IN THE SPOTLIGHT - Gorshenin Institute
INTHESPOTLIGHT
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CONTENT
1.Topnews…page5
2.ArmedconflictineastUkraine…page5
RussiacontinuesamassingtroopsinDonbas,onUkrainianborder
Russiasends25thaidconvoytoDonbas
OSCE:militantsmoveheavyarmsfromstorageforparticipationinparade
OSCEmaybringmoreobserverstoDonbasbysummer
OnlyUNpeacekeepersorEUmissioncanensurepeaceinDonbas-Poroshenko
3.Crimeanissue…page6
CrimeancourtarrestsATRTVcameraman
FirstdeputyheadofMajlisdetainedinCrimea
CrimeanrightsactivistshowsphotoofinjuriescausedbyRussianFSB
4.Internationalpolitical…page7
Ukraine-Russia
UkrainenamesstartingdateofRussia'saggression
PACEtostripRussiaofvotingrightsuntilJune
NorwaystepsupsanctionsagainstRussia,Donbasmilitants
Ukrainianparliamentapproves“Savchenkolist”
RussiaaccusesSavchenkoofillegalbordercrossing
RussiancourtsentencesUkrainiannationaltosevenyearsinprisonon
terrorismcharges
Media:Putin'saideregularlyvisitedUkrainein2013-14
Putin'snegativeratinginUkraineover75percent
Ukraine-EU
Kiev,Brussels,MoscowdiscussEU-Ukrainefreetradearea
Belgium,Portugal,FinlandratifyEU-Ukraineassociationagreement
UkrainewantsRigasummittogiveitEUmembershipprospect
Francetosupplyhelicopters,radiocommunicationsystemstoUkraine
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LawaboutUkrainianInsurgentArmycomplicatesPolish-Ukrainianhistorical
dialogue–Polishleader
Ukraine-USA
Ukrainian-USmilitarydrillbeginsinLvivRegion
Ukraine-NATO
UkrainianpresidentendorsesannualprogrammeofcooperationwithNATO
Ukraine-Chilli
Ukraine,Chileagreeonvisa-freetravel
5.Domesticpolitical…page11
Defenceministersaysterrorgroupssteppingupactivity
SaboteursblowuprailwaybridgeinLuhanskRegion
Prosecutorsdisclosecauseofpeople'sdeathinOdessa'sTradeUnionHouseon
2May
MinersprotestinKiev,EnergyMinistrypointsfingeratAkhmetov
Ukraine'ssecurityserviceopenscaseonfinancingofminers'protests
UkrainianMPsaysAkhmetovsubjecttocaseonfinancingofterrorism
HireddemonstratorsdemandKievmayor'sdismissal-media
UkrainianpresidentsetsupcommissiontoselectcandidatestoSupremeJustice
Council
CabinetannouncescompetitionforheadofUkraine'santicorruptionagency
Ukrainianparliamentpostponesentryintoforceoflawonprosecution
UkrainianparliamentexemptsdefenceproductsfromVAT,duties
Ukrainianscientiststobepaidspecialpensionsagain
ParliamentsetsupspecialcommissionondevelopmentofUkraine
UkrainianparliamentamendslawbanningpropagandaofNazism,Communism
AuditChambertooverseebudgetreceipts
Ukrainianpresidenttightenspunishmentformilitarycrimes
Self-HelpMPgivesupseat
Courtarreststhreeex-BerkuttroopsovershootingofMaydanactivists
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Statereclaims43.5mdollarsworthoflandlostduringYanukovychrule
SonofformerDonetskregionalgovernoraccusedoffinancingseparatists
Courtacquitsex-PartyofRegionsmemberLandik
6.Media…page15
TVichannelgoesbackonair
7.Economy…page15
IMFtosupportUkraineinrestructuringefforts
EUdisburses250meurostoUkraine
Ukrainetoraise2bndollarstorebuildDonbas,Poroshenkosays
Parliamentapproves200m-euroloanagreementwithEIB
USloanguaranteesforUkrainianEurobondstakeeffect
UkrainesignsroadmapwithOECD
Ukraine'sforexreservesupto10bndollars
Balanceofpaymentsdeficitexceeds300mdollarsinMarch
IndustrialrecessionslowsinMarch
Ukrainianbankspost3.5bndollarsinlosssinceyearstart
PrivatizationtargetstobeevaluatedbyFrenchexperts-president
AtlasjetpermittedtoperformcharterflightsfromLviv
8.Energy…page17
UkrainereceivesgastransitordersfromEUtraders
GasimportsfromEuropereach61percentinfirstquarter
TrilateralgroupnottodiscusspaymentsforDonbasgassupplies–minister
Ukrainestopspayingelectricitybillsforrebel-heldpartsofDonbas
Presidentapprovescabinet'srighttoregulateelectricitymarketinATOarea
Ukrtransnafta'sheadreplacedagain
NaftohazdeclinesUkrnafta'soffertooffsetdividendsagainstdebts
EnerhoatomsignscontractforuraniumsuppliesfromFrance
UkrainehonoursmemoryofChernobyldisasterliquidators
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1.TOPNEWS
Russiacontinuestosupportseparatists
Over55,000RussianservicemenaredeployedalongUkrainianborder.
ReadmoreinARMEDCONFLICTINEASTUKRAINE.
SecurityServiceofUkraineopenscaseoverfinancingofminers'protestsin
Kiev
ManagersofRinatAkhmetov'sDTEKaresummonedforinterviewsonthecase.
ReadmoreinDOMESTICPOLITICAL.
