NEWSBRIEFS

Rice concerned by trends in Russia

EN ROUTE TO MOSCOW - U.S. Secretary of State Rice told journalists aboard her plane as she flew to Moscow on April 19 that "the centralization of state power in the presidency at the expense of countervailing institutions like the Duma or an independent judiciary is clearly very worrying," according to a State Department press release. She added that "the absence of an independent media on the electronic side is clearly very worrying." Dr. Rice noted that she understands how difficult it can be to reach a correct balance between political freedom and efficient government in a "huge and complicated" country like Russia. She warned, however, that the Russian Federation should not "mimic the Soviet state." Talking about Russian participation in the group of the world's most-developed countries, the Group of Eight, the secretary of state said she does not see any reason "to see Russia isolated" and that "threatening to exclude the Russians from various organizations" doesn't make sense. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Rice: U.S. did not foment revolutions

MOSCOW - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Ekho Moskvy on April 20 that the United States does not consider it necessary to "export democracy." Dr. Rice said that the United States did not foment revolutions in Georgia, Ukraine or Kyrgyzstan, but merely supported people "in their right to express their opinions." She said she does not believe that the peoples of those countries want to see a reduced role for Russia in the region of the former USSR. The secretary of state added that the United States "respects" the development choice that Russia has made, but added: "We understand that Russia is finding its own way. ... All that we are saying is that for U.S.-Russian relationships to really deepen and for Russia to gain its full potential, there needs to be democratic development. There should not be so much concentration of power just in the presidency. There needs to be an independent media. ... We think that our relations will improve if Russia is able to exploit fully its potential, if democracy is strengthened." She denied that the United States is seeking to expand its influence in the former Soviet Union, but said that both Russia and the United States must develop economic ties in the region. "It is a game in which there are no losers," Dr. Rice said. She said the United States is monitoring the Yukos case in order to evaluate the state of rule of law in Russia. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Group protests 'colored revolutions'

YEKATERINBURG - Several hundred people demonstrated on April 19 near the U.S. Consulate in Yekaterinburg to protest against U.S. policies in former Soviet states, Interfax-Ural reported. The demonstration was organized by the "trade-union of the middle class, PROFI," which was recently created by Duma Deputy Anton Bakov. Participants in the rally told Interfax-Ural that the United States is the main source of instability in the CIS and said it incites and supports "colored revolutions." The U.S. Consulate responded that "every man has the right to his own opinion," Interfax-Ural reported. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Pavarotti sets record in Kyiv

KYIV - The great Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti's concert in Kyiv has set the record as the most expensive performance in Ukraine's history. The legendary singer's program "A Night To Remember," which he presented accompanied by the National Philharmonic Society Symphony Orchestra, included classical selections and Italian folk songs. President Viktor Yushchenko and his spouse, Kateryna, who were among the concert's attendants, met with Mr. Pavarotti after the performance and thanked him for having treated them to what was a genuine luxury. President Yushchenko thanked Mr. Pavarotti for having included Kyiv on his farewell tour's itinerary. (Ukrinform)

Orel wants to rehabilitate Stalin

OREL - The Orel city legislature on April 13 adopted a resolution asking the government to rehabilitate Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, arguing that Stalin's responsibility for the deaths of millions of Soviet citizens has never been proven, The Moscow Times reported on April 15. Thirty-three of the legislature's 35 members signed the appeal. "The idea belongs to Deputy Mikhail Vdovin, who said that veterans' groups had urged him to demand historical justice for Stalin and to ask that people stop smearing his name," a spokeswoman for the legislature told the daily. Local human rights advocate Vladimir Krayukhin told the daily that in 1993 the city legislature adopted a resolution commemorating September 11 as the anniversary of the 1943 killing of some 150 local political prisoners by Stalin's secret police. He added, however, that no city official has showed up at commemorations of the day in the 12 years since the resolution was passed. Earlier this month, a group of cultural figures published an open letter to President Vladimir Putin asking him to stop the installation in Volgograd of a statue of Stalin, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Yanukovych likely to be charged

