” the The Holodomor: History or myth? Research/celebration_jph_march28.pdf>). ship, he pledges to “uncover the truth,” description in the document. Regrettably, what Prof. Himka has pro- because “truth is a value in and of itself.” Before answering the question whether Second, Soviet documents show that col- duced in this article is not a good history of These are laudable qualities. What is the Holodomor should be considered a lectivization and the opposition to it did not the tragic events. And, his analysis of the regrettable, however, is that the author, genocide in fact or a myth, it is necessary to reduce the quantity of cereals and other myths that they engendered is flawed. His despite linking the two issues in tandem, clarify the terms we are using – “the food products in the USSR to below Famine paper does not help to set the historical seems to pursue only one of the two select- Holodomor,” “genocide” and “myth.” levels. Students of Soviet economic history record straight, nor does it contribute to the ed “myths” – the wartime activities of the Prof. Himka fails to elaborate on the agree that in 1932 and 1933 the USSR had formulation of positive myths of national OUN and UPA. meaning of “Holodomor” and “genocide,” enough foodstuffs to feed the whole popu- consolidation, crucial for newly indepen- Prof. Himka gives no assurance of the same and he only makes a cursory comment about lation. It was only necessary to stop confis- dent states like Ukraine. In fact, Prof. attention to the Ukrainian Genocide. He tells his use of the term “myth.” Since he does not cating all grain and other foodstuffs, open Himka’s approach tends to reinforce anti- us that his interest in the Famine flowed out define genocide, we are left unaware wheth- the stockpiled reserves, stop exporting and Ukrainian mythologies. of his work on the Holocaust, and seems to er Prof. Himka accepts Lemkin’s comprehen- accept offers of aid from abroad. Prof. Himka feels that, both as an aca- keep it limited to that initial motivation. Thus, sive definition of the Ukrainian genocide as a The Soviet law of August 7, 1932, con- demic and a public intellectual, he has a while he has conducted “a number of under- four-pronged attack by the Communist demned peasants to death for “stealing” responsibility and a moral duty to chal- graduate and graduate seminars on the regime against the Ukrainian nation. from the fields the grain they sowed, and lenge what he regards as myths, and Holocaust,” he only led one seminar on the He defines myths as “unexamined com- Stalin’s letter to Lazar Kaganovich, written because of his “self-identification as a Famine of 1932-1933. He gives no indication ponents of an ideologized version of histo- four days later, in which he anticipates the Ukrainian,” he can do it “from the inside.” that he has done extensive archival research ry.” In other words, he does not distinguish Famine (“the moment things get worse”), The two “core myths,” as Prof. Himka sees on the Ukrainian Genocide or even read the myths from history, but considers myths to warns of the possibility of a revolt and the them, that have become the objects of his main published documents and scholarly lit- be bad history, which are used for an loss of Ukraine. Detailed, comprehensive indignation are: (a) the claim that the erature on the subject. unworthy purpose. reports from Ukraine by Bolshevik leaders Ukrainian Famine of 1933 was genocide, His claim, therefore, that he exposed his By contrast, the Oxford online dictionary and GPU functionaries before and after the and (b) the denial that the Organization of students to different perspectives and “tried gives other usages of myth – “an exaggerat- “five ears of corn law” clearly show that it Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and the to find the best presentations of the varying ed or idealized conception of a person or was Stalin and the Communist regime that Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) partici- points of view” rings somewhat hollow, thing” – and makes no connection with his- unleashed the Famine with a conscious pated in the Holocaust. especially after one learns from his course tory. Similarly, in the Merriam-Webster dic- intent and precise motives. What bothers the historian is that these outline that the first seminar meeting was tionary we read: “a popular belief or tradi- Prof. Himka has a problem with the term myths are instrumentalized and exploited devoted to Mr. Tottle’s fraudulent book. tion […] embodying the ideals and institu- Holodomor (“as they call it”). He could have in tandem. Prof. Himka complains: “The Raphael Lemkin’s seminal article on the tions of a society or segment of society.” It gotten a better idea of the word and the con- genocide argument is used to buttress Ukrainian Genocide did not even figure in follows that myths are not history, and that cept if he had tried to understand it by analogy another campaign, to glorify the anti-Com- the course bibliography. Prof. Himka’s accu- all myths are not bad or necessarily used in with the Holocaust, of which he is an expert. munist resistance of the Ukrainian nation- sation that his opponents have avoided “seri- a harmful way. There is interesting online When the term “holocaust,” whose basic alists during World War II.” Since he ous and honest confrontation” with his argu- literature on the positive characteristics meaning is sacrificial offering by immolation, regards the nationalists, i.e., OUN and UPA, ments or “with the sources on which they and beneficial uses of myths. is capitalized and preceded by the definite as being implicated in the Holocaust, he rest” seem to be a mirror image of his own Genocides, including the Holocaust and the article, it refers to the genocide against the considers their glorification unacceptable. attitude in the Ukrainian Genocide debate. Holodomor, have been written up in good and Jews. In a similar way, the Holodomor has Rejecting the nationalist (in his opinion) Prof. Himka’s essay deals with facts and bad historical narratives and also have become evolved beyond its original sense of forced view of Ukrainian history, Prof. Himka con- ideas (interpretation, definitions and con- overgrown with a lot of mythology. Some of starvation and now embraces the notion of a cludes that “a revisionist treatment” is “not ceptualizations) about “Holocaust,” the myths are noxious and some benign. The Soviet-led genocide against the Ukrainians. only appropriate, but obligatory.” “Holodomor,” “genocide” and “myth.” All of mythical elements accompanying the Prof. Himka’s shortcoming here is his insis- If Prof. Himka’s presentation gives the these subjects demand a rigorous method- Holocaust and the Holodomor do not impinge tence on treating the Holodomor according impression of a déjà vu, déjà entendu – there ological approach and precise formulation. on their characterization as genocides. That to the old peasantist interpretation (inten- are good reasons for it. Anybody who Unfortunately Prof. Himka often treats his qualification depends on other criteria. tional starvation of the peasantry). He fails to remembers the Soviet war on the Ukrainian facts and ideas loosely, evasively, and irre- On the issue of the Ukrainian Genocide, see what Lemkin saw 68 years ago – namely, diaspora in the 1980s will recall Douglas sponsibly. It may be, as he admits, that Prof. Himka writes: “In the mythicized ver- that the Famine was only one component of Tottle’s “Fraud, Famine and Fascism: The writing short texts results in oversimplifi- sion, Stalin unleashed the Famine deliberate- the genocidal acts that the Soviet regime per- Ukrainian Genocide Myth from Hitler to cation and that they tend to be sloppier. ly in order to kill Ukrainians in mass and thus petrated against the Ukrainian nation. Harvard” (Toronto, 1987). Mr. Tottle’s pseu- Since it is only 3,500 words maybe one to prevent them from achieving their aspira- Prof. Himka is right to affirm that “whether do-scholarly treatise left a similar impres- should indeed be more indulgent when criti- tions to establish a national state. I, however, the Famine constituted a genocide is a matter sion. Only his accusations were more blatant cizing Prof. Himka’s essay. But it seems to me point out that the precondition for the of interpretation.” But he fails to explain the and thoroughly mendacious with regard to that the author must honor his claim of rig- Famine was the reckless collectivization criteria on which the interpretation must be the Soviet Famines of 1921-1923 and 1932- orous truth-seeking scholarship and pro- drive, which almost destroyed Soviet agricul- based. The only generally accepted definition 1933. With Soviet aid, and echoing Soviet found inside knowledge of Ukrainian reali- ture as a whole. […] My somewhat more of genocide, which provides such criteria, is propaganda, Mr. Tottle accused Ukrainian ties. I do not think that these qualities are nuanced view is a problem for the mytholo- the 1948 U.N. Convention on Genocide. Article nationalists of criminally collaborating with reflected in such statements as the following gists, who want the world to recognize that II declares that genocide means “acts commit- the “fascists” and then fleeing to the West two examples: “While [President Viktor] the Famine, or as they call it – the Holodomor, ted with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, where, as refugees, they promoted the Yushchenko pursued his campaign to have was a genocide as defined by the United a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, “myth” of a man-made Famine in Ukraine in every country recognize the Famine of 1932- Nations in 1948.” Contrary to Lemkin’s defi- as such.” Prof. Himka does not like the docu- order to deflect attention from their own 1933 as a genocide, he [was] simultaneously nition, Prof. Himka erroneously limits the ment because it only recognizes four groups crimes and to gain sympathy as victims of suppressing the history of the other geno- notion of genocide to the starvation of and “excludes victims of social and political Communism. cide, the Holocaust.” Ukrainian peasants, and so he has a concep- murder.” That may be a valid criticism, but it is Unlike the Soviet propagandists, but like The accusation against Viktor Yushchenko’s tual problem with the Holodomor. irrelevant to the question of the Ukrainian suppression of the history or the commemo- The “more nuanced view” that Prof. genocide. Roman Serbyn, Ph.D., is a professor of his- ration of the Holocaust is serious: it reflects Himka offers for explaining the Famine is the The (partial) destruction indicated in the tory at the University of Quebec in Montreal. badly not only on the president of Ukraine, specious argument that “the precondition for document applies to ethnic Ukrainians as a He is editor of Holodomor Studies, a semian- but also on that country’s national policy. the Famine was the reckless collectivization national group in general, of which the peas- nual publication, and is still active in Unless Prof. Himka can show that such state drive, which almost destroyed Soviet agricul- ants form an integral part, not according to research on the Ukrainian genocide of the policy actually existed, he is contributing to ture as a whole.” In other words, the starva- their socio-economic function, but to their 1930s. the creation of an anti-Ukrainian myth. tion was caused by collectivization, which national-ethnic characteristics. No. 47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 9

