Ukraine on The Huffington Post

Ukrainian Grandmother Abandoned In Denver Airport After Having A Stroke

2009-11-25T13:10:42Z

DENVER -- A 76-year-old grandmother who had flown from Kiev to Denver was found by her family, sitting alone in a wheelchair, next to a baggage carousel at Denver International Airport. The elderly woman's family said she had suffered a stroke and was abandoned.

Lee Schneider: Ayurveda

2009-11-24T10:51:25Z

Last week I came down with an ear infection. Fixing it took me to India and to Ukraine. But first, I had to go to a specialist in Santa Monica.

He used a microscope to have a look. Then he inserted a vacuum hose and hit the switch. If you can't deal with medical details, go watch Access Hollywood for a while. This will be over in another four hundred and something words.

What did that vacuum cleaner pull out of my ear? A hockey puck. A donkey. A kitchen sink. That's what it felt like, anyway. The ear is a great environment for bacteria, fungus and other friends. Unluckily, a few set up shop in mine. Luckily, some anti-fungal powder evicted them.

Too much information? Let's move on.

Last year in India, my wife Tabby came down with a stomach bug and got weaker and weaker. We traveled up mountain roads to the foothills of the Himalayas, where we located the man who could help us. His name is Dr. Sreenarayanan Cheruvally. We called him Dr. Sree.

A practitioner of the Ayurvedic method, Dr. Sree asked questions about Tabby's eating and sleeping habits, her emotional states and personal history. Then he brought on the antibiotics. I liked his combination of East and West: recognizing the healing power of energy, but not messing around.

Dr. Sree visited Tabby two or three times a day. When Tabby was dehydrated he had the kitchen prepare a drink to restore electrolytes. He arranged for a hotel room on a higher floor so that Tabby had more light and an optimism-inducing view of the Himalayas. I was amazed at his gentle, caring attitude.

Since this week I was dealing with my own malady, it seemed appropriate to videoconference with Dr. Sree. He's in Ukraine now, where he has a year-long contract to treat cancer patients at the Lissod Hospital using Ayurveda and also Reiki.

He told me he looks at the doshas, the basic qualities of a person, and tries to bring them into balance. "We consider water quality, air quality. In winter, for example, we recommend you only drink warm water. We recommend higher food consumption in winter, and more consumption of oil. Each climate, each season affects these doshas," said Dr. Sree.

Why did he ask how often Tabby dreamed and what time of day she took meals? "We have to find out which of the body components are dominant," he said. "It is connected to the physical, mental and emotional status of a person. So we have to ask some questions connected with that concept. The higher level is that of pulsation."

Pulsulation, he explained, is part of the traditional practice of Ayurveda. "It's a born practice, we cannot study it in a book," he said. "We are counting the frequencies and the moments of the pulse. And the vibration -- internally it's like a vibration. If you are experienced, if you touch the hand automatically that feeling will come."

To become an Ayurvedic doctor takes a minimum of five years of study and then the student must work with eminent practitioners who do pulsation therapy. "Only then it is possible to become a healing doctor," Dr. Sree told me.

Any advice for stressed out Americans? "People go to sleep late and wake late. That's the opposite of the Ayurvedic principal. And of course, the timing of the food. We take a meal three times a day. A light dinner, heavy lunch is better. But normally, people do the opposite."

Dr. Sree practices with a combination of East and West. It worked for us -- and still does. A medical intuitive like Louise Hay or Dr. Mona Lisa Schulz might suggest that my ear gave me trouble because I didn't want to listen to things that were being said to me. I'm willing to consider that, but I am grateful for that vacuum cleaner. Without it, I don't think I would have gotten rid of that donkey kicking my eardrum.

Alexia Parks: Even the Taliban Supports Local Radio

2009-11-16T18:30:02Z

David Hoffman's InterNews, a $35 million organization which has helped support the development of 4,800 news outlets in 30 countries, has just opened its 42nd radio station in Afghanistan, and over lunch, Hoffman had an interesting story to tell. It was about the response from the Taliban to this form of public diplomacy.

