Local vote seen as harbinger of Rada elections - The Ukrainian ...

Inside: 

• Former U.S. envoy on progress, setbacks in Ukraine – page 3 

• Taras Shevchenko honored in two capitals – page 8 

• Special section: Ukrainian Debutante Balls – pages 9-14 

The Ukrainian Weekly 

Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association 

Vol. LXXX No. 13 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2012 

John Demjanjuk 

dead at 91 

A nasty battle marred 

by assault, intimidation 

$1/$2 in Ukraine 

Local vote seen as harbinger of Rada elections 

by Zenon Zawada 

Special to The Ukrainian Weekly 

John Demjanjuk in a photo taken in December 2011. 

PARSIPPANY, N.J. – John Demjanjuk, the former U.S. citizen 

who was appealing his 2011 conviction in Germany on 

28,060 counts of accessory to murder at the Nazi death 

camp in Sobibor, Poland, died at a German nursing home 

on March 17. He was 91. 

The Bavarian police confirmed Mr. Demjanjuk was 

found dead early that day in his room in a nursing home in 

southern Germany. He had been suffering from bone marrow 

disease and chronic kidney disease. 

Mr. Demjanjuk, who through the years was accused of 

being a guard at several Nazi camps, denied that he ever 

served as a camp guard and insisted that he was a prisoner 

of war – a Red Army soldier captured by the Germans. He 

claimed he was a victim of mistaken identity. 

Mr. Demjanjuk’s German lawyer, Ulrich Busch, underscored 

that his client “died unconvicted and as an innocent 

man according to European and German law.” Dr. Busch 

explained that, according to the European Convention of 

Human Rights, anyone charged with a criminal offense is 

presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law, 

and in Germany that means once the final verdict is handed 

down on an appeal. 

Munich court spokeswoman Margarete Noetzel told the 

press that, under German law, because the defendant died 

before his final appeal was heard and because a person is 

presumed innocent until proven guilty, he is still technically 

presumed innocent. 

In a statement to The Ukrainian Weekly, Mr. Demjanjuk’s 

son, John Jr., said: 

“My father died a free man, innocent and not convicted 

since a successful appeal could not conclude upon his 

death. Over the last 35 years, the only criminal proceeding 

that did conclude resulted in an Israeli acquittal. 

“Since the accusations in Germany, I stated that it was a 

political farce as, at his advanced age and poor health, he 

could not survive another legal process. As Nazi Germany 

committed crimes against humanity by killing a forgotten 

several million Soviet POWs by a tortuous starvation and 

diseased death, today’s Germany intentionally chose such 

a surviving POW as a scapegoat to blame Ukrainians for 

the Nazi crimes by German criminals which historically 

went unpunished. 

(Continued on page 4) 

KYIV – The March 18 vote in the Kyiv Oblast town of 

Obukhiv offered a hint of what to expect for the October 28 

national parliamentary elections – a nasty, even physical 

battle replete with fraud accusations, intimidation and violations, 

both before and on the day of the election. 

The day’s antics included an assault committed by a Party 

of Regions national deputy, disputes about the vote count 

and contradictory election law, as well as allegations of fraud 

techniques such as intimidation, denial of candidate registration, 

vote-buying, fake exit polls and ballot-stuffing. 

One of the chief contenders for City Council chair, 

Anatolii Shafarenko of the populist UDAR party, was 

denied access to polling stations to observe, his party 

reported. The nationalist Svoboda Party candidate, Valerii 

Vorobets, was denied registration altogether in mid-February, 

in an alleged violation of election law. 

Additionally, “the government used old ‘trusted’ technologies, 

including so-called ‘carousels,’” UDAR Deputy 

Chair Artur Palatnyi said in a March 18 press release. 

“What happened in Obukhiv was a warm-up and dress 

rehearsal for the future parliamentary elections.” 

The election was held to select a City Council chair to succeed 

Volodymyr Melnyk, a Party of the Regions member who 

died in an unusual car accident in October 2011. The 

declared winner was Oleksander Levchenko, also of the 

Party of Regions, who reportedly earned 39 percent of votes. 

Voter turn-out was unusually low at 41 percent, which 

National Deputy Iryna Herashchenko of the Our Ukraine- 

People’s Self-Defense faction said reflected the exhaustion 

most Ukrainians have for politics. In all, 28,600 voters cast 

their ballots at 15 local polling stations, reported the 

Committee of Voters of Ukraine (CVU). 

The CVU, led by Oleksander Chernenko, reported no falsifications, 

overlooking pre-election corruption such as the 

denied registration of Mr. Vorobets’ candidacy and the 

denied registrations of representatives from the Front for 

Change and UDAR – both leading opposition parties – to 

local election commissions. 

Mr. Chernenko’s claim of “more or less normal” elections 

was not supported by the UDAR and Svoboda parties, 

as well as the Spilna Sprava (Common Cause) civic movement 

and National Deputy Andrii Parubii of the Our 

Ukraine-People’s Self-Defense Bloc. 

Tymoshenko accused of “high treason” 

RFE/RL 

KYIV – A majority in the Ukrainian Parliament has 

voted to accuse jailed former Prime Minister Yulia 

Tymoshenko of committing “high treason” during 

negotiations on a 2009 gas contract with Russia. 

Ms. Tymoshenko is currently serving a seven-year 

prison term on charges she abused her office during 

those negotiations, which resulted in an increase in 

the price Ukraine paid for Russian gas imports. 

Lawmakers voted to endorse a parliamentary 

investigation claiming that Ms. Tymoshenko’s actions 

National Deputy Iryna Herashchenko (Our Ukraine- 

People’s Self-Defense) speaks to the press at the 

Verkhovna Rada two days after she was manhandled by 

National Deputy Petro Melnyk (Party of Regions) at a 

polling station in Obukhiv, Kyiv Oblast. 

Indeed, Mr. Chernenko’s credibility has been questioned 

by political observers ever since his predecessor, Ihor 

Popov, resigned from the CVU chairmanship in 2009 to join 

the Single Center party, which is closely affiliated with the 

Party of Regions. 

Since then, Mr. Chernenko has made assessments on 

several elections which were not considered by numerous 

political observers and players to be objective. 

“The sociological sampling of Obukhiv is a lot better for 

the opposition than Ukraine’s average, yet the victory was 

gained by the Party of Regions candidate,” Mr. Parubii 

wrote on his Ukrayinska Pravda blog posted on March 19. 

“Obviously, the vote didn’t occur without falsifications, evidence 

of which is the brutal attack on Iryna Herashchenko by 

a Party of Regions bandit with a deputy’s mandate, as well as 

‘blue sweaters’ and fake exit polls,” he wrote. 

National Deputy Petro Melnyk of the Party of Regions 

violently grabbed the petite Ms. Herashchenko after she 

refused his demands that she leave a polling station before 

the vote count began. He argued that she didn’t have the 

right to witness the count, while she insisted she had the 

right to observe as a national deputy. 

“I realized that neither my status, nor personal relations, 

will save me from similar behavior by [my] colleagues from 


UNIAN/Aleksandr Sinitsa 

“bear signs of high treason.” 

The report alleges that Ms. Tymoshenko acted “in favor 

of a foreign state” because her private company allegedly 

owed Russia’s Defense Ministry more than $400 

million and she possibly faced criminal prosecution. 

Ms. Tymoshenko’s office dismissed the accusations 

as “complete rubbish.” 

The European Union and the United States have 

condemned Ms. Tymoshenko’s prosecution as politically 

motivated. 

(With reports from ITAR-TASS and the Associated Press)

2 

THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2012 

No. 13 

ANALYSIS 

Yanukovych to entice voters 

with handouts ahead of election 

by Pavel Korduban 

Eurasia Daily Monitor 

President Viktor Yanukovych on March 

7 pompously instructed the Ukrainian government 

to launch social reforms. The plan 

boils down to bribing the poorest strata 

with handouts at a time when the coffers 

are nearly empty and international creditors 

want to see less government spending. 

The handouts are timed to coincide with 

the start of a parliamentary election campaign. 

Mr. Yanukovych may fall into the same 

trap as his predecessors, President Viktor 

Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia 

Tymoshenko, who in 2007-2009 tried to 

bribe voters with steps that looked suspiciously 

similar but lost popular support 

along with damaging the economy. 

President Yanukovych announced that 

pensions would be raised from May 

through July for some 9 million people who 

retired before 2008 out of the total population 

of 45 million, as well as for military 

retirees, war veterans and children from 

poor families. 

He promised mortgage rates as low as 2 

to 3 percent from May, compared to current 

double-digit rates. He said the government 

would compensate banks for the low 

rates. Mr. Yanukovych also promised to pay 

1,000 hrv ($125 U.S.) in one-off compensation 

to some 6 million depositors of the 

defunct Soviet Sberbank (state savings 

bank) (president.gov.ua, March 7). 

This is nothing new. All of Mr. 

Yanukovych’s predecessors raised pensions 

before crucial elections. Ms. 

Tymoshenko invented the 1,000-hrv handout 

in 2008 with an eye to the January 

2010 presidential election. Mr. Yushchenko 

blocked the initiative, so only a portion of 

the Soviet depositors managed to receive 

what was popularly called “Yulia’s thousand.” 

Ms. Tymoshenko lost the election to 

Mr. Yanukovych who, ironically, has now 

resurrected her idea in order to defeat her 

party in the elections scheduled for 

October 28. International creditors did not 

like “Yulia’s thousand,” so complications 

with the International Monetary Fund 

(IMF) are inevitable again. 

However, Mr. Yanukovych apparently 

has abandoned the hope of receiving anything 

from the $15 billion assistance package, 

which the IMF froze last year, at least 

until after the election. Addressing female 

dignitaries on March 6 ahead of International 

Women’s Day on March 8, which is a holiday 

in Ukraine, Mr. Yanukovych said his government 

“has not accepted and will never 

accept” the IMF’s condition to increase 

domestic gas prices (UNIAN, March 6). 

This is a sure sign that the ruling party 

will present the refusal to hike gas prices – 

RFE/RL 

KYIV – Ukrainian officials said jailed 

ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has 

been denied medical treatment outside 

prison, as recommended by doctors. 

Her supporters said on March 15 that 

Ms. Tymoshenko had refused to undergo 

medical treatment offered by prison doctors. 

Ms. Tymoshenko’s daughter, Eugenia, 

which would be needed to unfreeze the 

IMF loans – as an achievement to be proud 

of in the run-up to the parliamentary election. 

The IMF last month advised that the 

government hike domestic gas prices by 30 

percent for households and by 58 percent 

for utility companies. Without the hikes, 

the state-owned oil and gas behemoth 

Naftohaz Ukrainy, whose deficit amounted 

to 1.6 percent of GDP last year, will continue 

to burden the state budget. 

Mr. Yanukovych’s pre-election initiative 

must have caught even key members of his 

team by surprise, as officials widely differed 

in their assessments of the spending 

involved. The president’s economy aide, 

Iryna Akimova, estimated that an additional 

$1 billion would be spent from the state 

budget on all the new measures planned by 

Mr. Yanukovych. This is no small sum for 

the national economy, equalling roughly as 

much as Naftohaz pays Gazprom for 

monthly deliveries of gas, which traditionally 

accounts for almost one-fifth of national 

imports. 

However, Vice Prime Minister Sergey 

Tigipko estimated that twice as much, 

namely $2 billion, would be needed. What 

is more, he said the estimate did not 

include the planned compensations for low 

mortgage rates. At the same time, he 

asserted that the Finance Ministry had 

funds for everything (Interfax-Ukraine, 

March 7). 

The government has failed to explain 

where exactly the money will come from. 

National Bank of Ukraine Governor Serhii 

Arbuzov ruled out printing money. Mr. 

Tigipko said $375 million would come 

from a luxury tax and a tax on offshore 

transactions, both of which the Parliament 

has yet to pass. He also said that as much as 

$3.5 billion could be received from reducing 

the share of the shadow economy (Inter 

TV, March 9). 

However, several months ago Mr. 

Tigipko planned to use proceeds from the 

two new taxes to finance the Pension Fund 

deficit, which amounted to 1.4 percent of 

GDP last year. If the proceeds are used on 

pension hikes instead, the gap will hardly 

narrow, making it even harder for the government 

to negotiate with the IMF and 

other international financial institutions. 

As to the shadow economy, no Ukrainian 

government has thus far managed to significantly 

reduce its share, estimated at 30-50 

percent. It is not clear how Mr. Tigipko is 

going to proceed with that, given that 

Ukraine’s taxation system remains one of 

the world’s worst, according to the World 

Bank’s Doing Business survey for 2012. 

President Yanukovych himself was even 

less convincing, speaking in an interview 


Yulia denied treatment outside prison 

has told the media that the former prime 

minister has a spinal hernia and suffers 

from constant and intense pain. 

German doctors, who examined Ms. 

Tymoshenko earlier this month, have concluded 

that she urgently needs complex 

treatment in a specialized facility in 

observance of international standards. 

(With reports from the Associated Press 

and RIA Novosti) 

Vlasenko hopes verdict will be canceled 

KYIV – Serhiy Vlasenko, a defense lawyer 

for former Prime Minister Yulia 

Tymoshenko, has said that Ukraine’s Higher 

Specialized Court for Civil and Criminal 

Cases is obliged to cancel the verdict against 

his client in the Russian gas supply contract 

case. “Ms. Tymoshenko’s defense team has 

currently received compelling evidence in 

the gas case regarding the absence of any 

guilt in Ms. Tymoshenko’s actions,” he said 

at a press conference in Kyiv on March 21. 

He said that the defense team had received 

an independent conclusion from a wellknown 

legal expert, the director of the 

Alternatyva legal expertise center, according 

to which there is a facsimile, rather than Ms. 

Tymoshenko’s signature, on the directives 

for gas talks. Mr. Vlasenko said that the presence 

of Ms. Tymoshenko’s signature on this 

document was the main evidence of her 

guilt. The consideration of an appeal against 

the verdict in Ukraine’s Higher Specialized 

Court for Civil and Criminal Cases is scheduled 

for May 15. (Interfax-Ukraine) 

Association Agreement to be initialed 

KYIV – The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs 

Ministry has confirmed that the European 

Union-Ukraine Association Agreement will 

be initialed on March 30. “The ceremony to 

initial the association agreement with the 

European Union will take place in Brussels on 

March 30,” the director of the ministry’s 

Information Policy Department, Oleh Voloshyn, 

said at a briefing on March 21. He said the 

Ukrainian delegation would be headed by 

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin 

and that the European delegation would be 

led by the managing director of the European 

External Action Service for Russia, Eastern 

Neighborhood and the Western Balkans, 

Miroslav Lajcak. Earlier, a diplomat in 

Brussels had told reporters that Brussels had 

confirmed March 30 as the final date for the 

initialing of the agreement. (Interfax-Ukraine) 

PRU will not decriminalize articles 

KYIV – The Party of Regions faction will 

not vote for the decriminalization of 

Articles 364 and 365 of the Criminal Code 

of Ukraine, pursuant to which former 

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was sentenced, 

despite the appeals of Europe, the 

faction leader, Oleksander Yefremov, told a 

press briefing on March 21. “We do not set 

the task to regulate these two articles... 

Eleven EU countries have similar articles in 

their Criminal Procedure Codes, as well as 

four countries that intend to join the EU. 

Therefore, we expect from our European 

colleagues an answer to the question of 

why they recommend that we cancel what 

they themselves have,” he said. (Ukrinform) 

MFA wants international observers 

KYIV – The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs 

Ministry has asked Verkhovna Rada 

Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn to invite international 

parliamentary institutions as 

observers for the parliamentary elections in 

Ukraine, and a letter of request has been 

sent to the chairman. The director of the 

Information Policy Department of the 

Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Oleh 

Voloshyn, announced this at a briefing in 

Kyiv on March 20. “They [international parliamentary 

institutions] are traditionally 

invited by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, 

rather than the Foreign Affairs Ministry. 

