"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT"
An International Newsletter
In-Depth Ukrainian News, Analysis, and Commentary
"The Art of Ukrainian History, Culture, Arts, Business, Religion,
Sports, Government, and Politics, in Ukraine and Around the World"
"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT" Year 04, Number 220
The Action Ukraine Coalition (AUC), Washington, D.C.
Ukrainian Federation of America (UFA), Huntingdon Valley, PA
morganw@patriot.net, ArtUkraine.com@starpower.net (ARTUIS)
Washington, D.C.; WEDNESDAY, November 17, 2004
-----INDEX OF ARTICLES-----
"Major International News Headlines and Articles"
1. WE WERE TOLD TO FIX UKRAINE ELECTION SAY POLICE
CHIEFS FROM EASTERN CITY OF KHARKIV
By Askold Krushelnycky in Kharkiv, Ukraine
The Independent, UK, Wed, November 17, 2004
2. GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF BRIBING ELECTION OFFICIALS
Ukrayinska Pravda web site, Kiev, in Ukrainian 16 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Tue, Nov. 16, 2004
3. 5,000 STUDENTS GO ON STRIKE IN IVANO-FRANKIVSK TO
PROTEST AGAINST FALSIFICATION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Wed, November 17, 2004
4. KHARKIV BUSINESSES PROTEST AGAINST DECISION BY
KINAKH TO SUPPORT OPPOSITION CANDIDATE
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, November 16, 2004
5. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN UKRAINE: WHAT TO EXPECT
Washington News Conference, Wednesday 10 AM, November 17, 2004
News Conference Sponsored by
US Association of Former Members of Congress
Washington, D.C., Wednesday, November 17, 2004
6. UKRAINIAN ELECTION OBSERVATION FINDINGS
DEPLOYMENT OF 1,000 OBSERVERS
Press Conference Announcement
European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO)
UNIAN Press Center, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, Nov 18, 2004, 1 PM
7. UKRAINE: ARRESTED FOR REQUESTING ELECTION RESULTS
Amnesty International (AI), London, UK, Tue, 16 Nov 2004
8. EBRD MAY LOAN USD 12 MILLION TO OBOLON BREWERY
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, November 16, 2004
9. WORLD WAR II IN UKRAINE
THREE FILMS PREMIERE IN NORTH AMERICA
Abaze Productions, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Fri, Nov 12, 2004
10. PROMOTING YANUKOVYCH IN WASHINGTON, DC:
OOPS, HE DID IT AGAIN!
By Luba Shara in Washington, Ukrayinska Pravda (UP)
Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, November 14, 2004
11. LECTURE ON 1932-33 FAMINE BY REV. YURIY MYTSYK
Thursday, Nov. 18, University of Alberta
Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies
Edmonton, AB, Canada, Tuesday, Nov 16, 2004
12. UKRAINE, RUSSIA TO ORGANIZE CRIMEA-KUBAN
RAILWAY FERRY SERVICE .
Ukrainian News Service, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, November 15, 2004
13. RUSSIAN TV LOOKS AT POSSIBLE OUTCOME OF
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
RTR Russia TV, Moscow, Russia, in Russian, 13 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Sat, Nov. 13, 2004
14. UKRAINE HARVESTS 45 MILLION TONS OF GRAIN IN 2004
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Wed, November 17, 2004
15. UKRAINE: "THE GREAT NON-DEBATE"
COMMENTARY: by Marta Dyczok in Kyiv
London, Ontario, Canada, Tuesday, November 16, 2004
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 220: ARTICLE NUMBER ONE
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1. WE WERE TOLD TO FIX UKRAINE ELECTION SAY POLICE
CHIEFS FROM EASTERN CITY OF KHARKIV
By Askold Krushelnycky in Kharkiv, Ukraine
The Independent, UK, Wed, November 17, 2004
KHARKIV - Senior police officers say they have been ordered to help rig
the result of the Ukrainian presidential election and to use violence,
including bombings, to undermine the opposition.
The second, decisive, round of the presidential election is to be held next
Sunday when the two candidates, the pro-Western opposition leader, Viktor
Yushchenko, who gained the biggest share of the vote in the first round on
31 October, and the pro-Russian Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovych, face
each other in a run-off.
Foreign election monitors blamed the government for dirty tricks before and
during the first round. The opposition expects widespread attempts to
distort results of the final round.
Officers from the eastern city of Kharkiv, disgusted that their service was
being used to undermine the election, wrote to the speaker of the
parliament, Volodymyr Lytvyn, detailing massive election fraud by the
government and warning that similar methods were going to be used next
Sunday.
They agreed to speak with The Independent on condition of anonymity. The
meeting happened at night in a park after they took elaborate precautions
worthy of a John Le Carré novel to ensure privacy.
The five men, aged between their late twenties and early fifties, held
Ministry of Internal Affairs identity cards. Some covered over their names
but revealed their photos, while two showed the entire card, complete with
names. Their ranks ranged between full colonel and under-colonel. When
asked what the consequences would be for them if their identities were
revealed, the officers made gestures showing they would be shot.
The colonel said that police had guarded a room in a local authority
building where about 500,000 ballots, pre-marked for Mr Yanukovych,
were kept hidden before the first round and organised their dispersal on
voting day among local polling stations.
The Ukrainian Central Election Commission was forced to admit that tens
of thousands more votes had been cast in the first round than there were
genuine ballot papers.
The men also said a special police undercover unit had been formed to
intimidate opposition workers and destroy campaign materials. They said
the group planted a bomb in a Yushchenko campaign office and another in
the car of an opposition activist, Yuriy Potykun, who was then stopped and
arrested by uniformed police.
The colonel said a group of about 100 common criminals have been paid to
masquerade at Yushchenko rallies as supporters of the opposition candidate,
to cause trouble and give the opposition a bad name.
The police did not disguise their contempt for Mr Yanu-kovych, who has
twice been imprisoned for assault. They claim he was charged with two
other serious crimes but he avoided prosecution both times through bribery.
A spokeswoman for the interior ministry of the Kharkiv region, Larysa
Volkova, said the allegations were lies. She said the officers would be
"guaranteed safety if they have the courage to give their names".
The sources said they would identify themselves if Mr Yushchenko won.
"We have a lot of documents which mean jail for not only the general in
command of the Kharkiv region but for many other officials." -30-
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.220: ARTICLE NUMBER TWO
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2. GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF BRIBING ELECTION OFFICIALS
Ukrayinska Pravda web site, Kiev, in Ukrainian 16 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Tue, Nov. 16, 2004
KIEV - An ally of opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko, MP
Oleh Rybachuk, has accused the government of plotting to rig the result of
the 21 November presidential election runoff in order to ensure the victory
of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. He said electoral officials were being
offered money, and strategies were being worked out to disrupt the vote in
parts of Ukraine where Yushchenko won in the first round.