Early survivor testimony on the Holodomor The voice of a Ukrainian settler in Alberta from 1933 by Bohdan Klid tion in which cannibalism would become As far as I could learn, 25 versts [about Don’t people expect something better commonplace? 17 miles] in either direction about one- in the future? Considering the scope and magnitude of Zhuk’s testimony was so compelling that quarter of the population survived. Three- the 1932-1933 Famine in Ukraine, the They used to, but now things get worse it was used by the leadership of the quarters died. unfathomable tragedy of human suffering and worse with every year. And now Ukrainian National Council in Canada (a associated with it, and the fact that it was Are people suffering the Famine qui- they’ve reached the limit. No one expects predecessor of the Ukrainian Canadian caused by the criminal actions and policies etly or are they rebelling? anything anymore; everyone just expects Congress) as the basis for composing of the Soviet government, information pub- death. Even the officials don’t know what Bulletin No. 1, which was issued to inform How are they to rebel and what will they lished in English about the Holodomor in the future holds and only shrug their shoul- Canadians and others about the Famine.1 achieve by rebelling? They suffer, because North America and Western Europe was ders. Some tell the people, “Rebel, and we’ll The leaders of the Ukrainian National they’ve lost all hope. They walk like the relatively sparse until the late 1980s. join you.” And the people respond: “You Council in Canada appended the Bulletin to blind, and they fall wherever death strikes This dearth can be explained in part by rebel first.” letters appealing for aid for the Famine vic- them. No one pays attention to the corpses the Soviet government’s cover-up and disin- How did you come to Canada? tims, which were addressed to Canadian lying on the streets. People either step over formation campaign, complicity in the cover Through Romania? Prime Minister R.B. Bennett and British or sidestep them and keep on walking. up by some Western journalists and writ- Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. From time to time they’re collected and No, that’s impossible. You have to go ers, and decisions of Western governments Information from the Bulletin, largely buried in common pits. Seventy and more through Moscow. not to publicize the considerable informa- people are buried together. tion they had gathered on the Famine. Zhuk’s testimony, also served as the basis And how do people live in Moscow? The lack of documents and dearth of for a short article on the Famine, “Starving Have you heard anything about In the Moscow region? Is there also a authoritative writings on the Famine, which Parents Eat Own Children” published instances of cannibalism? famine there? October 10, 1933, in the Edmonton Journal. lasted into the 1980s, acted in a sense to Why not? It happens all the time. There No, there’s no famine there. There’s Zhuk’s testimony (an excerpt of which fol- stimulate and give great weight to the publi- have been cases of a mother starving with enough of everything. When I arrived in lows, below) is to be reprinted in the survi- cation of survivor testimonies. These testi- her children and then killing and eating Moscow, I could buy everything I wanted at vor testimony section of a planned book, co- monies became important evidence in mak- them when she sees they’re about to die. the bazaar –bread and meat and vegetables. edited with Alexander Motyl and this writer, ing the wider public, government officials Or you’re walking along the street and you tentatively titled “The Holodomor Reader,” to And how much did your passport to and scholars aware of the fact that this see a corpse. You look around to see if any- be published by the Canadian Institute of Canada cost? Kremlin-engineered apocalypse had indeed one’s watching, and then you cut off a piece Ukrainian Studies. Orest Martynovych pro- 283 dollars. taken place. The Ukrainian community out- of flesh and then bake or cook it. side of Ukraine – especially in North vided the bibliographic reference to the Rubles or dollars? Maria Zhuk interview; Dr. Motyl translated it What’s the reason for the Famine? America – spearheaded efforts to collect No, dollars, American dollars. My hus- and publish these testimonies. from Ukrainian into English. Has there been a drought or a bad har- vest, or aren’t you sowing anything? band had to send them from Canada. If Survivor testimonies tend to be more * * * someone wanted to earn them, it could “Zhinka z Ukrainy opovidaie pro holod i accurate and detailed, and thus valuable, if There’s been a harvest, we sow and we never be done. See these slippers on my liudoyidstvo” (A Woman from Ukraine Tells they are given by adults soon after the event plant, but as soon as anything grows, they feet? They cost me 90 rubles last year. I had they lived through has taken place. One of about Famine and Cannibalism), Ukrainskyi take it away and pack it off to Moscow. We to work three months in order to buy them. the earliest testimonies published in North Holos, Winnipeg, September 13, 1933. had a good harvest this summer, but so America (in the form of an interview) was Excerpts, pp. 1, 5. what? They sent in the machines, cut every- They take your wheat and grain, and you have no bread, but may you keep your given in early September 1933 to the co- The wife of Ivan (Walter) Zhuk (Zuk), a thing, ground it up, and didn’t leave us a sin- animals? Cows, horses, chickens, pigs? workers of the newspaper Ukrainskyi holos farmer in Consort, Alberta, came to him gle kernel. They took everything. People (Ukrainian Voice) by Marie Zuk [Maria from the First of May district near Odesa, were weeping. They asked, “What will we The famished people ate everything. If Zhuk] from southern Ukraine, who was Ukraine. On the way, she made a stop in eat?” But the Chekists [members of the anyone still has a horse or cow, they guard passing through Winnipeg with her two Winnipeg for a few days, and was brought to secret police] laughed and answered: “You’ll it like the greatest treasure. People caught small children to join her husband, Walter, the editorial offices of the Ukrainian Voice find something.” What people won’t do in field mice and ate them like the greatest who lived near Consort, Alberta. by some good people. We have to admit that order to hide some grain for themselves. delicacies. The cats and dogs have been Maria Zhuk’s testimony is valuable for a it was interesting to see this woman; she They hide it in their hair, they hide it in their eaten long ago. Some collective farms still number of reasons. It pointed to the artifi- seemed like someone from another world. mouth, beneath their tongue, but they [the have pigs, but the Chekists guard them and cial nature of the Famine and its causes It’ll be best to convey our conversation in Chekists] search it out and take it too. seize and take them away as soon as they (actions by Soviet officials, who took away grow fat. People have already forgotten the form of questions and answers. Do the people in the collective farms all grain at the direction of the Kremlin); it how pork tastes. portrayed the cynical and criminal charac- When did you leave home? live better? ter of secret police officials, who knew their On August 5. At first they had it better, but now they 1 A facsimile of Bulletin No. 1 appeared in Mykhailo Marunchak’s “Natsiia v Borotbi za Svoie actions would lead to the peasants starving; How were people living in Ukraine at take everything from them as well. I myself and it confirmed that certain areas of the was in a collective farm, and if I haven’t died Isnuvannia 1932 i 1933 v Ukraini i Diaspori” that time? (1985). The text was printed in the collection Soviet Union, like Moscow, had plenty of thus far and could leave, it’s only because “The Foreign Office and the Famine: British food. It also allows one to ask the question: There was a terrible famine. People my husband in Canada sent me money and I were dying of hunger like flies. Documents on Ukraine and the Great Famine of What kind of a regime would allow its citi- could buy things in the Torgsin shops [state- 1932-1933” (1988), edited by Marco Carynnyk, zens to descend to such a state of despera- Did many died of hunger? run hard currency stores]. Lubomyr Y. Luciuk and Bohdan Kordan. Early reports about the Famine from The Weekly, October 1933 The following report, headlined “Ukrainians Protest tically all of the grain and other foodstuffs, with the dented and inhuman character. Deliberate Starvation of Ukraine by the Bolsheviks,” was result that over 5 million Ukrainians have died during At the present time the Bolsheviks have forbidden published in the premiere issue of The Ukrainian Weekly the past year from starvation. Ralph B. Barnes of the Herald Tribune, W.H. on October 6, 1933. The Bolsheviks are trying to screen this deliberate Chamberlain of the Christian Science Monitor, the cor- starving by declaring that poor crops are responsible for respondent of the Manchester Guardian and many A series of mass meetings are being held by the this great Famine. This excuse is rather a grim jest when other leading correspondents to enter Ukraine. Only a Ukrainians throughout America and Canada, protest- we consider that Ukraine the home of the famed “chor- few extreme Bolshevik sympathizers such as Walter ing against the barbaric attempts of the Bolshevik nozem,” is one of the most fertile lands on this earth. Duranty of The New York Times are permitted to do regime to deliberately starve out and depopulate the Scenes of extreme horror are described by eyewit- so. Even Mr. Duranty has admitted that the Famine has Ukrainian people in Ukraine. nesses. There is absolutely nothing to eat. Even the decimated the Ukrainian population. The purpose of this intentional starvation by the rodents have all been eaten up. People die in their Practically all of the leading press of England and the Bolsheviks is to forever quell the Ukrainian struggle tracks, and are left to rot. Many instances of cannibal- Continent has been filled for the last four or five months for freedom. ism have been reported. with descriptions of the pitiful scenes throughout Ukraine. Since the overthrow of the Ukrainian National Dr. Ewald Amende, secretary of the Congress of Appeals are being made to the Red Cross to establish Republic by the Bolsheviks 15 years ago, the latter National Minorities at Bern, Switzerland, has recently a base in Ukraine in order that all Ukrainians can send have used every conceivable terroristic weapon to described this Famine in Ukraine as the “shame of the their aid through this base. At the present time such aid stamp out the Ukrainian attempts to free themselves. 20th century.” His Holiness Pope Pius XI has recently is impossible, as the Bolsheviks will not permit it. Thousands of Ukrainians have been summarily shot expressed his deepest sympathy and offered to help. Further appeals are being made to the U.S. govern- for the slightest political offense: other thousands Cardinal Innitzer, archbishop of Vienna, issued on ment not to recognize this Communistic dictatorship, were sent to certain death to Siberia and the notorious August 19 a protest against the Bolshevik barbarity as it is founded upon principles that are contrary to all Solovetsky prison islands. But to no avail, the and an appeal for help for the Ukrainians to the rules of humanity and civilization. Appeals are also Ukrainian spirit of independence still burned on. International Red Cross. The head of the Ukrainian being made to the government to send a special mis- The Reds, therefore, finally hit upon the most inhu- Catholic Church, Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky, sion to Ukraine in order to study the conditions under man plan ever conceived, in order to achieve their end, together with Ukrainian archbishops and bishops has which the Ukrainian people are living under this and that is the deliberate carrying out of Ukraine prac- issued a protest against this persecution of unprece- tyrannical and oppressive Bolshevik dictatorship. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 No. 47 No. 47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 11 Ukrainian Technological Society honors Ukrainian of the Year Anatoli Murha

