ХРИСТОС НАРОДИВСЯ! CHRIST IS BORN! THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXIX No. 51 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2011 $1/$2 in Ukraine Lutsenko supporters unfurl Journalist wins Mace Award for civic activism by Zenon Zawada large banner in Kyiv Special to The Ukrainian Weekly KYIV – Ukraine’s Den (Day) news- paper, one of the country’s most respected dailies, presented its third annual James Mace Civic Position Award to Serhiy Hrabovsky, one of Ukraine’s most widely read journalists and political commentators. Mr. Hrabovsky’s writings appear on a weekly basis in leading publications on Ukraine, such as Den, Ukrayinskyi Tyzhden (Ukrainian Week) magazine and the Prague-based, U.S.-financed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Led by Den Chief Editor Larysa Ivshyna, the jury said it had selected Mr. Hrabovsky for his courageous commentary that cuts through stereo- types and dispels historical myths lin- Den gering in Ukrainian society and fueled Den (Day) Chief Editor Larysa Ivshyna presents political reporter Serhiy by enemies of the Ukrainian state. Hrabovsky with the third annual James Mace Civic Position Award. “He demythologizes all the deceitful Aleksandr Kosarev/UNIAN covers in which they try to wrap our such as the National Shevchenko Prize. “Shestydesiatnyky,” or members of the KYIV – A huge banner with a photo of former history, our present day and every- “The mission of responsible intellec- 1960s Ukrainian intellectual resistance Internal Affairs Minister Yurii Lutsenko, who has thing taking place around us,” said jury tuals lies in that they must make their movement. He studied philosophy at been imprisoned since December 26, 2010, member Dr. Yuri Shcherbak, the for- single weapon – words – a maximally Taras Shevchenko National University was unfurled on December 14 in Kyiv from a mer Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. effective instrument in creating in Kyiv. He served in the Soviet army “He has a clear, penetrating view of a bridge in the city center. The banner’s message: Ukrainian civil society,” he said in his but didn’t join the Communist Party. deep analyst that gets to the heart of acceptance speech. He began his journalism career in “Fight and you shall win,” quoting the words of matters and isn’t afraid to call things “The time for games surrounding 1987 and served between 2000 and Ukraine’s most famous and beloved poet Taras by their names… Hrabovsky’s work is fundamental national values has passed, 2009 as the deputy chief editor of Shevchenko. Supporters of the opposition activ- an important contribution to under- not only among us but throughout the Suchasnist, a diaspora magazine that ist conducted the action to mark Mr. Lutsenko’s standing the time in which we live.” world in my opinion,” Mr. Hrabovsky moved its editorial offices to Kyiv in 47th birthday. Charged with abuse of office in Upon accepting the award on said. “A free person is one who is respon- 1992. yet another case that observers see as politi- November 25, Mr. Hrabovsky said he sible, and the example set by James The magazine that survived a half- cally motivated prosecution of an opponent of the considers it Ukraine’s most presti- Mace demonstrates how all-encompass- century in the diaspora shut down in Yanukovych regime, Mr. Lutsenko is jailed in the gious award for civic activism because ing that responsibility has to be.” 2010 without reaching two decades Lukianivska prison in Kyiv. Mr. Lutsenko is the it remains untainted by the intrigue The 54-year-old journalist was leader of the People’s Self-Defense party. and scandal that surrounds others, born in Chernivtsi to Ukrainian (Continued on page 38) Judge orders indefi nite arrest of Tymoshenko RFE/RL tion win was the target of outrage that sparked the Orange Tymoshenko up at 6 a.m. The judge spent a lot of time con- Revolution. sidering granting permission for me to bring all the docu- KYIV – Authorities in Ukraine have placed former Prime The court resumed the ailing Ms. Tymoshenko’s latest ments related to the case to the detention center… [some- Minister Yulia Tymoshenko under indefinite arrest following trial on December 8 in her jail cell in what her lawyer and thing] the prosecutor has been trying to prevent.” the resumption in her jail cell of an embezzlement trial activists say is a violation of the law and her rights, RFE/ Kyiv-based human rights activist Yevhen Zakharov told launched after her conviction on unrelated charges. RL’s Ukrainian Service reported. RFE/RL “that this sort of hearing was not held even during The move appeared aimed at heading off any chance of free- Ms. Tymoshenko, who was prime minister in 2005 and [Soviet dictator Joseph] Stalin’s era.” dom for the 51-year-old former energy executive and heroine in 2007-2010, was