www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE:• Yulia Tymoshenko is released from jail — page 4. • Yuschenko may face yet another crisis — page 5. • Introducing “Viewing the arts” — page 12. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXIX HE KRAINIANNo. 13 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2001 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine PresidentT dismissesUAnti-Kuchma demonstrations focusW on “regime’s” victims Kravchenko after all by Roman Woronowycz Kyiv Press Bureau KYIV – A little more than a week after President Leonid Kuchma declared that he had not signed an order for the dismissal of Minister of Internal Affairs Yurii Kravchenko he did just that, firing his longtime chief of the national police on March 26 with the explanation that he was fulfilling a long-held personal request. “Mr. Kravchenko several times had expressed his desire to resign. I finally agreed to it,” explained President Kuchma at a meeting of law enforcement officials from several government agen- cies, during which the former top cop’s successor was named. The dismissal came nine days after initial reports of Mr. Kravchenko’s fir- ing, which were confirmed by presiden- tial representatives at several levels before the president put an end to ram- pant speculation on March 21 by bluntly stating that “no,” he had not signed any AP/Viktor Pobedinsky such decrees. Even as Mr. Kuchma maintained that Opposition protesters carry portraits of activists killed or jailed in recent years. The poster reads: “You could be the next.” the move was part of a routine rotation by Roman Woronowycz Participants in the latest mass demonstra- held for the purpose of commemorating the of posts, opponents of the president in Kyiv Press Bureau tion in the capital city, organized as earlier birth of the Ukrainian national bard Taras the Forum for National Salvation ones have been by the civic organizations Shevchenko, the ostensible purpose for the declared a victory. Although the official KYIV – More than 5,000 supporters of Ukraine Without Kuchma and the Forum latest gathering, held the day before the sec- explanation did not jibe with the reason the anti-Kuchma movement paraded for National Salvation, this time did not lead ond anniversary of the death of Vyacheslav they wanted him gone, they expressed through the downtown streets of Kyiv on to violent civil disobedience. State militia Chornovil, was to commemorate what satisfaction with Mr. Kravchenko’s March 24, even as it has become increasing- were out in much less significant numbers organizers referred to as “the victims of the removal. National Deputy Volodymyr ly apparent that Ukraine’s President Leonid than on March 9, when dozens of people on Kuchma regime.” Filenko of the Reforms and Order Party, Kuchma seems ready to negotiate with both sides were injured and more than 200 Mr. Chornovil was a leading figure of the a leader of the civic protest organization, opposition leaders to end the political con- protesters were arrested after bloody con- democratic movement in Ukraine, before said he welcomed the move. troversy that has paralyzed his administra- frontations that occurred throughout the day. “Our ultimate goal is not Kravchenko tion for the last four months. Whereas the March 9 demonstration was (Continued on page 5) or [Procurator General Mykhailo] Potebenko. It is a change in the ruling system,” said Mr. Filenko. Another opposition leader, National Deputy Oleksander Moroz of the Zlenko, in Washington, asks U.S. Socialist Party, said the removal of the state militia chief is confirmation that for assistance in Gongadze case leading officials had a role in the murder by Yaro Bihun of Ukrainian journalist Heorhii Special to The Ukrainian Weekly Gongadze, according to RFE/RL reports. Political analyst Mykhailo WASHINGTON – Ukraine has formally asked the United Pohrebynskyi, who last week predicted States for help in identifying the decapitated body thought to be the eventual ouster of Mr. Kravchenko in that of the journalist Heorhii Gongadze, whose disappearance comments made to The Weekly, said that sparked a domestic political crisis that is now dogging the govern- no matter how the president spins the ment of President Leonid Kuchma in its international relations as reason for Mr. Kravchenko’s dismissal, well. the fact remains that the president Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Anatolii Zlenko presented a removed his minister of internal affairs letter requesting FBI assistance during a meeting on March 27 because he had failed in his job. with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. “The situation in the country, this cri- During his one-day visit here, Mr. Zlenko also met with two sis, showed the president that law other senior members of President George W. Bush’s new admin- enforcement officials did not know how istration – National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and to work in a crisis situation,” Mr. