Inside: l The rhetorical rumble with Russia – page 3 l Voices from Russian-annexed Crimea – page 4 l Our community: Rochester, Woonsocket – page 16

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXXII No. 17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 $1/$2 in Ukraine Biden tells Ukraine’s leaders the U.S. stands with them KYIV – Visiting Kyiv on April 21-22, U.S. you all hoped for two, five, 10, 15 years ago Vice-President Joe Biden told the people of to lay the groundwork for an even more Ukraine they “should have the right to united and more prosperous Ukraine.” choose their own future” and declared the Mr. Biden also touched on energy issues United States’ readiness to assist Ukraine, in his remarks to Ukrainian legislators. “As which he said faces “humiliating threats” you attempt to pursue energy security,” he and “very daunting problems,” in seizing a said, “there’s no reason why you cannot be chance to create national unity. energy secure. …It will take time. It takes “As you all know well, we have a signifi- some difficult decisions, but it’s collectively cant Ukrainian American population,” Mr. within your power and the power of Europe Biden told Ukraine’s national deputies. “We and the United States. And we stand ready stand with you. And it is not just a foreign to assist you in reaching that. Imagine policy judgment, it is a personal – it’s an where you’d be today if you were able to tell emotional commitment, as well, by millions Russia: Keep your gas. It would be a very of Americans.” different world you’d be facing today.” Mr. Biden also told his audiences in Kyiv Speaking that afternoon at a press con- that the U.S. stands ready to help Ukraine’s ference at the Cabinet of Ministers Club, Mr. economy but that that Ukraine must step Biden said of the country’s May 25 election: up efforts to root out abuses within its “This is a chance to make good on the aspi- political system and “fight the cancer of rations of the overwhelming majority of corruption.” Ukrainians east and west and every part of “We want to be your partner and friend,” this country. For a Ukraine that empowers U.S. Embassy Kyiv he told Ukrainian presidential candidates local governance and respects and protects Speaking on April 22, U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden said: “I came here to Kyiv to let you Mr. Prime Minister, and every Ukrainian know that the United States stands with and members of the Verkhovna Rada on different linguistic and cultural traditions, you and is working to support all Ukrainians in seeking a better future. Ukraine is the morning of April 22. but fundamentally holds together as a sin- and must remain one country from Lviv to Kharkiv down to the Black Sea – one Noting that the country is “facing such gle state – united and sovereign.” country, one united Ukraine.” unrest and uncertainty,” Mr. Biden said that He also stated: “We, the United States, “this is a second opportunity to make good stand with you and all the Ukrainian people independence. And at its most basic level, “No nation should threaten its neighbors on the original promise made by the on a Ukraine united. And I’ll say at the top it’s about restoring respect and dignity.” by massing troops along the border,” he Orange Revolution. This is a genuine we do not recognize – we do not recognize “No nation,” the vice-president said, “has continued. “We call on Russia to pull back opportunity to get right what is always dif- – Russia’s actions in the Crimea. But today, the right to simply grab land from another these forces. No nation should stoke insta- ficult to do the first time when coming out as I said, there are some trying to pull nation. No nation has that right. And we bility in its neighbor’s country. We call on from under the oppression or control of Ukraine apart. …There’s been a lot of talk will never recognize Russia’s illegal occupa- Russia to stop supporting men hiding another power.” Referring to the upcoming about geopolitics, about East and West. But tion of Crimea, and neither will the world, behind masks in unmarked uniforms, sow- presidential election, he added, “you have here in Ukraine, people know that it’s about as was demonstrated by the overwhelming ing unrest in eastern Ukraine. And we have an opportunity, a chance to bring about an something much more fundamental. It’s not vote that took place in the Security Council, era of reform and democratic renewal that about geopolitics; it’s about unity. It’s about in the General Assembly.” (Continued on page 15) Insurrections in eastern Ukraine seen as distinct from Euro-Maidan protest by Zenon Zawada the Euro-Maidan, a grassroots movement that drew support from a wide social spec- KYIV – The Russian establishment is trum encompassing all of Ukraine’s regions. going to great lengths to spin the current “It’s a parody of the Maidan,” said Petro armed conflicts in eastern Ukraine as a Oleshchuk, a political science lecturer at movement similar to the Euro-Maidan, Shevchenko National University in Kyiv. with the aim of exposing the Western “Even their collection of Maidan items isn’t world’s hypocrisy in supporting one pro- practical, but merely symbolic. For test while condemning the other. instance, the tires that the separatists have The pro-Russian fighters have mimicked shielded themselves with were used on the the Maidan in building barricades in front of Maidan to create a smokescreen against the captured state buildings, and setting up Berkut [special forces]. Yet they’re making stages and kitchens. They wear masks and barricades out of them because they know camouflage. But unlike the Euro-Maidan, that no one will truly attack them.” which resorted to firearms as a last resort, Among the three murdered this week by these fighters openly carry automatic weap- the pro-Russian militants in the Donetsk ons, using them to attack police stations and Oblast was Horlivka City Councilman military sites to acquire more arms. Volodymyr Rybak, who belonged to the Their particularly violent acts this week Batkivshchyna party and organized the – including the murder of a city council- city’s “For a United Ukraine” protests. His Voice of Donetsk man, kidnapping of foreign journalists and body and that of an unidentified man were The pro-Russian fighters in eastern Ukraine have mimicked the Euro-Maidan by police officers, and repeated calls for using tires to build their barricades, such as these surrounding the Donetsk Oblast found with indications of torture, reported Russian military intervention – have served State Administration. Using them for barricades, instead of creating a smokescreen, is to further discredit any comparisons with evidence they have no fear of being attacked, observers said. (Continued on page 9) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 No. 17

ANALYSIS

NDI: Ukraine on democratic path Relaunch of anti-terrorist operations kidnapped. OSCE Representative on KYIV – Ukraine’s acting President “I remain deeply concerned about the ongo- for May 25 presidential election Oleksandr Turchynov called for the ingFreedom negative of the pattern Media in Dunja relation Mijatović to journal said,- relaunch of anti-terrorist operations against Canadian minister of foreign affairs, and ists’ safety in Ukraine. …I call on all those Significant challenges remain pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, citing Edward “Ted” Kaufman, former U.S. senator responsible to stop harassing and attacking KYIV – Citing the resurgence of civic the death of a politician from his party in the from Delaware. Other members were journalists and let them do their job. Simon pride and political engagement brought region. Mr. Turchynov said in a statement Matyas Eorsi, former member of Ostrovsky should be released immediately.” about by the Euro-Maidan demonstrations, that two “brutally tortured” bodies were Parliament from Hungary and former (RFE/RL, Organization for Security and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) found near the rebel-held city of Sloviansk member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Cooperation in Europe) said that “Ukraine has turned the corner on April 22. One was that of Volodymyr onto a decidedly democratic path” but still the Council of Europe; Nadia Diuk, vice- Rybak, a member of the Batkivshchyna Lavrov says Russia will respond faces an extraordinary set of challenges. president of programs for Europe, Eurasia, party who had been abducted the previous MOSCOW – Russian Foreign Affairs Those were among the findings of an Africa, and Latin America and the week. The president said Mr. Rybak had Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that Russia NDI pre-election mission that issued a Caribbean for the National Endowment for recently been abducted by “terrorists.” He will retaliate if Russian interests are threat- statement on April 11 after a week of Democracy; Andrew Bruce, executive direc- said, “These crimes are being carried out ened in Ukraine. In an interview with state- assessing preparations for the presidential, tor of Electoral Reform International with the full support and indulgence” of controlled RT television on April 23, Mr. parliamentary and local elections sched- Services; Bill Balan, vice-president of Russia. Mr. Turchynov said, “I call on the Lavrov said: “If we are attacked, we would uled for May 25. Those polls, it said, will be finance and administration and chief security agencies to relaunch and carry out certainly respond.” His comments came after the most important in Ukraine since it administrative officer at the University of effective anti-terrorist measures, with the Ukraine’s acting President Oleksandr gained independence from the Soviet Winnipeg; Laura Jewett, NDI regional direc- aim of protecting Ukrainian citizens in the Turchynov ordered the resumption of an Union in 1991. tor for Eurasia; and Catherine Cecil, resi- east from terrorism.” Donetsk Oblast police “anti-terrorist” operation against pro-Rus- “The country’s democracy, integrity and dent director for NDI in Ukraine. said the body of a man who died a violent sian rebels in eastern Ukraine. Mr. sovereignty are at stake. A credible process During an April 7-11 visit to Ukraine, the death had been found and that it resembled Turchynov cited the discovery of two appar- could help build confidence in political delegation held meetings in Kyiv, that of Mr. Rybak, a local counselor in the ently tortured bodies near the rebel-held institutions, promote national reconcilia- Dnipropetrovsk and Lviv with candidates, town of Horlivka, near Donetsk. Police said town of Sloviansk. Mr. Lavrov linked the tion, and reinforce the legitimacy of the parties and campaigns participating in the formal identification would require further announcement of the resumption of the interim government as it seeks to resolve presidential and concurrent local elections work. (RFE/RL) from across the political spectrum; mem- Ukrainian security operation to the April 22 domestic crises and resist grave security visit to Kyiv by U.S. Vice -President Joe Biden, threats,” the delegation said. bers of the Central Election Commission; Journalist held in Sloviansk domestic and international observer who renewed Washington’s support for the “The legal framework, administrative SLOVIANSK, Ukraine – The self-declared groups; members of Parliament; journal- Ukrainian government. He said Moscow capacity and political will currently in place separatist mayor of Sloviansk, Vyacheslav ists; the international and diplomatic com- believes the United States is “running the appear conducive to a democratic process. Ponomaryov confirmed on April 22 that his munities; and civic groups. show” in Ukraine. Mr. Lavrov compared the Yet more will be required for the elections men were holding a journalist. “A journalist The delegation said that a common situation in Ukraine to the brief 2008 war to meet Ukraine’s needs,” NDI said. has been detained as far as I understand,” assumption among those with whom it met between Russia and Georgia, when Russian Among the areas the group cited as Mr. Ponomaryov said. “To be honest I didn’t is that the Russian government is actively forces invaded Georgia in support of pro- requiring attention were enfranchisement have time this morning to solve this prob- seeking to disrupt the elections by provok- Russian South Ossetian separatists. Mr. for Crimeans, electoral security, and con- lem and meet him to talk to him.” He did not ing their suspension or otherwise calling Lavrov said Ukraine is “just one manifesta- structive campaigning. Over the longer name the journalists but other journalists the process into question. tion of the American unwillingness to yield term, reforms related to the media, wom- working in the area said Simon Ostrovsky in the geopolitical fight.” (RFE/RL, Reuters) en’s participation, and campaign and party “It will take concerted efforts from all had been detained by gunmen on April 21 financing are warranted. The statement Ukrainians involved in the elections to and, unlike others taken with him, had not Dzhemilev barred from Crimea offered a number of recommendations on address these obstacles and provide maxi- yet been released. Vice News said on its how to address these issues. mum, feasible participation,” the delegation KYIV – Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa website that it was “aware of the situation Dzhemilev has been barred from entering “At the same time,” the statement said, “it said. and is in contact with the U.S. State is incumbent upon all members of the The delegation conducted its activities in Crimea for the next five years. A spokes- Department and other appropriate govern- woman for the Mejlis, the Crimean Tatars’ international community to devote their a nonpartisan manner in accordance with ment authorities to secure the safety and fullest capacities to supporting Ukraine’s applicable law and international standards assembly, said Mr. Dzhemilev was informed security of our friend and colleague, Simon he was persona non grata until 2019 as he democratic aspirations and unambiguously for election monitoring set forth in the Ostrovsky.” Mr. Ostrovsky has been covering rejecting external efforts to thwart the pro- Declaration of Principles for International crossed to mainland Ukraine early on April the crisis in Ukraine for weeks. His last post- 22. The order came three days after he was cess – through the May elections and well Election Observation. ing on Twitter was on April 21, when he beyond.” NDI will field a short-term observation briefly detained at a checkpoint while covered an earlier press conference by Mr. entering Crimea. Mr. Dzhemilev has The NDI delegation was co-led by Lloyd mission for the polls on May 25. Ponomaryov. The U.S. State Department accused Crimea’s new pro-Russian govern- Axworthy, president and vice-chancellor of The missions are funded by the U.S. said on April 23 that it was “deeply con- the University of Winnipeg and former Agency for International Development. cerned” by reports that Ostrovsky had been (Continued on page 12)

Photos link Yanukovych’s The Ukrainian Weekly FOUNDED 1933 An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., troops to Maidan massacre a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. by Natalya Golitsina arm themselves with snipers’ rifles and Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. RFE/RL modified Kalashnikovs. Mr. Dettmer, who spoke recently to RFE/ (ISSN — 0273-9348) A U.S. journalist says photographs pub- RL’s Russian service, said the photos show The Weekly: UNA: lished on March 30 alongside his investiga- a pro-Yanukovych Ukrainian Special Forces Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 tive report in the online U.S. news magazine unit known as the Alfa Team. The Daily Beast “appear to reveal the truth” “We are not saying we can prove that Postmaster, send address changes to: about who shot dead 53 anti-government those guys in the photographs pulled the The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz protesters at Kyiv’s Independence Square triggers,” Mr. Dettmer said. “What is pretty 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas on February 20. clear is that there is an a priori facie case P.O. Box 280 Jamie Dettmer says the photographs there – that you have trained anti-terrorist Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] suggest the killers were ousted President people, some who’ve been trained as snip- The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com Viktor Yanukovych’s own security forces – ers, locking and loading up before the not a foreign-backed opposition faction or shooting starts up in the Maidan on nationalist elements among demonstra- February 20.” The Ukrainian Weekly, April 27, 2014, No. 17, Vol. LXXXII tors, as Mr. Yanukovych’s ousted regime Meanwhile, in further evidence of a link, Copyright © 2014 The Ukrainian Weekly and the Kremlin have claimed. RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service on February 20 The photographs were taken in a court- recorded video of masked troops with the yard of the headquarters of the Security same uniforms and yellow armbands aim- ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA Service of Ukraine, the SBU, shortly before ing the same tripod-mounted sniper’s rifles snipers began firing on demonstrators just Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 and firing the same type of modified and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 three blocks away. Kalashnikovs at Maidan protesters. e-mail: [email protected] Some troops photographed within SBU The Maidan massacre is now part of a Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 headquarters are wearing dark uniforms e-mail: [email protected] and yellow identification arm bands as they (Continued on page 3) No. 17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 3 U.S. takes off the gloves in rhetorical rumble with Russia by Carl Schreck ties in 2013 – including over issues like the zation of Ukraine,” as well as what it Washington has primarily been driven by RFE/RL U.S. Magnitsky Act sanctions, the bloody describes as an additional 10 “false claims“ the extraordinary events in Ukraine, whose civil war in Syria and Russia’s decision to by Russia about Ukraine. implications are seen by U.S. officials as The U.S. administration has ratcheted up grant asylum to fugitive U.S. intelligence A March 5 State Department statement having far more profound and unpredict- the rhetoric as it wrestles with Russia over analyst Edward Snowden – did not spark accused Russia of spinning a “false narra- able reach than other bilateral disputes in mounting tensions in Ukraine, engaging the the type of coordinated, multi-layered tive to justify its illegal actions in Ukraine” recent years, says Steven Pifer, a former U.S. Kremlin in the kind of confrontational and information crusade from Washington like and accused Russian President Vladimir ambassador to Ukraine. caustic war of words it largely eschewed the one it’s waging in response to the Putin of disseminating myths about the cri- “It’s the Russians doing things that the during U.S. President Barack Obama’s first Ukraine crisis. sis. “The world has not seen such startling administration views – correctly in my view five years in office. U.S. officials continued that offensive this Russian fiction since Dostoyevsky wrote, – as a fundamental violation of the rules of From a campaign to debunk Russian week amid the seizure of government ‘The formula “two times two equals five” is the post-World War II order,” Ambassador claims point by point, to social-media dust- buildings in eastern Ukraine by armed pro- not without its attractions,’” the March 5 Pifer says. “One of the key rules was: ‘You ups teetering on the edge of “flame wars,” Russia forces, developments in which statement read. don’t use military force to take the territo- the media blitz contrasts sharply with Moscow has denied involvement. Senior U.S. officials, including Samantha ries of other countries,’ which is exactly Washington’s public diplomacy under “Russia claims the situation in Ukraine Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United what the Russians did in Crimea.” President Obama’s “reset” policy with risks spiraling into civil war. What is going Nations, and Daniel Baer, Mr. Obama’s Russia has defended last month’s annex- Moscow during his first term. on wouldn’t be happening without Russian envoy to the Organization for Security and ation as an expression of the will of the “There’s certainly a change in tone, but provocateurs,” the U.S. State Department Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), have but- people in Crimea, home to an ethnic-Rus- there’s also a change in tone... on the wrote on its Twitter feed on April 13. ​​ tressed this campaign on their individual sian majority, and likened it to Kosovo’s Russian side as well. It takes two to play at Twitter feeds. 2008 declaration of independence, which Two times two equals five this game,” a former U.S. official who On his Twitter feed, Mr. Baer accused Western countries backed and Russia worked closely with the Obama adminis- Earlier that day, the State Department Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on opposed. The United States and NATO have tration on its reset policy says. issued separate statements laying out its April 14 of attempting to co-opt a U.S. publicly dismissed the analogy as a false Even a severe deterioration in bilateral “evidence of Russian support for destabili- request last week for an emergency meet- comparison. ing of the OSCE Permanent Council to dis- The ramp-up in U.S. rhetoric over Ukraine cuss what he described as Russian “crimes” has been accompanied by sanctions against clean shots to the head or neck – forensic in and around Ukraine. ​In a statement dozens of Ukrainian and Russian officials Photos link... evidence Mr. Dettmer describes as “telltale delivered to the OSCE Permanent Council and businesspeople, many of whom are the same day, Mr. Baer accused Russia of widely believed to be close to Mr. Putin. (Continued from page 2) wounds inflicted by expert marksmen.” Earlier this month, a phone call between “disrespecting” the international communi- But some critics in Washington say the propaganda war. The Kremlin claims pro- the European Union’s foreign affairs chief, ty and Russian citizens with “its continuing Obama administration is failing to back up test leaders themselves or U.S. spies engi- Catherine Ashton, and Estonian Foreign campaign of lies.” its tough talk. “My hero Teddy Roosevelt used to say neered the killings. Affairs Minister Urmas Paet was released A new team Russia’s state-controlled media and its in which the pair discussed rumors that the talk softly and carry a big stick. What you’re U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, have snipers may have been hired by Euro- Even before mass protests erupted in doing is talking strongly and carrying a very claimed the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv was maidan leaders. Ukraine in late November 2013, some in small sick. In fact, a twig,” Sen. McCain, an involved. Mr. Dettmer tracked down Olha Washington saw several personnel changes Arizona Republican and a relentless Putin Oleksandr Yakymenko, who served as Bohomolets, the Maidan doctor Mr. Paet in the Obama administration as portending critic, told Secretary of State John Kerry at SBU chief under President Yanukovych, has quoted to support claims. a shift away from reset-era realpolitik and an April 8 Senate hearing. claimed the snipers were protesters. Dr. Bohomolets told the reporter that toward a tougher line with Moscow. Secretary Kerry later replied by refer- Mr. Dettmer said those claims aren’t Mr. Paet must have misunderstood her These included the appointment of encing another piece of wisdom from the supported. amid the chaos because she only saw snip- Victoria Nuland as U.S. assistant secretary 26th U.S. president. “Your friend, Teddy “They’ve got to provide evidence. At the ers killing protesters. of state for European and Eurasian affairs, Roosevelt, also said that the credit belongs moment, they’re just shooting their mouths Ukraine’s interim government is to whose candidacy was backed by foreign- to the people who are in the arena who are off without providing any documentary evi- release a preliminary report on its investi- policy hawks John McCain and Lindsey trying to get things done,” he told Sen. dence, without providing any photographic gation. But with the SBU involved, Dr. Graham, Republican senators who have McCain at the hearing. “And we are trying evidence,” Mr. Dettmer said. “We do know Bohomolets says she fears the findings will accused President Obama of glad-handing to get something done. That is a Teddy that one or two protesters did have rifles be flawed. the Kremlin. Roosevelt maxim, and I abide by it.” that day. But they’re not responsible for gun- Ms. Nuland, who was confirmed by the ning down at least 53 protesters. We have a RFE/RL correspondent Ron Synovitz con- Senate in September 2013, has been a prom- Copyright 2014, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted tremendous amount of evidence from tributed to this report from Prague. inent face and voice at the front line of with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ British forensic experts who looked at the Copyright 2014, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted Washington’s support for the Ukrainian gov- Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, site and found where the most likely posi- with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ ernment in Kyiv and for opponents of ousted Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see tions of the firing had occurred. And they Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. http://www.rferl.org/content/us-russia- had occurred in buildings that were under Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see But the rhetorical sea change in rhetorical-rumble-ukraine/25333785.html). government control. Not the protesters.” http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-snip- Many of Maidan’s victims were killed by ers-sbu-photos-video/25318776.html).