The Yanukovych HQ had previously rejected similar accusations, and said
Yushchenko himself was guilty of vote-rigging. The following is an excerpt
from report by the Ukrainian pro-opposition Ukrayinska Pravda web site
on 16 November:
The presidential administration, together with the Yanukovych HQ, is
implementing a plan to bribe members of election commissions to ensure a
Yanukovych victory, Yushchenko office chief Oleh Rybachuk said today at
a briefing. "The funds are being handled by [name and title omitted for
legal reasons] (one of the leaders of the Yanukovych HQ). It's dollars,
in cash." He said the heads of district electoral commissions are offered
5,000-10,000 dollars before 21 November and the same amount
afterwards, if the election outcome is right. Secretaries of district
electoral commissions are offered 3,000 dollars, and ordinary members
2,000 dollars, Rybachuk said.
"There are also price lists for polling station commissions. Chairmen are
offered 3,000-5,000 dollars, secretaries 2,000, and ordinary members
within 1,000," Rybachuk said.
He added that President Leonid Kuchma was having personal conversations
every day with heads of regional and district state administrations.
"Kuchma's main message during these conversations is, we are not giving
power away. What we'll do is, Yanukovych wins, then he implements
political reform, and everyone keeps their jobs," Rybachuk said.
"The president says, neither Yushchenko nor Yanukovych is the best choice.
But we have already struck a deal with Yanukovych. After the election he
won't touch you (heads of local administrations)," Rybachuk said. He added
that he got the details from people Kuchma spoke to. "The meetings with
Kuchma end with the words, and now you must talk to Medvedchuk,"
[Rybachuk said].
After that, according to Rybachuk, heads of the local administrations are
handled by a group of eight people, including Medvedchuk, Klyuyev,
Zadorozhnyy (Kuchma's representative in parliament), Zahorodniy, Ishchenko
(both deputies of Medvedchuk), Horbal (head of Yanukovych's Kiev HQ).
"This group sets out systemic tasks," Rybachuk said. "Ukraine is divided
into two zones, East-South (where Yanukovych won) and West-Centre
(where Yushchenko won), and where two different approaches are applied."
According to Rybachuk, the government HQ has set the task of raising the
turnout in East-South from 60 per cent to 85. "We're talking about ballot
stuffing. The task is to get an additional 2.2m votes for Yanukovych," he
said.
"In the West-Centre zone people are being prepared for organizing acts of
provocation - destroying bulletins, ballot boxes and ballot stuffing. The
super task is to invalidate the election in some districts," Rybachuk said.
[Passage omitted: students allegedly being offered money to vote using
absentee ballots; local businessmen allegedly being paid and intimidated to
rig the election]
In addition, according to Rybachuk, "Kuchma recently had a very tough
conversation with Kiev mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko. He [Omelchenko]
was told that the government had not obtained the result it expected in
Kiev".
Rybachuk said that the above strategies are expected to give Yanukovych
52-54 per cent of the vote, and Yushchenko 48 per cent. [Passage omitted:
Rybachuk asked how to prevent electoral fraud] Rybachuk said the voters
who are going to come to the polling stations after the election should take
with them cameras, video cameras and dictaphones. "They work very well
on bandits," Rybachuk said. -30-
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.220: ARTICLE NUMBER THREE
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3. 5,000 STUDENTS GO ON STRIKE IN IVANO-FRANKIVSK TO
PROTEST AGAINST FALSIFICATION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Wed, November 17, 2004
KYIV - Nearly 5,000 students of higher educational establishments in
Ivano-Frankivsk, all of which are members and supporters of the Pora
(It Is Time), Chysta Ukraina (Clean Ukraine), Studentska Khvylia
(Students' Wave), have gone on strike in Ivano-Frankivsk under the
banner "The youths are against falsification!"
The students demanded the holding of fair presidential elections, and they
called on representatives of law enforcement agencies not to react against
the expression of the will of voters. They also called on youths to enlist
as monitors during the election. The students demanded of the
administrations of educational establishments to put the hostels in order,
while not politicizing the educational process and persecuting students for
their convictions.
They picketed the regional state administration, prosecutor's office, court
and regional tax administration. The students chanted, "We are together,
we are many and we will not be defeated!" "East and West are together!"
"We are with you Sumy!" and "Yuschenko! Yuschenko!"
Many of those who took part in the strike had orange bands and stickers
on their clothes with the words "No to government falsifications!" The
students carried the state flags of Ukraine and flags with the insignia of
Our Ukraine bloc's leader and presidential candidate Viktor Yuschenko.
There were no reported cases of conflicts with the police.
Local activists of the Pora social campaign, the Chysta Ukraina civil
movement and the all-Ukrainian initiative called Studentska Khvylia were
the main organizers of the strike. The strike action took place within the
framework of the all-Ukrainian activity called "Freedom Cannot be
stopped!
As Ukrainian News reported previously, 340 regional and national social
organizations merged into the Pora campaign in late July in order to
supervise the presidential election. -30-
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.220: ARTICLE NUMBER FOUR
Your comments about the Report are always welcome
========================================================
4. KHARKIV BUSINESSES PROTEST AGAINST DECISION BY
KINAKH TO SUPPORT OPPOSITION CANDIDATE
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, November 16, 2004
KYIV - The heads of 30 enterprises and organizations in Kharkiv have
protested against the decision of the Party of Industrialists and
Entrepreneurs' leader and former presidential candidate Anatolii Kinakh to
sign a political agreement with the Our Ukraine coalition's leader and
presidential candidate Viktor Yuschenko on supporting Yuschenko in the
second round of this year's presidential elections. The heads of the
enterprises and organizations expressed their protest in a joint statement,
a text of which Ukrainian News obtained.
They said in the statement that members of the Kharkiv regional chapter of
the Hranyt organization of the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and
Entrepreneurs condemns Kinakh's decision ton sign the political agreement
with Yuschenko because they believe that it discredits the Ukrainian Union
of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.
The statement says that an economic growth has started in Ukraine and that
this was facilitated by the constructive economic policies of the government
of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who, according to them, has created
conditions for development of the industrial sector.
"The signing of the agreement between V. Yuschenko and A. Kinakh, who
is the leader of the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs,
which includes the working collectives of our enterprises, has prompted
caused indignation and condemnation in the localities, and we believe that
it discredited the UUIE," the statement says.
The heads of the Turboatom company, the Kommunar scientific and
production association, the Kharkiv-based FED machine-building factory,
the Malyshev factory, the Pivdenkabel factory, the Kharkiv state aircraft
production enterprise, the Kharkiv-based Ordzhonikidze tractor factory,
and several other enterprises and organizations based in Kharkiv signed
the statement on behalf of their factories' employees.
The authors of the statement demanded an end to the use of the Ukrainian
Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs' name for political purposes.
They also said that they retained the right to withdraw memberships of their
enterprises' employees from the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and
Entrepreneurs if this does not stop.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Syla Narodu election coalition,
which unites the Our Ukraine coalition and the Yulia Tymoshenko Coalition,
reached agreement with the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs on
November 8 on supporting Yuschenko in the second round of the presidential
elections. Yuschenko and Kinakh signed the agreement. -30-
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.220: ARTICLE NUMBER FIVE
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5. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN UKRAINE: WHAT TO EXPECT
Washington News Conference, Wednesday 10 AM, November 17, 2004
News Conference Sponsored by
US Association of Former Members of Congress
Washington, D.C., Wednesday, November 17, 2004
WASHINGTON, D.C. - You are invited to attend a news conference
entitled: "Presidential Elections in Ukraine: What to Expect," sponsored
by The US Association of Former Members of Congress.