by Roksana Korchynsky PITTSBURGH – The Ukrainian Technological Society (UTS) of Pittsburgh presented its 2011 Ukrainian of the Year Award to Anatoli W. Murha, president of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, at its 42nd annual award cer- emony and dinner dance on Saturday, November 5, at The Club at Nevillewood in Pittsburgh. Mr. Murha was honored for his dedication and leader- ship in preserving and perpetuating Ukrainian culture and heritage through the musical tradition of the bandura, which he describes as the “soul and voice of Ukraine.” Mr. Murha has served as president of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus since 2000. At age 22, he was the young- est president voted into that office, and is currently the sec- ond longest serving president of the chorus. The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus is a 50-member ensemble with membership located throughout North America. Founded in 1918, the world-renowned chorus has a long and proud history of representing Ukrainian bandura and choral music on the international stage. Today, the majority of Chorus members are second- and Cynthia Abbot third-generation Americans and Canadians. At the Ukrainian Technological Society’s annual Ukrainian of the Year dinner (from left) are: Nickolas C. Kotow, Mr. Murha has been an instrumentalist with the Chorus Motria Hodowanec, Anatoli W. Murha, Dr. Hanna Dziamko, Dr. Roksana Korchynsky and George Honchar since 1993. As president of the Chorus, he has been responsible for maintaining the musical and historical Concert highlights include the 2004 joint concert with Dr. Korchynsky also highlighted the significance of the integrity of the ensemble and the day-to-day management renowned Metropolitan Opera soloist Paul Plishka, and society’s Ukrainian of the Year Award, which recognizes of the chorus – coordinating rehearsals, concerts and two performances at the Stratford Summer Music Festival people of local, national and international stature who tours; recruitment; fund-raising; and public and communi- in Stratford, Ontario (2004 and 2010). have made meaningful contributions to the Ukrainian ty relations. On a local note, Mr. Murha brought the chorus to community or Ukrainian scholarship, or who have demon- To share the music and tradition of the Ukrainian Pittsburgh in October for an important benefit concert in strated significant achievement which brings recognition Bandurist Chorus with a worldwide audience, Mr. Murha support of the Ukrainian language program at the and prestige to the Ukrainian community. She noted that has organized tours to Ukraine (2001), Europe (2003), University of Pittsburgh that played to a captivated audi- the past recipients of this award have been exemplary role Western Canada (2005 and 2011), the Eastern United ence of 350 people. models – chosen not for their popularity or current appeal, States and Canada (2007), as well as numerous individual Mr. Murha’s passion for the bandura and the tradition of but for the contributions they have made through sacrifice, concerts and special events. Mr. Murha acted as Producer the “kobzari” is evident in his deep involvement with the dedication, perseverance and faith; and for the ideals they of four Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus CDs and one DVD doc- Kobzarska Sich Bandura and Vocal Program. Kobzarska embody and reflect that make the Ukrainian community umenting its 2003 European tour. Sich is the lifeline of bandura in the diaspora and is the strong. only program of its kind. Mr. Murha was appointed admin- George Honchar, UTS board vice-president, made the istrator of Kobzarska Sich in 1996, at age 18, and remains nomination address honoring Mr. Murha as the 2011 in this position today. Under his direction, the program has Ukrainian of the Year. The award proclamation was read grown from a two-week course to now offering four pro- aloud in English by Motria Hodowanec, UTS executive grams: Bandura Course (for participants ages 12 and up), board member, and in Ukrainian by Dr. Hanna Dziamko, the one-week Junior Bandura Workshop (ages 9-11), the UTS executive board member. Ukrainian Sacred Music Workshop and the Ukrainian Vocal Mr. Murha accepted the award and thanked the UTS for Workshop. this honor. He stated that he was deeply honored, and Mr. Murha was born and raised in the Metropolitan humbled, to be recognized alongside the society’s past Detroit area. He is the first generation of his family born in recipients. In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Murha recalled the United States to Wladimir and Vera Murha. His lifelong his earliest memories of the bandura – the centuries-old association with the bandura started prior to his birth. His instrument that was taller than he was as he first accompa- father has been an active member with the Ukrainian nied his father to chorus rehearsals. Bandurist Chorus since the mid-1960s. He noted that throughout his entire life, as he tried to In his early teenage years, Mr. Murha would attend figure out who he was and what he wanted to do with his Chorus rehearsals with his father just to observe, but at the life, he was always grounded by the bandura, which con- age of 14 he auditioned for the chorus and was subse- nected him to his family and to his Ukrainian identity. In quently accepted as a bandurist. Prior to joining the remarks directed particularly to the many students in Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, Mr. Murha attended the attendance, Mr. Murha encouraged them to remember Kobzarska Sich summer bandura camp that is sponsored that what is important is not the individual, but the cause by the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus. or the “mission,” and to never lose sight of what really Mr. Murha is a graduate of the University of Michigan matters. (Dearborn) with a degree in public relations and corporate The beautifully designed award honoring Mr. Murha communications. Currently, he is the business develop- was created by Pittsburgh graphic artist Kathy Boykowycz. ment and marketing manager of Ukrainian Selfreliance The Very Rev. Timothy Tomson gave the invocation, and Federal Credit Union (USFCU) in Philadelphia. Msgr. George Appleyard gave the benediction. Following Roksana Korchynsky, Ph.D., president of the UTS execu- the dinner hour, musical entertainment was provided by tive board, welcomed Mr. Murha, his family, clergy and the the band Mosaic from Toronto. many guests who attended from Pennsylvania, Ohio, * * * Michigan, Illinois and Canada. To learn more about the UTS, the Ukrainian of the Year Dr. Korchynsky provided an overview of the Ukrainian Award, past recipients of the award and other UTS activi-

Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus Technological Society and its key initiatives. She highlight- ties, readers may visit the website at www.utspgh.org, Bandurist Anatoli W. Murha, selected Ukrainian of the ed the fact that the society – now in its 42nd year – is one e-mail the UTS at [email protected], or “friend” the soci- Year for 2011 by the Ukrainian Technological Society of the longest continuously active Ukrainian organizations in ety on Facebook at “Ukrainian Technological Society (UTS) Pittsburgh. the tri-state area. of Pittsburgh.”

“gerdany” and “sylianky” (too many regional names to be Ukrainian, as if no other people have had access to a needle specific) range from traditional folk and museum copies, to and thread. A willing stereotype amazing contemporary designs that just floor you. A few Don’t get me started on the Rumanian blouses worn in (Continued from page 7) years ago I wore a large round gerdan in black, red and place of Ukrainian ones for Ukrainian occasions (you’ve gold with a black dress to a political fund-raiser. I was heard this rant before), or the fully-beaded gaudy ones! many varieties, and when you buy it in jewelry stores, the pleased and amused that the women in diamonds were The latter may be pretty to some eyes, but they lack any label indicates if it is Ukrainian amber (usually from crowding around, asking me about my necklace! tradition of the symbolism and designs of the old sorochky. Volyn), or Baltic, or Russian. The colors are endless, from A few, very few Ukrainians I know seem to eschew Yes, there is progress and change, but we need to know opaque milky white and all shades of yellow, to the regular vyshyvanky, and are even proud not to wear the embroi- the origins and the meaning of why sorochky are so special clear brown in many shades, green and cherry red (very dery. Some will wear other nations’ folk jewelry or embroi- and important to us. dark red/brown, almost black). dery, but not their own. I cannot even begin to understand. (More on a new aspect of contemporary sorochky next Glass-beaded necklaces and earrings abound, and the Then there are some who think that any embroidery is time.) 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 No. 47 San Diego congregation celebrates 50th anniversary by Nadia H. Skop SAN DIEGO – On an unusually cloudy and rainy November Sunday for climate- spoiled southern Californians, the parish of St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church celebrated its Jubilee 50th anniver- sary. Founded in 1961, the small but vibrant parish has withstood the challenges of assimilation and general secularization to continue its mission to preserve and main- tain the teachings and legacy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. The hierarchical divine liturgy was offi- ciated by Bishop Daniel, presiding hierarch of the Western Eparchy of the UOC-U.S.A., together with guest pastor Protopresbyter Alexis Limonczenko, St. Mary’s founding pastor, now of St. Michael’s Parish in San Francisco, the Very Rev. Vasile Saucir of St. Parishioners and clergy with Bishop Daniel at the jubilee of St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church in San Diego. Vladimir Parish, Los Angeles; and St. Mary’s current resident pastor the Very parishioners, including original founding continue to this day. food, beverages, flowers and linens were Rev. Myron Mykhayluk. members whose dedication and hard work The parish hall was quickly filled with donated by the sisterhood, and the afternoon The service concluded with a presenta- have spanned half a century and whose clergy and their spouses, parishioners and sped by in a warm and nostalgic atmosphere tion of certificates of merit to a select few presence and diligence within the parish guests from neighboring parishes. All of the as all celebrated a noteworthy jubilee.

Tymoshenko’s... (Continued from page 1)

“Europe and all civilized countries are following this case. And in these circum- stances, they are carrying out torture,” he said. “I cannot call it an investigation, because this is not an investigation. These are actions aimed at destroying a person.” The European Union has warned Ukraine that free-trade and political-asso- ciation agreements with the bloc are in danger if Ms. Tymoshenko remains in jail. Health concerns Ms. Carr, who is married to the British rock singer Sean Carr, accused President Yanukovych and “his team, and judges, and courts, and prosecutors” of trying to “resurrect old cases that have no legal basis or proof” in order to persecute her mother. “Now we can characterize this as tor- ture on a person who is innocent, whose guilt has not been proven, and who is thrown into prison because of political reasons,” she added. “So we as a family are very worried for the state of her health and the state of health of other political prisoners.” The exact nature of Ms. Tymoshenko’s illness is unclear. According to her law- yers, she has suffered from health prob- lems in the three months since her arrest. They say Ms. Tymoshenko had asked investigators not to interrogate her over the latest charges because of back pain that has left her unable to walk. In August, she appeared in court with unexplained bruises and a pale complex- ion and requested to be examined by her personal physician – a request that was denied by prison authorities. At the time, the European Union expressed concern and called on the Ukrainian authorities to “ensure a timely and independent medical examination and professional medical care.”

Copyright 2011, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036 (see http://www. rferl.org/content/ex-ukraine_pm_health_ failing_daughter_says/24388491.html). No. 47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 13 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 No. 47