Therefore, we sent a letter to Volodymyr 

Lytvyn with a request to send such invitations 

in accordance with the usual practice,” 

Mr. Voloshyn said. He said that Ukraine 

already has a tradition of inviting observers 

from international parliamentary institutions, 

such as the Parliamentary Assembly 

of the Organization for Security and 

Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council 

of Europe, NATO, etc. He said the Foreign 

Affairs Ministry had already sent a letter to 

the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions 

and Human Rights inviting it to send 

observers for October’s parliamentary elections 

in Ukraine. “Thus, we have fulfilled our 

obligations, which Ukraine has within the 

Organization for Security and Cooperation 

in Europe, and we have done what our partners 

in the European Union actively urged 

us to do,” Mr. Voloshyn said. (Ukrinform) 


The Ukrainian Weekly FOUNDED 1933 

An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., 

a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. 

Yearly subscription rate: $65; for UNA members — $55. 

Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. 

(ISSN — 0273-9348) 

The Weekly: 

UNA: 

Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 

Postmaster, send address changes to: 


Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz 

2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas 

P.O. Box 280 

Parsippany, NJ 07054 

e-mail: staff@ukrweekly.com 

The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com 

The Ukrainian Weekly, March 25, 2012, No. 13, Vol. LXXX 

Copyright © 2012 The Ukrainian Weekly 

ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA 

Walter Honcharyk, administrator 

(973) 292-9800, ext. 3041 

e-mail: admin@ukrweekly.com 

Walter Honcharyk, advertising manager 

(973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 

fax: (973) 644-9510 

e-mail: adukr@optonline.net 

Mariyka Pendzola, subscriptions 

(973) 292-9800, ext. 3042 

e-mail: subscription@ukrweekly.com

No. 13 


3 

NEWS ANALYSIS: Russia takes control of Ukraine’s security forces 

by Taras Kuzio 

Eurasia Daily Monitor 

The Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza 

(March 1) (http://wyborcza.pl/1,75248, 

11261360,Tajna_historia_przejmowania_ 

Ukrainy_przez_Rosje.html) provided 

details of Russia’s growing grip over 

Ukraine’s security forces. According to 

Gazeta Wyborcza, then Russian Prime 

Minister Vladimir Putin only dropped his 

support for Yulia Tymoshenko in mid- 

2011. This came about as a consequence of 

two factors. 

First, the criminal case against Ms. 

Tymoshenko removed her as a political 

actor and counterweight to President 

Viktor Yanukovych, for whom Mr. Putin did 

not have a high regard. According to a U.S. 

diplomatic cable, Prime Minister Putin “ 

‘hates’ [Viktor] Yushchenko and has a low 

personal regard for Yanukovych, but apparently 

sees Tymoshenko as someone perhaps 

not that he can trust, but with whom 

he can deal” (http://wikileaks.org/ 

cable/2009/01/09KYIV208.html). 

Second, Mr. Putin changed his stance 

after Mr. Yanukovych agreed to the introduction 

of Russian advisers in the Security 

Service of Ukraine (SBU) and coordination 

and joint consultation with Moscow over 

future government appointments (especially 

in the “siloviky” services). “The list of 

these candidates should be personally 

agreed by Putin,” Gazeta Wyborcza (March 

1) reported. 

Allegations of Russian influence in the 

SBU and other Ukrainian security forces 

have existed for the last two years (see 

Eurasia Daily Monitor, March 18, 29, 2010; 

Jamestown blog, October 13, 2010). 

Russian citizens Igor Shuvalov and 

Viacheslav Zanevskyi are a case in point. 

Mr. Shuvalov runs “political technology” in 

t h e m e d i a fo r t h e P re s i d e n t i a l 

Administration and Mr. Zanevskyi is the 

head of President Yanukovych’s personal 

bodyguards. Foreign Affairs Minister 

Kostiyantyn Gryshchenko and former 

Defense Minister Mykhailo Yezhel were 

lobbied by their Russian counterparts. Mr. 

Yezhel’s career was in the Soviet Pacific 

Fleet. Minister of Education Dmytro 

Tabachnyk was lobbied by Russian 

Orthodox Patriarch Kirill. Allegations of 

Russian’s and Mr. Putin’s influence over 

Ukraine’s security forces have been further 

confirmed by subsequent government reshuffles 

and appointments of Russian citizens 

Igor Kalinin and Dmitri Salamatin as 

SBU chairman and Minister of Defense, 

respectively. 

Mr. Salamatin was born in Karaganda, 

Kazakhstan, spent his working career in 

Russia and moved to Ukraine only in 1999. 

He illegally holds dual citizenship and is the 

son-in-law of former Russian First Deputy 

P r i m e M i n i s t e r O l e g S o s kove t s 

(Ukrayinskyi Tyzhden, February 17). 

Mr. Salamatin was elected to Parliament 

in the 2006 and 2007 elections as a member 

of the Party of Regions and in 2010- 

2012 headed Ukrspetsexport, Ukraine’s 

arms export agency. Ukraine had competed 

with Russia on the international arms market 

under Presidents Kuchma and 

Yushchenko but this position changed 

under President Yanukovych when both 

countries’ military-industrial complexes 

renewed their cooperation. 

Mr. Salamatin, like Mr. Kalinin, is loyal to 

Mr. Yanukovych and “The Family” whom 

they will protect and defend to stay in 

power. Mr. Salamatin has no experience for 

the position of defense minister and, as 

political expert Vadym Karasiov pointed 

out, was promoted with the priority of protecting 

the “Yanukovych regime” first and 

Ukraine’s interests only second (Kyiv Post, 

February 9). 

The head of the parliamentary Committee 

on National Defense and Security, Anatoliy 

Grytsenko, himself defense minister in 

2005-2007, described Mr. Salamatin’s 

appointment as a step backwards from military 

reform. “This person never once outlined 

and obviously has no personal understanding 

of the direction of reform and 

development of the armed forces and 

improvement of its combat readiness, all of 

which creates serious problems in the 

practical field” (Ukrayinska Pravda, 

February 8). Mr. Salamatin, as a Party of 

Regions deputy, never once initiated draft 

legislation in the field of national security 

(Ukrayinskyi Tyzhden, February 9). 


Former U.S. ambassador notes progress and setbacks in Ukraine 

by Yaro Bihun 


WASHINGTON – Since gaining its independence 

20 years ago, Ukraine has made 

much progress and suffered many setbacks 

in the process of building a new future for 

itself as an economically and politically viable 

democratic nation. But it may well take 

another 20 years or more before it reaches 

that “promised land.” 

That, in a nutshell, could summarize a 

recent presentation on “The Present 

Situation in Ukraine” by William Green 

Miller, who was the U.S. ambassador to 

Ukraine during five of its important formative 

years, from 1993 to 1998, and has 

remained actively involved in helping 

develop the U.S.-Ukraine relationship since 

then. Currently he is a senior policy scholar 

with the Woodrow Wilson Center for 

International Scholars in Washington, 

where he discussed Ukraine on March 12. 

At the outset, Ambassador Miller pointed 

out why he found it difficult to prepare 

this presentation: “I don’t like to speak 

badly about a country that I love,” he said. 

He began by focusing on Ukraine’s 

domestic economic situation and its progress 

in integrating into the world economy, 

which, he said, is “far from complete.” The 

world economic downturn – with its rising 

energy costs, falling prices for steel and metals, 

among other things – is having a negative 

affect on Ukraine, bringing hard times to 

the daily lives of its citizens, he said. 

The former envoy also pointed out that: 

• 35 percent of Ukraine’s population 

lives below the poverty level (which is 

$1.25 per person per day), ranking it on the 

same level as Uganda. 

• Its inflation rate is 5-9 percent. 

• More than a million small entrepreneurs 

have closed shop. 

• Its financial reserves are dwindling, 

threatening a meltdown “in the next few 

months.” 

• Life expectancy is down. 

• It has become a difficult country in 

which to conduct business. 

“That’s a pretty grim picture,” the 

ambassador said. 

On the other hand, he noted that 

Ukraine’s health care is rated highly and 

Yaro Bihun 

Ambassador William Green Miller analyzes the current situation in Ukraine at the 

Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. 

the country claims a literacy rate of 100 

percent. 

While metals, petrochemicals and some 

parts of the agricultural sector are doing 

well, so is the “shadow economy,” which is 

designed to avoid taxation and comprises 

40 percent of the economy, Mr. Miller continued. 

Corruption, “lubricated” by bribery and 

kickbacks, permeates Ukrainian society 

down to the lowest remote village level, he 

said. 

Public offices can be bought – reportedly. 

In one case a party defector received a 

half million dollars and a $20,000 monthly 

stipend for his seat in the Verkhovna Rada, 

he said. So can judicial decisions, as well as 

admission to a university and high grades. 

Ambassador Miller suggested that if 

Plato and Aristotle were alive today and 

saw what was happening in Ukraine, they 

would recognize it as an oligarchy and plutocracy 

– the government of the few for the 

benefit of the wealthy few. And those few, 

he said, according to official figures, include 

14 billionaires and more than 7,000 millionaires, 

350 of whom comprise the large 

parliamentary majority in the 450-member 

Verkhovna Rada. 

Ambassador Miller noted that all of 

them acquired their wealth over the past 

20 years, which saw the old Communist 

nomenklatura succeeded by the present 

“authoritarian capitalist oligarchic nomenklatura,” 

as he described it. 

After Ukraine gained its independence, 

it took five years for it to develop a democratic 

system as described in its 1996 

Constitution – which was accepted when 

he was ambassador to Ukraine. The document 

foresaw the fair distribution of the 

formerly collectivized national wealth. But 

it did not work out that way, he said, and 

this has to be rectified. 

Ambassador Miller noted that the land 

is the biggest remaining asset that still 

belongs to all of the people – at least on 

paper. “How the land question is resolved 

in the coming months and years will tell 

much about the nature of [Ukraine’s] 

future... and its social, political and economic 

values.” 

Ambassador Miller was an official 

observer during the 2004 presidential election, 

which gave rise to the Orange 

Revolution and brought the Viktor 

Yushchenko-Yulia Tymoshenko coalition to 

power after their three-month-long successful 

fight against the Yanukovych forces. 

That coalition soon fell apart, however, and 

Ambassador Miller expressed doubt that 

this method of government reform from 

the grassroots level can now be repeated. 

Mass anti-government demonstrations 

now can be suppressed by the security 

forces, and anti-government political foes – 

like Ms. Tymoshenko and former Internal 

Affairs Minister Yurii Lutsenko – are prosecuted 

and imprisoned. 

And as long as this continues, the ambassador 

said, Western assistance to and 

acceptance of Ukraine into its sphere will be 

forestalled. “European and U.S. support for 

Ukraine’s present economic and political 

difficulties has not been forthcoming as it 

ought to be as long as these prosecutions 

and misuse of law continue,” he said. 

Independent universities and the media 

are also experiencing pressure from the 

Yanukovych administration, Ambassador 

Miller said. Art and music are flourishing, 

however, but they, too, need nurturing and 

protection, he added. 

Among the first questions and comments 

at the conclusion of the ambassador’s 

presentation was an observation by 

Mary Kruger, who served as the first cultural 

affairs attaché at the U.S. Embassy when 

it opened in Kyiv in 1992. She said that a 

number of Ukrainians with whom she discussed 

their country’s development 

reminded her that, like the children of 

Israel, they too may have to wander in the 

desert for 40 years before reaching their 

“promised land.” 

Responding, Ambassador Miller said that 

an important question that is still being 

worked out today is developing Ukraine’s 

future identity, which he characterized as 

being “separated from Russia but linked to 

Russia, different than Europe but linked to 

Europe, very different from the United 

States but linked to the United States.” 

“It will take at least 40 years,” he added. 

During his long career dealing with 

international relations, Mr. Miller also 

served as the U.S. ambassador to Iran, was 

staff director for three Senate committees, 

among them the Select Committee on 

Intelligence, shepherded the SALT I and 

ABM treaties through Congress, headed the 

American Committee on U.S.-Soviet 

Relations and was associate dean and professor 

at Rutgers University.

4 


No. 13 

Local vote seen as... 

(Continued from page 1) 

Parliament; that he allowed himself to degrade me in the 

eyes of observers and these female teachers. Afterwards, 

they approached me and said, ‘Iryno, what do you want 

from us? If they behave that way with you, then who are 

we to them?’” she told the UNIAN news agency in a March 

19 interview (referring to the polling station’s election 

commissioners, most of whom were teachers). 

She was rescued from the grip of Mr. Melnyk, nearly 

twice her size, by Spilna Sprava activists, as well as two U.S. 

Embassy employees who were serving as observers – 

Deputy Political Counselor Bradley Parker and another 

political attaché, Steven Page. 

In mentioning “blue sweaters,” Mr. Parubii was referring 

to an alleged fraud technique in which voters not registered 

locally, or even those without any identification, 

approach an election commission member wearing something 

blue in order to gain a false ballot to cast. 

СVU observers didn’t find the “blue sweater” technique 

being employed, Mr. Chernenko said, while Mr. Danyliuk of 

Spilna Sprava alleged at least two-thirds of the town’s 15 

polling stations employed the scheme. 

The “fake exit poll” claim, made by Spilna Sprava, allegedly 

involved Party of Regions functionaries posing as exit 

poll workers in front of polling stations. 

Rather than performing an objective survey of voters, 

they performed reviews to find out how many hires fulfilled 

their paid task of voting for the Party of Regions candidate. 

The CVU did confirm unsealed urns in one polling station 

and a voting ballot improperly issued. 

The Obukhiv election also revealed that, besides election 

subversion, the opposition has to be concerned about 

forming a united front against the ruling Party of Regions. 

John Demjanjuk... 


“John Demjanjuk, as a child, survived Stalin’s murderous 

forced famine in Ukraine. Having fought the Nazis as a 

young drafted Red Army soldier, he survived when millions 

like him died. From childhood to elderly death, he suffered 

while surviving unfair battles in Europe, the U.S., Israel and 

finally and inexplicably in Germany. He will be buried a 

survivor of Soviet and German persecution, an innocent 

and free man who loved life and whose path was not guided 

by his free will but by the strength God provided him to 

survive his journey home. His positive, caring nature and 

practical influence will be deeply missed and fondly 

remembered by all who came to personally know him. 

“Whenever we spoke of the community help and 

prayers, he was deeply and tearfully grateful to all who 

supported his fight for justice.” 

John (Ivan) Demjanjuk was born on April 3, 1920, in the 

village of Dubovi Makharyntsi, Vinnytsia region of Ukraine. 

He survived the Holodomor, the forced famine perpetrated 

by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. During World War II he 

was drafted into the Red Army, and was captured by the 

Germans in 1942. He emigrated to the United States in 

1952 and became a naturalized citizen in 1958. 

The Demjanjuk case dates back to 1977, when the Office 

of Special Investigations (OSI), the Nazi-hunting arm of the 

U.S. Justice Department, began proceedings against him 

based largely on Soviet-supplied evidence. Mr. Demjanjuk 

was stripped of his U.S. citizenship in 1981 for concealing 

information at the time he applied for entry into the U.S., and 

was extradited in 1986 to Israel, where he stood trial for 

Nazi war crimes committed at Treblinka and was sentenced 

to death in 1988. The Israeli Supreme Court overturned the 

conviction in 1993, after newly unearthed evidence showed 

that another man, not Mr. Demjanjuk, was the notorious 

Treblinka death camp guard known as “Ivan the Terrible.” 

Mr. Demjanjuk was allowed to return to the U.S. and 

regained his citizenship in 1998, only to be accused by the 

Justice Department of concealing his service at three other 

Nazi camps. He was yet again stripped of his citizenship in 

2002 and a ruling in 2005 paved the way for his deportation 

to Ukraine, Poland or Germany. 

Armed with documentation provided by the OSI, 

Germany decided to prosecute him. Mr. Demjanjuk was 

deported to Germany on May 12, 2009, and his trial in 

Munich began on November 30 of that year. The proceedings 

were subject to many delays and postponements due 

to Mr. Demjanjuk’s ill health. 

On February 22, 2011, in a statement read to the court, 

Mr. Demjanjuk charged that Germany was holding “a political 

show trial” and was “conspiring with fraudulent prose- 

The runners-up in the Obukhiv election consisted of Mr. 

Shafarenko of UDAR (22 percent) and Hanna Starykova of 

the Batkivschyna Party (18 percent). The Party of Regions 

candidate would have been defeated, regardless of alleged 

fraud, if the pro-Western opposition had fielded a single 

candidate, observers noted. 