Quotable notes 23 candidates to run “… After the Anschluss of Crimea, Putin had three options. He could invade all or for president of Ukraine parts of Ukraine, or hope that pro-Russian demonstrators would flood Ukraine’s Ukrinform Tiahnybok, Ukrainian People’s Party leader streets and assert their ‘people power.’ The first option has not been pursued, per- Oleksandr Klymenko and Radical Party haps because it’s too risky. The second failed, as the vast majority of Ukraine’s south- KYIV – The Central Election Commission leader Oleh Liashko. eastern citizens have remained indifferent or opposed to unification with Russia. (CEC) has completed the registration of Self-nominees are: former First Deputy That left Putin with one remaining option: terrorism. candidates for president of Ukraine. Procurator General Renat Kuzmin, National “…There is overwhelming evidence of Russia’s direct and indirect involvement in The commission received 46 applica- Deputies Petro Poroshenko, Sergey Tigipko the violence that rocked several eastern Ukrainian cities on April 12-13. Russian tions from those wishing to run for the and Oleh Tsariov, former Deputy Prime intelligence agents and spetsnaz special forces are directly involved; the weapons country’s top post, but rejected half of Minister Yuriy Boiko, former Chairman of and uniforms worn by the terrorists are of Russian origin (a point made by the U.S. them. The most common reasons for refus- Kharkiv Regional State Administration ambassador to Kyiv, Geoffrey Pyatt); and the assaults on government buildings in al of registration were non-compliance of Mykhailo Dobkin, head of the All-Ukrainian Sloviansk, Mariupol, Makiyivka, Kharkiv, Yenakievo, Druzhkivka, Horlivka, Krasnyi the documents submitted with election Jewish Congress Vadym Rabinovych, for- Lyman and Kramatorsk were clearly coordinated by Russian intelligence. … laws and the failure to submit a 2.5 million mer head of the Foreign Intelligence “In light of Russia’s direct and indirect promotion of international terrorism in hrv monetary deposit, an Ukrinform corre- Service Mykola Malomuzh, former Social eastern Ukraine, Russia obviously qualifies as a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ and, after spondent reported on April 4. Policy Minister Natalia Korolevska, former formally being declared as such, must be immediately subjected to the sanctions the Thus, 23 candidates will participate in Head of the Anti-Monopoly Committee of United States is legally bound to impose on state sponsors of terrorism. (Naturally the presidential race, including seven nom- Ukraine Vasyl Tsushko, Right Sector leader the EU should follow suit.)… inated by political parties and 16 indepen- Dmytro Yarosh, physician and social activ- “That list [which includes Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria] should now consist of five dent candidates. ist Olha Bohomolets, politician Zorian rogue countries — unless, of course, both Washington and Brussels prefer to supple- The candidates nominated by their politi- Shkiriak, former National Deputy Valeriy ment their weak-kneed response to Putin’s violation of international norms with an cal parties are: People’s Movement of Ukraine Konovaliuk, Interagroexport CEO implicit endorsement of terrorism.” leader Vasyl Kuibida, Communist Party leader Volodymyr Saranov and Kharkiv business- Petro Symonenko, Batkivshchyna leader Yulia man Andriy Hrynenko. – Alexander J. Motyl, writing on April 14 in “Putin’s Russia as a State Sponsor of Tymoshenko, Civil Position Party leader The presidential elections are scheduled Terrorism,” on his blog “Ukraine’s Orange Blues” on the World Affairs website. Anatoliy Grytsenko, Svoboda leader Oleh for May 25. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 No. 17

Crimea’s residents Crimea’s UOC-KP threatened The estimated 220,000 Crimean residents loyal to the churches and had sometimes been accompanied by Russian express concern Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate feel marginal- soldiers to enforce their message. Moscow has also alleged ized even further because of the region’s pro-Russian sympa- that UOC-MP worshippers in Ukraine are under similar threat Below are the personal accounts of Crimean thies. The UOC-KP faithful in Crimea are served by 15 priests from Kyiv, and said would protect its nationals and Russian residents that were collected by Razom For in 20 churches, with its headquarters in Symferopol. speakers. Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Ukraine, a non-profit organization based in “The families of our clerics have all left, the clerics are still Church, which includes the UOC-MP, has close ties to President New York. The testimonies were posted in here but they will also leave immediately if forced to take a Vladimir Putin. March, prior to the “referendum” that de facto Russian passport.” Metropolitan-Archbishop Kliment told Patriarch Filaret of the UOC-KP said that Crimea’s new annexed Crimea to Russia. Readers seeking Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location. “Our Russia-backed authorities had offered written assurances that more information can contact olya@ churches could be thrown out onto the street today or tomor- his community would be left in peace. “But it’s hard to believe razomforukraine.org. row because we are not in line with Russian laws,” said the promises at the moment – they promise one thing and then do metropolitan, who said that he had already left Crimea himself something else, so if they don’t fulfill their promises we will Marina, 44, from Sevastopol, is a Russian due to safety concerns. take the Crimean Muslims up on their offer.” who works for the Crimean branch of a The metropolitan said the Patriarchate’s only church in Crimean Tatars, in an unusual inter-faith gesture of solidari- Ukrainian company. She is married to a Sevastopol was now effectively shut because it sits on a mili- ty, offered to allow Kyiv-loyal Orthodox Christians to hold ser- Ukrainian and her daughter studies in tary base now controlled by Russians “who don’t even let the vices in their mosques. The 300,000-strong Tatars, who make Dnipropetrovsk. Marina says she is puzzled priests in at times, not to mention anybody else.” up approximately 15 percent of the peninsula’s population of 2 and feeling lost. Her daughter is definitely Those loyal to Kyiv have said that clerics serving under the million, and who have experienced Soviet oppression and staying in Ukraine. Her husband is very ner- Moscow Patriarchate have sought to take over Kyiv-loyal forced exile, called for “ethnic and territorial autonomy.” vous about the Russian aggression. Even though Russian, she wishes Crimea to remain a part of Ukraine, because so many ties are at risk, just in her family alone. Dzhemilev banned from Crimea Mikhail, 32, is a Russian man, married to a On Sunday, April 20, Mustafa Dzhemilev, former head of the now after occupying our territory?” he rhetorically asks. Russian woman; both are converts to Islam. Mejlis who now represents Crimean Tatars in Ukraine’s If Mr. Putin genuinely wished to demonstrate that the Their parents live in Sevastopol, while they Parliament, and Refat Chubarov, current head of the Mejlis, Crimean Tatars have nothing to fear under Russian rule, Mr. were detained at the border into Crimea by men with rifles Dzhemilev noted, he should have organized proper legislation migrated to Ukraine’s mainland. They are who initially claimed that the two individuals were declared recognizing the Crimean Tatars as an indigenous people and afraid of potential persecution of practicing personae non-gratae. After receiving a warm welcome en setting out real guarantees for their rights. Inserting a puppet Muslims, who are easily identified and com- route, Mr. Dzhemilev ordered that the Ukrainian flag be rein- government who use thugs prepared to beat up women to pull monly treated as terrorists in Russia. They fear stated above the Mejlis, located in Symferopol. down a flag, introduce repressive measures and ban Crimean that the Russian authorities will ignore the fact This led to a visit to the Mejlis by the local police, who Tatars from their homeland is a rotten way to begin. that different religious groups have co-existed demanded that the Ukrainian flag be removed since it could On April 22 Mr. Chubarov said that reports on Ukrainian peacefully in Crimea for decades. cause a “provocation and attack on the building.” websites that he had been seeking a Russian passport were a Usein, 26, is a Crimean Tatar and entrepre- On April 21 three female employees – Lilia Muslimova, “canard.” That same day, Mr. Dzhemilev was reportedly hand- ed a document as he and Aslan Omer Kirimli, deputy head of neur whose main income source is the flow of press secretary, Marlena Seitasanova, chief accountant of the the Mejlis, left the Crimea for Kyiv. The document is said to call tourists in the summer. He is the only bread- Crimea Foundation, an NGO that owns the building, and Mr. Dzhemilev a “foreign national,” and a citizen of Ukraine winner in his family and feels absolutely dev- Zodiya Saliyeva, concierge – of the Mejlis (the Tatar Council) and bans him from entering the Russian Federation up until astated, since his only income source is under were attacked by 40 men of the so-called Crimean self- defense, who were dressed in camouflage, as reported by April 19, 2019. Mr. Dzhemlev called it an indicator of the kind major risk. He is thinking of emigrating, but Mejlis officials. The attackers did not identify themselves as of “civilized” country we are dealing with, adding that he will there is no ready option for him. they removed the Ukrainian flag from the building. come to Crimea regardless of any bans. Arsen, 30, is a graduate of the London After visiting the Crimean peninsula – the first time since On April 23 Yuriy Zvyagintsev, deputy chief of the Russian School of Economics, who after working four the Russian invasion – Mr. Dzhemilev was banned from enter- Migration Service’s temporary unit in Crimea, denied that Mr. Dzhemilev had been barred from entering Crimea, saying that years abroad, returned to Crimea a year ago ing Crimea until 2019. Mr. Dzhemilev said that Crimea’s new the unit had never issued such a document to Mr. Dzhemilev. and started an advertising and marketing con- pro-Russian government is overseeing a campaign of repres- Sergei Tsekov, a Russian lawmaker who represents the sultancy. For the time being, he has closed the sion against Tatars since the peninsula was annexed by Russia newly annexed Crimea in Russia’s Federation Council, also office, as the real economy is frozen. Arsen says last month. Many Crimean Tatars, he added, had already lost rejected reports of a ban on Mr. Dzhemliev, calling them “lies.” he feels discouraged to do anything in Crimea their jobs after they refused to apply for Russian passports. Mr. Dzhemilev, in speaking with ru.Krymr.com, called Sergei Aksyonov, Crimea’s Moscow-appointed puppet leader, in the future, if Russia seizes it. If Russia vio- said that Mr. Dzhemilev was always welcome in Crimea – but lates international law, it is unlikely to respect President Putin’s April 21 decree on the “rehabilitation of the Crimean Tatar population and other ethnic groups of Crimea only if he comes with “good intentions.” those individual rights he enjoyed in Ukraine. who suffered from repression,” a political step at strengthen- Mr. Dzhemilev, speaking in Kyiv, said, “Russian FSB [Federal Arsen sees his fellow university graduates in ing Russian policy in the Crimea. He said that the Crimean Security Service] officers are present almost officially and Kyiv joining the government and aspiring to Tatars do not need “rehabilitation” from Russia. On the con- openly in Crimea’s mosques, taking note of whose beard is contribute to the nation and state-building trary, Mr. Dzemilev added, Russia should rehabilitate itself for longer, and how religious people are, so that [those more reli- efforts. He wishes he could share their enthusi- the crime committed in the forced exile of Crimean Tatars in gious] are automatically categorized as Islamic radicals.” asm. He feels unsafe and discouraged. 1944 by Stalin. “Why have they decided to issue this decree Sources: RFE/RL, Channel 5 Ukraine, khpg.org, Reuters.

The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund: February 2014 Amount Name City $25.00 Hryb Basilius Hillside NJ Gamota George Lexington MA $140.00 Hrycelak Maria Park Ridge IL Karmazyn Olga Aliquippa PA Jacynicz Lidia North Port FL $100.00 Deychakiwsky Yuriy Kokolskyj Roman Sicklerville NJ Kramarenko Mary East Windsor NJ & Irena North Potomac MD Magera Irene Palatine IL Lysko W. Cranbury NJ Harmaty Anna Chatham NJ Myskiw Peter Phoenix AZ Maciukenas Natalka Portland OR Kocylowska Lapichak Alpine NJ Pokora Vera Pichurko B. & C. Independence OH $70.00 Peleschuk Stefan Stamford CT & Alexander Pickerington OH Rudakewych Arnold Lorton VA $55.00 Orichowskyj Stephan Cherry Hill NJ Samotulka Daria Hillsborough NJ Sagasz Eugene Mt Pocono PA Sochaniwsky Daria Mississauga ON Skalsky Zdanna Gaithersburg MD Semeniuk Olga Scarborough ON $50.00 Gojaniuk Zoryslava Hamilton NJ Sybydlo Bohdan Mississauga ON Zinych Tania & Walter Yardley PA Kucewicz Ihor Wheaton IL Szul Andrij Bellmore NY $5.00 Krawec-Cordasco Daria Bridgewater NJ $45.00 Baran Roxolana Westmount QC Woloszyn Gregory Silecky Taras Cranberry Twp PA Sorobay Roman & Maria Forest Hills NY Skop Sophie La Mesa CA & Chrystyna New York NY $20.00 Boychuk Kalyna Essex Fells NJ Tatchyn Stephania Timonium MD Wawryshyn Michael Toronto ON Chomiak Catherina Clinton Township MI Trendowski Monica Detroit MI Zastawsky Roman Newington CT Kaczmarek Jan Fallston MD $40.00 Blahy Genya Beechhurst NY Kalinowski Alexander Fredericksburg VA TOTAL: $1,825.00 Dykyj Daria Forest Hills NY Kawac Michael Parma OH $35.00 Borregaard Alexandra Millsboro DE Kostiuk T. Silver Spring MD Sincere thanks to all contributors Polansky Larysa Cleveland OH Kernitsky Roman Colts Neck NJ Kowal Igor Concord MA $15.00 Dolinsky Larissa Westfield NJ to The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund. Oharenko Maria Redondo Beach CA Horbachevsky Andrew Yonkers NY Skuza K. Douglas WY Ripeckyj Natalia Eau Clair WI The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund is the only $30.00 Shepelavy Julianne Niskayuna NY Stefanow Peter Worcester MA fund dedicated exclusively to supporting Wolchuk Ihor Wynnewood PA $10.00 Cybyk Andrij Morris Plains NJ the work of this publication. No. 17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 5 Sen. Benjamin Cardin discusses Ukraine crisis with community activists

