Inside: l State in a Smartphone app is launched – page 3 l ‘Peripheral Visions’ exhibit by the Yurchuks – page 11 l Community: Alberta, New York, New Jersey – pages 16-17

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association, Inc., celebrating W its 125th anniversaryeekly Vol. LXXXVIII No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 $2.00 NEWS ANALYSIS Yermak replaces Bohdan Zelenskyy, with Yermak in new role, as the head of Presidential Office emphasizes continuity in foreign policy

by Bohdan Nahaylo understood that it is necessary to change the Minsk accords of 2014-2015 because – When President Volodymyr they are not working, and he sensed that Zelenskyy fired the controversial head of even “ is preparing to think this his Presidential Office, , and over.” This recognition of “Minsk flexibility” replaced him with , a non- was a step forward. In his view, the staff close adviser who has become increas- achieve­ment of peace remains the goal, for ingly influential in recent months, the move in the end it will be not about winners and suggested a change in style and approach in losers but “a victory for everyone.” the domestic sphere. But the appointment Turning from the Donbas to Crimea, also reaffirmed Mr. Yermak’s position as the President Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukrainian president’s chief negotiator with this issue was “even more complicated.” He the Kremlin and his stewardship over added cryptically: “But we are also working ’s foreign policy in general. on it. I cannot say more so far.” On the same day as the personnel The following day, at his first press con- change in Kyiv, Moscow confirmed that ference as head of the Presidential Office, or had replaced Vladyslav chief of staff, Mr. Yermak reaffirmed that “ending the war in the Donbas in the inter- Surkov as President ’s point Presidential Office man for Ukraine. Mr. Yermak has dealt with ests of Ukraine” remains the priority. He both Messrs. Surkov and Kozak and told carefully stressed that President Zelenskyy Andriy Yermak holds his first briefing as head of the Presidential Office. Ukrainian TV on February 10 that, in his and his administration will continue to conversation, which allegedly ended with view, this was a change for the better. adhere to the principles they have enumer- by Roman Tymotsko Mr. Bohdan offering to write a letter of res- These developments have fueled specu- ated from the outset in this regard, and KYIV – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ignation, to which Mr. Zelenskyy replied, lation that prospects for dialogue between respect the “red lines” that have been drawn. dismissed the head of the Presidential “Go ahead and write it.” By that evening, Moscow and Kyiv will be enhanced, but at In order to pre-empt possible new fears Office of Ukraine, Andriy Bohdan, and sources in the Presidential Office shared the same time renewed questions about about official Kyiv’s intentions, Mr. Yermak appointed presidential aide Andriy Yermak the information that Mr. Bohdan was the degree of compromise the two sides addressed a sensitive issue generating con- in his place on February 11. resigning. The next morning, an official might be willing to make. cern: the conditions under which elections Mr. Bohdan served as chief of staff and statement was released confirming this Before leaving for the Munich Security could be held in the territories currently Mr. Yermak worked as an aide to President information. Conference in Germany, President occupied by Russia’s forces. “I want to reit- Zelenskyy beginning on May 21, 2019. On On February 12, Mr. Yermak held his Zelenskyy commented candidly on how he erate,” he stressed, “that in accordance with Ukrainian legislation, elections are impos- February 10, according to Presidential first briefing in his new role as chief of staff views the current state of Russian- Office insiders quoted by the news media, Ukrainian relations and the Normandy for- the president and Mr. Bohdan had a tough mat process. On February 11, in an inter- (Continued on page 4) (Continued on page 4) view for Interfax-Ukraine shown on Ukrainian TV, he suggested that his first meeting with President Putin at the Normandy four summit in Paris in Olympic Market closes after 68 years in business December 2019 had been an ice-breaker. “When you have eye-to-eye contact, you by Matthew Dubas immediately realize who is front of you, IRVINGTON, N.J. – Among the sparsely stocked what kind of person,” he explained. “I think grocery shelves, the writing was on the wall – he understood me. And he understands “You’ve had the rest, now try the best!” – as an that this war must be finished.” end of an era was drawing nearer. On February For the first time, Mr. Zelenskyy also 15 Olympic Community Market on 40th Street offered his view on what Russia risks if it (on the corner of Leslie Place) closed its doors for continues its aggressive course towards good. An institution founded in 1952, known Ukraine: “dissolution in the form in which then as Bundziak and Lazirko Meat Market and it exists today.” It is clear to all, he said, that located at 615 Springfield Ave. in Newark, Russia wants to rebuild a latter-day version Olympic Market, or simply “Lazirko’s,” the busi- of the through territorial ness has been run for two generations by the expansion. If Mr. Putin persists, “Escalation Lazirko family. Son Oleh Lazirko says it is a bitter- and seizure of such a large country as sweet moment leading to his retirement. Ukraine is, I am sure, the only really dan- This writer was standing in line on Friday gerous step for Russia, which may result in afternoon, February 7, as many of the regular cus- a bitter domestic conflict in Russia.” This tomers were ordering lunch sandwiches, while consideration, the Ukrainian president others placed their last orders of homemade believes, should be a restraining factor for meat products – the familiar Ukrainian classics, his Russian counterpart. including kovbasa, kabanos, liverwurst (“pashte­ Mr. Zelenskyy also indicated that he was tivka”) and kyshka, as well as modern spins on encouraged that in Paris all the parties – Matthew Dubas the leaders of France, Germany, Ukraine Oleh Lazirko poses in front of Olympic Community Market, as his father (Continued on page 11) and Russia – to a greater or lesser extent had in front of B&L Meat Market. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 No. 7

ANALYSIS

Russian-Ukrainian gas transit deal: A collapse President fires chief of staff compromises during the negotiations,” Mr. Yermak said. “But we have talked about this Ukrainian President Volodymyr many times, and I also want to add that I am of Putin’s gas strategy or a temporary retreat? Zelenskyy has dismissed the chief of his ready and will continue to do this: speak administration, Andriy Bohdan, and same time, Ukraine does not relinquish with all patriotic, competent, reasonable by Alla Hurska replaced him with Andriy Yermak, an aide future claims on the ’s illegally lost forces in this country.” Mr. Yermak’s appoint- Eurasia Daily Monitor whose name has been linked to U.S. ment raised some eyebrows in Ukraine from assets in annexed Crimea (5.ua, December President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, PART I 30, 2019). those who fear he may soften Kyiv’s position Rudolph Giuliani. The presidential decrees toward Russia, especially amid the current The new gas transit deal has strategic on relieving Mr. Bohdan from his duties and On January 1, the Gas Transmission meaning for Ukraine. According to thaw in relations that included major prison- System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) LLC appointing Mr. Yermak were signed on er swaps late last year that Mr. Yermak was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, February 11 and placed on the presidential began transporting Russian natural gas to this agreement will bring more than $7 bil- involved with in his role as an aide to Mr. Europe under a new five-year transit agree- website. Evidence and testimony gathered Zelenskyy. Looking to allay those concerns, lion in revenue. And, as a result of the nego- during Mr. Trump’s recent impeachment ment (Gordonua.com, January 1). This con- tiations, for the next five years the the 48-year-old former film producer and tract (consistent with European Union reg- hearing shows Mr. Giuliani met with Mr. lawyer stressed at the news conference that Ukrainian gas transit system will operate Yermak to “strongly” urge an investigation ulations) was signed by representatives of without loss, guaranteeing energy security Crimea, which was forcefully seized and the Ukrainian energy firm Naftogaz, GTSOU Mr. Trump wanted of Democratic rival Joe annexed by Russia in March 2014, and the and welfare for (Pravda.com.ua, Biden and his son’s ties to Ukrainian energy (established in line with Kyiv’s commit- December 30, 2019). Donbas were “Ukrainian territories” and ments to implement EU energy market firm Burisma. Mr. Bohdan’s appointment to that elections in the areas controlled by the The president’s statement was support- the post in May last year, after Mr. Zelenskyy “unbundling” legislation) and Gazprom on ed by Naftogaz’s business and development separatists scheduled for October “must be won the presidential election, sparked con- held under Ukrainian legislation.” He com- December 30, 2019, just one day before the director, Yuriy Vitrenko, who stated that the troversy as Mr. Bohdan used to be a lawyer mented on the appointment of Dmitry previous 10-year gas supply and transit deal is worth over $7.2 billion. Mr. Vitrenko contract was set to expire. The issue of for powerful tycoon Ihor Kolomoisky, who Kozak, the deputy head of the Russian asserted that this is the best transit deal in returned to Kyiv days ahead of Mr. direct gas supplies to Ukraine was not Presidential Administration, to handle rela- the history of Naftogaz-Gazprom agree- Zelenskyy’s inauguration after two years of included in the package agreements. tions with Kyiv, sidelining hard-liner ments. For the first time, the contract con- self-imposed exile in Geneva and Tel Aviv. According to the new contract, Russia . “I have not spoken to Mr. tained not a “take-or-pay” but a “ship-or- Mr. Kolomoisky had left Ukraine to avoid will continue shipping gas westward via Kozak since his appointment and my pay” clause. In other words, the Russian criminal charges. Under the previous presi- the Ukrainian pipeline network through at appointment,” Mr. Yermak said. “But regard- company will be forced to compensate dent, , the government least 2024, with the possibility of extending less of who represents the Russian Ukraine for the transit of the contractually had nationalized PrivatBank, which Mr. the deal for another 10 years, on the same Federation in the negotiations in Minsk or in agreed minimum amount, even if it does Kolomoisky once co-owned, and accused terms (Gordonua.com, December 30, the Normandy format, the principles not actually ship that much gas to the EU in him of stealing $5.5 billion at a time when 2019). Under the new agreement, Ukraine declared by President Zelenskyy are a given year. Mr. Vitrenko assured that the war-torn country was being propped up unchanged,” he added. (RFE/RL) will transmit a minimum of 65 billion cubic these guaranteed transit revenues will be by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), meters (bcm) of Russian natural gas to sufficient to cover the transit costs with the the United States and the European Union. Kremlin’s new Ukraine negotiator Europe in 2020 and at least 40 bcm per margin. Additionally, according to Mr. Many said at the time that Mr. Kolomoisky year in 2021-2024. However, the actual vol- Veteran official Dmitry Kozak was Vitrenko, transit fees for extra volumes returned to influence President Zelenskyy’s appointed as Russia’s chief negotiator in umes may be higher (Epravda.com.ua, beyond the minimum amount will substan- policies via Mr. Bohdan. (RFE/RL) December 21, 2019). relations with Kyiv and Moscow-backed tially increase (Facebook.com, December separatists in eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin Additionally, on December 27, 2019, 30, 2019). Yermak: Room for compromise with Russia even before the new contract was signed, announced on February 11. President The latest standoff between Ukraine and The new head of Ukraine’s Presidential Russia’s state-owned gas major Gazprom Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov Russia had again threatened to disrupt sup- Office has signaled there is room for com- told reporters that Mr. Kozak, deputy head paid Naftogaz $5 billion. This sum included plies to Europe and could have led to promise in talks on ending the war with $2.9 billion of compensation following the of the Russian Presidential Administration, another protracted Russo-Ukrainian gas Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part was now the most senior Kremlin official Stockholm Arbitration Court ruling (2018) war if the two sides had failed to reach an of the country, a day after Moscow replaced when it came to Ukraine. Mr. Kozak, 61, was and $2.56 billion in repayment of both the agreement after December 31, 2019. But a hardline point man on the issue with a born in what used to be Soviet Ukraine. He previously unpaid compensation and of the Ukraine demonstrated its reliability as an Ukrainian-born official in the Kremlin. replaces Kremlin insider Vladislav Surkov, interest accrued from the date that the EU transit partner. By the end of last year, Andriy Yermak told reporters in Kyiv on who had overseen Russia’s ties with decision was announced on February 28, Kyiv fulfilled all the requirements put for- February 12, a day after his appointment, Ukraine and other ex-Soviet countries since 2018 (Epravda.com.ua, December 27, ward by the European Union and finalized that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s team 2013. Mr. Peskov did not say whether Mr. 2019). In exchange, Ukraine agreed to the unbundling process of Naftogaz (estab- will continue to work on stopping the war in Surkov, 55, would be leaving the Kremlin release the seizures of Russian property in lishing GTSOU, thus separating the gas eastern Ukraine, where some areas in the altogether but added that Mr. Kozak was England, Wales, the Netherlands and transmission system of Ukraine from gas Donetsk and Luhansk regions, known as the now the Kremlin’s point man for Ukraine. Luxembourg. The arrests of Gazprom assets supplier Naftogaz). According to Naftogaz Donbas, have been under the militants’ con- abroad (worth tens of billions of dollars) officials, this is by far the most significant trol since April 2014. “There can certainly be (Continued on page 15) were imposed at the request of Naftogaz in reform in the energy sector in the history of order to force the Russian company to pay independent Ukraine (Naftogaz.com, the debt awarded by the Stockholm arbitra- January 1, 2020). tion (RIA Novosti, January 20). The newly established GTSOU has he krainian eekly FOUNDED 1933 , the CEO of Naftogaz, already signed interconnection agreements T U W stated that the 2020 transit deal is the with operators from Hungary, Romania, result of an “acceptable compromise.” The An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., Poland, and Slovakia (Eustream) a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Ukrainian company wanted to sign a (Day.kyiv.ua, December 31, 2019). Also, the Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. 10-year contract with a minimum pumping Ukrainian gas transmission system is Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. rate of 60 bcm each year, while Gazprom expected to open a virtual gas reverse flow (ISSN — 0273-9348) favored only a one-year, temporary con- from Slovakia in 2020, which should be tract (Deutsche Welle, Ukrainian service, profitable since no money would be spent The Weekly: UNA: January 3, 2020). Moreover, among Russia’s on unnecessary gas transmission (Nv.ua, Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 key demands was the nullification of all of January 21, 2020). Postmaster, send address changes to: Naftogaz’s arbitration claims in Stockholm, For his part, the head of GTSOU, Sergey The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz including the $2.9 billion that Ukraine ulti- Makogon, expects that the Ukrainian and mately received under the new contract. 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas Russian partners will eventually be able to P.O. Box 280 Russia’s position had changed dramatically return to the issue of Russian gas storage in Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] when it became clear the United States Ukrainian underground facilities (UGS) would impose sanctions on the Nord (Interfax, January 9, 2020). He also argued The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com Stream 2 gas pipeline across the Baltic Sea that the new transit deal has strategically (directly linking Russia and Germany) (Biz. important implications for Ukraine. The The Ukrainian Weekly, February 16, 2020, No. 7, Vol. LXXXVIII liga.net, December 23, 2019). Finally, total positive effect on the Ukrainian econo- Copyright © 2020 The Ukrainian Weekly Naftogaz and Gazprom entered into a peace my during the next five years, in addition to settlement, under which Kyiv agreed to the revenue from the transit itself, is rescind its demands that the Russians pay expected to reach approximately 150 bil- ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA the $7.4 billion fine imposed by the Anti- lion hrv ($6.18 billion U.S.) and GTSOU’s Monopoly Committee of Ukraine or the total revenue during this period is forecast Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 $12.2 billion of additional legal claims and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 at about 115 billion hrv ($4.74 billion) e-mail: [email protected] against the Russian gas company under (Interfax.com.ua, January 9). Moreover, Mr. consideration by the Stockholm Arbitration Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 e-mail: [email protected] Court (5.ua, December 31, 2019). At the (Continued on page 18) No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 3