“I am more than certain that [UDAR Party Chair Vitali] 

Klitschko is ready to unite, particularly after the latest socalled 

‘results-providing’ elections,” National Deputy 

Kyrylo Kulykov of the Our Ukraine-People’s Self-Defense 

faction said on his Ukrayinska Pravda blog on March 20. “It 

was precisely thanks to the opposition itself that the Party 

of Regions candidate prevailed, which was practically 

impossible in the Kyiv Oblast.” 

UDAR (Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform) has yet 

to join the Committee to Resist Dictatorship – in which the 

leading opposition parties Batkivschyna, Front for Change 

and Svoboda pledged to support a single candidate for elections 

– because UDAR wants primaries or objective polling 

to determine the single candidate to represent the opposition, 

rather than agreements reached by party leaders. 

UDAR party leaders said they would have backed the 

Batkivschyna candidate in Obukhiv had the party offered 

objective evidence of Ms. Starykova’s popularity, reported 

Mr. Kulykov, who was present in Obukhiv for the vote. 

A united opposition – supporting a single candidate in 

all single-winner, single-mandate (majoritarian) districts – 

is capable of achieving a “convincing victory” against the 

Party of Regions in October, Mr. Parubii stated confidently. 

Failure to unite for the parliamentary vote could ruin 

Ukraine’s future, he added. 

“Ukraine could lose competitive politics for decades, and 

Ukrainians could lose the chance for a choice,” he stated. “All 

that we’re seeing today in the Russian Federation and 

Belarus will happen. On the daily agenda is, not only a threat 

to democracy, but a real threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty.” 

cutors of the U.S.A. and Israel.” 

On April 12, 2011, the Associated Press carried a sensational 

news story, reporting: “An FBI report kept secret for 

25 years said the Soviet Union ‘quite likely fabricated’ evidence 

central to the prosecution of John Demjanjuk.” The 

reference was to the Trawniki ID card, a key piece of evidence 

against Mr. Demjanjuk used in legal proceedings in 

the United States, Israel and Germany. The story quoted 

the 1985 report of the FBI’s Cleveland field office, which 

noted: “Justice is ill-served in the prosecution of an 

American citizen on evidence which is not only normally 

inadmissible in a court of law, but based on evidence and 

allegations quite likely fabricated by the KGB.” 

Mr. Demjanjuk’s attorney, Dr. Busch, said the FBI report 

cited by the AP was “completely new” and was not among 

the 100,000 pages of U.S. documents related to the case 

that were received by German investigators. 

In presenting the defense’s closing arguments on May 

3-5, 2011, Dr. Busch stated that German investigators had 

failed to offer concrete evidence of Mr. Demjanjuk’s 

involvement in Nazi war crimes; he underscored that his 

client had never served as a Nazi guard, but had suffered 

under both the Soviet regime and the Nazis. 

Dr. Busch also pointed out that West German officials 

had argued in the 1980s that their country didn’t have the 

right to pursue crimes carried out abroad by foreigners 

and that, for decades, they considered non-Germans who 

trained at the Trawniki camp too insignificant to prosecute. 

In his final arguments on May 11, Dr. Busch accused 

Germany of trying to minimize its own culpability by prosecuting 

foreigners like his client. 

On May 12 Mr. Demjanjuk was convicted on 28,060 

counts of accessory to murder, “one for each person who 

died during the time he was ruled to have been a guard at 

the Sobibor camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.” 

The AP’s news story about the verdict pointed out: 

“There was no evidence that Demjanjuk committed a specific 

crime. The prosecution was based on the theory that if 

Demjanjuk was at the camp, he was a participant in the 

killing — the first time such a legal argument has been 

made in German courts.” Furthermore, as noted by The 

Guardian (United Kingdom), “no living witness could testify 

to having seen Demjanjuk at the concentration camp.” 

The court sentenced Mr. Demjanjuk to five years in prison, 

but ordered him released pending appeal, noting that 

he did not pose a flight risk. He was placed in a nursing 

home in Bavaria, where he died on March 17. 

Surviving are Mr. Demjanjuk’s wife, Vera, his son, John 

Jr., and two daughters, Lydia Maday and Irene Nishnic, as 

well as seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

According to a March 21 news report filed by Agence 

France-Presse, a German undertaker said the body of Mr. 

Demjanjuk will be returned for burial to the United States, 

where his family lives. 

Russia takes control... 


Mr. Kalinin was born in the Moscow Oblast and spent 

his career in the Soviet KGB in Russia. Through the security 

service “old boys network,” he maintains close ties to 

Russia. Mr. Kalinin headed the Directorate on State 

Protection, the former Soviet KGB 9th Directorate, which 

continues to have responsibility for protecting senior officials 

and is the closest Ukrainian equivalent of the U.S. 

Secret Service. Two Russian citizens, Messrs. Kalinin and 

Zanevskyi, have protected Mr. Yanukovych, which is a 

reflection of his paranoia and distrust of the SBU, which he 

has never forgotten supported Mr. Yushchenko in the 2004 

elections (see EDM, December 3, 2004, June 28 and 

October 28, 2010). 

Messrs. Kalinin and Zanevskyi are obligated to “The 

Family,” whose gray cardinal is Oleksander Yanukovych, 

the president’s eldest son (see EDM, December 2, 2011). 

During the Orange Revolution, when Mr. Kalinin held a 

senior position in the SBU’s Alpha spetsnaz forces, he 

(unlike most SBU officers) remained loyal to Mr. 

Yanukovych. Mr. Kalinin’s appointment will increase 

Russian influence in the SBU. 

His appointment will also lead to enhanced cooperation 

between the SBU and the Russian FSB with whom they 

both have a “common Cheka past,” Valeriy Khoroshkovsky 

said (Ukrainian Week, February 24). The FSB was expelled 

from the Black Sea Fleet in 2009, but a May 2010 agreement, 

signed a month after the Kharkiv accords extended 

the use of the Sevastopol base for the Black Sea Fleet, permitted 

the FSB to return to Crimea (see EDM, May 24, 

2010). 

Mr. Khoroshkovsky, long regarded as a Russian agent of 

influence in the Yanukovych administration, moved from 

the SBU to briefly serve as the finance minister and to the 

important position of first vice prime minister. Mr. 

Khoroshkovsky was believed to be behind numerous scandals 

in 2010-2011, when he headed the SBU, that undermined 

Ukraine’s European integration. One of the scandals 

was the July 2010 detention of Nico Lange at Kyiv’s 

Borispil Airport on the eve of President Yanukovych’s state 

visit to Germany. Mr. Lange is the Ukraine director of the 

Konrad Adenauer Stiftung organization, and Christian 

Democrat Chancellor Angela Merkel was forced to intervene 

on his behalf. The SBU has also added over 10 additional 

criminal charges against Ms. Tymoshenko since her 

October 2011 sentencing. 

As head of Ukrspetsexport, Mr. Salamatin channeled all 

proceeds from arms exports under his personal control, 

and the funds were paid to the Belize offshore company 

Primavera Financial Ltd. via Cyprus-based bank accounts. 

“Ukrainian arms trade cash flows are now completely centralized 

and any foreign intermediaries have most probably 

been excluded. Previously a separate offshore structure 

was set up for every major arms export contract. This 

allowed several insider ‘clans’ to flourish, and was useful 

when supplying arms to both sides of one conflict” (http:// 

foreignnotes.blogspot.com/2012_02_01_archive.html). 

Mr. Salamatin’s actions led to the Ukrainian company 

Progress losing a 2008 contract worth $560 million to supply 

Iraq’s armed forces with 420 APCs and six An-32 aircraft. 

This took place because of Mr. Salamatin’s conflict 

with his predecessor at Ukrspetsexport who was responsible 

for ensuring the fulfillment of the contract on behalf of 

an American intermediary, Oleg Yankovych (http://nashigroshi.org/2012/ 

01/21/rehional-vviv-belizku-monopoliyu-na-ukrajinsku-torhivlyu-zbrojeyu/). 

It was assumed to 

be logical for an American to be involved in the contract as 

the U.S. had provided the funds to pay for Ukrainian weaponry 

to arm Iraq’s armed forces. 

The recent appointments have removed the security 

forces from under the control of the oligarchs and placed 

them under “The Family.” 

“It is a sign that Yanukovych fears betrayal from within,” 

Mr. Karasiov says (Kyiv Post, February 9). Their primary 

responsibility will be to defend Mr. Yanukovych and “The 

Family” and ensure his re-election (see “Yanukovych 

Forever!” in Jamestown blog, March 6). 

The strategic factor behind these appointments is the 

“resolution of the 2015 problem,” Ukrayinskyi Tyzhden 

(February 17) concluded. With Mr. Yanukovych acquiescing 

to Russian influence over the security forces and the 

opposition threatening if they come to power to annul the 

Kharkiv accords, Mr. Putin now has a personal stake in 

maintaining Mr. Yanukovych in power indefinitely. 

The article above is reprinted from Eurasia Daily Monitor 

with permission from its publisher, the Jamestown 

Foundation, www.jamestown.org.

No. 13 


5

6 


No. 13 


John Demjanjuk (1920-2012) 

Thirty-five years after his ordeal began, John Demjanjuk is at rest. He died 10 

months after a court in Munich found him guilty of being an accessory to the murder 

of 28,060 people at the Nazi death camp in Sobibor. However, he died a free 

man, living in a Bavarian nursing home pending the appeal of his conviction. 

His lawyer in Germany, Ulrich Busch, on March 19 issued a statement in which 

he underscored: “[Mr. Demjanjuk] is almost exclusively depicted as a convicted 

war and Nazi criminal… It is a fact, however, that my client has died unconvicted 

and a free man. The verdict of the District Court in Munich is void and this trial has 

failed. The Supreme Court can no longer clarify the question of guilt.” 

The Demjanjuk case, as succinctly put by WKSU radio of Ohio, “broke new 

legal ground in Germany. It was the first time someone was convicted there solely 

on the basis of serving as a camp guard with no evidence of involvement in a 

specific killing.” That’s right: there was no evidence that the defendant committed 

a specific crime; no living witness could testify that he had seen the defendant 

at Sobibor. 

What we’ve often referred to as “the strange case of John Demjanjuk” traces 

its roots to 1976, when a little-known Communist newspaper in New York City, 

Ukrainian Daily News, published information alleging that Mr. Demjanjuk was a 

camp guard at Sobibor. The U.S. began legal proceedings against the Cleveland 

autoworker in 1977. The key piece of evidence: an identity card from the 

Trawniki training camp for guards – its provenance uncertain – which was 

handed over to U.S. authorities by the USSR. Even today the authenticity of that 

card is questioned; an FBI report from 1985 that was unearthed last year by the 

Associated Press had concluded that it was “quite likely fabricated” by the KGB. 

Interestingly, perusing our files on the Demjanjuk case we came across an April 

30, 1986, article from the Soviet Ukrainian newspaper Molod Ukrainy headlined 

“The Vampire Lived in Cleveland.” Reproduced along with the propagandistic article 

was an ID card bearing a photo of a man much different from the one on the ID 

card seen at Mr. Demjanjuk’s court proceedings – clearly two different men were 

presented as being John Demjanjuk. And that’s just one of the countless questions 

that continue to haunt this case and call into question why it was ever filed. 

That’s why, in a February 22, 2011, statement read in court, Mr. Demjanjuk 

could rightfully charge that Germany was holding “a political show trial” and 

was guilty of “suppression of exculpatory evidence, falsification of history, introduction 

of so-called legal principles which never existed in Germany previously, 

conspiring with fraudulent prosecutors of the U.S.A. and Israel, and a reckless 

refusal of each argument, motion and exculpatory piece of evidence my defense 

has submitted which should have already resulted in my acquittal and freedom.” 

Meanwhile, in the U.S., Dennis Terez, the federal public defender representing 

Mr. Demjanjuk in his final appeal in this country, told the Religious News Service 

(as posted on huffingtonpost.com on March 20), “We had far, far more of this 

story to tell, and we were in the midst of trying to do that.” The Demjanjuk 

defense wanted a federal judge to reconsider a December 2011 decision denying 

his bid to regain his U.S. citizenship, arguing that the U.S. government had 

failed to disclose important evidence, including the secret FBI report from 1985. 

Mr. Demjanjuk is “a victim of German justice,” regardless of the trial’s outcome, 

Dr. Busch had said in his closing arguments in May of last year. But the full 

truth is that John Demjanjuk is a victim also of U.S. justice abetted by the USSR. 

March 

28 

1997 

Turning the pages back... 

Fifteen years ago, on March 28, 1997, President Leonid 

Kuchma returned from a Commonwealth of Independent States 

(CIS) summit in Moscow. 

Speaking in Kyiv, Mr. Kuchma announced that the summit of 

the 12 leaders of countries that were once part of the Soviet 

Union was an unparalleled success. “Every country got what it wanted,” he said. 

However, it was not clear what each country individually received. Leaders agreed to continue 

to work toward some kind of economic cooperation, the level of which was yet to be defined. 

Papers were signed on the development of transportation routes and customs controls among 

the countries, the formation of joint-financial-industrial groups and the defense of borders. 

The summit leaders also agreed that Russian President Boris Yeltsin would serve one 

more term as chairman of the CIS Heads of State Council, even through he had served five 

terms already in a position that was meant to be a rotating chair. 

Mr. Kuchma said that, for one more year, Mr. Yeltsin was the right man for the job. “I 

think we saw a new and different Yeltsin,” Mr. Kuchma said. “Over the last months he has 

had more time to analyze to what extent the world has changed, and that one country, 

using what ever force, cannot control change in the world today.” 

Mr. Kuchma added that Ukraine did not agree to the Concept of Integrated Economic 

Development, which was signed by most CIS members in January 1997. But, he said that 

Ukraine was not against partial integration. “Out primary concern will always be the 

national interests of Ukraine. I repeat that it is not important for us to be involved [in the 

CIS] 100 percent,” he explained. 

“In Moscow, as in the rest of the CIS, they have started to deal with the interests of 

Ukraine, not simply to look at their own interests,” Mr. Kuchma commented. “We understand 

that Russia, being by far the largest and most influential member, must be the unifying 

force. But its agenda cannot be the CIS agenda.” 

The leaders of Russia and Ukraine met for an intensive round of talks on issues that had 

kept the two countries from signing a comprehensive treaty on friendship and cooperation. 

On the agenda were the continuing problems with the division of the Black Sea Fleet 

and Russian bases in Crimea, compensation for tactical weapons turned over to Russia, 


NEWS AND VIEWS 

Donor generosity is recognized 

at U. of Alberta student seminar 

by Mykola Soroka 

EDMONTON, Alberta – The establishment 

of a new University of Alberta- 

Ukraine Student Exchange Endowment 

Fund was announced at a student seminar 

held at the University of Alberta’s 

Telus Center late last year. The event was 

co-organized by the Canadian Institute of 

Ukrainian Studies at the University of 

Alberta, the Alberta Society for the 

Advancement of Ukrainian Studies and 

the Ukrainian Students’ Society. 

“The purpose of the fund,” said CIUS 

director Dr. Zenon Kohut, “is to offer 

scholarships at the undergraduate or 

graduate level to students from the 

University of Alberta and universities in 

Ukraine to study abroad for one or more 

semesters at a partner university with 

which the University of Alberta has a 

valid student exchange agreement.” The 

exchange program between the U of A 

and the Ivan Franko National University 

of Lviv has been in existence since 2006, 

and more than a dozen students have 

benefited from it. 

That same year CIUS launched an 

appeal to the Ukrainian community to 

help establish an endowment fund in 

order to sustain the program and defray 

the expenses involved in studying 

abroad. To date, CIUS has received many 

small donations from 49 donors in 

Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, 

Ontario, Manitoba, and the United States, 

totalling more than $15,000, which have 

made it possible to establish the fund 

and begin using its proceeds. 