Ukrainian National Information Service Baltimore Federal Credit Union. appropriately and help Ukraine defend In his opening remarks, Sen. Cardin itself against Russian aggression.” WASHINGTON – Sen. Ben Cardin emphasized the geostrategic importance of Many issues were broached during the (D-Md.), the chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Ukraine and the overwhelming congressio- conversation with the senator, including Commission and a senior member of the nal support that Ukraine has received in its continued humanitarian assistance to Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met efforts to resolve the diplomatic and eco- Ukraine; sanctions against Russia for its with Ukrainian community activists of nomic crises. UNIS Director Michael invasion of Crimea and provocations in Maryland on Monday, April 14, to discuss Sawkiw Jr. opened the dialogue and eastern Ukraine; energy diversification in current challenges facing Ukraine. thanked the senator for his numerous and Ukraine and in the region; and the need to Community activists at the roundtable ongoing efforts and support of Ukrainian support Ukraine’s military with defensive discussion included clergy from the community issues throughout his tenure in capabilities to withstand any future Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox Churches, Congress. onslaught by Russian military forces. officials from the Baltimore-Odesa Sister “While we are mindful of the support According to Sen. Cardin, joint efforts by City Program, as well as representatives Ukraine has received from the United the United States and the European Union from various Ukrainian organizations States government, more should and could are crucial at this stage. However, he added throughout Maryland. Also present at the be done,” stated Mr. Sawkiw. “Ukraine is that more needs to be done to encourage roundtable was Orest Deychakiwsky, policy facing an existential question. And, the the EU to provide stronger resistance to advisor at the U.S. Helsinki Commission United States, as a guarantor of Ukraine’s Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine. “U.S. (Commission on Security and Cooperation sovereignty, territorial integrity and inde- sanctions in response to Russian aggres- in Europe). The event was organized by the pendence per the 1994 Budapest sion in Crimea have strongly affected Ukrainian National Information Service Memorandum of Security Assurances, Russia’s ruling elite,” he stated. “Russia is Sen. Benjamin Cardin (UNIS) and hosted by the Selfreliance infers a greater commitment to assist losing its role in the international commu- nity and because of its actions has been While the senator agrees that non-lethal removed from the G-8.” assistance to Ukraine is appropriate at this A substantial amount of time was spent juncture, U.S. global leadership is “indis- Senators want tougher sanctions on Russia discussing U.S. military support for pensable.” The senator mentioned that the Ukraine, especially in the context of Ukraine to face Russia alone is “uncon- United States and the European Union are RFE/RL Ukraine’s eastern border, where the scionable.” focusing their attention on economic assis- Ukrainian military is not a match for WASHINGTON – Two U.S. Senators Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who is tance to Ukraine while supporting a free amassed Russian forces. The community have called for stricter economic sanc- also a member of the Foreign Relations and transparent presidential election in representatives expressed concern that the tions against Russia because of its desta- Committee, said it is time to “rapidly Ukraine on May 25. Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s bor- bilizing actions in Ukraine. ratchet up our sanctions, whether it’s on In concluding the event, Sen. Cardin der is a blatant attempt to invade the coun- Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), a member of Russian petrochemical companies or expressed his gratitude to the community try and create a security vacuum in the the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Russian banks.” representatives for sharing their recom- region. In that context, Sen. Cardin elabo- said on U.S. television on April 20 that Sen. Murphy said that if Russia is mendations and opinions about U.S. sup- rated on NATO’s role in Eastern Europe. tougher sanctions against the Kremlin allowed to continue acting as it has in port for Ukraine. He pledged to keep work- Stating that “if Russia doesn’t want it, then should include measures against its Ukraine, there is a potential that its next ing hard in the U.S. Senate, along with his we should,” expand NATO’s realm into energy companies, like Gazprom, and its target will be “a NATO ally.” colleagues, to resolve the dramatic events Eastern Europe by providing a banking sector. Based on reporting by the Associated occurring in Ukraine and to continue an Membership Action Plan for Georgia and He said the way the West is leaving Press and NBC TV. open dialogue with the Ukrainian commu- interacting with Ukraine. nity. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 No. 17

WINDOW ON EURASIA The Ukrainian Weekly An agreement in Geneva, Betrayal of Ukraine in Geneva a visit by the U.S. vice-president ‘worse than Munich,’ says Illarionov We’ve got to admit we were skeptical about the agreement reached in Geneva on by Paul Goble Budapest Memorandum, the West by back- April 17 to address the crisis in Ukraine. That same day President Vladimir Putin held ing away from insisting that Russia respect his annual televised call-in show, which this year was a four-hour marathon of lies. What the United States, the European it and Russia by openly violating it – will As Lucian Kim noted in the online magazine Slate: “A vaguely worded agreement to Union and Ukraine itself agreed to in now determine questions of internal policy end the violence, signed by Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the European Union Geneva is “worse than Munich,” because that are the domain of the country’s in Geneva, hadn’t been reached while Putin was still talking. But he made the Kremlin’s Kyiv joined in giving international sanction national authorities. position perfectly clear about Russian speakers in eastern and southern Ukraine: ‘We to actions of the Russian aggressor and Second, the Geneva accord says nothing must help these people defend their rights and decide their future on their own.’ Putin opening the way for the transformation of about the removal from the territory of said he ‘very much hope[s]’ he won’t have to send troops into Ukraine after getting per- the internal arrangements of Ukraine Ukraine of “Russian forces, including the mission to do so from Russia’s upper house of Parliament in March.” (You can read the regardless of what Ukrainians want, special forces of the GRU, FSB, Special text of the Geneva statement on the bottom right of this page.) according to Andrey Illarionov. Operations Forces and others.” The silence President Barack Obama commented on the Geneva talks during an April 17 As bad as the Munich accord of 1938 was of the agreement on that point “de facto” press conference: “I think there is the possibility, the prospect that diplomacy may – and it has long been a synonym for the legalizes their presence; they will certainly de-escalate the situation and we may be able to move towards what has always been appeasement of an aggressor – the Russian remain. our goal, which is let the Ukrainians make their own decisions about their own lives. commentator continues, at least the Third, Mr. Illarionov points out, the doc- … My hope is that we actually do see follow-through over the next several days. But I Czechoslovaks at that time were not forced ument “says nothing about Russian aggres- don’t think given past performance that we can count on that, and we have to be pre- to participate in it and agree to the dismem- sion,” “not a word about the war that has pared to potentially respond to what continue to be efforts of interference by the berment and redesign of their country (ail- been conducted by the Putin regime Russians in eastern and southern Ukraine.” He added, “Over the last week, we have larionov.livejournal.com/675700.html). against Ukraine.” Moscow and perhaps oth- put in place additional consequences that we can impose on the Russians if we do ers will treat that as a legalization and legit- not see actual improvement of the situation on the ground. And we are coordinating And because Czechoslovakia was not imization of Russian aggression, and that, now with our European allies.” invited to Munich, its people considered in turn, may open the way to more of it. Since then, violence has flared up anew in eastern Ukraine. On April 19, the bod- that they had been betrayed. Now, Mr. Fourth, the Geneva agreement says noth- ies of two men – one of them a local political from Horlivka, the other unidentified – Illarionov suggests, Ukrainians must “wake ing about the preservation of the territorial were found near Sloviansk. On April 20, Easter Sunday, at least three people were up” to the horrible reality that they have killed at a checkpoint set up by pro-Russian militants outside of Sloviansk. And the been betrayed not just by the West but by integrity of Ukraine. Given that Russia has death toll is growing. their own government and are now very already annexed Crimea, Moscow’s viola- To be sure, there was some good news this week, as U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden much on their own. tion of the internationally recognized bor- visited Kyiv on April 21-22. He brought, first of all, moral support, telling the people The accord shows that “Putin has ders of Ukraine has been “legalized” not just of Ukraine: “…the United States stands with you and is working to support all received everything he wanted” or “even by the West but by Kyiv as well. Ukrainians in seeking a better future. Ukraine is and must remain one country from more,” the commentator says, and then Fifth, Mr. Illarionov continues, there is Lviv to Kharkiv down to the Black Sea – one country, one united Ukraine.” And he outlines his reasons for that devastating “not a word” in the document about brought an announcement of $50 million in additional assistance to Ukraine. But we conclusion. Crimea, a shortcoming that Moscow will are afraid that none of this will be enough to stop Mr. Putin’s continuing invasion of First, he says, “Ukraine has de facto see as a legitimization of its annexation. Ukrainian territory. agreed to ‘foreign administration’” because Sixth, the accord’s words about the par- Mr. Biden also called on Russia to “stop supporting men hiding behind masks in it has agreed that outside forces, the West ticipation of Ukraine’s regions in the consti- unmarked uniforms, sowing unrest in eastern Ukraine.” He underscored that “It’s and Russia – even though both have failed tutional development of the country in time for Russia to stop talking and start acting – act on the commitments they made. to fulfill their obligations under the effect “gives a legal basis for the separatists And we have been clear that more provocative behavior by Russia will lead to more to block the unitary character of the Ukrainian state.” costs and to greater isolation.” Two days later, April 24, while on an official visit to Paul Goble is a long-time specialist on Japan, President Obama said that Russia, “so far at least,” has not taken measures to Seventh, the accord gives “all the sepa- ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia implement the [Geneva] agreement. He added that if Russia does not fulfill the terms ratists” an amnesty. who has served in various capacities in the of the agreement the U.S. “will ramp up further sanctions.” Eighth, its call for the liberation of all U.S. State Department, the Central Meanwhile, acting President Oleksandr Turchynov said, “The terrorists who effec- buildings and institutions, and the disarm- Intelligence Agency and the International tively took the whole Donetsk region hostage have now gone too far,” underscoring ing of “’self-defense’” forces should have Broadcasting Bureau, as well as at the Voice that “These crimes are being committed with the full support and connivance of the been done anyway, but now those who of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Russian Federation.” Kyiv then renewed its anti-terrorist operation in Ukraine’s east, seized these buildings will walk away Liberty and the Carnegie Endowment for and Russia responded by holding new military drills near the border. While Mr. unpunished and invited to take part in the International Peace. Mr. Goble writes a blog Putin called the operation in eastern Ukraine a “serious crime against their own peo- political process. called “Window on Eurasia” (http://windo- ple,” the European Union said it recognized Ukraine’s right to conduct anti-terrorist Ninth, Mr. Illarionov continues, the operations to protect its sovereignty. woneurasia2.blogspot.com/). This article Clearly, it is time for the United States, and its European allies, to put into effect above is reprinted with permission. (Continued on page 18) those oft-mentioned “additional consequences,” as well as to provide more military assistance to Ukraine. Hoping and talking, talking and hoping are not a plan. FOR THE RECORD

April Turning the pages back... Joint statement on Ukraine Five years ago, on April 27, 2009, the 27 foreign affairs minis- Following is the joint statement released ons, with the exception of those found 27 ters met during the European Union’s annual review of its on April 17 by the United States, the guilty of capital crimes. European Neighborhood Policy. The meeting was chaired by European Union, Russia and Ukraine at the It was agreed that the OSCE Special 2009 Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Karel Schwarzenberg and the conclusion of their meeting in Geneva to dis- Monitoring Mission should play a leading review was unveiled by EU External Relations Commissioner cuss the crisis in Ukraine. role in assisting Ukrainian authorities and Benita Ferrero Waldner. The two leaders noted difficulties, par- local communities in the immediate imple- ticularly in the east, but resolved to push on with initiatives designed to forge closer ties The Geneva meeting on the situation in mentation of these de-escalation measures between the bloc and six eastern neighbors. Ukraine agreed on initial concrete steps to wherever they are needed most, beginning “We believe that sending a strong message to the six partner countries – Ukraine, de-escalate tensions and restore security in the coming days. The U.S., EU and Russia Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan – is very important in the light of for all citizens. commit to support this mission, including recent developments in the region, and that we need to engage with our neighbors more All sides must refrain from any violence, by providing monitors. closely in order to promote good governance, the rule of law and transparency,” Mr. intimidation or provocative actions. The par- The announced constitutional process Scwarzenberg noted. ticipants strongly condemned and rejected will be inclusive, transparent and account- With the EU’s stance on Moldova and Belarus, the countries working closely together all expressions of extremism, racism and reli- able. It will include the immediate estab- advocating for closer EU cooperation, not isolation, were Poland and Germany, while the gious intolerance, including anti-Semitism. lishment of a broad national dialogue, with Netherlands was a lone advocate for a tougher EU stance. All illegal armed groups must be dis- outreach to all of Ukraine’s regions and Poland and Germany also recommended the formation of an EU assistance mission to armed; all illegally seized buildings must be political constituencies, and allow for the Ukraine to facilitate dialogue among all political leaders to address the increasing eco- returned to legitimate owners; all illegally consideration of public comments and pro- nomic and political paralysis facing the country. occupied streets, squares and other public posed amendments. After the meeting, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said that the EU would study places in Ukrainian cities and towns must The participants underlined the impor- ways of stabilizing Ukraine. “After the discussion today, we will will see how we can help be vacated. tance of economic and financial stability in prior to the elections and after the elections, the presidential elections, to see how we can Amnesty will be granted to protesters Ukraine and would be ready to discuss arrange the economic situation and the political situation,” he said. and to those who have left buildings and additional support as the above steps are (Continued on page 16) other public places and surrendered weap- implemented. No. 17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 7

COMMENTARY The things we do ... by Orysia Paszczak Tracz The mutilation of a country

