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Inside: l Former MP Wrzesnewskyj disputes election result – page 3 l Preserving centuries of Jewish heritage in Ukraine – page 4 l Commentary: Ukraine as a raiders’ state – page 6

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXX No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 $1/$2 in Ukraine UNIS celebrates 35th anniversary United opposition emerges with congressional reception to challenge Party of Regions Ukrainian National Information Service in the White House, an era of détente existed with the Soviet Union, and Ukraine WASHINGTON – A special congressio- was a subjugated nation without a voice in nal reception held on April 25 in the international world. Fast-forward 35 Washington marked the 35th anniversary years. Ukraine restored its freedom and of the Ukrainian Congress Commttee of has been a free and independent country America’s Washington public affairs for the past 20 years. And, the crucial com- bureau – the Ukrainian National ponent remaining in both instances – the Information Service (UNIS). Ukrainian National Information Service The event was held in conjunction with advocating the concerns of the Ukrainian the Ukrainian Days advocacy event on American community.” April 25-26. Several members of Congress, Following his opening remarks, Mr. numerous guests, congressional staffers Sawkiw introduced the co-chair of the and representatives from Ukrainian Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, Rep. American organizations participated in Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), one of the the joyous occasion. Ukrainian American community’s greatest Serving as master of ceremonies, UNIS supporters on Capitol Hill. The congress- Director Michael Sawkiw Jr. greeted every- woman warmly welcomed everyone to one and briefly described the historic sig- Washington, for the fete and noted her nificance of the only community-based office’s and the Congressional Ukrainian public affairs bureau in Washington in Caucus’ close working relationship with existence for over three decades. “Imagine the Ukrainian National Information if you would,” stated Mr. Sawkiw, “the year was 1977 – President [Jimmy] Carter was Zenon Zawada (Continued on page 16) Arseniy Yatsenyuk (left) and Oleksander Turchynov will lead the Batkivshchyna party in the October 28 parliamentary elections. Batkivshchyna is the most popular party in Ukraine, according to an April poll by the Razumkov Center.

by Zenon Zawada The recently bolstered Batkivshchyna Special to The Ukrainian Weekly party held a United Opposition Forum – attended by party members – on St. KYIV – Opposition politicians spent Michael’s Square on May 12 to declare its months wrangling on how to approach the campaign platform. Mr. Tiahnybok was in October 28 parliamentary elections – as a attendance to express his support, but Mr. single party or on separate fronts. The Klitschko didn’t attend, instead releasing a result confirmed at the May 12 opposition statement calling for unity. forum was that three main parties have “The main thing for this unification is emerged to challenge the authoritarian that the two largest opposition forces Party of Regions of Ukraine. [Batkivshchyna and Front for Change] at The forces that will fight to pull Ukraine long last are creating a single party list,” out of its plunge into authoritarianism are said Volodymyr Fesenko, the board chair- the pro-European integration man of the Penta Center for Applied Batkivshchyna party led by former Political Research in Kyiv. “Smaller parties Parliament Chair Arseniy Yatsenyuk, 37; can join the list, but that’s not critical, since the pro-NATO Ukrainian Democratic they won’t affect any poll ratings.” Alliance for Reform (UDAR) party led by Eventually, UDAR and Svoboda could end Yaro Bihun boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, 40; and up joining Batkivshchyna in nominating a Ukrainian National Information Service Director Michael Sawkiw Jr. presents the the nationalist Svoboda party led by Lviv Hrushevsky Award to Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.). native Oleh Tiahnybok, 43. (Continued on page 5) Lithuanian president sees Tymoshenko, blasts Kyiv

RFE/RL Ukrainian Service She expressed optimism about the trary, she is glad that doctors are finally integration and should not be isolating health of Ms. Tymoshenko, who is serving taking proper care of her.” itself,” said the Lithuanian president. KHARKIV, Ukraine – Lithuanian a seven-year prison term on abuse-of- Ms. Grybauskaite said the former Growing dispute President Dalia Grybauskaite has visited office charges that critics say are political- prime minister has expressed concern Ukraine’s former Prime Minister Yulia ly motivated. over Ukraine’s European Union prospects. Ms. Tymoshenko was moved to the Tymoshenko at a hospital in Kharkiv. “[Yulia Ms. Tymoshenko] is in good “Ukraine’s European prospects and hospital on May 9 for treatment of back After the May 11 meeting, Ms. condition, considering that she’s now European integration are very important pain under the supervision of a German neurologist. Ms. Grybauskaite is the first Grybauskaite issued a statement acknowl- recovering from a 20-day hunger strike,” to her and she is calling on everybody, the foreign leader to have been granted edging the situation was “complicated” Ms. Grybauskaite told journalists. “Her government and the people, to remember access to Ms. Tymoshenko since her but saying that the European Union’s mood is positive and optimistic. She did that reforms are necessary and that trust in Kyiv is evaporating. not complain about anything. On the con- Ukraine must take the path of European (Continued on page 18) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 No. 21

ANALYSIS

Yanukovych expected in Chicago and other former officials of the Cabinet of Putin to skip Camp David meeting Ministers of Ukraine, as well as to restore KYIV – NATO’s Chicago summit is await- their civil and political rights. “The U.S. gov- by Pavel K. Baev lost control over the streets of Moscow, ing Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych however, was out of the question. ernment continues to call for Ms. Eurasia Daily Monitor as head of a state that contributes to the Mr. Putin was ready to bring Minsk to Tymoshenko’s release, the release of other International Security Assistance Force members of her former government and the Instead of marking a closure for the tur- Moscow and to assume temporarily the dic- (ISAF), Ambassador Ivo Daalder, the U.S. tatorial role of Alyaksandr Lukashenka – but restoration of their full civil and political bulent period of ugly elections, Vladimir permanent representative to NATO, said it has not quite turned out this way because rights,” reads a statement of the U.S. govern- Putin’s presidential inauguration opened a during a virtual press conference on May 8. new phase in the political crisis in Russia. the protesters in Moscow were neither ment on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Mr. Daalder noted that Ukraine is a valuable The activities have centered again on scared of the thousands of battle-ready riot Ukraine posted on May 14 that summarized member of the ISAF in Afghanistan and all Moscow, where the heterogeneous opposi- policemen nor eager to respond to provoca- the results of a visit of its representatives to ISAF contributors are invited to the Chicago tion finds it remarkably easy to mobilize tions with violence. The situation is fluid. the Kharkiv hospital where Ms. Tymoshenko summit. He also said that the participation thousands of supporters and where the The Moscow authorities are keeping a low is undergoing treatment. “The United States of the Ukrainian leader in the summit can in resonance from every rally is instant and profile and Mr. Putin again finds himself in a government continues to be deeply con- powerful. most uncomfortable situation with no clue no way be associated with the current situa- cerned by the treatment of Ms. Tymoshenko Mr. Putin’s staff decided not to take any about what will happen next. tion in Ukraine. The Chicago summit of and the conditions of her confinement” and chances and closed downtown Moscow not His best chance is perhaps to exploit the NATO will be held May 20-21. Mr. “we continue to urge the Ukrainian authori- just to traffic but also to all pedestrians, cre- differences in the motley crowd of the Yanukovych will be among the 60 world ties to ensure that Ms. Tymoshenko receives ating the impression of an entirely isolated “white opposition” where the Left Front, leaders expected to attend. On May 16 he appropriate medical assistance. Moving her received an official letter of invitation to the self-appointed “elite” gathered behind the led by charismatic Sergei Udaltsov, advo- to the hospital for treatment by a specialist summit from NATO Secretary General Kremlin walls (Novaya Gazeta, May 8). This cates views that are quite foreign to the lib- is a welcome first step in this direction,” the Anders Fogh Rasmussen. (Ukrinform, isolation brought on a fear of eroding con- eral urban middle classes. Mr. Udaltsov was statement noted. (Interfax-Ukraine) trol, which translated into the order to get detained in the course of the May 6 clashes Ukrainian Business Online) U.S. representatives visit Tymoshenko tough with the pesky protesters. Mr. Putin’s together with Aleksei Navalny, a well- Court declares Lutsenko’s sentence legal spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, interpreted this known anti-corruption blogger, and both KYIV – U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John order as “smearing their liver over asphalt” are still behind bars. This effectively makes KYIV – Kyiv’s Court of Appeal on May 16 F. Tefft and Thomas O. Melia, deputy assis- (Moscow Echo, May 11). These words most them into heroes of the budding “uprising” upheld the four-year sentence for former tant secretary of state for democracy, probably came directly from the mouth of (Moscow Echo, May 12). Internal Affairs Minister Yurii Lutsenko human rights and labor on May 14 visited his coarse-talking boss. At the same time, Mikhail Prokhorov, handed down by the Pechersky District former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko The police deployed at maximum who came third in the presidential elections Court. The ruling was read out by Judge at the hospital in Kharkiv where she is strength indeed behaved with deliberate by personifying a liberal alternative to Mr. Ivan Rybak who presided over the appeal being treated. They conveyed messages of brutality against the May Putin, has opted for proceedings. “The verdict against Messrs. concern for her treatment from Secretary 6 rally, beating and abstaining from the Lutsenko and Prystupliuk, produced by the What’s behind of State Hillary Clinton. Ms. Tymoshenko detaining hundreds of “madness” of protests Pechersky District Court in Kyiv, is declared told them about her current situation. The “white ribbons” and Vladimir Putin’s and escaped from the legal and complaints of the lawyers are dis- U.S. Embassy released a statement noting greatly increasing the political arena (Snob.ru, allowed,” read the court judgment. Mr. decision to opt that the U.S. government continues to be risk of a violent escala- May 11). Lutsenko was found guilty of embezzle- deeply concerned by the treatment of Ms. tion because further pro- The lack of leadership ment and abuse of power, in particular, ille- out of attending Tymoshenko and the conditions of her con- tests could turn much in the liberal camp is gal employment of his driver (Leonid finement. The statement underscored that angrier (Kommersant, the Camp David nothing new, but there Prystupliuk) at the Internal Affairs Ministry the U.S. government continues to call for May 10). What has hap- are many voices there and violations involved in granting him an summit? that command attention. Ms. Tymoshenko’s release, the release of pened instead is a spec- apartment and pension. On February 27, Several of them have other members of her former government tacular growth of Kyiv’s Pechersky District Court sentenced joined with former Finance Minister Aleksei and the restoration of their full civil and demonstratively peaceful flash-mobs, street Mr. Lutsenko to four years in prison with choirs or open-air debates, culminating in Kudrin, who issued a statement through his political rights. (U.S. Embassy Kyiv) confiscation of property, and banned him an improvised “occupy” movement in the Committee for Civil Initiatives, urging the from holding public office for three years Chistye Prudy Boulevard (Gazeta.ru, May authorities to ensure the safety of the oppo- Yulia’s appeal postponed to June 26 after his release from prison. (Ukrinform) 11). sition rallies (Kommersant-FM, May 12). Mr. KYIV – The High Specialized Court for The riot police looked ridiculous as they Kudrin insists that mass street protests are U.S. calls for release of Tymoshenko Civil and Criminal Cases on May 15 post- detained teenage girls dressed as pigs on helpful in proving the need for further polit- poned to June 26 the consideration of the KYIV – The United States government has the suspicion that their street party was a ical changes and economic reforms to the appeal of Yulia Tymoshenko and her form of protest. By the middle of the week, power holders and Russian society. Many in called on the Ukrainian authorities to release the police had essentially given up with Mr. Putin’s elite feel the urgency of this need, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko (Continued on page 12) chasing the malcontents (Vedomosti, May but every reform they think up runs into 12). That granted an opportunity to a group conflict with some fiercely guarded parochi- of writers to initiate a “test walk” along the al bureaucratic interests and ends up as a boulevards on May 13, intended to demon- hollow simulation (Novaya Gazeta, May 12). FOUNDED 1933 strate that people have the undeniable right The official discourse emphasizes the ben- The Ukrainian Weekly to walk the streets of their city and express efits of and the choice for “evolution.” Most any opinions about the authorities. Many participants in the “walk with the writers” An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., thousands of readers showed up to join in demonstration would probably agree with a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. (Newsru.com, May 13). that. In real terms, however, the fake reforms Yearly subscription rate: $65; for UNA members — $55. Against the background of these dramatic that the government is drafting mean stag- Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. developments in Moscow, President Putin nation, and the majority of the “creative (ISSN — 0273-9348) made the surprise decision not to go to the class” finds this prospect both revolting The Weekly: UNA: G-8 summit at Camp David on May 18-19 and and alarming (New Times, May 12). Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 to send the newly confirmed Prime Minister President Putin was prepared to show- Dmitri Medvedev, in his stead. Putin’s reasons case his brutal resolve and to reject interna- Postmaster, send address changes to: are not clear, but the official explanation that tional criticism off-hand. Yet, by refusing to The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz he needs to concentrate on forming a new pick up the fight, the opposition has made 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas Cabinet does not hold water since it is Mr. him look preposterous – he might find the P.O. Box 280 Medvedev’s job to select ministers and their international reaction to that rather hard to Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] deputies (Moskovskie Novosti, May 11). swallow. Because Mr. Putin avoided Camp Speculations about hidden agendas are David, his first foreign visit will be to China. The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com proliferating in Moscow; yet, it is rather This rising giant is very sensitive to “losing improbable that Mr. Putin would have face,” which is exactly what is happening The Ukrainian Weekly, May 20, 2012, No. 21, Vol. LXXX skipped the event just to snub U.S. President with Mr. Putin’s over-blown profile. The sit- Copyright © 2012 The Ukrainian Weekly Barack Obama or to show disdain for the uation may be becoming intolerable to Mr. ever-deepening financial mess in the Putin. Meanwhile, the Moscow riot police is European Union (Kommersant-FM, May 11). probably becoming fed up with being on the He used to be rather fond of this privi- high alert and with trying to strike fear into ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA leged club of Western leaders and quite the crowds, which are celebrating their lib- Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3041 probably had been looking forward to re- eration from Putinism. e-mail: [email protected] joining it from a position of strength – or Walter Honcharyk, advertising manager (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 maybe even superiority as compared to his The article above is reprinted from fax: (973) 644-9510 e-mail: [email protected] weakened counter-parts from France or Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from Italy (Gazeta.ru, May 11). Coming to the its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, Mariyka Pendzola, subscriptions (973) 292-9800, ext. 3042 e-mail: [email protected] high-profile event as a “weakling” who had www.jamestown.org. No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 3

NEWS ANALYSIS EU ministers take wait-and-see approach on soccer boycott RFE/RL fied message to Ukraine closer to the tournament, which direction of Poland or in the direction of Belarus. And that starts on June 8. has consequences, that particular choice. If they want to go PRAGUE – The European Union has decided against Open question the European road, there are enormous benefits to the calling for a bloc-wide boycott of European soccer champi- society of Ukraine. If they want to take the country to Ministers remained evasive about the possibility of a onship games scheduled to be held next month in Ukraine. Belarus, well, they will go to Belarus.” boycott ahead of the meeting. However, the bloc’s 27 foreign ministers meeting in “I am not talking about a boycott,” said Dutch Foreign Piling on Brussels agreed to put on ice talks over Ukraine’s deepen- Minister Uri Rosenthal, whose government has threatened ing political association and economic integration with the Ms. Tymoshenko, 51, was jailed in October for abuse of to snub the matches played in Ukraine. “I am just talking EU. office in connection with a gas deal with Russia reached about the Ukraine government, which still has time to do The EU has been critical of Ukraine over the alleged ill- when she was prime minister – a charge she denies. what is needed and that is to show a visible improvement treatment of jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, Her trial was denounced by the European Union and the of the situation for Madame Tymoshenko,” he added. who is serving a seven-year sentence for abuse of office in United States, as well as by numerous rights groups in British Foreign Secretary William Hague said ministeri- connection with a gas deal reached with Russia when she Ukraine and abroad, as politically motivated. al attendance at the tournament was being “kept under was prime minister. Ukrainian authorities deny she has been ill-treated in review.” Earlier, while on a visit to the eastern Ukrainian city of prison. Danish Foreign Minister Villy Sovndal said the decision Donetsk, President Viktor Yanukovych had responded A new criminal trial on unrelated tax charges began would be made “in the end, and not now.” angrily to the possibility of an EU boycott, saying “it’s very against Ms. Tymoshenko in early April. While some EU members favor a boycott, others want to important that we not be humiliated.” Ms. Tymoshenko and her supporters accuse Mr. use their potential attendance as a bargaining chip with EU foreign-affairs chief Catherine Ashton said in Brussels Yanukovych – whose 2004 bid for the presidency was Ukraine. that the EU had been “very consistent in sending messages scuppered by the Orange Revolution that Ms. to Ukraine about the importance of justice being done.” Policy tool? Tymoshenko helped lead but who completed a political Several European leaders have already vowed to boy- Some EU foreign ministers, like Sweden’s Carl Bildt, comeback by defeating Ms. Tymoshenko in a 2010 pres- cott Ukraine during the Euro 2012, which Ukraine is host- have also played down the political acceptability of a boy- idential runoff – of political persecution. ing jointly with Poland, after Ms. Tymoshenko said she was cott. “I must frankly say that I fail to see that attendance or beaten by prison officials last month and launched a hun- non-attendance at football games is the main instrument With reporting by Reuters and AP. ger strike. of European policy,” Mr. Bildt said. “I think we have far Copyright 2012, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted with the per- No formal decision on a bloc-wide boycott was expected stronger instruments of policy, and I think we should mission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 at the May 14 gathering. deploy those.” Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036; (see http:// Reports say ministers were instead likely to agree to He added: “At the end of the day, it is up to the leaders of www.rferl.org/content/ukraine_soccer_euro2012_eu_ monitor the situation, with an eye toward sending a uni- Ukraine to decide if they want to take their country in the considers/24579682.html).