Ukrainereceives250meurosofaidfromEU
TheUkrainianparliamenthasratifiedanagreementonborrowing200meuros
fromtheEuropeanInvestmentBank.
ReadmoreinECONOMY.
2.ARMEDCONFLICTINEASTUKRAINE
RussiacontinuesamassingtroopsinDonbas,onUkrainianborder
Russiahasnotstoppedsupplyingarmstomilitantsoftheself-proclaimedDonetsk
andLuhanskpeople'srepublicsandamassingtroopsintheconflictarea,the
UkrainianForeignMinistryhassaid.
Accordingtotheministry,Russiacontinuesaccumulatingmilitaryequipmentand
armedforcesinBelgorodandRostovregionsborderingonUkraine.Armyaviation
hasbeenseenholdingexercisesinKrasnodarKray,RostovRegionandinoccupied
Crimea.
AccordingtotheantiterroristoperationHQ'sestimates,over55,000Russian
servicemenhavebeendeployedalongtheUkrainianborder.
NATOSecretary-GeneralJensStoltenberghassuggestedthatmoreactivesupplyof
armsandammunitiontoDonbasandtheaccumulationoftroopsontheborderwith
UkraineallowsseparatiststolaunchasuddenoffensiveagainsttheUkrainian
positions.
PolishForeignMinisterGrzegorzSchetynahassaidthatPolandalongsomeother
countrymaysupportUkraine'sdefencecapabilityiftheconflictineastUkraine
escalates.
Russiasends25thaidconvoytoDonbas
The25thso-calledhumanitarianaidconvoyfromRussiaillegallycrossedthe
Ukrainian-Russianborderon23April2015.AccordingtotheStateBorderService
ofUkraine,itmostlycontainednon-humanitarianaid.
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OSCE:militantsmovheavyarmsfromstorageforparticipationinparade
TheOSCESpecialMonitoringMissionhasrecordedthatpreviouslywithdrawn
heavyarmshavedisappearedfromtheirstorageareas.Inparticular,fourGrad
multiple-launchrocketsystemsdisappearedfromoneofthelocations,which,as
theseparatistssaid,wererelocatedtotakepartinthe"9Mayparade".
TheOSCEsaidthatifthemilitantshelda"parade"ofheavyarms,thiswouldbea
violationoftheMinskagreements.
OSCEmaybringmoreobserverstoDonbasbysummer
TheOSCEisplanningtoincreasethenumberofitsobserversineastUkraineto
600bythesummer,OSCESecretary-GeneralLambertoZannierhassaid.
HoweverErtugrulApakan,chiefmonitoroftheOSCESpecialMonitoringMission
toUkraine,cannotseeanyreasonforincreasingthenumberofobserversbecause
pro-Russianmilitantsblockthemissionfromvisitingallareasoftheconflictin
Donbas.
InMarch,theOSCEmemberstatesdecidedtodoublethemissioninUkrainefrom
429to1,000.Thereare331observersworkingonthegroundinDonbasnow.
OnlyUNpeacekeepersorEUmissioncanensurepeaceinDonbas-
Poroshenko
UNpeacekeepersoranEUmissionshouldcometoUkrainetoensurepeacein
Donbas,UkrainianPresidentPetroPoroshenkohassaid.
HenotedthatpeacekeepersarenoalternativetotheOSCEmissioninDonbas.
EuropeanCouncilPresidentDonaldTuskhassaidthatinthenearfutureitis
impossibletoreachadecisiononthedeploymentofanEUpeacekeepingmission
ineasternUkraine.
RussianForeignMinisterSergeyLavrovsaidthatRussiaresolutelyobjectstothe
deploymentofpeacekeepersinUkrainetosettletheconflictinDonbas.
3.CRIMEANISSUE
CrimeancourtarrestsATRTVcameraman
On22April2015,theSimferopolKievskyydistrictcourtarrestedacameramanof
theCrimeanTatarTVchannelATR,EskenderNebiyev,fortwomonths.Heis
suspectedoforganizingandtakingpartinthemassprotestsoutsidetheCrimean
parliamenton26February2014.
CouncilofEuropeCommissionerforHumanRightsNilsMuiznieksnoteda
significantdeteriorationofhumanrightsinCrimea.
FirstdeputyheadofMajlisdetainedinCrimea
On24April2015,theRussianInvestigationsCommitteeinterviewedthefirst
deputyheadoftheself-styledCrimeanTatargovernmentMajlis,Nariman
Dzhelyalov.HewassummonedforaninterviewduringtheMajlismeeting.
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EarlierCrimea'sso-calledlawenforcerssearchedDzhelyalov'shouse.
ThefirstdeputyheadoftheMajlisisawitnessinthecaseofthemassprotestsoutside
theCrimeanparliamenton26February2014.
CrimeanrightsactivistshowsphotoofinjuriescausedbyRussianFSB
Emir-UseinKuku,amemberofthecontactgroupforhumanrights,wasdetainedand
questionedbytheRussianFederalSecurityService(FSB)inannexedCrimeaon20
April2015.Hishousewassearched.Hewasreleasedlaterthesameday.
On23April,theactivistpublishedphotosofhisinjuriescausedbytheRussianFSB.
AccordingtoKuku,doctorssaidthathehadakidneycontusion.
ThecontactgroupforhumanrightsinCrimeawassetupundertheauspicesofthe
CouncilofMinistersintheautumn2014tocoordinatethesearchformissingCrimean
Tatars.
4.INTERNATIONALPOLITICAL
UKRAINE-RUSSIA
UkrainenamesstartingdateofRussia'saggression
TheUkrainianparliamenton21Aprilapprovedthestatement“onrebuffingRussian
militaryaggressionandovercomingitsconsequences.”