NEWS ANALYSIS Dmitry Kozak, Russia’s new confl ict-management viceroy

by Vladimir Socor for the Russian-made conflicts in Ukraine’s Chisinau); second, center-periphery negoti- Ukraine’s Kirovohrad region, he entered Mr. Eurasia Daily Monitor Donbas and Moldova’s . ations (Kyiv with Donetsk-Luhansk, Putin’s entourage in St. Petersburg in the Whether labeled federalization, as it previ- Chisinau with Tiraspol); and third, interna- 1990s; served him in Moscow as deputy From Russia’s perspective, the conflicts ously was, or revamped as special status, tional blessing (e.g., in the Normandy for- head and first deputy head of the Presiden- it has itself instigated in the greater Black this Kremlin project is peculiar to these two mat and the 5+2 framework). tial Administration in 2000-2004 (his first Sea region are strictly separate cases. conflicts, distinguishing them from all other Mr. Kozak’s new mission on Ukraine stint in that office); was the presidential Moscow regards the conflicts over Russian conflict undertakings in former adds to his existing assignment since 2018 plenipotentiary envoy for the North Ukraine’s Crimea and Georgia’s Abkhazia Soviet territories or beyond. (Moscow as special presidential envoy for economic Caucasus Federal district in 2004-2007; and South Ossetia as settled and closed. By briefly envisaged a federalization of Syria, and trade relations with Moldova (see minister for the development of Russia’s contrast, Russia seeks political settlements regions in 2007-2008; and deputy prime to the active conflict in Ukraine’s Donbas minister continuously from 2008 until and the frozen one over Moldova’s Dmitry Kozak will supervise Russia’s handling January of this year, with responsibility for Transnistria. “regional affairs.” Mr. Kozak’s reputed spe- In this overall context, Dmitry Kozak will of the confl icts in Ukraine’s Donbas and cialty from 2002 to date has been that of supervise Russia’s handling of the two Moldova’s Transnistria. harmonizing the competencies of Russia’s remaining unresolved conflicts: those in the regions with Russia’s federal legislation, Donbas and Transnistria. regulating the constitutional delimitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin has until that country’s Kurds chose to side EDM, September 18, 2018). Mr. Kozak deals powers between the central and regional replaced Vladislav Surkov with Mr. Kozak with the United States.) Moscow wants the with Moldova’s legitimate government and authorities. as his principal representative for policy Donbas and Transnistria each to be with the Russia-controlled Transnistrian It was in that capacity as a constitutional toward Ukraine, the Russian-controlled ter- endowed with a tailored special status, authorities on separate tracks. He deals law specialist that Mr. Kozak was tasked by ritory in Ukraine and international negotia- nominally within Ukraine and Moldova, with Tiraspol directly, bypassing Chisinau. President Putin in 2003 to produce a tions over this conflict. Mr. Kozak, hitherto a respectively, but de facto under Russian Notwithstanding his official mandate for framework document for turning Moldova , will carry out this control and influencing the two countries economy and trade, Mr. Kozak also discuss- into a federation and to ensure Chisinau’s assignment from his new post as deputy from within. es political and “peacekeeping” matters and Tiraspol’s acceptance of the “Kozak head of the presidential administration, in Moscow seeks Western acceptance of with Transnistrian leaders during their Memorandum.” Moldova’s then-president, Mr. Putin’s direct proximity (see Eurasia this dispensation – indeed international periodic visits to Moscow. On September Vladimir Voronin, ultimately turned it Daily Monitor, January 30). nudging of Ukraine and Moldova in this 30, 2019, Mr. Kozak received Transnistria’s down in November 2003, just one day In parallel, Mr. Kozak will continue over- direction – as a sine qua non for Russia’s “president,” Vadim Krasnoselski, to discuss before the scheduled signing with Mr. Putin. seeing Russia’s handling of the Transnistria success. While Russia’s “solutions” regard- both economic support and the negotia- Such an offense to Russia’s president did conflict. Mr. Kozak first attempted a quick- ing Crimea, Abkhazia and South Ossetia are tions ongoing on two levels: Chisinau- not affect Mr. Kozak’s standing with Mr. fix resolution of that conflict in 2003 and unilateral solutions, not recognized inter- Tiraspol and international negotiations. Mr. Putin, but Mr. Kozak no longer became has returned to the task since 2018, this nationally, Russia seeks negotiated solu- Krasnoselski was received this time in the involved in conflict theaters until Russia time on a longer-term basis. He will hence- tions and their international ratification in Kremlin – an upgrade over the previous attacked Ukraine in 2014. In March of that forth act from his new Kremlin post, at the the Donbas and Transnistria. In both cases, venues in Russian government offices year, then-Deputy Prime Minister Kozak top of decision-making next to President Russia envisages negotiations on three suc- (President.gospmr.org, September 30, was additionally appointed as head of the Putin. cessive levels: first, internal to Ukraine and 2019). Russian government’s commission to Russia pursues two parallel conflict-res- Moldova, respectively (internal consensus Mr. Kozak is one of Mr. Putin’s longtime olution projects, known as “special status,” among political parties in Kyiv and close associates. A native of Soviet (Continued on page 6)

Zelenskyy administration launches “State in a Smartphone” app

by Roman Tymotsko Google Play. From now on, 9 million Ukrainians can use their driving licenses KYIV – Ukraine’s president and prime and vehicle registration certificates in their minister on February 6 presented the smartphones... Ukraine has become the country’s mobile e-governance application third country in Europe to have something (Action), which aims to digitize all gov- like that,” Mr. Zelensky added. ernment services and play a central role in However, Minister of Internal Affairs President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “State in later corrected the president a Smartphone” concept. and said that Ukraine had become not the More than 1 million Ukrainians down- third, but the fourth European country loaded this in the first four days with that kind of service. Mr. Avakov’s pres- after the grand presentation, which was ence on the same stage as President attended by nearly a dozen ministers and Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Oleksiy senior officials of the Presidential Office. Honcharuk belied rumors that the hated The event took place in Kyiv’s Parkovy minister is to be dismissed in the nearest International Convention Center and was a future. The president had explained that by-invitation-only event. Due to the fact Mr. Avakov’s appointment as the head of that almost all of the county’s leadership the Ministry of Internal Affairs was merely was in the same place at the same time, a temporary solution. The reason Mr. security measures were at a high level. Avakov was involved in the new app’s pre- “For citizens, the government should be Presidential Office of Ukraine sentation is that the first available func- just a service – simple, but more notably President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presents the Diia mobile application in Kyiv on tions in the Diia app are digital drivers’ comprehensible,” Mr. Zelenskyy said at the January 6. licenses and vehicle registration certifi- beginning of the Diia presentation. “In gen- ic window all the services provided by the been postponed for a week. It was first cates, which are subject to control by the eral, our goal is to make sure that all rela- Internal Affairs Ministry. tions with the state can be carried out with state to citizens and businesses. In scheduled for January 30 in order to start December 2019, test access to the applica- the application in the first month of 2020. These two functions of the app are only the help of a regular smartphone and the the beginning of a larger e-governance Internet. In particular, voting. This is our tion was opened for the first 5,000 who Another possible reason the event was applied for the beta testing. postponed is that the Diia app was not project. The government has much bigger dream, and we will make it real during ambitions. “We have analyzed the most rel- During the presentation, Mr. Zelenskyy completely ready in time, according to one presidential, parliamentary or local elec- evant services, the ones Ukrainians apply congratulated Minister of Digital of the ministry’s contractors. Eventually, tions. It is a challenge. Ambitious yet for most often, and we are going to digitize Transformation on Mr. Fedorov’s illness was the official reason achievable,” Ukraine’s president confident- 50 of them already this year,” Prime achieving these results in such a short cited. ly proclaimed. Mr. Zelenskyy had often spo- Minister Honcharuk said during the pre- term. Mr. Fedorov was acknowledged sev- “We have the most important thing – ken about the State in Smartphone concept sentation. Mr. Honcharuk also mentioned eral times during the presentation as the talented people capable of achieving a goal, in the first half of 2019, and this presenta- the Diia Digital Education national online main driver of Ukraine’s digitization, how- making changes. People say that political tion showed the results of his team’s work. platform created by EdEra, a Kyiv-based ever, he was not able to attend the event will is also required for that. I have it. The brand and concept of the app were studio of online education. and present Diia due to illness. Hence, we will have an e-country,” Mr. unveiled on September 27, 2019, in Kyiv. It The prime minister added that the gov- was announced as an application and a The minister’s health issues were said to Zelenskyy underscored. “The Diia mobile portal that would unite in a single electron- be the main reason the presentation had app is now available on the App Store and (Continued on page 4) 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 No. 7