The third student seminar on this academic 

exchange, titled “Ukraine and 

Canada as Witnessed by Students,” followed 

the announcement of the endowment 

fund. It offered the best evidence of 

the considerable benefits of the exchange 

to participants. The seminar featured firstperson 

accounts by participants from the 

University of Lviv, Vira Holiyan and Ihor 

Kotsiuba. Also participating were U of A 

students Stephan Pacholok and Dominika 

Lirette, who took the course “Ukrainian 

Through Its Living Culture” offered annually 

in Lviv by the Ukrainian Culture, 

Language and Literature Program in the 

Department of Modern Languages and 

Cultural Studies (MLCS). 

Mr. Pacholok and Ms. Lirette were 

recipients of the Ivan Franko School of 

Ukrainian Studies Ukraine Travel Award 

at CIUS, which helped defray the cost of 

their travel to Ukraine. Both programs 

give students the opportunity to study 

abroad and gain new life experiences, 

improve their language skills, and make 

new friends. 

In their joint presentation Ms. Holiyan 

and Mr. Kotsiuba, both from the Faculty 

of Mechanical Engineering, spoke about 

their experience at home and compared 

it with their studies in Edmonton. They 

noted the importance of the balanced 

and well-structured curriculum at the U 

of A, course options, private rather than 

public announcement of grades, the 

greater openness and friendliness of 

Canadian professors, and active student 

participation in class. They also emphasized 

that courses they attended at the U 

of A tended to be more practically oriented 

than those in Ukraine, which 

stress knowledge of theory. 

The students had little difficulty with 

the English language, since mathematical 

terminology is universal. The Ukrainian 

students also liked the U of A campus, 

where all facilities are in one place. In 

Lviv, by contrast, university buildings are 

scattered across the city. U of A libraries 

were also, in their view, convenient to 

use and usually had the required books 

available. 

In everyday life, Mr. Kotsiuba and Ms. 

Holiyan noted the comfort and convenience 

of Edmonton. They were impressed 

by Canadian hospitality and attracted by 

informal student culture, as manifested 

in casual clothing and eating habits. 

Mr. Pacholok (Faculty of Science) and 

Ms. Lirette (Faculty of Arts), along with 

other students from the U of A, took the 

MLCS summer course “Ukrainian 

Through its Living Culture,” which has 

been offered for the past 11 years. They 

found studying in Lviv an unforgettable 

experience that allowed them to learn 

their ancestral language through immersion 

in an authentic Ukrainian-speaking 

environment and everyday experience. 

They attended regular classes taught 

by Dr. Alla Nedashkivska, walked around 

the city, attended plays and concerts, and 

went to cafes and restaurants. The students 

were charmed by the rich cultural 

life of Lviv and its historical sites. Most 


Students (from left) Vira Holiyan, Ihor Kotsiuba, Dominika Lirette and Stephan 

Pacholok answer questions from the audience during a seminar “Ukraine and 

Canada as Witnessed by Students.”

No. 13 


7 

COMMENTARY 

A eulogy for John Demjanjuk 

by Askold S. Lozynskyj 

The newspaper headline reads, “Nazi 

dies, avoiding jail time.” By any measure, 

John Demjanjuk was not a Nazi. By his worst 

accusers he was a prisoner of war forced to 

work in a Nazi concentration camp. The 

article concludes, “Demjanjuk was the first 

man in Germany to be convicted for serving 

as a guard at a death camp – but without 

evidence of being involved in any specific 

murders.” How consistent! Over 36 years – 

there was never any evidence. 

Following his German conviction and 

sentence, the German government placed 

him in a nursing home. The court lifted the 

warrant of arrest stating that further incarceration 

would be unlawful pending the 

appeal and that Mr. Demjanjuk would not be 

a flight risk because of age, illness and the 

lack of a passport. The Germans had no 

intention of re-interning him. They were 

simply waiting for him to die. In any event, 

under German law, a defendant is not considered 

convicted until all avenues of appeal 

have been exhausted. John Demjanjuk died 

before his appeal was heard. 

Yet another example of the facts not supporting 

the headlines! 

But then this was the nature of John 

Demjanjuk’s 36-year ordeal. The facts never 

did fit the accusations either. Mr. Demjanjuk 

was an enigma for his accusers. The accusations 

simply did not stick despite fraud, perjury, 

cover-up and the incessant pressure 

from the Holocaust drummers. 

Over the summer my son, who was 

entering high school, was assigned to read 

“Night” by Elie Wiesel, an overwhelmingly 

moving memoir by a Jewish inmate at the 

notorious Auschwitz concentration camp. 

Mr. Wiesel was brought to Auschwitz from 

Romania. He wrote of unspeakable horrors, 

including one where a Jewish acquaintance 

who was deemed fit for work was forced to 

work in the crematorium and pushed his 

own father into the oven. 

Mr. Wiesel suffered at German concentration 

camps from May 1944 until January 

1945 at Auschwitz and then at another 

camp until early April 1945 when the 

Americans liberated him, a total of some 11 

months. I knew about the notorious 

Auschwitz camp from my father, who was a 

Ukrainian prisoner there from December 

1941 until January 1945. My father suffered 

at German concentration camps for 

three and a half years. 

John Demjanjuk was a Red Army soldier, 

essentially Stalin’s fodder at the battlefront, 

considered by his commander-in-chief less 

important than munitions. He was captured 

and endured life as a German POW. 

The end of the war brought little respite 

since, being from the USSR, John had to 

evade repatriation to the USSR – a nefarious 

scheme of the Yalta conference where 

the Allies became complicit in Stalin’s 

crimes. Finally, he managed to emigrate to 

America and lived there generally peacefully 

until that peace was disturbed in 1976. 

What followed was 36 years of persecution 

by new tormentors, the Jews and the 

Americans, and old ones, the Russians and 

the Germans. 

I knew Mr. Demjanjuk and his family. I 

met him several times. He always impressed 

me as being warm, good-natured and of 

remarkable hopefulness. I met him last in 

the Munich prison in November 2009 on 

the eve of his trial. Frankly, neither he, his 

son, his German attorney nor I fully understood 

the charges against him. 

I suspect that the entire legal world marveled 

when the verdict came down against 

him. Similar charges had not been leveled 

against any human being. In fact, ethnic 

Germans had been amnestied from similar 

prosecution by the German government in 

the 1960s. Here was a case that flew in the 

face of basic tenets of jurisprudence – 

selective prosecution, unequal treatment 

before the law, etc. 

I am not suggesting that John Demjanjuk 

was a saint, after all he was a human being 

and, I am sure, had many faults. I do consider 

him a martyr. He was a victim of 

German cruelty, Russian perjury, American 

irresponsibility at the very least, criminality 

possibly, and the immorality of the 

Jewish Holocaust industry. Certainly he has 

gone to a better place where the judge is 

not beholden to anyone, where justice is 

evenhanded, and John should be rewarded 

for his egregious suffering. I am proud to 

have known him. 

Children’s Medical Foundation 

helps hospitals in Ukraine 

PHILADELPHIA – Penn Medicine graduate 

Scott P. Bartlett, M.D., and Wharton 

M.B.A. graduate Anne Van Gilson joined 

forces in 2005 to create Children’s Medical 

Foundation of Central and Eastern Europe 

(CMF) and their impact has been felt in six 

countries and 14 pediatric hospitals internationally, 

as well as at the Children’s 

Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). 

CMF gives new equipment grants to pediatric 

hospitals in Bulgaria, Georgia, 

Romania, Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland. 

CMF also funds the CMF Traveling Scholars 

Program and this past fall, six renowned 

surgeons from Ukraine, Lithuania and 

Poland spent two to six weeks each at CHOP, 

observing techniques and procedures in the 

departments of Critical Care Medicine, and 

Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery. One 

more CMF Traveling Scholar arrives from 

Poland in early 2012 and will mentor with 

Bartlett in the Craniofacial program at CHOP. 

“The exciting next step in the CMF 

Traveling Scholars Program will be for the 

CHOP surgeon mentors to travel to the 

region in order to reach even more surgeons,” 

explained Dr. Bartlett. In addition, 

CMF will fund new equipment purchases 

that compliment what the guest surgeons 

learned while at CHOP. “We kicked off a 

$250,000 annual campaign in December 

2011 to fund initiatives like these,” added 

Ms. Van Gilson, who serves as CMF’s director. 

When Dr. Bartlett and Ms. Van Gilson 

came together in 2005, they had a dream of 

narrowing the gap between Western pediatric 

medicine and lagging systems in 

Central and Eastern Europe. Nearly seven 

years later, CMF has helped thousands of 

children and has ambitious plans for 2012 

and beyond. 

“As a registered 501 (c) (3) public charity, 

our mission is to improve the lives of children 

in Central and Eastern Europe by providing 

desperately needed funding to wellmanaged 

yet under-funded hospitals of the 

region,” Ms. Van Gilson explained. “We are 

delighted for the opportunity to continue 

to invite scholars to observe at CHOP.” 

For more information readers may 

e-mail cmfcee@gmail.com or log on to 

www.cmfcee.org 

His trials are finally over! 

John Demjanjuk, the victim of a failed 

Soviet-initiated campaign to discredit 

Ukrainian nationalism, died last Saturday 

in a German nursing home. The Associated 

Press informed the world that Mr. 

Demjanjuk was “convicted in May of 

28,060 counts of being an accessory to 

murder” of Jews at Sobibor. The conviction 

was appealed, but since he was 91 at the 

time, and already at death’s door because 

of various ailments, the German higher 

court saw no need to render a quick verdict. 

And so he died, in Germany, home of 

the perpetrators of the very crimes for 

which German courts had judged the 

Ukrainian from Cleveland guilty. 

Despite the fact that no trial evidence 

was presented to show that Mr. Demjanjuk 

was actually involved in a specific killing, 

German presiding Judge Ralph Alt 

responded to his death by claiming that he 

was part of the Nazi “machinery of destruction.” 

Jewish community leaders had something 

to say as well. “A death is always tragic,” 

intoned Dieter Graumann, president of 

Germany’s Central Council of Jews. “But in 

this case it was important to put him on 

trial and sentence him.” 

For Mr. Demjanjuk, his trial in Germany 

was only the last in a series of legal ordeals 

which began in Cleveland in 1977, when he 

was convicted of falsifying his U.S. visa 

application in 1951. Convicted not of being 

a “Nazi,” mind you. Not of being involved in 

any war crimes. Not even of being in any of 

the Nazi death camps. No. In the U.S. Mr. 

Demjanjuk was convicted of a civil offense. 

Under intense pressure from the Jewish 

American establishment, the newly established 

Office of Special Investigations (OSI) 

in the Department of Justice was in need of 

a high-profile conviction. And Mr. 

Demjanjuk, quickly labeled as “Ivan the 

Terrible” of Treblinka, was the perfect 

pawn. From that moment on until the day 

he died, Mr. Demjanjuk was labeled a 

“Nazi” by the mass media. It didn’t matter 

that he was never a member of Hitler’s 

National Socialist Party. The OSI said he 

was a “Nazi,” and the fix was in. 

How was that possible? Phony evidence 

and questionable testimony. The only “evidence” 

was a forged “identity” card supplied 

by the Soviet Union that purportedly 

demonstrated that Mr. Demjanjuk had 

trained to be a Nazi death camp guard at 

the Trawniki training camp. Amazingly, the 

FBI had discovered the forgery in the 

1970s, but it was not until 2011 that this 

was made public. 

The questionable testimony was offered 

by Treblinka survivors who claimed (more 

than 40 years after the death camp was 

closed) that Mr. Demjanjuk was indeed 

Ivan the Terrible. The memory of 

Holocaust survivors is never flawed, never 

to be questioned. 

Yanukovych... 


with 1+1 TV on March 11. He claimed that 

GDP growth at 4.2 percent in 2010 and 5.3 

percent last year, as well as positive expectations 

for this year, allowed the government 

to come up with the initiatives to 

improve living standards. However, the 

economy, after plunging by 15 percent in 

The OSI had Mr. Demjanjuk extradited to 

Israel where, after five years of incarceration, 

he was convicted of crimes against 

humanity and sentenced to hang. At about 

the same time, the USSR collapsed. The 

defense team went to Ukraine and discovered 

incontrovertible proof that Ivan the 

Terrible was someone else. The Israeli 

Supreme Court exonerated Mr. Demjanjuk 

and he returned to his family in Cleveland. 

Meanwhile, a federal district court ruled 

that, in withholding exculpatory evidence 

during the Cleveland trial, the OSI had perpetrated 

a “fraud upon the court.” Anxious 

to save face, the OSI convinced Germany to 

try Mr. Demjanjuk. Germany was determined 

to demonstrate to the world that 

other nationalities were complicit in the 

Holocaust, not just Germans. 

A court in Munich agreed to a new trial, 

although a German amnesty protected 

Germans who served as Nazi camp guards 

from prosecution for their wartime activity. 

Mr. Demjanjuk was found guilty on the 

premise that if he was at Sobibor he was a 

participant in the killings that went on 

there – establishing a new legal precedent. 

He was sentenced to five years in prison. 

Placed in a nursing home pending his 

appeal, he died. His trials were finally over. 

So whom should Ukrainians blame for 

this outrageous travesty of justice? I have 

reached my own conclusion, outlined in my 

recently published book. Read it and learn 

more. It is available for $17 (including 

postage) from Ukrainian Educational 

Associates, 107 Ilehamwood Drive, DeKalb, 

IL, 60115. 

Myron Kuropas’s e-mail address is 

kuropas@comcast.net. 

2009, has not yet returned to the pre-crisis 

level. 

Moreover, excessive optimism about revenues 

may be dangerous at a time when 

the government is struggling to refinance 

its external debt and with contagion from 

the Eurozone crisis spreading to Ukraine. 

The article above is reprinted from 

Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from 

its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, 

www.jamestown.org.

8 


No. 13 

Shevchenko is honored in Washington 

by Yaro Bihun 


WASHINGTON – Ukrainian Americans living in the U.S. 

capital area celebrated Ukraine’s great poet Taras 

Shevchenko this year much as they have done in the past – 

at their churches, Ukrainian School, the Ukrainian Embassy 

and at his monument erected here almost 50 years ago. 

A few individual bouquets of flowers appeared at the 

foot of his statue on the anniversary of his birth – Friday, 

March 9 – and a few more were added by visitors on 

Saturday, on the anniversary of his death in 1861. Being 

Saturday, that was the day he was commemorated at the 

weekly Ukrainian School, where the children came dressed 

in Ukrainian embroidered clothing and gathered together 

to recite his poetry, participate in a theatrical presentation 

about him and sing songs set to his words. 

Organized general community events began on Sunday 

with programs in the Washington and Baltimore area 

churches, and later at the Shevchenko monument, where 

the Washington Spiv Zhyttia Choir made a pilgrimage 

down from Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Church, where 

they sang in that parish’s Shevchenko memorial program 

following liturgy. 

Yaro Bihun 

The Washington area’s Spiv Zhyttia Choir celebrating this year’s birthday anniversary of Ukraine’s poet laureate 

Taras Shevchenko in front of his monument in the nation’s capital. 

Leonid Tysyachnyy reads some of his poems commemorating 

Taras Shevchenko during the reception at the 

Embassy of Ukraine. 

Dressed in embroidered shirts and blouses and standing 

at the foot of the Shevchenko monument on that unseasonably 

warm and sunny afternoon, the Spiv Zhyttia choristers 

sang a short program that included the poet’s 

“Dumy Moyi” and “Zapovit,” milled about with some two 

dozen of their friends and relatives and then went to the 

Bier Baron Tavern and Restaurant across the street. There 

they continued the celebration over a meal and some 

Obolon Ukrainian beer. 

Shevchenko was also being honored on Sunday at St. 

Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Silver Spring, Md., 

with a program that included a discussion about changes 

in today’s Ukraine by Prof. Yuriy Matsiyevsky of the 

National University of Ostroh Academy in Kyiv. And in 

nearby Baltimore, Ukrainian Americans were honoring 

Shevchenko with a concert and reception at St. Michael 

Ukrainian Catholic Church Parish Hall. 

Shevchenko commemorations in the Washington area 

culminated on Tuesday, March 13, with an evening organized 

by the Embassy of Ukraine and the Shevchenko 

Scientific Society. It began with a wreath-laying, prayers by 

the clergy and remarks by Ambassador Olexander Motsyk 

at the monument and continued with an evening program 

at the Embassy. 

There, following remarks by the ambassador and Dr. 