Accordingtothedocument,thestartingdateofRussianaggressionis20February
2014.
Atthesametime,thelawmakersaddressesRussiawithappealstostarttocomply
withtheMinskagreements,toreleaseallhostagesimmediately,towithdrawits
mercenariesfromtheUkrainianterritory,towithdrawthearmyfromtheborder,and
toimmediatelyreturnCrimeaandSevastopoltoUkraine.
Itshouldbenotedthatparliament'sstatementdefinestheconsequencesofRussia's
aggression,sothatUkrainecouldofficiallylodgeclaimsagainsttheRussian
Federation.
PACEtostripRussiaofvotingrightsuntilJune
TheBureauoftheParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEurope(PACE)has
recommendedpostponinguntilJunethediscussionofthepowersoftheRussian
delegation,whichwaspreviouslydisposedofthevotingrightsinresponsetothe
annexationofCrimeaanditssupportoftheself-proclaimedDonetskandLuhansk
people'srepublics,rapporteurforRussiaTheodoraBakoyannishassaid.
Atthesametime,HeorhiyLohvynskyy,thedeputyheadoftheUkrainiandelegation
toPACE,saidthatUkrainewouldseekRussia'sexclusionfromtheassemblyifthereis
noanynoticeableimprovementinthesituationinDonbasandCrimeabyJune.
NorwaystepsupsanctionsagainstRussia,Donbasmilitants
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NorwayhastightenedsanctionsagainstRussiafollowingasimilarmovebythe
EuropeanUnion.
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TherestrictionsaffectedfiveRussianofficials,includingRussianDeputyDefence
MinisterAnatoliyAntonovandRussiansingerandMPYosifKobzon.Thesepersons
arebannedfromenteringNorway,whiletheirassetsinNorwegianbankswillbefrozen.
Thesanctionswerealsoimposedonanumberofpro-Russianmilitantsoftheselfproclaimedpeople'srepublicsinDonbasandseveralseparatistorganizations.
Ukrainianparliamentapproves“Savchenkolist”
TheUkrainianparliamenton22Apriladoptedtheso-called"Savchenkolist"which
namesthepersonsresponsible,accordingtoMPs,fortheunlawfuldetentionbythe
RussianauthoritiesofNadiyaSavchenko,militarypilotandmemberofUkraine's
delegationtoPACE.
Thelistincludes35people,particularlyRussianPresidentVladimirPutin,firstdeputy
headofhisadministrationVyacheslavVolodin,RussianFederalSecurityService(FSB)
chiefAleksandrBortnikov,leaderoftheself-proclaimedLuhanskpeople'srepublic
IhorPlotnytskyy,Russianjudgesandjailservants.Also,itincludesRussiantycoons
ArkadiyandBorisRotenberg,GennadiyTimchenko.
TheUkrainianparliamentrecommendedthattheNationalSecurityandDefenceCouncil
introducepersonalsanctionsagainstthosepersons.
RussiaaccusesSavchenkoofillegalbordercrossing
Russia'sInvestigativeCommitteehasbroughtfinalchargesagainstNadiyaSavchenko,
UkrainianmilitarypilotandmemberofUkraine'sdelegationtoPACE.Inadditiontothe
murderaccessorychargespresentedinthesummerof2014,theUkrainianpilotisnow
accusedofillegallycrossingtheRussianborder.
Itshouldberecalledthat,accordingtoSavchenko,shewascapturedbythepro-Russian
militantsandtakentoRussiaatthecommandofIhorPlotnytskyy,leaderoftheselfproclaimedLuhanskpeople'srepublic.
RussianForeignMinisterSergeyLavrovadmittedthatafterthetrialSavchenkomaybe
pardonedinaccordancewiththeMinskagreement.
RussiancourtsentencesUkrainiannationaltosevenyearsinprisononterrorism
charges
AcourtinRostov-on-Don(Russia)on21AprilsentencedOleksiyChirniy,whowas
detainedbytheRussianauthoritiesonsuspicionofplanningterroristattacksinCrimea,
tosevenyearsinprison.ChirniywasdetainedunderthecaseagainstUkrainianfilm
directorOlehSentsov.
ItshouldberecalledthataMoscowcourtinDecember2014alsoputinjailHennadiy
Afanasyev,amemberoftheso-calledSentsov'sgroup,forsevenyears,findinghim
guiltyofterrorism.
AfanasyevandChirniyconfessedtheirguilt.Sentsovandthefourthdetainee,
OleksandrKolchenko,denytheirinvolvementinterroristactivity.
Media:Putin'saideregularlyvisitedUkrainein2013-14
Russianpresident'saideVladislavSurkov,whoissuspectedbytheUkrainianlaw
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enforcersofbeinginvolvedinthemasskillingsonMaydan(Kiev'sIndependence
Square),visitedUkraine(Kiev,DonetskandCrimea)atleastsixtimesfromthesummer
of2013untilthelatewinterof2014,SonyaKoshkina,chiefeditorofthenewsand
analysiswebsiteLB.ua,saidinherarticle“VladislavSurkov.TheUkrainianTrace”.
Inaddition,accordingtoher,morethan13,000grenadeswerebroughttoUkrainein
January2014undertheguiseofhumanitarianaid.Theammunitionwasprovidedto
Ukraine'sInteriorMinistryandusedagainsttheMaydanactivists,thejournalistsaid.