International Relations with a master’s related to the downing of a Ukrainian a history with Zelenskyy since show busi- Yermak replaces... degree in international private law. In 1997 International Airlines plane in Iran. ness times.” Mr. Yermak founded the legal entity called According to various media reports, Mr. The political scientist added that there (Continued from page 1) International Law Firm; he was engaged in Bohdan did not come to Boryspil won’t necessarily be a sharp change in the in the Presidential Office. He said that the field of intellectual property and com- International Airport for a ceremony hon- policy of the Presidential Office. “I have achieving peace in the Donbas on Ukraine’s mercial law. Between 2006 and 2014, he oring those killed in the plane crash due to already heard jokes from members of terms, foreign policy, cooperation with aided National Deputy a conflict with Mr. Yermak. Mr. Bohdan Zelenskyy’s team saying: the policy will not Ukraine’s regions and attracting invest- Elbrus Tedeyev. allegedly placed Mr. Yermak in the second change from the change of Andriys. The ment will be the main areas of his work at Mr. Yermak became acquainted with Mr. row at the service, which followed diplo- president determines the strategy. The the Presidential Office. “Of course, for the Zelenskyy in 2011, when the future presi- matic protocol. Still, Mr. Yermak, who had office’s style of work, its organizational and , for the Office of the dent was the general producer of the TV expended great effort to resolve the Iranian personnel moments may change. There will President, one of the priorities will be to channel Inter. The two became friends, and crisis, thought Mr. Bohdan was mistreating be no fundamental changes in the nature of end the war in the Donbas in the interests in May 2019, newly elected President him and told Mr. Zelenskyy about the situa- the policy, as Zelenskyy determines it.” of Ukraine. This vector remains a priority,” Zelenskyy appointed Mr. Yermak as presi- tion. The president stood up for Mr. Global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw Mr. Yermak noted. dential aide for foreign policy issues. In that Yermak, and Mr. Bohdan allegedly said, commented on the topic for the Atlantic “I believe that today Ukraine is the top role, he negotiated major prisoner “Then I will not come.” And he did not show Council. “Shortly after Volodymyr spot of the world’s attention, and we can- exchanges with Russia as part of efforts to up at the official ceremony. Zelenskyy delivered his inauguration not lose this chance. We must do our end the war in the Donbas. The tipping point for Mr. Bohdan was speech last May, the BBC’s Philippa Thomas utmost to ensure that the attention and Mr. Yermak was also the point of contact President Zelenskyy’s visit to Italy, where he asked me if the TV comedian-turned-politi- interest we have and feel during the inter- on behalf of Mr. Zelenskyy with , met the pope. The president was accompa- cian ‘is his own man.’ That was a difficult national visits of the president of Ukraine who served as U.S. special representative nied by Mr. Yermak and Minister of Internal question to address at the time, as oligarch give us concrete results,” the head of the for Ukraine negotiations, and U.S. President Affairs Arsen Avakov, who also has a bad Ihor Kolomoisky had just returned to Presidential Office said. Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy relationship with Mr. Bohdan. Sources say Ukraine after years in exile, presumably to “We will work even more effectively Giuliani. that Mr. Bohdan took this as a personal exert influence over the president,” Mr. with regional state administration heads. Commenting on the change of leader- insult, because he is a Greek-Catholic from Bociurkiw said. “Shortly afterwards, acting Their team has almost been formed. These ship at the Presidential Office, Volodymyr and yet was not taken on a trip to the against advice to appoint a Western techno- are young, ambitious, professional people Fesenko, the head of the Penta Center for Vatican, which is important for him. crat as his chief of staff, Zelenskyy selected with specific tasks. Today our task as the Applied Political Studies, told Interfax: According to Mr. Fesenko, Mr. Yermak Kolomoisky’s former lawyer, Andriy Office of the President is to ensure that “This situation has been repeated many was chosen for chief of staff at the Bohdan.” It is, therefore, good news that every citizen of Ukraine feels the results of times under previous presidents: under Presidential Office because of his efficient Bohdan is now out. the reforms, the results of the president’s [Leonid] Kuchma and [Viktor] Yushchenko, work in the international arena. The analyst said Mr. Bohdan’s ouster initiatives,” Mr. Yermak emphasized. and in other forms under [Viktor] “Why Yermak instead of Bohdan? This “will be celebrated by Ukraine’s lenders and In addition, he said, the focus will be on Yanukovych. A crisis within the team hap- also is the answer regarding Bohdan’s res- especially by journalists, whom Bohdan attracting investment “to make Ukraine an pens sooner or later, and often it occurs ignation. Zelenskyy, first of all, values effi- treated derisively” and added that “Mr. investment Mecca.” He explained: “We have already in the first year of the presidency ciency and effectiveness in his team mem- Yermak, seems skilled at dealing with specific programs, specific steps on how to because of intensifying competition to gain bers, so in the first months Bohdan was the important interlocutors, ranging from do it. Today, we gave this task to our heads access to the president. Figuratively speak- main man around him. Not only because he Russian negotiators to shady characters of regional state administrations, and this is ing, there are games and wars around the was the head of the Presidential Office, but associated with U.S. President Donald the concern of the government, as well as throne. Most often, it is about personal con- he also made a ‘blitzkrieg’ with early parlia- Trump. While Yermak may have some ques- all those involved in the work on improving flicts and the struggle for influence over the mentary elections. He actually created and tionable connections with Russian business, the investment climate in Ukraine.” president. It is a fairly natural situation.” launched the Office of the President and he is much more suitable than Bohdan.” Who is Andriy Yermak? The president’s Mr. Bohdan had wanted to resign even then was demonstrating effectiveness. In Mr. Bociurkiw also noted: “The new chief of staff was born in 1971 in Kyiv. earlier – after an incident with Mr. Yermak, recent months, especially in the Russian Zelenskyy administration needs to up its He graduated from Kyiv’s Institute of who was responsible for resolving issues direction, the negotiations on the [prison- game when it comes to countering negative er] exchange, gas transit, Andriy Yermak publicity from the U.S. impeachment pro- was the one who demonstrated effective- ceedings, and Yermak could very well be European Commissioner for Neighborhood ness,” Mr. Fesenko pointed out. the right man at the right time to accom- Zelenskyy, with Yermak... and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi to discuss Another reason for Mr. Bohdan’s resig- plish this.” Ukraine’s progress in implementing nation appears to be his fierce personality. Ukraine’s international partners also (Continued from page 1) reforms. According to the president’s press According to Mr. Fesenko, “Bohdan has an reacted to the latest events. “We thank sible if there are any foreign military units service, “they agreed on the priorities of unsympathetic character, somewhat con- Andriy Bohdan for his partnership and com- and illegal armed people on the territory, cooperation for the current year, including flicted, not politically correct in dealing mend his efforts to support the recent histor- and the border of Ukraine is not under gov- the signing of the Common Aviation Area with various people. On the contrary, ic pace of reforms in Ukraine. We look for- ward to continuing our strong partnership ernment control. This is provided for by the Agreement, beginning of negotiations on Yermak, like [Prime Minister Oleksiy] on reform with Andriy Yermak,”, the United , and we plan to hold the so-called industrial visa waiver, deepen- Honcharuk, demonstrated the qualities of States Embassy in Kyiv said in a statement. elections in accordance with the legislation ing of cooperation in the digital sector, the perfect doer. Yermak even said in one of Speaking at this first official briefing, Mr. of Ukraine,” he said. cooperation in the framework of the the interviews: ‘The president will say to Yermak summed up: “I believe that the Mr. Yermak also dispelled rumors that European Green Deal and beginning of sys- build a bridge – I will build a bridge.’ And Presidential Office should become an the Ukrainian and Russian presidents were tem updates of the annexes to the second, no less important, he is a team expert office of the head of state, where the preparing to meet before the next Association Agreement.” player. Unlike Bohdan, who is a bit best, most professional staff will be concen- Normandy format summit expected in Also on February 12, the latest meeting detached from the team, Yermak, as I trated, helping the president fulfill his func- April. “The decision will be made by the of the working groups of the Trilateral understand it, has built good constructive tion and achieve results in all directions of president,” he said. “ If he sees this meeting Contact Group (TCG) on the peaceful settle- relationships with most of Zelenskyy’s team members, especially those who have his activity.” as necessary, if it could be a step towards ment of the situation in eastern Ukraine getting real results from the Normandy for- was held in Minsk. Despite the improved mat talks, we do not rule it out. But so far, atmosphere since the last Normandy for- there are no arrangements, no talks on this mat summit, no major breakthrough was build a digital country. Diia, as a service, topic.” expected or reported. A general ceasefire Zelenskyy administration... works well. We were helped by the best IT company in the country. The problem is During the press conference, Mr. along the frontline in the Donbas, agreed to (Continued from page 3) Yermak, a lawyer and film producer, con- in Paris, is still not in sight, and Ukrainian with how the data was collected all previ- firmed that he would remain responsible soldiers continue to be killed or be wound- ernment plans to teach 6 million ous 29 years.” within the Presidential Office not only for ed. Progress was reported in identifying a Ukrainians digital literacy in three years. By the end of the winter, a digital pass- negotiations with Moscow, but foreign poli- new spot for the local disengagement of “Digital literacy is now at the heart of our port will appear in the app, which will cy in general. forces, and Ukraine has handed over a new country’s competitiveness in the world. allow users to travel domestically, conduct Observers noted that the formal empow- list of hostages held by the Russian side This is a challenge we also take on. Over banking and use medical services. erment of Mr. Yermak in this role further that it wants released. the next three years, we plan to teach at According to project manager Vladimir sidelines the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and In view of this enduring situation, Kyiv least 6 million Ukrainians to use and devel- Brusilovskyy, the number of digital pass- its leader, . The rumor mill has informed Moscow that it is premature op their digital skills. It’s a huge figure, port users could be around 10 million. Mr. has been particularly active on this matter. to have a Russian ambassador back in the huge ambition, but it’s something that Brusilovskyy said that the documents in Foreign Affairs Minister Prystaiko was ear- Ukrainian capital. Responding to Russian brings us closer to the highest digital stan- the application should be checked using a lier reported to have been considering Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov’s dards,” he said. QR code, which is valid for only three min- resigning, while well-informed sources told suggestion made on February 10 that the In the first four days since the launch of utes. Users can check this code through the The Ukrainian Weekly that during the two countries could now restore their Diia, it was downloaded more than 1 mil- Diia app from another smartphone. He also behind-the-scenes power struggle between respective ambassadors, Ukraine’s Ministry lion times. “We continue to be at the fore- recommended installing the Diia app only Messrs. Bohdan and Yermak the latter had of Foreign Affairs announced the following front of downloads of the Ukrainian App from official app stores and added that the been offered the post of foreign affairs min- day: “Given Russia’s continued aggression Store and Play Market,” Minister of Digital ministry would work with marketplaces to ister but had turned it down. against Ukraine and the Russian occupa- Transformation Fedorov posted on his combat clone apps. Against this background, several impor- tion of Ukrainian territories, there is no Facebook page. “We are ahead of Tik Tok, Diia is one of Ukraine’s first Ukrainian tant meetings in the foreign policy sphere reason to raise the status of diplomatic Telegram, YouTube, Viber, Instagram, e-governance projects. As noted at the pre- have taken place or are scheduled. On relations by appointing an ambassador of Facebook and WhatsApp... Without your sentation, this ambitious project is meant February 12, President Zelenskyy met with Ukraine.” active involvement, it will not be possible to to help citizens in their everyday lives. No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 5

UNA CELEBRATES 125 YEARS: A snapshot from history, 1990

Seen in the photo on the right, taken in 1990, is the three-person staff of the Ukrainian National Association’s Washington Office (from left): Assistant Director John Kun, Administrative Assistant Maria Lischak and Director Eugene Iwanciw. The UNA Washington Office opened on July 1, 1988, with the aim of making Ukrainian Americans heard in Washington, and it served the com- munity through September 1995. (Others who were on its staff during that period were Adrian Karmazyn and Xenia Ponomarenko.) The background story is this: Mr. Iwanciw was tapped in the early 1980s by UNA President John O. Flis to serve as the fraternal organiza- tion’s representative in Washington for liaison with the White House. In 1988, when the UNA established its Washington Office, Mr. Iwanciw was named its director. He was employed in that capacity until the office was closed – a victim of budgetary realities. However, he continued to repre- sent the UNA’s interests in Washington, including on the Central and East European Coalition, of which the UNA, through its Washington Office, was a founding member. The UNA Washington office informed D.C. about Ukraine and Ukrainian Americans, established contacts with congressional offices, worked in conjunction with Ukrainian organizations and created alli- ances with other ethnic groups. It even supported the work of the fledgling Embassy of Ukraine. Its major success (and there were many accom- plishments), according to the office’s director, was getting earmarks for Ukraine. “It was not so much the money that was granted, but that the Congress took on the administration and forced it to be at least somewhat more evenhanded toward Ukraine,” Mr. Iwanciw told The Weekly in 1995. While he was director of the UNA Washington Office, Mr. Iwanciw wrote news stories and commentaries on political developments. His regular col- umn in The Ukrainian Weekly was called “Letter from Washington.”

A photo archive of UNA history has been launched on the UNA website. It is a work in progress that will be expanded and refined. To take a look, go to unainc. org/una/the-una-is-125-years-old/.

Young UNA’ers

Dennis Koziupa, son of Daniel and Natalia Koziupa of Cedar Knolls, N.J., is a new member of UNA Branch 76. He was enrolled by his grandparents Michael and Anna Koziupa. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 No. 7

WINDOW ON EURASIA The Ukrainian Weekly Pompeo’s message in Kyiv Putin wants “new Yalta” to divide world On January 31, as was reported on the front page of this newspaper, U.S. into recognized regions with regional hegemons Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Kyiv, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Affairs Minister Vadym Prystaiko, Defense Minister by Paul Goble and understands what is needed. Andriy Zahorodnyuk and other leaders in what was meant, to use the State The issue, “of course,” he writes, isn’t Department’s words, to “underscore the United States’ strong support for Ukraine Seventy-five years ago this week, about some “ ‘division of the world’ which and the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration.” Surely, the visit was meant also to allay Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill is now impossible either in colonial or neo- fears that the Trump administration, with President Donald Trump in the midst of and Joseph Stalin met in Yalta to agree on colonial formats.” Rather, the MGIMO schol- impeachment proceedings in the U.S. Senate, was not turning away from Ukraine. It the division of post-World War II Europe. ar argues, the Russian vision is to have would also serve to counter the negative impression created when Mr. Pompeo, Now, Vladimir Putin wants to assemble the regions replace globalization and regional apparently in a fit of anger, had said to an NPR anchor: “Do you think Americans presidents of the five permanent members hegemons replace any unipolar world led care about Ukraine?” of the United Nations Security Council to do by the United States. During their joint press availability, President Zelenskyy stated: “This is a hall- something even more sweeping: to agree He suggests there are three key princi- mark visit that clearly demonstrates the consistent and across-the-board support on those for what might be called the post- ples involved. First, “a ‘new Yalta’ will be post-Cold War world. more the product of geo-economics than of our country by the United States of America. The United States have been and Mr. Putin’s call at a meeting in Jerusalem geopolitics.” That means that the five per- will remain our key ally in defending sovereignty and territorial integrity of on January 23 for such a meeting has manent members of the U.N. Security Ukraine. We dearly appreciate efforts of President Trump and his administration on drawn support only from France, China and Council can only propose divisions and this track. We are grateful for your personal, unflinching, and unwavering stance the United Nations. The United States and hierarchies: other countries will have to be regarding the and the illegal annexation of Crimea.” the have not yet signaled involved in this process as well. In a similar vein, Secretary Pompeo emphasized that “The Ukrainian people how they will respond. But speculation Second, “a stable system of transition to should know the United States understands that Ukraine is an important country. about what such a meeting might lead to is a multi-polar world cannot but include the It’s not just the geographic heart of Europe; it’s a bulwark between freedom and rife, especially in Moscow. new centers of economic and military- authoritarianism in Eastern Europe. …The United States sees that the Ukrainian Dmitry Yevstafyev, a specialist on inter- political influence that have full state sover- struggle for freedom, democracy and prosperity is a valiant one. Our commitment national relations at Moscow’s Higher eignty.” Any such dialogue will include to support it will not waver.” In addition, he cited the historic Crimea Declaration of School of Economics (known by the countries like India, Iran, Argentina, July 2018 in which the U.S. made it clear that Crimea is Ukraine and the U.S. “will Russian-based acronym as MGIMO), pro- Indonesia, Egypt, Vietnam, Turkey, Japan, never recognize Russia’s attempts to annex it.” vides a useful early take on what the meet- Poland and Germany. Others may be repre- After meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Prystaiko, Mr. Pompeo tweeted: “… ing might focus on and what its results sented by proxies. The U.S. welcomes Ukraine’s efforts to bring peace to the Donbas. Russia must might be for Russia and for the other World And third, such dialogue must be direct- reciprocate. Our sanctions will remain in place until Ukraine’s territorial integrity War II victor-powers (eurasia.expert/nova- ed at the formation of regions in place of and sovereignty is restored.” During a meeting with Defense Minister Zahorodnyuk, ya-yalta-vladimira-putina-strategicheska- globalization. Eurasia and the Russia-led according to the State Department, the discussion was about U.S. support for ya-perspektiva-dlya-evrazii/). Eurasian Economic Community will be one Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its resilience against Russia’s aggression and to Moscow is more prepared for such a dia- of these. To the extent that it is, efforts by implement important defense sector reforms. Mr. Pompeo also visited wounded logue than anyone else. The scholar says it countries to pursue “multi-vector” foreign soldiers at what he described as “Ukraine’s equivalent of Walter Reed [National has a ready-made package of proposals and policies will be counter-productive and Military Medical Center],” afterwards saying to an ABC correspondent that “We has recognized more fully than anyone else harmful. have to remember that they are …engaged in a struggle, and we have this opportu- that the pre-existing international order In conclusion, Mr. Yevstafyev says, the nity to help them.” has collapsed and that a new order needs original Yalta included “a generation of vic- tors.” Now, he argues, Russia “at a minimum” Sounds good, right? But the question that needs to be asked is: What’s next in to be put in place lest the world collapse must form another such generation – one the U.S. relationship with this strategic ally? into “a period of struggle without rules” as confident that it consists of winners too. First on the agenda should be the appointment of a U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Donald Trump seems to want. where the Embassy is currently led by a charge d’affaires. Second, the U.S. should According to Mr. Yevstafyev, Moscow believes that “the transition to multi-polari- finally grant President Zelenskyy what he’s been seeking since he was elected last Paul Goble is a long-time specialist on ty can be accomplished in an essentially ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia. April: a White House meeting with President Trump. And third, it would be a wise more ‘peaceful’ and administered way” if The article above is reprinted with permis- move to name a special envoy to help achieve peace in Ukraine, where Russia’s war the key players can agree to relatively sion from his blog called “Window on will soon enter its seventh year. transparent “rules of the game.” Russia has Eurasia” (http://windowoneurasia2. taken the lead in this, the analyst continues, blogspot.com/).