by Lubomyr Luciuk ing out of hibernation. The Kremlin’s carvers have set others on Let us consider the dismemberment, the edge too. Stranded in their only homeland, Stop painting my towels! cutting into pieces, or, better put, the muti- now occupied by racist Russians, Crimea’s lation of a country. Tatars are under real threat, particularly if, Regarding some things Ukrainian, this bearers and a few other mourners were Yelping that Crimea’s Russian majority as seems likely, Ukrainians they have lived headline makes as much sense as some of carrying, I did a double-take. In their hands, was under threat from gangs of rampaging with in peace for decades are forced to the terminology and items in use now. each held a hand towel, a brand new deep “neo-Nazis, nationalists and anti-Semites,” decamp, retiring to regroup into whatever Let’s start with something that every pink or turquoise hand towel. This was spewing out of Kyiv’s Euro-Maidan and remains of Ukraine. Ukrainian kid in North America knows – their “rushnyk.” headed south, Vladimir Putin, the Russian To use politically correct Canadian ter- pysanky are not “painted,” they are written. I thought this was happenstance, a Federation’s president-in-perpetuity, dis- minology, the Crimean Tatars are a “first That is why they are called pysanky (from Ukrainian down-the-rabbit-hole thing patched troops to the “rescue,” so render- nations” people. They have nowhere else to “pysaty,” to write). The designs are written never to occur again. But I was wrong. At a ing a European state. go. And they well remember the ruthless on the eggshell in melted beeswax with a Winnipeg funeral last year of a person To date the “fascists” menacing Russia’s deportation of their nation at Stalin’s com- whose family originated in Bukovyna, I special stylus called a kystka. And then the colonists in Crimea have proven phantas- mand, in May 1944, when some 200,000 came across those terry cloth towels again. written-in-beeswax eggs are placed in jars magorical. Indeed the only folks found giv- men, women and children were exiled, of dye, following the batik/wax-resist pro- These hand towels (at least they were ing the Nazi salute there, while warming many so murdered. Now they find them- cess. There are no paintbrushes or paint cream-colored, not pink and turquoise) their backsides with burnt offerings of selves, yet again, in the Kremlin’s clutches. involved. In some regions there are tradi- were trimmed with sewn-on embroidery- Ukrainian and Jewish books, were the Stalin’s unfinished cultural genocide may tional drapanky, “scratched” pysanky. But style ribbon. I asked what these were, and lumpenproletariat skinheads of the see its final solution under Mr. Putin. Now creatively decorated, painted or carved or the family member reverently said that the Russian Unity movement. Their peculiar there’s a legacy project. decalled eggshells are just that, prettily folks in Bukovyna sent these to be used at choice of evening entertainment hasn’t Geopolitical schemes that segregate decorated eggs. They are not pysanky. The the funeral. Oh, yes, traditional there… And been seen in Europe since April 6, 1933, human beings into minorities versus latter have a symbolic, reverent, most spe- they were used by the pallbearers. It is when Hitler’s Brownshirts “cleansed” the cial meaning and cultural use, and are not scary how a reverent tradition becomes majorities always unchain a certain species Third Reich of “decadent” literature. Mr. to be treated as just a pretty thing. warped based on someone’s misunder- of genie, the kind of demon that insists Putin keeps curious company. It is just so aggravating when otherwise- standing a word or ritual. states must be ethnically homogeneous, as But a question remains: assuming they knowledgeable people use the wrong ter- While I’m at it (you may roll your eyes close to “racially pure” as possible. Political even existed, where did Mr. Putin’s night- minology. There are even some books and now, dear readers), I might as well mention architects favoring such discriminatory mare Nazis disappear to? Did they find museum brochures from Ukraine that have another change. This one is not too bad, but ordering of human territory always come some other land to bogey? Perhaps they the correct term in Ukrainian, but the inept also shows misunderstanding of tradition. around to demanding that whoever “the went north to Estonia, where one-quarter translator uses “painted eggs” in English. The pretty machine-embroidered blouses other” may be in this or that country, all of The other senseless use of a word is the in floral designs (probably manufactured in of the population are Russians, or into them should be excised – by enervation, misuse of “rushnyk.” There are still inno- China) – poppies, sunflowers, and field Latvia, where almost 25 percent constitute expulsion, or worse. Mr. Putin’s delusional cents out there who think that because the flowers, usually on black fabric – are now the demographic leavings of Soviet imperi- dream of reconstituting a “Great Russian” basic translation of rushnyk is towel, the all the rage around the world, wherever alism. For Moscow’s men these minority imperium outside of Europe is built upon English word for the traditional ritual cloth Ukrainian women are. The blouses are a exclaves must appear much more vulnera- just such an atavistic spasm. Of course he used in so many Ukrainian customs is also delight, happy, well-designed, very attrac- ble than their counterparts in Crimea. Will still claims all he is doing is protecting “towel.” No, it is not! I can imagine an tive. But now, for special occasions, they are Russian troops next invade the Baltic innocents against “fascists.” His biggest American or Canadian visualizing a large being worn in place of a “vyshyvanka,” an states? Probably not, most respond, as they problem is he can’t find any, except for his terry cloth towel draped over icons or used embroidered “sorochka.” are in NATO, their political independence, own. in wedding rituals. The non-bath Ukrainian People like innovation, and this is a won- territorial integrity and sovereignty guar- While we wait for Russian ghostbusters rushnyk is a ritual cloth. It is so difficult to derful one, but these new blouses are not anteed by the Alliance. Really? Ask to locate a non-Russian fascist, let’s apply translate certain terms that have no equal equal to the symbolism and meaning of the Ukrainians today what their treaties with Mr. Putin’s prescription for peace in our in the other language! vyshyvanka. One does not replace the NATO proved to be worth. My guess is peo- time to the Russian Federation, just for fun. In a convoluted reverse way, somehow other. For informal occasions, the new flo- ple in Tallinn and Riga are having bad Take these examples: Chechnya’s Muslim the terrycloth rushnyk has now become a ral blouses are just fine. But for events that dreams right now, not alarmed by fantasies population is 95.3 percent Chechen. And traditional ritual cloth back in Ukraine. have meaning to Ukrainians, the traditional featuring reanimated hordes of Hitlerites Tatarstan is 53.2 percent Tatar. Please don’t Lord help us! If I had not seen this with my or contemporary embroidered Ukrainian tramping their way but instead having forget Kalmykia, where 57.4 percent of the own eyes, I would not have believed it. I sorochka is still the one… night sweats about the Russian bear com- native population are Buddhists. Shouldn’t was in a village in Bukovyna as a funeral There, now I feel better. these distinct nations (and there are many procession passed by, with everyone walk- Lubomyr Luciuk is a professor of political others inside the Russian Federation) have ing behind the horse-drawn wagon with Orysia Tracz may be contacted at orysia. geography at the Royal Military College of the coffin. As I glimpsed the items the pall- [email protected]. Canada in Kingston, Ontario. (Continued on page 8) IN THE PRESS: The West and the crisis in Ukraine “The West Leaves Ukraine to Putin,” in Parliament, and trouble from Russia. “As President Obama looks at the outcome. The United States is providing by Matthew Kaminski, The Wall Street Abandonment by the West is the unexpect- Ukraine crisis, he sees an asymmetry of limited intelligence support for Kiev, but Journal, April 14: ed blow. Hundreds of thousands of interests: Simply put, the future of Ukraine nothing that would tilt the balance. Ukrainians fought, and 100 died, for their means more to Vladimir Putin’s Russia Obama’s strategy is to make Putin pay “…Kiev [sic] is on a war footing. Radio chance to join the world’s democracies. than it does to the United States or Europe. for his adventurism, long term. Unless the commercials ask for donations to the “… the Obama administration seems to For Putin, this is an existential crisis; for the Russian leader moves quickly to de-esca- defense budget by mobile-telephone texts. think that pre-emptive concessions will West, so far, it isn’t – as the limited U.S. and late the crisis, the United States will push The government’s decision to cede Crimea pacify Mr. Putin. So the president in March European response has demonstrated. for measures that could make Russia signif- without firing a shot cost the defense min- ruled out U.S. military intervention in “Putin has exploited this imbalance, icantly weaker over the next few years. … ister his job and wasn’t popular. Western Ukraine. Maybe, but why say so? … seizing Crimea and now fomenting unrest Obama’s task now is to convince allies and praise for Ukrainians’ ‘restraint’ got them “The next diplomatic ‘off ramp’ touted in eastern Ukraine, perhaps as a prelude adversaries alike that maintaining interna- nothing. The fight for Ukraine’s east will be by the Obama administration will be the to invasion. … tional order is something he’s ready to different. negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, the “…Obama is wary of making Ukraine a stand up for. Unless he shows that resolve, “This invasion was stealthy enough to let EU and the U.S. scheduled for later this test of wills. He appears ready to endorse a Putin will keep rolling.” Brussels and Washington not use the week. Petro Poroshenko, the leading Cold War-style ‘Finlandization’ for Ukraine, i-word in their toothless statements. … Ukrainian presidential candidate, tells me in which membership of the European “U.S. should send troops to quell “By now, the Ukrainians ought to have that these ‘talks for the sake of talks’ send Union would be a distant prospect and Ukraine crisis,” by James Jeffrey, The seen enough to know that they’re on their ‘a very wrong signal’ about the West’s com- NATO membership would be off the table. Washington Post, April 15: own. Moscow has reached the same con- mitment to sanctions. It’s a case of the … “Despite much diplomatic effort, the sit- clusion. These perceptions of the West are blind faith in ‘diplomacy’ undermining “Obama doesn’t want to turn Ukraine uation in Ukraine worsens. …The West’s shaping events. … diplomacy… .” into a proxy war with Russia. For this rea- reaction has been weak. The sanctions “Any revolution brings a hangover. son, he is resisting proposals to arm the imposed and contemplated are not dra- Ukrainians expected problems: an econom- “The cost of Putin’s adventurism in Ukrainians. The White House thinks arm- matic, regardless of immediate Russian ic downturn, some of the old politics-as- Ukraine,” by David Ignatius, The ing Kiev [sic] at this late stage would invite usual in Kiev, including fisticuffs last week Washington Post, April 15: Russian intervention without affecting the (Continued on page 15) 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 No. 17

NEWS ANALYSIS Russia, the West and the security vacuum in Europe’s East by Vladimir Socor appealed to Russia publicly to “not act in outset, despite its solemn-sounding lan- developed form, this adage says that Russia Eurasia Daily Monitor ways that create misunderstandings” or guage (see EDM, March 10). cannot pursue a 19th century-style sphere that “could be misinterpreted” (U.S. of influence in the 21st century (often Russia’s seizure of Crimea from Ukraine, Department of Defense, NATO press releas- Ukraine Distinctive Partnership Charter bracketing out the 20th century for unclear and Western hand-wringing in response, es, February 27). Strategic surprise helped had• promised 4. NATO a AWOL.consultative The mechanism 1997 NATO- to reasons). demonstrate the depth of the security vac- Russia to quickly achieve faits accomplis on deal with threats to Ukraine’s territorial Western officials displayed this post- uum in Europe’s East. Comprising Ukraine, the ground in Georgia and in Ukraine’s integrity and security. Russia attempted in modern form of self-deception in the run- Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Crimea. 2003 to seize Tuzla Island in the Kerch up to Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia. Armenia, this area forms the North Atlantic - Strait forcibly from Ukraine, but NATO’s Stunned by that event, Western leaders Treaty Organization’s (NATO) and the acterizing Russia’s actions as aggression, then secretary general, George Robertson, described it as a “watershed” and a “wake- European Union’s direct eastern neighbor- Ukraine• 2. To had resist to isavoid to provoke. even the While slightest char pronounced that to be a bilateral matter up call” to re-assess policy toward Russia. hood. Yet, NATO has condemned itself to move that Russia could construe as mili- between Russia and Ukraine. The Ukraine- Yet no re-assessment ensued. Almost six failure in terms of securing this neighbor- tary resistance. Kyiv feared that just one fir- NATO mechanism has not operated in the years later, the next cohort of NATO leaders hood. The EU and its Eastern Partnership ing incident could provoke Russia into 2014 Crimea crisis either, although Ukraine felt stunned by Russia’s invasion of Crimea, (covering those same neighborhood coun- sending troops beyond Crimea to mainland substantially contributes to NATO-led another presumed historical anachronism. tries) has neither the instruments nor the Ukraine. The government, the parliamenta- operations elsewhere. - internal political consensus to become a ry parties and the military shared this anal- On February 27, the North Atlantic able. U.S. and European leaders have gener- security actor in Europe’s East. ysis. Ukraine’s Western partners praised Alliance reaffirmed its full respect for ally• ruled7. Economic out economic sanctions sanctionsrendered unus over Western default and local state weak- Kyiv for its total restraint, turning necessity Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Queried, Russia’s seizure of Crimea, unless Russian ness over the last 22 years allowed this into virtue (see EDM, March 12). Secretary General Rasmussen explained, forces move into mainland Ukraine – a sce- security vacuum to develop and Russia to This logic had first taken shape in the “We just used this opportunity to repeat nario that Moscow will do its utmost to re-expand step by step into this former wake of Russia’s invasion of Georgia, not what we said many years ago in our found- avoid. European countries variously invoke Soviet domain. immediately but after a decent interval for ing documents” (press release, February economic “interdependence” with Russia, The Crimea case represents an escala- moral indignation to subside. Many in the 27) – i.e., verbal support. While Georgia or over-dependence on Russian energy tion of this process on at least three counts. West turned to blaming Georgia’s govern- and even Moldova have participated in supplies, or anti-crisis projects financed by First, Russia has now officially annexed the ment for resisting Russia’s initial attacks in NATO peacekeeping missions in third Russia in Europe (e.g., the Mistral warships occupied territory (rather than occupying South Ossetia and thereby “provoking” a countries, Russia continually enjoys a in France) in opposing economic sanctions. it de facto or “recognizing” it as “indepen- full-scale invasion. That proposition was “peacekeeping” monopoly in Moldova itself At the height of the crisis over Ukraine, dent”). Second, Moscow explicitly reserves also used to justify regime change in since 1992; and it enjoyed the same the German government cleared the sale of the right to attack mainland Ukraine monopoly in Georgia from 1992 through crisis-hit oil and gas company RWE Dea to Georgia. When Russian forces then built (President Vladimir Putin had his 2008, when Russia converted its peace- Kremlin-approved Russian oligarchs (RWE barbed-wire fences along the occupation Parliament give him unlimited authority to keeping operation officially into an occupa- press releases, March 17, 28) and the take- line (“borderization”), Georgia’s new gov- use military force against Ukraine). And tion of Georgia’s territories. over of additional gas storage capacities in ernment claimed credit for “not allowing third, while seizing Crimea, the Kremlin Germany by Russian Gazprom (Deutsche itself to be provoked” into resisting (see has proclaimed a new doctrine of irreden- zone. The United States, the European Welle, March 18; Die Welt, March 12, 26). EDM, June 11, 12, September 23, 24, tism and intervention in former Soviet- Union• 5. andEurope’s the NorthEast consigned Atlantic toTreaty grey Russian President Vladimir Putin’s grand October 2, 2013). Given Russia’s crushing ruled territories (see Eurasia Daily Monitor, Organization (NATO) made strategic deci- design for a “Greater Europe” economic military superiority in a one-on-one situa- March 19-21). sions during the 1990s to entrust the space, still a long way from fruition, seems The Crimea crisis has confirmed and tion, resisting a localized Russian aggres- Organization for Security and Cooperation already to disable economic sanctions as a further developed a paradigm of Russian sion becomes tantamount to provoking a in Europe (OSCE) with handling “frozen policy instrument in Europe. re-expansion and Western self-denial in Russian invasion of the country’s interior. conflicts.” A political body in no way - Europe’s East. This paradigm operates as Western partners were reduced to praising equipped for a security actor’s role, the ed. According to Russian officials, most follows. Tbilisi’s restraint in 2013, as they did Kyiv’s OSCE is hostage to Russia’s statutory veto recently• 8. Russian Moscow’s territorial Ambassador seizures to cement NATO one year later. power within the organization. These Aleksandr Grushko (Interfax, April 2), invasion of Crimea started under the cover arrangements, along with Russia’s quasi- countries wishing to join NATO or the EU of far• 1. larger Strategic exercises surprises of Russian recurring. forces The all assurances do not apply. International law monopoly on “peacekeeping” (conceded by should expect that the new dividing line along Ukraine’s borders. This resembled ceased• 3. to International operate in parts law of andEurope’s Western East NATO – see EDM, April 4), amounted to rel- would not run along their border with the 2008 invasion of Georgia, which had from the early 1990s onward. Russia and egating Europe’s East to an insecure “grey Russia, but rather within those countries developed directly from large-scale its local proxies seized territories by force, zone” between the institutional West themselves – i.e., loss of territory to Russia Russian exercises in the North Caucasus. conducted ethnic cleansing operations, (NATO/EU) and Russia. Within this zone, or its proxies. The West has responded by Yet, Western intelligence and chains of moved de facto borders, and established countries adopting a pro-Western orienta- refusing to recognize forcible territorial command seemed surprised by both inva- military bases in territories taken from tion risked being attacked by Russia with changes in Georgia, Moldova or, most sions (let alone anticipating them). Moldova, Azerbaijan and Georgia with impunity and losing territory to Russia, or recently Ukraine, upholding those coun- According to U.S. General Philip Breedlove, impunity, before annexing Crimea from to its proxies. tries’ territorial integrity and international- Supreme Commander of NATO forces in Ukraine. The Kremlin reserves the right to The Western powers never developed a ly recognized borders in principle, but it is Europe, “large formations of [Russian] forc- intervene again in other places, according strategy or any kind of countermeasures to unable to uphold them in practice. es were brought to readiness and exer- to President Putin’s March 18 speech. protect their partners (Georgia, Azerbaijan, In Crimea’s case, as Polish Prime cised, then stood down, and then, boom – Ukraine continually invokes the 1994 Moldova and, most recently, Ukraine) from Minister Donald Tusk sums up, “all or into Crimea” (remarks at GMF’s Brussels Budapest Memorandum, which seemingly Russia’s reprisals. By now, many in the EU almost all countries have acknowledged Forum, March 23, gmfus.org). provides U.S., British and indeed Russian and NATO argue that the “frozen conflicts” the force of [accomplished] facts, but have With the invasion already under way on assurances to protect Ukraine’s security, disqualify such countries from affiliation not accepted them from the legal point of February 27, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck territorial integrity and internationally rec- with the Euro-Atlantic community, thus view. It is possible to acknowledge the facts Hagel and NATO’s Secretary General ognized borders. That document, however, consigning them once more to the insecure without recognizing their legality” Anders Fogh Rasmussen sounded initially has Russia as a co-author, and is so written “grey zone.” Given the new Ukrainian gov- (Ukrinform, March 25). Meanwhile, the confused about what was happening: both as to be inapplicable in practice from the ernment’s European aspirations, the EU onus shifts on the targeted countries to considered sending an EU observer mis- prove that they are fully committed to sion to Ukraine. However, Germany insist- “peacefully negotiated, diplomatic solu- national unity in the face of a Russian mili- ed and prevailed that an OSCE mission be tions,” although the existing negotiating The mutilation... tary occupation. No staged referendum will dispatched instead, after negotiating its formats remain frozen. ever change that. mandate with Moscow (kremlin.ru, March NATO and the EU are in the process of (Continued from page 7) And while Ukraine remains in the throes 23; OSCE press release, March 23). formulating their responses to Russia’s a democratic say over whether or not they of revolution, the vast majority of its citi- assault on Ukraine. Any reassessment of want to remain in Russia? Or does Mr. zenry – whether of Ukrainian, Russian, assessments. Addressing the recent U.S.-EU policy would need to encompass Moldova, Putin only believe in allowing referenda Jewish, Crimean Tatar or other origins – summit• 6. Utopian in Brussels, beliefs President obnubilate Barack threat Georgia and Azerbaijan. Partnerships when the results are made certain by are united by a good dream. They hope to Obama remarked, “Russia’s leadership is would turn out ultimately unworkable and Russian bayonets and bullyboys? Since the awaken in a Ukraine within Europe. Their challenging truths that only a few weeks potentially risky to these countries, as long Russian Federation is not indivisible – and only nightmare is that they will instead ago seemed self-evident, that in the 21st as they remain wide open to Russian if Ukraine must suffer amputation – why arise to find themselves abandoned by the century, the borders of Europe cannot be threats of force and seizure of parts of their not “Mother Russia” too? West, left in limbo, in a satrapy enslaved redrawn with force” (White House Press territories. Crimea was, and is, a distinct society, within a resuscitated Russian empire. So release, March 26). Invoking the “21st cen- and no Ukrainian I ever met there, or any- expect Ukrainians to fight for their free- tury” as an end-of-history age that should The article above is reprinted from where else, would say anything different. dom. If Mr. Putin doesn’t wake up to that make Russian aggression inconceivable has Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from Crimea’s Tatars have already demonstrated fact, and soon, his nightmares will have become commonplace among top U.S. offi- its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, they are patriots, championing Ukraine’s only just begun. cials and even NATO leaders. In its fully www.jamestown.org. No. 17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 9

