The Ukrainian Weekly 2013, No.24
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www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: l Holocaust survivor praises Metropolitan Sheptytsky – page 3 l In the press: Ukraine at home and abroad – page 7 l Artist Andrei Kushnir, conductor Kirill Karabits – page 10 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXI No. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2013 $1/$2 in Ukraine Pianist from Ukraine wins Heavy Russian ties of Ukraine’s prestigious Cliburn competition top state officials drawing concern by Zenon Zawada KYIV – When Ihor Sorkin was nominated to become chair of the National Bank of Ukraine in early January, media reports con- firmed his father is the assistant director of the department of investment and construc- tion, a high position at Gazprom, the Russian Federation’s powerful state natural gas monopoly. Such a link between Ukraine’s central bank and its chief energy supplier, which stands accused of using its gas prices as an instrument to undermine Ukraine’s econo- my, didn’t concern President Viktor Yanukovych or the parliamentary majority, which approved Mr. Sorkin’s nomination. Indeed, nearly a dozen high-ranking Ukrainian government officials have inti- dusia.telekritika.ua mate ties to Russia and its officials. Some Russian citizen Igor Shuvalov, an advi- key advisors are even Russian citizens. sor to President Viktor Yanukovych, While Russophile Ukrainians view that posi- directs information policies at Inter tele- tively, Western-oriented Ukrainians view vision, Ukraine’s most widely watched The Cliburn/Ralph Lauer their heavy presence as a threat to national TV network. At the Cliburn Competition (from left) are: Sean Chen of the United States (crystal sovereignty. award), Beatrice Rana of Italy (silver medal) and Vadym Kholodenko of Ukraine Regions and its leadership.” “There are people who still have family in (gold medal). Perhaps most disturbing is that those Russia and travel there on the weekends. with close ties to Russia occupy some of the PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Twenty-six-year-old gious competitions for the world’s pianists. They return on Monday to hold meetings in most influential and sensitive positions in Vadym Kholodenko of Ukraine won the According to the biography posted on a Ukrainian ministry,” said Ihor Losiev, an the government, relating to defense and 14th Van Cliburn International Piano the website of the Cliburn Competition, Mr. assistant professor at the National national security. Competition held in Fort Worth, Texas. The Kholodenko, a native of Kyiv, has worked University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy. competition started on May 24 with 30 with Yuri Bashmet, Vladimir Spivakov and “It’s a very serious problem that’s related In the view of Mr. Losiev, that reflects competitors, and the winners were other distinguished conductors, and has to the course of this government, which is President Yanukovych’s view of government announced on June 9. performed across the globe in Austria, the most pro-Russian for all of Ukraine’s as an instrument to serve his own personal Beatrice Rana, 20, of Italy placed second, China, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, years of independence. Some have said interests rather than those of the nation and and Sean Chen, 24, of the United States Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Europe is not waiting for us and doesn’t the common good. Officials with Russian placed third in the quadrennial event, need us. But it’s not just individuals, but the which is viewed as one of the most presti- (Continued on page 10) general political course of the Party of (Continued on page 8) Columbia conference examines censorship in Ukraine’s media This is the first part of a two-part series for more freedom of expression than tradi- a pretext to interfere in media processes. “And they have legal means for this too. about a landmark conference on censorship tional media in Ukraine, Prof. Cooper noted. Due to scandalous stories in some cases, As long as there is no law that can prevent in Ukraine’s media, titled “‘Braking’ News: Today, according to the Committee to this regret seems to urge the creation of a an official from owning, effectively control- Censorship, Media and Ukraine,” held at Protect Journalists, one-third of all journal- regulatory body to deem its approval for ling mass media during their term of office, Columbia University on February 21-22. The ists killed to date have been Internet jour- mass media,” Mr. Kulykov stated. there is no guarantee at all that mass media conference was organized by Mark nalists, and nearly half of the journalists in The “Stop Censorship” campaign came won’t be used as an instrument for squash- Andryczyk of Columbia University and prison at the end of 2012 were online jour- about in Ukraine to combat the regime’s ing freedom of speech as a means against Marta Dyczok of the University of