INSIDE: • Ukraine’s new samvydav: the Internet — page 2. • The diaspora’s role in Ukraine’s parliamentary elections — page 8. • Ukrainian Canadian writer tackles a difficult subject — page 15. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXX HE KRAINIANNo. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2002 EEKLY$1/$2 in Ukraine T U ControversialW procurator general “Harry Potter” in Ukrainian? remains, despite rampant rumors by Roman Woronowycz He denied during a press conference that Yes by(soon), Roman Woronowycz thanks torecords Ivan for children’s Malkovych books – when it Kyiv Press Bureau anybody from above had indicated in any Kyiv Press Bureau was introduced in 1997. The series that way that he should resign. followed, three books to date, has KYIV – Ukraine’s Procurator General “This is a disgusting provocation by KYIV – Soon Ukrainians will be remained popular not only with the Mykhailo Potebenko remained in his post those who either are trying to cover their able to determine for themselves what under-13 crowd but with youngsters on January 9 after several uncertain days criminal dealings or those who are looking has endeared a generation of kids to the and oldsters alike. during which reports circulated that the to gain an advantage for the elections,” magical Harry Potter and the series of Ivan Malkovych, founder and presi- country’s controversial chief prosecutor said Mr. Potebenko, who explained that books by J.K. Rowling about the dent of A-Ba-Ba-Ha-La-Ma-Ha, the would be dismissed. his agency would be intricately involved young. first private Ukrainian children’s pub- The rumor was based on several events in investigating election fraud during the On January 9, A-Ba-Ba-Ha-La-Ma- lishing house established after the col- that had taken place during the prior week parliamentary campaigns. Ha, the respected publisher of lapse of the Soviet Union – which will concerning Mr. Potebenko – most notably He said that certain people would like Ukrainian language children’s books, celebrate 10 years in business in August an announcement that he had been placed to see a vacant post and an agency thrown announced it had purchased the – said that while he didn’t expect sales on the Communist Party candidate list for into confusion, which would allow them to Ukrainian-language rights to the first in Ukraine to attain the astronomical the upcoming parliamentary elections and continue in their lawless ways. book of the Harry Potter series and an rates that were seen in the West in the that his office had begun an investigation Nonetheless, neither President Leonid option on the rest. year after “The Sorcerer’s Stone” hit into illegal arms sales by two former Kuchma, who appoints the country’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s the racks, he is certain that a niche mar- chiefs of Ukraine’s intelligence service, procurator general, nor any other high- Stone” caused a sensation in the pub- ket exists. the Security Service of Ukraine, known by ranking official in the president’s adminis- lishing industry – and among children, He said that he believes readers its Ukrainian acronym, SBU. tration has thus far publicly spoken out in as well as adults, who purchased it in interested in the fantasy genre devel- On January 9 Mr. Potebenko disclaimed support of Mr. Potebenko. the report, which he said was floated by numbers that demolished previous sales (Continued on page 3) On January 7, the press office of the those who would have his political head. presidential administration said it had no information on the matter because admin- istration officials were observing Christmas. Hearsay first surfaced after Mr. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CONVENTION OF THE Potebenko was named to the 20th spot on the candidate slate of the Communist Party during its congress on January 5. Mr. UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, INC. Potebenko’s placement almost certainly assures him a seat in Parliament because NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BRANCH OFFICERS AND TO ALL the Communist Party has historically MEMBERS OF THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, THAT THE taken some 25 percent, or just over 100 seats, in parliamentary elections. Many political experts said Mr. Potebenko should have immediately ten- dered his resignation because it would be 35th REGULAR CONVENTION unethical for a member of the political opposition to hold a position in the law of the enforcement arm of state authority, espe- cially around election time. Mr. Potebenko told reporters that he had no intention of UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, INC. resigning until he was elected a national deputy. Yulia Tymoshenko, the first vice prime will be held in Chicago, IL minister who was dismissed from her gov- ernment post after Mr. Potebenko brought at Chicago Marriott O’Hare Hotel corruption