arrested in August and sentenced in “They just ignore laws, her state of health and common of Ukraine’s 2004 Orange Revolution if her current appeal October to seven years in prison for abuse of office in the sense,” Mr. Zakharov said. “[Ukraine’s] Administrative Code of a seven-year sentence for abuse of office is overturned. signing of a gas deal with Russia during her premiership. does not allow the holding of court hearings in a detention The arrest order by Kyiv’s Shevchenkivsky Court is part Her lawyer, Serhiy Vlasenko, told RFE/RL that Judge center. This is a violation [of her rights].” of a probe into the activities of United Energy Systems of Andriy Trubnikov had resumed hearings regarding the Meanwhile, dozens of Tymoshenko supporters gathered Ukraine when she was, according to Ivan Derevianko of the United Energy Systems case. near the Lukianivska detention center where the opposi- Security Service of Ukraine, “president and de facto owner” “Nothing to say about the fact that the charges are tion leader is being held and chanted “Freedom for Yulia!” of the utility in the 1990s. groundless, the hearings held in the cell [in Kyiv] do not cor- Ukrainian Parliament members and journalists were Ms. Tymoshenko and supporters and activists have been respond to any existing laws in Ukraine,” Mr. Vlasenko said. not allowed to be present during the cell hearings. The joined by Western governments in condemning the proceed- “It was a real farce. Tymoshenko is sick and lies in her Ukrainian appeals court is expected to look into Ms. ings as politically motivated. bed. The prosecutor and investigator are sitting in the arm- Tymoshenko’s appeal against her verdict on December 13. Ms. Tymoshenko lost a presidential runoff in early 2010 chairs brought to the cell early in the morning today. They to the pro-Moscow Viktor Yanukovych, whose flawed elec- brought the desk in the cell at 7 a.m. They woke (Continued on page 19) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2011 No. 51 ANALYSIS Massive election fraud Appeals Court leaves Yulia under arrest which subsequently led to the murder of Gongadze. The journalist went missing in KYIV – The Court of Appeal in Kyiv on Kyiv on September 16, 2000. In November undermines Putin’s legitimacy December 14 ruled to leave former Prime 2000, Socialist Party leader Oleksander Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been in the Duma, but not all of them are indeed Moroz unveiled recordings allegedly made by Pavel Felgenhauer in prison since August 5, under arrest. The an “opposition.” JR is lead by an old-time Eurasia Daily Monitor court justified the refusal by saying that the Putin friend and supporter from St. President Kuchma, which confirmed the defense, except for the medical report of involvementby Мaj. Melnychenko of the latter inin Gongadze’s the office dis- of The ruling United Russia (UR) party lost Petersburg, Sergei Mironov. The LDPR fac- Prof. Mykola Polischuk, did not provide any votes in the December 4 Duma elections tion votes as Mr. Zhirinovsky orders, and in appearance. In October the Constitutional other evidence concerning the health of Court of Ukraine made a decision under compared to the landslide in the previous the 1990s the Kremlin could often retail his Ms. Tymoshenko. According to the judges, national poll in December 2007, but official support. According to Yabloko’s leader, which a criminal charge cannot be based on Prof. Polischuk’s conclusion regarding the data obtained by illegal means. (Ukrinform) results still gave it a majority. After count- Grigory Yavlinsky, the JR and LDPR factions need for surgical intervention is not justi- ing over 99.9 percent of the votes, the always vote together with pro-government fied. Furthermore, evidence that preventive Hunger strikers vow to intensify protest Central Election Commission (CEC) UR on all important issues, while the measures against Ms. Tymoshenko are no announced that UR received 49.3 percent Communists support any defense spending longer needed has not been provided to the KYIV – Organizers of a hunger strike by and will be allocated 238 seats in the hikes (Interfax, December 7). court, Judge Sitaylo emphasized. Earlier, veterans of the post-Chornobyl nuclear 450-member Duma. The new Duma may continue as a rub- the defense claimed that it was necessary disaster clean-up say the strike has grown The Communists will have 92 seats, Just ber-stamp Parliament, but in any case the to change Ms. Tymoshenko’s detention to and that protesters will begin refusing to Russia (JR) – 64, and the Liberal election has shaken the regime. The alleg- provide an opportunity for her to improve drink fluids. According to December 7 press Democratic Party (LDPR) led by the flam- edly fraudulent elections were followed by her health and to participate in the hearing.