Shortly after the station started reporting local news, says Hoffman, it received a phone call from a very polite member of the Taliban. "Could you please take the little jingle off the air?" the caller asked. "I want to listen to the news, but it starts with a jingle, and we're not allowed to listen to music." The Taliban could burn us down, says Hoffman, but they don't, because we provide an important function in Afghanistan.

In that country, as in other parts of the world where Internews has news outlets, local news trumps national news, especially in an emergency. To get started, local staff receives training in the science of program production along with broadcast equipment. They then are free to write and report on whatever they want.

Each year, Internews trains about 5,000 women in news media production and reporting. Women are an especially important target, notes Hoffman, because when you educate women, they report on what is important to them. It transforms their lives and the communities in which they live.

Today, most of the world lives in information poverty. With the rapid rise of cell phone technology and information equity, he says, the world will transform. Already 50% of people living in the developing world now have a cell phone. In less than five years, everyone will have one. Text messages sent to women micro-entrepreneurs can keep them educated.

Years ago, when Internews first launched its media training service, it sent six people to the Soviet Union. Their mission was to identify 200 people who were interested in receiving professional media training. Today, the organization hosts 600 TV stations across the country with 400 staff located in Moscow. In the Ukraine, they launched the country's first news agency, first print newspaper, and first TV and radio stations.

Currently, the organization is sending 70 reporters from around the world to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen. In 2007, they sent 40 reporters to the UN's conference in Bali after learning that news about climate change was not making it into the local news media in their countries.

"Today," smiles Hoffman, "you can subscribe to our media feed and receive stories from around the world. They're not all in English, of course, but if you know how to read Chinese, Russian, Farsi or any of the other languages spoken by these reporters, you can follow firsthand, the transformation taking place around the world."

Ukraine Closes All Schools To Fight Swine Flu

2009-11-02T14:43:40Z

KIEV, Ukraine — Urging its citizens not to panic, Ukraine on Monday closed the nation's schools for a week to avoid the spread of swine flu and suggested that nightclubs, cinemas and food markets in the west also shut down.

The World Health Organization said Monday there was no evidence that Ukraine had a bad outbreak of swine flu but at the government's request it had sent a health team there to help the country cope.

Tove Hermanson: A Daringly Stylish Politician!

2009-10-15T15:10:21Z

I am embarrassed to say I failed the now vintage Huffington Post test on guessing who Yulia Tymoshenko is when presented with a collection of photos of her. For all you fellow dunces, she is the Prime Minister of the Ukraine-- and the first female Prime Minister the Ukraine has had. (My ignorance was especially embarrassing to me because my sister in-law is from neighboring Moldova and I like to pretend that I know what's going on in that part of the world). She has made the (some say suspect) switch from millionaire oligarch to revolution leader and has ranked as one of the most powerful women in the world by Forbes twice.

What made the online identification game so challenging is that the accomplished Yulia is an interesting -- even daring -- dresser. If you scroll through the photo gallery, you'll see Ms. Tymoshenko accompanying everyone from Vladimir Putin to Viktor Zubkov to a "British heavy metal singer" Sean Carr, and in what clothes! Some choice selections below.

Doesn't she look like a fierce 16th century warrior princess?? But with sleek 3/4 length skirt (that hugs her curves beautifully, I might add).

Yulia Tymoshenko & Vladimir Putin:

"Portrait of a Married Woman" by Anthonis Mor, 1554:

And how sporty is she in her NASCAR-esque turtleneck? The distinctly unsubtle word "revolution" running the length of her arms like DO NOT CROSS police tape is, I assume, reference to her leadership of the Orange Revolution during which, Wikipedia tells me, she was dubbed the "Joan of Arc of the Revolution." Like a racecar driver, she is advertising her "sponsor" the Orange Revolution in her attire.

