www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: l Campaign of terror against Maidan protesters – page 3 l A preview of the Olympic Games in Sochi – page 9 l Photo report: The people of the Maidan – centerfold THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXII No. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2014 $1/$2 in Ukraine No solution to Ukraine crisis as proposals diverge by Zenon Zawada KYIV – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has yet to decide on a solution to Ukraine’s political crisis and he doesn’t have much time left as Ukraine’s economy is in a tailspin. The Russian government decided to freeze its financial aid of $12 billion (3 billion was provided in December) and cheaper natural gas prices the day after Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned on January 28. Meanwhile, the hryvnia has fallen the most of any currency this year except the Argentine peso, hitting its lowest value in five years on February 5. “We estimate that National Bank reserves can fall to an alarming level of $15 billion already by the end of February, which can lead to further hryvnia devaluation beyond the Bank’s control, further cuts to Ukraine’s credit ratings and eventually lead to Ukraine’s default by the end of this spring,” said Alexander Paraschiy, the head of research at Concorde Capital investment bank in Kyiv. Most of the key players have offered their solution, except for the Yanukovych administration, which is still deciding. The proposals have turned out to be just as divergent as the inter- ests of the players involved, indicating that whatever decision is made will draw a fierce reaction from someone else. If the Russians (and their Ukrainian allies) get their way, the Euro-Maidan can expect a violent crackdown, possibly igniting a civil war and prompting Mr. Yanukovych to pur- sue a dictatorship, experts said. If the West (and its Ukrainian allies) gets its way, Mr. Bohdan Komarynskyj Yanukovych will lose Russian financial support and Some 500 Ukrainians from various cities in Germany gathered in support of Ukraine’s Maidan movement at Sendlinger Tor (Gate) in downtown Munich on February 1, as the Munich Security Conference was taking place. (Continued on page 18) Ukrainian opposition leaders attended the conference and met with Western leaders. Canadian Prime Minister confers Opposition meets with UCC reps on Ukraine situation with Western leaders OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper met on This was followed by a meeting on January 31 of the RFE/RL January 30 with key representatives of the Ukrainian Canada Ukraine Advisory Committee with Foreign Affairs Canadian Congress (UCC) in Ottawa to discuss the recent Minister John Baird and Citizenship and Immigration KYIV – Speaking on February 2 on Kyiv’s Independence events in Ukraine and the future of Canada-Ukraine relations. Minister Chris Alexander in Toronto. Square, Vitali Klitschko told a crowd of some 50,000 pro- The delegation raised issues such as the role of Russian Prime Minister Harper met with Paul Grod, national presi- testers that President Viktor Yanukovych’s resignation fol- interference in the internal affairs of Ukraine, the need for dent, UCC; Eugene Czolij, president, Ukrainian World Congress; lowed by elections was the only way out of the crisis. targeted individual economic sanctions, diplomacy and Bob Onyschuk, past-chair, Canada Ukraine Foundation; “Our proposition is the return to the Constitution of 2004; humanitarian assistance, as well as the importance of ensur- division of powers among president, Parliament and govern- ing Ukraine’s European future. (Continued on page 13) ment; formation of a new Cabinet; and the most important thing for the resolution of these issues are early presidential and parliamentary elections,” Mr. Klitschko said. The UDAR party leader also demanded the uncondition- al release of all protesters arrested in protests since late November 2013. Both Mr. Klitschko and another opposition leader, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, attended the annual Munich Security Conference on February 1 and met with Western officials. Mr. Klitschko told protesters in Kyiv that he had request- ed “international mediation in our negotiations with Yanukovych.” Mr. Yatsenyuk said, “We spoke to our Western partners and told them that we need real financial aid.” Speaking on February 1 at the Munich Security Conference, Mr. Klitschko said that the Ukrainian people had shown their will for political change despite violence against them, and he called on friends of Ukraine in the UCC West to help Ukraine’s democratic movement succeed. At the January 30 meeting with Canada’s prime minister (from left) are: Minister of Employment and Social Mr. Klitschko also said the opposition’s goals were to Development and Minister for Multiculturalism Jason Kenney, Eugene Czolij, Ihor Bardyn, MP Ted Opitz, reduce tensions in the crisis and for the government to Adriana Buyniak Wilson, Bohdan Onyschuk, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Paul Grod, Lesia Shymko, Sen. Raynell Andreychuk, Orest