No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 5 2013: THE YEAR IN REVIEW In Ukraine: movement toward and away from EU urope. That’s what 2013 was all about for Ukraine and its people. This was the year that Ukraine was to Esign an Association Agreement with the European Union. There were stops and starts along the way – with Ukraine delivering on some issues, but refusing to budge on others (e.g., the release of imprisoned former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko). Nonetheless, the administra- tion of President Viktor Yanukovych repeatedly stated that Kyiv was moving toward Europe. In the end, however, Yanukovych and company decided not to sign the agree- ment, opting instead for a deal with Russia. The year began with news of the latest report from Freedom House. “Freedom in the World 2013” noted a note- worthy decline in freedoms in Ukraine. Freedom House wrote: “With Russia setting the tone, Eurasia (consisting of the countries of the former Soviet Union minus the Baltic states) now rivals the Middle East as one of the most repres- sive areas on the globe. Indeed, Eurasia is in many respects the world’s least free subregion, given the entrenchment of autocrats in most of its 12 countries. The authoritarian temptation poses a threat even in Eurasian countries with recent histories of dynamic, if erratic, democratic gover- Taras Khimchak/Euromaidan Journalist Collective nance. Thus, Ukraine suffered a decline for a second year The standoff between protesters and Berkut in the center of Kyiv on the night of December 10-11. due to the politically motivated imprisonment of opposition leaders, flawed legislative elections, and a new law favoring Soon thereafter, the president appointed a new chair of gopniki new opportunities, putting their “talents” to use in the Russian-speaking portion of the population.” the National Bank of Ukraine: Ihor Sorkin, who was known persecuting the political opposition, usually with violence. In mid-year, Freedom House released another report, to have longstanding ties with Donbas business clans and Law enforcement organs also used gopniki-sportsmeny to this one the “Nations in Transit” annual assessment of whose wife was the deputy chair of the board of assist them. For example, during the April 15 protests at democratization from Central Europe to Eurasia, which UkrBiznesBank, which is owned by Oleksander Mr. Yanukovych’s grandiose Mezhyhiria residence – which noted a “troubling deterioration” of civil society in Eurasia. Yanukovych, the president’s elder son. has come to symbolize the corruption of his regime – the More specifically, the report said that Ukraine’s parliamen- Indeed, Oleksander Yanukovych, a dentist and econo- police dressed recruits in black uniforms without any iden- tary elections were marked by political persecutions, legal mist, had accumulated assets valued at about $210 million tifying badges to push about 50 protesters far from manipulations, bribery and other official abuses. – most of that since his father became president. Various Mezhyhiria’s gates, before Berkut special forces flew in to By the end of the year, Freedom House was saying news media reported that his business empire included encircle them. President Yanukovych should resign as a way to trigger banking, real estate, construction, wholesale trade in fuel, Hiring thugs is useful because they shift the responsibili- early presidential elections – the only non-violent way to coal exports and champagne production. Observers of the ty for violence against the public away from the govern- end the standoff with tens of thousands of demonstrators political scene, like Dr. Oleh Soskin of the Institute of ment, said Dr. Alexander Motyl, a professor of political sci- on the Euro-Maidan. Further use of force by Ukrainian Society Transformation in Kyiv, said the Yanukovych fami- ence at Rutgers University-Newark and a Ukraine expert. authorities should lead to the immediate imposition of ly was increasing its assets and planning to rule Ukraine “The dictatorial state always claims to be fulfilling the ‘real’ targeted sanctions by the United States and European for a long time. wishes of the people,” he told The Weekly, referring to such Union against Ukrainian officials responsible for such Later in the year, on July 6, the Central Election governments in general. “To use the police against the peo- actions, Freedom House said on December 9, adding that Commission elected as its chairman Mykhailo ple would undermine the legitimacy of the state needlessly, the international community must stand with the demo- Okhendovskyi, who was renowned for his role during the as one can draw on thugs to do the dirty work.” 2004 Orange Revolution for defending the CEC in the cratic aspirations of those brave Ukrainian people who Developments in Gongadze case had taken to the streets. “President Yanukovych has lost courts when the presidential election’s second round was support and legitimacy among the Ukrainian people,” stat- ruled