The news conference will be held Wednesday, November 17, 2004
at 10:00 AM at The Murrow Room, National Press Club in Washington,
D.C.
Former members of the U.S. Congress who have visited Ukraine as
members of the Official Delegation of Election Observers, including:
Andrew McGuire (D-NJ); Jay Rhodes (R-Arizona); Bob McEwen
(R-Ohio), and Jack W. Buechner (R-Missouri), Moderator. -30-
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.220: ARTICLE NUMBER SIX
Additional names for the distribution list are always welcome
========================================================
6. UKRAINIAN ELECTION OBSERVATION FINDINGS
DEPLOYMENT OF 1,000 OBSERVERS
Press Conference Announcement
European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO)
UNIAN Press Center, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, Nov 18, 2004, 1 PM
KYIV, UKRAINE - The European Network of Election Monitoring
Organizations (ENEMO) will discuss its pre-election observation at a
press conference this Thursday, November 18 at 1 PM (13:00) at the
UNIAN Press Center. The organization will deploy 1,000 observers
on November 21.
ENEMO is an association of civic organizations from 16 countries of
the former Soviet Union and Central Europe. These civic organizations
are the leading domestic election monitoring groups in their countries.
They have in total observed more than 110 national elections and trained
more than 100,000 election monitors. It is an independent association
of NGOs not related to the similarly named CIS EMO observation mission.
ENEMO's delegation in Ukraine includes organizations from Poland,
Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Kosovo, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Slovakia, Romania, Georgia, Serbia, Armenia, Montenegro, Estonia,
Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Slovakia, and Macedonia.
On November 21, for the second round of the presidential election,
ENEMO will deploy the largest international observation mission in this
election cycle. One thousand of ENEMO's most experienced observers
will monitor in 5,000 of the country's polling stations throughout every
oblast of the country.
ENEMO observers also monitored the pre-election period and election-
day from October 19-October 31. In its preliminary statement of findings
on November 1, ENEMO noted: The pre-election period did not provide
a basis for fair political competition and full respect for voters' rights.
On October 31, election-day, severe problems with voters' lists in nearly
all oblasts led to disenfranchisement of significant numbers of voters.
Busing of organized groups of voters into Kyiv and other major cities
contributed to a climate of intimidation that . . . undermined confidence
in the fairness of the election.
At its press conference, ENEMO co-heads Edil Baisalov and Peter
Novotny will discuss continuing concerns over pressure on students and
state workers to vote in a particular way and problems with voter lists.
ENEMO is also concerned about threats and intimidation involving
campaign workers. -30- [Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO)
is an independent organization of NGOs from 16 Central and Eastern
European countries, and is not associated with the similarly named CIS EMO.
Contact: Edil Baisalov, Peter Novotny; (38 044) 235 4653,
234-7606, 256-5644; (38 066) 195-1040 (mobile)
Tammy Lynch, tammy@office.enemo.org.ua
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.220: ARTICLE NUMBER SEVEN
Suggested articles for publication in the Report are always welcome
========================================================
7. UKRAINE: ARRESTED FOR REQUESTING ELECTION RESULTS
Amnesty International (AI), London, UK, Tue, 16 Nov 2004
LONDON - Amnesty International is concerned that the authorities in
Ukraine continue to arrest people who exercise their right to peacefully
protest, following the sentencing of six people in the town of Sumy for
demanding to know the results of presidential elections in their district.
"It is important that Ukraine demonstrate to the world that it respects the
right to freedom of expression in the run up to the second round of
presidential elections later this month," the organization said today.
The six sentenced were among a group of election monitors and members
of the public who had gathered at a polling station in Sumy on the night of
31 October to ask for the results of the vote count for the presidential
elections to be displayed according to the regulations. According to reports
election officials refused to post the results and called the police. Ten
people were charged on that night with insubordination to the police and
were released shortly afterwards.
Then on 13 November police detained all ten people again after going to
their homes at 6am and in many cases taking them from their beds. Six
of them were sentenced to 10 days' administrative detention according
to the Code on Administrative Infringements. Lawyers and families of the
accused were not admitted to the trial and were not told where the
detainees were taken.
"There are strong indications that the six people have been arbitrarily
arrested for exercising their right to freedom of expression," Amnesty
International said.
"Authorities in Sumy have violated international standards by refusing to
admit lawyers and families of the accused to the trial and by failing to
inform them of the detainees' whereabouts."
Amnesty International considers everybody arrested for the peaceful
expression of their views to be a prisoner of conscience and calls for their
immediate and unconditional release.
BACKGROUND
The first round in the presidential elections in Ukraine were held on 31
October and resulted in a narrow win for the opposition candidate Viktor
Yushchenko. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) criticized the conduct of the election campaign which was marked
by overwhelmingly biased media coverage in favour of the government
candidate Viktor Yanukovych. There were reports of pressure on voters
to vote for particular candidates and irregularities at polling stations.
The second round of the elections will be held on 21 November.
Viktor Yushchenko won the most number of votes in Sumy and it is alleged
that the electoral commission was attempting to falsify the results and for
that reason was reluctant to post the results. Family members, lawyers and
members of the public, who had gathered outside the court on 13 November,
were reportedly beaten and sprayed with tear gas when they attempted to stop
police officers to ask where the detainees were being taken. Three members
of the public were reportedly treated in hospital for chemical burns to the
face. According to the Ministry of the Interior three policemen were also
injured. A group of students are currently holding a hunger strike in the
main square of Sumy to protest at the arrests. -30-
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For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in
London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566; Amnesty International, 1 Easton
St., London WC1X 0DW. web: http://www.amnesty.org;
For latest human rights news view http://news.amnesty.org
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No. 220: ARTICLE NUMBER EIGHT
Letters to the editor are always welcome
========================================================
8. EBRD MAY LOAN USD 12 MILLION TO OBOLON BREWERY
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, November 16, 2004
KYIV - There is a possibility that the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development will loan USD 12 million to Kyiv-based Obolon company,
one of the largest breweries in Ukraine, for financing its working capital
needs. Ukrainian News learned this from the EBRD's statement.
The loan will be also used to finance the storage of the stocks of barley in
grain warehouses for subsequent processing into malt. The EBRD board
will finally decide on the loan on December 14.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Obolon increased production by 7.1%
or 4.3 million decaliters over 2002 to 61.1 million decaliters in 2003.
The most popular brands of the brewery are Obolon Light beer and Zhyvchyk
soft drink. Analysts estimate the annual size of the beer market at 145-150
million decaliters. -30- [Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.220: ARTICLE NUMBER NINE
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9. WORLD WAR II IN UKRAINE
THREE FILMS PREMIERE IN NORTH AMERICA
Abaze Productions, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Friday, Nov 12, 2004
TORONTO - Ablaze Productions which brought to the PBS Television
Network VIRKSY, The Spirit of Ukraine is pleased to announce the first
ever North American Video Tour of three important video productions
from Ukraine. In three separate showing, the audiences will experience
Ukraine in World War II, The Volyn Tragedy and UPA, The Yesteryears.