Former Canadian MP Wrzesnewskyj fights election result in court

by Christopher Guly During the recent eight-day trial, the court allowed Mr. Special to The Ukrainian Weekly Tighe and Mr. Wrzesnewskyj’s other lawyer, Stephen Thiele, to examine ballots cast at 10 polling divisions along OTTAWA – Nearly eight years ago, Borys Wrzesnewskyj with electors’ lists. But, under Canadian law, they could not convinced then-Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin to talk to residents of the riding because of electoral secrecy. send a mission of about 500 Canadians to monitor the re- “We found that ballots ended up in the box that never running of Ukraine’s 2004 presidential election, which should have been there,” said Mr. Wrzesnewskyj. “It wasn’t sparked the Orange Revolution. While there as the leader just minus-ing of votes, but plus-ing of votes too.” of the mission, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj witnessed rampant cor- In a factum filed with the court by Canada’s chief elec- ruption and numerous voting irregularities. But he never toral officer, Marc Mayrand, on behalf of Elections Canada – expected to utter the words “irregularities” and “illegali- which along with Mr. Opitz are the defendants in the law- ties” about voting under Canada’s electoral system, let suit, he said that “administrative and clerical errors in elec- alone be directly involved in a court case making those tions will be common and, indeed, inevitable, and it is allegations. essential that only those consequential to the result be Last May, the three-term Liberal member of Parliament used to overturn an election.” for the Toronto riding of Etobicoke Center lost his House of Mr. Opitz’s factum stated that, “it strains credibility” to Commons seat to the Conservative challenger by 26 votes equate “irregularity” with “mistakes, errors and other in the Canadian general election. A month later, Mr. actions that are unintentional.” Wrzesnewskyj applied to Ontario Superior Court in However, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj said the court case isn’t just Toronto to challenge the result. about whether or not he lost his parliamentary seat. “It’s Last month, the trial began. about restoring integrity and confidence in our electoral Through his lawyer, Gavin Tighe, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj system,” he explained. argued that at least 181 people voted twice; or were “ghost “Election campaigns are highly emotional competitions voters” who cast ballots without having either proper and people don’t necessarily play by the rules. However, Former Canadian MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj identification or having signed a declaration attesting to there’s a working assumption that things are done the way their Canadian citizenship; or were allowed to vote in poll- 0.05 percent. they should be, but I don’t think that can be a working ing divisions in which they didn’t reside – all of which vio- However, that recount didn’t look at the “legitimacy” of assumption anymore after I heard allegations from people late the Canada Elections Act. ballots cast and “whether they should have been allowed who came forward to speak with me,” he noted. “I have Mr. Wrzesnewskyj told The Ukrainian Weekly that a in the first place,” said Mr. Wrzesnewskyj. even had Elections Canada officials tell me they didn’t have polling station at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic seniors’ After voters in his former riding approached him with confidence in their own organization’s investigative pro- residence was illegally shut down on election day and, allegations of irregularities, he decided to litigate, making cesses.” when it reopened later, residents were “so intimidated that this the first time a court is being asked to apply a section While he awaits the court decision, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj they never came back to vote.” Another polling station was of the Canada Elections Act added 12 years ago. Under s. continues to run his popular Future Bakery, which his also temporarily closed that day. These two stations hap- 524 (1) (b), an elector or candidate can contest an election paternal grandparents established in Toronto in 1952, pen to be in areas where past election results showed he if “there were irregularities, fraud or corrupt or illegal along with a dairy operation, M-C Dairy. had some of his biggest support. practices that affected the result.” He also remains active in the Ukrainian Canadian com- “This had to be pre-planned,” said Mr. Wrzesnewskyj, Before that provision was introduced, another Toronto munity and last summer agreed to help raise $1.4 million whose grandparents were Ukrainian immigrants to Liberal MP, Mauricio Bevilacqua, was taken to court by his for the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv – a goal he has Canada. “A year ago, if someone had asked me whether you closest challenger after narrowly winning a House seat by reached. could have voter suppression or a situation where ballots only 77 votes in 1988. A by-election was called two years In November, Ukrainian-born Canadian businessman end up in a box that should not have been there, I would later, and Mr. Bevilacqua again defeated Progressive James Temerty, who is Orthodox, donated $1.2 million and have said, not in Canada. But I can’t say that today.” Conservative candidate Michael O’Brien, who had fallen to the Wrzesnewskyj family contributed $100,000. “Someone has figured out the weak links of the system, third place, by a whopping 16,714 votes. The money will be used to establish three chairs of stud- and have used them to their advantage,” he added. Should Ontario Superior Court rule in Mr. ies in Ukrainian-Jewish relations: one will look at the Following the May 2, 2011, election, there was an auto- Wrzesnewskyj’s favor and find that more than 26 ballots Ukrainian-Jewish encounter and interfaith relations; matic judicial recount of the ballots in Etobicoke Center should not have been counted in Etobicoke Center last another will focus on Jewish studies in the context of since the gap between his results and those of Ted Opitz, year, a by-election would be called and he would again vie Central and East European history, and the third will con- who won the riding, was less than 0.1 percent, or under for the seat. centrate on biblical studies. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 No. 21 INTERVIEW: Preserving centuries of Jewish heritage in Ukraine Meylakh Sheykhet, the director of the destroyed or taken away – was how to tive from the Ukrainian side. The Church is Union of Councils for Jews for the Former come up with evidence about sacred sites, also not doing anything. Why should there Soviet Union, visited the Ukrainian and how to deal with the stonewalling of be crosses on a Jewish cemetery? This is Canadian Research and Documentation the Communist authorities. But Ukrainians first of all a question for the Church, Center in Toronto in February. Mr. Sheykhet – ordinary villagers, townspeople – were because the authorities, who should get has been working for over 25 years on the interested in protecting these sites and involved, won’t. preservation of sites of Jewish heritage in they helped us. And this question of Sambir, in fact, is Ukraine. He lives in Lviv. But it’s been very difficult. The authori- not a question of Ukrainian-Jewish rela- The interview below was conducted by ties, to this day, are not very cooperative. tions, but it has entered into that arena. Orest Zakydalsky, researcher at the UCRDC. The problem today is “pryvatysatsiya” – And if there were an appeal from the It is translated from the original Ukrainian. business interests trying to privatize Ukrainian community in Canada, as part of things to which they have never had any the global Ukrainian community, it would How and why did you start your right. All who come to power try to use be very important. I am delighted with the work? their time to get something for themselves, work of Borys Wrzesnewskyj [former When perestroika began, people came because they don’t know if they will be Member of Canadian Parliament[, and Paul out of hiding – their internal hiding. There elected again. I am very happy that I have Grod [President of the Ukrainian Canadian was no longer any need to live in constant the opportunity to try to preserve the Congress] who came to Lviv, and Jim fear. People began to organize, to think and Ukrainian Jewish heritage, but this is Temerty [chair of the board of directors, to work together. This was an undreamed becoming a very long and arduous pro- Ukrainian Jewish Encounter Initiative], in of joy. I got to know Iryna Kalynets and cess. this area. many others, and we did a lot together. Could you describe the practical side Meylakh Sheykhet Can you describe the situation with Back then, anyone traveling to Ukraine of your work? What is the process that the Jewish cemetery at Berdychev? had to go through Moscow. I had very good you have to go through to get a place The protection of historical and cultural contacts in Moscow, and prominent rabbis designated as a heritage site that can’t heritage is an instance that unites people, There is a terrible situation in who had their roots in Ukraine began to be privatized? that unites the past with the present and Berdychev. During Soviet rule, half the visit and wanted to see what was left of the future. It gives people energy to work Jewish cemetery was built over with Jewish heritage after Communist rule. For Ukrainian legislation is adequate for together, to cooperate, to organize. garages and a flea market. Since indepen- the Jewish people, Ukraine is a cradle – protecting heritage sites. There is a pro- Because Ukrainians in the West have a dif- dence, a petroleum station has been built where religious movements were founded, cess that must be followed to prove that a ferent experience of tolerance and free- there. The land was rented out, and there where a high Jewish culture existed. They site is a heritage site. First, we have to find dom, we need your help in bringing these are attempts to privatize it. were born in Halychyna, in Bukovyna and documentation and evidence from pre- values to Ukraine. We have had a seven-year-long court in Volyn, and continue to nourish the Soviet times, because Soviet documenta- The mentality of the authorities is, case, where we proved that this territory Jewish world with their dignity and their tion cannot help us. We look for old docu- unfortunately, the same as it was during was a cemetery. But because of corruption spirituality. ments in archives throughout the world. Soviet times. They are more afraid of per- in the court system, and corruption among Because I was well-known in dissident Ukrainian archives have, for the most ceptions in the West than how they look to the local authorities, we haven’t been able circles, these people came to me. I knew part, been destroyed – by the German, their own people. In the West, it’s the to have this land designated a heritage site. several languages – Yiddish, Ukrainian, then by the Soviet authorities – there is opposite. The government, first and fore- Although we won several court cases and English, Russian. I grew up in a multilin- very little left. The archives that remain most, listens to its own citizens. In Ukraine appeals, one judge, in one sitting, in our gual world, and it was easy for me to talk are disorganized. The Jewish community we don’t have this yet. That’s why the posi- absence, decided a seven-year-long case to with them. in Lviv has spent great effort trying to tion of the West is very important. the benefit of the business interests. We I had submitted my documents for emi- organize them, especially in the Central went to the Kyiv Court of Appeals, which gration and was waiting. We began to talk Historical Archive in Lviv. We’ve created a Recently the cemetery in Sambir has returned the case to the lower court, and to travel in the towns of Halychyna. We database about Jews who lived in been the subject of much attention in which again ruled against us. couldn’t do this before – to show an inter- Halychyna. Now, if someone from the West the West. [After the collapse of commu- All of this reflects negatively on the est in your roots was the same as demon- wants to find their roots in Ukraine, it is nism, work began to rehabilitate the Ukrainian state. This is not a problem of strating that you were a Zionist or anti- easier. You can search this database by ancient Jewish cemetery in Sambir. the Ukrainian people; this is why the voice Soviet. When I saw the destruction, I was name. This is part of our work. During this work, extremist elements in of the Ukrainian community – an open, very moved: neglected cemeteries, toppled Once we find archival materials, we the town put up three crosses on the clear protest – is very important, because gravestones. Many cemeteries had already compare them to contemporary city plans site, which were then blessed by a this would be the voice of the Ukrainian been built over during Soviet times. – we check, we search for physical evi- priest.] Can you give us an update on people, and not the voice of that segment Under Soviet rule, new administrative dence, and then write a report about that the current situation there? of society that is not Ukrainian in the sense documents were created that left out particular Jewish community and site. We of possessing Ukrainian dignity and sacred Jewish places, including cemeteries. submit this to the local authorities. The The situation in Sambir has become a Ukrainian morality, but people who are Jewish cemeteries and synagogues simply local authorities, according to the law, symbol of intolerance in Ukraine; but in taking advantage of the legacy of Soviet ceased to exist on topographical maps. must submit these documents to the fact, the actual situation is quite different. rule to enrich themselves. According to Soviet city plans, it was as if oblast authorities, and from them they go The problem is not with Ukrainians, but It is very important to talk about this; the Jewish people had never existed there, to the central state apparatus. with certain radical elements in Sambir. I the Berdychev question is fully corrupt. although some cities had 50 percent or 60 Unfortunately, in many cases the local have been active in Sambir since 1989. The According to Ukrainian law, land can only percent Jewish populations before the war authorities stop these documents – they town played a huge part in Jewish history be privatized or rented if there are no legal and the Jews lived side by side with don’t want to pass them on because of in Ukraine. Sambir had a lot of commu- disputes concerning the land. But in Ukrainians and Poles as neighbors. The business interests, despite the fact that nists who, when communism collapsed, Ukraine, nobody pays attention to the law. Soviets destroyed maps in books that ordinary citizens want to see these places overnight changed their coats and became The same tragic situation with Jewish showed this life. They wanted to destroy protected. They often come up to us and Ukrainian nationalists. cemeteries exists in Lviv, where the Yaniv fully the understanding of the past, as if it thank us for the work we’re doing. It is These radical elements put up three cemetery was destroyed and used as a had never existed. Jewish schools and syn- thanks to our cooperation with crosses on the site of the ancient Jewish communal cemetery, neglecting its original agogues were closed. Ukrainians, real Ukrainian patriots, that cemetery, saying the Sichovi Striltsi ceme- status, and the Old Jewish cemetery, where Cemeteries – although they were there we have been able to protect many sites. tery has not been rehabilitated. But the Krakivsky market is now located. de facto – from the Soviet position de jure In Lviv, Yuri Shukhevych and I have nobody forbade them from rehabilitating no longer existed, because they weren’t on been to see the city prosecutor more than the Striltsi cemetery; they could have done Another instance that garnered any maps or plans. So many of them were once, where Yuri has pounded on the table it. So they invited a priest, put up three much attention in the West has been simply built over with new buildings. The and demanded, “At long last, will you crosses, and blessed them on the Jewish the issue of the Golden Rose Synagogue destruction was massive. The Germans, behave like Ukrainians!?” Together with burial site. The Church didn’t sanction this. in Lviv. [Built in the 16th century, the during the war, used the tombstones to Vera Lyaskovska, we were able to protect This wouldn’t have happened if not for Golden Rose Synagogue is one of the build roads, and the Soviet government the Citadel [a fortress built during those former Communists who became oldest in Ukraine. Destroyed by the continued to do this. Austrian times, it was used as a camp for ultranationalists. Germans in 1943, the Golden Rose was The rabbis who came to Ukraine tried Jews and POWs] where, in one tower, tens The crosses are still there; I met with designated a World Heritage Site in to do something. They went to the authori- of thousands of Jews were murdered. The Cardinal [Lubomyr] Husar, who gave me 1998.] What is the current situation? an official letter saying that this situation ties, but the authorities simply lied to Citadel had been turned into a high-end With regard to the Golden Rose, the is the result of a misunderstanding, and them, coming up with various excuses. The restaurant; the rich ate there. But we won; problem is essentially the same as in that the crosses, because they were rabbis went to the locals, who told them, this site is now designated a heritage site. Berdychev. The Ukrainian community in blessed by a priest, need to be moved to “here was the Jewish cemetery,” but the But this happened thanks to the central Lviv was fully supportive of the fact that another site, where the graves of the authorities told them, “no there’s no ceme- authorities, not the local authorities in nothing could be built there, that the site Sichovi Striltsi are located. tery there.” I saw all of this and understood Lviv. This is the situation we have in the needs to be preserved. But what hap- So we decided that I would do an analy- that I had to do something. Even though I city of Lviv, which was the center of the pened? How does destruction of heritage had the right to emigrate, I decided to stay. struggle against Soviet power. The prob- sis, to determine where exactly the Striltsi sites take place? The state provides very The first problems we faced – since lem is not with the people; it is with the graves are located, so that the crosses can many of the Jewish archives had been authorities. be put there. But there has been no initia- (Continued on page 9) No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 5