Turning the pages back... from by origin. Selecting him to Feb. Dmitry Kozak... oversee Crimea seems intended to impress Crimean , on the apparent misas- Twenty years ago, on February 22, 2000, the (Continued from page 3) sumption that these Tatar identities are voted 229 to 15 to abolish the death penalty, meeting a 1995 22 supervise the economy of the annexed one and the same. pledge to the Council of Europe. Crimean peninsula. Mr. Kozak has also Mr. Kozak was being primed to replace Ukraine’s Parliament also ratified Protocol No. 6 to the 2000 supervised the economy of the Donetsk Mr. Surkov as top negotiator on Ukraine European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and and Luhansk “people’s republics” in ahead of President Putin’s official decision Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention), which provides Ukraine’s east, focusing on the energy and to this effect. Mr. Kozak played the main for the abolition of the death penalty except in time of war or the imminent threat of war. heavy industry sectors, budget funding and role for Moscow in negotiating with The vote on that measure was 228 for and six against. humanitarian assistance. This effort has Ukraine’s Presidential Administration Communist Party and Progressive Socialist Party deputies did not participate in any of been channeled through Russia’s Ministry about the reciprocal release of detained the voting. of Economic Development, one of whose persons. He also joined the Russian delega- Amnesty International noted that the death penalty in Ukraine was replaced with life deputy heads has been directly in charge of tion in the final stage of the negotiations imprisonment, and the ratification of Protocol No. 6 meant that existing death sentences this effort. That official is currently First with Ukraine about natural gas transit to would be commuted into life sentences. Deputy Minister , according Europe (De cember 2019), opposite Amnesty International in its statement said: “Ukraine has taken the monumental step to Ukrainian press reports. Mr. Babich had Ukrainian President Volodymyr of joining the vast majority of its European neighbors who have already removed this been nominated as Russia’s ambassador to Zelenskyy’s top aide, Andriy Yermak. Mr. cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment from their statute books. This signals an Ukraine in 2016, but was turned down by Yermak has become Mr. Kozak’s direct important new commitment to protect fundamental human rights in the country.” Kyiv; he was then posted as ambassador to interlocutor in Kyiv. Mr. Kozak is currently The statement also noted the speed with which the Ukrainian Parliament removed the Belarus in 2018-2019, but had to be associated with the idea of negotiating a death penalty from its penal code, calling it both “unexpected and very impressive.” recalled at Minsk’s insistence. Mr. Babich is guaranteed special status for Transnistria, Ukraine had issued a moratorium on executions in March 1997, but continued to pass regarded as a political-bureaucratic ally of nominally in Moldova; and he will almost the death sentence. The Constitutional Court of Ukraine ruled in 1999 that the death pen- Mr. Kozak. certainly promote such a concept regarding alty was unconstitutional, violating the principle of the right to life, which is enshrined in In connection with Mr. Kozak’s transfer Ukraine’s Donbas, on two tracks at differ- the . from deputy prime minister to deputy head ent speeds. The latter track is the faster Ukraine had committed to abolish the death penalty in November 1995, and the coun- of the Presidential Administration, Mr. track at the moment. And whichever track try committed to sign and ratify the European Convention within three years of its acces- Putin has appointed as advances faster, it can be used as a prece- sion to the Council of Europe. Neither of these commitments were fulfilled by the agreed deputy prime minister for construction and dent or example for the other. deadline of November 1998 or its extended deadline of June 1999. In June 1999, PACE regional development. Mr. Khusnullin is ruled to extend the deadline to January 2000. additionally assigned to oversee the The article above is reprinted from The legislative move by the Verkhovna Rada 20 years ago met the prerequisites for Crimean peninsula’s economy, thus replac- Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from Ukraine’s entry into the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. ing Mr. Kozak in both positions (TASS, its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, Source: “Rada abolishes death penalty,” The Ukrainian Weekly, March 5, 2000. January 21, 28). Mr. Khusnullin is a Tatar www.jamestown.org. No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 7 UWC calls for Verkhovna Rada to amend draft law on citizenship UWC the proposed draft legislation and amend the draft law taking into account the fol- TORONTO – With the goal of implement- lowing UWC proposals: ing practical security mechanisms under the conditions of the Russian Federation’s individuals who have the status of “zakor- aggression, and the continued engagement donnyi• simplify ukrayinets” the citizenship (Ukrainian process living out- for Our Hellenic heritage of the in Ukraine’s side Ukraine) to further enable their partic- development and international support, ipation in Ukraine’s development; The story is told that a young American along with a Greek-based Slavonic alphabet the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) has couple decided to visit the land of their developed by the missionaries Cyril and called for the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to living outside Ukraine to work in state and ancestors. All they knew was that their Methodius and their followers, a liturgical amend Draft Law No. 2590 “On Amend- municipal• provide administrations opportunities of for Ukraine; Ukrainians family was Greek-Catholic. So they booked language and literature created in Bulgaria ments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on a trip to – Greece. for the Slavs. It also brought a wealth of Ctizenship.” particularly with respect to individuals Now Greece does offer a fine heritage. Greek cultural influence that continued Classical Greek philosophy, art, literature even after the fall of Constantinople in In a letter dated February 5 to Verkhov- connected• implement to the effective military security aggression measures, of the and science, not to mention democracy, are 1453, intensifying during the 17th century na Rada Chairman and Russian Federation; and fundamental to our Western civilization. Orthodox revival in Kyiv and ending with leaders of party factions and groups, UWC True, our understanding of classical Greek the subordination of the Metropolitanate of President Paul Grod emphasized the UWC’s Ukraine upon first receiving a is colored by our own presupposi- Kyiv to Moscow in 1685 (see Ihor consistent call for the liberalization of laws passport.• introduce a pledge of allegiance to tions. There is always the danger of distort- Sevcenko, “Byzantine Roots of Ukrainian on citizenship and underscored the impor- “The issue of citizenship involves impor- ing it in the prism of a modern world view Christianity,” 1984). tance of creating effective safeguards in the tant security and political considerations and (see Robert Royal, “The God that Did Not The Greek merchant Vasilios Vatatzes, interest of national security. is, therefore, a very sensitive topic both for Fail,” 2006, Chapter 1, esp. p. 8). who travelled to Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Some of the important UWC proposals Ukrainians in Ukraine as well as Ukrainians Our very language borrows heavily from Vasyl Hryhorovych-Barsky, who visited submitted during the drafting of the law in living abroad,” stated UWC President Grod. ancient Greek, with its rock-hard syllables Greece, both contributed to the rich travel 2019 were included in the draft law cur- “The UWC is prepared to continue working crunching along like pebbles underfoot, literature of the 18th century. Greek mer- rently tabled. The UWC president called with the relevant Verkhovna Rada commit- forming delightful words like “catastrophe,” chants prospered in Mariupol and upon the Verkhovna Rada to further review tees on drafting the outlined proposals.” “apocalypse” and (my favorite) “apocatas- in the 19th century, even establishing their tasis.” Earlier generations of Ukrainians own schools. The Greek independence studied Greek in school, as evidenced by movement simmered in Odessa after 1814. LETTER TO THE EDITOR their penchant for words like “korifei,” “pal- In the 1920s, there was a limited Greek cul- estra” (a word for “gymnasium” applied to tural revival in Soviet Mariupol and Crimea, when I was on medical disability); 2002- the bar, where lawyers wrestled with their until Stalinist repression in the 1930s. After 2007, acting director of the Sheptytsky colleagues), and “ehyda” (“aegis,” a kind of World War II, Russia’s continuing courtship Father Onuferko’s role Institute. After this, he continued in various shield, as in “aegis-bearing Zeus”). of the Balkan peoples encouraged a com- They also learned Greek myths and leg- munist uprising in Greece. Greek other roles, teaching at the institute until at Sheptytsky Institute ends. Tropes (figures of speech, from “tro- Russophilia remains a problem. its move to the University of St. Michael’s pos” – “turn”) like Achilles’ heel, Damocles’ Both Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholic Dear Editor: College in the University of Toronto in sword and the Trojan horse were a part of Churches have struggled to find the proper I am profoundly grateful to The 2017. everyday discourse. When Ukrainian cadets attitude towards “pagan” Greek philosophy. Ukrainian Weekly for spotlighting the Thus, calling him a simple staff member fell holding off the Bolsheviks at Kruty in As Ihor Sevcenko noted, the importation of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute is an injustice to the dedicated service he January 1918, our forebears must have Byzantine Christianity entailed only limited of Eastern Christian Studies in Mariana rendered to the Sheptytsky Institute over immediately recalled Thermopylae, where elements of classical Greek culture Karapinka’s fine article “Metropolitan 20 years. I write this to correct the histori- Leonidas and his Spartans perished staving (Sevcenko, op. cit., 14). But some have criti- Andrey Sheptytsky Institute Receives cal record. off the invading Persians. Today, when semi- cized the “intellectualism” that Greek philos- Ukrainian Church’s Highest Award” The Rt. Rev. Andriy Chirovsky educated college graduates may fail to dis- ophy introduced into Christian teaching (December 15, 2019). Tucson, Ariz. tinguish “parameter” from “perimeter,” lan- (Jaroslav Pelikan, “The Melody of Theology,” However, I was saddened by Ms. guage has lost some of its richness. 1988, s.v. “Hellenization”). St. Basil advocat- Karapinka’s mischaracterization of the role The chief rival of Greek is, of course, ed studying the ancient authors, even if one played in the institute by the Very Rev. Dr. GUIDELINES FOR LETTERS Latin. Partisans of Homer’s idiom look did not accept all their notions (Ivan Andriy Onuferko. He is listed simply as a down on Latin as relatively clumsy and Kaszczak, “The Education of the Ukrainian “staff member.” This grossly underesti- TO THE EDITOR unrefined. What, after all, can match the Greek Catholic Clergy (1882-1946),” 2005, mates his actual contribution. As the Please note our revised guidelines: sophistication of a language in which, in the pp. 176-77). Western Europe received Greek founder of the Sheptytsky Institute, it’s lon- The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes letters 4th century, the “iota” of difference between philosophy, particularly Aristotle, through gest-serving director and the person who to the editor that react to articles pub- “homoousios” (identical in essence) and Arab intermediaries, and St. Thomas invited Father Onuferko, his wife, Mariyka, lished on its pages. Opinions expressed “homoiousios” (similar in essence) could Aquinas harmonized it with Catholic theolo- gy in the 13th century. By rejecting and three children to move to Ottawa from by letter-writers are their own and do not spark acrimonious and politically charged Thomism as too “Latin,” our Churches would Belgium because I desperately needed his necessarily reflect the opinions of either debates over the nature of Jesus Christ? The Weekly editorial staff or its publisher, seem to be shutting the door on an impor- help and expertise as the institute was rap- Esoteric as such questions may seem the Ukrainian National Association. today, our “Greek” Catholic couple were on tant synthesis of Christianity with the classi- idly expanding, please allow me to correct Letters must be signed (anonymous to something when they travelled to cal philosophy that our own tradition failed the record. letters are not published). The daytime Greece. For the histories of Greece and to inherit from its Greek sources. These are the actual key positions held phone number, e-mail address and com- Ukraine are closely tied. I may have sensed “Byzantinism” was a point of controversy by Father Onuferko over the years: 1996- plete mailing address of the letter-writer some of this when, on a student trip across in the 20th century Ukrainian Greek-Catholic must be given for verification purposes. 2002: administrative, information and pub- the Peloponnesus in 1971, I experienced an Church, with the Rev. Havryil Kostelnyk as its The length of letters cannot exceed 250 lications officer for the Metropolitan almost mystical sensation of having been champion, Bishop Hryhory Khomyshyn its Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern words. Letters may be edited or abridged. chief opponent and Metropolitan Andrey The Weekly reserves the right to edit for there before. Greek colonists appeared as Christian Studies, St. Paul University, early as the 8th century B.C. in Crimea and Sheptytsky as the advocate of a moderate Ottawa; 1998-2002, assistant director, clarity, civility and accuracy. Letters should be sent to staff@ along the Black Sea shores. Cities like course. By looking to Greek rather than administration (without his deft leader- ukrweekly.com or to The Ukrainian Panticapaeum and states like the Bosporan Muscovite sources, “Easternizers” have ship, I don’t know how we could have Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Kingdom came and went, but the Greeks avoided the charge of emulating Russian weathered the 1997-1998 academic year, Parsippany, NJ 07054. remained, conducting trade between cities Orthodoxy, forging a “Kyivan Byzantine” tra- such as Miletus and Megara, where many of dition available to both our Catholic and them originated, and whatever nomadic or Orthodox Churches. Today, the Byzantine Explore the archives of The Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda online: agricultural peoples happened to be inhab- Greek liturgy remains our model. iting the steppe interior at the moment. Meanwhile, the Greek Orthodox have again www.ukrweekly.com • www.svoboda-news.com Christians were present on the Crimea attracted our attention, with the Ecumenical Our online archives are made possible by our generous sponsors: and the Black Sea coast already in apostolic Patriarch Bartholomew creating a new Orthodox Church of Ukraine and prominent Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union times. The Roman capital from the 4th cen- tury, the “New Rome” of Byzantium Greek churchmen supporting it. Some Shevchenko Scientific Society U.S.A. (renamed Constantinople) sent missionar- experts warn, however, that Ukraine should Selfreliance Federal Credit Union ies to the barbarian polity that arose to the reject the Byzantine model of church-state Anonymous donor north in the 8th century and was known as “symphonia” so faithfully copied by Russia. In a sense, then, those young “Greek” SUMA Federal Credit Union Rus’. We all know the story of the Baptism of Rus’ in 987-989, which involved military Catholics were not mistaken. Greece is Heritage Foundation of 1st Security Federal Savings Bank aid by Grand Prince Volodymyr to the indeed an essential part of our heritage. Bahriany Foundation Byzantine Emperor Basil II and the for- and others mer’s marriage to the latter’s sister Anna. Andrew Sorokowski can be reached at This brought Greek clerics to Ukraine and, [email protected]. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 No. 7 No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 9