Putin'snegativeratinginUkraineover75percent
TheshareofUkrainiancitizenswhohaveanegativeattitudetowardsRussian
PresidentVladimirPutinhasincreasedfrom70.8to75.5percentovertheyear,
accordingtoaMarchpollconductedbytheRazumkovCentre.Thenegativeattitude
towardstheRussianpresidentwasexpressedbythemajorityofpeopleinallUkrainian
regions.
TheshareofthosewhohaveanegativeattitudetowardsRussiancitizenshasincreased
overtheperiodfrom16.6to25.9percent,whiletheshareofthosewhovoiceda
neutralattitudetoRussiancitizensalsogrewfrom32.5to37.1percent.Atthesame
time,theshareofUkrainiancitizenswhoexpressedapositiveattitudetoRussia's
citizensfellfrom44.9to28.9percent.
Itshouldbenotedthat,accordingtoasurveyconductedbytheGorsheninInstitutein
February,66.9percentofUkrainianssaidthattheyhadanegativeattitudetowards
Russia(38.6percent-"verynegative",28.3percent-"rathernegative").However,24.7
percentoftherespondentsindicatedtheirgoodattitudetowardsRussia(9.6percent-
"verygood",15.1percent-"rathergood").
UKRAINE-EU
Kiev,Brussels,MoscowdiscussEU-Ukrainefreetradearea
On21April2015,Ukraine,theEUandRussiaheldtechnicalconsultationsonanumber
ofissuesofconcerntoMoscowwithregardtotheestablishmentofafreetradearea
betweenUkraineandtheEUwithintheframeworkoftheassociationagreement,the
EuropeanCommissionhassaid.Thenextstagewillincludepoliticalnegotiations.
Ukraine'sambassadortotheEU,KostyantynYeliseyev,hassaidthatthetrilateral
talksdidnotbringanyresults.Inhiswords,Russiaisstillworkingtodelaythe
introductionoftheEU-Ukrainefreetradearea.
TheEU-Ukraineassociationagreementhasenteredintolimitedforceasofearly
November2014.Thetradechapteroftheagreementwilltakeeffectasofearly2016.
BoththeEUandUkrainesaidtheywerenotgoingeithertorevisethetextofthe
agreementonthefreetradearea,ortotakeanydecisiononitsdelay.
Belgium,Portugal,FinlandratifyEU-Ukraineassociationagreement
On23April2015,theBelgianFederalParliamentratifiedtheEU-Ukraineassociation
agreement.
ThenextdaytheratificationagreementtookeffectinFinlandandPortugal.
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UkrainewantsRigasummittogiveitEUmembershipprospect
UkrainewantsafinaldeclarationoftheRigaEasternPartnershipsummiton21-22
May2015togiveitaprospectofEUmembership,theUkrainianForeignMinistryhas
said.
KievalsohopesforadecisiongivingUkrainianstherighttotraveltotheEUwithout
visasasof1January2016.
TheUkraine-EUsummitwillbeheldinKievon27April.
Francetosupplyhelicopters,radiocommunicationsystemstoUkraine
Thestate-ownedconcernUkroboronpromhascontractedFrenchcompaniestosupply
theUkrainianarmywithtacticalcommunicationmeansandsingle-enginehelicopters.
ThalesSystemsAeroportesSAincooperationwiththeUkrainiansidewilldesigna
patrolaircraft.
LawaboutUkrainianInsurgentArmycomplicatesPolish-Ukrainianhistorical
dialogue–Polishleader
TheadoptionofthelawrecognizingservicemenoftheUkrainianInsurgentArmyas
fightersforUkraine'sindependencewillcomplicatethePolish-Ukrainianhistorical
dialogue,PolishPresidentBronislawKomorowskihassaid.
ThedocumenthasnotbeensignedbytheUkrainianpresidentyet.
UKRAINE-USA
Ukrainian-USmilitarydrillbeginsinLvivRegion
TheUkrainian-USexercise2015FearlessGuardianbeganontheYavorivtrainingrange
inLvivRegionon20April2015andwilllastuntilNovember.Itsparticipantswill
include900UkrainianNationalGuardtroopsand290USparatroopers.
RussiahassaidthatthestayoftheUSmilitaryinUkrainewasaviolationoftheMinsk
agreements.
ThesecretaryoftheNationalSecurityandDefenceCouncilofUkraine,Oleksandr
Turchynov,hassaidthatUSmilitaryinstructorswereinvitedinaccordancewiththe
parliamentdecision.TheMinskagreementsdemandthatforeigntroops,meaning
thosefromRussia,withdrawfromUkrainebecausetheyarestayingthereillegally
(sinceKievhasnotpermittedtheirdeployment)andarefightingagainstUkrainian
troops.
UKRAINE-NATO
UkrainianpresidentendorsesannualprogrammeofcooperationwithNATO
On23April2015,PresidentPetroPoroshenkoendorsedthe2015national
programmeforUkraine-NATOcooperation.
DuringhisvisittoFrancehesaidthatareferendumonUkraine'smembershipofNATO
wasplannedtobeheld.
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AccordingtoasurveyconductedbytheGorsheninInstituteinFebruary,54.1percent
spokeinfavourofsuchmembership,while33.1percentobjected.
UKRAINE-CHILI
Ukraine,Chileagreeonvisa-freetravel
On24April2015,UkrainianForeignMinisterPavloKlimkinandChileanambassador
JuanEduardoEguigurensignedanagreementonmutualvisa-freetravel.
Chileisthe25thcountrytodropvisarequirementsforUkraine.
5.DOMESTICPOLITICAL
Defenceministersaysterrorgroupssteppingupactivity
AthreatofterroractsisincreasinginUkraineasterrorandsaboteurgroupshave
recentlysteppeduptheirefforts,DefenceMinisterStepanPoltorakhassaid.