role of a ‘gray cardinal,’ ” Mr. Fesenko said, referring to United opposition... someone who plays politics behind the scenes. Recent polls indicated that the merger is already bear- (Continued from page 1) ing fruit. single opposition candidate to compete in each single-win- The enhanced Batkivshchyna party led by Mr. ner, single-mandate district to challenge the Party of Yatsenyuk stands to earn 27 percent of the votes in the Regions candidate, Mr. Fesenko said. October election, according to a poll conducted April 14-19 by the Razumkov Center in Kyiv, which is regarded Newly enhanced Batkivshchyna as Ukraine’s most objective political polling firm. It was the Batkivshchyna party – Ukraine’s most popu- Batkivshchyna has surpassed the incumbent Party of lar opposition party – that took the initiative of calling for Regions, which stands to earn 23 percent, the poll report- unification after its founder, imprisoned former Prime ed. Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, issued a statement on Unity Yet it’s those parties that are not likely to surpass the 5 Day (January 22) urging a merger as the best means of percent vote threshold – UDAR and Svoboda – that have challenging the current authoritarian government. resisted unification efforts. “History gives us a chance again to build a worthy coun- UDAR going separate try, and we should understand finally that we’re compet- ing for a country at these elections, not for our own par- UDAR Chair Vitali Klitschko declared in late March that ties,” the statement said. “The issue isn’t about the make- his party will compete in the October election with its own up of the next parliamentary session, but the country’s closed party list (in proportional voting). Mr. Klitschko future for the next several decades. The main thing is not insisted his party will gain more votes independently by to bring several dozens of our allies to the Verkhovna attracting those voters who aren’t attracted to the Rada, but to bring the country out of darkness.” Batkivshchyna or Svoboda parties. The May 12 rally confirmed that five pro-Western par- He pledged that UDAR will join forces with ties took Ms. Tymoshenko up on her merger proposal – Batkivshchyna after the election – with more deputies the Front for Change led by Mr. Yatsenyuk, the People’s between their two forces than there would have been had Movement (Rukh) of Ukraine led by former Foreign Affairs UDAR merged with Batkivshchyna for closed-list voting. Zenon Zawada Minister Borys Tarasyuk, the Reforms and Order Party led “UDAR’s ratings are about 7 percent,” Mr. Klitshcko told Vitali Klitschko will lead the Ukrainian Democratic by National Deputy Serhii Sobolyev, the For Ukraine party Channel 5 on March 30. Moreover, unification between Alliance for Reform (UDAR) party in the October 28 led by National Deputy Viacheslav Kyrylenko and the UDAR and the Front for Change, which has a 10 percent parliamentary elections. UDAR is the third most popu- People’s Self-Defense party led by Yurii Lutsenko, the lar party in Ukraine, according to polling by the rating, doesn’t give us 17 percent, but only 13 percent. It’s imprisoned former internal affairs minister. Razumkov Center. a similar picture with the Batkivshchyna party. So we lose The merger creates a single leading opposition party – mathematically and that’s related to many factors, such as Batkivshchyna – for closed list (proportional) voting, Polarizing Svoboda party which will determine 50 percent of the seats, as well as a party ideology and platforms. So we should clearly under- single list of candidates for single-winner, single-mandate stand what’s our goal – unity for the sake of unity, or for Kyiv City Organization Chair Andrii Illyenko of the (majoritarian) districts to determine the other half of the sake of victory? I believe that our main goal is forming nationalist Svoboda party confirmed on April 12 that it too seats. a majority in the future Parliament.” will run in the October 28 elections independently. Batkivshchyna and Front for Change brought the most As for the single-winner, single-mandate districts Yet, an informal understanding among opposition lead- votes to the table, having been able to qualify for (majoritarian voting), Mr. Klitschko said UDAR is willing to ers had always existed that the Svoboda party would pur- Parliament on their own. The remaining parties had no join Batkivshchyna in nominating a single candidate for sue the parliamentary election separately, party spokes- chance of breaking the 5 percent threshold in closed list man Yurii Syrotiuk told The Weekly. voting, polls reported. Ukraine’s pro-Western opposition parties have always The merger is temporary, as the parties plan to renew The electorate speaks kept a certain distance from the Svoboda party and its themselves following the election, party members told The leader, Mr. Tiahnybok, who is remembered for an anti-Jew- Weekly. They chose to merge into Batkivshchyna because Preferences of Ukrainians, polled on April 14-19 ish remark during the 2004 presidential campaign. Parliament voted in 2010 to forbid blocs of parties, which by the Razumkov Center, who said they would vote in Indeed as recently as late February, Mr. Syrotiuk is experts said was intended to undermine the Yulia the October parliamentary elections. alleged to have made an insensitive statement when say- Tymoshenko Bloc (three parties) and Our Ukraine- Fatherland 27% ing that Gaitana, a Ukrainian citizen of Congolese descent, People’s Self Defense (10 parties). Party of the Regions 23% shouldn’t represent Ukraine at the annual Eurovision song Ms. Tymoshenko will be the first politician on the competition because of her dark skin. “Ukraine will be Batkivshchyna closed list ballot, which Mr. Yatsenyuk UDAR 10% associated with another continent, somewhere in Africa,” acknowledged in late April is a political statement since Mr. Syrotiuk allegedly said, according to media controlled Ukrainian law forbids convicted criminals to run for Svoboda Party 6% by the Party of Regions such as the obozrevatel.com news Parliament. It will be Mr. Yatsenyuk who will lead the Сommunist Party 7% Ukraine Forward 5% site. Afterwards, he said his words were twisted as a politi- Batkivshchyna campaign as its No. 2 ranked politician. cal provocation that was seized upon by Party of Regions Allowing Mr. Yatsenyuk, the leader of a competing Source: Razumkov Center, April 14-19 politicians. party, to lead the campaign was a significant compromise On April 6, several dozen scholars and intellectuals offered by Batkivshchyna, which is currently being led by signed an open letter to the opposition leadership to dis- Ms. Tymoshenko’s longtime confidante and right-hand each district, but only on the condition that the single continue its cooperation with the Svoboda party because man, Oleksander Turchynov. opposition candidate is determined by independent poll- of its racist and anti-Semitic rhetoric. It remains to be seen whether these two influential pol- ing firms, and not by party leadership. Besides respected Ukrainian intellectuals, however, the iticians will be able to put aside their ambitions for the Mr. Klitschko said he will compete for the Kyiv mayoral- sake of the united opposition, something that Ms. statement was also signed by critics of the Ukrainian liber- ty should an election be announced. The Verkhovna Rada ation movement, such as Prof. John Paul Himka of the Tymoshenko and former President Viktor Yushchenko has yet to decide whether it wants to hold the Kyiv City weren’t able to do. University of Alberta, and those who denigrate and smear Council chair election this year as required by the coun- “The interests of Tymoshenko, Turchynov and the Halychyna region in their academic work, such as try’s Constitution, which has been repeatedly ignored by Yatsenyuk temporarily coincided, though the key figure is Anton Shekhovtsov of Sevastopol, a visiting research fel- the administration of President Viktor Yanukovych. Yatsenyuk, who was clearly urged by someone towards low at the University of Northampton in Great Britain. For example, the parliamentary election was required this decision,” Mr. Fesenko said. “Yatsenyuk hadn’t even The April 6 statement was criticized by more than a thought about such a step before February, but something by the current Constitution of Ukraine, drafted in 1996, to dozen leaders of Fourth Wave Ukrainian diaspora organi- changed afterwards.” be held in March 2011, yet parliament voted to ignore the zations, which issued a response that was read at the April Mr. Yatsenyuk’s interest is becoming the leading opposi- law and hold the vote in October 2012 – a decision that 10 session of the Lviv Oblast Council, which is controlled tion candidate for the presidency in 2015, he said. Ms. was absurdly affirmed by the Constitutional Court of by the Svoboda party. Tymoshenko’s interest is to chip votes away from the Ukraine. The statement accused the intellectuals behind the Party of Regions. “And it’s simply more comfortable for UDAR’s poll standings have risen to 10 percent in recent April 6 letter of attempting to split the opposition amidst Turchynov to be in the shadow of a front man, playing the months, according to the April poll by the Razumkov an ongoing ethnocide currently being carried out by the Center. Ukrainian government. “Pluses and minuses can be found The party supports Ukraine’s integration into the in all parties today on the Ukrainian political horizon,” said European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty the statement. “Smearing labels such as ‘racists,’ ‘fascists’ Quotable notes Organization, and a single Ukrainian state language, said and ‘bourgeois nationalists’ is a long known Kremlin tactic Rostyslav Pavlenko, the chair of the department of strate- used against those who stood and stand for the right of the “Today we are living in peace and freedom in gic planning and ideology for UDAR. Ukrainian nation for its own state and the right of Germany, and in the European Union, but sadly not UDAR also advocates economic policies that support the Ukrainians to be masters on their own land.” in the whole of Europe: for in Ukraine, and in development of small- and medium-sized businesses, he Batkivshchyna has continued to cooperate with Belarus, people are still suffering under dictator- told The Weekly. Svoboda, allowing Mr. Tiahnybok to speak at the May 12 ship and repression.” The party is aiming to lure voters from eastern and political forum at St. Michael’s Square. southern Ukraine, where many have become disillusioned The Svoboda party is the most popular political force in – German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a speech with the Party of Regions yet don’t wish to support the Ukraine’s Halychyna region, controlling most of the local to Germany’s lower house of Parliament, as reported Batkivshchyna party, Mr. Pavlenko said. The latest party councils. Nationally, it stands to gain 6 percent of the vote by the Financial Times on May 10. congress was held on April 28 in the Russian-oriented city and qualify for Parliament under closed list voting, accord- of Zaporizhia. ing to the Razumkov Center survey. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 No. 21

COMMENTARY The Ukrainian Weekly The united opposition Raiders’ state It all looks very nice on paper. At the May 12 United Opposition Forum on St. Michael’s Square, Ukraine’s most popular political force, the Batkivshchyna party led by Mykola Riabchuk to tell you that you are no longer the owner. by Arseniy Yatsenyuk, proposed ideas that would certainly set Ukraine on the path to In extreme cases it can involve people economic renewal, instead of the current self-destruction. This time, I have to start with a frank shooting at your staff. Most victims are Mr. Yatsenyuk called for Europe’s simplest tax code, consisting of only seven taxes disclosure. For 40 years, I have been a small- and medium-sized Ukrainian firms for doing business. Bravo. Ukraine’s tax code is ranked among the world’s worst. He faithful reader of the Kyiv-based journal in the agricultural sector. But foreign com- called for an overhaul of the justice system, replacing virtually all its judges. Bravo. Vsesvit (All the World). For more than 30 panies are not immune.” Indeed, even the The nation’s courts have long been regard by Ukrainians as farcical. years, I have been one of its contributors. steel giant Arcelor Mittal, which unwisely The oblast state administration system will be dismantled. Yes, absolutely. The For two decades, I have been a staff editor purchased the Kryvorizhstal mill for $5 bil- Constitutional Court of Ukraine will be liquidated. Amen. During 20 years of there, ending my career in 1994 as a depu- lion from the previous government, four Ukrainian independence, these organs have been little more than a stage of puppets ty editor-in-chief. And today, after moving years later became a target of coordinated manipulated by the Ukrainian president. to academia, I still remain a committed raiders’ attacks and pressure from the But besides feelings of hope, the proposals being delivered boisterously from the reader, author and member of the editorial authorities (http://euobserver.com/24/ stage also evoked the feelings associated with “been there, done that,” (in Ukraine’s board. 114646). case, perhaps this phenomenon should be called, “been there, did nothing”) consid- Vsesvit is an independent journal of “This problem is on the increase, one ering how some proposals are entirely unrealistic. world literature, with very limited resourc- expert contends,” and it “is common knowl- For instance, Mr. Yatsenyuk called for creating an “independent anti-corruption es acquired painstakingly from various edge that it cannot happen without collu- bureau” to review all assets stolen from the state, with the promise of even re-confis- grants, but with high and well-grounded sion from the authorities.” To prove this cating them. This is believable considering the most egregious examples of alleged ambitions: to promote world culture and claim, Mr. Rettman refers to Transparency theft – such as President Viktor Yanukovych’s beloved Mezhyhiria estate and the literature in Ukrainian translations. I great- International’s latest corruption ranking in Zalissia state park, where he likes to take his buddies hunting. “We will return every- ly respect all the people who work for which Ukraine dropped 18 places and now thing to the Ukrainian people!,” Mr. Yatsenyuk boomed into his microphone. Yet the Vsesvit – for a meager salary and symboli- ranks below Nigeria. corruption has gotten so rampant that collecting even half of what’s been stolen would cal royalties but also for an encouraging The European Business Association require an army of accountants and the Berkut special forces to serve as the repo feeling of doing something good and (EBA) has also lowered Ukraine significant- team. important. ly on its index of investment attractiveness. “Such officials will sit in prison, not in Cabinet of Ministers positions!,” Mr. A few days ago, I learned that on April “You cannot protect your legitimate inter- Yatsenyuk thundered from the stage. Yeah right. We heard that in 2004, and we don’t 26 a group of unidentified individuals ests in the courts,” EBA Director Anna believe it this time around. All the more so because Mr. Yatsenyuk backed off that broke into the Vsesvit office on Hrushevsky Derevyanko says. “This comes up in many promise by the time newspapers hit the stands on Monday (within 48 hours), telling Street, ironically located next to the conversations with potential investors. It the Kommersant newspaper that “vendettas are the worst thing in politics.” He Ukrainian Parliament and the Cabinet of makes them reluctant to go ahead.” warned Mr. Yanukovych to stop now so that he won’t be held criminally responsible. Ministers and not very far from the Not surprisingly, not only foreigners but The promises got to be so outrageous that it seemed as though the opposition Presidential Administration. The intruders also Ukrainian businessmen prefer to forces are expecting to lose this election, and hoping to remain in the opposition, demanded that Chief Editor Oleh invest their money abroad rather than in knowing full well there’s no way they can fulfill some of their agenda. Mr. Yanukovych Ukraine. Small- and medium-sized compa- will be impeached. The luxurious Feofaniya hospital in suburban Kyiv will be open to Mykytenko vacate the premises and renounce his claim to the office legally nies have little choice, however, in this all Ukrainians, not just the political elite. New taxes will cover any needed medical regard. And even less options are at stake procedure. Give us a break! As the Ukrainians say, “Don’t hang noodles on our ears!” owned by the Vsesvit Publishing Co. They behaved in an extremely rough for cultural journals. All of them seem help- Unfortunately, such political rhetoric is a sign that it’s politics as usual for the less vis-à-vis powerful gangsters and opposition. They’re clearly not ready for any radical steps in October, which could be fashion, tried to damage Vsesvit property and threatened personnel with further unscrupulous government: intertwined costly because Ukraine’s future for the remainder of the decade and beyond that and interconnected, nearly fused in repercussions if they did not step down. hangs in the balance. Ukraine into one body. One by one, they are Some suggested they were acting on behalf As a sign the opposition has matured, the Batkivshchyna party, which is being raided and racketeered, raped and pillaged, of a certain Valeri Kharlim, a national depu- directed behind the scenes by Oleksander Turchynov while Yulia Tymoshenko is even though there are thousands of them, ty from the Party of Regions (little sur- imprisoned, deserves kudos for allowing Mr. Yatsenyuk to lead its closed list ballot and all they need for successful resistance prise), protected reportedly by First Vice and therefore serve as the lead campaigner. It was an unusually brave step for the is unity and solidarity. Ukrainian opposition, whose destructive infighting seemed to be seeping into this Prime Minister Valeryi Khoroshkovsky. Two years ago, we Ukrainians allowed year’s campaign, despite being on the brink of extinction. They argued they had their own document- the raiders to unlawfully take over the Nevertheless, the opposition lacks that galvanizing leader who could lead a revolt ed claims to the Vsesvit property, which Parliament and the government. Now, we should the elections be falsified. Mr. Yatsenyuk is a solid speaker, flawlessly delivering were apparently faked, but convincing allow them to destroy and subdue us gradu- his May 12 speech even after his notes flew off his podium. But he simply doesn’t enough from the point of view of Ukraine’s ally, one by one, one business after another. inspire Ukrainians. Neither does Mr. Turchynov, whose loud declarations seem affect- thoroughly corrupted and subservient Vsesvit has never been a political jour- ed and exaggerated, as if to reveal his own exhaustion and disinterest from politics. courts (http://khpg.org/index.php?id= nal. Its editor has always believed, perhaps And Vitali Klitschko has yet to demonstrate that he’s willing to take his opposition 1335554817). against to the authoritarian government to the next level. sincerely, that culture is universal, and any The story is hardly unique and certainly government is able to appreciate it as a Perhaps these leaders sense that the opportunity to take power will arrive with not the most eye-catching against the back- the 2015 presidential election, but the trouble is that there might not be any opposi- much-needed public good. He was wrong. drop of some other events in Ukraine that Ukraine has a government that appreciates tion by then. If the May 12 forum proved anything, it’s that the consequences of the have recently drawn public attention. Yushchenko-Tymoshenko conflict will be felt for many years to come. only brute force, endless amounts of Whereas mass media discuss the alleged money and cynical lies. beating of Yulia Tymoshenko by prison Much of the international criticism of guards and four mysterious blasts in Ukrainian authorities was expressed with- Dnipropetrovsk, attributed to unspecified in the past two years. Their typical reaction Turning the pages back... “terrorists,” raiders’ attacks on property in can be graphically exemplified by a recent May Yanukovych’s Ukraine are a daily practice decision of the ruling Party of Regions that evokes little international attention, (PoR) to hire one of the world’s largest cor- Three years ago, on May 20, 2009, Ukraine’s Shakhtar except for the cases where foreign compa- porate communications companies, 20 Donetsk defeated Germany’s Werder Bremen 2-1 at Sukru nies are involved and Western embassies Burson-Marsteller, to whitewash the Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul and won the UEFA Cup soccer interfere. regime. Or, as Robert Mack, a senior man- 2009 tournament. “Raiding,” as Andrew Rettman defines it, ager at Burson-Marsteller, explained it: This was the biggest victory for a Ukrainian soccer club on “is a form of hostile take-over in which “Our brief is to help the PoR [Party of the international stage, with the UEFA Cup as the second largest someone bribes or blackmails courts to Regions] communicate its activities as the European annual soccer tournament behind the UEFA Champions League. This was also enforce a bogus claim against a profitable governing party of Ukraine, as well as to the last UEFA Cup tournament as its name changed the following year to the UEFA Europa business. It can involve a van full of balacla- help it explain better its position on the League. va-wearing men breaking into your office Yulia Tymoshenko case.” Less euphemisti- Luiz Adriano scored the first goal for Shakhtar in the 25th minute of play, and 10 min- cally, this means the task is to intensify a utes later Bremen tied the score with a penalty kick by Naldo. The second half was filled smear campaign against former Prime Mykola Riabchuk is an author and jour- with tension as the scoreless second half drew to a close, forcing overtime. Jadson Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and to tame nalist from Ukraine, and a leading intellectu- clinched the game seven minutes into overtime with an assist by Darjo Srna. the international criticism of the Ukrainian al who is affiliated with the journal Krytyka. The final match attracted 53,000 fans at the stadium, while an estimated 18 million authorities, especially the President who The article above is reprinted from the viewers watched the game on television in Ukraine. Also in attendance were President has become, since last year, virtually an blog “Current Politics in Ukraine” (http:// Viktor Yushchenko, Party of Regions Chair Viktor Yanukovych, Football Federation of international pariah (http://euobserver. ukraineanalysis.wordpress.com/) created by Ukraine President Hryhoriy Surkis and UEFA President Michel Plantini. com/24/116076). the Stasiuk Program for the Study of Loud chants of “Shakhtar” filled the stadium, as the team’s coach, Mircea Lucescu, had They seem to believe – naively or, rather, Contemporary Ukraine, a program of the served as head coach for two Turkish clubs, Galatasaray SK and Besiktas JK. arrogantly – that money can fix any problem. Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies at (Continued on page 12) the University of Alberta. (Continued on page 12) No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 7