UABA holds its 42nd annual meeting on Capitol Hill

by Bohdan Shandor WASHINGTON – The Ukrainian American Bar Association held its 42nd annual meeting in the revered confines of the United States Capitol. The conference, titled “The Tenacity of Ukraine’s Democracy: Overcoming Obstacles and Aggression,” took place during the weekend of November 1-3, 2019, and featured 25 speakers, includ- ing American and Ukrainian diplomats, jurists, journalists, U.S. and foreign government representatives, members of Washington think tanks and attorneys. Coming in the midst of Washington’s political infighting over impeachment, the conference had an added touch of both drama and history as a backdrop. It was the second year the UABA met on Capitol Hill. The conference concluded with a banquet at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, with long-time advocate for Ukraine Bob McConnell, co-founder of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation and the Friends of Ukraine Network, as the evening’s keynote speaker. At the outset of the conference, the attendees, including congressional staff and government personnel, were greet- ed by UABA President Oksana Pelekh, who also expressed UABA the UABA’s gratitude to the office of Congressman Andy At the Ukrainian American Bar Association conference (from left) are: Olexiy Sosnenko, Judge Orest Jejna, Harris (R-Md.), co-chair of the Ukrainian Congressional Bohdan Shandor, Judge Bohdan Futey and Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich. Caucus, under whose sponsorship the event was held at the Capitol. Voice of America Myroslava Gongadze. Former U.S. Americans to support candidates who are pro-Ukraine The first to address the group was Andrii Yanevskyi, Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst expressed his view “because it’s in favor of the United States.” chargé d’affaires, ad interim, of the Embassy of Ukraine in that the controversy surrounding the Trump-Zelenskyy Melinda Haring, editor of Ukraine Alert and senior fellow Washington, who spoke on “Current Political telephone call served to marginalize Ukraine and make it at the Atlantic Council, echoed the sentiment that Ukraine Developments in Ukraine,” although given the political tur- the subject of discussion rather than being recognized as a had become the subject rather than the player, comparing moil raised by the now infamous telephone call with key partner for U.S. strategic and national security inter- the situation to Russia’s view of Ukraine as a “subject or lit- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, the topic could ests. He took exception with the view that Ukrainian tle brother.” But, she underscored that “Congressional sup- very well have been about current political developments Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin was fired due to pres- port for Ukraine remains strong.” She noted that foreign in Washington. Mr. Yanevskyi diplomatically highlighted sure from presidential candidate Joe Biden rather than investors in Ukraine are not satisfied with the legislative the positive U.S.-Ukraine relationship, which remains pressure from “the entire Western community.” pace in Kyiv amid concerns about “shoddy drafting” of legis- strong with continuing U.S. support vital to preserving Ambassador Herbst added that “Ukraine needs biparti- lation. The challenge is that, “if Ukraine wants to be a seri- Ukraine’s democracy and sovereignty. san support” and that there is “danger in the narrative that ous player, it must reform itself.” But, “it’s time for Congress The first panel discussion, “Ukraine – Subject or Serious Ukraine is evil” because the U.S. needs Ukraine to succeed. to support Ukraine with more weapons and coast guard Player in International Politics,” was moderated by award- He ended on an upbeat note, saying that he thinks every- boats.” She finished by saying that the Congressional winning journalist and chief of the Ukrainian Service of thing “will turn out OK,” although he encouraged Ukrainian Ukraine Caucus was “doing a fantastic job” and expressing hope that the caucus will continue its work. The third panelist, Glen Howard, is president of the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington policy research insti- Ukrainian American Bar Association elects new officers and directors tute founded in 1984 by former CIA Director William J. Casey to assist Soviet defectors. Today, the foundation acts other officers on some new projects and initiatives.” by Gregory Popadiuk and to inform policymakers on events and trends in those soci- “We also invite Ukrainian American attorneys to join Bohdan Shandor eties that are strategically important to the U.S. Mr. Howard the UABA, especially those who are interested in Ukraine, suggested that Ukraine needs to have a strategy beyond WASHINGTON – At the conclusion of the Ukrainian networking with other attorneys from around the United sanctions, especially as it relates to Crimea. He described American Bar Association’s 42nd Annual Meeting in States and being involved in something that makes a dif- President Zelenskyy as more of a tactician than a strategist; Washington, on November 2, 2019, the members of the ference,” Ms. Pelekh said. although, he has surrounded himself with strategists, UABA elected a new slate of officers for the term ending Mr. Shandor echoed this sentiment and added, “We including Defense Minister Andrii Zahorodnyuk and Prime in the fall of 2021. also look forward to having former members, who may Minister . He also identified Mariupol as The new officers are Bohdan Shandor, president; be entering into retirement, reactivate their membership the key to the Donbas and steel exports through the Sea of Victoria Kulik, vice-president and recording secretary; and rejoin their friends. Both the UABA and Ukraine can Azov, which Ukraine must protect at all costs. Peter Piddoubny, treasurer; and, George Pazuniak, corpo- certainly benefit from their many years of experience, rate secretary. In keeping with UABA tradition, outgoing especially since President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy has He underscored that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo president Oksana Pelekh assumed the position of chair of reached out to the Ukrainian American community for “understands the importance of Ukraine to U.S. security.” the UABA Board of Governors. The outgoing chair, Taras advice and assistance on a host of topics.” Mr. Howard surprised the audience with his prediction that Rudnitsky, was re-elected and continues to serve on the UABA co-founder Myroslaw Smorodsky announced Secretary Pompeo will run for the U.S. Senate in Kansas and board. Mr. Shandor will continue to chair the Committee prior to the meeting that he would not be seeking re- be replaced by Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, on Legislative Affairs. election to the board and would step down as communi- the former chief negotiator with North Korea. Commenting on his election, Mr. Shandor said, “I am cations director after a transition period. Mr. Smorodsky During the Q & A, discussion again turned to the very excited to be leading the UABA for the second time, was individually responsible for creating the UABA web- Washington melee, and Ms. Haring suggested that Ukraine having been president in the 1980s. Of course, these are site in the 1990s at a point in time when the Internet was “needs to fix itself and stay out of the U.S. fight.” much different times but frankly more challenging in only beginning. Ambassador Herbst observed that “those who have no many ways than years ago. Today, Ukraine continues to Mr. Shandor remarked: “The UABA would not be here Ukraine interests in mind keep talking about corruption, not only survive but grow as an example to the world of a today as a thriving organization but for the tireless work corruption, corruption.” Ms. Haring ended the panel’s dis- tolerant civil society and a sovereign, democratic and free and effort put forth by Myroslaw. He had the vision to cussion with the comment that “people need to be sent to nation that threw off the shackles of the Soviet Union and recognize the importance of the Internet and its useful- jail” in order for corruption reforms to succeed in Ukraine. Russian domination. Ukraine’s progress as a democracy ness to a broad-based organization like the UABA. Judge Bohdan Futey, a co-founder of the UABA and for- is unsurpassed among the 15 former Soviet republics.” Myroslaw would not just talk about doing something but mer president and board member, addressed the topic of He added: “As members of the legal profession we take roll up his sleeves and get it done. We will miss his “Legal Challenges to the .” Mr. Futey great pride in the contribution that UABA members have invaluable contributions and wish him continued health began his remarks by commending President Zelenskyy’s made during the 42-year history of the UABA in fostering and success in all of his endeavors.” address before the United Nations and his recognition that and developing the principles that have resulted in Mr. Smorodsky will be succeeded in the communica- the rule of law is central to fighting corruption. He noted Ukraine getting closer and closer to being a country gov- tions role by UABA member Olga Medyukh. that there are 6,500 judges in Ukraine, of which 1,500 to erned by the rule of law. After all, since the break-up of One sign of the continuing vitality of the UABA is the 2,000 positions remain vacant, and he pointed out that the Soviet Union, Ukraine has had six presidents while election of the new Board of Governors, comprising 16 Ukraine’s Constitutional Court is very different from the opening its polling booths to world scrutiny. At the same members. The newly elected board members are: Ivanka U.S. model, as decisions of the Constitutional Court are sub- time, Russia has had one and a half elected presidents.” Bilych, Iryna Ivashchuk, Orest Jejna, Tanya Karpiak, Ms. ject to review and may be rejected by the Verkhovna Rada. The outgoing president and new chair of the Board of Kulik, Walter Lupan, George Pazuniak, Ms. Pelekh, Andrew Following a catered lunch in the Capitol, the program Governors, Ms. Pelekh, reflected on her years as president, Piddoubny, Peter Piddoubny, Gregory Popadiuk, Victor turned to a panel discussion of “Russia’s Aggression saying “I have greatly enjoyed my term as president and Rud, Mr. Rudnitsky, Mr. Shandor, Markian Silecky, Andrew Against Ukraine: Are There Paths Toward a Solution?” Dr. the opportunity to meet Ukrainian American attorneys Steckiw and Christina Tershakovec. Stephen Blank, senior fellow at the American Foreign from across the country as well as attorneys from Ukraine. Additional information regarding the UABA and mem- Policy Institute, opened his remarks by saying that “It is I look forward to further working with Bohdan and the bership may be found at www.UABA.org. (Continued on page 14) 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 No. 7 No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 11

“Peripheral Visions”: A duo-exhibition of spatial transitions by the Yurchuks

by Andrew Horodysky direct and indirect intents, these works are resonant with the younger Mr. Yurchuk’s NEW YORK – Art at the Institute is pre- occupational and perceptual past, incorpo- senting “Peripheral Visions,” an exhibition rating objects and remnants from the build- of mixed-media artworks by familial artists ing trade, and repurposing these elemental Iranaeus and Dorian Yurchuk, exploring materials to create works imbued with a extreme visions of architectonic and topo- poetic spirit residing between order and graphic ruminations in two and three chaos, creation and destruction. dimensions. Autonomous from but parallel to his The exhibition opens at the Ukrainian objects, Dorian Yurchuk’s grander two- Institute of America on Friday, February 21, dimensional compositions are conceived of with an opening reception for the artists at turbulent renderings by an inveterate out- 6-8 p.m. Curated by Walter Hoydysh, Ph.D., doorsman responding to topographies from director of Art at the Institute, this marks above and below, both real and imagined. the artists’ first showing with the UIA. Abstracting these encounters into idiosyn- Both father and son independently tra- cratic forms and intense colors, these illus- verse the field with inquiries of the realm trations and paintings capture his sense of between painting and sculpture, and wonder with the ebb and flow of the natu- between photography, painting and archi- ral world. tecture. Each has cultivated a distinct and Ultimately, and significantly with this rich theatrical interspace, where mediums exhibition, Iranaeus and Dorian Yurchuk feed into each other. It is also conceivable to foreshadow the interspace: the space say that for the Yurchuks, the interspace between, a crossing of borders where offers organic and some-time occupied everything changes and a newfound sensi- spaces, ones of transition, detention and bility and perception of one’s surroundings arrest; hence it is potentially also, at a side Irenaeus Yurchuk’s “Drohobych Church” (2019, mixed media on canvas). arises. The interspace is a space of breed- glance, one of no return – in this way it is ing, of possibility, of transition, of temporal like the incidental for which the exhibition his paintings appears both constructed and There is no ideal viewpoint for taking in suspension that is brought to certain erup- is named. As an aesthetic zone, though – organic. Like the cultural and historical these architectural and monumental redefi- tion. It is an interim where things lay and this is what the artists wish for pro- architecture they evoke, these vague photo- nitions, which plays with opacity, transpar- undressed, a space of impression where spective visitors to learn from wandering mechanical records have grown from some ency and perspectives opened by “seeing one is neither out nor in, but between. They through the exhibition – the interspace is originating seed into a pulsating mass through,” between stoppage and motion. believe that their purpose is to transform where space, emotion, energy and natural whose boundaries are indeterminate and Instead of the fixed viewpoint, Mr. Yurchuk the experience of material observation into forces are conjured and released. fluctuating. While his approach is charac- opens the playing field to an infinite num- artwork – like energy, never destroyed or Irenaeus Yurchuk has crafted and laid terized by a modernist recombination of ber of vantage points from which the view- created, only changing its forms. claim to an interval for himself on a difficult photographic fragments into wholly er will take in this total experience. Born in Ukraine during the second and historic playing field. His highly inven- abstract combinations, Mr. Yurchuk aug- In contrast to his father, Dorian Yurchuk world war, Iranaeus Yurchuk grew up in tive designs liberate architecture from its ments his surfaces with chromatic paint develops rituals of his own, creating central New York state. He earned an archi- traditional treatment of stone and metal, media and other materials to engineer a objects, reliefs and illustrations that oper- tectural degree from The Cooper Union and introduce a radical new way to envi- detailed diagrammatic figuration. The final ate between painting and sculpture, and School of Art and Architecture as well as a sion space in synchronicity with its sur- effect proves a stunning pastiche of image, further establish new realms for visual and roundings. The dense matrix that occupies pattern, color and texture. sensory discovery. Multi-layered in their (Continued on page 12)

Olympic Market... (Continued from page 1) deli favorites such as chorizo, Ukrainian pepperoni and garlic salami. Victor Kurywczak, a Ukrainian American originally from Elizabeth, N.J., and now a resident of State College, Pa., said he heard about the market closing from his relatives and made the trek from over 100 miles away. Mr. Kurywczak explained that he’s been coming to the market since childhood, and recalled many memories of the place, the smell of smoked meats, and how you knew it was quality you can’t find every- where even today. “I wish the Lazirko family, especially Oleh, best of luck and thank you for making memories of keeping Ukrainian tradition through our food. Mnohaya lita,” he added. He explained that he has ordered meats shipped from Olympic Community Market to his cousin in Kentucky, and had a shop- ping list from his mother, as well as items Matthew Dubas for his other relatives in New Jersey. Oleh Lazirko and his staff fill customers’ orders, as customers wish the Lazirko family best of luck and share memories. Ezekiel Simmons, a regular customer who lives around the corner on Chancellor in Irvington. Olympic Park was where the here, we’ve had some of the best custom- craft, as customers waited patiently for the Avenue and a family friend of the Lazirkos, riots finally subsided, but the damage was ers, like family, not just coming to buy food. latest batch of kabanos to come out of the shared his sadness about the market clos- done. It has been a great relationship with these smoker and the business was catching up ing, “You’ll never be able to get it again. Olympic Market survived the riots, but it customers for 68 years. More recently, reg- with the last rush of orders before it closes That’s the sad part.” Mr. Simmons said he could not survive the Ukrainian community ular customers call in their orders to be its doors. He even explained to customers has shared his love for the market with his moving out of the urban centers it formerly shipped all over the country. Some in North how the freezing process of smoked meats co-workers and said the local regulars will called home. Port, Fla., have been known to place orders (the cell structure is destroyed as the water miss this place when it finally closes. Mr. Lazirko noted that he had worked for to be shipped the same day, regardless of expands in the meat) needed to be counter- A lot of people are stocking up for the 42 years at the market, alongside his father, the cost. And we never add to the shipping, acted to “revive” the meat by warming it up, upcoming Easter holidays, Mr. Lazirko said. Antin, who died in 1978, and his mother, whatever it costs is what the customer even in the microwave. The market moved from its original loca- Natalia, who died in 2017 at the age of 96, pays. As I see it, we can’t compete against Olympic Community Market was located tion in Newark in 1963, as if sensing that having worked at the market for 54 years. A Amazon and other large businesses that at 122 40th Street, Irvington, N.J. 07111, at racial tensions of the day were coming to a tribute to her and her life history was prom- are muscling us out with their buying the corner of Leslie Place. It continues to get head. And they did come to a head in 1968 inently displayed near the front register, power. In addition, the diaspora communi- messages on its Facebook page from cus- with the Newark riots that destroyed many where she would tally up customers’ orders. ty has scattered from its former centers.” tomers wishing the business and family well, properties near the market’s latest location He stated: “In the years that I’ve worked Mr. Lazirko really showed his love for his and sharing fond memories of the place. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 No. 7