KYIV - Ukraine's Internal Affairs Minister Yurii Lutsenko said during an Internet conference on the Ukrainska Pravda website on April 14 that criminal charges will probably be brought against former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. Mr. Lutsenko said, "It looks like we've found the main vein that was feeding the pro-power candidate's presidential election campaign - the so-called charitable foundations." According to Mr. Lutsenko, the charges that are likely to be filed against Mr. Yanukovych are not connected exclusively with improper financing of his presidential election campaign. Asked about whether charges will be brought against President Viktor Yushchenko in the bankruptcy case of Ukraina Bank, Mr. Lutsenko said such charges are not ruled out "but are within the competence of the Procurator's Office." Mr. Yushchenko, speaking to reporters in Dnipropetrovsk on April 14, said he is prepared to initiate a case regarding the bank, with which he "had four years of professional and honest work." (RFE/RL Newsline)

Opposition parties sign agreement

KYIV - The leaders of four opposition parties, Party of the Regions Chairman Viktor Yanukovych, Progressive Socialist Party Chair Natalia Vitrenko, Derzhava Party Chairman Hennadii Vasyliev and New Democracy Party Chairman Yevhen Kushnariov, have signed a communiqué outlining the principles under which they will seek to form a wide coalition of opposition forces, Interfax-Ukraine and proua.com reported. According to the document, the leaders charge that "persecution of uncooperative media, administrative pressure on businesses, and the use of the courts, the prosecutors, the Security Service and the Internal Affairs Ministry to attack opposition politicians and citizens" are all currently ongoing under the present administration. According to Interfax, Social Democratic Party - United (SDPU) leader Viktor Medvedchuk did not sign the communiqué as the press service of the Progressive Socialist Party had reported earlier. Aleksei Mustafin, a member of the SDPU's political council, said that party's politburo will possibly examine this question, but he added that he doubts the party will join the effort. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Kuchma may be questioned

KYIV - Internal Affairs Minister Yurii Lutsenko is considering calling in former President Leonid Kuchma for questioning if Russia confirms that Ihor Bakai, the former head of the presidential property office, held Russian citizenship while serving in the post, the Ukrainska Pravda website reported on April 18. According to Ukrainian law, only a Ukrainian citizen can hold such a position. Mr. Bakai is accused of large-scale misuse of government funds and of illegally selling state property. On April 17 Mr. Lutsenko told Channel 5 that Mr. Bakai has been summoned to appear for questioning at his office but did not appear. Mr. Bakai is said to be living and working in Russia. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Officials wanted for questioning

KYIV - The Internal Affairs Ministry press service announced that an additional list of former high-level government officials wanted for questioning has been compiled, Ukrainska Pravda reported on April 18. The list includes, among others, former Central Election Commission Chairman Serhii Kivalov, former Zakarpattia Oblast Chairman Ivan Rizak, former Sumy Oblast Chairman Volodymyr Scherban and Kherson Oblast Council Chairman Volodymyr Khodakovskyi. All are being asked to testify in connection with cases of suspected large-scale fraud in their regions. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Oil execs seek dialogue with government

KYIV - The CEOs of petroleum companies in Ukraine urged the Ukrainian government to participate in a dialogue to overcome what they describe as a fuel crisis on the domestic market, Interfax reported on April 19. During a news conference in Kyiv, oil executives complained that the government has refused to hold talks with them. The oil executives said a 54 percent rise in the price of crude oil, a 30 percent increase in the excise tax, and increased tariffs for rail transport have contributed to higher fuel prices. The oil lobby has urged the government to control price rises through reduced corporate tax rates. Ukraine imports 80 percent of its oil. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Russians interested in reprivatization