NEWS AND VIEWS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

huge population. While travelling in Siberia Depressing to read I have seen the economic aspect of that On the eve of NATO’s takeover already under way. However, at this time we can only look about Ukraine events with sadness at what is happening in summit in Chicago Dear Editor: Ukraine while remembering Mykola Hohol’s Germany and France have been non- comment in one of his Myrhorod stories: by Askold S. Lozynskyj It is very sad and depressing to read supportive of Ukraine’s security interests, “How sad it is in this world, gentlemen.” about events taking place in Ukraine today Following the failed attempt on the part to say the least, and this may have been fur- Th Ukraine of the future will not neces- either in The Ukrainian Weekly or in the of both Washington and Kyiv to secure a ther aggravated by the recent election of a sary be such as we have imagined for so mainstream press. And there is a lot of bad NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) for Socialist president in France. many years in the diaspora, but it will be news in both. Ukraine is fast becoming a Ukraine at the April 2008 Bucharest sum- The “re-election” of President Vladimir Ukraine nevertheless. The 10,000-year-old mafia state. mit of NATO. Ukrainian membership in Putin and the introduction by the Russian Trypilian civilization of our ancestors will Traditionally, we in the diaspora tend to NATO has become a dormant issue, if not a Orthodox Church of a new term loosely prevail. It is the oldest surviving civilization blame the beastly Russians for all our mis- non-issue. The United States – once a translated as “the Russian world” should in Europe. fortunes. But looking more deeply in the strong advocate of Ukraine – has been have stirred up renewed concerns over history of Ukraine one finds that it was Ihor Lysyj silent. Russian aggression, but instead they have greedy, corrupt and stupid “Ukrainian Austin, Texas Much of this can be explained by a brought Chancellor Angela Merkel and elites” that have inflicted so much suffering change of administrations in both coun- President Putin closer together and per- on the people of our homeland. Russians tries. Certainly, the Obama administration suaded a heretofore unprincipled simply and cleverly took advantage of the has been less forthcoming on Ukraine than President Barack Obama to become even greed and stupidity of the Ukrainian elites We need to know the Bush administration. Undoubtedly, the more “flexible.” while inflicting great suffering on us Yanukovych regime has stifled what was Today, Ukraine itself has become less through their hands. candidates’ stands once a grand design of European integra- than proactive as to NATO membership, Consider for a minute why small but tion by President Viktor Yushchenko and partially because of its Soviet past and an Dear Editor: enlightened countries such as Estonia, has transformed Ukraine into a global increasing Ukrainian skepticism toward Latvia, Lithuania and Georgia are able to While the political rhetoric continues pariah. the West’s intentions – all of this severely withstand successfully Russian aggression before the presidential elections and each So, what is Ukraine’s current outlook for aggravated by the Yanukovych regime’s and domination, while large, powerful and presidential candidate wants to show more NATO membership? The answer is unclear. non-Western orientation and thuggish rich Ukraine cannot do so. It is the greed muscle to be elected to the highest office of On March 16, 2009, a U.S. high-level behavior. This has enabled such non- and stupidity of Ukrainian elites that these United States of America, there seems bipartisan commission (Hagel-Hart friends of Ukraine as Chancellor Merkel to brought such misery and devastation on to be too much emphasis in their rhetoric Commission) recommended that the new shroud her essentially longstanding our poor land today, with the Donbas crim- on jobs, unemployment, statistics, gasoline U.S. administration reach out to Russia in a Russophile policies in a “concern for inal clan following in the footsteps of many prices and how to revive the economic stag- number of ways, including the withdrawal human rights” cover. Ukraine’s imprisoned other traitors of our history that betrayed nation in the country, not to mention, of support for NATO membership for former prime-minister deserves Western Hetmans Ivan Mazepa, Ivan Vyhovsky, efforts to tarnish each other’s image. Ukraine and Georgia. It recommended that intervention. However, she should not be Pylyp Orlyk and other patriots. Aside from the Middle East and several the U.S. government accept that “neither used as a weapon in Ms. Merkel’s contin- Well, it’s not the end of history. Russia other selective strategic spots, there seems Ukraine nor Georgia is ready for NATO ued belligerence towards Ukraine in order today is also mafia state, controlled and to be little talk about the challenges in membership,” and that the United States to please her friend, Mr. Putin. exploited for material benefits by a former other parts of the world confronting the does not now have “a compelling security The subject of Ukraine’s security – not KGB apparatus of thugs and murderers. U.S. at this very critical time of our history. interest” in NATO membership for either only for the sake of principle, but more so And today the educated part of the Russian The rising power of China’s political country. The U.S. commission further rec- on a geo-strategic level – needs to be population does not like it. We all have influence and economic growth, and its rap- ommended its government “to develop addressed at NATO’s Chicago summit. seen the most unusual demonstration idly growing military might, as well as options other than NATO membership” for Irrespective of Germany, France and even against Tsar Vladimir Putin in Moscow, not Russia’s appetite to re-establish its slave Ukraine and Georgia and find other ways President Obama, Ukraine remains a lynch- unlike the ones seen in footage from 1917 empire – naturally at the expense of its “to demonstrate a commitment to their pin and buffer between today’s NATO and demonstrations in St. Petersburg against nearby neighbors – and once again become sovereignty.” the country, in essence, against whom Tsar Nicholas. As they brought down a world superpower capable of challenging No doubt Russia’s policy of rearmament, NATO was formed. A militarily strong and Nicholas in 1917, they may do with Tsar the U.S. or anyone else, cannot be ignored renewed aggressiveness and a demonstrat- modern democratic Ukraine is NATO’s best Vladimir a few years from now. by either presidential candidate. Empty talk ed willingness to implement that part of its weapon, even better than the radar and People are simply fed-up with mafia and threats against human rights abusers, military doctrine which calls for military anti-missile shield contemplated for states, be it Ukraine or Russia. And remem- corrupt and criminal governments, world intervention in its “near abroad” to “safe- Poland, the Czech Republic or Romania. ber: Russian revolutions, and there were famines and genocide sponsors, without guard” Russia’s “national interests” had a Not to diminish the significance of any cur- many of them, were always ignited by the action will not do. These issues will have to major impact on the commission. rent NATO member-state but, after all, intelligentsia or educated class of the coun- be addressed soon by both presidential can- Furthermore, political expediency, particu- Ukraine in size and population is one of try, with little, if any, participation by the didates. These issues will not go away by larly in the Middle East, influenced this Europe’s largest countries. Ultimately, full common folks. And the same historical sce- themselves and sweeping aside them is decision to sacrifice Ukraine and Georgia. NATO membership for Ukraine not only nario is developing in Russia right now. bound to backfire in the very near future. Unfortunately, this commission manifested serves Ukraine but furthers NATO’s pur- Otherwise, Russia today is still a techno- There are a lot of eligible voters who are ignorance of or disregard for NATO’s gene- pose as an alliance defending itself from logically backward country with a rapidly very much interested in these issues and sis, its history and purpose. the world’s most dangerous possible declining population in a huge and incrid- would like to hear from the presidential Undeterred, U.S. Secretary of State aggressor. We need not name that aggres- ably rich in natural resources but other- candidates where they stand. The sooner Hillary Clinton has declared on more than sor. wise empty land east of the Ural Mountains they hear from them, the quicker they will one occasion that “we should continue to Tangible action such as an imminent that could be taken over in the not too dis- decide for whom to cast their ballots. open NATO’s door to European countries offer of a MAP sends the right message to tant future by the Chinese who badly need such as Georgia and Ukraine, and help both the cynical Ukrainian population and Lubomyr Pawlowych those resources to satisfy the needs of their them meet NATO standards.” But the secre- the aggressive Russian rulers. It also puts Union, N.J. tary’s words, pronounced on more than Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych in a one occasion, have fallen on deaf ears, since quandary. no one seems to know where the U. S. pres- Let’s be both honest and practical for a ident stands. change. Given its size and location, Ukraine To The Weekly Contributors: is a most appropriate candidate for NATO We greatly appreciate the materials – feature articles, news stories, press clippings, letters membership. The process should be facili- to the editor, etc. – we receive from our readers. In order to facilitate preparation of The Askold S. Lozynskyj is an attorney based Ukrainian Weekly, we ask that the guidelines listed below be followed. in New York City. He is a former president of tated and expedited. Frankly, Ukraine with- both the Ukrainian World Congress and the out NATO is not secure, and NATO without • Persons who submit any materials must provide a complete mailing address and day- Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Ukraine is a geo-strategic illusion. time phone number where they may be reached if any additional information is required. • News stories should be sent in not later than 10 days after the occurrence of a given event. • Photographs (originals only, no photocopies or computer printouts) submitted for publi- cation must be accompanied by captions. Photos will be returned only when so requested and accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope. Opinions in The Ukrainian Weekly • Full names (i.e., no initials) and their correct English spellings must be provided. Opinions expressed by columnists, commentators MAILING ADDRESS: The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. E-MAIL SUBMISSIONS: Materials may be sent to The Weekly also via e-mail to the address and letter-writers are their own and do not necessarily [email protected]. Please call or send query via e-mail before electronically sending anything other than Word documents. This applies especially to photos, as they must be reflect the opinions of either The Weekly editorial staff scanned according to our specifications in order to be properly reproduced in our news- or its publisher, the Ukrainian National Association. paper. Any questions? Call 973-292-9800. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 No. 21 No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 9 Ukrainian pysanka in the limelight among ambassadors’ wives

by Roksolana Misilo kilim exhibit by curator Lubow Wolynetz, Dr. Sergeyeva welcomed the honored NEW YORK – Dr. Natalia Sergeyeva, wife guests. UNWLA President Marianna Zajac of the Permanent Representative of spoke about the work of the UNWLA in the Ukraine to the United Nations Yuriy United States and Ukraine, and gave a brief Sergeyev, partnered with the Ukrainian history of The Ukrainian Museum and its National Women’s League of America to origins. The president of the board of trust- host the fourth annual luncheon for the ees of The Ukrainian Museum, Mykola U.N. Ambassadors’ Wives Club on Tuesday, Darmochwal, spoke about the museum’s April 24, at The Ukrainian Museum. history and exhibits. The themes this year were the tradition- The Ukrainian Museum was founded in al “Festival of the Pysanka” and the exhibi- 1976 by the Ukrainian National Women’s tion “Ukrainian Kilims: Journey of a League of America with the mission of Heritage,” followed by a buffet reception bringing Ukrainian art and culture to the featuring Ukrainian cuisine. public. After the guided tour of the extensive The UNWLA, whose purpose is to unite

Artist Sofika Zielyk gives a demonstration on the art of pysanka-writing. women of Ukrainian descent and those tion of the tradition, visual beauty and sym- affiliated with the Ukrainian community, bolism of the pysanka by accomplished art- and Dr. Sergeyeva, who works tirelessly ist Sofika Zielyk. Her demonstration of the advancing Ukrainian culture within the art left the audience truly mesmerized. U.N. Ambassadors’ Wives Club, united to Afterwards, 40 members of the promote the Ukrainian heritage by intro- Ambassadors’ Wives Club mingled with ducing international guests to the customs members of the UNWLA while sampling and traditions of Ukraine. traditional Ukrainian cuisine. The museum holds an unparalleled Each guest received a wooden reproduc- array of folk art, an exceptional collection tion of a pysanka as a souvenir of this love- of fine art and an extensive compendium of ly and entertaining afternoon. The event archival materials. The museum’s state-of- was underwritten by Self Reliance New the-art home on 222 E. Sixth St. includes York Federal Credit Union. Dr. Natalia Sergeyeva (wife of the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the U.N. spacious galleries and facilities for public Yuriy Sergeyev), Marta Kokolskyj (advisor to the Ukrainian Mission at the U.N.), programming, thus allowing it to host Tatiana Porohoreltsev (wife of Consul General of Ukraine to New York Serhii Roksolana Misilo chairs the Arts/ Pohoreltsev) and Marianna Zajac (president of the Ukrainian National Women’s events such as this luncheon. Museum Committee of the Ukrainian League of America). Guests were treated also to a presenta- National Women’s League of America.