Ukraine in World War II-("Vijna-Ukrainsky Rakhunok"), a special 4 hour
presentation of 9 episodes (with a 30 minute intermission) will inform and
shock the viewer with facts and war events which transpired during World
War II on the territory of Ukraine. You will be a witness to The Battle for
Kyiv, the formation of the Halychyna Division, the criminality of the Battle
for Kerch, the actions of UPA, the behind the scenes politics of Stalin and
Hitler, and more.
The Volyn Tragedy ("Volyn-Znak Bidy") describes the consistent attacks by
the Polish "Armija Krajova" on the Ukrainian population of the Volyn region.
As a result of these attacks tens of thousands Ukrainians were killed and
others displaced. In reaction to these "pogroms", the Ukrainian Insurgent
Army stepped in to defend their people.
Dramatic testimonies from the Ukrainian and Polish eyewitnesses, historians
and leading political and religious personages provide an analysis and
conclusions for this tragic event in the history of Ukraine.
UPA, The Yesteryears (UPA, Pohliad kriz' roky)--The glorious history
of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in their battle against the occupying
forces of both Hitler's and Stalin's armies during World War II in Ukraine
is dramatically presented in this documentary film.
Original, yet unseen documentary footage, eyewitness reports, expert
opinions from historians who studied this period illuminate all the personal
and historical facts, actions, victories and tragedies of this period. The
films give a unique insight into the causes and results. Viewing the three
films is an intellectual and emotional trip which will give the viewer a
deeper understanding of the historical events.
All three films may evoke strong emotional reactions, which can lead to
some controversial discussions and debates, but a necessary process
which leads to a more complete understanding of the historical facts.
All three presentations are in Ukrainian.
TORONTO:Schedule of showings:
Sunday, November 21st- 4:00 pm (one show)Ukraine in World War II
Sunday, December 12th - 2:00 & 5:00 pm, The Volyn Tragedy
Sunday, January 02nd - 2:00 & 5:00 pm, UPA, The Yesteryears
UKRAINIAN CULTURAL CENTRE, 83-85 Christie Street
(Exit Christie St. subway station) Showings in other cities soon to be
announced. In February 2005 the films will be shown in NYC and NJ
and elsewhere in the US. -30-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leonid (Leo) Oleksiuk, President & CEO; Ablaze Productions
Corp, 2323 Lakeshore Blvd., West; Suite 911, Toronto, ON,
Canada M8V 1B8; Tel: 416-521-9555, Cell: 416-276-2872
leo@ablaze-productions.com; www.ablaze-productions.com
========================================================
ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.220: ARTICLE NUMBER TEN
Your financial support is needed, please send a check.
========================================================
10. PROMOTING YANUKOVYCH IN WASHINGTON, DC:
OOPS, HE DID IT AGAIN!
By Luba Shara in Washington, Ukrayinska Pravda (UP)
Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, November 14, 2004
THE KEY PLAYERS
Viktor Yanukovych did it again! He made another crack at improving his
image in the United States.
On November 8 the National Press Club in Washington DC hosted a press
conference intriguingly titled "Ukraine’s Position between East and West".
The press conference was conducted by Eduard Prutnik, advisor to Ukraine’s
Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and Alex Kiselev, an economic advisor to
Prime Minister Yanukovych on economic integration.
For those who do not know, Eduard Prutnik is a former deputy of Viktor
Yanukovych when the latter headed the Donetsk Oblast Administration, leader
for the Union of Regions Youth Organization’s Donetsk oblast branch, council
member of the Donetsk Oblast Rada since 1998, Ukrtelecom Supervisory
Board member, Head of the "Îschadbank" (Ukraine’s largest state-owned
bank) Supervisory Board, as well as the Export-Import Bank.
We provide this information on Prutnik and Kiselev because they played a
key role in arranging and financing Mr. Yanukovych’s PR campaign in the
US. based on the documents cited below
Alex (Aleksei) Kiselev, a US citizen born in Odessa, Ukraine, is an economic
advisor to Prime Minister Yanukovych in the United States. He is also a key
go-between linking Mssrs. Yanukovych and Prutnik to those PR firms which
act on their behalf in America. It is Kiselev who, while working for the
"North Atlantic Securities, L.L.C" of Scarborough, Maine, caused payments
to be made for promoting a positive image of Mr. Yanukovych in Washington,
according to the US Department of Justice records. Let us now look into it
step by step.
PRESS CONFERENCE: THE KEY PLAYERS TALK THE TALK
At the beginning of the press conference Eduard Prutnik, who is also a
younger Viktor Yanukovych’s spitting image, made a five-minute introduction
in Russian lauding Ukraine’s successes achieved during Mr. Yanukovych’s
premiership. He praised the GDP growth, efforts at increasing households’
income and decreasing inflation. Then he uttered a sentence or two about
preserving the Russian vector and maintaining European and American vectors
in Ukrainian foreign policy. He mentioned the trade between Ukraine and
Russia now being almost equal to that between Ukraine and Europe.
Alex Kiselev interpreted for Prutnik, and was visibly displeased by such a
minor task for himself. As the questions from the audience grew more
intense, Prutnik began referring them to Kiselev and let him respond more
and more often. The audience got confused and a question was posed as to
the precise role Kiselev played at the press conference, whether he acted as
merely an interpreter, a Prime Minister’s advisor or something else. Kiselev
responded that he had no interest in the process, he was merely an
independent observer. However, the documents obtained by the UP provide
evidence and clearly demonstrate that such assertion by Alex Kiselev was
entirely untrue.
Mr. Prutnik was asked questions about the anti-Americanism campaign waged
in Ukraine, the derogatory public remarks by PM Yanukovych regarding the
political opposition and its supporters, the biased media, the right of
Ukrainian people for peaceful protests, numerous violations of voters’ right
committed by the authorities. Mr. Prutnik had a standard-issue response to
all such questions: it was not the Ukrainian government’s fault, the
government had nothing to do with it, there was someone else to be blamed,
we did not hear about it etc.
Throughout the press conference, Prutnik and Kiselev were getting constantly
confused about their own titles and roles. It was not clear in which
capacity Mr. Prutnik was present there. Was he visiting Washington as a
government official on behalf of Ukraine or as a campaign manager on behalf
of one of the presidential candidates?
When “Ukrayinska Pravda” correspondent asked if it was true that Mr.
Yanukovych hired a Washington PR firm DCS for $ 750,000, Prutnik only
shrugged his shoulders and referred the question to Alex Kiselev. Kiselev
said that the number was too high, and he knew it because he did the hiring
of PR firms himself. If the amount were that high, he should have been
looking for another job, added Kiselev. Well, thanks a lot, Mr. Kiselev for
disclosing this precious information. Now we know who transacted the
payments.