Bohdana Urbanovych of the Shevchenko Scientific Society, 

the evening featured Dr. Larysa Onyshkevych discussing 

“Decoding ‘Neophytes,’ ” Leonid Tysyachnyy reading a few 

of his poems about Shevchenko, and vocalist Solomia 

Dutkewych and the Spiv Zhyttia Choir singing Shevchenko 

songs. 

Ambassador Motsyk used the occasion to present the 

Embassy’s plaque of appreciation to Andrew Bihun, the 

president of The Washinton Group, an association of 

Ukrainian American professionals, for his “significant personal 

input” into the development of U.S.-Ukraine relations. 

The evening concluded with a reception featuring 

Ukrainian cuisine. 

UCC commemorates anniversary 

of Taras Shevchenko’s birth 

OTTAWA – The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) celebrated 

the 198th anniversary of the birth of Taras 

Shevchenko at a ceremony in Ottawa on March 9. 

Representatives of the UCC, including its national executive 

and the Ottawa branch, the Ukrainian Canadian 

Professional and Business Association of Ottawa and the 

League of Ukrainian Canadian Women were joined by 

Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, former head of the Security 

Service of Ukraine who is now a leader of the Our Ukraine 

party, and Yaroslav Davydovych, former chair of the 

Central Election Commission of Ukraine, at a short ceremony 

at Ottawa’s Taras Shevchenko monument. 

Those assembled paid their respects to the great 

Ukrainian poet, artist and writer whose writings formed 

the foundation of modern Ukrainian literature. 

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress urged all Canadians 

to take the opportunity to mark the occasion by visiting 

their local libraries and borrowing books on Ukrainian and 

Ukrainian Canadian themes. 

Ukrainian Canadians and guests from Ukraine at 

Ottawa’s monument to Taras Shevchenko. 

UCC 

Valentyn Nalyvaichenko (left) and Yaroslav Davydovych 

of Ukraine at the base of the Taras Shevchenko monument 

in Ottawa. 

Donor generosity... 


important, they noticed a significant improvement in 

their Ukrainian language skills after the course. There 

were also very emotional moments when participants 

met their families, and Lviv was an excellent base from 

which to travel the country. 

The November 30, 2011, seminar attracted a sizable 

audience, including students, donors, professors and 

community members. Dr. Zhi Jones (associate director, 

Education Abroad Program, U of A International) noted 

the role of her department in promoting international 

education and opportunities to obtain financial support. 

Dr. Colm Renehan (associate vice-president, Office of 

Development) acknowledged the unique achievements 

of the Ukrainian community in Canada and praised its 

commitment to the support of worthwhile projects. 

CIUS regards the growth of the new University of 

Alberta-Ukraine Student Exchange Endowment Fund as 

one of its priorities and encourages the community to 

assist in this endeavor. The short-term goal is to 

increase the capital of the fund to $30,000, earnings 

from which could fund one annual scholarship of 

$1,000. The long-term goal is to reach $100,000, which 

could provide two annual scholarships of about $1,800 

each. Currently, this amount would suffice to cover the 

cost of travel between Ukraine and Edmonton. (If writing 

a check, please specify that it is in support of this 

program.) For further information, readers may contact 

CIUS by phone at 780-492-2972 or by e-mail at cius@ 

ualberta.ca.

No. 13 


9 

Detroit chapter of Engineers’ Society sponsors 47th Winter Ball 

Debutantes and their escorts at the Winter Ball sponsored by the Detroit chapter of the Ukrainian Engineers’ Society of America. 

Christina Zurkiwskyj 

by Natalia Lewyckyj 

WARREN, Mich. – The 47th Winter Ball with the presentation 

of debutantes, organized by the Detroit chapter 

of the Ukrainian Engineers’ Society of America (UESA), 

was held on Saturday, February 11, at the Ukrainian 

Cultural Center in Warren, Mich. 

Fourteen lovely debutantes were presented to 

Ukrainian society: Christina Helen Onyskiw escorted by 

Justin Hafner, Catherine Irena Dudun escorted by Stefan 

Klek, Anna Rostyslava Small escorted by Carter Schwarz, 

Stefanie Marta Korol escorted by Andrew Shatynski, Lilia 

Sachovska escorted by Michael Nona, Yuliana Bedrus 

escorted by Nicholas Buhay, Larissa Marie Woryk escorted 

by Alexander Kucy, Rachel Joy Pawluszka escorted by 

Nicholas Casinelli, Bohdanna Halyna Cherstylo escorted 

by Oleh Reive, Neonila Maria Kossak escorted by Bogdan 

Kucheryavvy, Katia Maria Jurkiw escorted by Ross 

Lindemann, Alexandra Schulte escorted by Gregory 

Pilchak, Diana Rose Sciacca escorted by Troy Seseck, and 

Olivia Claire Soroka escorted by John Moceri. 

Natalia Lewyckyj, president of the UESA Detroit chapter, 

welcomed the guests and introduced Marko Lawrin as the 

master of ceremonies for the evening’s. In her opening 

remarks, Mrs. Lewyckyj shared the historic role of the Detroit 

Winter Ball to the local Ukrainian American community. 

She stated that it is noteworthy that over 400 debutantes 

have been presented to Ukrainian society in Detroit 

by the UESA since 1959. The Winter Ball and presentation 

of debutantes continues to be an opportunity to bring the 

community together and to show our youth that we wel- 


Debutantes presented in Philadelphia at 58th Engineers’ Ball 

by Peter Hewka 

PHILADELPHIA – The 58th annual Engineers’ Ball of the 

Philadelphia chapter of the Ukrainian Engineers’ Society of 

America (UESA) was held on Saturday, February 4, in the 

Grand Ballroom of the Radisson Hotel in Trevose, Pa. 

This year’s Engineers’ Ball included an open-bar cocktail 

hour, followed by the presentation of the debutantes, and 

then the banquet and ball. The Vorony Orchestra provided 

music for the guests’ enjoyment. 

After the cocktail hour, Dr. Petro Hewka, president of the Dolinay), Vera Bohdanna Penkalskyj (Borys Chabursky), 

UESA Philadelphia chapter, opened the event and greeted Maria Andreevna Pleshkevich (Max Prybyla), Victoria 

the guests gathered for this occasion in the hotel’s Grand Alexis Shust (Luka Zacharczuk) and Katherine Anna 

Ballroom. He also introduced the evening’s masters of ceremonies, 

Taisa Hewka and Marc Chuma. 

Dr. Hewka greeted each debutante in the name of the 

Waskiw (Zen Smith). 

The debutantes and their escorts were formally presented 

by the MCs. They were as follows (escorts’ names are in commemorative sashes on them. 

UESA and congratulated them, as his wife, Orysia, placed 

parentheses): Nina Victoria Cairns (Gregory Gudziak), The Debutante Committee, Halia Wirstiuk and Anya 

Sophia Salomea Farion (Oleksa Rybchuk), Melanie Maria 

Klufas (Maxim Zwarycz), Natalie Anna Midzak (Adrian (Continued on page 14) 

A beautiful “Hopak” lift. 

The 2012 debutantes and their escorts at the Philadelphia Engineers’ Ball. 

C & C Photographers

10 


No. 13 

UMANA Illinois Debutante Ball celebrates its 51st year 

MVP Studios Photography 

Debutantes and their escorts (from left): Alexa Liber, Roman Zwarycz, Kalyna Melnyk, Damyan Kolomayets, 

Alexandra Saldan, Alexander Pilecky, Alexandria Byskosh, Zahar Buniak, Jacqueline Powers, Danchyk Gillespie, 

Irena Browar, Nazar Bodnarchuk, Kathryn Liber and Mark Orland. 

by Maria Hrycelak 

CHICAGO – The Illinois Branch of the Ukrainian Medical 

Association of North America (UMANA-Illinois) hosted the 

51st traditional annual Banquet and Charity Ball with 

Presentation of Debutantes on February 11 at Chicago’s 

historic Palmer House in the heart of the downtown 

“Loop” area. Planning and preparation for this annual 

event began months ago, leading to a memorable and successful 

event for all. 

Guests and friends greeted each other warmly throughout 

the cocktail hour, hoping to win one of the many raffle 

prizes on display. Participants were seated in the stunningly 

ornamental and uniquely decorated ballroom with lighted 

centerpieces on all the tables illuminating the hall and 

adding an air of sophisticated charm to the evening. 

The debutantes, their parents and escorts opened the 

formal program with a grand entrance into the main hall. 

Dr. George Charuk, president of UMANA-Illinois, and his 

wife Katherine Holian, presented the seven debutantes to 

Chicago’s Ukrainian community. The debutantes bowed 

charmingly and gracefully as they were introduced, along 

with their proud parents and escorts. In all the years debutantes 

have been presented at the ball, this was the first 

year that twins participated. 

The young ladies and their escorts had begun practicing 

their opening waltz months in advance, and they performed 

an intricate and beautiful dance program under the 

expert choreography of Roxana Dykyj-Pylypczak with help 

from Adriana Striltschuk-Karawan. In their flowing white 

gowns and holding their pink bouquets, the debutantes 

danced elegantly and effortlessly to the sounds of Strauss 

waltzes, first with their fathers, and then with their escorts. 

Dr. Charuk welcomed the debutantes, their parents, 

escorts and guests, who came from all over the United 

States and Canada for this charity ball. Dr. Taisa Szeremeta- 

Browar and Dr. Arkadiush Byskosh, speaking on behalf of 

the proud parents, warmly addressed their daughters, the 

debutantes, offering them continued support and wishing 

them well in their future endeavors. 

More guests arrived after the delicious dinner, and danced 

the night away to the music of Chicago’s renowned Good 

Times band. The guests, debutantes and escorts all participated 

in the anticipated traditional folk dance, the “kolomyika.” 

The debutantes were seen on the dance floor in their 

flowing white gowns performing beautifully choreographed 

kolomyika moves. The debutantes and their families celebrated 

well into the night amidst fine music and friends. 

Traditionally, debutante balls help raise funds for charity. 

The proceeds of this ball and raffle will benefit the 

Foundation of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North 

America. The UMANA Foundation, among other projects, 

awards scholarships to medical students and sponsors 

first aid and CPR certification courses for counselors of 

Ukrainian youth organization and youth camps. Such 

courses were recently held in Philadelphia, Chicago and 

Seattle. This spring the courses will be offered in several 

more U.S. cities. 

The 2012 organizing committee included Dr. Charuk, 

Mrs. Holian, Dr. Maria Hrycelak, Dr. Diana Iwanik, Dr. 

Theresa Kuritza, Larissa Iwanetz and Kathryn Hrynewycz. 

The next UMANA Illinois Debutante Ball will be held on 

February 2, 2013. 

Debutantes happily smile for the camera. 

MVP Studios Photography 

Alexandria Byskosh and Zahar Buniak dance the waltz. 

Greg Sidelnik 

Detroit chapter... 


come their role within the Ukrainian community, she 

noted. 

Over 300 guests gathered at the Ukrainian Cultural 

Center for dinner. All attention was focused on the debutantes 

as the master of ceremonies, introduced them and 

shared their academic achievements, talents and life goals. 

Following the formal introductions, the evening’s festivities 

began with the debutantes’ first dance with their 

escorts. The elegant presentation, choreographed by 

Dianna Korduba Sawicky and Ms. Lewyckyj, continued as 

the debutantes danced with their fathers. The debutantes 

then presented their mothers with long-stemmed roses 

as an expression of love and gratitude. 

The formal presentation of the evening’s events concluded 

with a toast to the debutantes. Mr. Lawrin 

addressed them with a congratulatory message that noted 

the importance of the debutantes assuming leadership 

roles in the Ukrainian community. The debutantes were 

then congratulated by all with a champagne toast and a 

resounding “Mnohaya Lita.” 

Mr. Lawrin then invited the Rev. Daniel Schaicoski, pastor 

and superior of Immaculate Conception Ukrainian 

Catholic Church, to lead the prayer before dinner. 

The festivities continued after dinner, as guests danced 

to the music of the renowned Svitanok band from the 

New York area. The evening was enjoyed by all, with 

many of the guests sharing stories of past Winter Balls 

hosted by the UESA in the Detroit community. 

The familiar music of band Svitanok kept the dance 

floor busy up to the very last dance, and the success of the 

evening imparted a certainty that this local Ukrainian tradition 

will continue well into the future. It was an elegant 

and magical evening that will leave everlasting memories 

for the debutantes and their families. 

The 2012 Debutante Winter Ball Committee was cochaired 

by Ms. Sawicky and Ms. Lewyckyj. Committee 

members included Mr. Lawrin, Dr. Nestor Rychtyckyj, Dr. 

Ksenia Kozak, Myron Senyk and Ihor Senyk.

No. 13 


11 

YCPhotoDesigns 

The 18 Ukrainian American Youth Association debutantes and their escorts. 

UAYA’s 48th annual debutante ball held in New Jersey 

The debutantes and their escorts perform the traditional waltz. 

The debutantes and their escorts dazzle the crowd with intricate choreography. 

by Natalka Horbachevsky 

PARSIPPANY, N.J. – On February 18, the Ukrainian 

American Youth Association (UAYA) hosted its 48th annual 

Debutante Ball in Parsippany, N.J. Eighteen young women 

made their debut before a full ballroom of nearly 600 dinner 

guests, with more guests joining the celebration after 

the banquet to welcome the debutantes into the UAYA 

community. 

The debutante ball is a longstanding tradition among 

the UAYA members of the Northeast. This year, the debutantes 

came from Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New 

York, Pennsylvania and Virginia for the black-tie affair, 

which combines a ceremonial presentation of debutantes 

with a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres hour, dinner and dancing. 

After the cocktail hour, Larysa Blahy-Tatarenko, chair of 

the Debutante Committee, welcomed the guests to the formal 

part of the evening in the ballroom. She also introduced 

this year’s master and mistress of ceremonies, Olia 

Figol and Yuriy Symczyk. Ms. Figol and Mr. Symczyk are 

both active members of the UAYA and had the pleasure of 

presenting this year’s debutantes and their chosen escorts. 

Each girl walked through the ballroom to the center of 

the dance floor, greeting her parents and handing her 

mother a red rose. Thanking her parents graciously for 

their love and support, the debutante then received her 

bouquet and met her escort. As the couple walked around 

the perimeter of the floor in front of the attentive guests, 

the master and mistress of ceremonies read out their academic 

accomplishments and activities, highlighting in particular 

their involvement in the UAYA. Each debutante then 

curtsied to the cheering crowd. 

This year’s debutantes were: Marta Yarish (Passaic, N.J.), 

escorted by Petro Chudolij; Zoryana Zaryckyj (New York), 

escorted by Theodore Bodnar; Olenka Omeliach (Hartford, 

Conn.), escorted by Roman Diduch; Maria Surmachevska 

(Passaic), escorted by Alex Drobot; Sofia Soroka (Jersey 

City, N.J.) escorted by Ryan Zawojski; Ola Bihuniak 

(Passaic), escorted by Michael Betley; Nadia Anna Klapacz 

(Whippany, N.J.), escorted by Rostyk Sydor; Diana Luba 

Mikula (Whippany), escorted by Nicholas Holowko; Lesia 

Dubenko (Philadelphia), escorted by Alexander 

Szemeczko; Jessica Chrystia Demianicz (Jersey City), 

escorted by Paul Doboszczak; Nusia Kerda (Baltimore), 

escorted by Basil Stolar; Karinna Anna Hudyma 

(Baltimore, N.Y.), escorted by Michael Szafran; Victoria 

Anna Charuk (Binghamton), escorted by Stepan 

Kobyleckyj; Christina Maria DeBruin (Yonkers, N.Y.), 

escorted by Matthew Skalski; Romanna Dumyak 

(Philadelphia), escorted by Dmytro Hryckowian; Dana 

Kurylyk (New York), escorted by Andrew Kebalo; Christine 

Mlynaryk (Yonkers) escorted by Matthew Tomaszewsky; 

and Oksana Varshavsky (Whippany), escorted by 

Alexander Syzonenko. 

After the presentation, Sofia Soroka read the “pryrechennia,” 

or oath, that is read each year by a selected debutante. 

Next, Andriy Bihun, president of the UAYA, 

addressed the crowd, warmly welcoming friends, family 

and fellow UAYA members to the auspicious occasion. 