Likelytargetsofsabotageincludedepots,basesandwarehousesofarmsand
equipment,ammunitionandmissiles,hespecified.
Meanwhile,theSecurityServiceofUkraine(SBU)saidthatpro-Russianforceswere
likelytotrytoestablishanotherself-proclaimedrepublicinOdessainearlyMay,on
theanniversaryofthetragiceventsinthelocalTradeUnionHouse,whenalmost50
peopledied.
SaboteursblowuprailwaybridgeinLuhanskRegion
AnexplosionunderadieselshuntertookplaceattheShypylove-Sentyanivkarailway
runinLuhanskRegionon25April2015.Tworailwayworkerswereinjured,police
said.
Prosecutorsdisclosecauseofpeople'sdeathinOdessa'sTradeUnionHouseon
2May
Forty-eightpeoplediedinOdessa'sTradeUnionHouseon2May2014afterthe
buildingquicklycaughtfire,theProsecutor-General'sOffice(PGO)hassaid.
Itsaidthatnoproofofdeliberatearsonwasfoundandthatthefirewascausedbythe
useofpetrolbombs.
Itaddedthat22werechargedwithintheframeworkofthe2Maycasewhile13
organizersandparticipantsintheriotsarewanted.
MinersprotestinKiev,EnergyMinistrypointsfingeratAkhmetov
SeveralhundredminersheldprotestsincentralKievon22-24Aprildemandingthat
theirwagearrearsbepaidandEnergyMinisterVolodymyrDemchyshynbe
dismissed.
Attheminers'assemblyinKievon21April,theirtradeunionleaderMykhaylo
VolynetssaidthattheEnergyMinistry'sunprofessionalactionsresultedinoneofthe
deepestcrisesintheindustryovertheyearsofindependence.
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DemchyshynrespondedbysayingtheprotestswereorganizedbybusinessmanRinat
Akhmetov.
PetroPoroshenkoBlocMPMustafaNayemhasmadepublictheplan,calledFortress,
which,ashesaid,wasdevelopedbyAkhmetov'smanagerstoretainDTEK's
monopolyintheenergymarket.Itoutlinesthewaystoinfluencetheauthorities,in
particularbyholdingminers'protestsandassemblies.
DTEKdismissedthedocumentandsimultaneouslyaccusedDemchyshynofputting
pressureonthecompany.
PresidentPetroPoroshenkoinstructedlawenforcerstoinvestigatetheplanmade
publicbyNayem.Theheadofstatesaidhewouldnotallowoligarchstodestabilize
thesituationinUkraine.
Ukraine'ssecurityserviceopenscaseonfinancingofminers'protests
On24April2015,theSecurityServiceofUkraine(SBU)registeredacriminalcase
overfinancingofanattemptedseizureofpowerduetotheorganizationofminers'
protestson22-24April.
Itsaidthatithaddocumentedcriminals'attemptstousetheseprotestsasleverage
againsttheauthoritiesforthepurposeofitsfurtherdestabilizationandseizure.In
particular,ithasproofthattheperpetratorspaidandarrangedfortheprovocateurs'
arrivalinthecapitalandtheirparticipationintherallies.
TheSBUsummonedDTEKmanagersforinterviewsandusedthedocuments
publishedbyMPMustafaNayem.
UkrainianMPsaysAkhmetovsubjecttocaseonfinancingofterrorism
CriminalproceedingshavebeenopenedagainstUkrainianbusinessmanRinat
Akhmetovoverfinancingofterrorismandseparatism,PetroPoroshenkoBlocMP
YehorFirsovhassaid.
HeaddedthatAkhmetovhadalreadybeeninterviewedaboutthecasebythe
Prosecutor-General'sOffice.
Akhmetov'spressservicedeniedthisinformation.
HireddemonstratorsdemandKievmayor'sdismissal-media
ArallydemandingKievmayorVitaliyKlitschkotostepdownwasheldinKievon23
April2015.
Aftertheendoftherally,itsparticipantswerepaid80hryvnyas,or3.5dollars,the
newsandanalysiswebsiteLB.uahasquotedthemassaying.
AccordingtotheSecurityServiceofUkraine(SBU),therallywaspaidforbyformer
PrimeMinisterMykolaAzarov.
UkrainianpresidentsetsupcommissiontoselectcandidatestoSupreme
JusticeCouncil
On21April2015,UkrainianPresidentPetroPoroshenkosetupacommissionto
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shortlistcandidatestotheSupremeJusticeCouncil.
On25April,thelawyers'assemblyinKievtoselectmembersoftheSupreme
JusticeCouncilstartedwithouttheKievdelegationwhichwasblockedfrom
attendingbyunidentifiedindividuals.Thedelegateselectedtwooutofthree
representativesundertheirquota.TheseareAllaLeskoandPavlo
Hrechkovskyy.
Accordingtosomemediareports,theyareconnectedtotheleaderoftheproRussianNGOUkrainianChoice,ViktorMedvedchuk,andaformerdeputyhead
ofViktorYanukovych'spresidentialadministration,AndriyPortnov.
Inparticular,theSupremeJusticeCouncilisauthorizedtoappointanddismiss
judges.
CabinetannouncescompetitionforheadofUkraine'santicorruption
agency
On23April2015,theCabinetofMinistersofUkraineannouncedacompetition
toselectaheadoftheNationalAgencyforCorruptionPreventionwhichwillkeep
theregisterofofficials'incomeandspendingstatements.
