FAZ on RUE money machine

Frankfurter Allegemeine Zeitung has published an article by Konrad Schuller on how the RosUkrEnergo money machine is humming again - to the detriment of Ukraine. The entire 'smoke and mirrors' charade could enrich RUE, and their pals in the highest levels of government in Ukraine, by $5Bn. And, as a bonus, it will all be the fault of Yulia T, as usual...

There's quite a good Ukrainian translation of the FAZ piece here

Ukraine stops for 43 days?

Hanna Herman, Deputy Head of the Pres's Administration, was asked recently about her boss's motorcade which regularly passes through central Kyiv at maniacal speeds. The roadblocks which enable its passage cause great disruption [and occasional death] to other road users. Herman's nonchalant response was: "When President Yanukovych stops, the country stops".

Even though the country is the depths of a severe economic crisis President Yanik has packed his bucket and spade and is currently on a 43 day [!] summer holiday - after only four months at the job.

Luckily the saps at the IMF will be lending Ukraine almost $15Bn soon, so why not spend a bit of it on a nice long holiday with the missus?

End of term report

Yesterday's big-selling 'Segodnya' runs an 'end of term' report on Yanukovych's first few months of presidency as all the 'politicos' go off on their holidays.

On the plus side it states that the worst fears about the state of the economy have not materialised. By the autumn it is reasonable to expect improvements in business conditions and an upturn in the economy. The IMF loan, and major Euro-2012 projects will aid GDP growth.

Ukraine's geopolitical position has improved with good relationships being established with the U.S., E.U., and with Russia. In September Yanukovych is travelling to Beijing and his visit could bring new benefits because his hosts are seeking new footholds in Europe.

On the domestic front Party of Regions' popularity is secure. [If elections were to imminently take place, PoR would gain 44% of the vote compared with 15% for BYuT and 10% for Serhiy Tihipko's 'Strong Ukraine'. As Radio Svoboda's Nadiya Stepula explains, there is currently no alternative; PoR, even in opposition, maintained, and even strengthened a technocratic and professional-administrative core inside the party.]

But the 'Segodnya' piece states that the Yanukovych has not been entirely successful in maintaining stability. There have been rumblings of discontent within PoR's ranks e.g. surrounding the sacking of emergency situations' minister Nestor Shufrich, and disagreements with PoR's coalition partners, but the situation is managable. Yanukovych cannot be fully sure of support from coalition partners in his attempt to expand his presidential powers. Deputy PM in charge of economic issues, Serhiy Tihipko, a potential major rival, is a problem too but if he were to leave, or be kicked out of the cabinet, both he and PoR would suffer, so such an event is unlikely right now.

There has been no progress in the battle against corruption - the author writes: "..economic breakthrough, with the current level of corruption, will not be achieved."

In LEvko's opinion, there are two contentious matters mentioned. The author of the 'Segodnya' piece claims Yanukovych has not delivered on his election promises to upgrade the status of the Russian language in the country, and that: "if the election promises of Viktor Yanukovich on the Russian language continue to be ignored, it may even have severe consequences for Party of Regions in the next election." Hmm..

Worries of what TOL describes as "noose-tightening on the press, opposition, and civil society groups.. reminiscent of the rollback of democracy in Russia that took place five to 10 years ago", is breezily dismissed by 'Segodyna": "..the opposition accuses the authorities of being anti-democratic and anti free speech. The government replies that the situation has changed little compared to the "orange" period. But in any case we can say that much of the journalistic community (including by virtue of their own political beliefs) have gone into fierce opposition to Yanukovych." I think not...

p.s. Several days ago Ukrainian TV channels broadcast a disgustingly brown-nosing 40 minute portrait of the new president on the occasion of his 60th birthday. Watch out for the dazzle - the sun now officially shines out of his a***.

There's one thing Ukrainians excel at..

"A gang of Ukrainian illegal immigrants enjoyed a lavish lifestyle of expensive cars and luxury apartments after swindling £4.5million from the [United Kingdom's] tax office by using false identities to claim tax rebates.

A court was told the fraudsters found the streets of London were 'paved with gold'...

