INSIDE: • Our communities mark Ukrainian Independence Day – page 4. • A Donetsk entrepreneur tries to fight the system – page 6. • Stats on Ukrainians in the New York Metropolitan area – page 8. THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal Wnon-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXVIII No. 36 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2010 $1/$2 in Ukraine Amendments to local elections law Two independent TV networks still aimed to help PRU, say critics lose their broadcast licenses by Zenon Zawada Kyiv Press Bureau Activists in Kyiv protest restraints on media KYIV – The Party of Regions of Ukraine led its parliamentary coalition in approving amendments to the local elections law that opponents say are designed to entrench its political dominance nationwide and make it easier to falsify votes. The changes were approved on August 30 in the wake of polls that revealed the party’s declining popularity with voters. Also approved was an amendment that removed the previously adopted provision in the law that prohibited parties whose local organizations were formed less than a year before election day from fielding candidates in the local elections. The amendments enable the Party of Regions to determine most, if not all, the Zenon Zawada members of the territorial and district elec- The legislation approved by the tion commissions, even those representing Verkhovna Rada on August 30 introduc- opposition parties. Local organizations won’t es Stalinist norms and makes falsification be able to select commissioners. Such con- possible in the local elections slated for trol ensures falsification, opposition deputies October 31, said Viacheslav Kyrylenko, charged the chair of the For Ukraine party. Oleksandr Synytsia/UNIAN “The Stalinist norm is in effect – it’s not Picketers outside the Kyiv Appellate Administrative Court on August 26 protest important who votes, but who counts the time will be held independent of a major attempts to revoke the broadcasts licenses of two independent TV networks, TVi votes,” said Viacheslav Kyrylenko, a nation- election and, therefore, could be overlooked and Channel 5. al deputy and chair of the For Ukraine party. by the West. “Local citizens are denied the opportunity The amendments give priority to the by Zenon Zawada As a result, the TVi network lost its to influence this process. The law enables the Party of Regions and Communist Party of Kyiv Press Bureau television frequencies and can only be Regions and Communists to select their rep- Ukraine in selecting their three representa- viewed on cable or satellite television, resentatives to election commissions first, tives (per party) to the 18-member territorial KYIV – A Kyiv appellate court on while Channel 5 (5 Kanal) is still broad- followed by all other political forces,” he election commissions, enabling them to August 30 upheld a controversial lower casting on those frequencies it owned explained. choose and recruit the most influential com- court ruling that denied broadcast licenses prior to the January tender, yet it will Ukraine will hold elections to oblast, city mission members ahead of the three other to Ukraine’s last two remaining television reportedly lose half its viewers as a result and village councils, as well as their chairs parliamentary factions. networks that are committed to reporting of losing its current frequency. (mayors), on October 31. Legislation passed Then the Central Election Commission news independently. It agreed that a The courts are fulfilling the govern- on July 10 and amended on August 30 January 27 government tender awarding ment’s goals of eliminating influential (Continued on page 24) threatens their legitimacy, which for the first them frequencies violated the law. critical media, critics said. The ruling came on the day that President Viktor Yanukovych was in Germany claiming to be “that person most interested in democ- Lviv lawyer seeks justice in Hero of Ukraine rulings ratization processes in Ukraine not only by Zenon Zawada ings on Bandera and Shukhevych,” Mr. not stopping, but developing.” Kyiv Press Bureau Hudyma told The Weekly in an August 25 “I view this day as the introduction of interview. official censorship in Ukraine,” TVi KYIV – Lviv lawyer Dmytro Hudyma is In two separate April rulings, the General Director Mykola Kniazhytskyi trying to find justice following a Donetsk Donetsk Appellate Administrative Court told the UNIAN news service on August court’s decision to overturn the decrees of overturned President Yushchenko’s 30. “I think they intentionally waited for former President Viktor Yushchenko that decrees honoring Bandera and the day when our president would be in posthumously granted the Hero of Ukraine Shukhevych. award to Stepan Bandera, leader of the Europe in order to show the West that The