Ukrainianparliamentpostponesentryintoforceoflawonprosecution
On21April2015,theUkrainianparliamentpostponedentryintoforceofthe
newlawonprosecutionuntil15July2015.Thelawshouldhaveenteredinto
forceon25April.
PetroPoroshenkoBlocfactionheadYuriyLutsenkoexplainedthatnotall
prosecutionbodiesarereadyfortheinnovations.
Parliamentpassedthelawon14October2014.Oneofitskeypointsisthatit
stripsprosecutionbodiesofthegeneralsupervisionfunction.
UkrainianparliamentexemptsdefenceproductsfromVAT,duties
On23April2015,theUkrainianparliamentexemptedfromtaxthespares
importedintothecountryfortheirfurtheruseduringthemanufacturingof
defenceproducts.
Ukrainianscientiststobepaidspecialpensionsagain
On21April2015,theUkrainianparliamentpassedalawre-entitlingscientiststo
specialpensionsiftheycontinuedintheirjobsuponreachingthepensionage.
Thedocumentseekstostoptheoutflowfromresearchinstitutionswhichstarted
afterthelawlimitingpensionswasadoptedinMarch.
ParliamentsetsupspecialcommissionondevelopmentofUkraine
On22April2015,parliamentsetupaspecialcommissiontaskedwithdesigning
astrategyfortheinnovativedevelopmentofUkraine.
ItwillbeheadedbySelf-HelpMPOleksiySkrypnykandhisdeputywillbe
unaffiliatedMPSerhiyTaruta.
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UkrainianparliamentamendslawbanningpropagandaofNazism,Communism
On23April2015,theUkrainianparliamentapprovedamendmentstothelaw
banningtheNaziandCommunistpropaganda.
Thelawwasamendedtoeliminatetheearlierrevealeddiscrepancies.Inparticular,
accordingtothenewwording,thebanonCommunistsymbolsdoesnotapplyto
documentsissuedbyauthoritiesandlocalgoverningbodiesbefore1991,original
armycolours,stateawardsandheadstones.
AuditChambertooverseebudgetreceipts
On24April2015,PresidentPetroPoroshenkosignedthelawauthorizingtheAudit
Chambertooverseestatebudgetreceiptsinadditiontoexpenditures.
Ukrainianpresidenttightenspunishmentformilitarycrimes
On23April2015,PresidentPetroPoroshenkosignedthelawtightening
punishmentformilitarycrimes.Thedocumentintroduceslongersentencesfor
bullying,violence,disciplineabuseandmisuseofarms.
ThesamedayPoroshenkosignedthelawreleasingstudents,post-graduateandPhD
studentsfrommobilizationservice.
Self-HelpMPgivesupseat
ASelf-Helpfactionmemberandthesecretaryofthecommitteeforveteransand
peoplewithdisabilities,AndriyMiroshnyk,hasannouncedthatheisgivinguphis
seatafterjournalistsmadepublicaseriesofhistextsdiscussingaleisuretourofthe
Maldivesworth234,000hryvnyas,or10,200dollars.
ItwasalsoreportedthatMPFedirNehoydecidedtoleavethePetroPoroshenkoBloc
faction.
Courtarreststhreeex-BerkuttroopsovershootingofMaydanactivists
On23April2015,theKievPecherskyydistrictcourtarrestedthreeformermember
oftheBerkutriotpolicesuspectedofshootingdownEuro-Maydanprotesterson
IndependenceSquareinFebruary2014.
Statereclaims43.5mdollarsworthoflandlostduringYanukovychrule
Theprosecutor'sofficesofKievandtheregion,Volyn,ZhytomyrandOdessaregions
havereturnedintostateownership1bnhryvnyas(43.5mdollars)worthoflandplots
appropriatedbyformerofficialsoftheViktorYanukovychgovernment,the
Prosecutor-General'sOfficesaidon22April2015.
Lawsuitswithregardtolandplotsworth8.2bnhryvnyas(357mdollars)arebeing
heardbycourts.
SonofformerDonetskregionalgovernoraccusedoffinancingseparatists
TheInteriorMinistryhasclampeddownonacrimeringheadedbyOleksiy
Blyznyuk,thesonofaformerPartyofRegionsMPandex-governorofDonetsk
Region,AnatoliyBlyznyuk,InteriorMinisterArsenAvakovsaidon23April2015.
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AccordingtoAvakov,forseveralmonthsnowpolicehavebeeninvestigatingtheillegal
saleofcoalextractedinLuhanskandDonetskregionsintheareasnotcontrolledbyKiev.
Courtacquitsex-PartyofRegionsmemberLandik
TheSvatovedistrictcourtofLuhanskRegionhascancelledtheverdictagainstRoman
Landik,whowasaccusedofbeatingMariyaKorshunova,andacquittedhim.
RomanisthesonofformerPartyofRegionsMPVolodymyrLandik.Thecourtissued
thisrulingbackon4Februaryhoweverittranspiredonlynow.Prosecutionappealedthe
ruling.
InJanuary2013,acourtgaveLandikasuspendedthree-yearsentence.
6.MEDIA
TVichannelgoesbackonair
TheTVchannelTVi,whichsuspendedbroadcastson23March,willgobackontheairas
of27April2015.
TheTVchannelexplainedthesuspensionwiththedifficulteconomicsituationinthe
stateandthefactthatitwassubsidized.
7.ECONOMY
IMFtosupportUkraineinrestructuringefforts
TheInternationalMonetaryFund(IMF)haswelcomedtheimplementationofreformsin
UkraineandwillfacilitatethecompletionofthenegotiationsbetweenUkraineandits
creditorsonrestructuringpartoftheformer'sdebt,theIMFhassaidinastatement.