as fraudulent. He had remained on the CEC in the Meanwhile, there were developments in the murder ed David J. Kramer, president of Freedom House. “We eight years since as a commissioner from the Party of case of journalist Heorhii Gongadze as a former police offi- don’t support rule by mob, but Yanukovych created a cri- Regions quota. Observers said his election, and the fact that cer, Oleksii Pukach, was sentenced to life in prison on sis by rejecting the path toward integration with the EU he replaced a relatively impartial chairman, was yet anoth- January 30 – more than 12 years after the journalist’s kill- and ignoring protesters’ demands that the government er signal that the regime was trying to ensure the re-elec- ing. The Kyiv district court that heard the case for about a work on behalf of the people.” tion of Mr. Yanukovych to a second term in 2015. year and a half reached the conclusion that it was Lt. Gen. The Constitutional Court was the next object of Pukach who wrapped and tightened a belt around Regime consolidates power President Yanukovych’s interest. As our Kyiv correspon- Gongadze’s throat like a noose, while ordering another offi- dent reported, the president thus took the final step cer to kick him in the stomach until he stopped breathing. Throughout 2013, the Yanukovych regime was busy towards ensuring control of the key governmental organs When asked whether he agreed with the verdict, Mr. consolidating its power. It began with the appointment of a necessary for maintaining power following the 2015 presi- Pukach dropped a bombshell on the courtroom, declaring new Cabinet of Ministers, which held its first meeting on dential elections, which were already expected to be that former President Leonid Kuchma and former January 9. As our Kyiv correspondent characterized it, “it’s extremely contentious and possibly violent. The Verkhovna Rada Chair Volodymyr Lytvyn were involved in all in the ‘family.’” (Donbas Oblast natives associated with Constitutional Court of Ukraine voted on July 18 to appoint ordering Gongadze’s murder. “I will agree with it when the Yanukovych family were increasingly being referred to as its head Viacheslav Ovcharenko, a native of Yenakiyeve, Kuchma and Lytvyn will be with me together in this cage,” collectively as “the family.”) Though there was speculation the president’s hometown. Mr. Pukach blurted out. Indeed, news reports said Mr. that Prime Minister Mykola Azarov would be replaced by a Reacting to the CEC and court appointments, Petro Pukach had identified Messrs. Kuchma and Lytvyn in court Yanukovych family insider, Serhiy Arbuzov, the president Leshchuk, a political science lecturer at Taras Shevchenko testimony from 2011 as having ordered the murder. tapped the latter as first vice prime minister. The core National University in Kyiv, commented: “These people The Tymoshenko case group in the Cabinet directly representing the Yanukovych proved their devotion to not just anyone, but to family interests was identified by observers as the “Big Six,” Yanukovych personally. Okhendovskyi defended him in the For Yulia Tymoshenko, the year began with a statement consisting of Mr. Arbuzov, Energy and Coal Production turbulent days of the winter of 2004, while Ovcharenko from the Procurator General’s Office that she could face life Minister Eduard Stavytskyi, Internal Affairs Minister Vitaliy ‘lost’ the case materials of the president’s ‘complicated imprisonment for her alleged role in the murder of a law- Zakharchenko, Finance Minister Yurii Kolobov, Agrarian youth.’ These are his people. Only he could have given the maker 16 years earlier. On January 18 Ms. Tymoshenko was Policy Minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk and the leader of the command to appoint them.” The reference to “complicated notified that she was suspected of having ordered the killing newly created Revenue and Duties Ministry, Oleksander youth” was about Mr. Yanukovych’s two criminal convic- of businessman and legislator Yevhen Shcherban; Klymenko. “Their integration into the government testifies tions: one at age 17 for theft and the second at age 19 for Procurator General Viktor Pshonka said investigators had to the complete loss of trust by Yanukovych to outsiders,” inflicting bodily injury. found enough evidence that Ms. Tymoshenko, together with wrote Serhii Leshchenko, one of Ukraine’s most recognized If the growing influence of the “the family” wasn’t bad former Ukrainian Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko, had political reporters. “He agrees to trust with his future only enough, in June readers of The Ukrainian Weekly learned ordered Shcherban’s slaying. Ms. Tymoshenko’s lawyer those with whom he earned money during these last years that Ukraine’s leaders were using thugs to do their dirty Serhiy Vlasenko rejected the new accusations as absurd. in government.” work. President Yanukovych and the Party of Regions used Less than two months later, on March 6, came a Kyiv In addition, Mr.