International Democracy Institute in Kyiv. percent are against. About 25 percent of family to live elsewhere. Local business- Insurrections... In particular, Russian saboteurs, agents and southeastern Ukrainians support federal- men are prepared to band together and spies are at the center of the events, Mr. ization. fight for their property if the conflict grows (Continued from page 1) Oleshchuk said. Indeed a wide rift has emerged in east- into open warfare, he said. the Internal Affairs Ministry, which con- The Security Service of Ukraine (known ern Ukraine cities between the terrorists – Perhaps the best indication of how firmed the role of separatists in the killings. by the Ukrainian acronym SBU) has largely composed of petty criminals, the unpopular the fighters are in the Donbas is Indeed when taking a closer look, the released recordings of intercepted conver- lumpenproletariat and political extremists the utter lack of support from the local differences between the Euro-Maidan and sations between Russian handlers and their – and the local middle class, which is fer- miners, who have avoided any of the feder- the so-called “Russian spring” couldn’t be on-site fighters, which have included both vently opposed to plans for federalization alist and separatist protests, much less starker in the opinion of observers, who Russian and Ukrainians citizens. or separation from Ukraine. building takeovers. said the events don’t deserve to be called Photographs confirming the Russian citizen- As evidence, the Internal Affairs Ministry Donbas miners are well aware that the protests, but merely provocations, distur- ship of terrorists surfaced on the Internet. reported that 90 percent of the 77 arrested Russian government has no budget funds bances or, in Mr. Oleshchuk’s blunt depic- By mid-April, the SBU had made 23 during the failed April 16 attack on the to subsidize its own coal industry, let alone tion, “a Russian sabotage operation.” arrests of officers with the Russian Main National Guard base in Mariupol had crimi- that in Ukraine, Mykhailo Volynets, the Among the most glaring differences has Reconnaissance Administration, reported nal records, including for hooliganism and head of the Independent Trade Union of been the direct involvement of Russians in the lb.ua news site on April 16, citing anon- drunk driving. The police killed three pro- Miners of Ukraine, said in an April 7 press the eastern Ukraine conflicts, while ymous sources in the Ukrainian Parliament. Russian terrorists in the gunfight that day. release. Western governments were resented by Leading Western publications have Dmytro Tymchuk, director of the Center For example, all the coal mines in the Euro-Maidan for keeping at arm’s reported on the ample evidence of the for Military-Political Research, described Russia’s Rostov Oblast have been shut length and not offering more support, involvement of Russian intelligence and the terrorists as a “group of dregs, some of down, with the exception of Rinat besides the occasional visits of politicians military agents. On April 12, the Russians them our homegrown degenerates who’ve Akhmetov’s three sites that supply coal to and the snail’s pace of sanctions. began openly assisting in the takeover of sold themselves for pennies, some Russian Ukraine, he said. In contrast, Russian saboteurs were state buildings; many of them were masked citizens who forced themselves into our Losing Kyiv’s coal mining subsidies identified by the Ukrainian government as and wearing unmarked green uniforms home, who are trying to fulfill the Crimean “means they will be instantaneously shut having been involved in the eastern and using sophisticated armaments such as scenario with Kremlin money and under down,” he said. “People will be left without Ukraine insurrections from their very start, automatic rifles. the protection of Yanukovych.” wages and work. At the moment in on March 30. In contrast, Euro-Maidan activists resort- The havoc being wreaked by the terror- Ukraine, mines are not being closed and “It was the Ukrainians alone who stood ed to arms only as a last resort, when scores ists has irked the middle class of the cities miners are getting paid. They have no rea- on the Maidan, while the Russians have of their comrades were being shot dead, where they’ve taken over, particularly intel- son to worry, and the ideas of the separat- been at the very center of the events in the and the best weapons they had access to lectuals and businessmen. ists don’t interest them.” east,” said Sergiy Taran, the director of the were hunting rifles, Mr. Taran noted. A Kramatorsk entrepreneur, identified In light of all these facts, observers such As for the Euro-Maidan’s takeover of only as Yevhen, was quoted by the tyzhden. as Mr. Taran say it’s entirely appropriate to state buildings, “they were the latest in a ua news site as he described his experience refer to the armed fighters as terrorists. series of actions after a longstanding of having been stopped at a checkpoint “These are terrorists,” political expert peaceful protest that had no effect,” Mr. established by the terrorists. and author Oleksandr Palii said of the gun- What does southeast Oleshchuk said. “In eastern Ukraine we “I saw there standing all the town’s alco- men capturing state buildings. “I think if haven’t seen protests involving millions, holics, hobos, bums and drug addicts,” he there were something similar in Russia, of Ukraine think? but merely groups of a few thousand peo- said. “Only now the Russians have given then airpower would have been dispatched ple taking over buildings.” them automatic rifles. And I’m supposed to to these buildings. But we have democracy. Following are the results of a poll con- The Kyiv City Council building was cap- allow these scum to rummage through my Undoubtedly, there’s supposed to be harsh- ducted by the Kyiv International Sociology tured on December 1, 2013 – in the earliest car, paw at my wife and intimidate my ness in talks with terrorists in order that Institute. A total of 3,232 residents in 160 days of the Euro-Maidan protest – because kids? And then they’ll bring Russian armies they not have the desire to act that way in the Kyiv City Administration, with the sup- population centers of Ukraine’s southeastern here to take my business?” the future. So if they’re left without punish- port of the Presidential Administration, did oblasts were surveyed on April 10-15, as He said he’s already transferred all his ment, the terrorists will act even more everything to avoid holding elections for commissioned by the zn.ua news site. The funds from his bank accounts and sent his insolently.” poll results were released on April 19. the Kyiv City Council, which were sched- uled for June 2013, and for its chair, which Do you support the actions of those were scheduled for July 2012. taking armed weapons into their hands Another distinction is that the Euro- and capturing administrative buildings Maidan involved hundreds of thousands of in your region? Ukrainians from all walks of life, whether Yes No billionaire oligarchs, simple villagers, Kyiv businessmen or university students. Luhansk Oblast 24% 58% A poll released in late January by the Donetsk Oblast 18% 72% Razumkov Center confirmed that half of Kharkiv Oblast 10% 73% Ukrainians supported the Euro-Maidan Mykolayiv Oblast 7% 82% protest, while 42 percent didn’t support Odesa Oblast 5.5% 86% the Euro-Maidan and only 23 percent of Dnipropetrovsk 9% 84% those supported the Anti-Maidan. Zaporizhia Oblast 4.5% 86% In contrast, the pro-Russian fighters Kherson Oblast 3.0% 82% enjoy minuscule support from the public, Total 12% 77% even among the residents of the cities where they’ve staged armed takeovers of Do you support the notion that your state buildings, polls have confirmed. oblast should separate from Ukraine Only 24 percent of Luhansk Oblast resi- and join the Russian Federation? dents support the armed takeovers of local Yes No buildings, compared to 58 percent against. Luhansk Oblast 30% 53% Only 18 percent of Donetsk Oblast resi- Donetsk Oblast 27.5 52% dents support local armed takeovers, com- Kharkiv Oblast 16% 66% pared to 72 percent against. Only 12 per- Mykolayiv Oblast 7% 85% cent of southeastern Ukrainians support Odesa Oblast 7% 79% local armed takeovers, compared to 77 per- Dnipropetrovsk 7% 84% cent against. Zaporizhia Oblast 6% 81.5% Even in the most pro-Russian Donbas Kherson Oblast 3.5% 85% region, only about 30 percent of Luhansk Oblast residents and 27.5 percent of Total 15% 70% Donetsk Oblast residents support joining the Russian Federation. Nearly 52 percent What should be the state structure of Luhansk residents and the same per- for Ukraine? centage of Donetsk residents are against, Unitary according to a poll conducted by the Kyiv Federal Current decentral- unitary ized International Institute of Sociology that was commissioned by the zn.ua news site. Luhansk Oblast 42% 12% 34% About 42 percent in Luhansk support fed- Donetsk Oblast 38% 11% 41% eralization, while in Donetsk there is 38 Kharkiv Oblast 32% 23% 39% percent support. Mykolayiv Oblast 11% 18% 63% The poll results were released on April Odesa Oblast 17.5% 29% 44% 19. The survey was conducted on April Dnipropetrovsk 11% 20% 51% 10-15 among 3,232 residents of Ukraine’s Zaporizhia Oblast 15% 20% 51% eight southeastern oblasts, among whom Kherson Oblast 7% 33% 54.5% only 15.4 percent support merging with Total 25% 19% 45% the Russian Federation, while nearly 70 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 No. 17 No. 17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 11 REVIEW: Yara Arts Group’s “Dark Night Bright Stars” by Olena Jennings which Ekaterina refers to Ukraine as “Little Russia,” Taras explains the origins of the NEW YORK – In the fall of 1858, Taras derogatory term, and asks Ira about slavery Shevchenko met African American actor Ira in the United States. Ira says he was born Aldridge in St. Petersburg and drew his por- free and jokingly refers to the southern trait. Yara Arts Group’s work-in-progress United States as “Little America.” conceived and directed by Virlana Tkacz is Shakespearean monologues from about this meeting as recorded by Ekaterina “Othello” and “King Lear” are also impor- Tolstoy Yunge in her diary. Presented at La tant to the piece. They bring out Mr. Tardy’s MaMa E.T.C. on March 15 and 16, it is a col- talent as an actor. Gospel music is sung soft- laborative creation of Yara Arts Group with ly by Ms. Tucker to accentuate the drama. It Sean Eden, Julian Kytasty, Maria Pleshkevich, is sung in harmony with recordings of Mr. Jeremy Tardy and Shona Tucker. Kytasty’s traditional Ukrainian songs such The simplicity of this story is one of its as “I’ll Walk Through the Meadow” based strengths. It is an opportunity to focus on on the poetry of Shevchenko. the meeting and intersperse it with poetry The painting of the portrait remains the and song. focus of the meeting. The projection of the Taras Shevchenko (Mr. Eden) feels an painting was provided by Volodymyr Klyuzko. affinity with Ira (Mr. Tardy) and they Mr. Klyuzko created other projections that are become great friends. They find they have displayed on the backdrop of the stage, many things in common. Their mothers such as a picture of Taras’s idealized both passed away when they were 9 years Ukrainian home and idyllic nature scenes. old. They also have a common interest in The piece ends with a traditional hymn, the arts. Taras is a painter, while Ira is a “My Happy Home,” which gives Mr. Tardy a Shakespearean actor. Furthermore, Taras Volodymyr Klyuzko chance to showcase his strong voice. It is was born a serf and champions his Yara Arts Group in “Dark Night Bright Stars: In Concert.” Ira Aldridge is played by about the search for a true home in repressed people in his poetry and art. At Jeremy Tardy, Katya Tolstoy by Maria Pleshkevich and Taras Shevchenko by Sean Eden. Jerusalem as Taras searches for his true the same time, some African Americans home in Ukraine. suffered from slavery in the United States. jokes and breaks into song. Here Ms. Tucker and Wanda Phipps. One of the poems is “It’s “Dark Night Bright Stars” is a strong Ekaterina (Ms. Pleshkevich) acts as their sings “Who Is the Man We Call King,” a tra- All the Same to Me.” The subject matter is foundation for a future Yara performance translator, and they bond through facial ditional song from Central Africa. timely, speaking about Ukraine’s struggles depicting the relationship of the great expressions as well as gestures. The performance includes the poetry of with Russia. There is a conversation that Ukrainian poet and the renowned African As Taras draws Ira, Ira can’t sit still. He Shevchenko translated by Virlana Tkacz occurs between Ekaterina, Taras and Ira in American actor. Watch for more to come.

Yara premieres “Capt. John “Light & Shadow” arts festival presented at UIA Smith Goes to Ukraine” by Ihor Slabicky the Spaniards, fighting for Dutch indepen- dence from the Spanish King Phillip II, and NEW YORK – The North American pre- then setting off for the Mediterranean Sea, mier of “Capt. John Smith Goes to Ukraine” where he engaged in both trade and piracy. took place at the La MaMa ETC in New York He later fought against the Ottoman Turks on February 27. The piece, directed by in the Long War and was promoted to Virlana Tkacz, was first performed in Kyiv Captain while fighting for the Austrian in the summer of 2013. It delves into the Habsburgs in Hungary, in the campaign of first half of the life of John Smith and his Michael the Brave in 1600 and 1601. adventures in Eastern Europe and Ukraine, He then fought for Radu Serban in events that occurred in the years before he Wallachia against the Ottoman vassal traveled to Jamestown and became the Ieremia Movila. Smith killed three Turkish well-known figure of American history and commanders in three one-on-one duels, for Hollywood film. which he was knighted by the Transylvanian Smith documented his life in his book Prince Sigismund Bathory and given his “The True Travels, Adventures and coat of arms showing three Turks’ heads. In Observations of Captaine John Smith, in 1602 he was wounded in a skirmish with

Alexander Khantaev Europe, Asia, Africa, and America from the Tatars, captured and sold as a slave to Inka Juslin performs “Awakening” in “Light & Shadow: Yara’s Winter Festival of Anno Domini 1593 to 1629,” itself one of the Turkish nobleman Bashaw Bogall, who New Art, Poetry and Music.” the earliest autobiographies to be pub- sent him as a gift to his Greek mistress, the lished. Briefly, Smith left home at 16, set- young Charatza Trabigzanda, in by Ihor Slabicky Next, a series of readings was presented, ting off to sea, serving as a mercenary in all having been translated from the the army of King Henry IV of France against (Continued on page 14) NEW YORK – Through her arts festival Ukrainian by Ms. Tkacz and Wanda Phipps. “Light & Shadow,” Virlana Tkacz trans- “A Fool For The Breathing” by Ms. Phipps formed the Ukrainian Institute of America, was read by Marina Celander and Charles located in a magnificent manse on Museum Nicholson. The Taras Shevchenko poem “A Mile in New York City, into an arena of cre- Cloud” was performed by Stefka ativity, music, magic and mystery. Nazarkewycz and Mr. Nicholson. Serhiy The three-day festival opened on Friday, Zhadan’s “All Night Long She Sings” was January 17, with a dance performance by read by Masha Pruss and Romana Soutus. Inka Juslin, with Julian Kytasty accompany- “A Strong Wind,” based on poem by ing her on bandura. The Ukrainian Village Uvavnuk, with music by Alla Zagaykevych, Voices sang traditional village songs, fol- was sung by Yara Arts Group, their voices lowed by Olena Jennings and Iryna replicating the echoing wind. Ms. Nazarkewycz and Mr. Nicholson read Shuvalova reading their own works and “Rhythm” by Pavlo Tychyna. Katya Grokhovsky read her “Breathless.” “Nizhnist (Tenderness)” by Kateryna Yara Arts Group artists Bob Holman, Susan Babkina, which insightfully inspected this Hwang and Mr. Kytasty concluded the eve- emotion that lives inside all of us, was read ning with their performance of excerpts by Ms. Pruss, Julia Dobner-Pereira, Ms. from the latest piece by Virlana Tkacz, Soutus and Ms. Celander. Appropriately, “Capt. John Smith Goes to Ukraine.” that was followed by “Rano, Rano,” sung by The program on January 18 opened the Yara Arts Group. Accelerating hand with “Ice,” taken from Ms. Tkacz’s produc- claps against the steady rhythm of the song Volodymyr Klyuzko tion of “Fire. Water. Night.” and performed Bob Holman, Susan Hwang and Julian Kytasty perform in “Capt. John Smith Goes by members of the Yara Arts Group. (Continued on page 14) to Ukraine” at La MaMa ETC. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 No. 17