Read more from the U.K's 'Daily Mail' here

You can't but have a secret sneaky admiration for these guys..

Even with the sentences..I'd bet they have no regrets at all..and I'd bet their time inside will not be wasted either...merely another career-enhancing opportunity..

Making a bear from a German fly

The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry is digging itself into a deep hole over the Nico Lange business

Several foreign embassies in Kyiv have been warned not to let their NGO's contravene Ukrainian laws.

'Kommersant' today says it could now put a question mark on a planned visit by Yanukovych to Germany.

Even though Yanukovych's grip on Ukraine's government, parliament, state security agencies , and the media is secure, his administration's paranoic attitude is most revealing.

Herman's generous colleagues..

Deputy Head of Presidential Administration Hanna Herman, in a TV interview, was queried about a $60K wrist watch she was seen flaunting in public recently.

She replies: "I have lived in Ukraine and in this world for many years now. And I did not come to the presidential administration [straight] from the street. I have earned well all of my life." [Prior to becoming Yanukovych's press secretary in 2004, Herman was a journalist - latterly director of that gold mine, Radio Svoboda in Kyiv]

Herman, now a mere civil servant, added: "Partly people gift me things, partly I bought them myself. I have many things from previous years. I'm 50 years old. I'm not a girl that came from the street to the presidential administration and grabs things here. I have no factories, I have no yachts, I have no trains. But I can earn enough for a jacket and a brooch. I have several pairs of quite expensive watches that colleagues gave me, the prices of which I learned from the Internet".

$60K is equivalent to 10 to15 years average salary in Ukraine...

p.s. Ukraine in 146th position, is perceived to be more corrupt that Mozambique, Nicaragua, Uganda, Cameroon, Ecuador, and Timor, and is only one position above Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe. Ukraine is 34 spots above Somalia, the most corrupt country in the world..

Herman's brazen responses do little to improve Ukraine's image.

p.p.s. Hanna H. you should have said, "From hubby, from hubby!" or... "Another 60 monthly instalments, and it will be mine!"

Latest PACE monitoring report on Ukraine is troubling.

Some bits from the latest report from the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe:

21. Therefore, we are concerned about the increasing numbers of allegations that the authorities are reducing these freedoms and that democracy is receding in the country. The allegations have mostly centred on the freedom of the media, freedom of assembly and increased pressure from the law enforcement agencies for political purposes.

24. The role of the State Security Service, and especially its Head, Mr Khoroshkovskyi, is of concern....

25. A number of NGOs have complained to us that protest actions had been broken up, and their activists harassed by the police and other state law enforcement agencies, which, if corroborated, would be of concern....

31. A clear and unwavering respect for democratic freedoms and rights has been one of the main achievements in Ukraine’s democratic development in recent years. We are therefore concerned about the increasing number of allegations that democratic freedoms, such as freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and freedom of the media have come under pressure in recent months. Any regression in the respect for and protection of these rights would be unacceptable for the Assembly....

'Reporters without Borders' call for Khoroshkovsky to quit

The international 'Reporters without Borders' press watchdog has called on Ukrainian Security Service chief Valeriy 'Mentadent' Khoroshkovsky to quit.

Read more about this man, who is also one of Ukraine's biggest media barons, and the threat he poses to the country's press liberty, in the 'Reporters without Borders' posting' here

Nerdy Nestor's telephones

Ukrainian Emergencies Minister Nestor Shufrich showing off his collection of antique telephones? [From U.P.]

Maybe these guys could be of help...Allo?.... Allo?

Rubber stamp parliament?

Russian 'piano players' in action here and here

Ukraine's parliament is not much better when it comes to illegal absentee voting even though Article 84 of the country's constition is very clear: "Voting at the meetings of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is performed by a National Deputy of Ukraine in person"

How can Ukrainians, or any foreign investor for that matter, have any confidence in laws passed by the country's fundamental law-making institution when it's members have such a cynical disregard for the rule of law?

p.s. The Italians do it with a bit more class..

Yanyk's bad hex...

You have to have a heart of stone not to laugh....

