The Ukrainian Weekly, 2019
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INSIDE: l Fifth anniversary of the Crimean land grab – page 3 l Success stories of Ukrainian entrepreneurs – page 11 l Community: New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut – page 16 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXVII No. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 2019 $2.00 Mogherini slams Russia Front-runner Zelensky forgoes public forums, as EU cites fifth anniversary of Crimea’s illegal annexation while top opponents stay on campaign trail by Mark Raczkiewycz RFE/RL KYIV – Presidential front-runner BRUSSELS – The European Union’s Volodymyr Zelensky continued to meet foreign policy chief has marked the with mostly foreign stakeholders in semi- fifth anniversary of Russia’s seizure private meetings this week while his two and “illegal annexation” of Ukraine’s closest competitors stayed on the campaign Crimean Peninsula with scathing criti- trail as the March 31 election draws near. cism of the Kremlin. The unproven politician and showman In a statement issued on March 17, met with the three biggest business associ- a day before what in Moscow’s eyes is ations in Kyiv during a two-hour meeting the fifth anniversary of the day on March 18. Crimea became part of Russia, Flanked by ex-Finance Minister Federica Mogherini said the EU Oleksandr Danyliuk, a former McKinsey “remains steadfast in its commitment consultant, and Aivaras Abromavicius, a to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territori- former Ukraine economy minister from al integrity.” Lithuania, he discussed enterprise priori- “The European Union reiterates ties and concerns that touched on taxation that it does not recognize and contin- and government pressure on business. ues to condemn this violation of inter- “Now all law enforcement agencies – the national law,” Ms. Mogherini said. “It Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Internal remains a direct challenge to interna- Affairs, the SBU [Security Service of Ukraine], tional security, with grave implica- and even the Presidential Administration – tions for the international legal order are all trying to put pressure on business,” facebook.com/Andy Hunder Mr. Zelensky, 41, said. “This is something Andy Hunder, American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine president, speaks to that protects the territorial integrity, presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky after at a March 18 meeting in Kyiv with we want to remove as much as possible. unity, and sovereignty of all states.” the business community that also included the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs and Meanwhile, Russian President They shouldn’t even come near them [busi- the European Business Association. Vladimir Putin marked the fifth anni- nesses].” versary of what Moscow considers He was incoherent on how to treat pay a minimal tax rate of 5 percent. He also show, Mr. Zelensky has eschewed the usual the day Crimea became part of Russia Ukraine’s so-called golden goose – the didn’t provide a clear response on trade staging of political rallies and town hall by visiting Ukraine’s Black Sea penin- booming information technology industry and the still murky energy industry – both meetings with voters. He has limited inter- sula on March 18. that accounts for 4 percent of economic areas that his platform vaguely addresses. action with potential voters to social media Ms. Mogherini warned that output – because most of the sector’s spe- Aside from periodic performances in his “Russia’s violations of international cialists are registered as self-employed and “Vechirniy Kvartal” (Evening Quarter) skit (Continued on page 15) law have led to a dangerous increase in tensions at the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov.” She said Russia’s “unjustified use of force” on November 25, 2018, against Patriarch Bartholomew provides historical precedents for Ukraine decision the Ukrainian Navy and its seizure of PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Ecumenical Patriarch Patriarchate, follows below, as reported by Citing the historical precedents to sup- Ukrainian sailors off the coast of Bartholomew issued a letter on March 14, archons.org. port this claim, Patriarch Bartholomew Crimea near the Kerch Strait is “a providing historical precedents that sup- Patriarch Bartholomew wrote: noted the work of Neophytos VII (1789- reminder of the negative effects of the port his decision to grant autocephaly to “…We received and thoroughly examined 1794, 1798-1801), who explained, “sup- illegal annexation of the Crimean the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. your fraternal letter of last January 14, porting and inherently assisting the needs Peninsula on regional stability.” She The letter, addressed to Archbishop 2019, following our letter of December 24, likewise of the most holy patriarchal and repeated the EU’s call for Russia “to Anastasios of Tirana and all Albania, was in 2018, related to the canonical ecclesiastical apostolic thrones is something that our release the illegally captured response to the archbishop’s January 14 acts that we initiated in