and start practical cooperation with the drew attention to an order given by Russian Turkey honors Mustafa Dzhemilev NEWSBRIEFS parties to the Geneva statement without Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to devel- delay. (Ukrinform) op the so-called “border” in the north of the ANKARA – The veteran leader of (Continued from page 2) Autonomous Republic of Crimea. “We Crimean Tatars, Mustafa Dzhemilev, has Kerry’s phone talks with Russia, Ukraine regard these intentions as another step received Turkey’s highest state award. ment of overseeing what he says is a cam- Turkish President Abdullah Gul awarded paign of repression against Crimean Tatars WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of State towards securing the annexation of Crimea, which is an integral part of the territory of Mr. Dzhemilev with the Order of State of the since the peninsula was annexed by Russia John Kerry has held separate telephone con- Republic of Turkey at a special ceremony in last month. He says many Crimean Tatars versations with Russia’s foreign affairs min- Ukraine, as well as evidence of gross viola- tions of international law by Russia, in par- Turkey on April 15. Mr. Dzhemilev, who is a have already lost their jobs after refusing to ister and Ukraine’s prime minister regard- Ukrainian lawmaker, thanked Turkey for its apply for Russian passports. The Mejlis has ing the situation in eastern Ukraine and the ticular with regard to respect for the sover- eignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine support of Ukraine in “this very challenging refused to recognize Crimea’s new leader- implementation of the agreement reached and difficult time.” Mr. Dzhemilev, along ship and the referendum on Crimea’s ces- in Geneva last week. Mr. Kerry on April 22 within its internationally recognized bor- ders,” Mr. Perebyinis said. (Ukrinform) with Ukrainian presidential candidate Petro sation from Ukraine. (RFE/RL) told Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Poroshenko, discussed the current situation Lavrov that Washington is concerned about MFA: Russia ignores Geneva accords Baird for common international response in Ukraine with President Gul on April 15. Russia’s failure to de-escalate the conflict Messrs. Dzhemilev and Poroshenko told KYIV – Russia is demonstrating a com- and urged Moscow to refrain from inflam- OTTAWA – Canada’s Foreign Affairs journalists that Mr. Gul assured them that plete boycott and unwillingness to fulfill the matory rhetoric. He urged Russia to pres- Minister John Baird paid his first official visit Ankara will never recognize the annexation Geneva agreements, according to the direc- sure pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine to Slovakia on April 23 as part of a weeklong of Ukraine’s Crimea by Russia, will support tor of the Information Policy Department at to disarm in exchange for amnesty. Speaking visit to Eastern and Central Europe, where Ukraine’s efforts to establish order in its Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRA), with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy he is meeting with key allies to promote a eastern regions, and will contribute to Yevhen Perebyinis. According to the diplo- Yatsenyuk, Mr. Kerry praised the Ukrainian common international response to the peace and stability in the Black Sea region. mat, on April 21, the Ukrainian foreign government for the steps it has taken to ongoing crisis in Ukraine. “Canada and its (RFE/RL’s Tatar-Bashkir Service) affairs minister passed a note to the Russian implement the Geneva agreement, including key allies have made our position clear: Foreign Affairs Ministry detailing the steps progress on amnesty legislation and cooper- Russia can expect to face further economic Crimea is temporarily occupied territory ation with the monitoring mission from the and political isolation if its words are not taken by the Ukrainian side to implement KYIV – Ukraine’s national deputies MPs Organization for Security and Cooperation turned into positive actions,” said Mr. Baird. the Geneva agreements. This note request- passed law No. 4473-1 on protecting the in Europe. (RFE/RL) “Russia must now follow through on its ed information on the practical steps taken rights and freedoms of citizens in Crimea, a Geneva commitments to de-escalate the cri- by Russia, as a party to the Geneva talks, to Kyiv concerned about border mining temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. A sis, call off its provocateurs and respect the de-escalate the situation in the eastern total of 228 lawmakers voted for this deci- KYIV – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sovereignty and territorial integrity of regions of Ukraine. However, Ukraine has sion on April 15. “The law defines the status (MFA) of Ukraine voiced its concern over Ukraine.” During his visit, Baird met with not received a response from the Russian of the territory temporarily occupied as a Russia’s continuing steps to equip the bor- side so far, Mr. Perebyinis said. “The actions result of military aggression by the Russian der between Crimea and Kherson region minister and minister of foreign affairs, and of professionally trained militants from the Federation, establishes a special legal with anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, heMiroslav encouraged Lajčák, Slovakia’s Slovakia’s efforts deputy to help prime sta- so-called ‘people’s militia,’ supported and regime on this territory, determines the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Yevhen bilize Ukraine’s energy security and under- organized by the Russian special services, peculiarities of the activity of state and local Perebyinis said at an April 23 a briefing in scored the importance of a close Canada- pose a real terrorist threat to the safety of government agencies, enterprises, institu- Kyiv. “It is of serious concern that in viola- European Union dialogue on energy issues. our citizens in eastern and southern tions and organizations under such a tion of the Convention on the Prohibition of Mr. Baird also recognized the work of the Ukraine, not the mythical ‘Bandera follow- regime, the observance and protection of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and - ers’ or Right Sector fighters, whom the human rights and freedoms, as well as the Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and Their ber, noting that the group’s expressed soli- Russian propaganda uses to intimidate peo- rights and legitimate interests of legal per- Destruction, the Russian side continues the darityVisegrád with Group, Ukraine of which would Slovakia help bring is a addedmem ple,” Mr. Perebyinis said. He urged the sons,” reads an explanatory note to the doc- practice of mining Ukraine with anti-per- stability, given Russia’s current aggressive Russian side to stop escalating the situation ument. The author of the bill, Batkivshchyna sonnel and antitank mines along [the line] posturing. Mr. Baird will also visit Poland, in the southeastern regions of Ukraine by faction leader Serhiy Sobolev, said, “This law of stationing of the occupation troops while “condoning atrocities and illegal actions of Latvia and Estonia. (Foreign Affairs, Trade states that when crossing the temporarily trying to hide their actions from the interna- its puppet armed groups” and to refrain and Development Canada) occupied territory Ukrainian citizens do not from provocative actions and new rhetoric, tional community,” he said. He said the MFA Lukashenka against Ukraine’s federalization need to issue any permits. Such crossing will just be recorded.” Verkhovna Rada MINSK – Belarusian President Alyaksandr Chairman Oleksandr Turchynov, who is also Lukashenka has voiced support for Ukraine’s acting president of Ukraine, said that a sepa- territorial integrity and said he “categorically rate department for temporarily occupied opposed” the federalization of the country. territories would be created at the Cabinet TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL Walter Honcharyk (973) 292-9800 x3040 Speaking on Russia’s NTV television channel of Ministers. (Ukrinform) or e-mail [email protected] on April 13, Lukashenka said federalization would “split the country” and eventually Putin appoints Crimean governor “destroy the Ukrainian state,” adding, “I am SERVICES PROFESSIONALS MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir for a single and unified Ukraine.” Mr. Putin has appointed Sergei Aksyonov to be Lukashenka also said it was dangerous for the acting governor of Crimea until elec- Belarus, Russia and the West to push tions are held later this year. Mr. Putin met Ukraine toward federalization. (RFE/RL, with Mr. Aksyonov on April 14 at the based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and Interfax) (Continued on page 13)

PHILADELPHIA, PA, DISTRICT COMMITTEE OF UNA BRANCHES announces that its ANNUAL DISTRICT COMMITTEE MEETING will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. At the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center 700 Cedar Rd., Jenkintown, PA 19046 Obligated to attend the annual meeting as voting members are District Committee O cers, Convention Delegates and two delegates from the following Branches: OPPORTUNITIES 10, 83, 116, 153, 162, 163, 173, 216, 231, 245, 247, 347 362, 397 All UNA members are welcome as guests at the meeting. Earn extra income! Meeting will be attended by : The Ukrainian Weekly is looking for advertising sales agents. Wasyl Szeremeta- UNA Auditor For additional information contact Eugene Serba - UNA Auditor Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. Lubov Streletsky - UNA Advisor DISTRICT COMMITTEE Run your advertisement here, Michael Luciw, District Chairman in The Ukrainian Weekly’s CLASSIFIEDS section. Ulana Prociuk, Secretary No. 17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 13

eye on the actions of Right Sector and order in Donbas quickly, but he does not do has added the eldest son of former NEWSBRIEFS Svoboda activists, but it was more impor- this. Akhmetov – he did not define, where President Viktor Yanukovych to a wanted tant to fight the Russian propaganda. Mr. and with whom he is, for the whole period list. Ukraine’s Internal Affairs Ministry (Continued from page 12) Kramer also said that after the events in of the Russian aggression Akhmetov never announced on April 18 that an arrest war- Russian president’s residence outside Ukraine last November the country has named it aggression, he never used the rant for Oleksander Yanukovych has been Moscow. He said that in accordance with obtained a much more positive image com- word ‘annexation.’ If he wants to conduct issued on charges of forgery and fraud. legislation of the Russian Federation, it was pared to the one that existed under business in Ukraine, be with Ukraine, he The ministry said that a court had necessary to name an acting governor. Mr. President Viktor Yanukovych. (Ukrinform) should provide order. He has forces and approved the arrest warrant. Mr. means in order that the Ukrainian flag was Yanukovych’s whereabouts has been Aksyonov said he would “justify the trust” Crimea already lacks Dnipro water Mr. Putin had shown him. He added there is everywhere there. Tymoshenko – she unknown since February 23, around the much to do to complete the process of KYIV – The irrigation season has not heads the party now in power, the one that same time his father fled to Russia as Crimea uniting with Russia. Mr. Putin also started in Crimea despite the schedule, and governs the country now. …Therefore, all deadly anti-government protests in Kyiv confirmed that elections for governor and field work faces failure, the chairman of the success and failures are its personal reached their highest point. Ex-President Parliament would be held in Crimea on Republic Committee for Waterworks responsibility. Unfortunately, I see dis- Viktor Yanukovych is also wanted by the September 14. Mr. Aksyonov pledged that Construction and Irrigated Agriculture of agreement – on the one hand, the NSDC current Kyiv government on charges of Crimea would be ready to hold the elec- the unrecognized Republic of Crimea, Igor [National Security and Defense Council] “mass murder” for allegedly ordering the tions. (RFE/RL) Vail, told the Crimean News Agency. makes a decision about conducting the shooting of protesters in downtown Kyiv “Instead of 70 cubic meters of water per anti-terrorist operation, and Tymoshenko in February. (RFE/RL, based on reporting NASA suspends joint projects with Russia second, Crimea receives 6.3 cubic meters, stands against. It is necessary to finally by UNIAN and Interfax) come to an agreement. How are you going KYIV – The National Aeronautics and which makes it impossible not only to start watering, but also to fill the system, and in to run the country, if you cannot agree with Ukraine asks ICC to investigate deaths Space Administration (NASA) has suspend- your party members?” (Ukrinform) ed joint projects with Russia, except for the 10 days according to the schedule we have KYIV – Ukraine’s government has asked work on maintaining safe and continuous to supply water for rice,” he said on April Poroshenko: Zero-tolerance for corruption the International Criminal Court (ICC) to operation of the International Space 12. He added that, according to the water investigate the killings of more than 100 Station. In a statement released on April 2, use plan for 2014, water needs to be pro- KYIV – Ukrainian presidential candidate people during pro-European demonstra- NASA said: “Given Russia’s ongoing viola- vided for 140,000 hectares (30 percent of Petro Poroshenko said any new leadership tions on Kyiv’s Independence Square earlier tion of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial all irrigated lands). Mr. Vail noted that the of the country should have “zero-tolerance” this year. The Hague-based court said on water supply issue “bumps into the politi- integrity, NASA is suspending the majority of corruption. In an April 6 interview with April 18 it had received a declaration from cal framework, so probably there would be the Reuters news agency, Mr. Poroshenko of its ongoing engagements with the Ukraine stating that Kyiv accepts the ICC’s a separate conversation.” Ukrainian Vice said that, after the killing of more than 100 Russian Federation.” This suspension jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed Prime Minister for Regional Development, people in anti-government protests and the includes NASA travel to Russia and visits by between November 21, 2013, and February Construction and Housing Volodymyr ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych in Russian government representatives to 22, 2014. Ukraine signed the international Hroisman has said Ukraine would not stop February, “a new country was born and a NASA facilities, bilateral meetings, e-mail, treaty setting up the ICC in 2000 but has not the water supply to Crimea. Crimea is 80 new people was born.” He said Ukrainians and teleconferences or videoconferences. yet ratified it. Accepting the ICC’s jurisdic- percent dependent on water transported had earned the right to a path to member- International crews, including U.S. astro- tion does not automatically mean an inves- nauts, are currently delivered to ISS only by from the Dnipro River through the North ship in the European Union after overthrow- Crimean Canal. (Ukrinform) ing Mr. Yanukovych, who had refused to sign tigation will be launched. Prosecutors will Russian Soyuz spacecraft according to the now have to decide whether there is contract between NASA and Roscosmos, an association and free trade pact with the Ukrposhta suspends work in Crimea EU. But he also says he would not seek to enough evidence to do so. The ICC investi- which is designed until the end of 2017. In gates the most serious international crimes, its statement NASA expressed its intention KYIV – Ukrposhta, Ukraine’s state-con- join NATO as this “could split the country.” He said compromise with Russia was possi- including genocide, crimes against humani- to complete the construction of its own trolled postal service, has temporarily sus- ty, and war crimes. About 100 people were pended the acceptance and delivery of mail ble only after “de-occupying” Crimea. (RFE/ manned spacecraft as soon as possible and killed, most of them by sniper fire, on Kyiv’s to Crimea and Sevastopol, the company RL, based on reporting by Reuters) reject services from Russia. (Ukrinform) Independence Square between February said in a statement on April 4. “Please be All Ukrainian ships have left Crimea 20-22. (RFE/RL, with reporting by RFE/ NATO suspends cooperation with Russia advised that due to the forcible seizure of RL’s Ukrainian Service and UNIAN) KYIV – The North Atlantic Alliance on Crimea and Sevastopol and blocking of all KYIV – All ships of the Ukrainian Naval April 1 announced it had suspended practi- post offices of Ukrposhta on the peninsula, Forces have left Sevastopol Bay and PGO arrests 92 for separatism the national provider has to temporarily Donuzlav Bay, according to the press ser- cal civilian and military cooperation with KYIV – The Ukrainian Procurator Russia. The council approved this decision stop accepting and delivering mail in the vice of Acting President Oleksandr General’s Office (PGO) opened 214 criminal at the level of foreign ministers of NATO direction of Crimea and Sevastopol until Turchynov. “Today, all ships of the Naval proceedings over separatism in March- member states, an Ukrinform correspon- the situation is resolved,” the statement Forces of Ukraine left Sevastopol Bay and April, Acting Procurator General Oleh dent in Brussels reported. “We have decid- reads. (Ukrinform) Donuzlav Bay, in particular, the amphibious Makhnitsky told Channel 5 on April 16. He ed to suspend all practical civilian and mili- assault ship Kirovohrad, the corvette Yatsenyuk suspends party membership said the PGO had arrested 92 people and tary cooperation between NATO and Vinnytsia, the mother ship Zolotonosha Russia,” the ministers said. However, the KYIV – Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and others,” the April 19 statement reads. submitted one case to court. Mr. Makhnitsky alliance said that the political dialogue has suspended his membership of the The ships headed for Odesa, where the added that prosecutors had opened 41 could continue. NATO foreign ministers Batkivshchyna Party. Acting Ukrainian Ukrainian Navy base is located. Withdrawal cases over separatism since April 11. “We also agreed on a package of measures President and Verkhovna Rada Chairman from Crimea of other military equipment, are responding to such facts immediately,” aimed at deepening cooperation with other Oleksandr Turchynov reported this on the in particular military aircraft, continues. he said. (Ukrinform) Previously, the tanker Sudak, the ship NATO partners in Eastern Europe, and they “Shuster Live” TV program on April 2. U.N. warns of serious destabilization said that, in order to demonstrate their “Today even Arseniy Yatsenyuk, to avoid Shostka, the command ship Donbas, the commitment to Ukraine, they would inten- accusations of political bias, suspended his missile boat Pryluky, the tanker Fastiv and UNITED NATIONS – The unrest in east- sify cooperation “in the framework of our membership of the party, although neither the degaussing vessel Balta had withdrawn ern Ukraine risks “seriously destabilizing Distinctive Partnership.” Their statement the law nor the Constitution requires that,” from Crimea to Odesa. (Ukrinform) the country as a whole,” said Assistant read: “NATO and Ukraine have agreed, as Mr. Turchynov said. He also said that major Servicemen arrive from Crimea Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan set out in the statement by the NATO- political parties that formed a parliamenta- Simonovic, when he addressed the U.N. Ukraine Commission, to implement imme- ry majority were represented in the govern- KYIV – Over 1,000 servicemen and Security Council on April 16. Mr. Simonovic diate and longer-term measures in order to ment and state administrations. “Our party employees of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, discussed a recent U.N. human rights report strengthen Ukraine’s ability to provide for has representatives of all regions, as well as as well as their families, have arrived in focusing on Ukraine, which states the arm- its own security.” (Ukrinform) the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. This is mainland Ukraine, the press service of the ing of protesters in eastern Ukraine must a government that represents all Ukrainian Ukrainian Defense Ministry has reported on end and encourages “an inclusive, sus- Freedom House on Kremlin propaganda regions and all regions,” Mr. Turchynov April 2. The 1,059 people who arrived from tained and meaningful national dialogue.” KYIV – There are no manifestations of underscored. (Ukrinform) Crimea include 385 officers, 547 sergeants The report also largely refutes Russian and soldiers serving on contracts, two claims that the large ethnic Russian minori- fascism and extremism in Ukraine, but Grytsenko on key players іn east there is Kremlin propaganda that should be employees of the Ukrainian Armed Forces ty in the region has been under attack counteracted, according to Freedom House KYIV – Anatoliy Grytsenko, presidential and 125 members of their families, includ- there. Russian Ambassador to the U.N. President David Kramer who spoke at a candidate, national deputy and chairman of ing 38 children. In addition, 197 persons Vitaly Churkin called the human rights press conference in Kyiv on April 10. the political party Civil Position, said on arrived from Crimea over the last 24 hours, report “biased.” British Ambassador Mark “Kremlin propaganda is trying to paint April 14 that he believes there are three among them 171 servicemen and 26 mem- Lyall Grant slammed what he called everything that is happening in Ukraine as key players in Ukraine’s troubled east: bers of their families, including 13 children. Russia’s “fantasy narrative” on the crisis in being caused by fascists and extremists. I Russian President Vladimir Putin, oligarch Three transit camps for servicemen and Ukraine. U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power have not seen evidence of that. I do recog- Rinat Akhmetov and former Ukrainian their families are operating: near Armiansk- accused Moscow of “a well-orchestrated nize that there are some parts of the oppo- Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. “This is Kherson in the village of Stavky, in near professional campaign of incitement.” sition that are viewed as far-right, but I my estimate. Putin does not conceal his Armiansk-Nova Kakhovka in the village of French Ambassador Gerard Araud said don’t see them playing a dominant role in intentions – he wants to disrupt the elec- Pershokostiantynivka and near Chonhar- Russia “must stop its destabilizing activi- the current political situation,” Mr. Kramer tions, to destabilize the situation in the Novooleksiyivka in the village of Chonhar. ties, it must stop yelling ‘civil war.’” said. He also praised the actions of Right country’s east, wants federal Ukraine, They are equipped with tents, cooking facil- Ukrainian Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev said Sector and Svoboda leaders who, in his where we will have 25 republics, which, as ities and recreation facilities. (Ukrinform) that what his country needed to break from opinion, have made efforts to reach out to the Lego construction kit, could be seized. Yanukovych’s son declared wanted the corruption and other bad ways of the certain communities and dispel the notion Here everything is clear. Akhmetov is the past “is that Russia leaves us in peace.” that they are anti-Semitic or anti-Russian. richest man of the country; a man, who has KYIV – The Security Service of Ukraine (RFR/RL, based on reporting by the The expert said it was necessary to keep an a potential and possibilities to establish (known by its Ukrainian acronym, SBU) Associated Press and Reuters) 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 No. 17