illegal construction was banned. Thanks to the voice of Preserving... the Ukrainian community – nationalists like Vera Lyaskovska, Iryna Kalynets and Yuri Shukhevych, Heroes Scholar discusses (Continued from page 4) of Ukraine, in particular – and the judges, who finally little money for protecting heritage sites. The municipal understood the issue, construction has stopped. But the authorities – especially in a place like Lviv, which has such City Council is going back to court in support of construc- fate of looted art a unique history and is really a “museum city” – could look tion. We are sure that with God’s help, we will win, but it’s for international and local funds in order to protect heri- very difficult. tage sites. Instead, certain areas of the city fall into disre- The fight for the rule of law in Ukraine should be a con- pair and the authorities are told: nobody’s doing anything, cern of the Ukrainian community, in the same way that let’s give it to a businessman, he’ll do something. But busi- attention has been focused on [Yulia] Tymoshenko. The ness doesn’t want to protect heritage sites – it builds things issue is not with Tymoshenko. What is important is that that will bring maximum profit. Buildings that have been the opposition should have a right to exist. Only then can designated heritage sites are destroyed. Nobody wants to democratic rights be protected. listen to the Ukrainian intelligentsia, nobody wants to hear The problem of heritage sites is not a problem of the that legislation exists. And so a group of people makes a lot Ukrainian or Jewish people; it is a problem created by cer- of money off such a situation. At the Golden Rose, we tain business interests. The Ukrainian community has stopped construction. We have had two court rulings in always supported us. This is not a question of Ukrainian- our favor and six other cases are in process. Jewish relations, but rather a problem of administration, of the Ukrainian authorities not representing the people, What was being built on the location of the Golden of the authorities not carrying out their responsibilities as Rose? elected officials. They should also think about how their A hotel for Euro-2012. But we were able to get a court actions reflect on Ukraine. order to stop the construction, in large part because of What role do you see the diaspora having? Ukrainians. We based our case on Ukrainian legislation, international agreements that Ukraine had signed and on We need to unite our efforts; the voice of the West is the fact that the site is protected as a World Heritage Site very important. Ukrainians here have the right to have by UNESCO. The position of the Ukrainian community was their voices heard in Ukraine. The assistance of lawyers, unanimously against construction. for example, would be very important. As long as there is WASHINGTON – Dr. Patricia Kennedy Grimsted recently But, before we were able to stop the construction, a no respect to follow the rule of law in Ukraine, the discussed her efforts in trying to uncover the fate of major great many objects were destroyed and taken out by Ukrainian state will not be able to self-realize. Without the collections of art and icons looted from Kyiv museums trucks. Returning and restoring these objects is impossi- rule of law there is no independent Ukraine. ble now. In the West, this site would be restored, and it Our two peoples, who have a lot in common, should during the World War II Nazi occupation. As she indicated could turn a profit. People enjoy coming to Lviv to feel the build our relations without the intrusion of forces that in her recent presentation at the Ukrainian Embassy in aura of an old-world city. But the people who tried to seek to divide us and together we should reach under- Washington, these collections were transported to East build on the site of the synogogue were not from Lviv. standing and move forward. There is a lot of good in our Prussia, where they were either destroyed or stolen away The authorities argued that those who were building common history. Ukraine is the cradle of Hasidism; our elsewhere. A senior research associate at the Harvard there had paid a huge amount of money for the territory. I peoples lived in neighborly relations for centuries. Jewish University Ukrainian Research Institute, Dr. Grimsted is told them, “is there any amount of money that can be com- culture, Jewish life, flourished in Ukraine. It is very good a widely respected scholar who has been researching pared to the worth of our cultural heritage?” This heritage to hear Ukrainians say that there is no Lviv without the displaced cultural property and restitution issues on the was created in Ukraine; it is part of our common legacy. Jewish community; but the conditions to protect this his- Eastern Front since the 1960s. Her April 14 presenta- However, thanks in large part to the minister of culture tory need to be created. Ukrainians should state their tion was co-sponsored by the Washington chapter of the and tourism of Ukraine, the Agency for the Preservation of position. The local community is helping us – we also Shevchenko Scientific Society. the National Cultural Heritage and Hanna Herman, the need the voice of the West to support us. – Yaro Bihun 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 No. 21 No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 11

BOOK REVIEW The Demjanjuk odyssey as viewed in the rear-view mirror

“The Demjanjuk Debacle: The Trials of a ‘Nazi’ Who and eye color. Wasn’t,” by Myron Kuropas. Kyiv: M.I. Serhijchuk Publisher, The author also refers to the view of Lubomyr Prytulak, 2012 (ISBN 978-966-2911-43-5). 90 pp. $17. someone who is not a forensic authority, but whose by Andrij J. Semotiuk exhaustive analysis of the card also concludes that the most plausible hypothesis was that the card was tampered with. In his book “The Demjanjuk Debacle: The Trials of a That analysis can be found at www.xoxol.org and is worthy “Nazi” Who Wasn’t,” author Myron Kuropas, who was a of review by anyone who claims the card is authentic. special assistant for ethnic affairs to President Gerald R. There were, however, other pieces of evidence pointing Ford, holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, was a to guilt. former adjunct professor at Northern Illinois University The author mentions a statement taken by the Soviet and has authored several books on Ukrainians in America, KGB secret police from Ignat Danilchenko, a former recounts the torturous route John Demjanjuk traveled in Sobibor guard implicating Demjanjuk. Later, however, his life. Danilchenko claimed that he was coerced by the Soviet As the first historical account of the 30-year history of secret police into making the statement and in 1985 indi- the Demjanjuk case, the author provides the reader with a cated that all the guards in Sobibor were Germans. This thorough review of the salient events that evoked such bit- fails to explain, however, how he himself was a guard there. ter debate and friction between the various parties entan- The book also says there were German transfer papers gled by the legal struggle and what it symbolized. that indicated Demjanjuk was sent to Sobibor. These, As the book lays out, beginning in his native Ukraine according to the author, were provided by Soviet sources under Soviet rule, Demjanjuk lived through the and could be accused of falsification for that reason. In Holodomor, through recruitment into the Red Army and addition it should be noted that Charles Sydnor, a prosecu- combat duty against Nazi Germany and the Axis powers on tion expert in the U.S. deportation proceeding, indicated the Eastern Front of World War II. He was captured by the that if the Trawniki card was invalid, none of these papers Nazis and became a prisoner of war. would be valid – which simply brings the question back to The author indicates that, according to allegations made the legitimacy of the ID card. by the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) of the U.S. Similarly, the author mentions the appearance of anoth- Department of Justice, Demjanjuk was a trainee in er John Demjanjuk. Both Demjanjuks were evidently from Trawniki and a guard in the Nazi Sobibor death camp. The These contradictions alone made this case extraordi- the same village. The author indicates that the second author disputes these allegations, contending instead that nary. Demjanjuk committed suicide shortly after he learned that Demjanjuk was an internee in Nazi Germany’s genocidal As a lawyer, several factors troubled me about the Soviet secret police had come to the village asking concentration camps for Soviet POWs, later joining Demjanjuk’s case. The author mentions some of my previ- questions about him. Was he the real camp guard? Didn’t Vlasov’s army to fight and overthrow the brutal Stalinist ously published legal comments in his book. Foremost his existence at least raise a reasonable doubt regarding regime in the Soviet Union. The author then outlines how among these was the politicization of the law that it the conviction? There were also witnesses called who Demjanjuk immigrated to the United States in 1952. entailed. To draw an analogy, what debasing the money claimed to have seen Demjanjuk in the camps, but who Demjanjuk lived peacefully in Cleveland until early supply of a society does to its financial health, politicization could not recognize him in court. 1981. It was then, according to this book, that Demjanjuk of the legal system does to its legal health. The Kuropas Through this book the author makes us realize that in was imprisoned in the U.S., denaturalized and ultimately book concurs with my previous argument that normal many ways Demjanjuk’s life experience was a metaphor deported to Israel, where he faced a trial for being “Ivan legal rules could have adequately dealt with Demjanjuk, for the experience of many Ukrainians over the last centu- the Terrible,” a sadistic guard at the Treblinka concentra- and agrees that the result would not have been his convic- ry. All the major hardships faced by Ukrainians in the last tion camp. tion. As the book so aptly demonstrates, this was not some- century, and especially during World War II, are found in At his trial in Israel, according to the book, Jewish thing those who sought Demjanjuk’s guilt could tolerate. the book’s historical narrative. Holocaust survivors falsely accused Demjanjuk of being Take the issue of screening immigrants to the United The book admirably demonstrates the propaganda war “Ivan the Terrible.” He was convicted and then endured States at the end of World War II as an example of how the that played out against the backdrop of the legal proceed- imprisonment while his appeals were heard. Ultimately legal system faltered in the Demjanjuk case. The author ings that engulfed Demjanjuk. This propaganda war was Demjanjuk was victorious in the Israeli Supreme Court points out that every immigrant had to go through 1) an waged all the way from pro-Soviet Ukrainian Daily News after substantial new evidence of his innocence was uncov- FBI, 2) Counter-Intelligence Corps, 3) CIA, 4) Provost- editor Michael Hanusiak’s 1975 list of 70 alleged Nazi col- ered by his defense team and presented to the court. Marshall General, 5) American fingerprinting record, 6) laborators living in the United States, which included Demjanjuk, to the final days of Demjanjuk’s life in Germany Demjanjuk then returned to the United States where his Berlin Document Center, 7) Immigration and almost 30 years later. In that context, traditional Jewish U.S. citizenship was restored, only then to face a second Naturalization immigration inspector, 8) U.S. Consular and anti-Ukrainian grievances once again surfaced in the news- deportation proceeding initiated by the OSI to remove him 9) special investigation of displaced Soviet citizen clear- papers and media of the world. to Germany. The author outlines how in Munich a trial on ance before he or she could immigrate to the United States. The book singles out the following: charges of being an accessory to the murder of over 28,000 It is true that Demjanjuk admitted concealing his war 1. Bohdan Khmelnytsky’s slaughter of Jews in Poland in Jews at Sobibor found him guilty. Then Demjanjuk record. However, the reason he did so was, according to the 17th century. As the author says, however, no explana- appealed to the German court of appeal. This is where the him, that he was avoiding deportation back to the Soviet tion was provided that the Jews perished as part of author’s account concludes. However, we now know that Union under Operation Keelhaul where by persons who Khmelnytsky’s Orthodox Kozak revolt against Polish feudal shortly afterwards, John Demjanjuk died. came from within Soviet borders were forcibly repatriated. rule in western Ukraine. No mention is made that the If nothing else, the Demjanjuk case as set out in this His accusers argued that he did so because he was an Jewish population had sided with the Polish nobility and book is an incredible collection of contradictions. While accessory to the murder of 28,000 Jews. The question is, Catholic leaders in suppressing Ukrainian serfs. According Israel acquitted Demjanjuk, Germany convicted him. Real even if it might have missed a detail such as whether an to Dr. Zenon Kohut, the Director of the Canadian Institute Nazis were amnestied by modern Germany, but non-Nazis applicant came from eastern or western Ukraine and was of Ukrainian Studies, some 20,000 Jews perished in the like Demjanjuk were not. According to a finding of a U.S. therefore subject to Soviet repatriation, how could such a conflict because of the role they played in Polish society. Appeals Court, the OSI concealed evidence of Demjanjuk’s thorough system of review miss someone so significant who evidently helped murder 28,000 Jews? The book sug- 2. Symon Petliura’s role in the pogroms visited upon the innocence, yet the OSI twice prosecuted him for concealing Jews during the period of Ukraine’s rebirth in 1917-1922 his past. Soviet evidence was condemned by the defense as gests that the answer is that Demjanjuk was not as signifi- cant and inhumane a person as the prosecutors made him and the Paris trial of his Jewish assassin, Sholom unreliable, but it was Soviet evidence that saved Schwartzbad, who was found innocent. The author men- Demjanjuk’s life in Israel. Demjanjuk “was a German pris- out to be. The strongest evidence against Demjanjuk was the tions the case but fails to indicate that the trial was unable oner being tried by the very people who captured, con- to link Petliura directly to even one of the pogroms. More fined and made him do whatever they were now accusing already-mentioned Trawniki identity card that was pro- duced by the Soviet Union. The author sets out the objec- importantly, no reference is made to the close work him of having done.” Since Germany could not prove that between Petliura and Ze’ev (formerly Vladimir) Jabotinsky, Demjanjuk murdered anyone, they convicted him of a tions to that card raised by Fabian J. Tasson, a forensic doc- ument examiner for the State of Illinois, who testified in one of the leading Jews of the 20th century and father of newly invented criminal offence, that of being an accessory court in that regard. They were: Revisionist Zionism. Jabotinsky categorically rejected any to the murder of over 28,000 victims, on the theory that 1. That the card was more like a paper held in a person- claim of Petliura’s animosity towards the Jews including his mere presence in the death camp was sufficient to hold nel file than a typical ID card carried by someone at the conducting any pogroms or holding any anti-Semitic views. him guilty despite the fact that other guards from this time. 3. The Jewish pogrom in Lviv on the entry of Nazi forces camp were not held guilty by German courts previously. 2. That it had staple holes in it that suggested it came into that city in June 1941. The author hints at the estimat- from somewhere else. ed 4,000 Jews that died in three days of violence. However, Andriy J. Semotiuk is an attorney practicing in the area of 3. The seals on the picture and on the card were mis- he indicates that little mention is made of the 9,800 prison- international law focusing on immigration. He is a member aligned. ers (my figure not the author’s), mostly Ukrainians but of the bars of New York and California in the United States 4. That the name patch on the uniform was whited out including Poles and Zionist Jews, who perished in the jails and Ontario and British Columbia in Canada. A former concealing the name. at the hands of the NKVD Soviet secret police before they United Nations correspondent who was stationed in New 5. That the presence of various colors of ink on the card abandoned western Ukraine in the face of the Nazi inva- York, Mr. Semotiuk now practices law and resides in cast doubts on its authenticity. Toronto. 6. There were discrepancies as to Demjanjuk’s height (Continued on page 15) 157B

12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 No. 21

port her rights. The president of the NEWSBRIEFS European Parliament said he would get in touch with leading European lawyers so (Continued from page 2) that they could be invited to take part in the defense of the gas case verdict. This deci- process. This would be a significant step sion was made by Judge Oleksander toward improving the level of trust and Yelfimov at the request of Public cooperation between the EU and Ukraine, Procurators, who asked that the Mr. Schulz added. However, First Deputy Tymoshenko appeal hearings be post- Minister of Justice Inna Yemelianova told poned due to the absence of the former the press on May 17 that European experts prime minister from the courtroom. “The in the field of law cannot defend Ms. petition should be granted,” the judge Tymoshenko during the appeal. “The exist- declared. According to Procurator Oksana ing law stipulates that legal aid is provided Drohobytska, at whose request the rappor- by lawyers. However, the Criminal teur judge deferred consideration of the Procedure Code says that there are experts appeal, this postponement was approved in the field of law. But the Constitutional due to the illness of the defendant. “Convict Court once said that there should be a spe- Tymoshenko is being treated, and she can- cial law which shall determine the proce- not exercise her right to protection. Based dural status of legal professionals. There is on the rules and laws, as well as practices no such law, and is it established at the of the European Court, the case was post- moment that only people with a lawyer’s poned,” the procurator said. The High certificate are permitted to [participate in] Specialized Court for Civil and Criminal criminal proceedings,” she explained. Cases was due to consider on May 15 the (Ukrinform) appeal of former Prime Minister Nina Karpachova leaves Ukraine Tymoshenko of the decision of the Pechersky District Court of Kyiv and Kyiv’s KYIV – Former Ombudsman Nina Court of Appeals in the gas case in which Karpachova has left Ukraine because of she was found guilty and sentenced to pressure from the Procurator General’s seven years in prison. The defense team Office (PGO), National Deputy Serhiy announced on May 16 that it intends to file Sobolev of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc- a complaint to the European Court of Batkivshchyna said at a briefing at the Human Rights without waiting for the Verkhovna Rada on May 15. “Ms. Higher Specialized Court’s ruling on the Karpachova is not in Ukraine now because appeal in gas case. (Ukrinform, Interfax- of the pressure upon her from the Ukraine) Procurator General’s Office. I do not know EuroParliament to send doctors, lawyers where she is,” Mr. Sobolev said. He said the PGO is putting pressure on Ms. Karpachova KYIV – The European Parliament is plan- for releasing photos of Ms. Tymoshenko’s ning to send to Ukraine European physi- bruises. Mr. Sobolev said that, because of cians and lawyers for the purpose of provid- the misconduct of the PGO towards Ms. ing medical and legal assistance to former Karpachova, the Verkhovna Rada’s human Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. rights ombudsman at the time of the pho- Agreement on this was reached by tos’ release, the opposition filed a complaint Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov with the European Court of Human Rights. and European Parliament President Martin (Ukrinform) Schulz during their meeting in Brussels on May 16. Mr. Schulz said he had discussed Opposition to stage actions during Euro with Mr. Azarov consideration by the KYIV – The opposition Yulia Tymoshenko European Parliament of the possibility of Bloc-Batkivshchyna faction in the sending European medical experts to Ukrainian Parliament is working on staging Ukraine, in addition to the German doctor TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL Walter Honcharyk (973) 292-9800 x3040 public awareness-raising actions to inform or e-mail [email protected] who is already dealing with Ms. guests the Euro 2012 soccer championship Tymoshenko’s health. He also expressed the about recent developments in Ukraine, but belief that high-level European lawyers these actions will take place outside stadi- SERVICES PROFESSIONALS should participate in the Tymoshenko case during the appeal proceedings to fully sup- (Continued on page 13)

Romanian president Nicolae Ceausescu Raiders’ state... and the Saudi royal family” (http://www. (Continued from page 6) guardian.co.uk/science/2002/jan/08/ gm.activists). And if it is insufficient, bigger money is One may call also Leonid Kuchma’s needed to settle everything. Burson- attempt to rescue his image after the “tape- Marsteller might be a good choice for a gov- gate” scandal with the assistance of similar ernment in big trouble. In the past, “the PR whitewashers. What all these exclusive cli- company was employed by the Nigerian ents of PR companies fail to understand – government to discredit reports of genocide either naively or perhaps arrogantly – is PROFESSIONALS during the Biafran war, the Argentinian that they can win many battles: against Ms. junta after the disappearance of 35,000 Tymoshenko, Yurii Lutsenko, Vsesvit, or civilians, and the Indonesian government even Arcelor Mittal. But they can never win after the massacres in East Timor. It also the war for the truth and for the real place worked to improve the image of the late they occupy in history.

