INSIDE: l Groundbreaking for Holodomor Memorial – page 3 l Ostroh Fund reaches $1 million in donations – page 4 l Thousands at St. Patrick’s remember Holodomor – page 11 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXXXI No. 49 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013 $1/$2 in Ukraine Hundreds of thousands take to the streets of Kyiv Protesters support Euro-integration, express outrage over police brutality by Zenon Zawada KYIV – Ukraine’s capital erupted in the biggest social unrest since the country regained its independence in 1991 after police on November 30 brutally beat and arrested protesters peacefully demonstrat- ing against Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision not to sign the Ukraine-European Union Association Agreement at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. The next day, a demonstration planned to protest Mr. Yanukovych’s decision swelled in participants – estimates ranged from 200,000 to 1 million – and outrage over the police’s excessive use of force. Conflicts exploded throughout Kyiv between protesters and police, injuring hundreds. Opposition forces took control of several strategic sites in central Kyiv, including Independence Square (the maidan), the adjacent Trade Union Building and the Kyiv City Council. Olena Bilozerska Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians returned to Kyiv’s Independence Square (maidan) on December 1 to protest the president’s (Continued on page 14) decision to not sign the European Union Association Agreement and the police brutality against Euro-Maidan protesters. Major conference in New York presents latest research on Holodomor by Matthew Dubas Prof. Hrynevych examined the “second Day two explores social, psychological, wave” of collectivization that Ukraine expe- NEW YORK – The second day of the rienced in 1939-1940. With the memory of economic, legal aspects of Holodomor scholarly forum “Taking Measure of the the Holodomor still fresh in Ukrainians’ Holodomor” on November 6 in New York minds, it was easy for many Ukrainians to continued the conference program by focus- see the return of Soviet agrarian practices ing on the political, cultural and socio-psy- that led to the starvation of millions. chological consequences of the Holodomor, Quoting the reactions of soldiers meant to examining legal developments and taking a enforce these policies, one identified as look at the Holodomor as presented in con- Oleinikov stationed in Leningrad (St. temporaneous press reports and govern- Petersburg), asked his commanding officer: ment archives. The two-day conference at “Can it be that no member of the govern- the Princeton University Club ended with ment was aware that in Ukraine everything sessions on remorse and reconciliation, and was taken from the peasants to the last grain, people were dying of hunger, and future challenges and approaches to the corpses lay about on the roads? I am cer- study of this genocide. (Day one of the con- tain that they knew of it but took no coun- ference was covered in last week’s issue.) termeasures.” The day’s first session (Session VII) Similarly, Prof. Hrynevych stated, during addressed the “Political and Social- the Polish-Soviet war, the Poles would not Economic Consequences of the Holodomor,” have welcomed the Red Army so joyfully, with commentary by Vladyslav Hrynevych according to servicemen who served dur- (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine) ing that campaign. During the Soviet- Russ Chelak and Oxana Shevel (Tufts University), moder- Finnish war, the Red Army was beaten back Members of the Student Organization of Mykola Mikhnovsky (TUSM) read names of ated by Dr. Alexander Motyl (Rutgers Holodomor victims from one village in Ukraine at the Ukrainian Institute of America. University). (Continued on page 8) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013 No. 49 Washington demonstration supports protesters in Ukraine PM warns of ‘escalating’ tensions Cabinet. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister Yurii Boiko was in Moscow for KYIV – Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola talks on bilateral issues, including natural Azarov has warned the opposition to stop gas. Ukraine has been seeking lower prices its escalation of political tensions as pro- on Russian gas supplies, possibly a key pres- testers continue to demand his govern- sure point in any dealings between Kyiv and ment’s resignation. Mr. Azarov, speaking at Moscow. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry a Cabinet of Ministers meeting on Medvedev, after his meeting with Mr. Boiko, December 4, also warned protesters who said Moscow wants “stability and order” in are blockading government buildings that Ukraine. (RFE/RL with reporting by Agence anyone found guilty of violating Ukrainian France-Presse and Reuters) law or the Constitution will face punish- ment. With protesters picketing govern- Rybak suggests roundtable meeting ment headquarters outside, Mr. Azarov KYIV – Verkhovna Rada Chairman claimed that “the reasons for street pro- Volodymyr Rybak has invited representa- tests have been exhausted.” He said, tives of the opposition, the majority and “Certain political forces without any con- international specialists to hold a roundta- structive agenda are directing street pro- Yaro Bihun ble meeting to address the situation in tests, inciting violence, unlawful occupation Ukraine. Speaking with reporters on In front of the White House, Nazar Kalivoshko (left, with microphone) reads a decla- of administrative and communal buildings, ration condemning the police violence used in the breaking up a demonstration on December 4 in Kyiv, he said, “I proposed to blockades of state institutions. This is a Kyiv’s Independence Square. hold a roundtable meeting, and tomorrow criminal offense.” The prime minister also we will meet with representatives of the said: “I want to ask the so-called leaders of street from the Embassy of Ukraine in the opposition and form those questions that by Yaro Bihun street protests: ‘Who will assume responsi- Georgetown area of Washington. will be discussed.” He added that after bility for these crimes? Who is ready to WASHINGTON – A group of close to 200 After an hour there, they moved on to President Viktor Yanukovych returns to bear criminal responsibility?’ I call on these Ukrainians and Ukrainian Americans living continue their protest in front of the White Ukraine from China, he will have a meeting so-called leaders not to hide behind peo- in the Washington and Baltimore area gath- House, many marching the one and a half with the head of state. (Ukrinform) ered in front of the White House on Sunday, miles there with their Ukrainian and ple’s backs but to publicly and clearly state December 1, to celebrate the 22nd anniver- American flags and placards, while others who personally will be responsible for this,” Rybak rules out dissolution of Rada he added. Despite the events at home, sary of Ukraine’s historic referendum – drove. KYIV – Verkhovna Rada Chairman when its people voted for independence Standing on Pennsylvania Avenue in President Viktor Yanukovych was on a visit to China, where he is seeking economic Volodymyr Rybak said on December 4 that from the Soviet Union – and to express their front of the White House for almost another he rules out the possible dissolution of the support for its people today, who have been hour, the protesters listened to their dem- deals. (RFE/RL with reporting by Agence France-Presse and Reuters) Ukrainian Parliament. “By law, if the Rada gathering in the hundreds of thousands on onstration coordinator, Nazar Kalivoshko of doesn’t work for 30 days, which means that the streets of Kyiv and other cities to protest Baltimore, read a declaration condemning Opposition disrupts Rada session there will be no possibility to open the ses- the decision of President Viktor the police violence used in breaking up a sion, the president will have the right to Yanukovych’s government not to sign an demonstration on Kyiv’s Independence KYIV – Opposition lawmakers disrupted dissolve Parliament. But it’s not his respon- Association Agreement with the European Square on the previous day. the December 4 session of the Verkhovna sibility. Therefore, I currently don’t think Union but remain allied with Russia. The demonstrators chanted and – led by Rada and vowed to continue to block the that the Parliament will be dissolved,” Mr. The demonstrators in Washington, who members of Washington’s Spiv-Zhyttia cho- legislature until their demands are met. The Rybak told journalists. He said that the ranged in age from babies in carriages to rus – sang the Ukrainian national anthem, a opposition is demanding that the govern- Verkhovna Rada of the seventh convocation seniors, began the demonstration earlier number of Ukrainian folk songs and “God ment step down over its decision not to sign had done for the adoption of European that brisk sunny Sunday afternoon at the Bless America” at the conclusion of the an agreement on closer ties with the integration laws what the deputies of other Francis Scott Key Memorial Park, across the demonstration. European Union and over a violent police convocations had failed to do in the previ- crackdown on the resulting demonstrations. ous 10 years. The Verkhovna Rada chair- The opposition on December 3 failed to man also said it’s necessary to find com- push through a parliamentary vote of no- mon ground to unite east and west: “We New Yorkers protest violence confidence in the government but vowed to must do everything to unite the country. continue protests. Before that vote in We all have to live here. I, as Parliament directed against Euro-Maidan Parliament, Prime Minister Azarov apolo- speaker, have nowhere to go, and nobody is gized for the crackdown by riot police waiting for me and my children abroad. against demonstrators, but denounced pro- Therefore, I will do everything to unite testers who blocked access to government offices. He also pledged to reshuffle his (Continued on page 13) THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY FOUNDED 1933 An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O.