er age 6 or 96. “Light & Shadow”... A number of artists presented their works. Sofika Zielyk offered “Icon,” an (Continued from page 11) ostrich egg pysanka, written in black on white, placed on a ritual cloth (vyshyvka) provided an exciting counterpoint to this embroidered in black, the design as deli- traditional women’s song from Polissia. cate as the writing on the egg. Anya Farion Another work by Ms. Babkina, “She Never showed three of her female torso sculp- Goes to the Movies Alone,” was read by Ms. tures, each seemingly alive and vivacious. Dobner-Pereira and Ms. Pruss. That was Photographer Alexander Khantaev showed followed by Ms. Phipps reading her “Wall of “Hutsul Koliada,” his series of images of the Words.” koliada in the Kryvorivnia region of the The composition by Mariko Pajalahti, Carpathian Mountains. “Awakening,” was danced by Ms. Juslin, Other artworks were shown by Pavlo with Mr. Kytasty on bandura and Ms. Tychyna, Annette Friedman, Petro Hrycyk, Pajalahti singing her work, against the Katya Grokhovsky, Vladyslav Yerko and backdrop of projections by Volodymyr Roman Hrab. There were also videos by Klyuzko. Ms. Babkina and Serhiy Hvozdyk, June Kim Christina Lillian Turczyn read her work Shadow, Mikhail Shraga and Yulia Vita, and “Poem.” The duo of Erdem Tairov, appear- Mr. Klyuzko. ing as a video projection, and bandurist Mr. Mr. Klyuzko presented his “Carpathian Kytasty sang “Gazal” written by Khan Ghazi Photo Patterns.” From across the room they Gerey in the 17th century. Alexander Khantaev resembled patterned kilims; up close they Soozee Hwang and the Relastics (Susan Masha Pruss in “Light & Shadow: Yara’s Winter Festival of New Art, Poetry and Music.” revealed a market scene, a sitting woman, a Hwang on accordion and vocals with vocal- landscape, or other scenes, each kaleido- ists Julie DeLano and Julie LaMendola) per- Chef Olesia Lew presented “Bringing scendo. scopically manipulated. Utilizing the spac- formed “Sherlock Holmes” and “Tap On It Food from Shadow to Light,” 21st century On Sunday, January 19, the festival fea- es, he created found art: the massive chan- Light,” an homage to physicist Richard versions of traditional Ukrainian soul food. tured “The Curious Case of the Sidewalk delier lit from one side, its shadow falling Feynman. “Parking” was about the all too Hrechanyky (buckwheat cakes) presented Tree,” a shadow puppet show created by within a frame on the wall; the white chairs familiar woes of looking for a parking as “meatballs,” delicately cooked mush- Watoku Ueno. The piece featured music by from the previous night stacked in an inter- space in New York City. Mr. Kytasty joined rooms wrapped in tender flaky dough, bite- Shu Odamur,a and shadow images and locking maze. in, providing the running dialogue in size pyrohy filled with savory chicken, cups puppet designs by Mr. Ueno and Motoko Strategically scattered throughout the Ukrainian. They ended their set with “This of beets and bean, and chocolate cover Nakamura. With its exploration of environ- Ukrainian Institute, these pieces created an Will Be Our Year,” which featured a soulful mini-tortes were among the many tasty mental and emotional themes, the work imaginary realm in which the festival took musical saw solo by Ms. LaMendola. and tempting treats of this culinary cre- proved irresistible to all attendees, wheth- place.

Ms. Tkacz, full freedom to freely roam Ms. Tkacz has used in the over 25 theatrical in the framework of the play. His deft Yara premieres... through it, craftily weaving the past and works she has produced. What she does weave-in of each day’s events in Ukraine, present together, resulting in a brilliant with them is as exhilarating as it is stimu- with Mr. Kytasty performing “About Truth (Continued from page 11) piece filled with humor, insight and wit. lating. and Lies” and images from the Maidan Constantinople. She developed certain feel- The play opens with Mr. Holman, as Smith, In the scenes where Smith prepares for demonstrations projected behind them, ings for Smith and sent him to her brother and Mr. Kytasty, as his friend and bard, the duels, Ms. Hwang, as the waitress, emphasize just how relevant this 18th cen- near Cherkasy, by the Azov Sea, so he could seated in a cafe, enjoying a croissant, the brings Mr. Holman a menu listing the dif- tury “duma” is to today’s events. become a proper Turk and Muslim. Her symbol of victory over the Turks, and a ferent parts of medieval armor, assuring The play continues with similarly staged brother, angered that his sister should love Viennese roast coffee. As Mr. Kytasty dex- him that it is all organic, locally made, and scenes, taking the audience through won- a Christian, enslaved Smith and mistreated terously deflects all of Smith’s arguments from upstate – just the patter one might derful twists and unexpected turns, incor- him cruelly. for not writing the story of their adven- hear today in a trendy eatery. With Mr. porating the historical with contemporary When an opportunity showed itself, tures, Ms. Hwang, as the waitress, enters. Kytasty providing accompaniment through mores and current events. Smith murdered the brother, took his cloth- These three actors form the whole song and music, the duels are portrayed Due to overwhelming demand, the play, ing and escaped. He found his way to the troupe: Ms. Hwang, performance artist, through skillful animation by Mikhail originally scheduled for a two-week run, river Don, where he was freed from his musician, song writer, and accordion play- Shraga of the John Payne engravings in was extended for a third week. For the chains. Returning via Volyn and Podillia, he er; Mr. Holman, the founder and artistic Smith’s book. After the second duel, when appreciative audiences at the filled-to- made his way to Prague, where he was wel- director of the Bowery Poetry Club and the Smith insists that two are enough, Ms. capacity performances, the feeling was one comed and rewarded for his services by poet most often connected with the oral Hwang returns with her accordion and the of having one foot in the past and one on Sigismund. After a few more adventures tradition and endangered languages; and trio launches into the tongue-in-cheek the present, seemingly slipping at times, involving piracy at sea, Smith returned to Mr. Kytasty, one of the world’s premier ban- composition “Three Heads Is Love,” featur- yet being fully assured that Ms. Tkacz and England in 1604. dura players, whose recent work has rede- ing her brilliant and clever writing. the Yara Arts Group would bring them to a This fact-filled history gave Bob Holman, fined the possibilities of the bandura. They Mr. Holman, an exceptional word-artist, safe haven at the end of this witty and Susan Hwang and Julian Kytasty, along with may very well be the smallest troupe that is able to extemporize and improvise with- humorous voyage through history. No. 17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 15 FACT SHEET: U.S. crisis support package for Ukraine The following information was released at least 250 long-term observers and over by the White House on April 21. 1,700 short-term observers.

President Obama and Vice-President to provide advice on issues such as consti- Biden have made U.S. support for Ukraine tutional• We arechecks also andsending balances, additional local experts gover- an urgent priority as the Ukrainian govern- nance, public participation, and the estab- ment works to establish security and sta- lishment of an independent, transparent bility, pursue democratic elections and con- judicial system. stitutional reform, revive its economy, and Economic Assistance: The United ensure government institutions are trans- States has already signed a $1 billion loan parent and accountable to the Ukrainian guarantee to help Ukraine meet its financial people. Ukraine embarks on this reform obligations and protect vulnerable citizens U.S. Embassy Kyiv path in the face of severe challenges to its from the impact of economic adjustments. U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden with Ukraine’s acting Prime Minister Arseniy sovereignty and territorial integrity, which We have also supported Ukraine’s work Yatsenyuk at their April 22 press conference in Kyiv. we are working to address together with with the IMF to secure a loan program Ukraine and our partners in the interna- earlier). In addition, he said the U.S. would worth $14-$18 billion. As these U.S., IMF, tional community. The United States is provide expertise to help Ukraine reduce and European funds begin to flow, we will Biden tells... committed to ensuring that Ukrainians its reliance on Russian energy supplies. have technical experts from the U.S. (Continued from page 1) alone are able to determine their country’s Mr. Biden’s visit came as the United Treasury Department on the ground to help future without intimidation or coercion States and Russia were blaming each other the Ukrainian government allocate them been clear that more provocative behavior from outside forces. To support Ukraine, for violating the Geneva agreement aimed effectively to stabilize the economy and by Russia will lead to more costs and to we are today announcing a new package of at easing the crisis in Ukraine that was ensure all the regions benefit. Currently, greater isolation.” assistance totaling $50 million to help there are three banking advisors in Kyiv and “It’s time for Russia to stop talking and signed by Ukraine, Russia, the United States Ukraine pursue political and economic and the European Union on April 17. we will be deploying public debt manage- start acting. Act on the commitments that reform and strengthen the partnership ment and macroeconomic advisors in the they made: to get pro-Russian separatists Sources: RFE/RL (with Reuters, Agence between the United States and Ukraine. coming week. We are also committed to to vacate buildings and checkpoints, accept France-Presse and the Associated Press) and Elections and Constitutional Reform: providing additional technical assistance in amnesty and address their grievances U.S. Embassy Kyiv. Constitutional reform and free and fair the areas of budget and tax administration. politically; to get out on the record calling elections are keys to Ukraine’s democratic Energy Security: Over the coming for the release of all illegally occupied development. Assistance in this area is a weeks, expert teams from several U.S. gov- buildings,” Mr. Biden stated. down payment on the country’s democratic ernment agencies will travel to the region The vice-president was the highest-rank- development. We stand ready to provide to help Ukraine meet immediate and longer ing U.S. official to visit Kyiv since Russia’s further assistance to the new government term energy needs. annexation of Crimea. He met with acting after elections. President Oleksandr Turchynov and Prime arrived in Kyiv to help Ukraine secure Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. The vice-presi- $11.4 million package to support the integ- reverse• Today, flows a U.S. of interagency natural gas expert from team its dent also met with civil society leaders in rity• ofThe the United May 25States elections. is contributing These funds an European neighbors. The team will contin- Kyiv to discuss their key role in supporting are being used to advance democratic pro- ue on to Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia in Ukraine’s democratic institutions. cesses – not to support a particular candi- the coming days to work on the details of Mr. Biden announced a new package of date or electoral outcome. These efforts these arrangements. Reverse flows of natu- U.S. assistance totaling $50 million to help include voter education programs, trans- ral gas will provide Ukraine with additional Ukraine pursue political and economic parent election administration, effective immediate sources of energy. reform and strengthen the partnership oversight of the election process, election between the United States and Ukraine. security and a redress of infractions, and a European Bank for Reconstruction and Included in that amount is $11.4 million to diverse, balanced and policy-focused media Development• U.S. technical and experts others will in Mayjoin withto help the environment. help conduct the presidential election in RISU via the vice-president’s Instagram Ukraine develop a public-private invest- Ukraine, as well as an increase of $8 million - Vice-President Joe Biden lights a candle ment initiative to increase conventional gas port and monitors to the OSCE’s election in non-lethal security aid to Ukraine’s at St. Michael Sobor in Kyiv. St. Michael’s production from existing fields to boost armed forces and border guards (a package served as a shelter and hospital for Euro- observation• The United mission States and is contributingother monitoring sup worth $10 million had been announced Maidan participants. groups. U.S. funded programs will provide (Continued on page 18)

encourage other NATO states to deploy teurs across the border. It’s not clear how Russian speakers in the region as a haven The West... troops. Taken together, that would provide many of the troublemakers in the east are of stability, of employment and higher more than a tripwire, generating time for Russian security agents and how many are wages, and free from the sort of chaos and (Continued from page 7) larger reinforcements, and complicating Ukrainians who want to remain in Russia’s mayhem brought by Euro-Maidan. Similar losses in volatile stock and currency any threat against NATO states or even orbit, but it’s reasonably clear that there scenarios could be played out in the south, exchange markets. ...While European foot- Crimea-style intervention in Ukraine. …” are plenty of both. Ukrainians note that from Kherson to Odessa [sic], and encom- dragging is the biggest obstacle to an effec- “Putin has no illusions about America’s supposed locals in the pro-Russian camp passing the self-proclaimed Transdniester tive response, some of Washington’s initial combat-hardened conventional superiority. sometimes are unfamiliar with local streets. republic in Moldova. comments and actions suggested unwill- But by all appearances he has great doubt “Putin has emerged as a great champion “What will become of Ukraine? Putin ingness to face the reality of Putin’s actions. about America’s will to use force, and that of the rights of Russian-speakers every- wishes to control it as fully as possible, to … creates a dangerous situation. …” where – except in the place where their ensure that it remains firmly within “The best way to send Putin a tough rights are most endangered. That’s Russia Russia’s orbit. Thus it would not be a major message and possibly deflect a Russian “In Ukraine, Seeking U.S. Aid,” by itself. concern whether the next government in campaign against more vulnerable NATO Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times, “Meanwhile, Russian propaganda has Kiev [sic] is pro-Russian. Options are open. states is to back up our commitment to the April 16: reached almost North Korean proportions: And it is the range of possibilities that may sanctity of NATO territory with ground “For decades, Ukrainians have been Putin shrugs at the world and embraces confuse the ‘enemy’ – NATO, the EU or the troops, the only military deployment that starved, oppressed and bullied by Russians, implausible deniability. interim government of Ukraine – but they can make such commitments unequivocal. and, with Russia now inciting instability “Ukrainians mounted their revolution are all integrated into one current plan, …Troops, even limited in number, send a that could lead to an invasion and dismem- because they wanted to be more like the which might be defined as to ‘disrupt, much more powerful message. …they can berment of eastern Ukraine, plenty of brave West, so it frustrates them that the West undermine, intimidate and cause chaos’ all make the point that the United States is Ukrainians here say they’ve had it and are hasn’t returned the love. … backed by a formidable wave of disinforma- serious about defending NATO’s eastern ready to go bear-hunting. … “I do think the White House can do tion. borders. … “That’s a glimpse of the mood in Ukraine more – with military transfers, financial aid, “Putin is not only destabilizing Ukraine. “The administration, after consulting these days. People seem to feel a bit disap- economic sanctions and moral support – to He is destroying whatever democratic ele- with NATO, should inform Moscow that it pointed that the United States and Europe stand with Ukraine. …” ments have remained in Russia. But at will station limited forces in Poland, the haven’t been more supportive, and they are present, what is more important than Baltic states and Romania if Russia contin- humiliated that their own acting govern- “Dismantling Ukraine,” by David democracy to many Russians is the reasser- ues its aggression against Ukraine and does ment hasn’t done more to confront Marples, The Moscow Times, April 15: tion of the country’s position in the global not withdraw troops. …Although Russian Russian-backed militants. … “…Putin’s strategy is not to invade the arena. For the moment, Ukraine is like car- ground forces number an estimated 40,000 “President Vladimir Putin of Russia eastern regions, if possible, but to turn rion, slowly picked apart by marauding or more, such a small-scale U.S. force could warns that Ukraine is on the brink of civil them into mini-states that are autonomous crows while passers-by shake their heads rally the affected nations to commit war. But the chaos in eastern cities is his from Ukraine and linked to Russia more in concern – but can do little to prevent unequivocally their own larger forces and own creation, in part by sending provoca- closely. Russia may be perceived by many them.” 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 No. 17