BOOK REVIEW The Ukraine we no longer remember: Vasyl Makhno’s debut novel “Vichnyi Calendar” (The Eternal Calendar, in the places where he grew up. He is looking for the remains Ukrainian), by Vasyl Makhno. Lviv: Staryi Lev, 2019. ISBN- of the Armenian cemetery, and he finds the location with 10: 617679725X. the help of an elderly resident. He learns that no one else by Oksana Rosenblum remembers the Armenian community anymore, and there is nothing left of the cemetery. While there, D. receives an Vasyl Makhno’s first novel, “The Eternal Calendar” e-mail from his New York friend, who informs him that an (“Vichnyi Calendar”) illuminates different epochs and loca- extraordinary discovery was made in the attic of an tions, and merges different genres. On a macro level, it is a antique dealer in Queens: the letters of Nathan of Gaza, family saga; on a micro level, it contains a number of sto- copied by a shamash of the Buchach Jewish community, ries within the stories and dramatized narratives. and fragments of a letter written by Chortkiv rebbe Dovid Spanning from the 1700s to our time, the Ukrainian- Moshe Fridman. D. goes back to New York to trace the kind language novel follows family histories of a few genera- of Ukraine that is no longer available in Ukraine. tions, all coming from one area in western Ukraine, or In order to read Mr. Makhno’s book, one needs to come eastern , with the village of Yazlivets and cities of up with a strategy. I read it from beginning to end, just Buchach and Chortkiv in focus. straight through. It took a good few weeks. I closed the Mr. Makhno is well-known for his numerous award- book, and realized I have to start again, from the begin- winning poetry collections and books of essays. This debut ning. I felt as if in the middle of a vortex, or as if I was hav- in the genre of long novels is a testimony to his dedication ing a dream within a dream within a dream. I remembered to the subject matter that feels close to home. Having some parts of it perfectly well. And yet, similarly to the tra- grown up in Chortkiv, he is intimately familiar with the jectory of one’s life that rarely reminds us of a straight line, region and its culture. Nevertheless, he reports to have I could not remember how I walked from point A to point spent at least five years researching and writing “The B and further. Eternal Calendar.” The realization was a chilling one and reminded me of The novel is, in fact, a conglomerate of smaller novellas, what Maria Stepanova writes in her “In Memory of each telling a story of a separate community, be it Memory” (“Pamiati Pamiati,” published in Russian by Armenian, Jewish or Ruthenian, as well as creating a con- Novoye Izdatel’stvo, 2019), thinking about the variety of text in which these communities co-exist. More often than digital media and what it does to the world, to memory, to not, the communities and people co-exist in peace. the world of our memory – it creates a situation in which However, the war is constantly present, and the lands of neither biography, nor text, nor history can be perceived as eastern Galicia are occupied – by the Ottomans, by a chain of logical events. Everything is equally present, Germans, by Soviets. The reality of war highlights the everything is waiting for its intended reader or viewer – worst and the best in people. sense, but in fact we end up being the victims of large tem- someday that person will read all the text, see all the pho- It is a chorus of voices that is the most striking accom- poral cycles that are beyond our comprehension. tographs. The trick is, however, that the person like that plishment of Mr. Makhno’s monumental piece. As a reader, Ruthenian Jews should not have trusted Messianic ideas does not exist. Nobody is capable of seeing all of it, nobody I am less concerned with the historical validity of the of Shabetai Tsevi; the Jews of Galicia should not have trust- is able to process all of it. events described. Instead, I listen to protagonists of the ed the Germans based on a futile hope they would behave That’s why reading Mr. Makhno’s novel is such a chal- family saga who speak together or individually. I am fasci- like a nation steeped in the culture of Goethe. Ukrainians lenging and, at the same time, a rewarding experience: I nated with the way the author breathes life into unknown knew what to expect of Soviet invasion, and yet nobody cannot remember all these people, and I feel almost guilty names one would encounter on the pages of vital records’ imagined it would be as horrible as it turned out to be. that I can’t. I want to be able to. I am grateful, however, that books. At the end of the day, it is an individual who pays the “The Eternal Calendar” gives them a chance to speak up for The level of historical detail that went into writing this price and suffers, and it is that same individual who sur- themselves. At the end of the day, perhaps it is for the bet- book is incredibly impressive. From the terminology of vives the system and perseveres and goes on, even when ter we never quite know what the eternal calendar holds war to the names of birds in the garden of Sultan Mehmet nothing seems to make sense anymore. in store for us. IV, to the language of Kabbalah and Sabbatianic messian- “The Eternal Calendar” is a profoundly sad book, Mr. Makhno’s book is available from Amazon at https:// ism, the author creates a world in which chance has much despite its colorful language and ever-present humor. D., impact on human fate. We want to believe in the causality the protagonist of the last chapter, “Snow Coming from the Vasyl’/dp/617679725X?fbclid=IwAR0kR8CU4Nd88 of historical process, in things being logical and making Ocean,” lives in New York and travels back to Ukraine to J7edSC6yXffYzQ5qGAEMp4Vwww.amazon.com/Vichnyy-kalendar-Вічний-календар- ow4_JtnjNsRprf39S_8nlUw.

Almanac of Ukrainian Canadian Servicemen now online “Peripheral Visions...” (Continued from page 11) UCCLF graduate degree in urban design and planning from CALGARY, Alberta – The Almanac of Ukrainian Columbia University. He worked professionally as an Canadian Servicemen is now available online on the web- urban planner until 2010, when he turned to art full-time. site of the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation His creative work includes drawing, painting, graphic (UCCLF). design, photography and film-making. He has participated This Ukrainian-language document (with an English in group exhibitions in North America and Europe, includ- foreword) provides information about many of the thou- ing a recent solo show at the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance sands of Ukrainian Canadian men and women who volun- Gallery in upstate New York. His artworks are held in pri- teered for service overseas with the Canadian armed forc- vate collections in the U.S. and abroad. es during World War II, including photographs, casualty Dorian Yurchuk studied architecture at The Cooper lists and other details. Produced in 1946, by the Ukrainian Union and McGill University, and practices in the area of Catholic Brotherhood of Canada, this rare document has historic restoration and preservation. His paintings, draw- been restored, and is now being made available in support ings and sculptures have been exhibited at the Delaware of the “Heroes of Their Day” project. Valley Arts Alliance and group exhibitions at Grazhda The UCCLF calls upon all Canadians of Ukrainian heri- Music and Art Center of Greene County and Université du tage to remember those who defended our freedom during Québec à Montréal. the second world war and then helped rescue thousands of Ukrainian displaced persons and victims of the war, partic- About Art at the Institute ularly on May 8, the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Celebrating its 66th year of activity, Art at the Institute is Day (V-E Day). the visual arts programming division of the Ukrainian Readers may visit https://www.ucclf.ca/heroes-of- Institute of America. Since its establishment in 1955, Art at their-day and scroll down to see the Almanac of Ukrainian the Institute has organized projects and exhibitions with Canadian Servicemen, available in six PDFs. the aim of providing post-war and contemporary Ukrainian The Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation is artists a platform for their creative output, presenting it to dedicated to advancing knowledge among Canadians and the broader public on New York’s Museum Mile. the world community about historic and contemporary “Peripheral Visions” runs from February 21 to March 8 civil liberties issues affecting Ukrainian Canadians. at The Ukrainian Institute of America, 2 E. 79th St. The UCCLF is a non-profit registered Canadian charita- Exhibition hours are Tuesday to Sunday, noon-6 p.m., or by ble organization number: 88169 2818 RR0001. To make a appointment. For further information, readers may con- donation by check, please send mail to: UCCLF, 48 Wood Cover of the Ukrainian-language Almanac of Ukrainian tact Olena Sidlovych, executive director, at 212-288-8660 Crest Close SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2W 3P9. Canadian Servicemen. or [email protected]. No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 13 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 No. 7

Conflict in Ukraine.” She explained that the UABA holds... use of foreign fighters in war is actually dealt with quite extensively in international (Continued from page 9) law. The 1999 International Convention for vital that Ukraine prevail, and vital for the the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism United States.” He emphasized that (ICSFT) establishes the international crime European security is America’s security of donating or collecting funds with the and that Russia wants what it has always intention that such monies be used to carry wanted: that “Ukraine never exist as an out any act that is prohibited by treaty. A independent sovereign state.” He stressed total of 188 countries have adopted the that Ukraine’s democracy worries Vladimir ICSFT. Also, the International Convention Putin and in a very pointed historical refer- Against the Recruitment, Use, Financing ence said, “Ukrainian independence and and Training of Mercenaries was adopted statehood threatens the very existence of by the U.N. General Assembly. The conven- the Muscovy state.” tion entered into force on October 20, 2001, Dr. Maria Snegovaya, fellow at Johns and has been ratified by 36 countries. Hopkins University School of Advanced Ukraine ratified the convention in 1993; International Studies, focused her remarks the Russian Federation has never ratified on graphs that charted Russian aggression the convention. during this century as a function of oil and Conference attendees were treated to a gas prices. As oil and gas prices rose at the special viewing of an abridged version of end of the 1990s and early 2000s, the “Baba Babee Skazala: Grandmother told Russian military increased its activity by UABA Grandmother,” produced and directed by attacking the Russian province of Chechnya Oksana Pelekh (left), newly elected chairwoman of the UABA Board of Governors, Matej Silecky. The film, which originally in the “Second Chechen War,” while blam- with Bohdan Shandor, newly elected president of the UABA, and Myroslava premiered to great acclaim at the New ing terrorist bombings in Moscow, which Gongadze, chief of the Ukrainian Service at Voice of America. Jersey Film Festival, poignantly documents were orchestrated by the Russian FSB. In the stories of Ukrainian American survivors 2014, with oil and gas prices high, Russia blance of civil society. He noted that there John Didiuk, director, international proj- of the Nazi and Soviet atrocities during attacked Ukraine, annexed Crimea and are still hundreds of Ukrainians imprisoned ect finance, for the Overseas Private World War II who ultimately found their invaded the Donbas region of Ukraine uti- in Russian jails and called upon Ukrainian Investment Corporation (OPIC) explained way to the United States. lizing highly paid Russian and foreign mer- Americans to voice their concern to their that OPIC provides loan guarantees to those UABA Board Member Markian Silecky, of cenaries, “Spetsnaz” FSB units, Russian elected representatives in Washington and who are investing in Ukraine. Under OPIC, the Polsinelli firm with extensive experi- arms and missiles, and Russian military insist that sanctions against Russia be the loans typically ranged in size from $1 ence in Ukraine, and Olexiy Soshenko, man- personnel. Dr. Snegovaya’s point was clear: increased. million to $350 million. OPIC is presently aging partner at Redcliffe Partners, a Kyiv- Russia is an opportunistic aggressor that Adrian Karmazyn, special advisor, strate- insuring a number of energy-related proj- based law firm that advises businesses and acts most aggressively when it feels eco- gic communications and development, for ects that will reduce Ukraine’s dependence Western investors in Ukraine, addressed nomically strong. the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, addressed on outside energy sources, including a the topic of “U.S.-Ukraine Business The next topic, “Assessing Freedoms in “Media Freedom and the Media Environ­ $400 million wind power project. Relations and the Impact on Law in Ukraine” was addressed by Ayla Bakkalli, ment in Ukraine.” He noted that Ukraine Mr. Didiuk announced that effective with Ukraine.” Drawing upon their combined the U.S. representative of the Crimean Tatar has “made significant progress in improv- the New Year, OPIC would be joined with experience, the speakers emphasized the Mejlis at the United Nations Forum on ing its media environment in the post- the U.S. Agency for International abundance of investment opportunities in Indigenous Issues and executive member of Maidan period, including advancing the Development Credit Authority in a new Ukraine. One understated opportunity in the World Congress of Crimean Tatars. Ms. professionalism of news coverage.” Accor­ agency to be known as the United States Ukraine is in oil well drilling and gas explo- Bakkalli also serves as an adviser to the ding to Mr. Karmazyn, the problem in International Development Finance ration, which Ukraine possesses in signifi- Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the U.N. Ukraine “remains that oligarchs still exert Corporation or “DFC,” for the purpose of cant quantities. The energy sector also pres- on indigenous matters. influence over the newsrooms.” The best bringing private capital to the developing ents investment opportunities in non-tradi- She said that during the last five years of hope for overcoming oligarch dominance world. This new agency, funded with up to tional energy sources like wind turbine, occupation, the Russian Federation has “is that online sources are catching up and $60 billion in non-governmental funds, will solar and other renewable energy sources. engaged in the deliberate relocation of surpassing TV in popularity.” Unfortunately, play an expanded role in financing projects Foreign investment in Ukraine moves the Russian citizens to the Crimean peninsula the popularity of social media has made beyond providing loan guarantees to those country forward economically, and it also in violation of the Fourth Geneva “the audience highly susceptible to fake investing in Ukraine. DFC will provide equi- positively affects the country’s laws, bring- Convention; this is also a war crime under news, distortions, bots, troll farms” and ty as well as debt financing, political risk ing such law closer to Western industrial- Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the other forms of disinformation. insurance, and technical assistance and fea- ized standards, they pointed out. International Criminal Court. Mr. Karmazyn cited a positive develop- sibility studies. It will support cooperation Following a catered buffet luncheon for While Russia has stripped away human ment in the proposal by Minister of Culture with the State Department and the U.S. conference attendees, Bohdan Shandor, rights in Crimea, Ukraine has acted to pre- Volodymyr Borodiansky to legislatively Agency for International Development. chairman of the UABA Committee on serve Crimean rights and institutions. “The limit the ability of Russian citizens to own Saturday’s session began with welcom- Legislative Affairs, spoke on “Ukraine’s Russian occupiers banned the Mejlis of the Ukrainian media and for Russian capital to ing remarks by Judge Timothy M. View from Capitol Hill,” saying that Ukraine Crimean Tatar People, and Ukraine chal- finance Ukrainian media. He concluded that Tymkovich, chief judge of the U.S. Court of continues to enjoy unprecedented biparti- lenged the ban at the International Court of “these are signals that the Zelenskyy Appeals for the 10th Circuit, or as lawyers san support on Capitol Hill even in the face Justice,” she said. “The Permanent Mission administration will not be letting down its often describe the court, “the second highest of its being unwittingly dragged into a U.S. of Ukraine to the U.N. has sponsored over 30 guard in terms of battling Russian disinfor- court in the land.” Judge Tymkovich, whose political quagmire. Ukraine and President resolutions before the U.N. General mation and that Zelenskyy regards great-grandfather emigrated to the United Zelenskyy should be commended for capa- Assembly and Ukraine has utilized all dem- Western-style free news media as essential States, told a poignant story of growing up bly handling the situation and staying ocratic tools and mechanisms within the to Ukraine’s democracy.” aware of his Ukrainian heritage and becom- above the fray, he noted. international arena and at home,” she noted. The final topic for the day was “U.S. and ing ever more interested in Ukraine and its Mr. Shandor went on to describe H.R. Orest Deychakiwsky, for many years a European Perspectives on Ukraine’s rich culture and history as he got older. He 3047, a bill that would grant Ukraine the key staff member of the U.S. Commission Economic Situation.” As the world contin- offered his regrets that he would not be able status of a “Non-NATO Major Ally of the on Security and Cooperation in Europe ues to hear Russia’s diatribe describing to attend the evening’s banquet because he U.S.” and its benefits to both Ukraine and (Helsinki Commission), focused his Ukraine’s economy as crumbling and in was flying that evening to Kyiv on a judicial the United States such as: access to U.S. remarks on the current human rights abus- dire condition and Ukraine as a “failed advisory trip. The audience responded with weapons technology and the utilization of es taking place in the Donbas region of state,” each of the speakers gave a hands-on a very loud round of applause. Ukraine’s very capable military industrial Ukraine occupied by Russian troops. He assessment of increasing investment and Andriy Futey, president of the Ukrainian sector to build weapons for NATO and the reviewed how Ukrainian POWs are held in growth in Ukraine’s economy. Congress Committee of America, addressed U.S. at significant cost savings to U.S. tax- deplorable conditions, subjected to torture, Michelle Small, director, head of the the gathering on “The Role of the Organized payers and NATO. An example of this high- deprived of any medical services and not Representative Office – North America, Ukrainian American Community in tech weapons capability is the ongoing allowed visits by international relief organi- European Bank for Reconstruction and Supporting Ukraine.” He began by saying debate over any sale of Ukraine’s advanced zations, including the U.N. and OSCE. Development (EBRD), cited the fact that in that he looked forward to welcoming the jet and rocket engine manufacturer, Motor Mr. Deychakiwsky also cited the depriva- 2019 the EBRD invested $1 billion in Ukraine, UABA into the UCCA family of organizations Sich, to China. tion of religious liberty, with Russians ban- double the amount for 2018. These invest- in the very near future. He went on to Mr. Shandor noted there is strong bipar- ning churches by refusing registration for ments included long-term infrastructure describe the activities of the UCCA and the tisan support for continued and even the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, projects like a railroad project and a road working relationship that has already been increased sanctions on Russia and conclud- Baptists, the Pentecostal Church, Jehovah’s construction project in the Kherson Oblast. established between the UCCA, the ed by asking rhetorically whether anyone Witnesses and all those other than the Ivan Bilaniuk, an attorney and partner in Ukrainian National Information Service in the room believed the sanctions were Russian Orthodox Church. These abuses the Cincinnati-based law firm of Dinsmore (UNIS) and the UABA in the area of legisla- not working, as the Russians claim. He then include the banning of the Ukrainian lan- & Shohl, which dates back to 1908, stressed tion and congressional affairs. produced foreign exchange data: as of guage, the closing of all non-Russian his firm’s increasing activities in Ukraine on Ivanka Bilych, a member of the UABA December 1, 2013, before Russia’s invasion schools, the Russification of the area with behalf of U.S.-based clients and confirmed Board and president of VOLYA Institute for and any sanctions, the ruble was trading at the introduction of Donbas “patriotism,” the quickening pace and growth of Contemporary Law and Society, addressed 33.1 rubles to the U.S. dollar, on November the imprisonment of Ukrainians on falsified Ukraine’s economy and the strengthening a too often overlooked topic: “Mercenaries charges and the dismantling of any sem- of Ukraine’s currency. and States’ Responsibility in the Armed (Continued on page 15) No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 15

