How Ukrainians Turn Into Russians

In the past two decades, the number of people who identify themselves as Ukrainians and their share in Russia’s population has dropped in half.

Constrained Freedom: the Government is Cleansing the Information Space Prior to the Election

The closer the 2012 parliamentary election is, the more actively the government is curbing freedom of expression

Chairman of the PACE Socialist Group Andreas Gross: Kyiv May see Another Maidan

Andreas Gross criticized the actions of the Party of Regions, a political partner of the group he heads, in his interview with The Ukrainian Week

Davos and Cherry Varenyky

Attendees at the 2012 World Economic Forum in Davos primarily discussed the future of capitalism and a coming “great transformation.” Guests at Viktor Pinchuk’s “Ukrainian dinner” were told, unconvincingly, that Kyiv is on the right track.

Korolevska's Gambit

Will Natalia Korolevka’s ambitions work in favor of the ruling party?

In Search of a Scam for Two

The plans to decrease Ukraine’s dependence on Russian gas disclosed by Mr. Azarov’s Cabinet are still nothing more than a populist campaign. Thus, they look like yet another “mutually beneficial” deal with the Russian Federation

Energy Quasi-Empire

Some post-soviet republics have staunchly chosen to diversify their energy flows. As a result, they are successfully exiting the trap of energy dependence

What Impressed You Most in 2011?

Historians, diplomats, writers and musicians share their brightest memories of 2011 with The Ukrainian Week

French Accent

Alain Guillemoles talks about what the French don’t know about Gazprom and Ukrainians don’t realize about their own energy prospects

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Pipes

Russia’s gas talks with Ukraine are just a small element of its geopolitical game. The jackpot is control over energy supply to Europe

A Soft Wall

The Ukrainian government may lose its last allies in Europe with its intransigence on human rights and political repression

Agenda For The Opposition

The coming parliamentary election may be an incentive to change the situation in the country if the opposition manages to rise to higher-quality politics

The Family Holds the Reins

A recent reshuffle in the government reveals how much power Bankova Str. has concentrated in its hands

The Council of Europe Is Not Ready to Make Ultimatums

Although the conclusion of the PACE resolution on Ukraine contains a paragraph, which in principle allows the imposition of sanctions, none of the heads of this international organization are actually ready to define such possibility.

Political Retribution

"Tymoshenko case is more political than the Khodorkovsky case"

An Opinion Poll (Part II)

On 15 December 2011, the PACE Monitoring Committee unanimously approved the Draft Resolution titled The Functioning of Democratic Institutions in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Week has interviewed Ukrainian and European politicians to learn their opinion on the developments PACE finds disturbing in Ukraine

An Opinion Poll (Part I)

On 15 December 2011, the PACE Monitoring Committee unanimously approved the Draft Resolution titled The Functioning of Democratic Institutions in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Week has interviewed Ukrainian and European experts, lawyers and political analysts to learn their opinion on the developments PACE finds disturbing in Ukraine

Going Round In Circles

The Council of Europe reports look discouragingly similar

The Presumption of Guilt

Thomas Hammarberg, the Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, talks about his mission in Ukraine, the local judiciary system and the Tymoshenko case

Courtroom Drama

Valentyna Telychenko: "Dependent courts are a bigger problem for Ukraine than the imperfect Criminal Code"

Ukrainian Justice - Perception and Practice

Mikael Lyngbo: Ukraine has decent legislation,but gaps in procedural process

Potemkin and Kafka: Ukraine’s “New Method” For Fighting Corruption

Corruption is a big problem in Ukraine. The country's ranking on Transparency International's list of corrupt nations in 2010 dropped to number 134 in the world

The Importance of Values

Andres Herkel: 'The problem of Ukrainian politics consists of the perception that deputies' money is more important than their personal traits.'

Freedom House: We Will Continue To Tell the Truth

Freedom House President David Kramer: “It looks like Ukrainian leaders are using the judiciary to prosecute their opponents” *

The Need for an Internal Factor

The country in which tortures and inhuman jail conditions are of a norm could not negotiate on the Association Agreement

PACE is Concerned. What’s Next ?

The Draft PACE Resolution outlines the problems with democracy in Ukraine, but does not provide for any sanctions