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE St. Josaphat Parish holds pysanka workshop by Daria Hanushevsky ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A pysanka workshop was held at St. Josaphat’s Father Nicholas Wolensky Hall on Saturday, March 29. The workshop was organized by parishioners Helene Kibler and Daria Hanushevsky. When the Rev. Philip Weiner arranged for the Rev. Paul Luniw to preach the annual Lenten Mission, the organizers decided to schedule the workshop during the same week- end. This allowed the organizers to have the Rev. Luniw, a master pysanka artist, lead the workshop. Father Paul led the group in a short prayer to properly begin. He presented an overview of the historical signifi- cance of the pysanka, explaining its pagan origins and motifs that were transformed with the introduction of Christianity to Ukraine. He explained the symbolism of designs and colors to the group of 17 participants, made up of both parishioners and friends anxious to learn about the art and tradition of the pysanka. The workshop participants were in awe of the pysanky created by Father Paul, written on eggs of all sizes from the grand ostrich to the petite finch. The display of his handi- work was truly inspirational. After a short demonstration of how to start, each Participants of the pysanka workshop at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church in Rochester, N.Y. attendee eagerly launched into creating his or her own pysanka. The room was quiet as each person worked Halfway through the workshop the group enjoyed a an exchange of e-mail addresses for future events. intensely, using the traditional wood kistka, candle and lunch of homemade chicken noodle soup, sandwiches and Attendees left with a deeper understanding of an ancient beeswax. Father Paul walked around and encouraged each salad, all prepared by St. Josaphat’s Kitchen Society – tradition, a glimpse into the richness of Ukrainian culture participant with positive feedback. At the same time he George Hanushevsky and Tekla Pryjmak. and spiritual heritage, newfound friendships, and, of wrote his own new pysanka. The workshop concluded with a group photo, as well as course, the treasure of their very own pysanky! Hartford’s Yevshan Ensemble performs concert in Woonsocket

by Ihor Slabicky The ensemble returned with Mr. Kuzma directing them through the “Dnes WOONSOCKET, R.I. – Twenty-three ten- Poyushche” suite. Composed by the Rev. ors, basses, altos and sopranos – members Kyrylo Stetsenko, the suite included “Oy of the Yevshan Ukrainian Vocal Ensemble Vydyt Boh” and “Po Vsyomu Svitu.” This of Hartford, Conn. – and Alex Kuzma, the was followed by the shchedrivka “Oy, Rano director of ensemble, performed at St. Kury Zapily.” “Silent Night,” in an arrange- Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic ment by Mr. Hallick, was unique in that it Church here on Sunday, January 5. featured all of the verses; it is not often per- Taking full advantage of the wonderful formed that way. In “Oy V Yerusalymi, Rano acoustics of this church, they enthralled the Zadzvonyly,” another shchedrivka, the deli- audience, some of whom traveled from cate voices of the ensemble reminded lis- Connecticut, the Boston area, and Aquidneck teners of distant church bells. and Jamestown Islands to enjoy this musi- Mr. Kuzma then presented another con- cal recital. temporary composition, “Shchedryi Vechir” Msgr. Roman Golemba, the pastor of St. by Bohdan Sehin of Lviv. This piece had a Michael’s and of St. John the Baptist in Fall melancholic feel to it, as one reflected on the River, Mass., warmly welcomed the public holiness of the holy day. Next sung was and invited Mr. Kuzma to take the stand, “Pryletiv Sokil Do Vikontsia,” a contemporary which he did, to appreciative applause. koliada composed by Volodymyr Pavenskiy, The ensemble opened with a powerful that incorporates a traditional melody. performance of the Alexander Koshetz The closing piece was “Slava Vo arrangement of “Boh Predvichnyi.” In the Vyshnikh Bohu” by the 18th century com- middle of this they segued into “Nova poser Dmytro Bortnianskiy. The ensemble Radist Stala,” the transitions into that and gave a robust rendition of this work, whose then back to “Boh Predvichnyi” as imper- elegance and dynamics easily surpass that ceptible as one breath follows another. of the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s Following a heartfelt “vinshuvannia” (a Ihor Slabicky “Messiah.” The enthusiastic audience arose Alex Kuzma and the Yevshan Ukrainian Vocal Ensemble at St. Michael the Archangel message of best wishes), Mr. Kuzma led the as one in an extended standing ovation for Ukrainian Catholic Church in Woonsocket, R. I. group through an ethereal “Vo Vefleyemi” the ensemble and for Mr. Kuzma. and “Oh, Come, Oh Come Emmanuel.” They porary pieces, not just by Mr. Hallick, but America and Ukraine, are creating works In his closing remarks, Msgr. Roman next performed a joyful “Hrayte Dzvony,” a also by other composers, was a positive that will stand the test of time. Golemba thanked Open MRI of New work by contemporary composer Greg aspect of the concert. Not only did their The chorus, accompanied by the bandu- England, the sponsors of the concert. After Hallick. Mr. Hallick, who currently lives in works set this concert apart from other ra quintet, performed a harmonious “Nebo the concert, audience members had an California, has family roots in the Ukrainian Christmas concerts, but it also exposed the i Zemlya.” The bandura trio then performed opportunity to attend a reception in the community of Woonsocket. audience to new works and showed that an enchanted instrumental version of church hall and to meet with the director The inclusion by Mr. Kuzma of contem- these contemporary composers, both in “What Child Is This.” and the ensemble members.

Solana, European Commission President countries; and Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. bloc intends to “give strong political sup- Turning... Jose Manuel Barroso and Mirek Topolanek, as other major interested parties – causing port” to the construction of the Southern former Czech prime minister who served as some controversy within the EU. Germany Corridor – including the “trans-Caspian (Continued from page 6) president of the EU Council. They were joined led a long-established group of countries – link” from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan, link- On May 7, 2009, the EU’s Eastern by representatives of Azerbaijan, Georgia, including France, Italy and Spain, among ing Central Asia directly with the Nabucco Partnership countries – Ukraine, Belarus, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, in others, which overcame EU resistance and pipeline. It was projected to run from Baku Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan – hopes of securing significant amounts of secured an invitation for Russia. to Europe, circumventing Russia. were invited to a summit in Prague, to dis- natural gas deliveries without resorting to The Southern Corridor was defined by cuss special benefits to the partner nations. Russian supplies or mediation. the EU as a direct link to energy in the Source: “News Analysis: EU foreign minis- Another summit hosted on May 8, 2009, Countries with “observer” status that Caspian Sea region and is expected to ters discuss eastern neighbors,”by Ahto in Prague was dedicated to the Southern were invited to the meeting included Iraq, bypass Russian pipelines and infrastructure. Lobjakas (RFE/RL), The Ukrainian Weekly, Corridor project; it was overseen by Mr. Egypt and Uzbekistan as potential supplier A draft summit declaration said that the EU May 3, 2009. No. 17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 17 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 No. 17

trust in government. Technical advisors vetted unit to help build a sustainable anti- $50 million package, today we are U.S. crisis... from the Departments of State and Justice corruption regime within Ukraine, as we announcing the provision of $8 million of have already been advising the government have done with substantial results in other non-lethal military assistance to allow the (Continued from page 15) on anti-corruption measures. Today we are parts of the world. Ukrainian armed forces and State Border domestic energy supply. A technical team expanding this assistance program with Guard Service to fulfill their core security will also engage the government on mea- additional commitments. investigators will help the Ukrainian gov- missions. The additional supplies include: sures that will help the Ukrainian govern- ernment• Specialized with otherteams formsof prosecutors of technical and ment ensure swift and environmentally host an international conference in London assistance to put in place the proper legal ment and handheld radios for Ukraine’s sustainable implementation of contracts April• Attorney 29-30 toGeneral help [Eric]identify, Holder trace, will and co- and regulatory framework to fight corrup- Armed• Explosive Forces. Ordnance Disposal equip- signed in 2013 for shale gas development. recover proceeds of corruption stolen by tion. The teams will also serve as a the former regime. This is part of an ongo- resource to ensure follow-through and tions equipment, vehicles, and non-lethal cialists will travel to Ukraine next month to ing effort, including work by an FBI investi- effective implementation. individual• Engineering tactical equipment, gear for communica- Ukraine’s provide• Department advice on of how Energy to maximize and USAID energy spe- gative team on the ground in Kyiv to help People-to-People Ties: To further Border Guard Service. efficiency, which could deliver potentially the government of Ukraine recover assets strengthen ties between the people of This is in addition to the $3 million of huge cost savings to Ukraine and rational- stolen from the Ukrainian people. Ukraine and the United States, we are Meals Ready to Eat and nearly $7 million of ize energy consumption. announcing our intent to establish a new health and welfare assistance the United Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption: The and assistance to help modernize Ukraine’s bilateral visa regime that will extend the States is already providing to Ukraine. The United States is committed to helping government• The United procurement States will providein accordance advice standard validity of visas for businesspeo- United States will continue to actively review Ukraine break the cycle of corruption that with international standards, including the ple and tourists from 5 years to 10 years on requests for additional support as Ukraine’s acts as a tax on business, an impediment to creation of a vetted anti-corruption unit. a negotiated reciprocal basis. government further modernizes its armed economic growth, and a drain on public We will offer technical assistance to that Security Assistance: In addition to the forces and deals with evolving threats.

stressed and one that means that “the this accord any more than it did the may lose far more, that their state is at risk Betrayal... Russian powers will continue to under- Budapest Memorandum, but both Russia of dismemberment, and that those on mine them... and say that the authorities in and the West will insist that Ukraine do so whom they had hoped to rely to defend (Continued from page 6) Kyiv are illegitimate, as Putin said,” again – something that will further unbalance the their position have betrayed them. accord presupposes that Ukraine will on the same day the accord was signed. playing field against Ukraine and The Russian commentator concludes become a federal state – even though such Thirteenth, “according to the document,” Ukrainians. with two extremely disturbing comments. a development “does not enjoy any signifi- Mr. Illarionov says, all “serious organized Sixteenth, despite polls showing that a On the one hand, he says, what has now cant public support in any region of forces capable of opposing Russian aggres- majority of Ukrainians favor having their happened is that a major European country Ukraine” but only reflects what Moscow sion” such as the Maidan Self-Defense country become a member of NATO, the has been seized “without the use of tanks” wants. Tenth, that sets the stage for more groups and the Right Sector will be dis- Geneva accord specifies that Ukraine will because its own rulers have been “traitors” Crimeas and the creeping dismemberment armed and disbanded, leaving Ukraine remain outside of that “bloc” and thus face and that this seizure has been legitimated of Ukraine. without anyone to defend it given the weak- Russian power on its own. by the West. And on the other, while Esau Eleventh, “the result of the process of ness of the Ukrainian army and militia. And seventeenth, Mr. Illarionov says, exchanged his birthright of a bowl of food, federalization” will not be a federal Ukraine Fourteenth, because the document Ukrainians must now recognize that they Ukraine has given up something essential but rather the creation of a “Novorossiya requires the disbanding of such units, any have not only lost Crimea to Russia but without getting even that in return. (‘from Kharkiv to Odesa’) about which use of force by pro-Moscow groups against Putin spoke so inspiringly” the same day them, an action that was a violation of this accord was being signed. national and international law before Want to keep up to date on developments in Ukraine? Twelfth, the agreement does not guaran- Geneva, has now become “perfectly legal” tee the holding of presidential and parlia- and thus can be expected. The Ukrainian Weekly mentary elections, a fact that Russian Fifteenth, there is no reason to think Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov that Russia will live up to the provisions of LIKE on Facebook to read the latest!

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April 27 Concert, “A Ukrainian Montage,” featuring the Ukrainian May 2 Euro Block Party and “Oligarchs for Democracy” cocktail Ft. Lauderdale, FL Dancers of Miami, the Gerdan music ensemble and Trio Buffalo, NY hour, Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural Center, Maksymowich vocal ensemble, Amaturo Theater, Broward http://ukiclub.com/euroblock.htm Center for the Performing Arts, 954-462-0222 May 2-18 Art exhibit, “Max Vityk: A Journey,” Ukrainian Institute April 27 Film screening, “The Soviet Story” by Edvardis Snore, New York of America, 212-288-8660 Arlington, VA Arlington Sister City Association – Ivano-Frankivsk Committee, Columbia Pike Branch Library, 703-228-5710 May 3 Volleyball tournament, Ukrainian American Cultural Whippany, NJ Center of New Jersey, [email protected] April 27 Fund-raiser soccer tournament, “Unity in Ukraine,” Etobicoke, ON Centennial Park Stadium, 416-807-0988 or May 3 Lecture, by Jaroslaw Pelenski, “The Collapse of Viktor [email protected] New York Yanukovych’s Presidency and Political Perspectives for Ukraine,” Shevchenko Scientific Society, 212-254-5130 April 27 “Lemko Coffee Talk” series, “Saved From Oblivion” with New York Aleksandra Jawornicka-Nowosad and “Russian InfoWars” May 7 Presentation by Yuliya Ladygina, “The ‘Fascist Hero’ of by Zenon Zawada, Ukrainian National Home, Cambridge, MA Ukrainian Independence: Olha Kobylianska’s ‘Apostle of www.lemko-ool.com or 347-992-9038 the Mob,’” Harvard University, 617-495-4053 or [email protected] April 28 Seminar with Hanna Bazhenova, “Historians of the Warsaw Cambridge, MA Imperial University: Border Identity Formation and May 8 Concert, featuring violinists Solomiya Ivakhiv and Katie Scholarly Careers,” Harvard University, 617-495-4053 New York Lansdale, violist Eriko Sato, guitarist Oren Fader, cellist or [email protected] Ruth Sommers and pianist David Oei, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, www.solomiyaivakhiv.com April 28 Discussion with Louis Skyner and Clifford Chance, New York “Russian Energy Politics: From Europe to Asia,” Columbia May 9 Lecture by Andrew Herscher, “Missing Persons, Political University, 212-854-4697 Stanford, CA Subjects and Public Spaces of Disappearance,” Stanford University, 650-725-2563 April 29 Lecture by Oksana Kis, “Women in the Nationalist Stanford, CA Underground Movement in Western Ukraine,” May 9 Lecture by Vladyslav Hrynevych, “The Maidan in Ukraine: Stanford University, [email protected] or Washington Historical Memory versus Historical Policy: How 650-725-2563 Yanukovych’s Policies in the Humanitarian Spheres Provoked Resistance from Historical Memory,” May 1 Presentation by President Jose Manuel Barrosso, “Global Shevchenko Scientific Society, U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, Stanford, CA Europe, from the Atlantic to the Pacific,” Stanford 202-524-6555 University, [email protected] or 650-725-2563 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events May 2 Presentation, “The Limits of Enlargement: The EU and advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Stanford, CA Eastern Europe, 2004, 2014,” Wallenburg Theater, from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors Stanford University, 650-725-2563 and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 No. 17

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Sunday, April 27 Sciences in Ukraine, and former director of news, brings bad luck, or foreshadows heart- Formed in 2011 as an outgrowth of The European Research Institute at the National break. Zozulka, featuring Eva Salina Primack, Chornobyl Songs Project, the Zozulka trio of NEW YORK: The “Lemko Coffee Talk” series Academy of Sciences in Ukraine. The lecture Willa Roberts and Maria Sonevytsky, brings the singers focuses on ritual and lyrical village launches with two speakers: Aleksandra will take place at the society’s building, 63 haunting multi-part women’s vocal repertoire songs from Poltava and Polissia, regions in cen- Jawornicka-Nowosad, Ph.D. candidate, Fourth Ave. (between Ninth and 10th streets) of the Ukrainian village to life in expressive, tral and northern Ukraine. The program is at 3 University of Warsaw, on the impact of Akcja at 5 p.m. For additional information call 212- dynamic interpretations of songs that are little- p.m. at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St.; for 254-5130. known beyond Ukraine. Rich with harmony, information call 301-229-2615 or log on to ern Poland, based on first-hand interviews; strident unisons and powerful lyrics, these [email protected]. Suggested dona- Friday, May 9 andWisła Zenon on three Zawada, generations journalist, of Lemkos on the politicalin west- songs transport you to the dense forests and tion: $20; free for students. A reception to meet crisis in Ukraine within the context of WASHINGTON: The Shevchenko Scientific wide-open steppes of another place and time. the artists will follow the performance. Vladimir Putin’s propaganda and media Society (Washington, D.C., chapter) presents a manipulation. The event takes place at the lecture (in Ukrainian) by the noted historian Ukrainian East Village Restaurant, 140 Second of World War II, Vladyslav Hrynevych, titled Ave., New York, NY 10003, at 4 p.m. “The Maidan in Ukraine: Historical Memory PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES Presentations will be in English. Free entry versus Historical Policy: How Yanukovych’s Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a service and complimentary coffee/snacks. Sponsored Policies in the Historical and Humanitarian provided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian by the Organization for the Defense of Spheres Provoked Resistance from Historical community. Items should be no more than 100 words long; longer submissions are Lemkivshchyna (OOL) and the Lemko Memory.” The lecture is at 6 p.m. at the U.S.- subject to editing. Research Foundation (LRF). For more infor- Ukraine Foundation, 1660 L St. NW, Suite mation contact Diana Reilly, 347-992-9038. 1000, Washington, DC 20036-5634; tele- Preview items must be received no later than one week before the desired date of Saturday, May 3 phone, 202-524-6555. Admission is free. publication. Items will be published only once, unless otherwise indicated. Please include payment for each time the item is to appear and indicate date(s) of issue(s) in Saturday, May 17 NEW YORK: The Shevchenko Scientific which the item is to be published. Society invites all to the lecture “The Collapse ALEXANDRIA, Va.: The Washington Group of Viktor Yanukovych’s Presidency and Cultural Fund will present the trio Zozulka in a Information should be sent to: [email protected]; payment should be sent to Political Perspectives for Ukraine” by Dr. program of songs from the Ukrainian village. In Preview of Events, The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ Jaroslaw Pelenski. Dr. Pelenski is a historian, Ukrainian village cultures, it is the “zozulka” – 07054. NB: If e-mailing, please do not send items as attachments; simply type the foreign member of the National Academy of the little cuckoo bird – that often bears sad text into the body of the e-mail message. Subscribe to The Ukrainian Weekly $90 per year $80 for UNA members

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