Aragorn
12-01-2008, 10:02 PM
Ethnic group seeks autonomy in Ukraine
It is deceptively quiet in Zakarpatye, the most western region of Ukraine. The government is waiting to see if the Rusyns, an ethnic group which originates from the area, will declare independence from Ukraine. Although it would remain a part of Ukraine, legally it would be under completely new jurisdiction.
On October 25 the Second World Rusyn Congress declared it will seek the creation of an autonomous Rusyn state. A government for the future republic was also elected. The heads of world Rusyns put forward an ultimatum: the Ukrainian government could acknowledge the autonomy legally or if it doesn’t, the Rusyn separatists will put into effect the deed which declares the recreation of the Rusyn autonomy as it was set up in 1938. The separatists’ leaders say they do not need Kiev’s support to do so.
"We are not separatists, we are trying to achieve the status of a republic within Ukraine, it is our duty to our ancestors," the Rusyns' spiritual leader, Dmitriy Sidor, said during the congress.
Speaking to ITAR TASS on December 1, Sidor pointed out that the Rusyn government is set up and ready to begin its activities. He also noted that declaring independence is fully within the new government's jurisdiction. However, the priest pointed out that he cannot release the names of the new cabinet as this could create legal problems for its members.
The "Rusyn separatists" as they are officially called in Ukraine, claim they are actively persecuted. A case has been filed against them, as their calls to change the borders and the entity of the Ukrainian state has been deemed unconstitutional. Dmitriy Sidor said in his interview that he himself is often subject to police attention. Allegedly, he has to undergo interrogations practically every other day.
Sidor, however, doesn't see anything unconstitutional or controversial in his demands. He points out that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, 78% of Zakarpatye's population voted in favour of remaining within Ukraine, on condition that it is granted the status of a special autonomous republic. This, according to Sidor, would restore historical justice, as it would recreate the situation prior to World War II.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian National Academy of Science issued a statement on November 5, announcing that Rusyns do not exist as an independent ethnicity. According to the study, ethnographically and linguistically, they do not differ from Ukrainians sufficiently to be classified as a separate entity. Some conspiracy theories in Ukraine even suggest that the Rusyn independence movement was restarted from Moscow in the 1980s.
Anna Skripnik, the president of the International Association of Ukrainians says that the term "Rusyn" is in fact a common name that Ukrainians have given themselves since the 10th century. However, the Zakarpatye region was distant from other parts of Ukraine economically, culturally and politically, so the term remained in use longer. According to Skripnik, calls for independence are simply attempts to stir up regional tension within Ukraine's brittle political climate. Rusyns, she says, are no different from Ukrainians either ethnically or historically.
However, the separatist feeling within Zakarpatye has been the cause of many problems for some Ukrainian politicians. The Ukrainian Svoboda Party has filed several complaints against the Rusyns.
"Today the separatists from Zakarpatye, led by a priest from the Moscow patriarchy, put forward an ultimatum to the Ukrainian government. Tomorrow they could arm themselves with Russian passports and money from the Kremlin and re-enact the "Georgian scenario" in Ukraine," the party's statement read.
http://www.russiatoday.com/features/news/34083
It is deceptively quiet in Zakarpatye, the most western region of Ukraine. The government is waiting to see if the Rusyns, an ethnic group which originates from the area, will declare independence from Ukraine. Although it would remain a part of Ukraine, legally it would be under completely new jurisdiction.
On October 25 the Second World Rusyn Congress declared it will seek the creation of an autonomous Rusyn state. A government for the future republic was also elected. The heads of world Rusyns put forward an ultimatum: the Ukrainian government could acknowledge the autonomy legally or if it doesn’t, the Rusyn separatists will put into effect the deed which declares the recreation of the Rusyn autonomy as it was set up in 1938. The separatists’ leaders say they do not need Kiev’s support to do so.
"We are not separatists, we are trying to achieve the status of a republic within Ukraine, it is our duty to our ancestors," the Rusyns' spiritual leader, Dmitriy Sidor, said during the congress.
Speaking to ITAR TASS on December 1, Sidor pointed out that the Rusyn government is set up and ready to begin its activities. He also noted that declaring independence is fully within the new government's jurisdiction. However, the priest pointed out that he cannot release the names of the new cabinet as this could create legal problems for its members.
The "Rusyn separatists" as they are officially called in Ukraine, claim they are actively persecuted. A case has been filed against them, as their calls to change the borders and the entity of the Ukrainian state has been deemed unconstitutional. Dmitriy Sidor said in his interview that he himself is often subject to police attention. Allegedly, he has to undergo interrogations practically every other day.
Sidor, however, doesn't see anything unconstitutional or controversial in his demands. He points out that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, 78% of Zakarpatye's population voted in favour of remaining within Ukraine, on condition that it is granted the status of a special autonomous republic. This, according to Sidor, would restore historical justice, as it would recreate the situation prior to World War II.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian National Academy of Science issued a statement on November 5, announcing that Rusyns do not exist as an independent ethnicity. According to the study, ethnographically and linguistically, they do not differ from Ukrainians sufficiently to be classified as a separate entity. Some conspiracy theories in Ukraine even suggest that the Rusyn independence movement was restarted from Moscow in the 1980s.
Anna Skripnik, the president of the International Association of Ukrainians says that the term "Rusyn" is in fact a common name that Ukrainians have given themselves since the 10th century. However, the Zakarpatye region was distant from other parts of Ukraine economically, culturally and politically, so the term remained in use longer. According to Skripnik, calls for independence are simply attempts to stir up regional tension within Ukraine's brittle political climate. Rusyns, she says, are no different from Ukrainians either ethnically or historically.
However, the separatist feeling within Zakarpatye has been the cause of many problems for some Ukrainian politicians. The Ukrainian Svoboda Party has filed several complaints against the Rusyns.
"Today the separatists from Zakarpatye, led by a priest from the Moscow patriarchy, put forward an ultimatum to the Ukrainian government. Tomorrow they could arm themselves with Russian passports and money from the Kremlin and re-enact the "Georgian scenario" in Ukraine," the party's statement read.
http://www.russiatoday.com/features/news/34083