November 2008. Shakhtar defeated Turning... Dynamo Kyiv on May 7, 2009, to qualify for (Continued from page 6) the final with Werder Bemen. Run your advertisement here, OPPORTUNITIES Shakhtar and Dynamo, arguably in The Ukrainian Weekly’s “Tonight you made millions of your Ukraine’s the two biggest soccer rivals, had countrymen happy. The whole countryside rallied support around a common hope – a CLASSIFIEDS section. Earn extra income! celebrates with you. Your success proves win for the Ukrainian team. Although The Ukrainian Weekly is looking that Ukrainian soccer teams belong to our Dynamo fans chanted “Ukrayina” instead of for advertising sales agents. continent’s soccer elite and they can “Shakhtar,” the country celebrated the vic- For additional information contact achieve the highest goals,” said President tory together from Lviv to Kyiv to Donetsk. Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, Yushchenko. The Ukrainian Weekly, Four Ukrainian teams competed in the Source: “Shakhtar wins UEFA Cup,” by 2009 UEFA Cup, with Shakhtar falling out Yuriy Borysov, The Ukrainian Weekly, May 973-292-9800, ext 3040. of the Champions League tournament in 24, 2009.

Run your advertisement here, in The Ukrainian Weekly’s CLASSIFIEDS section. No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 13

prison clothes. She breaks all of the prison NEWSBRIEFS rules, and she has not even been fined for It is with deep sorrow that,” Mr. Kuzmin said. He was surprised (Continued from page 12) that “the Germans are demanding we announce that ums, National Deputy Andrii Shevchenko Tymoshenko’s release from prison.” told reporters on May 11. “The Union of According to Die Zeit, Mr. Kuzmin said that WALTER European Football Associations and other on numerous pages of the case “you can football structures are very demanding in read how she committed murder, how she “SLAVKO” SOSIAK ensuring that politics is left outside the robbed the people of Ukraine.” He asked: stands, and we are not going to move poli- “Are our German friends interested that Ms. passed away on April 14, 2012. tics into the stands that will host Euro 2012 Tymoshenko is a killer?” Die Zeit noted that He was 79. matches. But, of course, we will use every Mr. Kuzmin “called her a killer, although the opportunity outside the stadiums to tell the trial on such charges has not yet started, Born in Ukraine, Slavko emigrated to the U.S. in 1949 and settled there are no witnesses, and there is only world – both politicians and ordinary fans in New York. In 1960 he moved to Colonia, NJ. He was an Army – about everything that is going on in dubious evidence.” (Interfax-Ukraine) Veteran of the Korean Conflict, stationed in Germany. Slavko was a Ukraine,” Mr. Shevchenko said. He com- Naftohaz signs agreement with Germany mented, “it would be a sin not to do so, it parishioner at St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Elizabeth. would be wrong not to do so, and we will KYIV – Naftohaz Ukrainy and RWE He was a member of the Elizabeth Credit Union and the Ukrainian do it.” (Ukrinform) Supply & Trading GmbH of Germany have National Association. signed an agreement on the purchase and Kuzmin tired of Tymoshenko case travels sale of natural gas, the Ukrainian compa- Besides family and friends, Slavko had a love for soccer. As a ny’s press service reported on May 11. The KYIV – Ukraine’s First Deputy Procurator young man he played for “Sitch”. He also loved to spend his sum- General Renat Kuzmin has complained company added that the agreement creates that, due to the case of former Prime legal grounds for the possible supply of mers upstate NY at Soyuzivka. Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, he has to con- natural gas from RWE Supply & Trading to stantly travel to Brussels and Strasbourg Naftohaz and at the same time does not Surviving are: and make excuses to European politicians. contain provisions for the mandatory sale wife: Stasha of 53 years or purchase of natural gas. The prices, sup- “Now I cannot imagine my life without Ms. daughter: Donna Galonzka and husband Taras Tymoshenko… Everyone has suddenly ply volumes and obligations of the parties begun to speak of dictatorship. But nobody for the supply of natural gas will be deter- son: Stephen Sosiak and wife Halina cares about what Ms. Tymoshenko has mined in individual contracts after they are grandsons: Michael Galonzka, Stephen Sosiak, Daniel Sosiak really done,” he told a Die Zeit reporter. In a agreed and signed by both companies. May 10 article in the German newspaper – RWE Supply & Trading is one of the largest sisters: Anna Salaczynsky and family headlined “Tymoshenko – An Oligarch or a companies in Europe engaged in the elec- Maria Bell and family National Saint?” – he also said he considers tricity and gas sector. RWE Supply & brothers: Wasyl Sosiak and family the Tymoshenko trial to be the fairest in Trading is part of RWE AG, an operator of the world. “What do you actually want? the powerful gas transportation system in Mike Sosiak and family What are the problems of our German Europe, which owns 23,000 kilometers of friends? Ms. Tymoshenko received the fair- gas pipelines and underground gas storage Funeral services were held on April 20, 2012, at St. Vladimir’s est trial in the world, and she gets the best facilities with a capacity of up to 7.4 billion Ukrainian Catholic Church in Elizabeth, NJ, followed by interment at medical care in Europe,” Mr. Kuzmin said. cubic meters. RWE Supply & Trading annu- St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Cemetery in S. Bound Brook, NJ. “She does not have to work in prison, she ally buys and supplies about 50 billion was allowed to spend days writing letters cubic meters of natural gas for the needs of Eternal memory! of protest, and she is not forced to wear European countries. (Ukrinform)

In memory of Neonila Bedriy Kramarchuk Who was my mother Neonila Bedriy Kramarchuk? More importantly, what was her legacy to me and my family? My mother was born in Ternopil, Ukraine, Christ, the second most read book in the “Being subject one to another, in the fear of in May 1935. Her parents, older brother history of the world after the Bible, book 3, Christ. Let women be subject to their hus- Anatole Bedriy, and she left their homeland ch.44 (“Do Not Take to Heart What bands, according to the Lord Jesus: upon the arrival of the Communist Happens Around You”): “It is more profitable ‘Because the husband is the head of the Bolsheviks. They fled to Warsaw, Poland, to leave everyone to his way of thinking wife, as Christ is the head of the church. He and, with the Second World War’s end, set- than to give way to contentious discourses is the saviour of his body. Therefore as the tled in Germany. In 1950 her family came to (arguments).” church is subject to Christ: so also let the Ellis Island and chose Newark, N.J., as When someone with known past faults wives be to their husbands in all things. their new home. There my mother complet- or sins met my mother and me, my moth- Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also ed high school and later bookkeeping. She er’s instruction to me was to not be sur- loved the church and delivered himself up met my father at a summer ballroom dance prised but to look immediately for that per- for it.’ ” My mother’s model guides me on in the Catskill mountains of New York State son’s virtues or good motives. Is this not how to live as a husband and more impor- at the Verkhovyna resort near the Delaware charity, the theological virtue of love (the tantly as a disciple of Jesus Christ, our River. They married in 1959. I was born the other being faith and hope)? I am reminded Alpha and Omega, our life and death. following year. My younger brother Borys from John 13:34: “Thou shall love your In looking back, I discern the simple phi- was born in 1961. The Kramarchuks chose neighbor as yourself – that you love one losophy my mother lived by. I say simple E. 5th St. in Manhattan, New York, to call another, as I have loved you.” In addition, I yet not easy, especially in our current cul- home, where my mother would live out the am reminded from Life in Plast – Handbook ture and community. I am led to 23rd chap- rest of her years. for Youth Scouting, from the chapter ter of Imitation of Christ, book 3, “Four What memories do I have of my mother “Proper Conduct of a Plastun (Scout) for Things Which Bring Great Peace”. The Neonila that are still with me today, that Life”, p. 184. Virtue #6 – “A Scout is Polite”: Voice of Christ: “My child, I will teach you influence my everyday life? Firstly, she had His politeness does not allow any impres- now the way of peace and true liberty. a generous heart. Whenever one of my four sion of put-down, for it is inconsistent with also wore the Scapular, a pair of cloth rect- Seek, child, to do the will of others rather children came to her for lunch money, my the notion of chivalry (being a gentleman or angular shapes attached by string and worn than your own. Always choose to have less mother never said “no” but most times let proper lady)”. on the chest, over the shoulder, and on the rather than more. Look always for the last her purse be empty. I am reminded of Mark How did my mother maintain calm in the upper back. I remember this as a child place and seek to be beneath all others. 12:41-44 and Jesus sitting over against the midst of storms of daily life? She prepared because in the warm weather months my Always wish and pray that the will of God treasury, beheld how the people cast for it. My mother did not wait for the storm mother’s shirts would often stain green or be fully carried out in you.” money into the treasury. And many that but prayed in anticipation of it with the rosa- brown. Her own body heat and sweat would In remembrance of our recently departed were rich cast in much. There came a cer- ry. In 1917 Our Lady in Fatima revealed to release the natural pigments of the cloth. wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, dona- tain poor widow; and she cast in 2 mites the three shepherd children, that by medi- When I asked her about this, my mother tions are being gathered for the completion (dollars). And calling together his disciples, tating on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary, replied to me, “What value are clothes of the construction of the Monastery of the he said, “Amen I say to you, this poor they will be enriched with its fruits (gifts) and when the love of Mary and Jesus is our pri- Blessed Virgin Mary in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, widow has cast in more than all they who obtain peace for the world, the conversion ority and focus in life?” the religious order of St. Volodymyr the have cast into the treasury. For all they did of sinners and of Russia, and the favor they As to the proper role of husband and Great. Checks or money orders can be cast part of their abundance; but she cast in asked for will be granted. The Rosary is a wife, my mother was ever obedient and made out to: “Monastery Construction all she had, even her whole living.” treasure of grace, the grace only of God faithful. She was married for near 53 years. Fund,” account number 16504, and sent to: When someone who was annoying met who gave us life, and loves us so much that Her living example is one of the greatest Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union, my mother and me on the street or in He gave his only son in reparation of our gifts a parent can give to a child. She did 215 2nd Ave., New York, NY 10009, tele- not complain when her will was not fulfilled church, my mother’s instruction to me was sins, that we might have eternal life. phone 212-533-2980. to smile and change the subject if I was As a further symbol of her devotion to but made her husband’s will her own. I am able. I am reminded from the Imitation of Mary and faith in her son Jesus, my mother reminded of St. Paul’s Ephesians 5:21-25: – Zenon Kramarchuk, Jr.