PR FIRMS: THE KEY PLAYERS WALK THE WALK
Names of firms and amounts of payments are quoted from some 104 pages
of documents, obtained by the “Ukrayinska Pravda” directly from the FARA
Registration Unit of the US Department of Justice. According to the Foreign
Agents Registration Act of 1938, all companies, organizations or individuals
in the United States, who carry out lobbying or PR activities on behalf or
for foreign governments, foreign political parties or other foreign
principals, are required by law to register with the FARA Unit at the
Justice Department. The documents, which “Ukrayinska Pravda” received
from FARA are all paper copies, yet unavailable for public access in
electronic format.
However, public information relating to the Foreign Agents Registration Act
(FARA), including the documents discussed in this article, can be obtained
in person at the FARA Registration Unit Public Office located at:
US Department of Justice, FARA Registration Unit
1400 New York Avenue, N.W., 1st Floor - Public Office Suite 100
Washington, D.C. 20005, Researching Hours: 11 AM - 3 PM Mon.-Fri.
Telephone: (202) 514-1145 Fax: (202) 514-2836
So, first the list of firms and individuals, who worked on behalf and for
Mr. Yanukovych in the United States in 2003 and 2004:
- Venable, LLP, registration number 5435;
- Potomac Communications Strategies, Inñ, registration number 5588;
- Creative Response Concepts, file was not submitted;
- DB Communications, LLC, registration number 5634;
- JWI, LLC, registration number 4990; [Jefferson Waterman International]
- Aleksei Kiselev, registration number 5572.
Initially, Prime Minister of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych intended to visit
America around late April or May, 2003. In preparation for that, on March 7,
2003 Alex Kiselev signed a written agreement with the law firm of Venable,
LLP to provide PR services to Mr. Yanukovych for the amount of $100,000.
Alex Kiselev signed and initialed every page of the agreement acting on
behalf of Mr. Yanukovych. On behalf of Venable the agreement was signed
by Mr. Patrick E. O’Donnell and Mr. James George Jatras.
Åduard Prutnik is registered in Paragraph "6b"(Name and title of official
with whom registrant deals). Venable, LLP is tasked to work on improving the
image of Viktor Yanukovych personally, rather than the country of Ukraine.
Additional amounts are as follows:
- $ 10,000 for arranging a formal state dinner at the US Department of
State, “with a success fee of an additional $ 10,000 if these efforts are
successful.”
- $ 20,000 for arranging a personal meeting at the White House between Prime
Minister Yanukovych and President Bush, “with a success fee of $ 60,000 to
be paid if these efforts are successful.”.
Since Mr. Yanukovych did not come to Washington in the spring of 2003 as
was originally planned, no fees were paid for arranging a State Department
dinner or a White House meeting, which was detailed in both the seven-page
long Agreement dated by March 6, 2003 and its Addendum dated March 24,
2003.
According to the US Department of Justice Supplemental Statement (Form
CRM-154) for a six month period ending November 30, 2003, filed by Venable
LLP, it is reported on page 5 that Alex Kiselev paid the total amount of
$341,396.50 for providing PR services on behalf of Mr. Yanukovych.
This money bought the "discussions, communications and/or meetings” with
some of the US Administration, Federal Agencies officials, Senators and
members of the House of Representatives. “Ukrayinska Pravda” has a complete
list of those American officials and legislators blessed by conversations on
behalf of Mr. Yanukovych.
Visit of Viktor Yanukovych to the US got postponed until October, 2003.
Therefore the engagement with Venable was extended until October too. In the
meantime some new PR hired guns joined the crowd. Venable has brought in its
strategic partner, the media and public relations company, Potomac
Communications Strategies Group, whose “task was to provide media advice
and to prepare an ‘op-ed’ piece”. It was also in charge of arranging a press
breakfast.
Potomac Communications Strategies gets $ 40,000 to do it from an ”
independent observer” Alex Kiselev. The major recipients of this PR service
are Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and his advisor Eduard Prutnik. Once
again, the main focus there had been concentrated on the personal image of
Mr. Yanukovych and not on the country of Ukraine.
In its turn, Potomac Communications Strategies hired a subcontractor to do
the job of promoting Mr. Yanukovych. Creative Response Concepts is paid
$10,000 “to set up the press breakfast and to seek interview opportunities.”
It was that shameful press breakfast at the National Press Club in
Washington DC in October 2003, at which both the UP Editor-in-Chief and the
UP Washington Correspondent had been denied access by some Peter Robbio
of Creative Response Concepts, a paid foreign agent of Mr. Yanukovych in the
US, who hurled his own body to physically block the entrance to the press
breakfast, thus declaring the event to be "for American press only", and
thus off limits for “Ukrayinska Pravda”.
Despite the fact that the meeting between Mr. Yanukovych and President Bush
did not occur, the “independent observer” Alex Kiselev retained the services
of Venable for another year, until October 31, 2004, i.e. up to the first
round of Ukrainian presidential elections. Venable agreed to keep on looking
after Mr. Yanukovych’s image for a modest monthly retainer of “only” $
40,000 or $ 480,000 per year.
According to another US Department of Justice Supplemental Statement filed
by Venable LLP for a six month period ending May 31, 2004 and signed by
Patrick O’Donnell on June 14, 2004, Alex Kiselev paid Venable for its
propaganda of Mr. Yanukovych in the USA the amount of $ 240,000 from
December 2003 to May 2004, as it is reported on page 5 of that document.
Report for the second half of this year will appear in December 2004.
Perhaps, there we will see the remainder of the total $ 480,000 being paid
for in full.
Alex Kiselev’s desire to improve the image for Viktor Yanukovych was so
great that the firms already contracted did not suffice him and he hired
some new ones. In March 2004 he hired DB Communications, LLC t/a DBC
Public Relations Experts. The contract is signed for “a period commencing on
May 17 and ending on October 31, 2004.” The documents filed to the FARA
by this PR firm have already plainly identified Viktor Yanukovych as “a
candidate for President of the Ukraine”. The amount of this contract was
$ 100,000. Alex Kiselev paid $ 40,000 by May 28, 2004.
An interesting caveat in the relationship between DB Communications and Alex
Kiselev can be found in Addendum # 1 to the Consulting Agreement. It states,
that the firm “has reasonable concerns that opponents of Client’s principal
[i.e. opponents of Yanukovych - UP] and/or others” may pose a threat to the
firm’s computer systems, as well as “further concerns for the physical
safety of Consultant’s offices, equipment, and personnel.”
On August 19, 2004 Alex Kiselev signed a Retainer Agreement with yet another
firm, JWI LLC doing business as Jefferson Waterman International, for the
total amount of $ 120,000. Interestingly enough, the firm’s key expert on
Ukraine is Kempton Jenkins http://www.jwidc.com/staff_Jenkins.htm currently
the President of Ukraine-U.S. Business Council, who also was a senior
consultant to APCO Worldwide. Ukrayinska Pravda has earlier exposed Mr.
Jenkins’ associations with Viktor Medvedchuk and Hrihory Surkis.
This time the Kiselev’s foreign principal for JWI services was Eduard
Prutnik, and not Viktor Yanukovych. It is a mystery why Eduard Prutnik, who
until recently has barely been ever heard of by anybody in Washington, needs
to enhance and improve his own image in this town. Arguably, the budgeted
funds will be spent on the current visit of Prutnik to the United States,
where he campaigns for a great and majestic Prime Minister Yanukovych.