Yulia Tymoshenko in Kiev on 12/26/04:

NASCAR driver Tony Stewart sporting his (coincidentally orange) sponsor's logo:
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I love this one -- the close fitting beige gives the shocking illusion of nudity, her breasts barely contained by the skimpy bustier portion. And yet in cut it's quite conservative, with every inch of her covered by the turtleneck and pleated skirt. As a side note, I favor a similar style in my own life -- both the body hugging-but-covering-naughty-bits-drapery... and also bustiers. ;-)

Yulia Tymoshenko at EU headquarters, 1/28/07:

First, I have to comment on how goddamn adorable Yulia looks here. She smiles with abandon, looking sincere and actually happy, a sentiment that is not always carried off by smiling politicians who often look false, strained, or smarmy. Clearly the woman loves rockin' the uni-color ensemble, which -- again -- I'm fond of. The poofy bicep bells offer some frivolity in an otherwise austere white sweater-turtleneck combo. The brooch also reminds me of 16th century jewelry -- pearls were a favorite gem of both Elizabeth I and Henry VIII, who had many garments with them sewn in the cloth (and even in Elizabeth's hair).

Yulia Tymoshenko on 9/26/08:

Elizabeth I:

The woman knows what she likes -- and she likes high collars that are simultaneously severe and decorative. Yulia returns to 16th century fashions, very much in the male "Spanish style" -- that is, mostly black -- like Philip II of Spain (1527 - 1598).

Yulia Tymoshenko c. 2006:

Philip II of Spain:

She is unquestionably feminine with her up-do and her penchant for figure hugging clothes, but the embellishments Yulia favors are almost always masculine (if dated ideals of masculinity, such as ruffled shirts), externalizing what must be a daily struggle: being a female politician in the male dominated world of politics. The ruffled shirt has most recently been a Victorian trend (big surprise with Yulia!), but has earlier roots in 18th century menswear.

Yulia Tymoshenko during Orange Revolution corruption scandal:

"Portrait of a Victorian Woman in White" by William de Leftwich Dodge, 1891:

portrait by Alexis N. S. Belle, 18th century:

And here again, Yulia plays with conservative, traditional dress motifs. The lace -- a fabric with a strong luxury tradition but a current association perhaps more of old ladies -- is here turned from a subtle embellishment to grand statement motif. The rest of the outfit tempers the tattoo-like boldness of the lace with its neutral gray 3/4 length suit-like fit, paired with the familiar high, prim neckline, and feminine bubble sleeves. This outfit was aptly deemed "strict but sexy" by the Komsomolska Pravda newspaper.

Yulia Tymoshenko on 2/4/06, when she received the record number of votes as the prime minister:

Ms. Tymoshenko proves that you can be taken seriously as a political figure (I write this without intricate knowledge of her policies, but I'm assuming enough took her seriously to get her elected) in creative dress. I love that she incorporates the traditional folksy milkmaid plaited braid, juxtaposed with her otherwise very modern sartorial sensibility, with nods to history. Supposedly her coiffure was an homage to Lesya Ukrainka, one of the Ukraine's foremost poets from the late 19th, early 20th centuries.

I enjoy the way she embraces the presentation of her femininity too, with her figure hugging clothes and stylized long hair (a far cry from the chopped Hilary Clintons and Nancy Pelosis); one could argue that Yulia's interest in fashion in and of itself is an unapologetic display of a passion typically associated with women, which she clearly revels in. I am heartened to have my belief confirmed that having fun with one's wardrobe does not automatically make a woman frivolous, as many still think (none who read my blog!). I'd like to see the general public associate creative dress with generally active, creative problem-solving minds, banishing the stigma of artsy flakiness or intimidating unconventionality that daring personal style still carries.

David Paul: Shifting Gears on Missile Defense Marks a Shift in U.S. Policy Toward Russia, with Immediate Impact on Iran

2009-09-27T09:00:39Z

It is not clear how foreign policy strategy is being set in the Obama administration. But the execution has the appearances of a well-considered and tightly orchestrated dance. And when the music stopped this week, standing together on the stage, united in common purpose, were the Big Four of wars gone by -- the U.S., Great Britain, France and Russia.

The surprise this week was not the disclosure of a second, secret Iranian uranium enrichment site. Nor the ensuing condemnation and threats of collective action. What was surprising was the distinct voices that were heard. It was French President Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Brown whose declarations were strongest, with Russian President Medvedev joining shortly thereafter. Finally, an American president was able to speak a bit more softly -- and by the demonstration of common purpose suggest a bit more stick on behalf of the international community.