153 155 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 No. 21

second location in the Carpathians in profiles and relish their share of the inter- Ukraine pursues 2022 Winter Olympics bid 2018-2021. national stage by hosting the world’s most Lviv’s dreams of a future Olympics were prestigious sports extravaganzas. As they prepare for the Euro-2012, tries have begun from scratch, and we will initially trumped in 2010 when President In the upcoming years Brazil will be Ukrainian officials are seriously consider- do the same,” the Olympic legend said in Viktor Yanukovych supported a hosting the Olympics and the World Cup, ing the idea of hosting the Olympic Games. late 2010. Carpathian bid. Questions still remain over while Russia and Qatar are among the Lviv is the likely host city for Ukraine’s Ukraine’s vice prime minister for the whether Lviv will gain the nod ahead of peripheral countries to earn the nod to lofty goal of hosting the 2022 Winter Euro-2012, Boris Kolesnikov, repeated rival potential host cities in the region like host FIFA’s World Cup finals. After examin- Olympics. Bubka’s optimistic words after visiting Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk and Uzhhorod. ing all of the factors, Ukraine’s main com- To those familiar with everyday life in Carpathian ski resorts over the New Year The stately Bukovel facility may give petitors for the right to host the 2022 the western Ukrainian capital, this ambi- holiday. “The region’s infrastructure is Ivano-Frankivsk a slight edge. Winter Games figure to be a pair of tion may seem a bit unrealistic. Aactually, already very well developed thanks to our While Mr. Kolesnikov has abstained Eastern European neighbors, Poland and it is not that much of a stretch. The huge Euro-2012 preparations. If we begin our from offering any hint about which west- Romania. infrastructure transformation nearing Winter Olympic Games preparations now, ern Ukrainian city might be the top choice This is not to deny the interest of many completion prior to the start of Euro-2012 I have every confidence that the Olympic for any Winter Olympics bid, he did say American, Canadian, German and other will result in the city’s transportation net- Committee will accept our bid,” Mr. Lviv’s Euro-2012 infrastructure improve- Western European countries that have works being totally up-to-date, allowing Kolesnikov stated. While preparations for ments would make it a favorite. A particu- shown interest in playing host to the 2022 Lviv to competitively field a bid to host the a Winter Olympics would be costly, the lar plus is the city’s about-to-be operation- Games at their own first-class winter Winter Olympic Games. expenditures could be spread out over the al international airport. sports resorts. However, these more devel- The majestic Carpathian Mountains are course of the next 10 years. The Cabinet of Ministers has officially oped nations don’t offer the expansionist perfectly suited for winter outdoor sports, “The recent Vancouver Winter Olympics established an organizing committee to possibilities exhibited by a jump into the and there is plenty of lead time prior to required $10 billion in investments present Ukraine’s bid – a definitive indica- somewhat unknown of a former Soviet 2022 to fix the outdated facilities at most despite having key infrastructure elements tion there is plenty of political force at the bloc country. Ukrainian ski resorts. Proof that such a already in place, but this is not necessarily top to promote the country’s bid. The inevitable support for Lviv’s bid will be followed by favorable reactions to project can be successfully completed is an obstacle. Preparing to host a Winter Developing nation status may help competitive bids from other Eastern found in the vast improvements at the Olympics for the first time is expensive, There is little doubt a bid by Ukraine European nations. Ukrainian Carpathian ski resort Bukovel, but if we look to invest $1 billion annually, would garner serious consideration by The Zakopane winter sports resort in which has been totally redeveloped into then we stand a good chance of being international Olympic officials. Ukraine fits Poland is presently much more developed one of the most modern winter sports ven- ready in time for 2022. Our main task at the current philosophy of utilizing major than anything offered by Ukraine’s ues in all of Eastern Europe. Olympic this stage is to convince the International global sporting events to kick-start growth Carpathian Mountains. In 2006 Turino was upgrades in other resorts could easily fol- Olympic Committee that we are serious in the developing world because of its awarded the Winter Games, besting a bid low suit. contenders,” Mr. Kolesnikov said, accord- position as an emerging market of much by Poland. Any future Polish bid might ing to Business Ukraine. Ten-year plan untapped winter sports potential. An include a tempting plan to co-host with Strong political support Olympics in Ukraine would enhance the Slovakia or the Czech Republic, still anoth- The country’s lone prior attempt at scope of the world’s largest sporting er feasible combination for Olympic offi- hosting an Olympic-sized sports event was During this preliminary stage of bid- events. cials looking for fresh markets. in 1980, when Kyiv was home to several ding, Ukraine’s officials are concentrating This new trend was clearly seen with Romania’s Prahova Valley has been soccer matches during the Moscow on getting the basics of the bid going. This South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 World tossed about as an interested host venue Olympics, a memory still reflected in Kyiv’s entails drawing up plans for two Olympic Cup, while Ukraine and Poland acting as since 2007 and could earn favorable con- Olympic Stadium. Going from this minimal villages in the Carpathians and building a co-hosts of this year’s Euro-2012 is still sideration due to the country’s highly past experience to hosting an entire foundation of modern facilities for Winter another vivid example of the trend to per- developed, European Union-funded infra- Winter Games is a monumental step for- Olympics sports. mit perimeter nations to magnify their structure and political stability. ward. The president of Ukraine’s National One of the first blueprints envisions the Olympic Committee, Serhiy Bubka, noted first Olympic village in the Lviv region confidently that Lviv could easily be pre- resort of Tysovets – a former Red Army pared for the 2022 Winter Games, making winter sports complex with a ski jump the point that 10 years is more than ramp, offering an exotic locale and good Sitch men’s team battles on enough time to pull off a successful transportation connections to Lviv. Olympics. Construction work to transform the “It generally takes around seven years Soviet-era facility into state-of-the-art, in Garden State Soccer League to prepare a city to host a Winter modern infrastructure has been booked PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The Chornomorska on May 4 Sitch lost to SC Portugal 1-2, with Olympics, and so there is more than for 2013-2015. A second Olympic village Sitch men’s soccer team kicked off the sec- Kucyna scoring for Sitch; and on May 13 enough time. Plenty of previous host coun- and sports resort would then be built in a ond half of the 2011-2012 season in the Sitch defeated Den of Lions Legends 3-0, Garden State Soccer League’s Super with Andrew Panas, Dan Lewycky and Division on March 23 at Smith Field Park Tereshchuk scoring for Sitch. in Parsippany with a 2-1 win over FC Sitch is in fourth place after 15 games United, a mixed international team made played, with 24 points, seven wins, three up mostly of Russians. draws and five losses, with 26 goals for The lack of soccer fields in Morris and 21 against. In home games, Sitch leads County, N.J., has forced many matches to be the standings with 16 points in eight held in the evenings under artificial lights. games played, with five wins, one draw The Sitch men’s team, known in the and two losses, with 17 goals for and 10 league as the Union Ukrainians, showed it against. In away standings, Sitch is in was well-prepared for the spring season. fourth place with eight points in seven However, calls by the referee and line judg- games, with two wins, two draws and es helped FC United. In one such call, the three losses, with nine goals for and 11 ref ruled for a penalty kick because the against. ball touched the chest of a Sitch defender. The Sitch men’s team includes, in addi- This resulted in a goal for FC United to tion to those mentioned above: take the lead 1-0. Oleksander MacDonald, Andrew Kudryk, The Sitch men’s team played with great Andrew Mandzy, Stephen Kolodiy, Roman skill and calculated actions in the second Tabatchouk, Mark Hordynsky, Roman half, not only evening the score with a goal Palylyk, Andrew Tabatchouk, George by Nick Kucyna, but winning the game Mykula, Salia Kudieri and Andrew Hall, thanks to the second goal by Taras along with trainer Bo Kucyna and coach O’Connell, who had returned from a break Nick Hordynsky. from playing for Sitch. The team’s next game was to be played In other matches during the 2012 on May 18, at Smith Field in Parsippany spring season, Sitch lost on April 1 to against Polonia Wallington. Results from Jersey Shore Boca 1-2; on April 13 Sitch that match were not available at press defeated Icon FC 1-0, with a goal by time. Dmytro Tereshchuk; on April 20 Sitch tied For more information on the team’s against Santorini FC 0-0, and Sitch tied schedule, readers may visit the league’s against German American Kickers 1-1, website http://gssl.com/super-division/ with Tereshchuk scoring again for Sitch; schedule-scores/.

158B No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 15 Nina Arianda nominated for best actress Tony

by Helen Smindak June 17, the two-man play is about the Special to The Ukrainian Weekly sadomasochistic relationship between an actress and a director during an audition. NEW YORK – Ukrainian American Ms. Arianda first drew critical acclaim in actress Nina Arianda has been nominated 2010 when she made her professional for the 2012 Tony Award for best actress in stage debut in “Venus in Fur” at the Classic a leading role in a play for her performance Stage Company theater in the East Village. in the Broadway sensation “Venus in Fur.” Unanimous in their praise of her perfor- The American Wings’ 66th annual Tony mance, reviewers called her extraordinary, Award nominations were made public irresistible, absolutely brilliant and a comic early this month. Winners will be goddess. announced at the June 10 Awards’ dinner That Off Broadway performance drew in New York, to be broadcast live by CBS at the attention of producers like Woody 8 p.m. Allen, who signed her for a role in his The New York Times has noted that “the movie “Midnight in Paris.” Ms. Arianda’s toughest competition [in the Tony Awards] filmography also includes the films “Tower is for best actress.” Ms. Arianda is pitted Heist,” “Win Win,” “Higher Ground” and against four popular actresses currently “Shadows and Lies.” starring in Broadway plays: Tracie Bennett Ms. Arianda has won numerous awards, in “End of the Rainbow,” theater veteran including the 2010 Henry Derwent Award Stockard Channing in “Other Desert Cities,” for the most promising female performer Linda Lavin in “The Lyons” and Cynthia in the New York metropolitan area, the Nina Arianda Nixon in “Wit.” Clive Barnes Award, the Theatreworld “Venus in Fur,” a transfer from Off Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award, trayal of the dim-witted peroxide blonde the American Musical and Dramatic Broadway (“a rare feat” according to The as well as nominations for other awards. Billie Dawn in a Broadway revival of the Academy in New York and the New School Times), was nominated for best play. Last year, she earned a 2011 Tony classic comedy “Born Yesterday.” for Liberal Arts, graduating with an MFA Scheduled to continue its run at the Awards nomination for best performance The daughter of Lesia and Peter Matijcio degree from New York University’s Tisch Lyceum Theatre on West 45th Street until by a leading actress in a play for her por- of Mount Tabor, N.J., Ms. Arianda trained at School of the Arts in 2009.

unfolded, provide valuable insights into the nence of the case, one has to wonder why learn from it and to help improve our lives The Demjanjuk... process as it developed. there was the delay of the appeal. The in the future, then there is a wealth of The book left some key questions open. answer is that John Demjanjuk’s death insights for everyone to be gained from (Continued from page 11) For example, why did Germany undertake helped Germany avoid the potential politi- reading this book and the history it pres- sion. Also, as the author adds, the grievanc- this trial? Was it, as the author suggests, to cal embarrassment and controversy of ents. We owe a debt of gratitude to the es are silent about the role Jews played ear- spread some of the war guilt to other another higher court acquittal, as in Israel, author for his efforts in this regard. lier, in September 1939 in welcoming the nations and to appease the Jews? Or were and prevented a clear and public defeat of * * * Soviet invasion of western Ukraine, and there other reasons? I believe more atten- the novel and dubious theory of law under The book is available for $17 (including Jewish help in pointing out Ukrainian lead- tion needs to be focused here. A Freedom which Demjanjuk had been prosecuted. shipping) from: Ukrainian Educational ers to the NKVD Soviet secret police who of Information Act request needs to unlock John Demjanjuk’s life has ended, but his Associates, 107 Ilehamwood Drive, DeKalb, then imprisoned those Ukrainians. all the details. Why was Ukraine so passive legacy continues. If we study history to IL 60105. It is clear that John Demjanjuk’s case while its image was being raked through will now become the latest in this series of the coals? Where was Ukraine’s leader- Jewish-Ukrainian differences. ship? Is this the end, or should more effort In some places the author’s book shines be exerted to get possession of the a searchlight into some dark corners of his- Trawniki card and transfer papers so they tory, adding useful information that many can be more thoroughly examined? These of us were not completely aware of. For are just some of the questions still to be example, he writes: addressed. “There were some 13 million Nazis who Nonetheless, the author’s book is the could have been tried for war crimes but first detailed account of the history of the only 3.5 million were actually charged. Of Demjanjuk case, albeit that it is incomplete. this number, 2.5 million were granted It is unfortunate that the book came out amnesty, approximately 9,600 were even- before Demjanjuk’s death and before his tually imprisoned, but only 300 were still appeal to the German court of appeal was in jail by 1949. Some 850,000 received heard. The news media and Demjanjuk’s heavy fines, suffered property confiscation, foes have trumpeted Demjanjuk’s “guilt” and were restricted in their employment based on the conviction of the Munich trial opportunities.” court. Shortly following Demjanjuk’s death, A few pages later, talking about however, in March Margaret Noetzel, a Operation Keelhaul, the author reminds us spokeswoman for that court stated that of the post-World War II fate of returnees under German law, Demjanjuk is “still tech- to the Soviet Union (like Demjanjuk could nically presumed innocent,” because he have been). He writes: died before his final appeal could be heard, “Nevertheless, by November 1945, and “a person is presumed innocent until Western commands had repatriated proven guilty” according to German law. 2,272,000 refugees to the Soviet Union. The She gave no explanation for the long delay fate of those sent back, voluntarily or by between the trial court’s decision and the compulsion, was sealed. The overwhelming hearing of the appeal. majority (of those repatriated) were However, it is a fundamental axiom of accused of treason. They were not tried the criminal law of all civilized nations that individually. Special three-man boards the presumption of innocence is never just (troikas) handed down group sentences. a technicality. Twenty percent were given death sentenc- As Presiding Judge Ralph Alt himself es or 25 years in the labor camps; 10 per- conceded, “I say he’s guilty, but it’s not a cent were exiled to remote parts of Siberia final verdict.’’ Furthermore, there is good for periods of no less than six years; 15 reason why he took this view since, under percent were assigned to forced labor German law, as was mentioned, a convic- detachments, rebuilding areas destroyed tion does not stand until all appeal reme- by the war; and only 15-20 percent were dies are exhausted. As pointed out by allowed to return to their homes. Of the Lawrence Douglas in a Harper’s Magazine 15-20 percent remaining, some were article in 2009, “Compared with American undoubtedly killed or died in passage; a court proceedings, a German criminal trial few escaped.” is extremely informal. There is no written Such passages, and his recounting of the transcript. Evidentiary rules are minimal. reactions of Ukrainians, Jews, Israelis, the Hearsay is admissible, and so is a history of OSI and others to the major events as they past convictions. Further, given the promi- 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 No. 21

UNIS celebrates... (Continued from page 1) Service. Rep. Kaptur spoke of the many issues that the community and the caucus commonly promote, all for the betterment of the Ukrainian nation. Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) began his remarks with the traditional Ukrainian greeting of “Dobryi vechir.” The congress- man boasted of his Ukrainian heritage and reiterated the sentiments expressed by Rep. Kaptur. Noting the upcoming parlia- mentary elections in Ukraine, Rep. Hinchey mentioned his first trip to Ukraine in 1994 as an international election observer with the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. The congressman said that he Yaro Bihun would like to travel to Ukraine for the UNIS director Michael Sawkiw Jr. is flanked by two executive officers of the George Nesterczuk, the first director of October 2012 parliamentary elections. Ukrainian National Association, President Stefan Kaczaraj (left) and First Vice- the Ukrainian National Information A special introduction was given to Rep. President Michael Koziupa. Service, addresses the audience during the congressional reception celebrating its 35th anniversary. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), a long-term friend and supporter of the Ukrainian American com- munity. To celebrate Ukraine’s 20th anni- versary of independence, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America presented several members of Congress and friends of Ukraine with special awards to thank them for their contributions and coopera- tion with the Ukrainian community. Due to Rep. Davis’s hectic congressional schedule, the congressman was not available to receive his award in September 2011, but was presented the Hrushevsky Award at the anniversary celebration of UNIS. The congressman joyously thanked the community for the award and said he would “display it proudly in his office.” He spoke highly of his congressional district, which encompasses many diverse ethnici- ties, but noted the unique commitment of the Ukrainian community in advocating its concerns. Following the remarks by members of Congress, two former UNIS directors, George Nesterczuk and Irene Chalupa, addressed the reception guests. Each in their own remarks commented on the uniqueness of the UNIS office and their perspectives in the years they worked at the public affairs bureau. Mr. Nesterczuk described the history of the formation of the Ukrainian National Information Service and noted that its ini- tial mandate was “to talk amongst the Washington establishment about the yearning for freedom and independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union. Not an easy task at that time.” Ms. Chalupa expressed her concerns about the current situation in Ukraine and wished better fortune for that country, as “this is a country that we have worked for many years to bring it to the respectable place it deserves in the world.” The evening also featured greetings from representatives of Ukrainian American organizations including Stefan Kaczaraj of the Ukrainian National Association, Oles Striltschuk of the UCCA Illinois Division and Andrew Bihun of The Washington Group. A written greeting from Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Kostyantyn Gryshchenko was read by Mykola Kulynych, first secretary at the Embassy of Ukraine. During his remarks, Mr. Striltschuk pre- sented a donation of $12,000 for the UNIS office from the Chicago-based Heritage Foundation, Selfreliance Ukrainian American Credit Union and the UCCA Illinois Division. All the speakers emphasized the impor- tance of the UNIS office and its stalwart efforts in representing the Ukrainian com- munity in Washington. No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 17

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE A commemoration of three genocides in Watertown, Mass.