By the way, we are curious to find out how many thousands of dollars were
budgeted for the press conference on November 8, where a Russian-speaking
presenter, Mr. Prutnik, was not even provided with a professional
interpreter in front of an English-speaking audience?
MONEY TALKS AND STRATEGY WALKS
Strategy for Viktor Yanukovych’s PR campaign in Washington can be
characterized by three main points:
- portrayal of Mr. Yanukovych as a liberal and representative of a “new”
Ukraine;
- portrayal of Mr. Yuschenko as an anti-Semite;
- representation of the election campaign in Ukraine as fair and
transparent, thus laying foundation for a preliminary legitimacy in the eyes
of American public should Mr. Yanukovych declared as a winner.
The first point of the above program is being carried out by those PR firms
hired by Kiselev. A complete list of their technologies is known: telephone
calls, meetings, conversations, breakfast etc with some leading (or the ones
who agreed) representatives of Washingtonian elites. The phrase of “the ‘new
’ Ukraine and Mr. Yanukovych’s role in promoting it” is actually quoted from
the contract between Venable LLP and Alex Kiselev acting on behalf of Prime
Minister Viktor Yanukovych as of March 7, 2003.
The second point is being worked out by Alex Kiselev himself by pulling legs
of public by the deceitful idea of alleged anti-Semitism of Yuschenko and
Ukrainian Diaspora in the United States. Here is what Kiselev says himself
and what is written about him in "Washington Jewish Week": Kiselev says he
supports the prime minister in a number of areas. "I think he'll be a strong
president," he said, noting Yushchenko has "a spotty record in minority
rights." Kiselev is also concerned that Yanukovych is not getting a fair
hearing in the States, complaining that Ukrainian Diaspora groups that lobby
in this country and support Yushchenko came following World War II and
lived in Ukrainian areas where many residents were Nazi collaborators."
The third point of the program is to be carried out by a group of former
members of the US Congress, who went to Ukraine to observe the elections
on October 31 and supposedly came to conclusion that the elections were
free and fair.
A few words about the background. There is a legitimate organization called
The United States Association of Former Members of Congress (USAFMC).
Concerned by developments in Ukraine, USAFMC members together with the
US-Ukraine Foundation organized four trip to Ukraine – to Northern, Central
and Southern regions and the capital city of Kyiv. The USAFMC delegations
were bipartisan, all expenses covered by the USAID. Members of those
delegations have found that significant violations did take place during the
election campaign in Ukraine.
Now about the alternative delegation of former members of US Congress
headed by Bob Carr of Michigan. At the press conference in Kyiv the
delegation of seven former US Congressmen stated (it was mostly Mr. Carr
who spoke there, since the rest of them preferred to keep silence) was
reported as saying to the effect that the elections were free and fair, and
no violations found. A question by TV Channel 5, as to how did the former
US Congressmen came to that conclusion remained unanswered.
The former Congressmen came to the press conference with someone who
according to witnesses, acted as an organizer, group leader and interpreter.
We can figure out that that someone was none else but Alex Kiselev, and this
in some way is confirmed by the same article from "Washington Jewish Week"
we have already quoted above: “A Jewish emigrant from Ukraine now living in
Alexandria is headed to his native land this week, leading a delegation to
monitor this Sunday's presidential election. Alex Kiselev, an investment
manager in his 30s who has been in the States since 1992, is Ukrainian Prime
Minister Viktor Yanukovych's U.S. strategy counselor. ... Kiselev's
delegation includes former members of Congress Bob Carr (D-Mich.), Ronald
Coleman (Texas) and Peter Barca (Wisc.), all Democrats."
It is quite possible to believe, that the former US Congressmen initially
had no clue as to what role was set up for them by the temniks in Ukraine.
According to the accounts of those present at the press conference in Kyiv,
the remaining six other Congressmen, having sensed inadequacy of the
situation they got into were visibly eager to be done with it as soon as
possible. In short, Stalin used to call such people “useful idiots.”
FINALLY, WE GET TO ASK
FIRST Question. What financial sources did Viktor Yanukovych use to pay
hundreds of thousands dollars to Washington PR firms, whereas according to
his income declaration he cannot afford even a personal car?
SECOND Question. How do the money get to Kiselev? He is the one who
pays PR firms directly. UP does not yet have information of what complicated
ways the money travel from Ukrainian Prime Minister’s hands to Kiselev’s
accounts. This is a topic for a separate investigation.
At the same time there is no reason to doubt that Alex Kiselev is an agent
for dealings in hundreds of thousands dollars. Considering the declaration
filled out by him and submitted to the US Department of Justice. It states,
that Alex Kiselev is a volunteer advisor to Mr. Yanukovych, and “Mr. Kiselev
is not compensated for this effort.”
At the same time, beginning in March 2003, Kiselev paid $1,041,396.50 to PR
firms in Washington to promote Viktor Yanukovych?! So do we have now to
accept as true that it was a charitable contribution out of his own pocket?
THIRD question. Whose money was paid for this visit of Eduard Prutnik to the
US? If it was the government money, then what does he do here? Facilitates
promoting the Prime Minister’s image in the United States? Has the money
from the national budget of Ukraine ever been officially allocated for this
purpose? If his visit here was paid for by private funds, then how come he
presents himself here in his official capacity as an advisor to the Prime
Minister?
FOURTH question. Who paid for the trip of Bob Carr’s alternative
delegation of former US Congressmen to Ukraine, headed by Alex Kiselev?
It all comes together to make up an interesting history with geography, as
my father-in-law likes to say. If Victor Yanukovych is indeed so white and
fluffy, as Mssrs. Eduard Prutnik and Alex Kiselev strive to portray, then
why such huge amounts of money have to be paid to make up his image?
Whereas Åduard Prutnik’s visit to Washington and Alex Kiselev’s mission
are not over yet, UP will continue tracking further unfolding of
events. -30-
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LINK: http://www2.pravda.com.ua/en/archive/2004/november/10/1.shtml
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.220: ARTICLE NUMBER ELEVEN
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11. LECTURE ON 1932-33 FAMINE BY REV. YURIY MYTSYK
Thursday, Nov. 18, University of Alberta
Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies
Edmonton, AB, Canada, Tuesday, Nov 16, 2004
EDMONTON - On Thursday, November 18, at 3:30 p.m., the Rev. Dr.
Yuriy Mytsyk, Department of History, National University "Kyiv Mohyla
Academy," will give a talk on "Testimonies of Survivors of the Artificial
Famine of 1932-33 in Ukraine.
"Two volumes of testimonies under his editorship have been published in
2003 and 2004 by "Vydavnychyi dim "Kyievo-Mohylians'ka Akademiia."