Ukrainebeganthenegotiationsonrestructuringpartofitspublicdebtintheamountof
15.3bndollars(withthetotalnationaldebtstandingat70bndollars)inearlyMarch,
aftertheIMFapprovedanewprogrammeof17.52bndollars.
Bytheendoftheyear,Kievwillhavetopay5.2bndollarsonitsEurobondsand
municipalbonds,ifthecreditorsdonotagreetotherestructuring.
TheIMFmissionwillarriveinKievon29Maytoperformthefirstreviewofthe
ExtendedFundFacility(EFF)programme,followingwhichUkrainemayreceivethe
secondtrancheworth1.63bndollars.
EUdisburses250meurostoUkraine
TheEuropeanCommissionon21Aprilallocatedthelasttrancheof250meurosto
UkraineundertheMacro-FinancialAssistance(MFA)programmeworth610meuros.
ItshouldberecalledthattheEUadoptedanewmacro-financialaidprogrammeof1.8bn
euros.Thefundswillbeallocatedinthreetranchesof600meuroseach.Thefirsttranche
isexpectedinthecomingdays.
Ukrainetoraise2bndollarstorebuildDonbas,Poroshenkosays
Ukrainehasagreedraising2bndollarsofinternationalassistancetorebuildthe
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infrastructureinDonbas,PresidentPetroPoroshenkohassaid.
On28April,KievwillhostaninternationalconferenceinsupportofUkraine.
Parliamentapproves200m-euroloanagreementwithEIB
TheUkrainianparliamenton22AprilratifiedtheagreementbetweenUkraineand
theEuropeanInvestmentBank(EIB)ontheallocationofa200meurosloanto
Kiev.Theloanrepaymentperiodis20years.
ThefundingwillbeprovidedtoaddresstheneedsoftheDonbasareasaffectedby
thehostilitiesandtoimplementinfrastructureprojectsforinternallydisplaced
persons.
TheagreementwassignedinKievon22December2014byPrimeMinister
ArseniyYatsenyukandEIBVice-PresidentLaszloBaranyay.
USloanguaranteesforUkrainianEurobondstakeeffect
USloanguaranteesforthesecondtrancheofUkrainianEurobondsworth1bn
dollarscameintoforceon24April.
ItshouldbenotedthatUSVice-PresidentJosephBidenearliersaidthat
Washingtonwasreadytoprovidenew1bndollarloanguaranteestoKievin2015,
aswellasadditionalmilitarysupport.
Inaddition,thepoliticiansaidthattheUSAwillsendhumanitarianaidof17.7m
dollarsforUkraine'sinternallydisplacedpersons.
UkrainesignsroadmapwithOECD
Ukraine,representedbyEconomyMinisterAivarasAbromavicius,on22April
signedaroadmapfortheimplementationofthememorandumonstrengthening
cooperationwiththeOrganizationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment,
whichisalsoknownasthe“clubofrichnations”.
Ukraine'sforexreservesupto10bndollars
Ukrainehasmanagedtoincreaseitsinternationalreservesto10bndollarsowing
tothe4.9bndollarloandisbursedbytheInternationalMonetaryFundinMarch
2015,Ukraine'scentralbankhasreported.
Balanceofpaymentsdeficitexceeds300mdollarsinMarch
ThedeficitoftheconsolidatedbalanceofpaymentsinMarch2015amountedto
305mdollars,or101mdollarsmorethaninMarch2014,accordingtotheNational
BankofUkraine.
IndustrialrecessionslowsinMarch
Ukraine'sstatisticsagencyhasreportedthatindustrialproductioninMarch2015
contractedby21.1percentcomparedtoMarch2014.However,againstFebruary
2015,industrialoutputincreasedby9.6percent.
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Ukrainianbankspost3.5bndollarsinlosssinceyearstart
LossesinUkraine'sbankingsysteminthefirstquartertotalled80.9bnhryvnyas
(3.5bndollars),accordingtotheNationalBank.
PrivatizationtargetstobeevaluatedbyFrenchexperts-president
State-ownedenterprisesthatUkraineintendstoprivatizethisyearwillbereviewed
bytheFrenchexpertiseagency,UkrainianPresidentPetroPoroshenkosaidatajoint
pressconferencewithhisFrenchcounterpartFrancoisHollandeinParis.
Earlier,Ukraine'sEconomicDevelopmentMinisterAivarasAbromaviciusannounced
thedecisiontoprohibitRussianbusinessfromparticipatingintheprivatization.
AtlasjetpermittedtoperformcharterflightsfromLviv
Low-costairlineAtlasjetUkraine,asubsidiaryofTurkey'sAtlasGlobal,hasreceived
thegreenlighttoperformcharterflightsfromLvivtoBulgaria'sBurgas,Montenegro's
TivatandCroatia'sSplit,Ukraine'sstateairservicehasreported.
ItisalsoreportedthatUkraineon16AprilheldtalksinAshgabatwiththeTurkmen
airservice,duringwhichthesidesagreedtoresumedirectflightsbetweenKievand
Turkmenistan'scapitalfromMay,aswellastolaunchflightsfromTurkmenistanto
LvivandOdessa.
8.ENERGY
UkrainereceivesgastransitordersfromEUtraders
Thestate-runenergycompanyNaftohazUkrayinyanditssubsidiaryUkrtranshaz
havereceivedapplicationsfromEUnaturalgastradersforarranginggasflows
throughUkrainebetweenHungary,Poland,Bulgaria,GreeceandTurkey,buttheir
fulfilmentisimpededbytheanti-competitivebehaviourofRussia'sGazprom,
Naftohazhassaid.