Defense Ministry. Exactly 1,201 infantry try fighting vehicles or armored personnel former convict, who is known in the crimi- NEWSBRIEFS fighting vehicles and 440 tanks were dam- carriers, were damaged the following year. nal world for black-market schemes and aged during this period, the most among the (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Defense stealing fuel at the Lviv railway. Allegedly (Continued from page 2) various armored vehicles. According to the Express and Ukrainian Military Pages) colluding with him was a 43-year-old National Police major in the Lviv region, Mr. Kozak is a former deputy prime minis- cited data, the most common cause of dam- Police major, ex-convict wanted in car arson ter. He was appointed deputy head of the age was fire from rocket-launcher and artil- who sought the arsonist and paid him for Kremlin administration late last month. Mr. lery systems, as well as mortars. Forty-five Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office in the crime, according to Didenko. The sus- Kozak supervised Mr. Putin’s first re-elec- percent of the total damage, or 1,159 Lviv suspects an underworld criminal and a pects are on a nationwide wanted list. Both tion campaign in 2004, was responsible for armored vehicles, were damaged in July- police major of collusion in the arson of a would be prosecuted for intentional preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympic September 2014. This occurred around the vehicle belonging to RFE/RL correspondent destruction of or damage to property, which Games in , and served as the Kremlin’s time when Russia allegedly engaged in sys- Halyna Tereshchuk. Iryna Didenko, the lead carries a prison sentence of six to 15 years. principal person for ties with Moldova. Mr. tematic cross-border shelling of Ukrainian prosecutor of the Lviv region, signed the The journalist, who has worked for RFE/RL Kozak is among Russian officials who were positions, something which Moscow denies. charge sheets for the two suspects on since 2000, said at the time of the arson on sanctioned by the West after Russia seized Russia followed up on the purported shell- February 11. Accused of ordering the torch- ing of the journalist’s car is a 48-year-old Crimea. (RFE/RL, with reporting by ing from its side of the border with regular (Continued on page 18) Reuters and AFP) forces who crossed into Ukraine’s eastern Armored vehicles significantly damaged Luhansk and Donetsk regions in late sum- mer, culminating in the disastrous battle of Ukraine’s military says 2,576 units of its Ilovaisk in which Ukrainian forces found weaponized armored vehicles and equip- themselves surrounded. A total of 2,410 ment were damaged between April 2014 armored vehicles, including 475 tanks, were TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL Walter Honcharyk (973) 292-9800 x3040 and June 2016 in the combat zone of the damaged in the first 365 days of the war. In or e-mail [email protected] two easternmost regions where a war with 2015, Ukraine lost 410 armored vehicles, Russia-backed separatists still rages. Most of including many during the battle for SERVICES PROFESSIONALS the losses – 2,185 units – were caused by Donetsk airport and near Debaltseve in the enemy shelling, armed clashes and land- Donetsk region, a key rail-transportation mine explosions, the Ukrainian-based hub that Kyiv eventually lost to combined МАРІЯ ДРИЧ Defense Express magazine reported on Russian-separatist forces. Twenty-six Ліцензований Продавець February 11, citing data received from the armored vehicles, consisting of either infan- Страхування Життя МАRІA DRICH Licensed Life Insurance Agent Ukrainian National Assn., Inc. ambassadors to Ukraine, economic, energy UABA holds... and military experts dedicated to assisting 2200 Route 10, Parsippany, NJ 07054 U.S.-Ukraine relations. Mr. McConnell Tel.: 973-292-9800 ext. 3035 (Continued from page 14) arrived on the Washington scene from e-mail: [email protected] 1, 2019, the ruble was trading at 64.2 Arizona when he was nominated by rubles to the dollar – a 93.4 percent devalu- President Ronald Reagan to be assistant ation. A devaluing currency results in inter- attorney general at the Department of SERVICES nal inflation, economic dislocation and eco- Justice, where he headed the Office of nomic malaise as Russians have to work Legislative and Governmental Affairs. Since twice as hard to afford any imported goods, that time he has been an ardent advocate including everything from autos to TV’s to for Ukraine and its development as a food stuffs. “The sanctions are working,” he democracy governed by the rule of law. concluded. Mr. McConnell began his remarks by cit- The final speaker for the day was ing an article in The New York Times from Congressman Harris of Maryland, co-chair October 31, 1984, which was quoted in the of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, who biography distributed to the banquet welcomed the audience to the nation’s capi- guests. In that article, then Sen. Joseph R. OPPORTUNITIES tal and chuckled at his topic, “The Ukrainian Biden, Jr., the ranking Democrat on the Congressional Caucus: How it works in an Senate Judiciary Committee, described Mr. Age of Partisanship.” He said, “It may be McConnell as “indispensable” in helping Earn extra income! hard to believe, but it really does work – push through a major crime bill. “He’s The Ukrainian Weekly is looking even today.” He then described how the cau- extremely competent and effective,” Mr. for advertising sales agents. cus meets regularly to review legislative Biden said, “very savvy, a real straight For additional information contact proposals, bills that are to be introduced and shooter whose word is always good.” Mr. Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. ongoing developments in Ukraine. Most McConnell then asked to the audience’s members of the caucus have a staff member laughter: “Can you imagine anyone, anyone assigned to track Ukraine affairs and repre- on one side of the aisle saying that about sent the congressperson at meetings if he or someone on the other side today?” she is unable to personally attend. He then lamented, “Yes, times have KULINSKI MEMORIALS He noted that prior to the presidential changed.” However, he pointed out that 809 SOUTH MAIN STREET • MANVILLE, NJ 08835 , several Washington what has not changed is the threat posed TEL. 908-722-3130 FAX 908-253-0027 think tanks were asked to brief the caucus earlier by the Soviet Union and today by TOLL FREE 800-458-5467 [email protected] on expected election results in Ukraine and Russia. This continuing threat underscores not one predicted that Mr. Zelenskyy would the need for maintaining bipartisanship, • Serving Ukrainian families for over 60 years win. “Clearly, these folks have got to listen “but this critical bi-partisanship is in dan- • Over 40 granite colors to choose from and know better,” he said, referring to the ger,” he added. • Custom etchings unnamed think tanks. He addressed the Addressing the Washington impeach- • House appointments available sanctions on Russia pointing out that the ment turmoil in stark terms, Mr. McConnell Russian economy is definitely feeling the said, “Whatever your or anyone’s view on • Serving the tri-state area effects of the sanctions as shown by the the current stories and headlines – Trump’s • 5 minutes from South Bound Brook, NJ weak ruble and, “There’s a lot more that behavior or how Congress is handling the can be done on sanctions.” situation – it all equals a political sewer Rep. Harris concluded his remarks by explosion for Ukraine and Ukraine’s place saying “the bipartisan support Ukraine in Washington. Ukraine is the innocent vic- receives in Congress is a reflection of the tim, suffering immense collateral damage.” importance the United States places on He questioned why it is that anyone in Ukraine as a strategic partner to our coun- the impeachment story who is of Ukrainian try, and that’s not going to change.” ancestry is labelled Ukrainian American, The conference adjourned earlier on yet no one refers to “ as Saturday in order that the UABA Board of Trump’s Italian American lawyer,” or Governors could meet and elect officers for “Donald Trump as our German American the term expiring in November 2021. (See president,” or “Adam Schiff as the Jewish sidebar on page 9.) American committee chair.” He added: The UABA banquet was held at the Hyatt “Today anyone with any ethnic connection Regency Hotel near the Capitol. Newly to Ukraine is noted to be Ukrainian or elected UABA President Bohdan Shandor Ukrainian American and it is reported as a served as the master of ceremonies for the negative. Ukraine is toxic.” evening and introduced the evening’s key- Mr. McConnell concluded by warning, note speaker, Mr. McConnell of the U.S.- “We cannot allow ourselves to be sucked Run your advertisement here, Ukraine Foundation and the Friends of into any of the partisan accusations and in The Ukrainian Weekly’s CLASSIFIEDS section. Ukraine Network, made up of former U.S. inferences.” 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 No. 7

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE Metropolitan-Archbishop Borys Gudziak pays a visit to parish in Toms River, N.J.

by Gerry Tchir with songs by the parish Youth Group and the St. Stephen Choir, vocal entertainment TOMS RIVER, N.J. – A large and enthusi- by the Ukrainian duo Philadelphia and a astic congregation of parishioners and traditional Prosfora meal. guests of St. Stephen Ukrainian Catholic The visit by Metropolitan Borys to St. Church in Toms River, N.J., welcomed Stephen Church was a huge success. His Metropolitan-Archbishop Borys Gudziak, presence at the divine liturgy and Prosfora who leads the Ukrainian Catholic Church in was very well received by the congregation. the United States. The metropolitan’s message delivered at Archbishop Borys served the pontifical the Prosfora was sincere, heartfelt and divine liturgy, blessed the new bell tower inspirational. People were overheard say- and attended the Prosfora celebration in ing that the new metropolitan is “the real the parish Community Center on Sunday, deal,” spiritual, sincere and humble, with a January 19. clear vision for the Ukrainian Catholic During his homily, Metropolitan Borys Church in the U.S.A. came down into the crowded assembly, St. Stephen is the first Ukrainian Catholic directly communicated with the people, Church to be built in New Jersey’s Ocean and asked leading questions about their County. The church is located at 1344 White faith, family and concerns. He encouraged Oak Bottom Road, Toms River, NJ 08755; them to help build their local parish and to rectory phone, 732-505-6053; website, promote the Ukrainian Catholic Church. www.ststephenchurch.us. The pastor is the Following the liturgy, Metropolitan Rev. Volodymyr Popyk. Divine liturgy is cele- Olga Tchir The metropolitan is welcomed to St. Stephen Ukrainian Catholic Church by the pas- Borys was welcomed to the Prosfora cele- brated on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at tor, the Rev. Volodymyr Popyk, and parishioners. bration in the parish Community Center 9 a.m. (English) and 10:30 a.m. (Ukrainian).

Plast in New York City celebrates its 70th anniversary

by Oriana Makar NEW YORK – The Plast New York headquarters (“domi- vka”) was the venue on December 7, 2019, for a special cel- ebration: the 70th anniversary of the New York Branch of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization. Plast scouts young and old came together in the New York domivka to celebrate the 70th year of activity and mark the origin of Plast in Manhattan. Everyone gathered in the main hall with their scouting uniforms on, eager to begin. The celebration started off with the opening of the gathering, the “vidkryttia” with which Plast members always start their events. Then, the leader of Plast in New York, Talia Danysh, spoke about the history of the New York branch. She spoke about the many years of dedicated work and how the num- ber of members greatly increased. A slideshow was shown depicting how far the organization has come and how many generations of families enjoyed their time in Plast in the past and still do so today. Next, memories were shared by three people from dif- ferent generations. Iryna Kurowycky spoke about the very beginning of Plast in New York and how she was the first woman to be a “stan- ychna” – the branch leader. She also spoke about how many things have changed in Plast, and said she is happy to see Oriana Makar how much the Plast scouts in New York are thriving today. Plast scouts gathered for the 70th anniversary celebration of New York City’s Plast. Taras Ferencevych spoke about his father, who helped buy the property in East Chatham, N.Y., where the popular came to the domivka door and how much joy he had. He The celebration ended with the singing of the Plast Ukrainian scout camp Vovcha Tropa is located, and how continues to be “hnizdovyi,” or cubmaster, for the young hymn. To conclude, everyone enjoyed a slice of anniversary excited he was to experience the start of something new. scouts of the branch. cake and sandwiches. Ukrainian scouts all over the world travel to Vovcha Tropa Children and adults listened in awe as they learned how to meet new friends and make countless memories. Mr. many things had changed from three different points of Oriana Makar is a Plast scout in New York, a Grade 10 Ferencevych also spoke about Plast in Manhattan being a view, and they were eager to hear more. The walls were student at Samopomich School of Ukrainian Studies and a village that he could depend on. decorated with handwritten notes of what Plast means to dancer with Roma Pryma Bohachevsky School of Ukrainian Finally, Ostap Gladun spoke about the very first time he current scouts in the New York City branch. Dance.

