Twenty years ago on March 25, Vyacheslav Chornovil, a longtime leader of the Popular Movement of Ukraine (known as Rukh), died in an automobile accident while returning from a political meeting in Kirovohrad (now known as Kropyvnytsky). He was 61.
Nearly 50,000 people paid their final respects on March 29 in Kyiv with a national day of mourning. Chornovil’s remains were decorated with flowers tossed by passers-by as they bid farewell to a man who represented the hope for political change in the early days of Ukraine’s independence.
Approximately 8,000 mourners viewed the casket (which lasted three hours) prior to the funeral service at St. Volodymyr Cathedral. Thousands continued for the burial at the historic Baikove Cemetery.
Patriarch Filaret, who spoke before the funeral service, underscored the controversial and painful last days of Chornovil’s life, when he was ousted as the chairman of the Rukh party by a group of young members of Parliament. His refusal to accept his removal caused a political split within the party. Patriarch Filaret stressed the need for all democratic and centrist forces to unite. “…There must be only one Rukh,” he said.
“Kyiv has not seen a funeral like this in a long time,” one middle-aged woman said as she waited on the streets of Kyiv for the funeral procession to pass by. Her remarks were echoed by National Deputy Yaroslav Kendzior. A state honor guard of four national guardsmen stood at each corner of the casket. Outside the cathedral, a military detachment with an orchestra escorted the body to the church and later the cemetery.
Chornovil’s widow, Atena Pashko was escorted by National Deputy Hennadii Udevenko, who was joined by Chornovil’s two sons, Taras and Andrii. Mr. Udovenko witnessed the tragic accident as he was in a car following Chornovil as the group returned to Kyiv. Mr. Udovenko directed the funeral arrangements.
Ukraine’s political elite were represented at the funeral, including President Leonid Kuchma, former President Leonid Kravchuk, Prime Minister Valerii Pustovoitenko and Rada Chairman Oleksander Tkachenko.
The United States was represented by Ambassador Steven Pifer, who presented Ms. Pashko a letter of condolences from President Bill Clinton. In the letter, President Clinton noted Chornovil’s defense of human rights in the face of Soviet repression and his work in building a democratic Ukraine.
Poland sent members of the Polish Parliament to attend the funeral. Also in attendance were former Soviet dissidents, Lev Lukianenko, Ivan Hel, Yurii Badzio, the Horyn brothers and Iryna Kalynets.
Notably, the funeral attracted Ukrainians from all parts of the country came from cities, town and villages to pay their respects. People of all social echelons were united in their grief.
Yurii Kostenko, the new party leader of Rukh, was joined by a few delegates and quickly paid their respects to Chornovil, but did not stop to offer condolences to his widow or children.
National Deputy Mykhailo Kosiv of the Rukh party, summed up the emotions of the event, noting, “It took such a tragic death for people to realize who it was that we had among us.”
Source: “Ukraine mourns Chornovil,” by Roman Woronowycz, The Ukrainian Weekly, April 4, 1999.