Open Letter to Leonid Kuchma
02/24/2001 | Ìàéäàí-²íôîðì
Forum of Ukrainian Students in America and Europe
Open Letter to the President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma
President Kuchma:
We belong to the new generation of Ukrainians, for whom the independence of Ukraine shaped our understanding of the world and of our place in it. Now we are pursuing studies abroad with a desire to
contribute to the development of Ukraine as a
prosperous and democratic nation. As citizens of Ukraine, we can not afford to remain silent when the principles of democracy and the rule of law, engrained
in the Constitution, are being systematically ignored.
We feel that it is our civic and moral responsibility to speak in one voice against it and we urge you tolisten.
With power accumulated over the last six years, you bear the greatest responsibility for the situation in the country and for the direction it takes. Throughout all years in office, you have many times publicly
pledged to promote democratic transformations in Ukraine and its integration into the community of European nations. However, in reality, democratic values were sacrificed for the sake of power interests
of the country’s leadership. You gained the so-called “support from the millions” during the last presidential election in 1999 chiefly because of administrative pressure on the electoral process, manipulation of the public opinion and a vote count biased in your favor. Therefore, such “support of many” just demonstrated an unchecked power of the few.
At the time when public allegations directly link you to the disappearance of the journalist Georgiy Gongadze, its investigation appears under official pressure and the state-controlled mass media give it and events surrounding it a one-sided and unfair
coverage. Important pieces of evidence, provided by Olexander Moroz, Serhiy Holovatyi and other people’s deputies are labeled by the General Prosecutor as
false even before their detailed examination. By avoiding the involvement of international experts and from closer cooperation with the members of Ukrainian parliament, you do not allow a transparent and independent investigation of the case. Judging from
the above said, we conclude that you are not capable of guaranteeing realization of the constitutional rights of the Ukrainian people, and, moreover, allow for their violation. Therefore, we think that, under the present circumstances, the only right decision foryou is to resign.
We would like to emphasize that with this letter we do not call for the overthrow of government, as you and your associates often tend to interpret it. On the contrary, we want to put an end to lawlessness of
power structures and to your promises about the “bright future,” which our parents never lived to see in the Soviet times. We cannot afford wasting time and aspire to live in free and democratic Ukraine today!
Signatures:
Lyudmyla Andrievska,
Indiana State University, USA
Julia Anderson,
Johns Hopkins University, USA
Marko Bachmaha,
University of California in LosAngeles, USA
Anatoliy Bizhko,
Yale University, US
AInna Birchenko, Ohio University, USA
Oleg Belyaev,
University of Cincinnati, USA
Volodymyr Boichuk,
University of Alberta, Canada
Natalia Bohun,
University of Denver, USA
Yevhen Buhorskyi,
Monterey Institute of InternationalStudies, USA
Ruslan Deynychenko,
Duquesne University, USA
Yurii Dzhygyr,
Syracuse University, USA
Olga Dmytrenko,
University of Burgogne, France
Danylo Fedorchuk,
University of Pittsburgh, USA
Eduard Fesko,
Monterey Institute of InternationalStudies, USA
Yevhen Grebenyuk,
University of Pittsburgh, USA
Vadym Galaichuk,
Michigan State University, USA
Oleh Gerelyuk,
Catholic University, USA
Dmytro Glazkov,
Yale University, USA
Anna Glos,
University of Rutlingen, Germany
Andriy Gostik,
California State University at Hayward,USA
Tetyana Grekh,
University of Kansas, USA
Yaroslav Hrehirchak,
McGill University, Canada
Andriy Ignatov,
Iowa State University, USA
Anatoly Ignatusha,
College of William and Mary, USA
Anna-Marta Khomyak,
University of Nottinham, GreatBritain
Oleh Kirienko,
University of Amsterdam, TheNetherlands
Marianna Klochko,
Cornell University, USA
Olexander Kopets,
Harvard University, USA
Petro Koshukov,
Indiana State University, USA
Adrian Kos,
California State University at Hayward,USA
Sergiy Kudelia,
Johns Hopkins University, USA
Vadym Lepetyuk,
University of Texas in Dallas, USA
Yurii Lishyns'kyi,
Lateranum University in Rome, Italy
Olha Lyubenko,
University of Nebraska at Omaha, USA