Batkivschyna Party, Yulia Tymoshenko, insist on a mitigation or cancellation of her Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious NEWSBRIEFS abides by the rule of law, but 54 percent sentence. In other regions the opposite is Organizations]. At that time, the president believe that the “gas case” is political perse- true. The perception of this case being an greeted me on the occasion of my election (Continued from page 2) cution. Another 19 percent are undecided. instance of political persecution dominates and handed a large bouquet of white roses nations and nationalities – and in Ukraine The plurality of respondents (44 percent) in all regions except Donbas,” sociologists to me. After that meeting, there has been no there are some 130 [nationalities]. This vol- believe Ms. Tymoshenko to be guilty of noted. (Ukrinform) contact,” said the patriarch. At the same abuse of power or official authority in sign- time, Patriarch Sviatoslav said that, at the ume can not be confined only to 25 percent,” Diplomats on Ukrainians in Libya the vice-minister of culture emphasized. Mr. ing the gas agreements with Russia in 2009; regional level, relations between the author- Bohutsky also expressed confidence that 36 percent consider her innocent; and one KYIV – Ukraine hopes for assistance from ities and the Church are quite constructive. Ukraine has to show Euro 2012 guests all its in five is undecided. However, only 24 per- the international community in releasing (Religious Information Service of Ukraine) ethnic richness and the complete flavor of cent of respondents support the guilty ver- Ukrainians in Libya, and the country’s diplo- Ukraine among most attractive to tourists folk music. “Those who travel to visit us dict and the seven-year prison sentence. The mats continuously raise the question in should hear all of us,” he said. On November majority (52 percent) insist on mitigation or negotiations with other countries, Foreign KYIV – Ukraine is on the list of the top 3 the Verkhovna Rada adopted amendments cancellation of the sentence. More than half Affairs Ministry spokesman Oleh Voloshyn three most attractive tourist destinations in to the law on television and radio broadcast- (51 percent) of Ukrainians polled also con- told reporters on November 15. “Recently, the world for 2012, according to Lonely ing, reducing from 50 percent to 25 percent sider the new criminal charges against Ms. not a single meeting with representatives of Planet’s Best in Travel 2012 ranking, as list- the share of Ukrainian audio and visual Tymoshenko – of placing the debts of the the European Union, Israel, or the U.S.A. has ed on its website on November 8. Lonely products on national broadcasts. Rada United Energy Systems corporation on the been held without raising the issue to help Planet describes Ukraine as “the great Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn postponed the Ukrainian budget – to be political persecu- us influence the Libyan side to ensure that unknown of Europe” and the host of the signing of the law regarding quotas for tion. Only 28 percent believe that this new we finally solve this problem,” he empha- upcoming 2012 UEFA European Football domestic products on TV and radio in order case is based on law. “Thus, the Tymoshenko sized. “We are in a dialogue with the Italians, Championship. “It’s through the power of to eliminate inconsistencies in the text of the case is ever more seen by citizens of Ukraine French, British, Americans, with NATO, who soccer that Ukraine is poised to showcase its document. President Viktor Yanukovych said as political and may increase the regional have specific methods of influencing the charms to unprecedented numbers of visi- amendments to the law on broadcasting split. This is indicated, in particular, by Libyan authorities,” he noted. Mr. Voloshyn tors. It will co-host Euro 2012 (the European regarding a reduction in the quota of nation- regional dynamics. Only in the Donbas area described as “very difficult” the process of football championships) and the four match venues have been cunningly selected to al audio-visual products will be reconsidered and in the south has the number of people freeing the Ukrainian nationals who are encourage further travel by visiting football in Parliament. (Ukrinform) who consider Yulia Tymoshenko guilty detained in Libya. According to Mr. Voloshyn, fans,” Lonely Planet notes. Lonely Planet increased [compared to data for September]. Ukraine several times after talks with the 54% say Tymoshenko case is political experts added that “Lviv becomes the jump- In other regions, including in the east, it has Libyan government was ready to send an aircraft to pick up the Ukrainians, but the sit- ing-off point for Carpathian exploration, KYIV – According to a survey conducted decreased, and the number of respondents while Kyiv, which stages the final [match for by the sociological group Rating and who do not accept the former prime minis- uation was unpredictable and circumstances were changing rapidly. Apart from this, he Euro 2012], will become base for forays to released on November 16, some 27 percent ter’s guilt has correspondingly increased. the Black Sea coast and, yep, the grim tourist of Ukrainians surveyed believe that the Only in the Donbas region does the number noted that Ukraine has done everything pos- sible in order to show Libya its friendly attraction that is Chornobyl.” Apart from criminal case against the former prime min- of those who support Ms. Tymoshenko’s Ukraine, according to the British experts ister and leader of the opposition arrest exceed the number of those who intentions in relation to the Libyan govern- ment and Libyan people, in particular by from Lonely Planet, tourists in 2012 should providing financial and medical assistance to also visit Uganda (ranked No. 1), and Libya. On September 5 Ukraine’s Foreign Myanmar (No. 2). Other top finishers were: Affairs Ministry had confirmed reports Jordan, Denmark, Bhutan, Cuba, New about the detention of 23 Ukrainians in Caledonia, Taiwan and Switzerland. Experts collated hundreds of ideas from everyone at Libya, one of whom has since been released. Lonely Planet, including an extended family TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL MARIA OSCISLAWSKI (973) 292-9800 x3040 According to the ministry, these citizens are of travelers, bloggers and tweeters to find or e-mail [email protected] civil engineers who had arrived in Libya on the best tourist destinations. The list of the contract with a private company. Libyan top 10 countries for 2012 was voted on by a authorities suspect them of being mercenar- SERVICES PROFESSIONALS panel of in-house travel experts, based on ies fighting for the forces of former Libyan topicality, excitement, value and “that special leader Muammar Qaddafi. (Ukrinform) X-factor.” (Ukrinform) Chornobyl veterans seize Kharkiv premises Street named changed at U.S. request KYIV – Five hundred participants in the KYIV – The Kyiv City Council on October clean-up of the 1986 Chornobyl accident on 27 renamed Tankova Street in November 15 occupied the assembly hall of Shevchenkivsky District after Ukrainian- the Kharkiv regional administration of the born aircraft design engineer Igor Pension Fund. “We demand that court deci- Sikorsky. The decision was favored by 97 sions be implemented and pensions be paid out of the total 100 registered deputies. in full,” Volodymyr Proskurin, chairman of The decision was made at the request of the city committee of Chornobyl cleaners, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, which is plan- said. He added, “This is a legal requirement, ning to open a new office on this street. although it has not been met for several FOR SALE Sikorsky worked both in Ukraine and in months in a row. We will not leave the prem- the United States. (Interfax-Ukraine) ises until we achieve guarantees of pay- ment.” However, the local pension fund says Schengen visas to be simplified Ukrainian Village, Somerset, N.J. its budget currently has no funds for the exe- Center unit #32, 1 bedroom, cution of relevant court decisions, and cash KYIV – The number of the categories LR, DR & deck. for the payment of pensions is under the of Ukrainians who will obtain Schengen $50,000.00 or best offer management of Kyiv. The protesters are pre- visas, including multiple entry-exit visas Call 732-819-0324 paring an appeal to the government. A pro- under a simplified scheme, will soon test action with similar demands by grow, said the director of the Consular Chornobyl clean-up workers was under way Service Department of the Ukrainian A furnished condo for sale also in Donetsk. The workers there went on Foreign Affairs Ministry, Andriy Olefirov. in the St. Andrew Ukrainian community a hunger strike in the local pension fund Speaking at a November 4 briefing, he in North Port, FL. 2 Br, 2 Ba, community building on November 14 to demand an said that a Ukrainian delegation would swimming pool. Price negotiable. urgent meeting with the prime minister and be in Brussels to introduce amendments to the visa facilitation agreement. Tel. 941-426-8708 an end to proposed benefit cuts for this cate- gory of citizens. (Ukrinform) Schengen visas are currently issued under a simplified scheme (fewer docu- OPPORTUNITIES Yanukovych did not respond to UGCC ments) to journalists, schoolchildren, students, post-graduates, members of KYIV – The Synod of the Ukrainian Greek- official delegations, close relatives of Catholic Church (UGCC) has sent many let- Earn extra income! European Union citizens, disabled per- ters to President Viktor Yanukovych but has sons and individuals accompanying The Ukrainian Weekly is looking received no reply, according to the head of them, people who travel for medical for advertising sales agents. UGCC, Patriarch Sviatoslav, who spoke dur- For additional information contact treatment, as well as participants in ing a web-conference at tochka.net on international competitions, research pro- Maria Oscislawski, Advertising Manager, November 8. Patriarch Sviatoslav also noted The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. grams and exchange programs. The list that neither he nor his predecessor, Cardinal can also include members of non-gov- Lubomyr Husar, had a personal meeting ernmental organizations, religious com- Run your advertisement here, Insure and be sure. with the president. “The only moment when munities and trade union associations. I had an opportunity to meet him was dur- in The Ukrainian Weekly’s Mr. Olefirov predicted that the visa-free Join the UNA! ing the meeting with him this year on Holy CLASSIFIEDS section. Thursday [within the framework of the All- (Continued on page 15) No. 47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 15

Venice Commission on Ukraine’s elections Sessions on Orthodox unification of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church NEWSBRIEFS (UGCC) was held on October 27-28 in Lviv KYIV – The Venice Commission has pro- KYIV – The first joint session of the com- and Briukhovychi. According to the (Continued from page 14) posed that Ukraine introduce a proportion- mittees set up by the Synod of the Ukrainian Information Department of the UGCC, the al electoral system with open regional lists, Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC- regime with Europe would be introduced synod was also attended by Bishop Milan rather than switch to a mixed electoral sys- KP) and the Hierarchical Council of the (Shashik), eparch of Mukachiv. Some ses- in at most one and a half years. “The dia- tem. “If we’re talking about the introduction Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church logue on the visa-free regime between sions were attended by the following visi- of a mixed system, Ukraine has [already] (UAOC) to conduct a dialogue on unification tors: the new apostolic nuncio to Ukraine, the EU and Ukraine started on November had a negative experience in applying such was held on October 27 in a session hall Archbishop Thomas Gullickson; and the 22 last year. There is a list of everything a system. A mixed system may lead to abus- within the Golden-Domed Monastery of St. delegation of the U.S. Conference of that we have pledged to do, but there are es [at elections]. Thus, the Venice Michael. On behalf of the Kyiv Patriarchate, Catholic Bishops. The main theme of the problems with legislation. The law on Commission will propose changing the cur- the session was attended by Metropolitan synod was parish life. Bishop Bohdan biometric documents has been vetoed, rent system to a proportional one, with Dymytrii of Lviv and Sokal, Bishop Epifanii (Dziurakh) presented the concept of “The but the internal affairs minister assured open regional lists, rather than switching to of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi and Boryspil, living parish as a place of meeting with the that the introduction of biometric pass- a mixed system,” Venice Commission and Bishop Yevstratii of Bohuslav. The living Christ” as part of the strategy of the ports in Ukraine is a matter of a few Secretary Thomas Markert said at commit- UAOC was represented by Metropolitan UGCC’s development for the next 10 years. months,” he added. (Ukrinform) tee hearings on the discussion of bills on Andrii of Halych, Metropolitan Makarii of Other reports dealt with modern pastoral Lviv, Bishop Volodymyr of Zhytomyr and Pecherska Lavra to open secret caves parliamentary elections in Kyiv on October care and catechetical ministry at the parish 31. (Interfax-Ukraine) Polissia, Bishop Ioan of Lviv and Sambir, and level, practical aspects of the parish life in KYIV – Secret caves of the Pecherska Bishop Volodymyr of Vyshhorod and its financial dimension, canonical and legal Lavra, or Kyivan Monastery of the Caves, PRU slams Europarliament’s proposals Podillia. According to a report of the UOC- status of the parish, and the need to elabo- KP press service, at the first session the par- will be opened to tourists. For hundreds KYIV – The Party of Regions of Ukraine rate statutes of parish life. One of the ticipants exchanged ideas on a wide range of years these caves had been closed to (PRU) slammed as inadmissible recom- reports on financial issues dealt with the of questions on the history and present outsiders. According to November 7 mendations by European lawmakers con- activity of the non-governmental pension state of Ukrainian Orthodoxy and discussed reports in the Segodnya newspaper, cerning interference with the work of fund Pokrova founded by the UGCC and the various proposals on ways to unifying the “These underground rooms and tunnels Ukrainian courts, but has on the whole question of the financial and economic life UOC-KP with the UAOC. At the second ses- lie under almost the entire territory of approved the resolution passed by the of the Church. The bishops paid consider- sion the hierarchs of the two Churches con- the Upper Lavra and are unique, for they European Parliament. “We are perfectly able attention to the matter of celebrations sidered and passed the text of the final doc- have been in existence for nine centuries, aware that the above recommendations of the 1,025th anniversary of the baptism ument. The 10 paragraphs of the document of Rus’-Ukraine. In that context, the bishops since the 11th century,” said Pechersk [regarding the case of ex-prime minister present both the agreed-upon general considered and passed the Concept of the Preserve research officer Yevhenia Yulia Tymoshenko] are politicized and vision of the unification process and con- Year of the Holy Sacraments (the year Cherednichenko. Researchers have based on emotions on a personal attitude crete proposals on how to overcome the 2012) and a draft plan of Bible readings for examined nearly 1,000 square meters of to Ms. Tymoshenko on the part of politi- existing church divide. Upon approval of the the first year of the preparations. The head the caves, including the narrow corridors cians who sympathize with her, and on document by the primates of the two of the Department of Church Committees, leading to different corners of the pre- the part of her political partners, includ- Churches, it is to be submitted for consider- the Rev. Petro Rak, gave a general report on serve, and the vast underground galler- ing the European People’s Party,” PRU ies. (Ukrinform) ation by the two Churches through discus- the activity of the Kyiv-Halych National Deputy Olena Bondarenko told sion at eparchial sessions. The next joint Metropolitanate’s committees. The bishops Weather threatens winter crops reporters at a press conference on session of the committees is to be held also discussed practical questions of the October 27. “We have concluded that it is based on the results of that consideration. campaign “Let Us Sing Carols for the KYIV – Ukraine may lose up to 30 per- unacceptable and inadmissible for (Religious Information Service of Ukraine) Council” which is aimed at gathering dona- cent of winter crops sown for the harvest Ukraine when we have to interfere in the tions for the completion of the Patriarchal of 2012 due to extremely adverse condi- work of courts on persistent recommen- Kyiv-Halych Metropolitanate’s bishops meet Center in Kyiv and a program of prepara- tions this autumn, the head of agricultural dations from the European Parliament,” LVIV – The 54th session of the Synod of tions for the Euro-2012. (Religious meteorology at the Hydrometeorological Ms. Bondarenko said on behalf of her Bishops of the Kyiv-Halych Metropolitanate Information Service of Ukraine) Center, Tetiana Adamenko, said at a party. At the same time, she welcomed November 8 press briefing. She said the positive aspects of the resolution. “The prolonged drought that began in mid-sum- resolution actually regrets that Mr. mer has been replaced by cold weather, Yanukovych’s visit [to Brussels] has been which did not allow plants to develop postponed and calls for speeding it up and enough for successful hibernation. Ukraine for signing the Ukraine-European Union traditionally sows 7 million to 8 million Association Agreement before the end of hectares of winter crops, mainly winter the year,” she said. “It’s a positive sign that wheat, and the loss of large areas means a Ukraine has been the focal point of acute significant reduction in wheat production debates in the European Parliament in in 2012. Ukraine, which consumes about recent months,” echoed PRU National 12 million tons of wheat in the season, in Deputy Oleksii Plotnikov. “What has hap- 2011 harvested more than 22 million tons pened in the European Parliament shows of wheat. Ukraine intends to export 10 mil- that EU deputies support Ukraine’s aspi- lion tons of grain in the 2011-2012 season. rations. They see Ukraine in Europe,” Mr. (Ukrinform) Plotnikov said. (Interfax-Ukraine)