by Peter T. Woloschuk Irish People (1840’s) ‘Irish Famine or visiting professor of Armenian Genocide Genocide, You Be the Judge’ ” Dr. Joseph Studies at Clark University, who has also WATERTOWN, Mass. – As part of its Downes, State Historian for the taught at Westfield State and Wheaton col- ongoing commemoration of the 97th anni- Massachusetts Ancient Order of Hibernians leges. He is currently managing editor of the versary of the Armenian Genocide, the (AOH) gave an overview of the Irish Potato Armenian Review. He received his doctorate Armenian Library and Museum of America Famine of the mid 1840s and its ongoing in history from Boston College and is the (ALMA), which is located in Watertown, impact on the development of the Irish author of “Armenian Organization and Mass., sponsored a special program on the nation. Ideology under Ottoman Rule: 1908-1914.” Armenian, Irish and Ukrainian genocides on “Not only was Ireland confronted with a Dr. Kaligian spoke on the topic of “The Sunday, April 22, at its 30,000-square-foot potato blight, which virtually destroyed the Aftermath of the Armenian Genocide: state-of-the-art facility. major food source of its people, but it also Denial and the Quest for Justice.” He The event, “We Share Our Pain – A saw the forced export of all other major explained that the seeds of denial were Commemoration of Three Genocides,” food stuffs by the British colonial overseers. sown even as the Young Turks committed attracted some 200 participants and includ- In spite of the fact that food production was genocide against the Armenian people. ed brief remarks given by representatives of reduced by more than half, exports of these The final speaker, attorney Paul Vsevolod Petriv each of the three impacted nationalities, as products during that time period more than Rabchenuk, chair of the Ukrainian Congress Dr. Joseph Downes, state historian for the well as a panakhyda (requiem service) con- doubled“, Dr. Downes stated. “To this day Committee of America, Boston chapter, the Massachusetts Ancient Order of Hibernians, celebrated by the Rev. Roman Tarnavsky Great Britain has officially denied any direct Holodomor Remembrance Committee, speaks about the Irish Famine. and Hierodeacon Vasyl Janick of St. Andrew involvement or wrong doing. As a result of reminded those present that they were not Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Boston in the famine, the population of the country Irish, that they were not Armenian, that great tragedy of the Holodomor, or Famine conjunction with the parish’s choir, directed was halved within a few years both by they were not Ukrainian, but rather Irish Genocide of 1932-1933, which happened in by Eugene Moroz. The event concluded death and immigration. These tragic events Americans; Armenian Americans, Ukrainian Ukraine. Connecticut’s Holodomor with prayers for the victims of all three etched themselves in the psyches of the Americans; that they had an obligation to Awareness Committee was founded in 2008 genocides which were offered by represen- Irish people and their effects are clearly vis- bring that truth to the forefront as constitu- to assist educators and other public officials tatives of the Armenian churches. ible even today.” ents of our great nation. in offering Holodomor awareness as part of In his remarks, “The Great Hunger of the He was followed by Dr. Dikran Kaligian, The Rev. Vasken Kouzouian, pastor of the their various educational programs; to pro- Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church of vide accurate current information and Greater Boston brought the ceremony to a access to educational materials on the close with a recitation of the “Lord’s Prayer,” Holodomor; and, to help coordinate various which he offered in Armenian. Holodomor commemorations throughout During the months of April and May, the New England. American Library and Museum of America ALMA was founded in 1971 to present (ALMA) scheduled a series of talks on the and preserve the culture, history, art and Armenian tragedy by various scholars and contributions of the Armenian people in the government officials, as well as a photo United States. It currently houses over exhibition on the Ukrainian Holodomor in 27,000 books and 20,000 artifacts, making its Terjenian-Thomas Gallery and a showing it the largest and most diverse holding of of the documentary film “Genocide Armenian material outside of Armenia Revealed: The Ukrainian Famine of 1932- itself. It is the only independent Armenian 1933” on Sunday, May 6. museum in the diaspora. UCCA Boston’s Holodomor Remembrance Further information about the various St. Andrew’s Choir performs at a special program on the Armenian, Irish and Committee was founded in 2007 to contin- commemorations is available at www. Ukrainian genocides that was held in Watertown, Mass. ue educating the American public about the almainc.org or by calling 617-926-2562. Ukrainian physicians visit Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

by Charles Simmons and Bohdan Malaniak CAAU, were wonderful hosts for the festivities surrounding tour of the soon-to-be completed Advanced Health the CAAU 20th anniversary celebration. Sciences Pavilion, a clinical and research facility on the LOS ANGELES – Four physicians from Ukraine attended Under the direction of Dr. Charles Simmons, professor Cedars-Sinai Medical Center campus that will integrate a two-week training and orientation session at Cedars- and chairman of pediatrics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, modern ambulatory health care with translational Sinai Medical Center between February 11 and 25. and Ruth and Harry Roman Chair in Neonatology, the cur- research and basic science laboratories. The exchange of Dr. Marta Kopan (National Medical Academy, Kyiv, riculum took the physicians from the lecture halls to the ideas afforded in this design will accelerate discoveries Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Intensive laboratories, advanced catheterization suites and operat- that lead to improved health care across the age spectrum Care), Dr. Olexiy Ponomarenko (National Institute of ing theaters of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. and around the world. Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyiv, Department of The customized International Healthcare Fellowship The participants all looked forward to the continued prog- Surgical Correction of Congenital Defects), Dr. Liubov curriculum provided the participants with a useful and ress in the development of the Children’s Hospital of the Sliepova (National Institute of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and practical sampling of current, cutting-edge developments Future in Kyiv, Ukraine. It is hoped that the CAAU and Gynecology, Kyiv, Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology in the provision of pediatric healthcare in both the inpa- Ukraine 3000 will continue to support the training program and Intensive Care), and Dr. Vasyl Lazoryshynets (Academy tient and ambulatory settings. Administrative aspects of and continue to bring Ukrainian physicians interested in new of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Amosov National Institute new facility design and the efficient operation of modern advances in pediatric health care to Cedars-Sinai Medical of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyiv, head of Department of health care facilities were reviewed, including a virtual Center for exchange of innovative ideas for the future. Pediatric Cardiac Surgery) participated in an intensive exposure to pediatric health care advances in the Cedars- Sinai Health System. This was the fifth cohort of Ukrainian physicians to par- ticipate in the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center International Healthcare Fellowship Training Program, which had its inaugural visit in November 2008. Over 20 physicians with interest in pediatric health care of the future in Ukraine have shared in this curriculum over the past four years. The International Healthcare Fellowship Training pro- gram has been successful due to the visionary leadership of Kateryna Yushchenko, head of the Supervisory Council of the International Charitable Foundation Ukraine 3000, the organizational prowess of Bohdan Malaniak, emeritus vice-president of Academic Affairs, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and the spirited support of the California Association to Aid Ukraine (CAAU). This fifth cohort celebrated not only their curriculum but also the return visit of former first lady of Ukraine, Ms. Cedar-Sinai Medical Center Yushchenko, to Los Angeles and Cedars-Sinai Medical Welcome reception at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for Kateryna Yushchenko and the Ukraine 3000 delegation, Center on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the with international health care fellows from Ukraine, board members of the California Association to Aid Ukraine CAAU. Anne Prokopovych and Luba Keske, leaders of the and Cedar-Sinai faculty. 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 No. 21

the Yanukovych administration over con- between Brussels and Kyiv would likely delay Lithuanian... cerns that Ms. Tymoshenko may have been the former Soviet republic’s goal of becoming UCC extends deadline unfairly convicted and later possibly mis- an associate member of the trading bloc. (Continued from page 1) treated in prison. However, Mr. Yanukovych said the delay for election monitors October 2011 conviction. Several of them have threatened to boy- “will work to the advantage” of both WINNIPEG, Manitoba – The Ukrainian Also on May 11, the Italian government cott visits to Ukraine during next month’s Ukraine and the EU. Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada asked Kyiv for permission for Foreign Euro 2012 soccer championship unless Ms. Ukrainian authorities began a second Ukraine Foundation (CUF), which are orga- Ministry Undersecretary Marta Dassu to Tymoshenko’s detention conditions improve. trial of Ms. Tymoshenko in early April for nizing an Election Observer Mission for the visit Ms. Tymoshenko. Less than ideal alleged tax fraud. 2012 Parliamentary Elections scheduled Ms. Tymoshenko’s jailing has soured Later in the day, President Grybauskaite With additional reporting by Interfax and for October 28, have extended the deadline relations between Ukraine and the West. met with President Yanukovych. delfi.it. for long-term election monitors to June 15. Ms. Tymoshenko was one of the leaders Mr. Yanukovych has repeatedly said he Copyright 2012, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted The UCC and the CUF are looking for of Ukraine’s 2004 pro-democracy Orange believes Ms. Tymoshenko to have been fair- with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ highly qualified individuals to serve as Revolution and is a longtime opponent of ly convicted and her incarceration human. Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, long-term election observers (LTOs) on the current President Viktor Mr. Yanukovych, In comments made to reporters in Kyiv Washington DC 20036 (see http://www. ground in Ukraine. These LTOs will be to whom she lost in a runoff in early 2010. earlier on May 11, Mr. Yanukovych said he rferl.org/content/tymosehnko_lithuanian_ responsible for: monitoring the run-up to European Union officials have criticized understood that less-than-ideal relations president_/24577836.html). the elections in Ukraine to ensure that the election is being organized in a fair and transparent manner; monitoring voter’s lists and the voters’ register; monitoring Lithuanian president says Ukraine access of parties and candidates to mass media; monitoring the formation of elec- tion commissions; and overseeing the for- must guarantee opposition rights mation of new electoral boundaries for the RFE/RL “The homework that needs to be done, state officials. 225 districts, the registration of single- and reforms – they are not easy – it’s also Ms. Tymoshenko is serving a seven- mandate district candidates and the elec- KHARKIV, Ukraine – Lithuania’s presi- not that easy to explain them inside the year sentence for her October 2011 con- toral campaign. dent has warned Ukrainian President country. Certainly we – Lithuania and viction for abuse of office – a charge she Availability and a commitment from July Viktor Yanukovych that his government other countries – have also been going denies and which she says was politically 1 to November 3 are desirable, but shorter needs to guarantee the rights of all oppo- the way of guarantees and human rights, motivated. time commitments from highly qualified sition prisoners or risk isolation from the and reforms of our judicial system, for it Ms. Tymoshenko’s plight has triggered individuals will also be considered. rest of Europe over jailed opposition lead- not to be a repressive structure but to an outcry in the West and led to boycott Election experience in Canada and/or er Yulia Ms. Tymoshenko. protect people and their rights,” Ms. threats by European Union politicians of Ukraine is an asset. Applicants must be “I said that if no solution with guaran- Grybauskaite said. next month’s European soccer champion- Canadian citizens and have a good working tees for treatment and legal guarantees Hundreds of people gathered in Kyiv ship, which Ukraine is co-hosting. knowledge of Ukrainian and/or Russian. for all opposition prisoners as well as any on May 12 to protest the Yanukovych Interested persons may fill out an online people were found, then the attitude to government and to express support for With AP and Reuters reporting. such a country would be certainly critical, Ms. Tymoshenko. Copyright 2012, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted application, available at the CUF website, and certainly one or another level of isola- Demonstrators called for Ms. with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ http://www.cufoundation.ca/or at http:// tion would be guaranteed,” Ms. Dalia Tymoshenko’s release as her daughter, Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, observers.cufoundation.ca/ Grybauskaite said after talks with the Eugenia, read a letter from Ms. Washington DC 20036. (This is an abridged Questions may be directed to the UCC Ukrainian leader in Kyiv. Tymoshenko calling for new mecha- version of the story that appears at http:// headquarters in Winnipeg at 204-942- President Grybauskaite also said nisms to empower ordinary citizens to www.rferl.org/content/lithuania_ukraine_ 4627 or 1-866-942-4627, or by e-mail to Ukraine has much “homework” to do. start impeachment proceedings against Ms. Tymoshenko/24578282.html). [email protected]. No. 21 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 19

Through May 31 Art exhibit, “Group Show of Lviv Artists – Mykola Bagan, May 27 Pentecost Sunday, divine liturgy with blessing of graves, Chicago Jarema Khrushch and Volodymyr Pavlyk,” Ukrainian Peckville, PA Ss. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church – National Museum, www.ukrainiannationalmuseum.org Cemetery Chapel, www.stcyrils.maslar-online.com Through October 7 Art exhibit, “A Singular Vision: Ilona Sochynsky, May 29-June 24 Art exhibit, featuring paintings and graphics by Alexander New York Retrospective of Painting,” The Ukrainian Museum, 212-228-0110 or [email protected] New York Masyk, Ukrainian Institute of America, 212-288-8660 May 23 Film screening, “Genocide Revealed” by Yurij Luhovy, June 1 Art exhibit, featuring photography by Mike Platosz, Minneapolis Ukrainian Event Center, 612-379-1956 or New Britain, CT Trinity-On-Main art gallery, www.trinityonmain.org [email protected] June 1 Concert by “Bandura Downtown,” The Ukrainian Museum, May 25 Presentation by Myron Kuropas, “How the U.S. New York 212-228-0110 or www.ukrainianmuseum.org Chicago Department of Justice Cooperated With the Soviets to Demonize Ukrainian Americans and How Our Community June 2 Golf tournament, Ukrainian Youth Association in Canada – Responded,” Ukrainian National Museum, 312-421-8020 Mississauga, ON Mississauga branch, Royal Ontario Golf Club, May 25-27 Carassagua: Mississauga’s Festival of Cultures, Ukraine 647-229-0398 or [email protected] Mississauga, ON Pavilion, Hershey Center – SportZone, 905-615-3010 or [email protected] June 2 Mykola Lysenko Ukrainian Music Festival, Ukrainian Sacramento, CA Heritage Club of Northern California, Sherman Clay May 25-27 Memorial Day weekend “Zlet,” Ukrainian American Youth Recital Hall, 916-761-2540 or Ellenville, NY Association, Oselia resort, 845-647-7230 [email protected] or www.cym.org/us/ellenville May 26 Diplomatic Mini-Cup soccer tournament, Embassy of June 2-3 Ukrainian Festival, Acadia Recreational Complex, Arlington, VA Ukraine, Wakefield High School, www.mfa.gov.ua/usa/en Calgary www.calgaryukrainianfestival.ca

May 26 Golf tournament, Ukrainian Golf Association of Canada, June 3 Concert, “Take the Time to Dance!” Ottawa School of Oakville, ON Glen Abbey Golf Club, 905-844-1800 or Ottawa Ukrainian Dance and Svitanok Ukrainian Dance www.clublink.ca Ensemble, Bronson Center Theater, 613-692-5243 or 613-234-0429 May 26 Wine tour of Prince Edward County, Ukrainian Canadian Ottawa Businesspersons Association (Ottawa), 613-569-5552, ext. 229 or [email protected] Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events May 26 Euro 2012 soccer tournament and festival, Ottawa White advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Ottawa Eagles versus Ottawa Ukraina, Ben Franklin Park West, from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors [email protected] and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 No. 21

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Friday, May 25 “The Carpet Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: Preservation and Display” he krainian eekly CHICAGO: “How the U.S. Department of T U W will be the topic of Dr. Florica Zaharia’s Justice Cooperated With the Soviets to lecture at 2 p.m., presented in conjunction in print and online Demonize Ukrainian Americans and How with The Ukrainian Museum’s exhibition Our Community Responded,” a presenta- Twice as nice for one low price! tion by Dr. Myron B. Kuropas, will take “Ukrainian Kilims: Journey of a Heritage.” place at the Ukrainian National Museum, Dr. Zaharia is the conservator in charge of $70 ($60 for members of the UNA) 2249 W. Superior St. at Oakley Boulevard, the Metropolitan Museum’s Department at 7 p.m. Dr. Kuropas will also be signing of Textile Conservation. Admission copies of his latest book, “The Demjanjuk (includes reception) $15; $10 for mem- To subscribe, contact our Debacle: Trials of a ‘Nazi’ Who Wasn’t.” bers and seniors; $5 for students. For information call the Ukrainian Tickets: www.ukrainianmuseum.org or Subscription Department: National Museum, 312-421-8020. at the door. The Ukrainian Museum is located at 222 E. Sixth St.; telephone, 973-292-9800, x 3042 Saturday, May 26 212-228-0110. [email protected] PALATINE, Ill.: Ukrainian American Sunday, June 10 Veterans 1st Lt. Ivan Shandor Post 35 invites all veterans and members of the JENKINTOWN, Pa.: The award-winning Our unique archival website – community to a social meeting to discuss film “Three Stories of Galicia” will be which is open to the public – benefits for retired military personnel. shown on at 4 p.m. The film will be contains the full texts of all The presentation includes the following: screened at the Ukrainian Educational issues published between 1933 Tricare options, education, retirement and Cultural Center (UECC), 700 Cedar Road, Jenkintown, PA 19046; telephone, and 2011. plans, disability benefits, life insurance and survivor benefits. There is no charge 215-663-1166. The event is hosted by the Ukrainian Human Rights Committee Also available – to paid online for this event. The meeting takes place at the Palatine Library located at 700 N. and the UECC. The admission is $10. A subscribers only – North Court, Palatine, IL 60067, at 1-2 question and answer session with the are the full texts of each week’s p.m. For additional information contact filmmakers will follow the screening. In issues published Col. Roman G. Golash (ret.) at romango- this inspiring film, the filmmakers Olha during the current year. [email protected]. Onyshko and Sarah Farhat focus on the heroism, moral character and reconcilia- (The online version of each Sunday, June 3 tion among three groups, Ukrainians, week’s issue appears on or NEW YORK: Learn how to properly care Jews and Poles who use to live on the ter- before the issue date.) for your heirloom carpets and kilims. ritory known as Galicia (Halychyna.) Explore the archives of The Ukrainian Weekly online: PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a service www.ukrweekly.com provided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian community. Items should be no more than 100 words long.

Information should be sent to: [email protected] or Preview of Events, The The Ukrainian Weekly is a proud supporter Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054; fax, 973-644- 9510. NB: If e-mailing, please do not send items as attachments; simply type the of our Ukrainian community endeavors! text into the body of the e-mail message.