NEWSBRIEFS

Ukrainian prime minister resigns ...

KYIV - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych stepped down on December 31, announcing that he will remain in politics as "an independent politician who legitimately won the elections on November 21," Ukrainian and international news agencies reported. "Dear compatriots and friends, in light of everything that has happened, it would be senseless for me to stay on as prime minister," Mr. Yanukovych said in a televised address to the nation. "The political role of the Yanukovych government - as a stabilizing force over the past year - has been all but exhausted. ... I think it will be impossible for me to hold any official position in the new government." (RFE/RL Newsline)

... but refuses to admit election defeat

KYIV - Viktor Yanukovych has refused to concede his defeat in the December 26 presidential poll, in which, according to preliminary results, he obtained 44 percent of the vote compared to Viktor Yushchenko's 52 percent, Ukrainian media reported. Mr. Yanukovych challenged Mr. Yushchenko's victory by appealing to the Supreme Court and the Central Election Commission (CEC) against the organization of the December 26 repeat of the rigged presidential run-off on November 21, 2004, and of election irregularities. However, his complaints were rejected last week. Yanukovych proxy Nestor Shufrych told journalists on January 3 that the Yanukovych election team will appeal the official election results as soon as they are announced by the CEC. CEC Chairman Yaroslav Davydovych said the same day that the official results will be released "within the next few days." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yushchenko celebrates new year

KYIV - Viktor Yushchenko told a New Year's rally of his supporters on Independence Square in Kyiv on December 31 that Ukraine is a free country following his victory in the December 26 presidential election, Ukrainian media reported. "We have been independent for 14 years, but we have not been free. Today we are independent and free. I would like to congratulate you on this, my Ukrainian people," Mr. Yushchenko said. The rally was attended by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, who said in an emotional speech delivered to the crowd in Ukrainian that Ukraine's "Orange Revolution" has changed Europe. "Good overcame evil in this square," Mr. Saakashvili said. "You had us relive the moments of joy that we sensed during our own, Georgian, revolution." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma: new president needs support

KYIV - Outgoing President Leonid Kuchma said in a televised New Year's address to the nation on December 31 that Ukraine "has gone through extraordinarily difficult times and really has become different," the UT-1 channel reported. "There will be a new president in Ukraine in 2005," Mr. Kuchma said. "And the whole of Ukraine, each region and every citizen, should receive this democratic choice as their very own choice. This person will need your support." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yushchenko on relations with Russia

KYIV - Viktor Yushchenko told the December 31 issue of the German magazine Der Spiegel that Ukraine will continue to develop good relations with Russia, spiegel.de reported on January 2. "Russia continues to be a strategic partner in the political, economic and military fields," Mr. Yushchenko said. "Our strategy aims to achieve European integration and this is the framework in which we need to resolve all problems together with Russia," he said. "We would like to encourage making mutual investments, removing trade barriers, and resolving problems associated with the influx of workers. ... There is, however, one condition: [Russian President Vladimir] Putin must not block our way into the European Union." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Saakashkvili meets with Yushchenko

KYIV - Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili met on January 2 with Ukrainian President-elect Viktor Yushchenko during a visit to Kyiv, Imedi TV and ITAR-TASS reported. Mr. Saakashvili arrived in the Ukrainian capital on December 31 and held a number of meetings with Mr. Yushchenko's advisers. Georgia's Rose Revolution, which swept Mr. Saakashvili to power in late 2003, was hailed as an inspiration for the Orange Revolution in Ukraine. Both leaders are seen as sharing a defiance of Russian influence. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Lavrov: no new Cold War over Ukraine

MOSCOW - Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the German business daily Handelsblatt on December 28 that there is no threat of a new Cold War between Russia and the West over Ukraine if "the principle of noninterference in the internal affairs of Ukraine is maintained," according to the Russian transcript of the interview published on January 3 by mid.ru. Talking about the possibility of Ukraine and Georgia joining NATO and the European Union, Mr. Lavrov said that Russia will not obstruct these developments as Russia respects "the right of each state, including our neighbors, to choose its own partners." The Russian foreign minister added that in those cases, however, Ukraine and Georgia could not rely on privileged economic relations with Russia. It is "their choice," and "we assume they consider how they develop their policy and economy and which partners and allies they choose," he added. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Turkmenistan, Ukraine OK gas deal

ASHGABAT - Ukrainian oil and gas company Naftohaz Ukrainy Chairman Yurii Boiko announced in Ashgabat on January 3 that a new agreement on the price for Ukrainian imports of natural gas from Turkmenistan has been reached, ITAR-TASS reported. The new agreement follows weeks of negotiations and sets a one-year contract for the import of 36 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas at the new price of $58 per 1,000 cubic meters. The agreement follows a cutoff of gas supplies by Turkmenistan on December 31, ITAR-TASS reported. Although the new price is $14 higher than the rate fixed for 2004 and reflects the global increase in natural-gas prices, payment for the gas imports remains half in cash and half in "goods and equipment" from Ukraine. Turkmenistan also reached agreement on a 25-year contract with Russia in 2004 for the sale of between 6 billion and 7 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Tymoshenko to be prime minister?