Speaking to the debutantes directly, Mr. Bihun congratulated 

them on this milestone and encouraged their continued 

participation in UAYA programs and the national and global 

Ukrainian community. 

The last portion of the formal program was the 

Viennese waltz performed by the debutantes and their 

escorts. Choreographed by Hryhoriy Momot, who has 

arranged the dance at every UAYA debutante ball for over a 

decade, the girls and their partners dazzled the guests with 

lifts and twirls. After the applause, the debutantes’ fathers 

took their daughters to dance, marking the beginning of 

the ball itself. 

After a blessing led by the master and mistress of ceremony, 

the guests sat down to dinner, and soon afterwards 

the zabava began. Two talented bands, Hrim from New 

York and Vorony from Syracuse, N.Y., kept the crowd dancing 

all night with nonstop music. One of the highlights of 

the ball is the high-energy “kolomyika” and this year’s saw 

many members of local dance ensembles take turns on the 

dance floor to show off their steps. 

The debutante ball was a great success and a wonderful 

evening for the debutantes. From the polished debutantes 

and escorts and their supportive families, to the dinner 

music provided by Andrij Stasiw, the evening was elegant 

and joyful. The night continues to be one of the highlights 

of the UAYA calendar and an event many Ukrainians in the 

Northeast look forward to annually, a time to celebrate the 

new generation of UAYA members and catch up with old 

friends. 

The event would not be possible without the generous 

support of sponsors and supporters, including SUMA 

Federal Credit Union in Yonkers, Ukrainian National 

Federal Credit Union, Yonkers Dim-SUMA, and Selfreliance 

Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union. 

The UAYA Debutante Ball Committee for 2012 was composed 

of Ms. Blahy-Tatarenko (chair), Genya Kuzmowycz 

Blahy, Darka Horbachevsky, Olia Zahnijnyj, Natalka 

Horbachevsky and Myron Pryjmak. 

Next year’s ball will take place on February 9.

12 


No. 13 

Fourteen debutantes presented at Chervona Kalyna Ball 

by Pavlo Jarymowycz 

Wowk Photography 

Debutantes and escorts with presenter and chair of the Chervona Kalyna Planning Committee: (first row, from left) Lesia Sisung 

and Andre Wowk; Nina Dytiuk and Gregory Gudziak; Zenia Verzole and Andrij Tarasiuk; Maria O’Connell and Pavlo Kravchuk; 

Oksana Kramarchuk and Paul Temnycky; Kateryna Huz and Alexander Syzonenko; Kalyna Iwasykiw and Stephan Halarewicz; 

(back row) Ivanna Kiyashka and Oleksa Rybchuk; Tessa Junas and Paul Senica; Anita Chomenko and Roman Krywulych; Lesia 

Danyluk and Andrew Klufas; Olena Kebalo, presenter; Ihor Sochan, chair of the Chervona Kalyna Planning Committee; Iryna 

Perkhalyuk and Joseph Kaminskyj; Andriana Ilnicki and Adrian Drobenko; and Taisa Hnateyko and Luka Zacharczuk. 

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – On February 

11, the Ukrainian American community 

attended the annual Chervona Kalyna Ball 

at the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel in East 

Rutherford, N.J. 

Following a formal cocktail hour, Ihor 

Sochan, the chair of the Chervona Kalyna 

Planning Committee, welcomed the guests 

seated in the ballroom, among them Yuriy 

Sergeyev, Ambassador of the Permanent 

Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations, 

and his wife Nataliya, and Serhij Pohoreltsev, 

consul general of Ukraine in New York and 

his wife Svitlana. 

The evening’s program then progressed 

to presentations of the 14 debutantes, most 

of whom were from the New York Plast 

branch. 

Master of ceremonies Orest Kebalo introduced 

Olena Kebalo and Alex Kosovych, 

who conducted the formal presentation of 

the debutantes and their escorts. The couples 

made their grand entrance to Fata 

Morgana’s rendition of “Oy u Luzi Chervona 


The debutante quadrille. 

Pittsburgh community 

welcomes seven debutantes 

PITTSBURGH – At the annual “Vyshyvani Vechornytsi” on Saturday, October 30, 2011, 

sponsored by Ukrainian National Women’s League of America Branch 27, seven young 

women from the Pittsburgh area were presented to the Ukrainian community. They are 

(from left): Taisa Chirovsky, daughter of the Rev. Ivan and Maria Chirovsky, escorted 

by Stuart McLaughlin; Romana Soutus, daughter of the Rev. Anibal and Sonya Soutus, 

escorted by Bohdan Mychailiv; Oiana Hlutkowsky, daughter of Roman and Shari 

Hlutkowsky, escorted by Mykola Korenovskyi; Katherine Harbist, daughter of John P. 

and Elisabeth Harbist, escorted by Volodymyr Sahaydak; and Victoriya Petrovych, 

daughter of Volodymyr and Zoryana Petrovych, escorted by Roman Sahaydak. 

– Luba Hlutkowsky

No. 13 


13 

UAYA introduces debutantes at New Year’s ball in Chicago 

by Deanna Wruskyj 

Élan Photography 

Debutantes of the Ukrainian American Youth Association and their escorts at the New Year’s Ball in Chicago. 

CHICAGO – The Ukrainian American Youth Association 

(UAYA), Mykola Pavlushkov Branch in Chicago hosted its 

annual New Year’s Malanka Ball, on January 21 at the 

Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel. 

Guests arrived at 6 p.m. for cocktails in the foyer of the 

Grand Ballroom. The atmosphere was joyous and friendly, 

as old and new friends greeted each other. Guests entered 

the hall and were seated at elegantly set tables. Beautiful 

commemorative booklets, created by Heather Baranivsky 

and Jaro Chylak, were included in the table settings. 

The celebration was opened by Olena Vasilik, master of 

ceremonies, who greeted the more than 350 guests present. 

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of 

eight lovely debutantes from both the Chicago and Palatine 

branches of the UAYA. The presentation was choreographed 

by Adriana Karawan, who also serves as co-choreographer 

for the Iskra Dance Ensemble of the Dmytro 

Vitovskyj branch in Palatine. 

The 2012 debutantes (and escorts) were: Anna-Maria 

Bagan (Vasyl Ilchyshyn), Solomiya Chuyko (Phil Kulas), 

Caitlin Hirota (Paul Bozek), Maryann Krasko (Lucas 

Pylypczak), Kateryna Dyakiv (Markian Pylypczak), Victoria 

Zalizna (Alexander Ralko), Yuliana Nalysnyk (John 

Barkidjija) and Krystyna Lopez (Paul Halamaj). 

Each debutante was introduced, receiving a traditional 

sash and being congratulated by Paul Bandriwsky, president 

of the Mykola Pavlushkov Branch, as well as by 

Michael Osyka, “bulavnyi” (youth program director) of the 

Pavlushkov Branch in Chicago and Vera Fitzgerald, a member 

of the board at the Vitovskyj Branch. The debutantes’ 

individual presentations ended with each of them greeting 

the guests with a deep and graceful bow as their parents 

looked on, beaming with pride. 

Mr. Bandriwsky greeted all of the guests and their families 

with warmest wishes for the coming New Year. He 

wished the debutantes success as they embark on their 

path into adulthood. Ms. Karawan continued with the presentation, 

calling upon the fathers to lead their daughters 

in a waltz. The mothers were honored next in a touching 

ceremony, as each of the debutantes was given a longstemmed 

rose to present to them. 

The spotlight was then on the debutantes and their 

escorts. They delighted the guests with another wonderfully 

choreographed dance, interweaving traditional and 

Ukrainian flavor. Throughout a spirited series of dips, 

twirls and bows, they covered the entire large dance floor. 

Their radiance, grace, beauty, elegance and charm were 

appreciated with extended applause from the guests 

Before dinner, guests were led in prayer by the Very Rev. 

Bohdan Nalysnyk of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic 

Cathedral in Chicago. 

After dinner, guests enjoyed the rest of the evening by 

dancing to the sounds of the Rendezvous and Klopit, both 

Chicago-based bands. At the stroke of midnight, New 

Year’s favors were brought out, and friends and acquaintances 

embraced each other, welcoming the New Year. 

Thanks and recognition were expressed to all those who 

helped make this lovely evening possible, particularly the 

Malanka committee: Chairperson Deanna Wruskyj; members 

Heather Baranivsky, Kristin Chylak, Irene Czerniuk, 

Nadya Dudycz-DiBartolo, Ms. Karawan and Andrea Mulyk. 

Chervona Kalyna... 


Kalyna,” with the debutantes clutching bouquets 

of roses in various shades of pink. 

Introduced were Oksana Kramarchuk 

of Manhattan, New York City and escort 

Paul Temnycky of Clifton, N.J.; Zenia 

Verzole of Clifton Park, N.Y. and Andrij 

Tarasiuk of Newton, N.J.; Maria O’Connell 

of Greenwich, Conn., and Pavlo Kravchuk 

of Clifton, N.J.; Nina Dytiuk of Schenectady, 

N.Y. and Gregory Gudziak of West 

Bloomfield, Mich.; Anita Chomenko of 

Morrisville, Pa. and Roman Krywulych of 

Westfield, N.J.; Tessa Junas of Orange, 

Conn., and Paul Senica of Maspeth, N.Y.; 

Lesia Sisung of Staatsburg, N.Y. and Andre 

Wowk of Potomac, Md.; Kalyna Iwasykiw 

of Bronxville, N.Y. and Stephan Halarewicz 

of Cleveland, Ohio; Ivanna Kiyashka of 

Forest Hills, N.Y. and Alex Rybchuk of 

Arlington, N.J.; Kateryna Huz of Brooklyn, 

N.Y. and Alexander Syzonenko of 

Randolph, N.J.; Lesia Danyluk of Dobbs 

Ferry, N.Y. and Andrij Klufas of Seekonk, 

Mass.; Andriana Ilnicki of New York City 

and Adrian Drobenko of Astoria, N.Y.; 

Iryna Perkhalyuk of Staten Island, N.Y. and 

Joseph Kaminskyj of Montville, N.J.; and 

Taisa Hnateyko of Bellevue, Wash., and 

Luka Zacharczuk of Worcester, Pa. 

The debutantes and their escorts performed 

exquisite dances choreographed 

by Ania Bohachevsky Lonkevych to the 

strains of Johann Pachelbel’s “Canon,” 

ending in a sumptuous “Blue Danube” 

waltz. Throughout the evening the ballroom 

was packed to capacity with dancers 

reveling in the music of both Fata 

Morgana and Hrim. The debutantes and 

escorts beautifully ruled the dance floor 

and dominated the traditional “Kolomyika” 

that continued for nearly half an hour. 

As a special memento of their evening, 

each debutante received from the ball’s 

organizers a glass medallion handmade in 

Ukraine on a gold chain. The glass medallion, 

rimmed in gold, depicts a sprig of 

kalyna (guelder rose) with copious red 

berries. 

Recognition is due to all long-standing 

members of the Chervona Kalyna Planning 

Committee and their co-workers: Mr. 

Sochan (chair), Yarko Stawnychy (vicechair), 

Andrey Kosovych (treasurer), 

Marta Kebalo (debutante group organizer), 

Orest Kebalo (MC), Ms. Lonkevych 

(choreographer), Olena Kebalo and Alex 

Kosovych (presenters) and Anna 

Debutantes and guests join in the “Kolomyika.” 

Hrabowsky (assistant), Yurij Jarymowycz 

(invitations), Roman and Myrosia Sawycky 

(reservations), Pavlo Jarymowycz (press), 

Olya Stawnychy (flowers), Marijka Sochan- 

Tymyc (tableau and program booklets), 

Vlodko Artymshyn (videography), and 

Andrij and Larissa Wowk (photography). 

The Chervona Kalyna Committee cordially 

invites everyone to attend next 

year’s Chervona Kalyna Ball, which will be 

held on February 2 at the Sheraton 

Meadowlands Hotel with Fata Morgana 

and Hrim. 

Wowk Photography 

Olena Kebalo and Alex Kosovych, debutante 

presenters at the 2012 Chervona 

Kalyna Ball.

14 


No. 13 

Philadelphia... 


Bohachevsky-Lonkevych, ably prepared the debutantes for 

the presentation ceremony and dances. Ms. Wirstiuk choreographed 

the introductory dance to the music of Richard 

Strauss’ “Der Küss,” and Ms. Bohachevsky-Lonkevych choreographed 

the second dance, a waltz. The choreography 

of both dances is new, and unique to the Philadelphia 

Engineers’ Ball. The dances were elegantly performed by 

the debutantes and their escorts, and the waltz culminated 

with the parents of the debutantes dancing with their 

daughters and their escorts. 

The dinner then began with an invocation delivered by 

the Rev. Ihor Royik, representing the Ukrainian Catholic 

Archeparchy of Philadelphia. 

Nearly 300 people attended the banquet, and more than 

400 persons enjoyed the grand ball held afterwards. The 

Vorony Orchestra from Syracuse, N.Y., beautifully entertained 

the guests. 

Special thanks were offered to the Ball Committee, 

chaired by Orysia Hewka (who also prepared and edited 

the commemorative program booklet that was given to the 

debutantes, escorts, parents and guests), with Marijka 

Cyhan, Slava Halaway, Maria Schwed, and Marusia and Leo 

Dombchewsky, for organizing and taking care of all the 

many details to ensure a wonderful and memorable evening 

for the debutantes, escorts and guests. 

The debutantes and their escorts take to the dance floor. 

C & C Photographers 

TO ALL MEMBERS OF UNA BRANCH 349 

Please be advised that Branch 349 has merged with Branch 269 

as of March 1, 2012. All inquiries and requests for changes should 

be sent to Mrs. Valia Kaploun. 

Mrs. Valia Kaploun 

100 Montgomery St., Apt. 18-M 

Jersey City, NJ 07302 

Tel.: 201-432-7357 

TO ALL MEMBERS OF UNA BRANCH 120 

As of March 1, 2012, the secretary’s duties of Branch 120 were 

assumed by Mr. Mark Szedny. 

We ask all members of this Branch to direct all correspondence 

regarding membership and insurance to the address listed below: 

Mr. Mark Szedny 

2120 Ritchie St. 

Aliquippa, PA 15002 

Tel. 724-375-1448

No. 13 


15 

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE 

Parma parish has busy season 

by Wira Gernaga 

PARMA, Ohio – St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church, in 

collaboration with parish priest the Rev. Ihor Kasiyan, has 

been busy in recent months, beginning with the annual celebration 

of its patron saint’s feast day in December 2011. As a 

gift to all the hard-working parishioners, the luncheon that 

day was catered, in order to give everyone a chance to sit, celebrate 

and connect with one another as one parish family. 

Parishioners were honored by the attendance of Bishop 

John Bura, as well as several area priests and their families. 

During the event, the parish choir under the direction of 

Vasyl Kobryn performed several liturgical musical selections, 

and the Rev. Kasiyan delivered an entertaining speech. 

In short order after the feast day, the parish celebrated 

the visit of St Nicholas at a special event attended by the parish’s 

children, their family and friends, and parish priests. 

The annual Cookie Walk, a successful event for over 10 

years, was outstanding. The parish sells home-made cookies, 

pastries, Christmas bread, varenyky, stuffed cabbage 

and borsch. In conjunction with the Cookie Walk, Social 

Committee members created care packages for Sviat 

Vechir (Christmas Eve) for homebound parishioners 

unable to attend liturgies or prepare the traditional foods 

themselves. 

Finally, the parish concluded the season with its annual 

Prosphora (Yalynka) luncheon. Luncheon participants 

were entertained by the parish choir, which sang traditional 

Ukrainian and English Christmas carols to put all in the 

Christmas spirit. 

Turning the pages back... 


the “zero option” settlement of debts and assets of the former 

Soviet Union, and the settlement of Ukraine’s trade 

debts to Russia. 

Mr. Kuchma acknowledged that he and Mr. Yeltsin 

agreed that the issue of the Black Sea Fleet should not prevent 

them from signing a treaty. “I do not believe that the 

Black Sea Fleet is the main detriment to a treaty. It has 

become the focal point because the opposition has used it 

to worsen Ukraine-Russia relations,” President Kuchma 

said. “We agreed in Moscow that it is not a conflict, but a 

disagreement.” 

