Poroshenko says no to early elections
KYIV – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that “some politicians in Kyiv and Moscow” are pushing to force Ukraine to hold early parliamentary elections in order “to destabilize our country.” Speaking on the occasion of Unity Day on January 22, Mr. Poroshenko said he would use all legal means to counter such efforts. The president also said there would be no changes to the Constitution until “security issues” are settled in the eastern Donbas region. “In a difficult dialogue, we persuaded our foreign allies that any step toward political settlement must be preceded by obvious and indisputable progress on security issues,” he said. Mr. Poroshenko also chided politicians who seem open to the idea of renouncing Ukraine’s sovereignty in Donbas, saying they had no right to “scatter” the territories gathered by previous generations. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by RIA Novosti and Interfax)
Court rejects challenge against sanctions
BRUSSELS – A European Union court has rejected a bid by Russian arms maker Almaz-Antey to force the EU to lift sanctions imposed in connection with the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The EU slapped sanctions on Almaz-Antey in July 2014, together with 36 other entities and 146 people that Brussels considers responsible for “actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.” The Luxembourg-based General Court said on January 25 that the EU Council had not acted disproportionately in freezing the funds of Almaz-Antey, which makes anti-aircraft weaponry including Buk surface-to-air missile systems, and that the reason for putting it on sanctions list in 2014 was valid. At the time, the official EU journal said that “the Russian authorities have been providing heavy weaponry to separatists in eastern Ukraine, contributing to the destabilization of Ukraine,” and that the weapons were being used for “shooting down airplanes” among other things. State-owned Almaz-Antey “therefore contributes to the destabilization of Ukraine,” it said. The court said that the EU was not required to “demonstrate positively that the weapons which Almaz-Antey produced were used in Ukraine by the separatists” as such evidence “would be difficult to provide, particularly in a conflict situation.” International investigators have found that the Malaysia Airlines jet that crashed in eastern Ukraine in July 2014, killing all 298 people aboard, was shot down by a missile fired by a Buk launcher that had been brought in from Russia and returned back across the border later, despite repeated denials of involvement in the war in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Almaz-Antey has disputed findings of the international investigators, claiming it conducted tests that showed the missile was fired by an older Buk model that was no longer in service in the Russian military and that it was launched from territory held by Ukrainian government forces. The investigators have dismissed those claims, saying they are not supported by the evidence. The Russian company charged that the court’s ruling was politically motivated. “We find that today’s decision… is political and is not based on a legal assessment of the case,” Almaz-Antey’s press service quoted CEO Yan Novikov as saying. The sanctions were prolonged by six months in September 2016 and are expected to be extended by another six months in March. (RFE/RL, with reporting by AFP and TASS)
Poroshenko confident of Trump’s support
DAVOS, Switzerland – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko expressed confidence that the new U.S. president will support Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression despite his desire to mend ties with Moscow. In interviews with The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Reuters at the Davos economic summit in Switzerland on January 18, Mr. Poroshenko said supportive statements from Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees in confirmation hearings in the past week have given him reason for optimism. “We are enjoying the strong bipartisan support” in the United States, Mr. Poroshenko told the Journal. “I am absolutely sure that the continuation of our cooperation with the United States will be very effective.” Mr. Poroshenko said that he plans to visit Washington next month and he hopes to meet with President Trump. He added that he respects the choice of voters in Western democratic elections and “is ready to work with any leaders.” In the Journal interview, the Ukrainian president warned against lifting sanctions against Russia – something Mr. Trump has suggested he might do – saying it would be “dangerous” for the security of the West. In the Reuters interview, he said Mr. Trump’s backing of the sanctions would show the United States is “great again.” (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Reuters, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal and TASS)
Lawyer for Tatar activist detained