Anna Makhorkina,
Old Dominion University, USA
Natalia Malovanova,
East Carolina University, USA
Yurii Matso,
University of California in San Diego,USA
Igor Musiyuk,
University of Massachusetts at Amherst,USA
Andrii Mykytiv,
Monterey Institute of InternationalStudies, USA
Ivan Mokhnal,
California Institute of Technology, USA
Volodymyr Nagirnyak,
University of Cincinnati, USA
Lyubov Nazaruk,
Geneva Institute of InternationalStudies, Switzerland
Zvenyslava Opeyda,
University of Illinois atUrbana-Champaign, USA
Oleg Osipenko,
Duke University, USA
Valentyn Panchenko,
Oregon State University, USA
Oksana Rudyuk,
University of Colorado in Denver, USA
Natalia Riabokon,
Stanford University, USA
Yadviga Semikolenova,
University of Pittsburgh, USA
Sergiy Slobodyanyuk,
Suffolk University, USA
Sergiy Sobistiyanskiy,
Johns Hopkins University, USA
Roman Sulzhyk,
New York University, USA
Oksana Tsypnyak,
University of Minnesota, USA
Olena Trush,
Emory University, USA
Igor Ulyanov,
Case Western University, USA
Ivan Vidyakin,
Ohio University, USA
Olena Vovk,
Columbia University, USA
Volodymyr Yakymets,
Catholic University, USA
Sergiy Yevstafyev,
Johns Hopkins University, USA
Valentyn Zhygulin,
California Institute of Technology,USA
Antonina Zozulya,
University of Cincinnati, USA
Note Forum includes students from Ukraine studying in various fields at the universities of the USA, Canada and Western Europe and it promotes their active participation in the societal life of Ukraine.
Email address of the Forum is: ukrstudents@yahoo.com
Copies of this open letter have been sent to the Parliament of Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers, political parties, civic organizations, non-governmental research institutions, foundations, and mass media.
Open Letter to the President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma
President Kuchma:
We belong to the new generation of Ukrainians, for whom the independence of Ukraine shaped our understanding of the world and of our place in it. Now we are pursuing studies abroad with a desire to
contribute to the development of Ukraine as a
prosperous and democratic nation. As citizens of Ukraine, we can not afford to remain silent when the principles of democracy and the rule of law, engrained
in the Constitution, are being systematically ignored.
We feel that it is our civic and moral responsibility to speak in one voice against it and we urge you tolisten.
With power accumulated over the last six years, you bear the greatest responsibility for the situation in the country and for the direction it takes. Throughout all years in office, you have many times publicly
pledged to promote democratic transformations in Ukraine and its integration into the community of European nations. However, in reality, democratic values were sacrificed for the sake of power interests
of the country’s leadership. You gained the so-called “support from the millions” during the last presidential election in 1999 chiefly because of administrative pressure on the electoral process, manipulation of the public opinion and a vote count biased in your favor. Therefore, such “support of many” just demonstrated an unchecked power of the few.
At the time when public allegations directly link you to the disappearance of the journalist Georgiy Gongadze, its investigation appears under official pressure and the state-controlled mass media give it and events surrounding it a one-sided and unfair
coverage. Important pieces of evidence, provided by Olexander Moroz, Serhiy Holovatyi and other people’s deputies are labeled by the General Prosecutor as
false even before their detailed examination. By avoiding the involvement of international experts and from closer cooperation with the members of Ukrainian parliament, you do not allow a transparent and independent investigation of the case. Judging from
the above said, we conclude that you are not capable of guaranteeing realization of the constitutional rights of the Ukrainian people, and, moreover, allow for their violation. Therefore, we think that, under the present circumstances, the only right decision foryou is to resign.
We would like to emphasize that with this letter we do not call for the overthrow of government, as you and your associates often tend to interpret it. On the contrary, we want to put an end to lawlessness of
power structures and to your promises about the “bright future,” which our parents never lived to see in the Soviet times. We cannot afford wasting time and aspire to live in free and democratic Ukraine today!