charges against her at the beginning of last year – incriminations that Beginning May 24, 2002 were later dropped by a Ukrainian high court – reacted to the inclusion of Mr. In accordance with the By-Laws of the UNA regarding election of delegates to the Convention, the qualifications for delegates, Potebenko in the Communist slate by call- the number of delegates from each Branch and the credentials of delegates are as follows: ing the move “a logical and worthy end to The election of delegates and their alternates must be held within 60 days of the announcement of the Convention. Since the his career.” Convention was announced on January 11, 2002, the 60-day term for election of delegates and their alternates ends on March 11, 2002. “The Communists and the officials in Delegates and their alternates to which the Branch is entitled shall be elected at a regular meeting of the Branch by the members power are a single entity,” explained Ms. present. Nominations shall be made from the floor and all candidates presented to the membership for vote. The candidate or candidates Tymoshenko. “[Mr. Potebenko] buried all receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected delegates. Alternate delegates shall be elected by separate vote in similar manner. the crimes of those in power today in the All tie votes involving alternates shall be immediately resolved by another ballot for the candidates involved. Each member shall be enti- tled to one vote for each delegate and each alternate authorized to the Branch. Delegates and their alternates must be elected at the depths of the Procurator General’s Office, same regular Branch meeting. In the event that a delegate fails or is unable to attend a Convention, an alternate shall be seated in his or so it is logical that he find his last shelter her place, and remain seated for the balance of the Convention. If a Branch has more than one delegate, the seats of the absent dele- in the Communist Party of Ukraine.” gates shall be occupied by alternates in the order of the highest number of votes received in the election. The unfounded rumors of the political Only UNA members in good standing may be present at the meeting and vote for delegates and their alternates. A member in good demise of Mr. Potebenko could also have standing is one who has a certificate of insurance in the UNA on which dues are being paid. A member who has transferred to extended been the result of an announcement by the insurance, or paid-up insurance, or is suspended, may not be present at the meeting nor can he (or she) vote. Members in good standing Procurator General’s Office on January 4 may vote for delegates and their alternates only in that Branch where they pay dues to the Fraternal Fund. No vote by proxy shall be allowed. that it would open a criminal case into alle- Only those members may be elected as delegates or alternates who are in good standing and have all the qualifications for an officer of gations of illegal arms sales by high-rank- (Continued on page 4) (Continued on page 25) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2002 No. 2 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFSNEWSBRIEFS The Internet: Ukraine’s new samvydav Communists win legal victory by Taras Kuzio Heorhii Gongadze and its current editor, KYIV – President Leonid Kuchma has RFE/RL Media Matters Olena Prytula – five months before Mr. KYIV – A Ukrainian high court on vetoed a bill obliging all candidates in Gongadze’s still-unsolved murder. The December 29, 2001, rejected as unconsti- presidential and parliamentary elections The rapid growth of the Internet in “Kuchmagate” scandal led to public tutional a decade-old, blanket ban on the Ukraine had largely escaped the authori- to take part in televised debates and demands for prompt and unbiased infor- Soviet-era Communist Party, Reuters and requiring that television companies, ties’ attention until the December 6, mation. This is reflected in visits to the other agencies reported. Leonid Hrach, a 2001, presidential decree that finally regardless of their form of ownership, Ukrainska Pravda site, which increased Communist leader and the chairman of broadcast such debates, Interfax reported sought to rein in one of the country’s last from 3,000 per day to 80,000 during the the Crimean Parliament, said, “Despite remaining independent media outlets. on January 8. Mr. Kuchma also vetoed a December 2000 parliamentary delibera- huge regret that we needed 10 years to bill on local elections that stipulated a The Internet had become “the most tions over the scandal – exceeding the come to this natural and evident truth, mobile medium and the least vulnerable mixed system in elections to oblast-level circulation figures for the pro-presiden- this is a great victory,” Reuters reported. councils and a majority system in elec- to censorship,” according to the presti- tial hard-copy newspapers, such as Interfax said Mr.