KYIV – A Russian lawyer who is defending a prominent Crimean Tatar activist says he was forcibly detained and taken to a Federal Security Service’s (FSB) office in Russia-controlled Crimea on January 25. Nikolai Polozov, who was seen being forced into a car by men in civilian clothes, said he was released two hours later. He said FSB officers had used psychological pressure in an effort to force him to answer questions related to the case of his client, Ilmi Umerov. Mr. Polozov added that he refused to answer the questions. Mr. Polozov’s colleague Mark Feigin said earlier on Twitter that Mr. Polozov would risk being barred from representing Mr. Umerov if he invoked his right to protect his client’s privacy. Mr. Umerov, former deputy chairman of the Crimean Tatars’ self-governing body, the Mejlis, was charged with separatism last year after he publicly criticized Moscow’s seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014. In August, Mr. Umerov was forcibly sent to a psychiatric clinic for a month of assessment tests. The Moscow-based Memorial Human Rights Center has called the case against Mr. Umerov “illegal and politically motivated.” (Crimean Desk, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service)
Estonia supports Russian sanctions
TALLINN – Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid has told visiting Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko that she supports continued sanctions against Russia over its involvement in eastern Ukraine. Ms. Kaljulaid said, following a meeting with Mr. Poroshenko in Tallinn on January 23, that the economic sanctions should remain until “the full implementation of the Minsk agreements and until Russia observes all its international obligations.” She said Estonia also supported the granting of visa-free travel for Ukrainians to the European Union “as soon as possible” and pledged to support Ukraine as it undergoes difficult economic and social reforms. Mr. Poroshenko thanked Estonia for its resolute support and assistance it has given to Ukraine, which included the medical rehabilitation of 40 wounded Ukrainian troops. He added that there was a necessity for a “global, European and trans-Atlantic solidarity until Ukrainian territory is liberated from the Russian aggressor, Russian troops are fully withdrawn, and the uncontrolled section of the Ukrainian-Russian border is placed under Ukraine’s control.” (RFE/RL, based on reporting by TASS and Interfax)
Roshen factory in Russia to close
KYIV – A chocolate maker owned by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced on January 20 that it is planning to shut its factory in Russia for “economic and political reasons” and lay off 700 workers. The move came after a barrage of criticism in Kyiv questioning why Mr. Poroshenko, who made his fortune with his Roshen candy empire, was maintaining business activities in Russia while the two nations are in armed conflict. Roshen said that it will halt production at its factory in Lipetsk and let go 700 workers. It said output has been falling there because of Russian market restrictions and “pressure” by local authorities that the company said stemmed from Moscow. Mr. Poroshenko last year put his confectionery empire in a trust, saying that it was too difficult to sell the asset during the deep economic downturn engulfing both Russia and Ukraine. Relations between the two ex-Soviet neighbors broke off after Moscow annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and provided backing for pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine imposed sanctions on Moscow for its aggression and Moscow banned Ukrainian imports, including Roshen candy, in retaliation. Even so, President Vladimir Putin said last fall that Roshen was welcome to keep operating in Russia. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by AP and AFP)
Ukraine arrests late Uzbek president’s relative
KYIV – Ukraine has arrested a relative of Uzbekistan’s late President Islam Karimov who is wanted by Tashkent for the alleged embezzlement of hundreds of millions of dollars. An official at Kyiv’s Solomianka District Court told RFE/RL on January 20 that it had ordered the arrest of an Uzbek national identified as 33-year-old Akbarali Abdullaev. The official said an Uzbek and Dominican passport were in Mr. Abdullaev’s possession when he was detained earlier that week at Kyiv’s Zhulyany international airport. His possible extradition to Uzbekistan was pending. Mr. Abdullaev, who is a nephew of Mr. Karimov’s widow Tatyana Karimova, was charged in Tashkent with embezzlement and financial fraud in 2014. It is not clear how and when he left Uzbekistan. (RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service)
Savchenko draws fire for Crimea comments
KYIV – Ukrainian lawmaker Nadiya Savchenko has caused controversy by suggesting that Kyiv must accept Moscow’s grip on Crimea for the time being if it wants to regain control over eastern territory held by Russia-backed separatists. Speaking on 112 Ukraine TV on January 17, Ms. Savchenko said that “the only peaceful way” to resolve the status of the eastern Donbas region in Kyiv’s favor is to put the issue of Crimea, which was seized by Russia in March 2014, “on the back burner.” She added, “We must not abandon” Crimea or the Donbas. But she suggested that in order to regain control of separatist-held territory in the east, Ukrainian politicians will have to “give up” Crimea “for a certain period.” She suggested that if Kyiv focuses on demands for the return of control over Crimea, the Donbas will become “another Transdniester” – a reference to a sliver of neighboring Moldova that has been held by pro-Russian