KYIV - Viktor Yushchenko, whom the Central Election Commission declared winner of the December 26 presidential election, said on Channel 5 on December 29 that his parliamentary bloc, Our Ukraine, will support Yulia Tymoshenko for the post of prime minister in a new Cabinet that is to be created in the coming weeks. Mr. Yushchenko said a working group, which includes Ms. Tymoshenko, is now discussing the formation of the new Cabinet. Asked what other candidates are being considered for the premiership, Mr. Yushchenko named one of his election campaign leaders, Petro Poroshenko, Socialist Party leader Oleksander Moroz, and Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs leader Anatolii Kinakh. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yushchenko to divvy up positions

KYIV - Viktor Yushchenko told Channel 5 on December 29 that jobs in a new government formed under his presidency will be distributed among his political allies according to a system of "political quotas." Mr. Yushchenko said, "For example, the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc will obtain one-fourth of jobs in the ministries, government offices, committees, and administrations," adding "Such a principle will be proposed for the Socialist Party as well." According to Mr. Yushchenko, the new prime minister should not simultaneously lead a political party or engage in business activities. "In a few weeks' time you will become witnesses to an interesting political process," Mr. Yushchenko pledged. He also said he is ready to replace all oblast chairmen after assuming the post of president. (RFE/RL Newsline)

President-elect sets policy priorities

KYIV - President-elect Viktor Yushchenko also said on Channel 5 on December 29 that the fight against corruption, social policy and European integration will be key priorities of his presidency. Mr. Yushchenko simultaneously stressed that Ukraine's European integration should not be a "policy of extremes," explaining, "We need to understand that we can go to the West only after we have normalized relations with our neighbors." He added, "I am sure that Europe will never accept someone with a suitcase of new problems." Touching upon Russia, Mr. Yushchenko said this country is "our eternal neighbor with which we are due to have wonderful relations." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Moscow's 'imperial project' is finished

MOSCOW - Russian political consultant Marat Gelman told RosBalt on December 29 that following Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko's victory in that country's December 26 presidential election, Russia must forget about its "imperial project." Mr. Gelman said, "The already improbable scenario of restoring the empire has vanished and that is a very serious problem." He added, "Our imperial mentality has been constrained and, if we are to talk about its influence on our political processes, we will see a flow of Unified Russia supporters to Motherland." Mr. Gelman, who advised the campaign of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, admitted that there was massive falsification of the vote on the part of Mr. Yanukovych's staff. He also admitted he and other Russian spin masters made a lot of mistakes, but lamented that Mr. Yanukovych's campaign staff did not heed his advice, but relied instead on falsification. "Falsification is not a campaign technique; it is simply breaking the law," Mr. Gelman said. "Just like censorship in the mass media." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Tomenko on "political" deaths

KYIV - "Victor Yanukovych's decision to appeal to the Supreme Court will prolong the life of this regime for at least two more weeks and in this case we could see several more deaths of some of the important witnesses of the regime's crimes," said Mykola Tomenko, Victor Yushchenko's representative, commenting on the death of Heorhii Kirpa and, some time earlier, Yurii Liakh. "Liakh and Kirpa were important witnesses not only of the plundering of the national wealth but also of the October 31 and November 21 election fraud," he noted. The people's deputy addressed the "still President" Leonid Kuchma with a demand to provide for the security of such people as "Viktor Medvedchuk, Volodymyr Satsiuk, Ihor Bakai and others connected to the crimes of the former government." He added, "They must tell everything to the people and I do not want to see them leave for other countries or, God forbid, something happening to them." Mr. Tomenko reported that he had documents that showed the recent increase in the number of diplomatic passports issued. Thus, 200 applications have been received from the presidential administration over the last week alone and some officials were getting them in other names as well, he stressed. "Even when Taras Chornovil is asking for a German citizenship for his children, I think it necessary to prevent the issuing of diplomatic passports in such situation," suggested Mr. Tomenko, "I do not want to start looking for Ukrainian politicians and Ukrainian money all over the world with Yushchenko the president." (Press Service of Viktor Yushchenko's Central Headquarters)