The lecture will be given in Ukrainian and will be held in Heritage Lounge,
Athabasca Hall, University of Alberta. The Rev. Dr. Yuriy Mytsyk is a
2004 John Kolasky Memorial Fellow.
For more information, contact Bohdan Klid, Research Scholar and
Assistant Director, Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies
450 Athabasca Hall, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E8,
Canada; Tel: (780) 492-6857, -2972; Fax: (780) 492-4967
http://www.cius.ca, Bohdan.Klid@ualberta.ca
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.220: ARTICLE NUMBER TWELVE
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12. UKRAINE, RUSSIA TO ORGANIZE CRIMEA-KUBAN
RAILWAY FERRY SERVICE .
Ukrainian News Service, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, November 15, 2004
KYIV - Ukraine and Russia agreed to organize an international direct
railway ferry service between Crimea (Ukraine) and Kuban (Russia).
Some relevant international documents were signed by the minister of
transport and communications of Ukraine Georgii Kirpa and the minister
of transport of Russia Igor Levitin in the presence of president Leonid
Kuchma, president of Russia Vladimir Putin, and presidential candidate
PM Viktor Yanukovych.
In particular, Kirpa and Levitin signed an agreement on organization of
international direct railway ferry operations between the seaports Krym
and Kavkaz, joint usage of the ferry crossing, and rules of cargo
transportation. According to expert forecasts, about transportation costs
will be reduced by 30% due to the agreement. Putin underlined that the
crossing will be useful for the region of Central Asia and the Caspian Sea.
Besides, it will also facilitate communication between citizens of Ukraine
and Russia. -30- [The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.220: ARTICLE NUMBER THIRTEEN
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13. RUSSIAN TV LOOKS AT POSSIBLE OUTCOME OF
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
RTR Russia TV, Moscow, Russia, in Russian, 13 Nov 04
BBC Monitoring Service, UK, in English, Sat, Nov. 13, 2004
MOSCOW - The possible outcome of the second round of the Ukrainian
presidential election is of great importance to Russia because Ukraine "is
a neighbour and a very big European country, as well as a fraternal country,
which has an economy that is developing very dynamically", Nikolay Svanidze
said, opening his "Zerkalo" programme on Russia TV channel on 13 November.
But, he added, "usually, when elections are held in a neighbouring country,
a position of neutrality, or a rather detached position is taken. This time
our leadership, our president took a rather definitive position: he
supports just one candidate, and his trip to the Crimea is evidence of
that. Why is he doing this? How would you explain this position of our
president?" Svanidze asked his studio guest Andrey Kokoshin, chairman of
the State Duma committee on the CIS and relations with compatriots, and
head of a working group for drawing up a bill on dual citizenship with
Ukraine.
In Kokoshin's view, "this candidate, namely Viktor Yanukovych, formulated
a very clear policy as regards Russian-Ukrainian relations. He said Ukraine
was ready to introduce Russian as the second official language. He said he
was in favour of introducing dual citizenship for citizens of Russia and
Ukraine. He put forward a very comprehensive and well-considered
programme of our economic integration as part of a single economic space
and as part of bilateral Russian-Ukrainian relations. So, there are more
than enough reasons for most people in Russia, as well as our president,
to support this candidate."
Kokoshin dismissed the view that one should exercise caution in politics:
"There are times in politics when caution is even harmful. In the
circumstances this position [support for Yanukovych] is fully justified.
Because to a large extent thanks to this position the political agenda in
Ukraine has significantly changed.
"I have been following [Ukrainian politics] for a long time and have active
contacts with Ukrainian politicians. For a very long time relations with
the West, the EU and other power centres in the West, were at the centre
of Ukrainian politics. Now political debate focuses on relations with
Russia.
And during the first round all other candidates to a certain extent had to
talk about relations with Russia. And the opposition candidate [Viktor
Yushchenko] also had to raise these issues and offer some solution,
although, unlike Yanukovych, he does not have a clear and focused
position on the matter."
"You were right", Kokoshin told Svanidze, "when you said that we have
very special relations with Ukraine, as we do with Belarus and to a certain
extent with Kazakhstan. These relations are of an extraordinary nature.
And the fact that the question of Russian-Ukrainian relations and Ukraine's
attitude to Russia and the Russian language became the centre of the
election campaign is logical. It is a moment of truth that will be of use
in our relations anyway."
Kokoshin denied that the dual-citizenship bill was part of the campaign to
support Yanukovych in his presidential bid. According to Kokoshin, "the
idea of dual citizenship for [citizens of] Russia and Ukraine, Russia and
Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan has been around for a long time in bilateral
relations between these countries. It has deep roots and goes back to, as I
have already said, our special personal relations with Ukraine. On the
other hand, it is also connected with the present phase in the development
of integration processes in the post-Soviet space, above all the process of
forming an organization under the agreement on a single economic space."
Asked whether the bill may be buried were the second round won by
Yushchenko, Kokoshin replied: "Yanukovych has better chances. In the
event of his victory, the victory of a man who put forward the idea of dual
citizenship, we will have many more chances to sign this agreement with
Ukraine." -30- [The Action Ukraine Report Monitoring Service]
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.220: ARTICLE NUMBER FOURTEEN
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14. UKRAINE HARVESTS 45 MILLION TONS OF GRAIN IN 2004
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Wed, Nov 17, 2004
KYIV - Ukraine harvested 45 million tons of grain in 2004. Prime Minister
Viktor Yanukovych announced this while opening a meeting of the Cabinet
of Ministers.
"I would like to report with great satisfaction today that the largest
harvest since independence was obtained this year, which we expected.
We harvested 45 million tons of grain this year. This is a significant
victory," Yanukovych said.
He congratulated farmers on the Day of Agricultural Workers, which is
commemorated in Ukraine on November 21 this year. As Ukrainian News
earlier reported, the Cabinet of Ministers recently raised its forecast for
this year's grain harvest (including corn) by 3 million tons or 7.1% to 45
million tons.
In 2003, farmers cultivated 20.22 million tons of grain, which was 18.57
million tons or 47.87% less than the quantity they cultivated in 2002. The
quantity of grain required for production of bread and bakery goods on the
domestic market is 6.3-6.5 million tons per year. -30-
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ACTION UKRAINE REPORT-04, No.220: ARTICLE NUMBER FIFTEEN
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15. UKRAINE: "THE GREAT NON-DEBATE"
COMMENTARY: by Marta Dyczok in Kyiv
London, Ontario, Canada, Tuesday, November 16, 2004
"A new power has already arrived, Mr Yushchenko, you simply didn't
notice. It has already started working, and it must be understood that it
is not going anywhere, and there is no way to dislodge it." This was part of
the closing statement made yesterday in the debates by Victor Yanukovych,
one of Ukraine's presidential candidates and current Prime Minister. A
strange thing to say to a nation 6 days before an election where people are
expected to choose their next leader.
Last night I watched the great non-event of Ukraine's presidential election
campaign. The much anticipated TV debates between the two remaining
candidates, Victor Yushchenko, the opposition candidate, and the current
corrupt establishment 's choice: Victor Yanukovych.
Like most Ukrainians, I was glued to my TV set, waiting for the most hyped
TV show in Ukraine in its 13 years of independence. With the largest TV
audience in Ukraine's history the debate became the non-event of the
Ukrainian Presidential election campaign - the two Victor's did not debate.