Mr. Kuchma stated that although no one should believe 

that the Russian troops would leave Crimea any time soon, 

he gave a time frame of five to 10 years for their departure 

once an agreement is reached and the treaty on friendship 

and cooperation was signed. 

Source: “Kuchma says CIC summit heralds new era in 

relations among members,” by Roman Woronowycz, The 

Ukrainian Weekly, April 6, 1997. 

Parishioners and clergy gathered for St. Andrew’s Feast Day at St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church in Parma, Ohio. 

Jersey City Ukrainian National Home holds annual elections 

by Anne Czujko 

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Ukrainian National Home 

and Ukrainian Community Center of Jersey City, N.J., 

held their general members meeting and annual election 

of officers on Sunday, February 19. 

Zenko Halkowycz was appointed by the membership 

to conduct and preside over the meetings. 

Ihor Kolinets, president of the Ukrainian National 

Home, reviewed the progress of the prior year. The 

Grand Ballroom has now been completely renovated 

and rentals for the hall are coming in. The hall renovations 

included a new roof, ceiling tiles, new carpeting 

and dance floor, as well as the stage area and floor. Mr. 

Kolinets also described the improvements done in the 

main foyer, as well as the former Pine Room and coat 

check room. 

The improvements were accomplished as a result of 

the generous support of several key sponsors such as 

the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and Self 

Reliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union in 

Jersey City, fund-raising functions, as well as the hard 

work of many members. Plans for continued and further 

renovation projects were also described. 

Everyone in attendance was invited to tour the 

building after the meeting and to enjoy coffee and 

cake. Everyone was also advised that the Ukrainian 

National Home will once again be sponsoring Ukrainian 

Independence Day at City Hall in Jersey City on August 

24 with a luncheon to follow. 

The Ukrainian National Home election was conducted 

and the officers for 2012 are: Mr. Kolinets, president; 

Ivan Byk, vice-president; Oxana Barkiv, secretary; 

and Teresa Blazejowskyj, treasurer. 

The Officers elected for the Ukrainian Community 

Center for 2012 are: Jaroslaw Malynovsky, president; 

Alex L. Haluszczak, vice-president; Hannia Czujko- 

Rozij, secretary; and Vasyl Nykolyn, treasurer. 

Elections for directors and controllers were also conducted. 

For more information, readers may visit the website 

at www.ukrnathome/jerseycity.com. 

presents 

Saturday, April 7 2012, 8 PM 

“EUROPE BETWEEN THE WARS” 

Solomiya Ivakhiv, violin 

Efe Baltacigil, cello 

Joseph Silverstein, violin 

Gary Graffman, piano 

PROKOFIEV: Sonata in C Major for Two Violins, Op.56 

RAVEL: Sonata for Violin and Cello 

SCRIABIN: Prelude and Nocturne for the Left Hand, Op.9 

KORNGOLD: Suite for Piano Left Hand and Strings, Op.23 

General $30, UIA Members and Seniors $25, Students $10 

Reception follows the performance 

At the Ukrainian Institute of America 

2 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075 

212-288-8660 • mail@ukrainianinstitute.org 

The Board of Directors 

of the Ukrainian Institute of America 

invites you to a memorial concert 

in honor of our esteemed past president 

WALTER NAZAREWICZ 

with performances by: 

violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv, cellist Natalia Khoma, 

soprano Oksana Krovytska, pianists Mykola Suk 

and Volodymyr Vynnytsky 

Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8 p.m. 

At the Ukrainian Institute of America 

2 East 79th Street 

New York, NY 10075

16 


No. 13 

NEWSBRIEFS 


A report on “Tymoshenko’s treason” 

KYIV – The Verkhovna Rada has heard 

and supported a report by an ad hoc commission 

investigating the circumstances of 

the signing of the 2009 gas agreements 

between Naftohaz Ukrainy and Gazprom 

and have observed signs of treason in 

Ukraine’s economic security. A total of 266 

lawmakers voted for such a decision on 

March 20. “In the actions of Prime Minister 

Yulia Tymoshenko there were signs of criminal 

offenses and personal dependence and 

interest going beyond the scope of abuse of 

power and official authority... as well as signs 

of treason,” reads a report by the commission. 

According to the head of the ad hoc 

investigative commission, Inna Bohoslovska, 

all the circumstances of the signing of the 

gas contracts, which were reported by the 

members of the commission, should be 

investigated by law enforcement agencies, 

because the commission has exhausted its 

capabilities to do so. At the same time, Ms. 

Bohoslovska said that the commission managed 

to find out that on January 17-19, 2009, 

during talks and the signing of directives for 

TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL WALTER HONCHARYK (973) 292-9800 x3040 

or e-mail adukr@optonline.net 

SERVICES 

the conclusion of gas contracts between 

Naftohaz and Gazprom, Ms. Tymoshenko 

concealed from the public and the authorities 

the existence of over $405 million of 

debt of her private companies to the Russian 

Defense Ministry. “Furthermore, the fact of 

the existence in Russia of a criminal case, in 

which Ms. Tymoshenko’s guilt in repeatedly 

bribing Defense Ministry officials was 

proved, was also concealed. These circumstances 

are undoubtedly evidence of a conflict 

of interests of the prime minister with 

state interests, and they significantly influenced 

the prime minister’s decision in favor 

of a foreign state,” Ms. Bohoslovska said. She 

also said that Ms. Tymoshenko exerted 

unlawful pressure on the Naftohaz chief by 

obliging him to sign gas contracts under 

threat of dismissal. The report by the 

Parliament’s ad hoc commission will be sent 

to the president, the prime minister, the 

procurator general and the Security Service 

of Ukraine for a proper response, Ms. 

Bohoslovska said. In addition, Ms. 

Bohoslovska promised to send the report to 

the Council of Europe, the Parliamentary 

Assembly of the Council of Europe, the NATO 

Parliamentary Assembly, the presidents, 

prime ministers and speakers of European 

Union member-states, as well as Russia, the 

United States and Canada. (Ukrinform) 

PROFESSIONALS 

Visa-free regime no earlier than 2015 

KYIV – A visa-free regime between 

Ukraine and the European Union will be 

introduced no earlier than 2015 under an 

optimistic scenario, according to a political 

analyst of the Institute for Euro-Atlantic 

Cooperation, Volodymyr Horbach, who 

spoke at a press conference in Kyiv on 

March 19. “I think that in the nearest three 

years it should not be expected. …In the 

best case, it will occur after 2015,” he said, 

answering a question on when Ukrainians 

will be able to freely travel to the EU. Mr. 

Horbach paid attention to forecasts of the 

public organization Europe Without 

Barriers, which is engaged in monitoring 

the fulfillment of the Action Plan on Visa 

Liberalization, granted by the European 

Union to Ukraine. According to the organization, 

completion of the first legal stage of 

fulfillment of the Action Plan on Visa 

Liberalization will take place no earlier 

than 2012. “And there will also be the 

implementation stage, which is more complex,” 

the expert noted. At the same time, 

Mr. Horbach emphasized the need to recognize 

the success achieved by Ukrainian 

authorities in implementation of the Action 

Plan on Visa Liberalization, adding that, 

“this trend does not concern any political 

things.” He added, “In this direction, the EU 

does not place any conditions of a political 

character. This is an exclusively technological 

process.” (Ukrinform) 

About Ukraine’s imports of Russian gas 

KYIV – Ukraine could reduce the amount 

of natural gas purchased from Russia to 

10-15 billion cubic meters due to gas supplies 

from Western and Central Europe. 

The secretary of the experts’ council on the 

development of the gas industry and the 

natural gas market, Leonid Unihovsky, 

announced this on March 19 while commenting 

on the diversification of gas supplies 

to Ukraine. “There is a very interesting 

question – the question of reversing the 

supply of gas, from Europe to Ukraine. This 

is what we call a real diversification of 

energy sources. This will increase the 

state’s energy security. If we bought, for 

example, 45 billion [cubic meters] of 

Russian gas, then now we can purchase 27 

billion [cubic meters], but 10-15 billion 

[cubic meters],” Mr. Unihovsky said. He 

added that in 2015-2016 Ukraine could 

receive about 20 billion cubic meters of gas 

from Slovakia. “In 2015-2016, the operator 

of the Slovakia’s gas transport system, 

Eustream, will be able to supply up to 20 

billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine per 

year. This is a significant amount, and this 

is accessible to the Ukrainian market,” the 

expert said. Kyiv has been in talks with 

Russia for a long time regarding a reduction 

in the price of gas, which it considers 

to be unfair and sees the gas contracts as 

one-sided. Russia, in exchange for the revision 

of the price, is seeking access to the 

management of the Ukrainian gas transport 

system. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov 

said in an interview with the German 

newspaper Die Welt that Naftohaz was in 

talks with the German energy giant RWE 

on imports of Russian gas from Europe to 

Ukraine, which will be cheaper than the 

direct purchase of gas from Russia. In 2011, 

Ukraine bought more than 38.5 billion 

cubic meters of gas from Russia, paying 

about $12 billion to Gazprom. In 2012, 

Ukraine plans to buy 27 billion cubic 

meters of gas from Russia, and starting 

from 2015, it intends to reduce the purchase 

of gas to 12.5 billion cubic meters per 

year by increasing its own production and 

implementing a project on the construction 

of a terminal to receive liquefied natural 

gas. (Ukrinform) 

ОКСАНА СТАНЬКО 

Ліцензований продавець 

Страхування Життя 

OKSANA STANKO 

Licensed Life Insurance Agent 

Ukrainian National Assn., Inc. 

32 Peachtree Rd. 

Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 

Tel.: 908-872-2192; email: stankouna@optimum.net 

HELP WANTED 

WANT IMPACT? 

Run your advertisement here, 

in The Ukrainian Weekly’s 

CLASSIFIEDS section. 

CDL – Team Drivers Needed 

from the Detroit Metro area to drive dedicated 

run from MI to TX. Pay $1000.00 

or more per week with minimum one day 

stay at home. Please leave message at 

248-495-8508. 

FOR SALE 

For sale 2BR corner apartment with 

outside patio in the Ukrainian Village, 

in Somerset, NJ. Asking $89,900. 

Contact Irene Kobziar 914-738-7845 (H) 

or 917-842-8611 (C). 

OPPORTUNITIES 

EARN EXTRA INCOME! 

The Ukrainian Weekly is looking 

for advertising sales agents. 

For additional information contact 

Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, 

The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. 

Three years ago, on April 3, 2009, we lost 

Maria “Mima” Zobniw 

who died as a victim of the tragic Binghamton massacre. 

Our family sorely misses Mima who was a loving wife, caring and nurturing 

mother and sister, and a kind aunt who welcomed and tended to our circle of 

extended family and friends. Maria put into practice her values of helping others 

and spreading knowledge about our Ukrainian culture and history. She was an 

active member of her parish, Ukrainian school teacher, Plast counsellor, 

President of the Binghamton branch of the UNWLA, secretary of the UCCA local 

branch, and organizer of many public exhibits and programs about our Ukrainian 

heritage. Mima inspired us with her abundant generosity, selfless voluntarism, 

strength of character, gentle spirit and good humor. But most of all she comforted 

us as a great listener who always had time to ease our problems and heal 

our hurts. Through her death we have lost a companion and mentor, and the 

world has lost a very special person. For our family, for the Ukrainian community, 

and for society as a whole, Maria’s remembrance, deeds, and example are 

everlasting jewels. May she always remain in our hearts and prayers. “ W h o 

can find a woman of noble character? She is worth far more than jewels. Give 

her credit for all she does. She deserves the respect of everyone.” (Proverbs 

31: 10, 31)

No. 13 


17 

КРАЙОВА ПЛАСТОВА СТАРШИНА 

і 

КРАЙОВА ПЛАСТОВА РАДА 

ділиться сумною вісткою з пластовою 

родиною, що з волі Всевишнього 

в середу, 7 березня 2012 р., 

відійшла на Вічну Ватру 

св. п. 

пл. сен. керівництва 

ОЛЬГА КУЗЬМОВИЧ, ГР 

Голова Крайової Пластової Старшини США 

від 1960-1963 р і 1989-1993 р., 

Голова Головної Пластової Булави 

від 1970-1974 р., 

Головний Редактор журналу “Юнак” 

від 1968-1992 р. 

ВІЧНА ЇЙ ПАМ’ЯТЬ! 

Родині Покійної висловлюємо наше глибоке співчуття. 

В ПЕРШУ РІЧНИЦЮ ВІДХОДУ 

НА «ВІЧНУ ВАТРУ» 

КРАЙОВА ПЛАСТОВА СТАРШИНА США 

і 

КРАЙОВА ПЛАСТОВА РАДА США 

поминають 

незабутню та дорогу подругу 

бл. п. 

пл. сен. кер. 

ЕВСТАХІЮ ГОЙДИШ, ГР 

1914-2011 

яка довголітньо працювала як 

Голова Крайової Пластової Старшини США, 

Голова Крайової Пластової Ради, 

та Крайова Комендантка Новачок. 

ВІЧНА ЇЙ ПАМ’ЯТЬ! 

With deep sorrow we announce that 

Stefan Kecyk 

of Gloucester, Mass., beloved husband 

of Christel (Becker) Kecyk, died 

unexpectedly at his home on 

Saturday, January 21, 2012, 

at the age of 87. 

Born in Ukraine, he was the son 

of the late George and Katherine 

(Leniw) Kecyk and the brother 

of the late Paraska Sychova. 

He was raised in Ukraine until the age of sixteen, when he left home to work 

on the farms in Germany. It was in Germany that he met the love of his life 

Christel and, at the age of twenty two, they got married and immigrated to 

Australia. After living in Australia for sixteen years and with the birth of three children, 

they immigrated to the United States, first settling in Ohio and then 

Gloucester, where they have since resided. 

Mr. Kecyk was a well-known self-employed independent contractor in the 

Trucking Industry. Known for his dedication and hard work, Stefan earned many 

contracts throughout Massachusetts. 

A long time dedicated member of the St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Church 

family, Stefan was an avid reader, enjoyed watching soccer on television and 

working on his truck. He was an avid gardener who tended his vegetable garden 

faithfully for many years and shared the fruits of his labors with others. Above all 

else, his family here in the U.S. and in Ukraine was paramount. He enjoyed traveling 

back to his home country visiting relatives and old friends. Stefan will be 

remembered for his kind nature, his dedication to his family and his church and 

his always gregarious smile. 

In addition to his loving wife of 64 years, Stefan is survived by his children, 

Rosemarie Romanyk and her husband Myron, Michael Kecyk and his wife Donna, 

Irena Burke and her husband Steven, and Steven Kecyk and his wife Marilyn, all 

of Gloucester; his grandchildren, Natalie Romanyk, Nikolas, Alexander and 

Michael Kecyk, Erika and Kathryn Burke and Eric Kecyk, several nieces, nephews 

and extended family in Ukraine. 

Funeral services were held on January 25, 2011, from The O’Donnell Funeral 

Home, 46 Washington Sq., (at Salem Common) Salem, MA to St. John the Baptist 

Ukrainian Church, Bridge St., Salem. Burial took pace in St. Mary’s Cemetery in 

Salem. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Stefan’s memory 

to Autism Speaks, 1 East 33rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016. 

Ukrainian Medical Association of 

North America (UMANA) 

Ukrainian Medical Association of 

North America (UMANA) 

With great sadness we announce to our members 

With great sadness the death we March announce 12, 2012 of to our members 

the death March 12, 2012 of 

Basil Marchuk, MD 

Basil MD 

(1922-2012) 

(1922-2012) 

President of the National Office 1987-1989 

President of the National Office 1987-1989 

President of the Illinois Branch 1973-1975 

President of the Illinois Branch 1973-1975 

The Directors express their sincere 

The Directors express their sincere 

condolences to the the family. family. 