Inaddition,theUkrainiancompanynotedthattheRussiangasmonopolyhindersthe
interconnectionofUkraine'andneighbouringEuropeancountries'energysystemsby
blockingvirtualreverse-flowgassuppliesbetweenUkraineandWesternpartners.
Atthesametime,NaftohazexpressedhopethattheEuropeanCommission'sfiling
antitrustchargesagainstGazpromwillunlocktheseissues.
Also,thegovernmentrequestedtheUkrainianantitrustagencytolaunchan
investigationagainstGazprom,which,accordingtothecabinet,harmstheUkrainian
economybyitsnon-competitiveactions.
GasimportsfromEuropereach61percentinfirstquarter
NaftohazUkrayiny,astate-runenergycompany,hasreportedthatnaturalgasimports
fromRussiainJanuary-March2015accountedfor39percentofthetotalgasimports
inUkraine,against74percentduringthesameperiodof2014.
Theother61percentofgasimportstoUkrainecamefromEuropeinthefirstquarter.
InJanuary-March2014,theshareofEuropeansupplieswasonly26percent.
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Currently,NaftohazimportsgasfromSlovakia,HungaryandPoland.Also,Ukraine
resumedgassupplynegotiationswithRomania.
TrilateralgroupnottodiscusspaymentsforDonbasgassupplies–minister
ThequestionofpaymentsforRussia'snaturalgassuppliestoDonbaswillbediscussed
beyondtheregulartripartitenegotiationsofUkraine,RussiaandtheEuropean
Commission,accordingtoUkrainianEnergyMinisterVolodymyrDemchyshyn.
Meanwhile,Gazpromsuggestedenteringintoaseparatecontractforthesupplyofgas
totheoccupiedterritories.However,NaftohazUkrayiny,astate-runenergycompany,
saidthattherewasnosenseindoingso.
Aswasreported,RussiawithoutconsentfromtheUkrainiansideissupplyinggasto
theDonbasterritoriesnotcontrolledbytheUkrainiangovernment.Inaddition,
GazpromexpectsthattheUkrainiansidewillpayforthegassuppliestotherebel-held
areas.AccordingtoRussia'sestimates,Naftohazowes174.2mdollarsforthegas
suppliedtothepro-Russianrebels.
Ukrainestopspayingelectricitybillsforrebel-heldpartsofDonbas
Startingfrom10April,Ukrainedoesnotmakepaymentsfortheelectricitythatcomes
fromRussiatotheDonbasterritoriesnotcontrolledbytheUkrainiangovernment,
EnergyMinisterVolodymyrDemchyshynhassaid.
HealsonotedthatUkrainecontrolledonly35of95coalminesinDonbas.
Presidentapprovescabinet'srighttoregulateelectricitymarketinATOarea
PresidentPetroPoroshenkoon24Aprilapprovedamendmentstothelawonelectric
powerindustryconcerningindustryregulationsintheantiterroristoperation(ATO)
zone.Earlier,theseamendmentswerepassedbytheUkrainianparliament.
ThenewchangesgranttheauthoritytotheUkrainiangovernmenttoestablishspecial
regulationsinthementionedterritories.
Ukrtransnafta'sheadreplacedagain
ThesupervisoryboardofUkrtransnafta,astate-runcompany,on22Aprilappointed
RomanSydorakasactingboardchairmanofthecompany.
SydorakisthethirdheadappointedinplaceofOleksandrLazorko,whoisaffiliated
withPrivatGroupofIhorKolomoyskyy.Earlier,YuriyMiroshnykandSerhiySukalo
werenotabletotakeuptheirdutiesduetotheinterferencefromKolomoyskyy.
Accordingtomediareports,thecompaniescontrolledbyKolomoyskyyinMarch-April
received120mhryvnyas(5.2mdollars)fromUkrtransnaftaforoilstorageservices.
NaftohazdeclinesUkrnafta'soffertooffsetdividendsagainstdebts
Thestate-runenergycompanyNaftohazUkrayinyhasrejectedtheproposalfrom
Ukrnafta,Ukraine'slargestoilcompany,tooffsetthe2011-13dividendsagainstthe
formercompany'sdebts,NaftohazCEOAndriyKobolevhassaid.
Accordingtohim,NaftohazisintalkswithPrivatGroupwithregardtochannelling
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thesefundstothestatebudgetincash.
Since2003,Ukrnafta,inwhichthegovernment(representedbyNaftohazUkrayiny)
owns50percent+oneshare,hasbeenrunbythemanagersaffiliatedwithPrivat
GroupofIhorKolomoyskyy.
EnerhoatomsignscontractforuraniumsuppliesfromFrance
Enerhoatom,thenationalnuclearpower-generatingcompany,andFrance'sAreva
havesignedacontractforthesupplyofenricheduraniumforUkrainiannuclear
powerplants.
Itshouldberecalledthatbefore2011,nuclearfuelforUkrainiannuclearpower
plantswassuppliedonlyfromRussia.Currently,severalnuclearpowerplants
receivefuelfromWestinghouseElectricCompany(USA).
UkrainehonoursmemoryofChernobyldisasterliquidators
Ukraineon26Aprilheldeventsmarkingthe29thanniversaryoftheChernobyl
disaster.
ItshouldbenotedthatcurrentlyUkraineiscompletingtheconstructionofa
confinement("Shelter"project)abovetheChernobylnuclearpowerplant.Itis
expectedthattheprojectwillbecompletedby30November2017.
Theconstructioncostis1.43bneuros.Ukraineneedstoraiseanother500meurosin
donorfunds.
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