Western nalists. deliberate insult to human intelligence and democracy,” he continued. Ontario. This week’s story features the key- Prof. Cooper then introduced Andriy an attempt by the authorities to avoid “However, I think that the call for such a note address and the first panel discussion. Kulykov, host of the “Svoboda Slova” responsibility through media censorship, law – and it should also apply to those vying (Freedom of Speech) talk show on ICTV Mr. Kulykov said. for vacant MP seats – will be difficult to NEW YORK – During the “’Braking’ Ukraine, who delivered the keynote He noted: “Remember that most of enforce, but the step must be taken in Ukraine. News” conference hosted by the Harriman address on “Ukrainian Media: Old Ukraine’s leaders today, for years and years It is extremely difficult to enforce any law in Institute at Columbia University, Prof. Ann Pressures, New Challenges.” during Soviet times, had joined groups of Ukraine, and especially for those with money Cooper of Columbia’s Graduate School of “Censorship is like death,” said Mr. society that promoted unanimity and intru- and power. We must do something. Dangers Journalism noted that, 12 years ago, Kulykov. It is a legacy of the Soviet system sion of the ruling party, and restriction on are present in politicians’ shares of Inter Heorhiy Gongadze became the first and stifles freedoms. Although the majority the mass media and freedom of speech. media channel,” Mr. Kulykov said. Internet investigative journalist killed, add- of youth are against censorship, editorial This concerns most the powers that be and It is not direct interference, he clarified, ing that the courts in Ukraine have stalled policies are less understood and therefore those that want to replace them. However, but the ownership of media outlets that is on punishing those responsible. cannot effectively combat official censor- those that rule Ukraine now have much most dangerous. This has been experienced The Internet news in Ukraine during the ship. “No one would use the term ‘imposi- more money and power, it is they who early 2000s provided a forum that allowed tive connotation’ but this has been used as exert major pressure on media.” (Continued on page 16) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2013 No. 24 ANALYSIS Russian consul general to Crimea Roads are number one challenge Analyst: no protests in summer KYIV – Ukrainian President Viktor KYIV – Mass protests are not expected in resigns following offensive comments Yanukovych has called the construction Ukraine in the summer because both those and repair of roads the government’s main who can lead them and the possible partici- by Idil P. Izmirli criminal; as well as the Organization for objective for the next two years. Speaking pants will be away on holidays. Also, people Eurasia Daily Monitor Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) during a meeting of the Committee on need to be presented a concept of change, Parliamentary Assembly’s resolution, adopt- Economic Reforms, he said: “This year and which the likely organizers do not have Following a week of protests over his ed on July 3, 2009, in Vilnius, which equated next, Mykola Yanovych (Azarov), this is the today, commented the director of the Ilko offensive and defamatory statements about Stalinism with Nazism for having committed number one job. The way roads suffered Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives the May 18, 1944, deportation of Crimean genocide and crimes against humanity, and this year, in the past winter of 2012-2013 - Foundation, Iryna Bekeshkina. Speaking on Tatars, Vladimir Andreev, the Russian con- called for the international condemnation of this never happened before.” Taking into June 11 at a press conference at Ukrinform, sul general in Symferopol, Crimea, Ukraine, these totalitarian regimes (www.oscepa.org/ account the damage to the roads, the gov- she said, “To predict the developments in resigned from his post on May 25. members/member.../ 261-vilnius-declara- ernment should pay special attention to the fall means to predict the events, and we These events were provoked by Mr. tion-english). this issue, the president said, according to do not know what the events will be.” Andreev’s response to the first film ever Mr. Chubarov called on his fellow parlia- June 11 news reports. (Ukrinform) According to the sociologist, mass demon- made by a Crimean Tatar filmmaker, Ahtem mentarians to join the protests in front of strations are possible “when the population Seidablaev titled “Haytarma” (Return), the Russian Consulate on May 23 to pres- Relations with Russia a priority gets tired of the government.” At the same which premiered in Symferopol on May 17 sure Moscow to remove Consul General time, she noted that right now she does not (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= Andreev from his position (http://qha. KYIV – Relations with Russia are a priori- ty in Ukraine’s foreign policy, President see any serious tiredness.