separatists since a war in 1992. The only other way to regain control over the Donbas is by force, she said. Ms.Savchenko faced criticism over her comments from politicians and people posting on social media. “We will not exchange Crimea for the Donbas, and we will not give up the Donbas either. We will claw back every meter of Ukrainian land,” Iryna Herashchenko, first deputy chair of Ukraine’s Parliament, said on Facebook. “We will fight for every Ukrainian. Ukraine is Kyiv and Lviv but also Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk.” Refat Chubarov, a lawmaker and leader of the Crimean Tatars, said her remarks were “not only extremely unacceptable and deeply offensive, [but] cynical and traitorous to all citizens of Ukraine and the Crimean Tatar people, [some of whom] are still held hostage by Russian occupiers.” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, meanwhile, reiterated that Moscow has no intention of ever ceding control of Crimea. “Russia does not discuss the status and future position of Russian regions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. (RFE/RL, with reporting by Christopher Miller in Kyiv)
China offers to help resolve Ukraine crisis
DAVOS, Switzerland – China is willing to play a constructive role in seeking a political resolution to the crisis in Ukraine, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Ukrainian counterpart on January 17. The first-time Chinese offer of aid to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on the sidelines of the Davos economic summit in Switzerland comes at a time when the United States’ role in mediating the Ukraine conflict appears set to diminish under a Donald Trump presidency that seeks to mend fences with Russia. China has previously shown little interest in getting involved in diplomatic efforts to end the crisis spawned by Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and backing for militant separatists in eastern Ukraine. Beijing has avoided taking sides in the conflict, saying it respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty but that Western powers should take into consideration Russia’s legitimate security concerns. Beijing in the past has avoided alienating Moscow, its ally on many international matters, by getting drawn into the struggle between Russia and the West over Ukraine’s future. But those concerns appeared to be set aside, at least temporarily, in Davos when Mr. Xi told Mr. Poroshenko that China would like to deepen cooperation with Ukraine under a long tradition of friendship between the countries. “We genuinely hope that Ukraine maintains social stability and economic development and are willing to play a constructive role in promoting a political resolution to the crisis,” Mr. Xi said, according to China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry. Mr. Poroshenko told Mr. Xi that Ukraine welcomes Chinese investment and that there is great potential for cooperation in areas like logistics, ports, steel and agriculture, the ministry said. (RFE/RL, with reporting by Reuters and Xinhua)
NATO training to be allowed in Ukraine
KYIV – President Petro Poroshenko has signed a decree allowing troops from the United States and other NATO countries to carry out training missions in Ukraine during 2017. The presidential website announced the signing on January 26, saying that, under a previously announced plan, Ukraine will host up to 3,000 troops, along with equipment and aircraft, from the United States and other NATO countries under NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 2017. It said about 2,500 troops, up to 10 navy surface ships, five submarines, planes, helicopters and other equipment, would arrive for 25 days during the summer as part of the Sea Breeze 2017 training operation. Maneuvers under an operation called Rapid Trident will also be held in Ukraine during 2017. Mr. Poroshenko’s decree also allows Ukrainian forces to take part in exercises outside of Ukraine, including scheduled maneuvers in Britain, Germany, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Denmark, Jordan, Bulgaria, Georgia and Romania. (RFE/RL, with reporting by Interfax)
Crimean museums appeal court ruling
MOSCOW – Museums in Crimea have appealed a Dutch court ruling that said artifacts from their collections should be returned to Ukraine rather than to the Russian-controlled peninsula, a Russian lawmaker said on January 25. “We have filed an appeal. We hope that a right political decision will be taken,” said Natalya Poklonskaya, a Russian parliament deputy and former prosecutor in the Russian-imposed government in Crimea. “What happened in the court is against all museum ethics. … These valuables can only be kept in the region where they were found,” she said. “They are Crimea’s heritage that should be returned home.” The items, known as Scythian gold, are in the Netherlands because they were borrowed from four museums in Crimea and one in Kyiv for an exhibition in early 2014 at Amsterdam’s Allard Pierson Museum. They were sent before Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 in a move condemned as illegal in the West. Late last year, an Amsterdam court ruled that the collection was part of Ukraine’s cultural heritage and should be returned to Kyiv. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by TASS and Interfax)