to decide if there should be a day of thanks- Turning the pages... giving and to fix the date of its observance,” The Weekly explained. (Continued from page 6) By the 19th century, Thanksgiving Days search of provisions. A day of Thanksgiving in the northern U.S. were declared by state was set aside on July 30, 1623, which incor- governors, but in the southern U.S., porated religious as well as social aspects. Thanksgiving was practically unknown During the Revolutionary War, until 1855 when Gov. Joseph Johnson of Thanksgiving observances were more Virginia asked the state legislature to rec- national than local in nature, but the date ognize the day. was always changing. President Abraham Lincoln declared in 1863 that Thanksgiving was to fall on the Gen. George Washington issued a proc- last Thursday of November. And subse- lamation for a general thanksgiving by the quent presidents followed this tradition Continental Army on Thursday, December until 1939. In departure from tradition, 16, 1777 [following the Patriot victory at President Roosevelt declared November Saratoga], and also at Valley Forge on May 23, 1939, the next to last Thursday of 7, 1778. November as Thanksgiving Day. This President Washington issued a procla- caused quite a bit of confusion and contro- mation, following a motion by Congress, versy, with some Americans refusing to that designated Tuesday, November 26, honor the president’s declaration. This was 1789, as a day of general thanksgiving. This repeated for two years until it was correct- was the first Thanksgiving proclamation ed by the bill signed on November 26, issued by a president of the United States, 1941, making the fourth Thursday in and may be considered the first national November the national holiday of Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving. “Several early presidents issued similar proclamations on special occasions, but it Source: “Thanksgiving Day,” The was usually left to governors of the states Ukrainian Weekly, November 17, 1941. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 No. 47

Dr. Julian Kulas, president of the Oresta Fedyniak chair of the Selfreliance Heritage Foundation of the First Foundation of the Selfreliance Ukrainian Lydia Tkaczuk, second vice-president of NBC 5 News Reporter Natalie Martinez Security Savings Bank, addresses guests American Credit Union addresses ban- the Ukrainian National Museum, gives a speaks about her upbringing in New at the banquet. quet participation. speech at the UNM’s banquet. York. Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago begins 60th year

By Yaryna Klimchak CHICAGO – September 2011 marked the 59th anniver- sary of the Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago. To mark this milestrone, banquet was held at the Ukrainian Culture Center in Chicago on October 23. Lydia Tkaczuk, second vice-president of the Ukrainian National Museum, recognized the hard work of the many people that helped establish the museum. “How often we wish [our founders] were still here to advise us, or just be able to take pleasure in seeing what became of the fruit of their labor,” Ms. Tkaczuk said. Olexa Hankewych, Julian Kamenetcky and Orest Horodyskyj founded the museum in 1952 with the help of philanthropist and community activist Dr. Myroslav Simynovycz. At the time, the goal was to collect artifacts and documents that would be transferred back to Ukraine once it became a free country. Today the museum aims to educate the public about the Ukrainian heritage and to preserve the Ukrainian culture. In the beginning, the museum survived on donations from community members; this tradition is still upheld today. “In order not to lose our place in this so rich and diverse society, we must invest in the future, be more interactive, Yaryna Klimchak increase awareness, increase staffing, our space, modern- UNM Board Members Bohdan Dudycz and Steve Demitro introduce the museum’s upcoming exhibit, “From DP to DC.” ize equipment and, most importantly, make a financial investment,” Ms. Tkaczuk stressed. Different generations sat side by side tasting the array part of it,” Ms. Martinez commented. The community made an investment that day. Close to of Ukrainian food that was brought out to them. Some 175 A theatrical group called Homin and Istyna provided $11,000 was gathered from the community members them- people were in attendance from various immigration entertainment at the banquet through various skits using selves. The Heritage Foundation of the First Security Savings waves. Among them sat one of the original founders, Mr. the comedy of the well-known Mykola Ponedilok. Bank surpassed all with a $25,000 donation and the Horodyskyj, who arrived in Chicago in 1950. Bohdan Dudycz, UNM board member, presented infor- Selfreliance Foundation of the Selfreliance Ukrainian Natalie Martinez, news reporter for NBC Channel 5, was mation about the upcoming museum exhibit “DP to DC” American Credit Union made a generous donation of $20,000. also present. She was born to a Dominican father and and its opening on November 4. Maria Klimchak, curator of the Ukrainian National Ukrainian mother in New York. Both Dr. Kulas of the Heritage Foundation and Oresta Museum, was the master of ceremonies at the annual ban- “I am a mutt – and I am really saying it endearingly – half Fedyniak of the Selfreliance Foundation retold stories of quet. She spoke about the museum’s founding and why it is Ukrainian, half Dominican. You don’t come by that mix very their DP experiences. important to continue preserving the Ukrainian heritage. often, and it is a melting pot story,” Ms. Martinez explained. To discover more about these camps and to hear first- “The Ukrainian National Museum is an important cultur- The Ukrainian National Museum has welcomed Ms. hand stories, the Ukrainian National Museum encourages al face of the city,” Ms. Klimchak said. “It is an agent for social Martinez as a new member. “It’s strong, it’s solid and it community members to come see the exhibit, which will change which promotes intercultural understanding.” seems like a very loyal community and I am happy to be be open through the end of January 2012.

not become a citizen. He accepted, as did most of his friends sary. I simply had to get up and read it again. Remembering... and acquaintances who served during the Korean War. And In the first section of the 750-page tome Luke Myshuha he almost got to Korea. writes about how the Ukrainian immigrants formulated their (Continued from page 6) But when higher command realized that he was fluent in a world view. Also in the book there is a two-page critical anal- Maria Fedorka’s sons served in the U.S. Navy and her son-in- few strategic European languages, he was taken off the plane ysis of the U.S.-Philippine war overlapping the turn of the law in the Marines, while her daughter and daughter-in-law in Hawaii and sent to Europe. As an added reward, when his 19th-20th centuries, quoting articles from UNA newspaper worked in military hospitals. All came home. service ended and he enrolled in college, the GI Bill covered Svoboda that, among other things, characterizes that war as I have no information about how her family in his tuition costs. being conducted on behalf of American and English capital- Pennsylvania and other Ukrainians across the United States Someone up above must have intervened in my behalf as ists with huge investments in China who want to have an fared during World War I (which has a surprisingly small well when 10 years later my three years of service in the U.S. American military base nearby. It also includes an excerpt monument dedicated only to Washingtonians who died in Army concluded within a few days of the passage of the Gulf from a Ukrainian American soldier’s moving letter from the that war), but we know that the initial immigration from of Tonkin Resolution in August of 1964. That was when our front to Svoboda: Halychyna began at the end of the 19th century and there conflict in Vietnam officially became a war. So when I entered “Almost machine-like, I keep loading my rifle and shooting was a draft law in effect for the war, so there must have been college in September, I did not have to worry – as did most of where I see smoke. And I think to myself: maybe among many. Since our part of the family arrived here in 1950, no my fellow male students – about getting and maintaining a them is a very decent fellow. Back home he has had to leave one has served in this country’s subsequent conflicts – in draft deferment, nor did I worry that much about tuition behind his wife and a few small children. He left everything Korea, Vietnam and its current military “operations.” costs; the GI bill was resurrected during my sophomore year. to defend his native land. Maybe that bullet I fire in his direc- My old friend and Washington-area colleague Roman And I guess I’ve been carrying this feeling of guilt ever tion will hit him and he will fall dead. Oh, how his wife will Ferencevych was within the military draft age group when he since. A few days before Veterans Day, as I was fighting a los- cry for him and the children scream and condemn the one arrived here in 1950 and received his “Greetings from the ing battle with my brain to remain asleep for just a few more who killed their father. It’s frightening when I think about President of the United States” in 1951. Not being a citizen minutes, it won hands down when it recalled a soldier’s let- how much harm I can cause with my rifle, and not just one yet, he could have refused and would have been allowed to ter we had read some years ago in the Ukrainian National but any number of families.” remain in this country on his “green card,” but, if so, he could Association’s Jubilee Book commemorating its 40th anniver- Reading this did not make me feel any better. No. 47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 17 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 No. 47