complaints alleged the rulings vio- Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, and Ukraine won’t be in Europe. I think this lated the rights of Ukrainian citizens to Gen. Roman Shukhevych, the commander- is a provocation against our country.” in-chief of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army earn the award, since both leaders of the In the days leading up to the latest (UPA). World War II era weren’t citizens. decision, demonstrators picketed the He’s found the path to justice in Ukraine Indeed Mr. Hudyma confirmed that the court to protest censorship and restraints is a labyrinth laden with hurdles and pitfalls, conditions of the Hero of Ukraine award on media freedom. Among the protesters set up by a recently restructured judicial allow only those who were citizens of the were many journalists and cultural activ- bureaucracy that is dominated by members independent Ukrainian state as of August ists, as well as members of the public of the Party of Regions of Ukraine, who 1991 to earn the distinction. who demanded that broadcasts by TVi allow their contemptuous views of the Following that logic, Mr. Hudyma fig- and Channel 5 not be curtailed. Ukrainian liberation struggle to cloud their ured numerous Soviet-era heroes, also The Kyiv Appellate Administrative interpretation of the law. Court upheld the June 8 ruling of the Lviv lawyer Dmytro Hudyma. “An absurd situation surrounds the rul- (Continued on page 24) (Continued on page 8) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2010 No. 36 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS President calls for more powers, Merkel presses Ukraine on media being now prepared. At the same time, the president said it is important that the BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela planned reforms get support, both among as Ukraine marks Independence Day Merkel said she pressed Ukrainian Ukrainian society and the international RFE/RL press freedom in the country. President Viktor Yanukovych on the issue community. Mr. Yanukovych stressed the The Washington-based organization of press freedom during his visit to Berlin importance of attracting foreign invest- President Viktor Yanukovych has called Freedom House, which measures the degree on August 30. Ms. Merkel said she “made for the Constitution of Ukraine to be amend- ments, particularly from Germany, to proj- of liberty in countries around the world, says clear that with regard to certain democratic ects designed for Ukraine’s preparations ed in order to strengthen his powers and Ukraine is setting an example for its region areas, in particular in the area of press enable him to push through potentially pain- for the Euro 2012 European soccer cham- in the progress it is making in democratiza- freedom and the freedom of opinion, we ful reforms. pionship. (Ukrinform) tion. But in a July interview with RFE/RL, had certain questions.” The talks between Mr. Yanukovych’s call came as Ukraine the organization’s director of studies, the Ukrainian and German leaders, includ- Lesia Ukrainka plaque unveiled in Berlin marks the 19th anniversary of its proclama- Christopher Walker, warned that there have ing German President Christian Wulff, tion of independence from the Soviet Union. BERLIN – Ukrainian Foreign Affairs been some “growing pressures” on civil were also expected to focus on issues such Speaking at a ceremony on August 24 in Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko on society and news media. as energy supplies and cooperation on Independence Square in the capital, Kyiv, security and the economy. Media rights August 30 in Berlin unveiled a memorial Mr. Yanukovych told the audience, “I see the “More developed state” watchdog Reporters without Borders on plaque to famous Ukrainian writer and renewed Ukraine as a country with a stable poet Lesia Ukrainka. The plaque was put In his address on August 24, President August 27 sent a letter to Chancellor political system and I am ready to offer its Merkel requesting she address “growing up at a house in downtown Berlin, where formula to the public.” Yanukovych pledged support for judicial Ukrainka lived and underwent medical reform, the defense of human rights, and a obstacles to freedom of the press” in He said that much of the reforms could be Ukraine during Mr. Yanukovych’s visit. treatment in 1889. It was unveiled as part brought about by a strong president, “who free press: “I support and always will sup- of Ukrainian President Viktor port the development of strong and free The Russian news agency ITAR-TASS has practical levers of coordination and con- reported that the summit also was expect- Yanukovych‘s official visit to Germany. trol over the implementation of key reforms media because that is the foundation of ed to include the signing of an agreement The plaque was the