A classic example of 'Murphy's Law'

"That's another fine mess you've got me into.."

p.s. "Just look at the a*** on that Herman..."

Yanukovych's schizophrenia

President Yanukovych's address to his nation today, on the Ukrainian day of remembrance in memory of victims of political repression:

"Dear compatriots!

Today is a deeply sorrowful day for Ukraine. We honor the memory of millions of our countrymen who were victims of a totalitarian regime. We remember everyone that was destroyed by the punitive system, that was imprisoned in the Gulag prisoner, or that was deprived of their family home and sent to a foreign country.

In '30-'40's of 20th century, Ukraine suffered heavy losses. Stalin's repressive machine crushed all who tried to resist. The victims could be anyone - farmer or intellectual, teacher or engineer, scientist or worker.

It was a time of disillusionment, despair and hopelessness. Those who died can be best honoured by our memory and prayer, and those who survived the terrible years - by daily care.

We express our sympathy to all nations who have experienced terror regimes. Let our common memory be a pledge that similar tragedies are never repeated.

Viktor Yanukovych"

So why the nonchalant attitude to the erection of statues in honour of Stalin by PoR's Communist coalition partners? Is it because their co-operation is required in high-level corrupt schemes?

What are "those who survived the terrible years" supposed to think?

Russia's plans for Ukraine..

According to an article in the 'WSJ', a leaked high-power Russian report "includes insights into Moscow's relationships with former Soviet republics. It calls for taking advantage of the global financial crisis to acquire industrial and energy assets in the Baltics, Belarus, Ukraine and Central Asia—all areas where Russian influence is a sensitive political issue."

Here's the bit in the report, published in full in 'Ruskii Newsweek', about Ukraine,

"- To actively draw in Ukraine into an orbit of economic cooperation with Russia, taking into account its large industrial and scientific potential, the presence of a modern military-industrial complex, and the traditionally close ties of cooperation of Russian and Ukrainian enterprises, to ensure Russian companies in strategic industries, particularly in advanced industries - aviation, transport , rocket and space, energy and other areas, do not slip into technological dependence on their Ukrainian counterparts.

- To achieve integration of the Russian United Aircraft Corporation and Ukrainian aircraft building enterprises in the production of AN-148, AN-140, Tu-334-124-100 aircraft, the production of A-222-25, A-222 -25F aircraft engines, and the D-436, A-450 series of engines for the Yak-130, Tu-334, Be-200 aircraft and helicopters.

- In the field of space research to urgently proceed in the setting up of a single navigational environment in Russia and Ukraine on the basis of GLONASS and other global navigation satellite [GPS-type] systems; to conduct coordinated trials...[Cuba and Venezuela could also be partners...let's say no more...Levko]

- To consider as a strategic aim [or task] Russia's participation in the operation of Ukraine's gas transmission system. To seek from the Ukrainian side, agreements on the establishment of an International Consortium for Management and Development of Ukrainian gas transportation system for this purpose.

- To support the efforts of Russian oil companies striving to use the Odessa-Brody oil pipeline in the reverse direction, thus limiting the access of Ukraine to Caspian oil.

- To expand cooperation with Ukraine in the field of nuclear energy and strive to clinch long-term contracts to supply Ukrainian nuclear power plants with nuclear fuel produced in Russia in order to achieve this.

- Increase the presence of Russian investment in Ukraine and Belorussia. To strive for the acquiring by Russian investors of controlling packets of shares in Ukrainian enterprises."

Not sure what Akhmetov, Pinchuk, Kolomoysky and the rest will make of this..

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

p.s. How different are British and Ukrainian politics.

In Ukraine leading politicians leave office enriched with dachas, grace and favour homes, hefty bank balances home and abroad, fancy motors with state-employed chauffeurs etc. They are set up for a life of luxury.

Last night, following a recent general election, Gordon Brown resigned as British prime minister. He has to vacate the PM's official residence, 10 Downing Street in the next few days because the new PM, David Cameron, will be moving in.

Brown, who has a wife an and two small boys, has lived in Downing Street at number 11, the Chancellor of Exchequer's [Minister of Finance's] residence, for 10 years, followed by a couple of years at number 10.