Ukrainian center in Greater Philadelphia area holds annual meeting by Petrusia Sawchak Roman Petyk, chair of the Audit Committee, reported that the financial JENKINTOWN, Pa. – Just one day before records of UECC were approved by the com- the 32nd annual meeting of the Ukrainian mittee and an independent auditors’ firm. Educational and Cultural Center on Sunday, This year, seven board members out of October 30, the Greater Philadelphia Area 24 were up for re-election: Roman Cyhan, experienced its first snowfall, but that did Borys Pawluk, Ivan Prasko, Nadia Petryk, not discourage its faithful membership Borys Zacharczuk, Andrea Zharovsky and from attending the meeting held in the Ihor Bilinsky. Members of the board repre- Alexander B. Chernyk Gallery. sent a cross-section of the Ukrainian com- During registration before the meeting, munity and are dedicated to the center. Two copies of the Annual Report were available board members decided not to run for for review. reelection: Tatiana Husar and Marusia President Borys Pawluk commenced the Shwed. In their place two more candidates October 31 meeting at 2:15 p.m. after a quo- were placed on the ballot for consideration rum was determined. A moment of silence each supported by three members of the honored the memories of three newly UECC. They were Irina Galai, technical departed individuals who contributed Ukrainian editor of America, and Olha much to UECC: Iwanka Lucyszyn, Maria Kostiv, director of the Ukrainian Heritage Olijnyk and Melanie Sarachman. School at the Center. All nine candidates Using a PowerPoint presentation, Mr. were overwhelming approved by the mem- Pawluk, finishing his fifth year as president, Andrea Zharovsky bership at the end of the meeting. reviewed the UECC’s activities and accom- Natalia Griga reads the minutes from last year’s annual meeting. The By-Laws Committee, chaired by plishments, as well as the finances from the attorney Roman Petyk, submitted six pro- past year. The highlights included both the Mr. Pawluk spoke of the work of the kitchen remodel are currently on hold. posals to amend UECC’s By-Laws subject to gala banquet and the dedication of the audi- Administrative Sector (Luba Kalyta, chair), As regards the Communication Sector approval by the membership. torium as the Borys Zacharczuk Grand Hall which takes care of the management of (chaired by Andrea Zharovsky), Mr. Pawluk The proposals that were approved includ- held on September 25 and the publication UECC, employee relations, personnel and gave a few highlights from the work done in ed specifying that the UECC is focused on the of a 442-page commemorative book cele- information technology systems, and the this sector: the committee redesigned and Greater Philadelphia area; provided for brating UECC’s 30th anniversary. Financial Sector (Sophia Koropeckyj, chair). maintained the UECC website (www.uec- announcement and public posting of voting Mr. Pawluk lauded the board of directors, He explained that the main source of cphila.org), prepared graphic design sup- results at annual meetings and also for secret Executive Director Marko Tarnawsky, Office funding for the UECC is from contracts with port for Ukrainian events, and created ballots when requested by one or more Administrator Ivanna Biletska, newly hired organizations, single-usage events, contri- PowerPoint presentations for meetings and members; renamed the Planning Committee office assistant Yuliya Tkachenko, Building butions/donations, fund-raising events, other projects. the Strategic Planning Committee, requiring Superintendent Nestor Tomalischak and joint sponsorships with other organiza- The UECC’s radio program airs on the committee to review strategic plans at the five members of the building staff. He tions, radio ads and grants. WWDB-AM 860, the Multicultural Voice of least once a year; allowed the Nomination also acclaimed the 16 Ukrainian community In addition, he said that $73,000 was the Delaware Valley, www.wwdbam.com Committee, if it so chooses, to submit a list of organizations that are the backbone of the raised from the phonothon campaign and every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. It has nominees for directors that exceeds the center and the four non-Ukrainian renters “koliada” efforts. A very generous bequeath- generated and aired 52 one-hour programs. number of vacancies. that help provide needed revenue. al came from the estate of Dr. Yuri Rybak for Plans are being considered to add an Laryssa Krywusha, chair of the Lubomyr Pyrih, chair of the Strategic $70,000. Donations also came on the occa- English-language segment to the program. Nominating Committee, gave the list of can- Planning/Capital Campaign Committee, sion of the 30th anniversary from the Mr. Pawluk congratulated the Program didates from the community for next year’s outlined the seven plans of action devel- Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union Sector (Natalka Firko and Nadia Petryk, Nominating Committee: Ivan Yaworsky, oped by board members Yurko Danyliw, for $50,000 and $30,000 from Borys and chairs) for conducting 16 events this year, Walter Maruschak and Halyna Keller. Four Natalka Firko, Sophia Koropeckyj, Lesia Dzvinka Zacharczuk. which raised more than $30,000 for the more members from the Board of Directors Nowak, Mr. Pawluk, Petrusia Sawchak and Mr. Pawluk continued saying that the center. The events appealed to different will be added to the committee, at the next Borys Zacharczuk, as well as Mr. Tarnawsky, Building Sector (Roman Cyhan, chair) was interests and for all ages. Board meeting. executive director. The plan includes pro- very busy this year with repairing the gal- In conclusion, Mr. Pawluk thanked every- The following individuals were nominat- grams to improve social services for new lery roof, remodeling rooms 100 and 119, one for their generosity in time and contri- ed for the 2012 Election Committee: Wasyl immigrants, expand senior programs, refinishing the main hall floor, changing the butions to the UECC and all the organiza- Panczak, Bohdan Mizak and Vera improve relations with new immigrants, heating system, improving the HVAC system tions for their support. He emphasized, “We Andryczyk. All candidates for both commit- develop cultural outreach projects with the and other maintenance work. He also need to work together as a unified tees were approved. general public, establish a café, plan youth reported that plans for a handicap lift or ele- Ukrainian community. Your participation After the election, the membership programs (dances, parties, etc.) and form a vator are still being considered once enough and fund-raising efforts are the key to the enjoyed a reception complete with canapés, Capital Campaign Committee to raise funds. funds for it are raised. Plans for an office and growth of our community.” sweets and coffee.

UECC re-elects president and elects new executive board JENKINTOWN, Pa. – The board of direc- tors of the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center, in keeping with its By-Laws, met and elected its new executive board on November 7. The 2011-2012 UECC board unani- mously re-elected Borys Pawluk to a sixth term as president and chief executive offi- cer of the corporation. Also elected unani- mously were the following officers: Secretary Natalia Griga, Treasurer Sophia Koropeckyj, Vice-President of the Administration Sector Lubomyra Kalyta, Vice-President of the Marketing and Communication Sector Andrea Zharovsky, Vice-President of the Finance Sector Sophia Koropeckyj, Vice-President of the Programs and Events Sector Natalie Firko and Vice-President of the Property and Utilization Sector Roman Cyhan. The Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center, founded in 1980, is a non-profit orga- nization whose objective is to preserve and promote awareness of the Ukrainian heri- tage throughout the Philadelphia communi- ty. The UECC is located at 700 Cedar Road in Jenkintown, PA 19046 and can be reached at The new executive committee of the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (from left): Lubomyra Kalyta, Natalka 215-663-1166 or [email protected]. Its Firko, Borys Pawluk (president and CEO), Sophia Koropeckyj, Mark Tarnawsky (executive director), Natalia Griga and website is at www.ueccphila.org. Andrea Zharovsky. No. 47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 19

occupation regime. Archives reveal... Mr. Krutsyk went on to mention that the Ukrainian nation’s liberation struggles (Continued from page 1) did not end, but were transformed into Freedoms for Ukraine, read Mr. Krutsyk’s guerrilla warfare. The mass scale of the remarks in English, opening with the com- clandestine struggle against the Soviet pelling assertion that, after the re-estab- occupiers is revealed in the criminal cases lishment of independence in 1991, Ukraine that were discovered in SBU archives began its new life without a political histo- located in various oblasts of Ukraine and ry. Elaborating on this thought, he exposed the fact that a “total of 642 clan- explained that generations of Ukraine’s citi- destine organizations and their centers zens had been raised on a history that was operated throughout Ukraine.” written by their occupiers and that most Moreover, practically every armed archival materials pertaining to Ukraine’s uprising – from 1918 to 1924, 155 upris- resistance to Soviet occupation were ings took place, and between1928 and banned and marked “secret.” 1932, 113 armed uprisings were recorded It wasn’t until 1991, when Ukraine’s (this is not a definitive figure as the search Parliament passed a law “On the for new documentation continues) – Rehabilitation of Victims of Political resulted in the destruction of Bolshevik Repressions,” that democratic members of administrations and the creation of self- the Verkhovna Rada frequently began to ruling bodies. Often, territories newly lib- raise the question of recognizing the erated from Bolshevik rule were pro- Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists claimed as separate, local republics. In (OUN) and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army many cases, the peasant rebels called their (UPA) as World War II combatants. elected self-ruling bodies temporary gov- Although some research in the early ernments. years of Ukraine’s independence was Memorial’s research proves that, after accomplished, Mr. Krutsyk credits former various punitive actions, the first President Viktor Yushchenko and espe- Holodomor of 1921-1922, and Lenin’s cially the former head of the Service of introduction of the New Economic Policy, Ukraine (SBU), Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, known as the NEP, armed uprisings in the for declassifying documents and providing period from 1924 to 1927 practically access to the archival material. ceased. The armed resistance movement Over a two-year period, from 2008 to resumed with an extraordinarily high 2010, Mr. Krutsyk was able to study more incidence of spontaneous peasant pro- than 1,300 archival files from approxi- tests in 1928, following the Soviet govern- mately 350 collections held in state oblast ment’s announcement of total collectiv- archives and branch archives of the SBU in ization. 18 regions of Ukraine. This resistance greatly alarmed the Reviewing these documents convinced Communist leaders in Moscow, who Mr. Krutsyk and memorial’s researchers feared they might lose Ukraine, and that the armed national liberation move- sparked Vsevolod Balitsky, the head of the ment in eastern Ukraine was proportion- OGPU in Ukraine, to report to Stalin on ally just as large and widespread as the December 23, 1932, about the escalating activities of the OUN and the UPA. resistance among Ukrainians and about “These materials definitively reveal an the preparations for a nationwide interpretation of the struggle for state Ukrainian uprising by “Petliurites.” Five independence, known as the civil war, days later, on December 28, 1932, Stalin which absolutely differs from the official sent Balitsky’s memorandum, together Soviet interpretation of this process,” Mr. with his own accompanying letter, to Krutsyk asserted. every Ukrainian oblast, demanding that Based on the archival material located the state grain deliveries and accompany- in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Mr. ing repressions be intensified. Krutsyk resolutely refuted the Soviet myth On January 1, 1933, Stalin sent a per- that Ukraine “voluntarily” joined the sonal telegram of identical content to USSR, stating that “the seizure of Ukraine Stanislav Kosior, who in turn sent a tele- was carried out exclusively by force.” gram on January 2, 1933, ordering the Documents clearly exposed that, fact leading members of raion committees and that because the Bolsheviks were utterly collective farms to adopt all possible mea- mistrustful of the rebellious Ukrainians, sures to fulfill the state grain deliveries, trained cadres from Russian military dis- “including the use of repressions targeting tricts were dispatched to Ukraine to occu- the peasantry.” py positions in military units and military From years of studying government commissariats. archives, Mr. Krutsyk concluded: “The Moreover, if a military formation on the Ukrainians’ resistance to the Communist territory of Ukraine was composed of occupation [in eastern Ukraine] and the Ukrainians, it was quickly disbanded and numerous uprisings, spontaneous pro- replaced by people sent from Russia. In tests and terrorist acts against Communist 1920 even Trotsky declared that the functionaries explain why terror by fam- “Soviet power in Ukraine was able to hold ine was instituted against the Ukrainians. its ground only with the aid of Moscow’s Numerous archival documents and eye- forces, Great Russian Communists of the witness testimonies prove that the Red Army.” Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine was To substantiate this claim, Mr. Krutysk an act of genocide against the Ukrainian revealed that material provisioning of the nation. It was carried out by the Russian occupation was centralized from Moscow, occupiers with the goal of crushing the and in 1918, in the month of November Ukrainian people’s war and breaking their alone, the Council of People’s Commissars resistance to the forcible annexation of of the Russian SFSR allocated 22.5 million Ukraine to Bolshevik Russia.” rubles to the commander-in-chief of the A lively question and answer period fol- Soviet armies in Ukraine. lowed the presentation. The event was By late 1920 Ukraine was occupied by sponsored by the American Conference in a total of 1.2 million Red Army troops Support of Ukraine, Organization for from Soviet Russia; as a result, the annex- Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine, ation of Ukraine was carried out exclu- Women’s Association for Defense of Four sively by forcible rather than legal means. Freedoms for Ukraine, Ukrainian American And it was this Red Army that succeeded Youth Association, Society of Veterans of in crushing the Ukrainian national libera- the UPA, National Tribune and the tion movement and established a harsh Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 No. 47