KYIV - Fakty reported on April 14 that the prospect of reprivatization of some Ukrainian enterprises is attracting the interest of a number of Russian financial-industrial groups. For example, Dmitrii Cherniavskii, chairman of the Russian investment firm Avrora Capital, told reporters in Kyiv recently that the Russian companies Severstal and Evrazholding are potential competitors in any new tender for shares in Kryvorizhstal steel mill. Severstal is also reportedly interested in obtaining the Dnipropetrovsk metallurgical industrial complex, Zaporozhstal, and other enterprises. Evrazholding is interested in Pavlohradugol, Ukrstalkonstruktsiya and Luhanskugleavtomatika. In February President Viktor Yushchenko said that in the coming weeks the government would review the privatizations of 30 to 40 enterprises. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Nashi aim to stop an Orange Revolution

MOSCOW - The pro-Kremlin youth organization Nashi (Ours) held its inaugural congress on April 15, adopting a political program and electing Vasilii Yakemenko and four others as "commissars," or leaders, of the movement, RosBalt and other Russian media reported. Addressing the congress, Mr. Yakemenko, the former leader of the pro-Putin organization Walking Together, said that Nashi considers all those who oppose President Vladimir Putin's policies as "enemies." "Today, an unnatural alliance of liberals, fascists, Westernizers, ultranationalists, international funds and terrorists is forming, united by a common hatred of Putin," he said. He labeled self-exiled tycoon Boris Berezovskii a "traitor" and National Bolshevik Party (NBP) leader Eduard Limonov a "fascist," and said that Our Choice leader Irina Khakamada and Committee-2008 Chairman Garri Kasparov "are sympathetic to fascists." Another of the group's leaders, Aleksandr Gorodetskii, said that Nashi's goal is to be the "next elite of Russia" and "to stop an Orange Revolution," RTR reported. Education Minister Aleksei Fursenko addressed the congress as a guest. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Decree orders withdrawal from Iraq

KYIV - President Viktor Yushchenko has signed a decree authorizing the withdrawal of Ukrainian peacekeepers from Iraq by the end of 2005, Interfax and UNIAN reported. According to the decree, the Ukrainian government will approve within two months a program for long-term cooperation with Iraq that will include projects on oil and gas development, and energy transportation. Last month Mr. Yushchenko told U.S. journalists that Ukraine might withdraw its entire military contingent from Iraq by mid-October. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Melnychenko tapes arrive in Kyiv

KYIV - Two close associates of former Russian oligarch Boris Berezovskii, Aleksandr Goldfarb and Yurii Felshtynskii, arrived in Kyiv on April 13 to give testimony in the case of slain journalist Heorhii Gongadze, Ukrainian media reported. Mr. Goldfarb, who is head of the Civil Liberties Fund, told Interfax that he was bringing "recording devices, decoded recordings and supplementary documents of [former presidential security officer Mykola] Melnychenko." Mr. Melnychenko made secret tapes in the office of former President Leonid Kuchma, including one that some believe implicates Mr. Kuchma in the Gongadze killing. According to the Ukrainska Pravda website, Mr. Goldfarb said, "Our lawyers believe these materials are sufficient for the 'Kuchma conversations' to be included in the criminal case and used as evidence." Mr. Kuchma has claimed that the tapes are fake and were part of a plot to depose him. (RFE/RL Newsline)

PM's trip postponed at last minute

KYIV - A planned visit by Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to Moscow set for April 15-16 has been postponed, Ukrainian news agencies reported on April 13. The Ukrainian government said Ms. Tymoshenko's visit was delayed because President Yushchenko told her to tackle urgent problems associated with the spring sowing campaign and rising fuel prices. However, Ukrainian Minister of the Economy Serhii Teriokhin said earlier that the visit was put off because of recent remarks by Russian Procurator General Vladimir Ustinov, Ukrainska Pravda reported. Mr. Ustinov said on April 12 that Ukraine's prime minister could come to Russia in accordance with international legislation and protocol, but he said charges against her have not been dropped and she is still on the wanted list. Last January Mr. Ustinov said that a Russian court could issue an arrest warrant for Ms. Tymoshenko and in that case she could be detained by police if she traveled to Russia. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ternopil street to be named for pope