His family home is in Fife, Scotland. His wife owns a one bedroom apartment in London...and that's it. So he and his family have some serious disruption to sort out...But this is normal...take note Yanukovych, Yushchenko, Kuchma you greedy b******ds...

Reconciliation, or 'Is there an end to the War?'

Last Friday's 'Shuster Live' programme entitled 'Is there an end to the War?' was, even by Ukrainian standards, one of the most depressing items I have seen for a long time.

The representative studio audience was asked a simple question:

"Do you want reconciliation to take place between OUN-UPA and veterans of the Soviet Army ?

Overall, 72% were in favour. Regionally, amongst those from Western Ukraine it was 90% in favour, Eastern Ukraine 59%, Central Ukraine 83%, and Southern Ukraine 55%.

The population well understands the dreadful paradoxes and dilemmas Ukraine faced in WW2. The parents of brave Soviet soldiers, including millions of loyal Ukrainian soldiers, had died a decade earlier in the Stalin-induced famine or during Stalin's Great Terror. Many thousands of Ukrainians from Halychyna, which had been 'liberated' by Stalin as part of a deal with Hitler in 1939, also fought in the Red Army. Thousands of their brothers served in the Werhmacht even though their families had frequently been brutally treated by the Nazis. Millions of their brothers and sisters had also been deported to Germany as slave labour, and having survived allied bombing raids, when they returned were treated appallingly by the authorities for 'betrayal of their country' - sometimes to be treated as slave labour yet again. And during the years immediately after the war, often forgotten by many, the entire country collectively endured near famine too while other parts of the Soviet Union fared rather better.

But in Shuster's studio Dmytro Tabachnyk, minister of education, Communist party leader Petro Symonenko, who are now part of the ruling coalition, as well as some members of the opposition did everything possible to reduce any possible chance of reconciliation. The ministers' aim was to simply demonise anyone who did not follow their simplistic orthodox, half-truthful Soviet line.

The programme starkly revealed that the differing attitude to WW2 and Stalin's leadership, between what can loosely be called eastern and western Ukraine, lies at the dark heart of political conflict in the country.

Reconciliation processes have had some measure of success in other countries e.g. in South Africa, Northern Ireland, Spain and elsewhere. It is vital that such processes start take place in Ukraine if there is to be a better tomorrow.

The nonchalant or malicious attitute of current ministers to the reconciliation favoured by the population, and e.g. to the erection of statues of Stalin in today's Ukraine, shows how little they care about this. Former president Kravchuk correctly pointed out the absurdity of today's Communists' actions when over 50 years ago Stalin had been denounced by the party which he headed, by peers that were first-hand witnesses of his crimes.

"There is at least one common denominator to all...approaches to reconciliation. They all are designed to lead individual men and women to change the way they think about their historical adversaries. As a result, reconciliation occurs one person at a time and is normally a long and laborious process....Reconciliation matters because the consequences of not reconciling can be enormous."

'No Tabachnyk' video

I liked this video by a student from Kharkiv, particularly the reference to Ivan Franko..

Strange day for the Yanukovychs

Serhiy Leshchenko of U.P., in his article about president Yanukovych's visit to the PACE headquarters in Strasbourg last Tuesday, recalls a peculiar incident that took place as the president was entering the building's restaurant to go for lunch.

Yanukovych, escorted by his normal detail of bodyguards, felt the need to go the toilet so stopped by into one he was passing. His goons remained stationed on guard at door to make sure no-one else entered while their boss was 'doing his business'.

A moment later a smartly dressed, distinguished-looking gentleman tried to enter the toilet but was denied access by Yanukovych's dummies - they clearly were unable to understand the gentleman's appeals in English. Only after repeated requests did they finally permit him to enter.

It later turned out that the gentleman who they had impeded was Secretary General of PACE himself - Thorbjørn Jagland...he was the man that had invited Yanukovych to have lunch with him in the restaurant...

One would think that anyone who spent three and a half years relieving himself into a prison bucket in the corner of a communal cell would not be too fussed with whom he shared a public toilet... but there you go..