he totaled in 2006-2007. He’s averaged 41 2002-2003, Woywitka was named to the points in his six NHL seasons. Western Hockey League’s East Division first STEMPNIAK TO FLAMES 1 – Year remaining on his contract. Look All-Star team and the CHL’s third team. The for him to produce in a contract year. same year he won the Bill Hunter Memorial In a significant late summer transaction, about the city, and I really like the team. I’m +4 – His career high plus/minus rating. Trophy, given annually to the WHL’s top the Calgary Flames acquired forward Lee really happy to be joining the team and hav- 199 – Total shots on net with a 9.5 shoot- defenseman. He won a silver medal with Stempniak from the Phoenix Coyotes in ing a successful season.” ing percentage. Team Canada at the 2003 World Junior exchange for forward Daymond Langkow. Feaster traded for Stempniak with the 19 – Penalty minutes. His career high was Championships. “This trade presents us with an opportu- belief the winger can be a top-six forward 40 minutes in 2007-2008. Still on the bubble as training camp came nity to positively impact the organization in for the club and a key offensive contributor. to an end, too many defensemen forced a number of ways,” said Flames General The GM expects his new addition to com- Woywitka signs with Montreal, Montreal to ask for waivers on Woywitka Manager Jay Feaster. “It makes us younger pete for a first- or second-line job during ends up a Ranger with the hope of sending him down to and provides an opportunity to evaluate a training camp. Stempniak confirmed his Mid-August, about a month prior to the Hamilton (AHL) until he was needed back player who may factor into our plans for the intention of earning a key spot and being an opening of NHL training camps, is bargain- with the big club. The short-handed New future. It provides [head coach] Brent offensive force for the Flames. hunting time for free agents looking for a York Rangers claimed him and he was off to [Sutter] with options as Stempniak can play “As a player you want to be counted on. new home. The Montreal Canadiens did Sweden to join his new team on opening either wing and can be used on both the You want to be a guy that is relied upon and some savvy shopping with the signing of night. power play and penalty kill. It also creates a make a difference every night. For me, I veteran defenseman Jeff Woywitka. healthy competition among the forward believe in myself. I want to go in and have a This time of year, free agents have run Spirit sign Jamie Oleksiak group for ice time.” great training camp. I want to be a guy that’s out of options and often are desperate to On July 25, 2011, the Saginaw Spirit of A native of West Seneca, N.Y., Stempniak put in that position and make the most of take a deal most would not have considered the Ontario Hockey League announced the spent the 2010-2011 season with the my opportunity.” a month earlier during July’s free agent fren- signing of Ukrainian defenseman Jamie Phoenix Coyotes where he tallied 19 goals Playing a little over a year in Phoenix was zy. Woywitka settled for a two-way contract Oleksiak. Oleksiak was the Dallas Stars’ first with 19 assists for 38 points and 19 penalty fine, but returning to a major hockey market with the hope of winning a job in Montreal’s round selection (14th overall) in this sum- minutes in 82 games. He was originally is so much finer. training camp. The past two seasons he mer’s NHL Entry Draft. Saginaw had been drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the fifth “You want to play in a place where hock- played on one-way deals with Dallas. recruiting Oleksiak since the team selected round (148th overall) of the 2003 NHL ey matters,” he asserted in his talk with Should he earn an NHL roster spot this him 138th overall in the 2008 OHL draft. Entry Draft. He is scheduled to earn $2.3 Calgary Flames.com. “You love being in a year, Woywitka will earn $650,000, the The 6-foot-7, 240-pound Toronto native million in 2011-2012. market like that. That was one of the things I same amount he received last season. If he played for the NCAA’s Northeastern really enjoyed in Toronto. Being there and plays with the AHL’s (American Hockey University Huskies in 2010-2011, scoring Fresh start in Calgary knowing the whole city cared about hockey. League) Hamilton Bulldogs, he’ll earn four goals and 13 points in 38 games as a On the afternoon of Monday, August 29, I’ve always liked playing in Calgary for that $105,000. freshman. Prior to Northeastern he spent Lee Stempniak had an afternoon dentist reason. There’s a buzz in the city when the The Canadiens see Woywitka as an insur- time in the USHL (United States Hockey appointment. It never crossed his mind he Flames are playing.” ance policy in case either of two defenders League) with both the Chicago Steel and might be traded. Along with the media attention in a returning from knee surgery, Andrei Markov Sioux Falls Stampede. “It was definitely a surprise,” Stempniak major hockey market, there is the pressure and Josh Gorges, is unable to play regularly. Oleksiak’s future at Northeastern came told CalgaryFlames.com. “I saw I missed a to perform. It will be immediate and it will The team’s depth at defense is adequate into question after head coach Greg Cronin call from my agent and my brother called be intense. The first regular season game is with four returning blueliners in P.K. left the school to take an assistant coaching me right after. He said he had heard I had the first day he will be judged by Calgary’s (Pernell Karl) Subban, Hal Gill, Jaroslav position with the Toronto Maple Leafs. been traded to Calgary and he asked if I had hockey world. He’ll be under the micro- Spacek and Yannick Weber. There are also Oleksiak had wanted to wait until heard anything.” scope, but he’s understanding and comfort- prospects Alexei Yemelin and Rafael Diaz, Northeastern hired a new coach before The 28-year-old of Ukrainian descent able with the situation. impressive in European competition, but making a decision. As of late July, the univer- was not sure if the rumor was true, so he “It comes with the territory. I put the unproven in the North American game. sity had not hired a new coach. quickly phoned his agent, who confirmed he most pressure on myself to be successful. I Woywitka, a native of Vermilion, Alberta, Oleksiak has dual U.S. and Canadian citi- had indeed been dealt to the Flames. set high expectations of myself. I don’t really was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in zenship. This season he passed on an invita- Coming off his experience of playing in rely on the outside pressure from fans or the first round (27th overall) at the 2001 tion to the U.S. World Junior Team camp to Toronto, where Canadian hockey media is media to perform, but at the same time, I’m NHL Entry Draft. His NHL career consists of try out for the Canadian World Juniors quite intense, he knew to expect a barrage of thrilled to be playing in a hockey market 251 games with the Dallas Stars and St. squad. He has previous international experi- interview requests when the trade became that is as passionate as Calgary.” Louis Blues, scoring eight goals and 41 ence representing the United States in the official. The procedure at the dentist’s office assists. 2009 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. concluded, it was time to deal with hours of Lee Stempniak: In the 2010-2011 campaign, the 6-foot-3, In early October Dallas announced the telephone calls. the numbers for 2010-2011 225-pounder saw action in 63 games, scor- club had signed Oleksiak to a three-year “I’ve got a few interviews to get through,” 82 – Games played ing two goals with nine assists, 24 penalty entry-level contract. It is expected he will he chuckled on the day of the trade. “I’m 19 – Goals. His career high was in 2009- minutes and a +5 rating. His time on ice was play the 2011-2012 season with Saginaw. really excited. I spoke with Jay Feaster, and 2010, when he scored 28 with the Maple 18 minutes/game and he blocked 97 shots. I’m really excited. I think it’s a great organi- Leafs and Coyotes. He came to the NHL after a brilliant Ihor Stelmach can be reached at zation. I have heard nothing but great things 38 – Points. His career high is 52 which junior career with the Red Deer Rebels. In [email protected].

no progress in Ukraine’s compliance with say that there were promises [to release understood in Europe. Rada votes... fundamental European values, so a declara- Tymoshenko]. But they sent us a clear mes- Answering reporters’ questions about (Continued from page 1) tion that the country will ultimately become sage during several high-level meetings. In the Tymoshenko case, he said: “I have a EU member cannot yet be included in the other words, we formed such expectations... informed that there would be a court of is in poor health, is suffering chronic back Association Agreement. that a way out will be found of the situation appeals meeting, the process of investigat- problems and was unable to sit up when the “We are concerned that the former prime with a trial that fell short of rule-of-law stan- ing other areas of Yulia Tymoshenko’s activ- authorities visited her in prison on minister [Ms. Tymoshenko] and other mem- dards.” ities is going on.” He insisted that there are November 10 to inform her of the latest bers of the government became targets of The EU delegation head said he believed no political grounds in the criminal case charges. selective application of the law aimed at pre- that there is no reason to use the issue of against Ms. Tymoshenko. Ms. Tymoshenko was found guilty on venting them from taking part in political Ukraine’s EU membership prospects as an President Yanukovych admitted that the October 11 of abusing her powers when life. That is the problem,” he said in an inter- obstacle to the completion of the talks on Tymoshenko case is affecting the progress she signed a gas deal with Russia in 2009. view with the Voice of America. the Association Agreement. of Ukraine’s European integration. ”This The opposition leader has denied any Mr. Teixeira said that the prospect of EU “Your president is well aware what an question, of course, is hampering the wrongdoing and said the trial is a vendetta membership could be guaranteed only to Association Agreement means and what European integration of Ukraine now,” he by President Yanukovych. those countries that have made progress in possibilities it opens up for Ukraine, and said, noting that, unfortunately, there are The Verkhovna Rada, which is dominat- observing European values, including the what they have to do to open up the pros- attempts to mix the issues of European inte- ed by Mr. Yanukovych’s Party of the rule of law and a citizen’s right to a fair trial. pect of the EU membership,” he explained. gration and criminal cases against Ms. Regions, on November 15 voted down a “We don’t see it in Ukraine, in particular in The Association Agreement is expected Tymoshenko. proposal to reclassify the abuse of power the case of Mrs. Tymoshenko,” he noted. to be signed at the EU-Ukraine summit “But time goes on and we are unable to offense as a misdemeanor. Only 147 depu- “Her trial was conducted in accordance scheduled to take place in Kyiv on predict today how it will end. Only the court ties out of 438 supported the proposal. with laws written in the days of Stalin and December 19. can give answer to this question,” Mr. The European Union has warned Khrushchev. This does not comply with Meanwhile, President Yanukovych, after Yanukovych told the news media, according Ukraine it may not sign planned bilateral European values. Even the trial itself did meeting on November 15 in Wroclaw, to his press office. deals on political association and free trade not meet our ideas of justice,” the EU Poland, with Polish President Bronislaw if Ms. Tymoshenko remains in jail. envoy said. Komorowski and Federal President of Sources: RFE/RL, The New York Times, The head of the EU delegation to Ukraine, Asked if there were any arrangements Germany Christian Wulff, said any govern- Associated Press, Press Office of President Jose Manuel Pinto Teixeira, said on with Ukrainian leaders about the release of ment interference with the work of courts is Viktor Yanukovych, Voice of America, November 11 that the European Union sees Ms. Tymoshenko, Mr. Teixeira said: “I cannot impossible in Ukraine, and that is well Interfax-Ukraine, BBC Ukrainian Service. No. 47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 21

Interview with patriarch to air on Philadelphia radio station PHILADELPHIA – An interview with able for downloading from the station’s Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the website, www.wwdbam.com. Ukrainian Catholic Church on the occa- WWDB broadcasts weekly Ukrainian sion of his first visit to Philadelphia on programs: “Radio Philadelphia” of the November 11 will be broadcast on Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center Thanksgiving Day, November 24. (Saturdays at 9-10 a.m.), “Ukrainian Youth There will be a special radio broadcast Hour” (noon-1 p.m.) and “Ukrainian in English on Philadelphia radio station Baptist Program” (1-1:30 p.m.) WWDB (860 AM) at 12:30-1 p.m. This The interview with the patriarch is by program will be archived and, after the the production staff of the UECC’s radio broadcast is completed, it will be avail- program.

