LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (03/16/97)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Nomenklatura and corruption

Dear Editor:

During any discussion about the United States providing aid to the newly independent states and, especially, to Ukraine, the matter at hand is "Ukraine's growing level of corruption."

Corruption in Ukraine and any other former Soviet republic is a fact. But a "growing level of corruption" - such a conclusion can only be made by people who cannot see the forest for the trees - or are unfamiliar with the internal affairs of Ukraine or any other former Soviet republic.

Corruption was the cement of Soviet society, and its roots go back to the traditional framework of state power in the Russian empire.

Corruption in Ukraine cannot grow any further. Where else can it grow if this phenomenon has already infiltrated everything in society?

Corruption is now undergoing the process of self-renovation.

Corruption in Ukraine is a product of another phenomenon, known as the nomenklatura. Corruption is just a tree, nomenklatura - the forest. Where the nomenklatura exists, there is uncontrolled corruption, too. The nomenklatura without corruption is impossible. Corruption without the nomenklatura, however, can be controlled.

The nomenklatura was created by Communists as a deep-rooted system of selection, education, reservation and arrangement of personnel for every sphere of the state's life, from the very top executives to the lowest level of team leaders. This procedure of formation, this system of seniority, in essence, initiated organized criminality. Historically, this can be explained: the Bolsheviks, before they came to power, for many years functioned in the underground and were considered to be state criminals in the Russian empire. While in the criminal underground, they developed a rigid hierarchical structure that continued after the revolution; that is why later the state power of the Soviet Union was always in coalescence with its criminal underworld.

The disintegration of the Soviet Union, the struggle for independence from Russia, democratization processes, and the free market economy did not change the nature of the nomenklatura that remained in power in the newly independent states. There are no exceptions - even in such countries as Lithuania or Estonia, because the nomenklatura was the only professionally trained force that governed "the vast masses of the working people."

One part of the nomenklatura remained faithful to its old ideas, another sharply turned to new symbols. But the rest - the majority - just changed the color of their flag and the contents of their slogans.

Adaptability is the main characteristic of the nomenklatura. This helps the nomenklatura change its outward appearance, while retaining the immutability of its essence.

That is why, even in the regions where free elections brought to power new forces, the nature, character and methods of governing remain invariable - as if still under the Soviets.

The nomenklatura keeps a tight hold on the Ukrainian nation, and in the near future there is no reason to hope for improvement of the social environment.

The proper way to get out from under corruption should be the legal prohibition against former members of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union to hold any leading positions. But this law will not pass through the Verkhovna Rada, the supreme legislative power in Ukraine, for 99 percent of it consists of the nomenklatura. The same can be said of the executive and judicial branches of power.

Future generations are the only hope for Ukraine. But this will take time - a minimum of 20 years.

Volodymyr Ivanenko
Silver Spring, Md.

The writer is president of Volodymyr's Institute, a research, training and production corporation specializing in Ukraine, Eastern Europe and the new independent states.

Column reflects Kyiv situation only

Dear Editor:

I have always enjoyed reading Marta Kolomayets' "Journalist's Notebook from Ukraine." I was happy to read that despite taking on a new job in Kyiv, she would still write occasionally for The Ukrainian Weekly. I loved her descriptive writing; her graphic journalistic talent always created a strong and clear mental picture of any of the events, situations and/or conditions that she had chosen to elaborate. She seemed to have a knack for defining the heart, body, mind and soul of anything she wrote. Having been to Ukraine and corresponded with many friends and family members from many sectors of Ukraine, I found Ms. Kolomayets' accounts to be right on target.

However, I would like to point out a small unsettling error in the February 9 article "Holiday time in Ukraine." The headline should have read "Holiday time in Kyiv." Ms. Kolomayets' reference to "Ukrainians" in her succinct overview would have been given more accurately as "Kyivans." Granted, the situation in most Ukrainian large cities may be similar to Kyiv, but to generalize Kyiv to all of Ukraine may not be wholly accurate - just as reporting about Ukrainians in Rochester may not hold true of Ukrainians in New York City.

Personally, I know of the accuracy of the "Ukrainian" mindset she describes and of the general holiday phenomenon about which she writes, but to share the article with non-Ukrainian friends here at home paints a picture of all of Ukraine that may not be a true one.

Nancy H. Melnyk
Rochester, N.Y.

Thanks for series on military terms

Dear Editor:

You are to be commended for including in The Ukrainian Weekly (February 16 and 22) the series by Col. Stephen D. Olynyk, titled "The Status of Ukrainian Military Terminology."

The series is well-written and well-annotated. Obviously, Col. Olynyk knows of what he writes. His characterizations of military events down through the centuries bring to life otherwise unknown aspects of Ukrainian military history.

Please continue this type of coverage.

Paul J. Kritsky
Vienna, Va.

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