Signatures:
Lyudmyla Andrievska,
Indiana State University, USA
Julia Anderson,
Johns Hopkins University, USA
Marko Bachmaha,
University of California in LosAngeles, USA
Anatoliy Bizhko,
Yale University, US
AInna Birchenko, Ohio University, USA
Oleg Belyaev,
University of Cincinnati, USA
Volodymyr Boichuk,
University of Alberta, Canada
Natalia Bohun,
University of Denver, USA
Yevhen Buhorskyi,
Monterey Institute of InternationalStudies, USA
Ruslan Deynychenko,
Duquesne University, USA
Yurii Dzhygyr,
Syracuse University, USA
Olga Dmytrenko,
University of Burgogne, France
Danylo Fedorchuk,
University of Pittsburgh, USA
Eduard Fesko,
Monterey Institute of InternationalStudies, USA
Yevhen Grebenyuk,
University of Pittsburgh, USA
Vadym Galaichuk,
Michigan State University, USA
Oleh Gerelyuk,
Catholic University, USA
Dmytro Glazkov,
Yale University, USA
Anna Glos,
University of Rutlingen, Germany
Andriy Gostik,
California State University at Hayward,USA
Tetyana Grekh,
University of Kansas, USA
Yaroslav Hrehirchak,
McGill University, Canada
Andriy Ignatov,
Iowa State University, USA
Anatoly Ignatusha,
College of William and Mary, USA
Anna-Marta Khomyak,
University of Nottinham, GreatBritain
Oleh Kirienko,
University of Amsterdam, TheNetherlands
Marianna Klochko,
Cornell University, USA
Olexander Kopets,
Harvard University, USA
Petro Koshukov,
Indiana State University, USA
Adrian Kos,
California State University at Hayward,USA
Sergiy Kudelia,
Johns Hopkins University, USA
Vadym Lepetyuk,
University of Texas in Dallas, USA
Yurii Lishyns'kyi,
Lateranum University in Rome, Italy
Olha Lyubenko,
University of Nebraska at Omaha, USA
Anna Makhorkina,
Old Dominion University, USA
Natalia Malovanova,
East Carolina University, USA
Yurii Matso,
University of California in San Diego,USA
Igor Musiyuk,
University of Massachusetts at Amherst,USA
Andrii Mykytiv,
Monterey Institute of InternationalStudies, USA
Ivan Mokhnal,
California Institute of Technology, USA
Volodymyr Nagirnyak,
University of Cincinnati, USA
Lyubov Nazaruk,
Geneva Institute of InternationalStudies, Switzerland
Zvenyslava Opeyda,
University of Illinois atUrbana-Champaign, USA
Oleg Osipenko,
Duke University, USA
Valentyn Panchenko,
Oregon State University, USA
Oksana Rudyuk,
University of Colorado in Denver, USA
Natalia Riabokon,
Stanford University, USA
Yadviga Semikolenova,
University of Pittsburgh, USA
Sergiy Slobodyanyuk,
Suffolk University, USA
Sergiy Sobistiyanskiy,
Johns Hopkins University, USA
Roman Sulzhyk,
New York University, USA
Oksana Tsypnyak,
University of Minnesota, USA
Olena Trush,
Emory University, USA
Igor Ulyanov,
Case Western University, USA
Ivan Vidyakin,
Ohio University, USA
Olena Vovk,
Columbia University, USA
Volodymyr Yakymets,
Catholic University, USA
Sergiy Yevstafyev,
Johns Hopkins University, USA
Valentyn Zhygulin,
California Institute of Technology,USA
Antonina Zozulya,
University of Cincinnati, USA
Note Forum includes students from Ukraine studying in various fields at the universities of the USA, Canada and Western Europe and it promotes their active participation in the societal life of Ukraine.
Email address of the Forum is: ukrstudents@yahoo.com
Copies of this open letter have been sent to the Parliament of Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers, political parties, civic organizations, non-governmental research institutions, foundations, and mass media.