535B 517 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 No. 47

Christmas Greetings 2011/12 Day of Ukraine in Washington Continue your tradition... to feature Ruslana performance

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PUBLICATION DATES & DEADLINES

Christmas Issue Advertising Publication Date Deadline The Weekly December 18 December 6

http://ruslana.ua/ Ruslana, who will perform in Washington on December 1 at a gala celebrating the The Weekly January 1 December 16 20th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence referendum. WASHINGTON – Ruslana is coming to song is written by Ruslana, O. Ksenofontov Washington to be part of a mega event cele- and V. Debrianskyj and was recorded in San 1/16 page – $30; 1/8 page – $50; 1/4 page – $100; brating the 20th anniversary of Ukraine’s Francisco and Kyiv. It is based on a univer- independence on December 1 – exactly 20 sally popular gypsy tune brandishing its 1/2 page – $200; full page – $400 years after the people of Ukraine over- distinct rebellious spirit. Along with stirring whelmingly voted in a nationwide referen- gypsy guitars, Ruslana recorded dancers dum to peacefully secure their indepen- and step dancers in the studio to render the dence. rhythm of the song through dance sounds. The daylong event will mark the demo- Social commitment has always been an All advertising correspondence, reservations and payments should be directed to Mrs. Maria Oscislawski, advertising manager, tel. 973-292-9800, ext. 3040, cratic choice of the people of Ukraine, the affair of the heart for Ruslana. Ruslana has e-mail: [email protected] development of democracy, Ukraine’s con- actively supported the democratic process- tribution to a nuclear free world, regional es in Ukraine, and she was an outspoken Kindly make checks payable to The Ukrainian Weekly or Svoboda, as appropriate. stability and U.S.-Ukraine relations; the role member of the Ukrainian Parliament in Please send payment to The Ukrainian Weekly, or Svoboda, of private business in Ukraine’s economic 2006 and 2007. She has staged numerous P.O. Box 280, 2200 Route 10, Parsippany, NJ 07054 development, the best Corporate Social charity concerts benefiting children’s hos- Responsibility (CSR) practices, and pitals in Kviv, Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk. In Ukraine’s outstanding contribution to the the spring of 2007 Ruslana joined artists arts, sports and entertainment. from 14 different countries in a major char- An evening finale will feature a concert ity tour across Germany, organized by performance by Ukraine’s internationally noted rock vocalist Peter Maffay that per- known, ethnic rock and pop star Ruslana. formed in 15 cities and raised funds to Ruslana won the 2004 Eurovision Song address urgent social issues. Contest – the first person from Ukraine to Ruslana began working with the ever win. She is also known for her humani- Organization for Security and Cooperation tarian work as a UNESCO Goodwill in Europe (OSCE) on the global issue of Ambassador and for her previous service human trafficking in 2006. Shortly thereaf- as a national deputy of the Ukrainian ter, UNICEF appointed her Goodwill Parliament. Ambassador of Ukraine. Ego Works wrote Ruslana has shared her musical vision and produced her song, “Not for Sale,” across the globe – from Siberia to Canada, which became the anthem of a new inter- Iceland to Greece and Turkey and China, national campaign against human traffick- where she performed at the 2008 Olympic ing, initiated by the United Nations Global Games in Beijing. Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking. She earned an endorsement contract, In 2008 a devastating series of floods in becoming a new face of L’Oreal Cosmetics. western Ukraine caused monumental dam- The established music industry power- age to life, property and the infrastructure. house Warner Music took notice by signing Ruslana’s involvement gave urgency for Ruslana to contract as a worldwide record- others to help. At that time, Ruslana came ing artist. to Washington to urge those in the West to Her winning single and subsequent help as well, and the U.S.-Ukraine album “Wild Dances” saw widespread Foundation, Ukrainian Federation of acceptance in over 25 countries. For 97 America, Ukrainian American Coordinating weeks Ruslana dominated 14 different Council and U.S.-Ukraine Business Council charts throughout Europe. In Ukraine coordinated their efforts to provide assis- alone, the album achieved five fold plati- tance. num status, making her the first recording At the December 1 gala, Ruslana will artist to domestically sell 500,000 copies of perform some of her greatest hits, but most an album. noteworthy will be “Land of Beautiful Shortly thereafter Ruslana received the Women” and “Kyiv,” the debut performanc- prestigious World Music Award in Las es of two songs from the upcoming musical, Vegas as the top-selling Ukrainian artist in “Dynamo: A True Musical” by Paul Thorson, the world. Gold Record awards and more the playwright, lyricist and composer. chart successes followed in Belgium (11 Thursday, December 1, has been official- weeks at No. 1) the Czech Republic, Greece ly designated as the “Day of Ukraine” by and many other countries. Mayor Vincent Gray. The “Wild Energy” album contained a The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation and its first for Ruslana – collaboration with organizing committees invite the public to American superstars T-Pain (“Moon of attend the gala at the Omni Shoreham Hotel Dreams”) and Missy Elliott (“The Girl That in Washington. For ticket information read- Rules”) resulting in two dramatic duets. ers may call the foundation at 202-223- Her newest single, “ShaLaLa,” comes 2228 or log on http://www.usukrainegala. from her music video “Master-Class.” The org/tickets/. No. 47 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 23

Through Art exhibit, “Thresholds” by Lydia Bodnar-Balahutrak, November 26 Pushchenya dinner and dance, with music by Rve Hrebliu, December 18 Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, 281-376-6322 or Saskatoon, SK Ukrainian Orthodox Auditorium, 204-652-3178 Spring, TX www.pearlmfa.org November 26 Film screening, “Genocide Revealed” by Yurij Luhovy, November 22 Lecture by Federigo Argentieri, “Has the Orange Regina, SK Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Regina Branch, Ukrainian New York Revolution Failed? An Assessment, Seven Years On,” National Federation Hall, www.yluhovy.com Columbia University, 212-854-4697 or [email protected] November 26 Holodomor commemoration, Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Mississauga, ON Toronto branch, Dormition of the Mother of God Ukrainian November 22 Film screening, “Genocide Reealed” by Yurij Luhovy, Catholic Church, 416-323-4772 or [email protected] Montreal McGill Ukrainian Students’ Club, McGill University, [email protected] November 27 Concert, Kyiv Chamber Choir, Koener Hall – The Royal Toronto Conservatory, www.rcmusic.ca or 416-408-0208 November 24 Concert, Kyiv Chamber Choir, Dominion-Chalmers United Ottawa Church, 877-266-2557 or www.ticketweb.ca November 27 Film screening, “Okradena Zemlya” (Genocide Revealed) Montreal by Yurij Luhovy, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary November 25 Concert, Kyiv Chamber Choir, First United Church, Ukrainian Catholic Church, 514-259-7162 or Waterloo, ON www.ticketweb.ca or 877-266-2557 www.yluhovy.com

November 25 Lecture by Roman Krutsyk, “Stories from the Gulag,” November 28 Presentation by David Kramer, “Independent Ukraine, Winnipeg Oseredok Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Center, Cambridge, MA 1991-2011,” Harvard University, 617-495-4053 204-942-0218 November 28 Film screening, “Genocide Revealed” by Yurij Luhovy, November 25 Morska Zabava, Chornomortsi fraternity – Plast Kingston, ON Queens University Ukrainian Students’ Club, Queens Whippany, NJ Ukrainian Scouting Organization, Ukrainian American University, www.yluhovy.com Cultural Center of New Jersey, 973-585-7175 November 29 Concert, Kyiv Chamber Choir, St. Bartolomew’s Church, November 25-26 Concert, “Shumka at 50,” featuring the Shumka Dancers, New York 887-266-2557 or www.platinimconcerts.com Toronto Sony Center for the Performing Arts, 855-872-7669 or www.shumka.com/shumka-at-50 November 29 Film screening, “Genocide Revealed” by Yurij Luhovy, Toronto Innis Town Hall, University of Toronto, www.yluhovy.com November 26 Concert, Kyiv Chamber Choir, Cathedral of St. Catherine, St. Catharines, ON www.ticketweb.ca or 877-266-2557 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events November 26 Film screening, “Genocide Revealed” by Yurij Luhovy, advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions North Port, FL Ukrainian Cultural Center, www.yluhovy.com or from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors 941-408-8125 and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 No. 47

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Thursday, November 22 Sunday, December 11 NEW YORK: Please join the Ukrainian MELROSE PARK, Pa.: The Ukrainian Studies Program at Columbia University for American Youth Association cordially invites a lecture titled “Has the Orange Revolution everyone to attend its traditional annual fun- Failed? An Assessment, Seven Years On” by filled Christmas Bazaar and Welcoming of St. Dr. Federigo Argentieri (John Cabot Nicholas in the church hall of Annunciation American University, Rome). Dr. Argentieri Ukrainian Catholic Church at Old York Road is director of the Guarini Institute for Public and Cheltenham Avenue in Melrose Park, Pa. Affairs at John Cabot University and teaches Starting time is 9:30 a.m. Throughout the day, also at Temple University Rome Campus. there will be plenty of delicious food for He studied political science, history and breakfast and lunch, hot and cold drinks, languages at La Sapienza Rome, ELTE games and entertainment for children, a Budapest and Harvard. He has widely pub- “Wheel of Fortune” and “Basket of Cheer” for lished on the contemporary history and adults, many interesting items for sale, includ- politics of Central-Eastern Europe and Italy, ing Christmas cards, traditional Christmas particularly on the Hungarian Revolution of “kutia,” poppyseeds, books and much more. St. 1956 and its Western echoes and effects. Nicholas will pay a visit at 1 p.m. For informa- He also focuses on 20th-21st century tion e-mail [email protected] or call Ukraine and serves on the editorial board George Mykytyn, 609-802-2957. of the journal Holodomor Studies. The lec- Saturday, December 17 ture will take place at noon in Room 1219, International Affairs Building, 420 W. 118th WASHINGTON: The Taras Shevchenko St. This event is free and open to the public. School of Ukrainian Studies will host a For more information contact Dr. Mark Mykolai Show and Holiday Bazaar. Students Andryczyk, 212-854-4697 or ma2634@ will present a Mykolai Program at noon. columbia.edu. Sviatyi Mykolai (St. Nicholas) will then meet with each grade/age group (non-students Friday, December 2 welcome). The Heavenly Office will be open NEW YORK: Maria Sonevytsky, The 9:15-11:45 a.m.; please bring only one item Center for Traditional Music and Dance per child ($2 fee), clearly labeled (child’s full and Yara Arts Group present “Chornobyl name, grade/age). The Bazaar/Bake Sale at Songs Project: Living Culture from a Lost 9:30 a.m. to noon will offer torte slices, fancy World,” village songs from Ukraine per- cookies, kolachi, makivnyky, medivnyky, chil- formed by Ensemble Hilka (New York dren’s sweets, varenyky and vushka (frozen), City), led by music director and song col- books, CDs, gift items. Location: Ukrainian lector Yevhen Yefremov (Ensemble Drevo, Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family, Kyiv), at The Ukrainian Museum, 222 E. 4250 Harewood Road NE, Washington, DC Sixth Stl (between Second and Third ave- 20017. Vendors looking to reserve a table nues). Concert begins at 7 p.m. with should contact Lydia Shevchik, Lydia@evro- reception to follow. Admission is $15 (dis- pashop.com. For information, visit http:// counts for seniors/members). To pur- www.ukieschool.org/events.htm or contact chase tickets in advance go to www.ukrai- Lada Onyshkevych, [email protected] or nianmuseum.org. 410-730-8108.