Ukraine, and we own most holy Patriarchal, Apostolic and Ukrainian crew members, vessels, and letter calling for a pan-Orthodox council would like to respond herewith so that, in a Ecumenical Throne has historically equipment unconditionally and with- (similar to the one held in Crete in 2016, spirit of sincere instruction – which, as by deemed very appropriate, without either out further delay.” that was attended by the archbishop and God’s mercy Archbishop of Constantinople- seizing or coveting their rights out of a Ms. Mogherini also condemned representatives of the Albanian Orthodox New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, we sense of greed – something we would nei- Russia’s construction of the Kerch Church, but Moscow refused to attend) to bear responsibility before all holy brothers ther act upon nor even dare to entertain. Bridge, which links Russia’s Taman resolve the crisis in Ukraine and ques- throughout the world – we may present the For the former is proper and right of itself, Peninsula with Crimea, saying the tioned the validity of the ordination of bish- following: whereas on the contrary the latter is unjust building of the bridge without ops (including Metropolitan Epifaniy) and “The God-bearing Fathers, who through and improper.” (Sources: “Letter of the Ukraine’s consent “constitutes a fur- clergy under the previous Orthodox the holy and sacred canons have entrusted Fathers of the Council of Carthage to Pope ther violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty Churches in Ukraine headed by Patriarch the Throne of Constantine with its univer- Celestine”; “Official Documents” by and territorial integrity.” She added: Filaret and Metropolitan Makariy. The arch- sally recognized hallowed and dread Kallinikos Delikanis, vol. 2, p. 217.) “The EU expects Russia to ensure bishop also echoed Moscow’s expressed responsibilities that transcend borders – The letter continues: “…Accordingly, not unhindered and free passage of all concerns that the patriarch’s decision not in the form of privileges but of self-sac- only in cases of doctrine, holy tradition and ships through the Kerch Strait to and would cause further schisms across rifice – foresaw with guidance of the Holy canonical Church regulations, or even of from the Azov Sea, in accordance with Orthodox jurisdictions. Spirit the necessity for a definitive resolu- general matters concerning the entire body international law.” Excerpts from Patriarch Bartholomew’s tion to the problems emerging across the of the Church, but also in all matters per- response, detailing the duties, responsibili- Local Churches, which are unable to settle (Continued on page 14) ties and rights of the Ecumenical them by themselves.” (Continued on page 8) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 2019 No. 12 ANALYSIS Oligarchs and their media outlets Kyiv’s new sanctions on Russians tection of its state border,” the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry was quoted as say- Ukraine has imposed economic and ing by Interfax on March 16. Russia cap- influence Ukraine’s presidential election other sanctions on hundreds of individuals tured the three Ukrainian naval ships and and entities for their alleged roles in the trol over Ukrainian print and television their 24 crew members in November 2018 by Mykola Vorobiov conflict between Ukraine and Russia over media outlets. near the Kerch Strait, which links the Black Eurasia Daily Monitor the Crimea region and the war in eastern According to a 2016 investigation by the Sea and Sea of Azov. Moscow alleged that Ukraine. President Petro Poroshenko on Five years since the Euro-Maidan and Institute of Mass Media and the local the vessels had illegally entered Russian March 20 signed the order to implement the Revolution of Dignity fervently rejected Ukrainian chapter of Reporters Without territorial waters near Crimea, which systemic corruption and graft, Ukrainian Borders, oligarchs and politicians were the sanctions against 294 legal entities and Russia occupied and annexed from Ukraine politics continues to experience enormous found to own 75 percent of the domestic 848 individuals, overwhelmingly Russian, in 2014. The 24 Ukrainian sailors are still influence from local oligarchs. In this envi- media landscape (Ukrayinska Pravda, as approved by the National Security and being held by Moscow. The EU action ronment, Ukraine’s presidential election October 11, 2016). It can be assumed that Defense Council of Ukraine the previous announced on March 15 targeted eight campaign is in full-swing, with the vote these numbers remain accurate today. day. Some of the sanctions target people Russian officers for their involvement in scheduled for March 31. To date, 59 Ukraine’s wealthiest oligarch, Mr. and entities connected with the construc- the November incident. The EU sanctions declared and 28 registered candidates are Akhmetov, owns one of the country’s most tion of the Kerch Strait bridge between list now includes 170 individuals and 44 vying for the country’s top position in gov- viewed TV channels, TRK Ukraine, which Ukraine’s annexed Crimea region and entities. Washington also cited the Russian ernment (Ukrayinska Pravda, February 1).