At the same time Yanukovych Jr. was 'roughing up' opposition deputies in the VR [see pictures here] - he's the pug-nosed, swarthy, unshaven young dude..a big lad, like his dad, must pack quite a punch..

Watershed week in Ukrainian politics

The disgrace in Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday was a watershed in Ukraine's democratic development. Although there have been many physical altercations in the main chamber over the years these have almost always been mainly posturing, or 'handbags at 10 paces' as they say in England. Deputies who exhibited agressiveness to one another in public were frequently known to have cordial or workmanlike relationships in private because of business connections, frequent meetings in committees etc.

However last Tuesday many journalists and witnesses reported that those PoR deputies in possession of 'a useful pairs of fists' , and, more sinisterly, some unidentified persons inside the walls of the parliament, specifically targetted older, more moderate, non violent members of the opposition for 'physical treatment', particularly those of the NUNS fraction.

Many 'beefier' BYuT opposition deputies stood idly by and watched without coming to their aid, maybe because of an unwritten rule whereby bullies 'ne zachipayut' other bullies.

In one of the worst incidents [video here ] Oles' Doniy, a most mild-mannered, academic NUNS deputy, was severely beaten about the head. He is still in hospital, confined to a wheel-chair, and suffering from concussion. Readers can make their own minds up whether the attack on him by PoR deputy Vasyl Stelmashenko, was unprovoked or not. Stelmashenko, is allegedly a reformed 'kriminalny avtorytet' [a.k.a. 'Kartaviy], who was involved in illicit alcohol production and tax evasion several years ago. He spent some time abroad but returned to Ukraine in 2000. He entered the VR a few weeks ago on this appropriate C.V.

Disgracefully, Volodymyr Sivkovych, current Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine in charge of the security forces, was standing just behind him studiously watching Doniy being 'whacked'. President Yanukovych's son, also a PoR deputy, [chip of the old block?] was allegedly involved in beating opposition deputies too.

I do not intend to defend the opposition's actions, egg throwing etc., save to say that PoR, BYuT, NUNS and others have often disrupted the working of the VR with similar protests so Tuesday's performance was not beyond the bounds of what happened many times before, but there has never previously been such a violent reaction from the ruling party. What was obvious was that Yanukovych had pledged to Putin that come what may, ratification of the Kharkiv agreement, 'gas for Black Sea Fleet base lease extension' struck the week before, would take place simultaneously in Moscow, Kyiv and Crimea.

I would not have been unreasonable for a debate to take place in the VR on this important issue before any voting. The government had nothing to fear, a majority in favour was assured, and a reasonable case could have been made to illustrate the benefits to Ukrainian citizens accruing from the deal, but for Yanukovych that would have been an impermissable indication of weakness.

Voting on that day was a farce in any case. Only 211 deputies had registered their presence at the start of the session, although 236 voted in favour of ratifying the Kharkiv agreement. Two of those voting in favour were in Strasbourg with the president at the time, a third in Western Ukraine, even though, according to Ukrainian law they have to present in person in the VR for their vote to be valid.

Reporters without Borders' wrote an open letter to Yanukovych a couple of days ago about their concern for Ukrainian journalists. Opposition politicians now have cause to be fearful too.

p.s. British Labour Party deputy leader Harriet Harman was fined £350 several weeks ago after admitting careless driving while using her mobile phone. Miss Harman, 59, was the first serving Cabinet minister in living memory to plead guilty to a criminal charge. In Britain there is [almost always] one rule of law for everybody...

Yanik's cockeyed logic

At the Council of Europe on Tuesday a representative from Luxembourg asked president Yanukovych: "It seems that in Ukraine, a process of heroization of Stalin, and increasingly, a return to the Soviet interpretation of the Second World War, is taking place. Could this trend be supported by your Government too, and particularly by the Minister of Education? What are you doing, Mr. President, to stop this most disturbing process?"

In response Yanukovych assured those present that the Minister of Education's position fully complies with his own.

"These views are also radical, but one cannot not take account of holders of such views and ideas," said Yanukovych.