TERNOPIL - One of the streets or squares in Ternopil will be renamed to honor Pope John Paul II. This decision was reached by the deputies of the Ternopil City Council on April 5. The deputies started a working group that is to hold public hearings and discuss the idea with the clergy by the end of April, and propose a street or square to carry the name of John Paul II in their next session. The deputies also voted in favor of proclaiming April 8 a memorial day for the pope. National flags with black ribbons were hung around the city that day. (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

Moscow asks OSCE to refocus

SOCHI, Russia - Speaking to journalists in Sochi after a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana on April 5, presidential aide Sergei Yastrzhembskii said that Russia wants to reform the priorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), strana.ru and other Russian media reported. Mr. Yastrzhembskii said President Putin supports the organization itself, but wants to refocus its activities. "In recent years, the OSCE has focused on the problems of the post-Soviet region, not paying any attention to the rest of Europe," he said. "We dislike this one-sided approach." Moscow has clashed with the OSCE in the past over Kremlin policies in Chechnya. Council for Foreign and Defense Policy President Sergei Karaganov told RIA-Novosti on April 5 that "the Russian political elite believes that Russian-EU relations are in a hidden crisis. There is no long-term constructive agenda for bilateral relations, and differences in Russian and European political values are becoming more acute." The next Russia-EU summit is scheduled to be held in Moscow on May 10. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Chornobyl relocations an issue

HOMIEL, Belarus - The Homiel Oblast Administration has submitted to the Belarusian government a plan for resettling residents of sparsely populated rural areas with radioactive pollution above one curie per kilometer, Interfax-Belarus reported on April 12, citing Halina Akushko, head of the radiation safety department for the oblast. The contaminated areas include 188 small villages with 410 families. Most of the residents are elderly people who refused to be evacuated after the 1986 blast at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. Last month, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka called for a revision of the relocation program adopted following the 1986 disaster, because many people demanded relocation for the sole purpose of improving their material position. Meanwhile, opposition activists announced on April 12 that they will depart from the years-long tradition of commemorating the April 26 anniversary of the disaster with a march in downtown Miensk because the authorities oppose such demonstrations and end up dispersing them, according to Belapan. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Lviv UAOC seeks Orthodox unity

LVIV - Participants of the eighth Lviv Eparchial Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) have requested that Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko call Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople to support the unification process of all branches of Orthodoxy in Ukraine. The sobor took place on March 3 with participation of delegates from more than 350 religious communities of the Lviv Eparchy of the UAOC. "Through a joint decision, the Lviv eparchy of the UAOC considers it appropriate to point to the only way to resolve today's situation in Ukrainian Orthodoxy and the correct path to unification by adopting direct subordination to the ecumenical patriarch. For he is the only one with the right to grant autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church as a filial Church, through the mediation of a hierarch with unquestionable authority among the clergy of all the branches of divided Orthodoxy in Ukraine, Archbishop Vsevolod (Majdanski) of Skopelos (Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A.), curator of the unification process," the address of the sobor reads. The participants of the sobor asked the president to "turn to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with an official letter, asking him to support the unification process of all the branches of Orthodoxy in Ukraine." The president was also asked to support the next National Sobor of the UAOC in Kyiv, scheduled to take place in June, at which documents should be agreed on for an All-Ukrainian Unification Sobor of all branches of Orthodoxy into a single Ukrainian National Orthodox Church. The sobor also reached a decision on direct subordination of the Lviv Eparchy to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and a decision to stop mentioning the name of Metropolitan Mefodii (Kudriakov), head of the UAOC, in churches of the Lviv Eparchy of the UAOC during religious services. Archbishop Vsevolod was proclaimed mediator for administration and communication between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Lviv Eparchy of the UAOC. (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, April 24, 2005, No. 17, Vol. LXXIII

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