Yanukovych supporters picket embassy

MOSCOW - Several hundred people gathered on December 24, 2004, at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to demonstrate against "the interference of the United States in Ukraine's internal affairs." The protest was organized by a number of Orthodox organizations in Russia, including the Union of Orthodox Citizens, the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods and the Christian Rebirth Union. The participants of the event held banners saying: "Yanukovych is the legally elected president of Ukraine," "An 'orange revolution' in Kyiv today, a 'birch revolution' in Moscow tomorrow," "U.S. and Poland: hands off Kyivan Rus'!" and "Yanukovych, do not give up, do not concede 'victory' to Yushchenko!" (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

Greek-Catholics in Kharkiv robbed

KHARKIV - The Kharkiv apartment of Bishop Stepan Meniok, exarch of the Donetsk-Kharkiv exarchate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), was broken into the night of December 24, 2004. The kitchen window was broken and the computer, printer, fax, television and vacuum cleaner were stolen. Bishop Meniok was in western Ukraine at the time, to take part in Ukraine's presidential election. As previously reported, the UGCC Chapel of St. Nicholas in Kharkiv was robbed on the night of December 2, 2004, of a Gospel, candle-holders and a small icon-screen. Law-enforcement authorities have not to this day caught the criminals or returned the stolen items, reported the UGCC press service. Bishop Meniok has reported the recent burglary to the authorities and a criminal case has been opened. The bishop questioned whether the crime was simply for profit or if it was a manifestation of some religious or political intolerance. Both crimes occurred at a time of political tension in Ukraine and, the bishop said, it is entirely possible that they were committed with a clear goal against the UGCC. A similar thought has occurred to those who more than once have repaired the announcement board located near the building site for the new UGCC church in Kharkiv. Unknown opponents to the presence of a Greek-Catholic community in Kharkiv often tear down the announcement board. (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

UOC-MP: election against revelation

KYIV - A group of priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) from Donbas says that Ukraine awaits "a thorny path" because people did not listen to the Virgin Mary and elected Viktor Yushchenko president instead of the one chosen by God, Viktor Yanukovych. The priests announced this in a statement to all Orthodox faithful released on December 27, 2004. The statement says that, before the December 26 presidential election, the Mother of God appeared to church hierarchs of the Donetsk region and three times pointed at former presidential candidate Mr. Yanukovych and said that he is the future president. The priests say that the people did not listen to the Virgin Mary, so they can expect great hardships and trials. RUPOR (the Council of Human Rights Organizations of Ukraine) reported that Mr. Yanukovych himself also had a vision. He saw two Ukraines: one bright and joyful, the other grey, poor and full of sorrow, which Ukraine will become after the election of Yushchenko as president. (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

UOC-MP faithful seek refuge

KYIV - A group of faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) has appealed to the patriarch of Constantinople, asking him to take under his mantle those who "have become in discord in the churches of the Moscow Patriarchate." They ask him "to open in Ukraine a permanent structure of parishes of the Ecumenical Patriarchate." The cause of this appeal is the presidential election in Ukraine, through which the clergy and part of the faithful of the church found themselves on two sides of the barricades because of their civic position. RISU received the group's letter on December 29, 2004. "Over the last months, political events in connection with the presidential election have entered into the life of every citizen of Ukraine, to some degree or another," the letter reads. "They have agitated our Church life, which seemed to be so quiet and peaceful. Suddenly we felt ourselves homeless, because in the churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate they began to separate us, depending on our civic position. Once, entering our church, we heard not the preaching of the Gospel, but words in support of the 'blessed' candidate. During confession, they suggested to some of us that we do penance because we did not vote for 'that' candidate; others were asked to leave the church for this 'crime.' " The authors of the letter maintain that, even after the UOC-MP's Kyiv Metropolitanate forbid campaigning from the pulpit, campaigning for the "blessed" candidate continued in many churches of the UOC-MP. The UOC-MP hierarchy, according to these faithful, to this day has not commented on the campaigning that was openly going on in almost all the churches of the UOC-MP before the second round of the election on November 21, 2004. The hierarchy has also not condemned the massive falsifications of the results of the second round of the election on the part of the "blessed" candidate. "Today we are like sheep without a shepherd," reads the appeal. "We think that today the Ecumenical Patriarchate can accept under its mantle all those who have become in discord in the churches of the Moscow Patriarchate. We ask Your Holiness to respond to our pain and to open in Ukraine a permanent structure of parishes of the Ecumenical Patriarchate." (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 9, 2005, No. 2, Vol. LXXIII

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