For 100 minutes of live airtime each candidate presented pre-prepared
statements on four pre-agreed topic: economics, social issues, domestic
and foreign policy.
Why? Until a week ago the establishment's candidate refused to participate
in the debates. First he said he would rather campaign on his actions than
words. Then he said that he would not face his opponent on TV since he had
been allegedly insulted, but would not say what the insults were. Anyone who
has seen Yanukovych on TV in his capacity as Prime Minister knows that the
man is simply not a public speaker. And there is the small fact that he has
two prison terms under his belt and that prices have been rising sharply in
the last month.
Ukraine's election law stipulates that in the event of a second round of a
presidential race, a live TV debate must take place on the state TV channel
at least six days before the vote. The opposition candidate Yushchenko
announced that he was prepared to debate, and if his opponent did not show
up then he would use the legally designated air time to convince Ukrainians
to vote for him on Sunday 21 November.
A few days before the debates were to take place, the pro-establishment
candidate Yanukovych made a surprise announcement that he had changed
his mind and would participate in the debate after all.
But there were conditions. According to the law, both candidates must agree
to the format. There was a lot of speculation on how the debates would look.
The night before the debate rumours were flying that all the questions had
been arranged in advance. There was also speculation on how Yushchenko
would handle the intense lights in a TV studio since due to the mystery
illness that has disfigured his handsome face forces him to wear heavy make
up to look presentable.
The entire election campaign has been a struggle about information and
access to voters. On Monday night, for the first time Ukrainians were able
to see both candidates, live, on the state-owned national TV station which
reaches 98% of the voters in the country.
It is no secret that there is very little freedom of speech in Ukraine. The
three TV channels which have national audience reach are in the hands of the
current elite. One is state owned, and two are controlled by oligarchs close
to the current president Kuchma, who has nominated Yanukovych as his
successor, the way the Yelstin chose Putin. More than a year ago, even
before the establishment had chosen its candidate, these TV stations were
engaged in an information campaign to discredit Yushchenko. The entire
presidential campaign was an uneven fight since Yushchenko was practically
banned from these 3 TV stations while Yanukovych was constantly on the
screen. What remains to be seen is how effective this campaign of
discreditation has been.
Both candidates are now claiming victory in the debates, although Yushchenko
is publicly declaring that he would like to have the opportunity to debate,
not simply see his opponent face to face on the air. He is clearly the
better economist and better speaker. Although he did read from his notes
rather a lot, most of his points were clear and focused - what is wrong with
the current system, what he has done well in the past and will do in the
future to address the problems.
He stressed that the main problem is corruption, that the shadow economy
is draining the country, giving the example that despite 13% growth of GDP,
the state budget had only grown by 1% in the past year. He repeated his
campaign platform of job creation, simultaneous lowering of taxes and
improved enforcement of tax collection, and fighting with corruption.
Yanukovych stuck to a prepared script of how much his government has
done in 2 years to improve the lives of Ukrainians.
The Russian spin doctors who are running the pro-establishment candidate's
campaign arranged a post-debate show which ran for 2 hours after the
debates. It was a round table of pro-Yanukovych heavyweights going on
and on how he was the better candidate and how he won the debate.
In the country's capital, Kyiv, restaurants and bars were full of people
watching the debates, as if it was the Stanley Cup final, the Super Bowl or
the World Cup. The election is 5 days away. The tension is palpable. For
the last few weeks I have been in Kyiv, where the mood is clearly and
visibly pro-Yushchenko. His campaign colour, orange, is everywhere.
Taxi cabs and expensive Mercedes alike have orange ribbons attached
to their antennae, despite the fact that their tires are being slashed at
night. There are reports of pressure being exerted on government officials
throughout the country to deliver the 'right' result on Sunday. Even the
Russian orthodox church has been pulled into the fight, and a few days ago
there were piles of anti-Yushchenko flyers discovered in one of the
country's
large churches.
Yanukovych's ominous reference to the 'power which has already arrived
and will not be dislodged' is interesting, since it remains to be seen how
Ukrainians will react to it. The fact that he represents a powerful clan
from Donetsk which has been illegally buying up the country for the past
two years is no secret to most Ukrainians. Their ruthlessness is also well
known. What remains to be seen is how the average Ukrainian will react.
Will s/he be once again cowed into submission or will this latest attempt at
instilling fear provoke anger, a vote against the establishment, and people
standing up for their right to vote. In the first round of voting there were
many electoral violations. About 10% of the population was prevented
from voting by manipulation of the voter's lists and the results were not
released for 10 days. A number of election officials have already been
fired.
I have been selected as an OSCE observer for round two of the election,
which means that I am prevented from speaking to the media or sharing my
views on what will happen on election day. Should be interesting. -30-
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Marta Dyczok is an Associate Professor in the Departments of
History and Political Science, University of Western Ontario,
London, Ontario, Canada. She can be contacted at mdyczok@uwo.ca
Article used with the permission of the author.
=======================================================
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Articles are Distributed For Information, Research, Education
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Ukraine Information Website: http://www.ArtUkraine.com
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If you would like to read "THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT"-04
please send your name, country of residence, and e-mail contact information
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let us know by e-mail to morganw@patriot.net.
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PUBLISHER AND EDITOR
Mr. E. Morgan Williams, Executive Director, Ukrainian Federation of America
(UFA); Coordinator, The Action Ukraine Coalition (AUC);
Senior Advisor, Government Relations, U.S.-Ukraine Foundation (USUF);
Advisor, Ukraine-U.S. Business Council, Washington, D.C.;
Publisher and Editor, www.ArtUkraine.com Information Service (ARTUIS),
P.O. Box 2607, Washington, D.C. 20013,
Tel: 202 437 4707, E-mail: morganw@patriot.net
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"THE ACTION UKRAINE REPORT"-2004 SPONSORS:
"Working to Secure Ukraine's Future"
1. THE ACTION UKRAINE COALITION (AUC): Washington, D.C.,
http://www.artukraine.com/auc/index.htm; MEMBERS:
A. UKRAINIAN AMERICAN COORDINATING COUNCIL,
(UACC), Ihor Gawdiak, President, Washington, D.C., New York, NY
B. UKRAINIAN FEDERATION OF AMERICA (UFA),
Zenia Chernyk, Chairperson; Vera M. Andryczyk, President; E.
Morgan Williams, Executive Director, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania.
http://www.artukraine.com/ufa/index.htm
C. U.S.-UKRAINE FOUNDATION (USUF), Nadia Komarnyckyj
McConnell, President, Washington, D.C., Kyiv, Ukraine .
2. UKRAINE-U.S. BUSINESS COUNCIL, Kempton Jenkins,
President, Washington, D.C.
3. KIEV-ATLANTIC GROUP, David and Tamara Sweere, Daniel
Sweere, Kyiv and Myronivka, Ukraine, 380 44 295 7275 in Kyiv.
4. BAHRIANY FOUNDATION, INC. Dr. Anatol Lysyj, Chairman,
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA,
5. ODUM- Association of American Youth of Ukrainian Descent,
Minnesota Chapter, Natalia Yarr, Chairperson
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