A Finnish representative asked Yanukovych about the Holodomor famine. Yanukovych replied: "These were the consequence of Stalin's totalitarian regime - this was recognised by all countries where the Holodomor took place..."

So he accepts Stalin was responsible for the deaths of millions of Ukrainian citizens' forebears - but it's o.k. to permit the erection of statues to Stalin and 'take account of the views and ideas' of those proposing such commemorative acts..

What a hero...

Phobia- and complex-ridden president

In Great Britain the current parliamentary election campaign is in full swing and in two weeks time parliamentary elections will take place. The biggest and most interesting stories in the media so far have been about the relative performance of the main parties' leaders in absorbing, hotly contested, full-blooded and lively televised debates.

I cannot but think back to the recent Ukrainian presidential elections, and Yanukovych's pathetic refusal go head-to-head in a television debate against his rival Tymoshenko ...he has no balls at all..what an ***hole..

Speaking of medical conditions, why is it that Yanukovych needs an ambulance to be constantly available wherever he goes?

As his multi-vehicle high-speed convoy taking him to the airport sped through closed-off Kyiv roads several days ago his ambulance was left some distance behind. In its attempt to catch up it crashed into a taxi, killing its driver and seriously injuring its two passengers, one of whom may have been a pregnant woman. [see previous blogs] Why the mad rush?

Several years ago the British prime minister Tony Blair and his Chancellor of the Exchequer [minister of finance] - now PM, Gordon Brown, visited the office headquarters of a large trade union situated on a busy main road about 100 metres from where your blogger lives. Although the visit was unannounced I saw several police and a film crew hanging about before the visit so I waited around too. Both of the VIP visitors arrived in a Jaguar limo which was escorted by a large 4x4 filled with plain-clothed security guys and a minibus filled with special patrol group police officers. Another minibus filled with police was parked discretely in an adjacent back-street. The PM and his minister drove up from a local airport in the normal road traffic stream - no sirens, flashing lights or anything like that. As they entered the building they chatted briefly, in a relaxed manner to some of the onlookers.

A few years before that I saw the late Lady Diana during her visit to a children's nursery in a run-down part of a neighbouring town. Again, no fuss, no big cavalcade or stopped traffic..

It' s probably true to say the more arrogant and despotic the leader of a country is, the bigger his escorting convoy of vehicles..Yanik should think about this a while...did he really need that ambulance?

Former PoR deputy and former close adviser to Yanukovych Taras Chornovil in a piece in 'U.P. has described the president as a phobia- and complex-riddled man terrified of assassination and public humiliation This may explain some of his behaviour.

Oh, and killing an innocent road user is seriously bad hex for him for the future...

WSJ reports this week's Medvedev-Yanik gas-for-Black Sea port deal thus: " [It] will allow Russia to keep a strategic military presence beyond its borders until 2043, a quarter-century beyond the end of its current lease for the naval base on Ukraine's Crimean peninsula. [While] Ukraine, hit hard by the global economic downturn, received a waiver of export taxes that will knock as much as 30% off the price of Russian gas over the next nine years."

What happens after the nine year period ends, which, surprise surprise, coincides with what could be the end of president Yanukovych' second term in office?

Killers on the road

Ukraine's ruling elites continue to massacre innocent road users in high-speed "accidents".

Yesterday morning the killer was the driver of a vehicle escorting president Yanukovych during his regular maniacal dash through closed-off roads in Kyiv.

I posted about the regular carnage on Ukraine's roads last November:

"In 2007 there were 9921 road traffic fatalities reported in Ukraine, 56% of which were pedestrians. So, over five and half thousand pedestrians were killed on the roads that year in the country.

In the United Kingdom by comparison, 2398 road deaths were reported in 2006, 21% of which were pedestrians, i.e. about 500 pedestrians were killed - 10 times less that in Ukraine, even though it has a larger population and many more vehicles on the road."

'Kyiv Post' published a by no means comprehensive list of 'prominenti' involved in such incidents last December.

President Yanukovych's chief spokesperson Hanna Herman's 17-year old son was killed in a high-speed crash last year.

What is it with these maniacs?