Board of Directors of Directors 

Ukrainian Medical Association 

of of North North America America

18 


No. 13 

Through 

April 23 

New York 

Art exhibit, “Artexistence,” featuring works by Emma 

Beglyarova, Ukrainian Institute of America, 

212-288-8660 or www.ukrainianinstitute.org 

March 30-31 

Parma, OH 

Sale, “Attic Treasures,” Ukrainian National Women‛s 

League of America – Branch 12, St. Josephat Astrodome, 

440-882-3928 

March 27 

Cambridge, MA 

Presentation by Oksana Iurkova, “Mykhailo Hrushevsky‛s 

Life in Moscow (1932-1934): New Facts and Manuscripts,” 

Harvard University, 617-495-4053 or huri@fas.harvard.edu 

March 31 

New York 

Multimedia performance, “Kilims and Constructions,” 

featuring the New York Bandura Ensemble, The Ukrainian 

Museum, www.ukrainianmuseum.org 

March 28 

New York 

March 28 

Ottawa 

March 29 

Cambridge, MA 

March 29 

New York 

Film screening, “The Night Coachman” (1928) by Heorhy 

Tasin, Ukrainian Film Club at Columbia University, 

www.columbia.edu/cu/ufc or 212-854-5627 

Lecture by Timothy Snyder, “Bloodlands: Europe Between 

Hitler and Stalin,” University of Ottawa, 

chairukr@gmail.com or 613-562-5800 ext. 3692 

Book talk by Oxana Shevel, “Migration, Refugee Policy 

and State-Building in Post-Communist Europe,” Harvard 

University, 617-495-4053 or huri@fas.harvard.edu 

Presentation by Tamara Hundorova, “Post-Chornobyl 

Ukrainian Literature: Lost in the Nuclear Sublime,” 

Columbia University, 212-854-4697 or 

ma2634@columbia.edu 

March 29 Lecture by Timothy Snyder, “Bloodlands: Europe Between 

Winnipeg, MB Hitler and Stalin,” University of Manitoba, 204-474-9986 

or 204-474-7866 

March 29 Film screening, “The Desert of Forbidden Art” by 

New York Tchavdar Georgiev, The Ukrainian Museum, 212-228-0110 

or www.ukrainianmuseum.org 

March 30 

Whippany, NJ 

Lobster, Varenyky and Beer Dinner, Ukrainian American 

Youth Association – Whippany branch “Druzhynnyky,” 

Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey, 

973-714-0389 or apylypiw@gmail.com 

March 30 Fish dinner, Ss. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic 

Olyphant, PA Church, Regal Room, 570-489-4348 

March 31 

Johnson City, NY 

Easter bazaar, Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church, 

www.sacredheartucc.org 

March 31 Performance, Duquesne University Tamburitzans, Peter J. 

New York Sharp Theater at Symphony Space, 212-864-5400 

March 31 Easter bazaar, St. Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church hall, 

New Britain, CT 860-229-3833 or 860-677-2138 

March 31 

New York 

April 1 

Whippany, NJ 

Presentation by Oksana Blashkiv, “A Permanent Ticket 

Europe-America: The Correspondence between Dmytro 

Chyzevsky and George Shevelov,” Shevchenko Scientific 

Society, 212-254-5130 

Easter bazaar, St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic 

Church, Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey, 

973-476-1970 

April 1 

Memorial concert for Walter Nazarewicz, Ukrainian 

New York Institute of America, 212-288-8660 

April 1 

Lehighton, PA 

Easter bazaar, Ukrainian Homestead, 267-259-3780 or 

610-377-4621 or www.ukrhomestead.com 

April 1 

100th anniversary concert in memory of Mykola Lysenko, 

New York featuring the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka, Gerald W. 

Lynch Theater, John Jay College, www.dumkachorus.org 

Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events 

advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions 

from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors 

and as space allows. Please send e-mail to mdubas@ukrweekly.com. 

Gala celebration in New York 

to mark 100 years of Plast 

by Chryzanta and Ksenya Hentisz 

NEW YORK – The New York branch of 

Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization is 

commemorating the 100th anniversary of 

Plast by hosting a Gala celebration on April 

28. The event will take place at 

Bridgewaters, which is located in the historic 

South Street Seaport and commands 

some of Manhattan’s finest views – from 

the beautifully illuminated Brooklyn Bridge 

to the tall ships in New York harbor and the 

Wall Street skyline. 

The event starts at 7:30 p.m. with guests 

enjoying piano selections played by Andrij 

Stasiw and continues with dancing to the 

tunes of Svitanok. Butlered hors d’oeuvres 

will be offered during the cocktail hour, 

with serving stations offering a variety of 

foods for the remainder of the evening. 

A fun and exciting program full of surprises 

is in store, including the thrill of the 

chase in a silent auction in which guests 

will bid on extraordinary items such as artworks, 

jewelry and vacation homes. 

The slogan of the evening and of the 

worldwide 100th anniversary celebrations 

of Plast is “Be a spark.” With this slogan 

gala organizers hope to ignite excitement in 

the Ukrainian community as the organization’s 

history and contributions are 

recalled and honored with a look ahead to 

its bright future. 

The event will enable present and former 

Plast members from all branches to 

enjoy an evening renewing old friendships, 

making new friends and revisiting their 

experiences as “plastuny.” 

Since the first Plast troops took the oath 

of membership in 1912, thousands of girls 

and boys have passed through its ranks, 

from “novatstvo” (age 6 to 11) to “yunatstvo” 

(12 to 17) to “starshe plastunstvo” (18 

to 35) and “seniorat” (36 and over). 

Tickets for the gala are $175; guests age 

30 and under may purchase tickets for 

$100. Tickets are available through April 

20; they will not be sold at the door. Tickets 

may be purchased online at the Plast website 

www.plastusa.org/ny100littyagala or 

by sending checks made payable to “Plast 

Inc.” to Lida Nolan, 848 S. Long Beach Ave., 

Freeport, NY 11520. 

Requests for additional information may 

be directed to Emilia Liteplo at 718-435- 

0190 or by sending an e-mail to 

NY100littia@gmail.com.

No. 13 


19 

PAID ADVERTISEMENT 

Otar Dovzhenko 

“It’s melodious.” “It’s exotic.” 

“It’s the language of my ancestors.” 

“It’s the key to learning the 

history, culture, and traditions 

of my people.” “Through this I’ll 

find my better half.” “I’ll communicate 

more freely with friends 

and neighbors.” “Thanks to 

this, I can confidently travel 

through Eastern Europe.” “It’ll 

help me in my work.” “I’ll be able 

to read many interesting books 

in the original.” “I’ll understand 

what Oleh Skrypka, Kvitka 

Cisyk, and the Hadyukin 

Brothers are singing about.” “It’s 

a bridge to other Slavic languages.” 

“I just like it”… 

These and many other reasons 

inspire foreigners to get 

acquainted with the Ukrainian 

language. Some of them come 

from a Ukrainian background 

and want to get back to their 

roots. Others are simply interested 

in the country and its 

people. They travel to Lviv, the 

cultural capital of Ukraine and 

the largest Ukrainian-speaking 

city in the world. The Ukrainian 

Catholic University’s School of 

Ukrainian Language and 

Culture offers two months of 

total immersion in Ukraine’s 

language, culture and history. 

Students leave not only with 

extensive knowledge but also 

with new friends, unforgettable 

impressions, and valuable 

experience. For those who were 

born and lived their whole lives 

in western Europe or America, 

there is much here that can 

shock, or fascinate. 

To live like Ukrainians and 

together with Ukrainians: that’s 

the simple recipe for effective 

study. Experienced language 

teachers and also tutors, students 

of UCU or other universities 

in Lviv, work with the program’s 

participants. Some of 

them live together with the students 

in dormitories. They help 

them with homework, eat 

together, interact, and spend 

leisure time together, providing 

constant conversational practice. 

Or interested students can 

also live with Lviv families. 

The program is filled with 

interaction in the Ukrainianlanguage, 

not only study but 

also recreation: parties, picnics, 

visits to museums and theatres. 

On weekends: trips to castles, 

monasteries, and villages of the 

Lviv Region, and also longer 

trips to Kyiv, Odesa, Kamianets- 

Podilskyj and the picturesque 

Carpathian Mountains. And, of 

course, walks through Lviv. 

Here the most interesting experiences 

start. 

Most foreign guests are surprised 

by rides on city minibuses, 

so different from public 

transportation in the countries 

of North America and Western 

Europe. Students, still getting a 

little mixed up with words, tell 

strange stories about city 

buses. 

“I wanted to get home fast 

and I saw city bus no. 37. I 

asked: ‘Where are you going?’ 

The driver said: ‘I’m going 

downtown.’ ‘No, no, no!’ So, 

with all my groceries from the 

supermarket I went on a ride 

through Lviv. I had ice cream 

which became milk. Now I 

think that city bus no. 37 is a 

super-duper inexpensive ride 

through Lviv, but not with groceries.” 

Adam Garner, from the 

USA, wrote about this in the 

newspaper Summer with a 

twist, which the participants of 

the program prepared themselves. 

“I love everything here!” 

Colleen Makar, also from the 

USA, shared her impressions. 

“I like it that I can walk around 

a lot. At home I drive everywhere. 

I really noticed that 

there are many old cars, city 

minivans and buses here.” 

American student Sarah Sutter 

wrote a strange story in her 

daily journal. “I got on city bus 

UCU summer school 2011 students pose in folk costumes. 

‘Bus routes and bazaars’ fascinate students 

of Ukrainian Catholic University’s Summer School 

UCU summer school 2011 students Maria Hewko and Paul 

Bandera make pysanky. 

no. 39 and saw an unforgettable 

exchange between an old 

lady and a bus driver. All the 

passengers gave their two 

hryvnias fare, but the old lady 

didn’t want to pay, or she 

didn’t have the money, I don’t 

know. She took two big apricots 

from her bag and put 

them on a mat, not saying anything. 

The driver saw the apricots 

and looked at the lady. I 

thought that he would get really 

made, but he said ‘Thanks!’ 

and put the apricots in the 

cash box. And then he drove 

off and ate the apricots. I 

smiled for a long time, thinking 

that that situation would never 

happen in America.” 

Another surprise is the 

bazaar. “The Shuvar market 

really made an impression on 

me,” wrote Matthew Lovell. 

“There’s so much meat and 

sausage there. It’s great! You 

can buy a big chunk of bacon 

fat (though I don’t like bacon 

fat).” 

UCU summer school 2011 

student John Alexander Reves 

learns to make varenyky. 

Maybe everyone doesn’t like 

bacon fat, but you can find 

something to your taste in the 

Ukrainian kitchen. When they 

return home, the graduates of 

the School of Ukrainian 

Language and Culture can prepare 

authentic borshch for 

their friends or introduce them 

to the culinary ritual of making 

varenyky. And few leave 

Ukraine without an embroidered 

shirt, a traditional handmade 

item. 

Yet another pleasant surprise 

is the Ukrainian song. Its 

unmatched euphony, along 

with the beauty of Lviv’s old 

world architecture, captivates 

guests from the first day. For 

you don’t need to know the language 

to understand beauty. 

By the way, you can start 

studying at the school without 

knowing a single word of 

Ukrainian. Programs are 

offered for students at beginn 

i n g , i n t e r m e d i a t e , a n d 

advanced levels. 

Intensive language study in 

groups of five to six students 

helps them understand the 

locals, and recreational activities 

help them look into the 

Ukrainian soul. “Every time I 

think that now I totally understand 

Lviv, Ukraine, or Eastern 

Europe, something happens in 

my life here that surprises me 

incredibly,” wrote Sarah Sutter 

in her journal. “I really like the 

fact that there’s always something 

here that can surprise 

you.” 

Last year some 50 students 

studied at the school, from the 

U S A , C a n a d a , E n g l a n d , 

Germany, Australia, Poland, 

Austria, France, and Holland. 

The program is in its 10th successful 

year. Its results dramatically 

disprove misconceptions 

that the Ukrainian language 

has no future and that there’s 

no reason to learn it. According 

to the book Ethnologue, more 

than 40 million people in various 

countries of the world 

speak in this language, and 

this is the native language of 37 

million of them. Regardless of 

all the disputes connected with 

the pro-Russian political forces 

in the current government, 

Ukrainian has not only not lost 

its status as the single state 

language but it is gradually 

becoming a language of communication 

even in those areas 

of Ukraine where Russian was 

dominant in Soviet times. 

Fluency in the state language 

of the largest country in 

Europe gives an additional 

advantage in the job search 

and career advancement in 

such fields as diplomacy, international 

cooperation, economics, 

education, and journalism. 

“In my opinion, one should 

study foreign languages,” said 

Lesia Witkowsky, a participant 

in the program. “English is 

important for business, and 

Ukrainian for the culture of my 

ancestors.” 

Graduates of the School of 

Ukrainian Language and 

Culture reluctantly say “farewell” 

to Lviv and often return: 

some to improve their fluency, 

others to teach English to 

Ukrainian students, still others 

simply to see Ukrainian friends. 

They say there is no place in 

the world with tastier beer or 

more fragrant coffee. “People in 

Lviv are very hospitable and 

pleasant,” recounted Alanna 

Wasylkiw from Canada. “If you 

ask for help, you’ll certainly 

receive it. If I ever have a 

chance to return to Lviv, I’ll 

grab it, and with great pleasure 

return to this wonderful 

Ukrainian city.” 

In 2012 sessions will run 

from June 18 through August 

11. To learn more about UCU’s 

School of Ukrainian Language 

and Culture, go to http:// 

studyukrainian.org.ua/

20 


No. 13 

PREVIEW OF EVENTS 

Saturday, March 31 

NEW YORK: The Shevchenko Scientific 

Society invites all to a lecture by Oksana 

Blashkiv (Drohobych, Ukraine) on the subject 

“A Permanent Ticket Europe-America: 

The Correspondence between Dmytro 

Chyzhevsky and George Shevelov.” The lecturer 

holds a candidate of philological sciences 

degree and is associate professor at 

the Ivan Franko Pedagogical University in 

Drohobych. She is currently a 2011-2012 

Fulbright Fellow. The lecture will take place 

at the society’s building, 63 Fourth Ave. 

(between Ninth and 10th streets) at 5 p.m. 

For additional information call 212-254- 

5130. 

NEW YORK: The Center for Traditional 

Music and Dance, New York Bandura 

Ensemble, Bandura Downtown and The 

Ukrainian Museum present “Kilims and 

Constructions,” a multi-media performance 

to complement the museum’s current exhibitions 

“Kilims” and “Borys Kosarev: 

Modernist Kharkiv 1915-1931.” Performers 

include bandurist/singer Julian Kytasty and 

the Black Square Ensemble in a program of 

musical compositions and improvisations 

intertwined with video projections, movement 

and text. Concert starts at 7 p.m. at 

The Ukrainian Museum, 222 E. Sixth St. 

Admission is $15 ($10 for CTMD/museum 

members) and includes reception. Tickets 

may be purchased online at www.ukrainianmuseum.org. 

Sunday, May 6 

TORONTO: The Markian Ochrymowych 

Humanitarian Award Banquet, honoring 

Erast Huculak and Zenia Kushpeta, who 

have demonstrated the spirit of humanity 

through volunteer work, advocacy, leadership 

and philanthropy here at home or 

around the world, will be presented at a dinner 

at The Old Mill Inn. Cocktails are at 6 

p.m.; dinner is at 7 p.m. The event is sponsored 

by the Ukrainian Canadian Social 

Services (Toronto), Tickets are $200 per 

person; to order tickets/tables call Olena at 

the UCSS Toronto Office, 416-763-4982. 

PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES 

Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a service 

provided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian 

community. 

Items should be no more than 100 words long; longer submissions are subject 

to editing. Items not written in Preview format or submitted without all required 

information will not be published. 

Preview items must be received no later than one week before the desired date of 

publication. No information will be taken over the phone. Items will be published only 

once, unless otherwise indicated. Please include payment for each time the item is 

to appear and indicate date(s) of issue(s) in which the item is to be published. Also, 

senders are asked to include the phone number of a person who may be contacted by 

The Weekly during daytime hours, as well as their complete mailing address. 

Information should be sent to: preview@ukrweekly.com or Preview of Events, The 

Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054; fax, 973-644- 

9510. NB: If e-mailing, please do not send items as attachments; simply type the 

text into the body of the e-mail message.

Local vote seen as harbinger of Rada elections - The Ukrainian ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?