Steciw, MP James Bezan and Taras Zalusky. (Continued on page 18) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2014 No. 6 ANALYSIS Shadowy specter of Russia hangs Biden again calls Yanukovych makers and not just those who press but- tons.” The opposition wants a return to the WASHINGTON – In his fourth phone call constitution adopted in 2004 during the over rumored ‘death squads’ in Ukraine in recent days to President Viktor country’s Orange Revolution. Prior to the Yanukovych of Ukraine, U.S. Vice-President vote, Oleksander Yefremov, the parliamenta- Russian intelligence groups are thriving in Joe Biden urged Mr. Yanukovych to take by Claire Bigg and Daisy Sindelar ry leader of the ruling Party of Regions, Ukraine, which has failed to push back advantage of every opportunity, including RFE/RL sounded conciliatory. “This is a dead end, against Moscow’s security structures. “The offers of international support, to reduce and I therefore suggest that we all forget the After being kidnapped on January 22, authorities knowingly chose not to tensions and build trust with the people of grievances, victories and defeats, our Dmytro Bulatov says he was kept blindfold- strengthen the Ukrainian Security Service, Ukraine in order to find a political solution careers, and instead join efforts to work out ed for eight days as his abductors beat him, and above all, its counterespionage,” corre- to the crisis. According to a readout of the the strategy of getting out of the current sit- sliced off part of his ear, drove nails through spondent Yuriy Raykhel wrote in the February 4 phone call provided by the uation,” he said. But Mr. Yefremov also said his hands and finally left him for dead in a Ukrainian newspaper Den (Day), adding Office of the Vice-President, this includes Mr. Yanukovych had already made conces- forest. that the oversight had made Ukraine “a taking immediate steps such as pulling sions by accepting the government’s resig- Through the ordeal, he never once saw his paradise for foreign intelligence services.” back riot police, releasing detained protest- captors. But he could hear them. And when Ukrainian political strategist Taras ers, and establishing accountability for nation, as well as agreeing to rescind contro- he was finally returned to safety, Mr. Bulatov Berezovets says a number of Russian secu- those responsible for beatings and attacks versial anti-protest legislation and to a con- – one of the leaders of Auto-Maidan, the auto- rity forces have been dispatched to Ukraine on journalists and protesters. Vice- ditional amnesty for detained protesters. motive flank of Ukraine’s Euro-Maidan pro- since the start of the Euro-Maidan protests President Biden emphasized that the only The opposition has dismissed the moves as tests – said on January 31 that his captors in late November. viable path to peace and stability in insufficient. (RFE/RL Ukrainian Service) had spoken “with a Russian accent.” “There are many representatives of Ukraine is through continued dialogue and Injured activist now in Lithuania The comment bolstered already strong Russia’s intelligence community in Kyiv – genuine compromise to form a new gov- suspicions among Ukrainian protesters officers from the Russian Defense ernment that can earn the confidence of KYIV – Reports from Ukraine say Dmytro that Russians are illicitly contributing to Ministry’s main intelligence service and the Ukrainian people. (White House, Office Bulatov, an activist who says he was abduct- state security efforts as the government of from the Federal Security Service,” Mr. of the Vice-President) ed and tortured for his alleged involvement Viktor Yanukovych continues its often vio- Berezovets says. “Their main function is to in Kyiv riots, has left the country for medical lent crackdown on the two-month Euro- act as agents who also liaise with Ukraine’s Rada fails to agree on changes treatment in Lithuania. The development Maidan protests. security and military structures. I don’t KYIV – The Verkhovna Rada on February comes as tens of thousands of protesters Ukrainian protesters claim to have wit- exclude that they could be providing advice 4 concluded a session without approving gathered across Ukraine on February 2 to nessed Berkut riot police exchanging rubles on how to crush peaceful protests, since changes to the constitution that would have demand that President Viktor Yanukovych for hryvni and speaking in “clean Russian” – Russia has perfected this.” curtailed the powers of the president. step down. Mr. Bulatov, the spokesman for meaning without a distinctive Ukrainian Shades of Gongadze Opposition lawmakers failed to get the nec- the Auto-Maidan protest group, disappeared accent. And accounts are growing of pro- essary support to push through a motion to on January 22 and re-emerged eight days testers and journalists being abducted, For some, the rumored Russian death revert to an earlier version of the Ukrainian later bearing signs of beatings and possible beaten and sometimes killed by unidenti- squads are an eerie echo of teams report- Constitution that limited presidential pow- torture.