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz. Pohrebynskyi commented. State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher, while not com- He added that he believes that Mr. menting on whether the request would be accepted or not, said that Potebenko, who is next on the Forum for Secretary of State Powell indicated to Mr. Zlenko that the United National Salvation’s “hit list,” will not States was prepared “to cooperate in helping with that.” He also go soon because President Kuchma fully reiterated U.S. concerns about the case and about “the need for a Yaro Bihun (Continued on page 10) (Continued on page 11) Anatolii Zlenko speaks at The Heritage Foundation. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2001 No. 13 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS Russian press reports raise Powell meets with Zlenko in DC ... while Kuchma says talks have begun WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of KYIV – President Leonid Kuchma said the specter of disintegration State Colin Powell met with Ukrainian on March 26 that a dialogue to seek stabili- by Paul Goble into three sections. Foreign Affairs Minister Anatolii Zlenko in ty and social accord in Ukraine is already RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report The article in question argued that not Washington on March 27. “[Powell] under way. Mr. Kuchma added that he is only was there the possibility that expressed our concerns about the case of ready to talk “to those who are listening and A spate of articles in the Moscow Ukraine could split between the ethnic the missing journalist [Heorhii Gongadze], hearing, who are seeking a constructive press last week have suggested that the Russian eastern portion and the ethnic the need for a full, open and transparent solution to the problem instead of raising current political crisis in Kyiv is already Ukrainian central portion, but also that investigation, and said that we were pre- absurd ultimatums behind which there is increasing regional tensions in Ukraine the six western oblasts of Ukraine, the pared to cooperate in helping with that,” only a void,” Interfax reported. According and could lead to the disintegration of most nationalistic region of all, might State Department spokesman Richard to the president, it is difficult to consolidate the Ukrainian state. break away as well, given its orientation Boucher said the same day. Mr. Boucher the entire society “when people hardly But like similar reports just before toward Rome rather than toward the added: “The secretary expressed our firm known to anybody aspire to the role of and after the collapse of the Soviet Orthodox east. support for Ukraine’s independent destiny. [being] nationwide leaders not through Union, these commentaries appear less Such articles inevitably attract atten- .. He expressed our support for democracy, democratic procedures, but after making a genuine prognostication of what is tion due to their apocalyptic quality, and for freedom of the press, for the free enter- several hysterical speeches on a street or a likely to occur than an obvious effort to indeed some of their authors may be prise system in Ukraine, and said we would square.” First Vice-Chairman of the put pressure on the Ukrainian govern- making these predictions for no reason continue to work with them and encourage Verkhovna Rada Viktor Medvedchuk said ment to turn to Moscow for its security other than that. But the appearance of so that course.” Mr. Zlenko brought a letter talks between the opposition and the author- needs. many articles of that nature at once, inviting FBI experts to Kyiv to help investi- ities will prove fruitless if the opposition As the political crisis in Ukraine has together with ever more explicit Russian gate the Gongadze case. Earlier this month, continues to insist on President Kuchma’s deepened over the last few weeks, the government calls for working with the a team of FBI experts returned from Kyiv ouster. (RFE/RL Newsline) Russian media have been full of ever ethnic Russian population in Ukraine and empty-handed because of a dispute between Probe ordered into Chornovil’s death more items concerning the challenges elsewhere, suggests that more may be at the procurator-general and Mr. Gongadze’s President Leonid Kuchma faces in try- work than the desire of some journalists mother. (RFE/RL Newsline) KYIV – President Leonid Kuchma has ing to quiet demands that he resign for attention. PM’s former colleague faces new charges instructed Procurator General Mykhailo because of his alleged involvement in Indeed, in many ways, this current the murder of independent journalist Potebenko to launch an investigation into upsurge of such predictions inevitably KYIV – Kyiv City Prosecutor Yurii the death of former Rukh leader Vyacheslav Heorhii Gongadze last fall. Moscow recalls two earlier periods when Russian outlets have given extensive coverage Haisynskyi on March 27 said new charges Chornovil, Interfax reported on March 24. media carried similar suggestions. Just will be brought against Volodymyr Bondar, An investigation group will include law- both to the Gongadze case and to before the end of the Soviet Union, jour- demonstrations against President former vice-chairman of the National Bank makers from the National Rukh of Ukraine nalists around then-Soviet President parliamentary caucus.