Senior Plast member Iryna Kuro­wycky shares her memo- Plast scouts listen to the history of the New York ries. Plast scouts from different generations. City branch. No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 17

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE 47th annual “Shchedryi Vechir” unites generations in Edmonton

by Lidia M. Wasylyn apostolic administrator of New Westminster, British Columbia, along with the Rev. Danylo EDMONTON Alberta – The Board of Kuc, pastor of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Directors of the Ukrainian Youth Unity Parish, led the opening prayer. Joining the Complex in Edmonton, known as the prayer was the Verkhovyna Choir of the “Domivka,” hosted their 47th annual Ukrainian Youth Association under the “Shchedryi Vechir” dinner on January 18. baton of Orest Soltykevych. About 300 community members braved bit- Young members of the Edmonton terly cold temperatures and icy roads to branch of the Ukrainian Youth Association enjoy a traditional community gathering performed Ukrainian carols, accompanied that is one of the final feasts of the Ukrainian by Ivan Soletsky on the accordion. Their Christmas cycle. A true family event, joyful performance brought smiles to all. Shchedryi Vechir unites young and old, chil- To begin the dinner, the traditional “pros- dren and grandparents, Canadian-born and fora” was distributed by presidents or repre- recent immigrants to share a traditional sentatives of all the organizations affiliated Lidia M. Wasylyn with the Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex. meatless meal. Members of the Ukrainian Youth Association on stage. The evening’s program was opened by These included Mr. Krys on behalf of the Vasyl Yavorsky and Ivanka Soletsky of the Edmonton branch of the League of ingful pastoral message in which he high- Diotte said he is proud to have participated Edmonton branch of the Ukrainian Youth Ukrainian Canadians; Ivanna Szewczuk, lighted the divine gifts bestowed as part of in the election observer mission during the Association. The ceremonial “didukh” was president of the League of Ukrainian the Feast of Epiphany. The singing of carols last presidential election in Ukraine and presented by Ihor Krys on behalf of the Canadian Women, Edmonton branch; led by the Verkhovyna Choir followed. noted that he did not observe or experience board, who welcomed every one and very Ivanka Soletsky, president of the Edmonton Special guests for the evening included any problems with the voting process. He briefly highlighted the significance of the branch of the Ukrainian Youth Association; Consul General of Ukraine Oleksandr added that he was particularly impressed evening’s event. and Ulana Soletsky of the complex’s board of Danyleyko, who attended with his family. In with the beauty of Ukraine and the warmth Bishop David Motiuk, Ukrainian Catholic directors. his remarks, Mr. Danyleyko noted that when of the people, and that he looks forward to eparch of Edmonton and the newly appointed Bishop David delivered a short but mean- he and his family arrived in Edmonton participating in future election observer about one year ago, Shchedryi Vechir was missions to Ukraine. the very first official event they attended. A surprise guest, vocalist Ihor Bohdan, Any apprehensions they may have had merited artist of Ukraine, performed two about moving to Edmonton, known for its Ukrainian carols. In his inimitable style, he bitterly cold winters, have been completely engaged all present to join him in singing. erased by the warm and welcoming com- He concluded with heartfelt wishes and munity that has embraced them. He noted beautiful “vinshuvannia” (best wishes) and that the community comes together, and he invited all to attend his upcoming farewell and his own family appreciate feeling a part tour concert. of this kind and warm family. The evening’s program wound down Kerry Diotte, member of Parliament for with a few more carols sung by all present the riding of Edmonton-Griesbach, and his under the guidance of Mr. Soltykevych and wife once again made time to attend vinshuvannia by Mr. Yavorsky. Bishop David Shchedryi Vechir. A frequent guest at the led the closing prayer. Domivka and at other events in Edmonton’s Ukrainian community, Mr. Diotte reminisced Lidia M. Wasylyn is a member of the about how his own nomination meeting League of Ukrainian Canadian Women, The Verkhovyna Choir of the Ukrainian Youth Association performs. was held at that venue several years ago. Mr. Edmonton branch.

Annual UAYA Yalynka takes place in Whippany

WHIPPANY, N.J. – The twenty-ninth annual “Yalynka” of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (UAYA) was held on January 26 at the Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey. This event brings together many generations of UAYA fami- lies and community members in a joyous holiday celebration. The program was pre- pared by the educators and youth of the Whippany chapter of the UAYA. Six differ- ent age groups of youth (ages 4-17) per- formed carols, Christmas greetings and traditional Ukrainian nativity plays. A deli- cious lunch was prepared by parents of the chapter. The event culminated with a visit by St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker who dis- tributed candy to the children. – Chrysina A. Dolyniuk Chrystina A. Dolyniuk 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 No. 7

and is broadcasting from an empty studio NEWSBRIEFS without presenters and guests. ATR is a Holderness School exhibit brings visitors part of a media holding that is majority- (Continued from page 15) owned by Lenur Islyamov and initially to the frontline of Ukraine’s experience January 30 that she suspected the attack stopped broadcasting in Crimea after the was linked to her professional activities. occupying Russian authorities refused to Police on February 6 detained a 19-year-old issue a broadcasting license after annexing male in Odesa for allegedly setting the the Ukrainian peninsula in 2014. It reporter’s car on fire. If found guilty, he faces resumed broadcasting on June 17, 2015, in three to 10 years in prison. The case has Kyiv via satellite throughout Ukraine, been jointly investigated by prosecutors and including in Crimea, supported mostly with investigators from the Security Service government money. Mr. Islyamov said in a (SBU). (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) statement that without the channel, Ukraine will never get back Crimea. “We Crimean Tatar TV channel faces closure know who our focus group is. We know it is Ukraine’s first and only television chan- the people who support us, those people nel in the Crimean says it is who know about us, and those who want to on the brink of shutting down operations return to Crimea with us,” he said. “Without due to lack of government funding. ATR us, we won’t be able to return to Crimea. hasn’t received $2 million that the govern- We are the bridge that is being laid to ment allocated for the channel in this year’s Crimea.” Due to the financial shortfall, ATR state budget, a statement by the channel has slashed 90 percent of its own program- said on February 10. The channel said it ming, dismissed 45 percent of its staff, received $610,000 on its account on reduced news broadcasts and stopped December 28, 2019, but couldn’t access the broadcasting live, Mr. Islyamov said. In money because banks were closed that day addition to ATR, a children’s TV channel One of the photos by Joseph Sywenkyj from the exhibit “Verses from a Nation in so it had to return the money, as required and a radio channel are part of the holding. Transition.” by law. A portion of the $2 million that was Separately in January, Ukraine’s public allocated this year was transferred to ATR’s broadcaster shut down international Holderness School his lens on health issues related to HIV/ AIDS, tuberculosis and war trauma. account, but the channel said the state trea- broadcasting and closed its Crimean Tatar-, HOLDERNESS, N.H. – Holderness School is “Verses from a Nation in Transition” will sury had blocked access to it. In response, Arabic- and English-language departments. hosting “Verses from a Nation in Transition: be the first Edwards Art Gallery exhibit to ATR has launched a fund-raising campaign (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) Photographs by Joseph Sywenkyj” begin- feature virtual reality, allowing visitors to ning on January 24. Mr. Sywenkyj, a two- experience moments of the Euro-Maidan time Fulbright scholar and recipient of the Revolution as if they were there. Ukraine before the expiration of the transit prestigious W. Eugene Smith Grant in The exhibit opened will run through Russian-Ukrainian... contract or renew the deal on Moscow’s own terms. But despite Gazprom’s (i.e., the Humanistic Photography, is an American April 18. Normal operating hours are 9 (Continued from page 2) photographer of Ukrainian descent. am.-5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Kremlin’s) transit diversification strategy, He specializes in documentary, report- and Friday; 9 a.m.-noon on Wednesday and Makogon contended that Russia will con- the new five-year deal shows that the age, portraiture and travel photography. Saturday. The exhibit is closed on Sundays, tinue to transport at least 40 bcm of gas Ukrainian transit corridor still remains of Twenty years ago, he began working in as well as February 10-11 and March through the Ukrainian transmission net- paramount importance for Russia. Ukraine, the nation of his ancestors. 20-April 1. work even after 2024 (Interfax.com.ua, The exhibit at Holderness School fea- Holderness School is an independent January 14). The article above is reprinted from tures approximately 50 photographs from boarding high school committed to aca- At the beginning of 2019, Russia was Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from three of Mr. Sywenkyj’s long-term projects demics, adventure and athletics in the quite confident it would be able to either its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, from Ukraine. For two decades, he focused White Mountains (www.holderness.org). redirect its gas transit to the EU away from www.jamestown.org. No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 19

Through April 12 Art exhibit, “The External Eye: Yana Bystrova and Paula February 26 Reflective evening, “Contemplating Mykhailiv: An Evening Chicago Henderson,” Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Somerset, NJ of Scholarly and Musical Reflections,” with Myroslava www.uima-chicago.org or 773-227-5522 Mudrak and Julian Kytasty, Ukrainian History and Education Center, www.ukrhec.org/events or 732-356-0132 February 20 Presentation by Nolan Peterson, “The War in Ukraine Buffalo, NY and Why Ukraine Matters to America,” Buffalo State February 27 Film screening, University of Ottawa Ukrainian College, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Ottawa Students’ Club, [email protected] or (Buffalo Chapter), with VIP reception at the Ukrainian www.facebook.com/uOttawaUSC American Civic Center, 716-238-1731 or February 28 Presentation by Mikhail Shishkin, “Poets and Czars: [email protected] Stanford, CA From Pushkin to Putin, the Sad Tale of Democracy in February 21 Presentation/book signing, “Why Soldiers Miss War” by Russia,” Stanford University, https://creees.stanford.edu Buffalo, NY Nolan Peterson, Ukrainian Congress Committee of February 28 Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival, “50 Years of America (Buffalo Chapter), Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural New York Ukrainian Culture: Music, Literature and Art,” Razom for Center, 716-856-4476 or [email protected] Ukraine, City University of New York, www.ucmfnyc.com

February 21 Art exhibit, “Peripheral Visions: Irenaeus and Dorian February 29 Performance, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, through March 8 Yurchuk,” Ukrainian Institute of America, Columbia, MO Jesse Auditorium, University of Missouri, 573-882-3781 New York www.ukrainianinstitute.org or 212-288-8660 February 29 KLK Ski Races, Carpathian Ski Club, Hunter Mountain, February 22 Presentation of Debutantes, Ukrainian American Youth Hunter, NY www.klkusa.com or [email protected] Rye Brook, NY Association, Hilton Westchester Hotel, www.cym.org/us/deb February 29 Tea Party, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, February 22 Presentation by Tetyana Hoshko, “Beggars in the Buffalo, NY 716-825-8169 New York Ruthenian Cities of the Crown of Poland from the 14th to the First Half of the 17th Century,” Shevchenko Scientific February 29 through Workshop, with instruction by Anna Chychula, Society, 212-254-5130 March 21 (Fridays) Ukrainian National Museum, 312-421-8020 or Chicago [email protected] February 22 Gerdany-making workshop, with instruction by Olha through March 14 Lesko, The Ukrainian Museum, 212-228-0110 or February 29 Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival, “Music and New York www.ukrainianmuseum.org New York Revolution in Ukraine,” Hunter College, Razom for Ukraine, www.ucmfnyc.com February 23 Film screening and lecture, “Haytarma” by Akhtem New York Seitablaiev, with Dr. Huseyin Oylupinar and Aider March 1 Winterfest, pot-luck, Bobriwka Camp, Abliamitov, The Ukrainian Museum, Colebrook, CT 860-833-1391 www.ukrainianmsuem.org or 212-228-0110 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events February 24 Ukrainian Heritage Night, basketball game between the advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Philadelphia Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks, Wells Fargo from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors Center, https://fevo.me/2KepW96 or 215-403-7856 and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 No. 7

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Saturday, February 22 Wednesday, February 26 NEW YORK: The Shevchenko Scientific SOMERSET, N.J.: The Ukrainian History and Society invites all to the lecture “Beggars in Education Center presents “Contemplating the Ruthenian Cities of the Crown of Poland Mykhailiv: An Evening of Scholarly and from the 14th Century to the First Half of Musical Reflections” in conjunction with the the 17th Century,” by Dr. Tetyana Hoshko, ongoing exhibition “Visible Music” of works associate professor of history at the by the Ukrainian Symbolist artist Yukhym Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. The Mykhailiv. Myroslava Mudrak, professor history of beggars is a subject poorly cov- emeritus of art history from Ohio State ered by written sources and is usually University, will present a talk titled “Yukhym found only in documents of repressive Mykhailiv: A Case of Ukrainian Symbolist institutions. Beggars’ communities were Painting,” and world-renowned bandurist divided into two categories: recognized Julian Kytasty will perform improvised and not recognized by municipal authori- music inspired by Mykhailiv’s artwork. ties. The first group was controlled and Gallery doors open at 6 p.m., talk and per- taxed, while the second one was evicted formance are at 7p.m.; wine and cheese from towns. Although both groups were reception to follow. The UHEC Library “othered” by burghers, the legalized beg- Gallery is located at 135 Davidson Ave., gars were an integral part of urban society Somerset, NJ 08873. Cost: $20, includes gal- because, by accepting alms, they gave a lery admission. For more information call chance for salvation to those who helped 732-356-0132 or e-mail [email protected]. them. Attitudes towards beggars evolved. Sunday, March 8 The first change occurred in the 14th cen- tury when, according to Jacques Le Goff, WHIPPANY, N.J.: Ukrainian National the Middle Ages became “the world of Women’s League of America Branch 134 homebodies” and the spirit of the Crusades invites all to a spectacular “Chemistry Live” declined. The next stage in the evolution of show at 1:30 p.m. The show features attitudes towards beggars occurred in the Borislaw Bilash II, a playwright and perform- 16th century, when the Protestant ethic er of Off-Broadway’s “That Chemistry Show.” began to spread. The Sejm constitutions of The event will be held at the Ukrainian the Kingdom of Poland, like the govern- American Cultural Center of New Jersey, 60 ment regulations in other countries of the North Jefferson Road, Whippany, NJ 07981. late Middle Ages, regulated society’s atti- Ticket prices: “$25 for children, $30 for tude towards beggars, tried to protect the adults age 18 and over. A group discount is towns from their negative impact and available until March 1: buy 10 tickets and imposed taxes on them. But the result was get one free. The show is recommended for not significant. The lecture will take place adults and children age 10 and up. For tick- at the society’s building, 63 Fourth Ave. ets e-mail [email protected] or call 908- (between Ninth and 10th streets), at 5 p.m. 380-1013. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m., and For additional information call 212-254- lunch and refreshments will be available for 5130. purchase prior to show time.

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