For the first time in a while, Iranian President Ahmadinejad seemed caught off guard. His normal swagger was muted, perhaps with the realization that his days of manipulating Russia against the West have ended. More perhaps with cold fear that it was he that was manipulated by Russia, and that his miscalculations may weaken him considerably in his battles to retain power at home.

Perhaps American foreign policy is coalescing around some basic realities of the world. There are real threats out there, and we do not have the capacity to fight them alone. The unilateralism of the past decade was defined less by our determination to go it alone into war than by the belief that we could fight all battles and recast all nations in our own image. Almost without exception -- perhaps China, as our lead banker, was the exception -- we demanded fealty to our image of democratic progress from all of our antagonists.

But when you are fighting on all fronts, your ability to build enduring coalitions on any one of them is diminished. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has long articulated this view. Yes, as he has suggested for the better part of a decade, Russia and the United States have more issues that unite them than divide them. And yes, when presented with the top five issues of concern facing the U.S. in the international arena -- perhaps including among them Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Islamic fundamentalism, drug trafficking and nuclear proliferation -- Russia was a potentially valuable ally in all of them.

But the problem was that Russia had their own top five list, and Lavrov has long complained that if there was to be a partnership, it could not be one-sided. Russia's concerns had to matter as well. Yes, Russia was prepared to be an ally in the Global War on Terror, but the Russian list had to be on the table. And they had a different list. Chechnya. Georgia. NATO. Missile defense. Encirclement. Status.

Russia's list was fundamental to the continued integrity of the Russian nation. Russians may be paranoid, but the simple fact is that people are out to get them. U.S. official policy has been and continues to be one of encirclement, while many prominent voices go well beyond that -- most notably Carter-era National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski -- and argue that U.S. policy should be the dismemberment of the Russian state.

The dismemberment of the Russian state is not so far fetched. Before the fall of the Soviet empire, the Soviet Union claimed a population of nearly 300 million people. Today, Russia is a nation of just over 140 million, and it is shrinking rapidly. With low birth rates, high infant mortality, short life expectancy, and minimal immigration, by mid-century Russia's population is projected to decline by more than 20 percent, to approximately 110 million.

The prospect of Chechen independence -- and the demands for independence that would likely ensue from other minority groups should Chechnya succeed -- further threatened the future of Russia. This fear explained in large measure Russia's vociferous objection to NATO's declaration of independence for Kosovo, and Russia's steadfast claim that the international community can only grant nationhood through the legal powers granted to the United Nations.

Russia's intransigence in dealings with the United States is rooted in its defense of national self-interest. For several years, Putin and Medvedev have been intent in their actions in international affairs -- from supporting Iran to instigating the Ukrainian natural gas crisis -- to force the United States to deal with them and their issues.

U.S. actions over the past nine months indicate that U.S. policy has evolved, and that we may finally be paying attention. The nuance is the distinction between what we say and what we do. The Bush administration talked about partnership and an alignment of interests, but took every opportunity to dismiss Russian concerns on the ground.

Now, the process seems to have been inverted. Vice President Biden -- an early and vociferous backer of the Kosovo action that was so objectionable to Russia -- has emerged as the voice of American support for the process of democratization and continued support for Ukraine and Georgia.

But Putin and Medvedev are realists, less moved by words than action. At the same time as Biden was talking the talk, the administration was walking a different path. During the early months of the administration, Russia threatened U.S. resupply routes into Afghanistan, and U.S. access to a key air base in Kyrgyzstan. One can imagine at that moment that the administration looked down the road at the real threats that loomed, and took a hard look at the facts on the ground. One can imagine that at that moment, they weighed the real impact on the ability of the U.S. to pursue its strategic goals and determined that Russia was -- as Lavrov long suggested -- better to have as an ally than face as an obstacle and an adversary.

It really was never a question. After all, for all the rhetoric -- whether from Biden, Bush or Cheney -- about U.S. support for Georgia or a common defense of Ukraine -- neither we nor our European allies have had or likely would ever have the willingness to go to war with Russia in their Near Abroad. Our actions may have been designed to tweak them and continue the great game wherever possible, but never with the intention of real escalation.

One question this week has been how long ago did the U.S. learn of Iran's second enrichment facility. Was it many months ago, and were the strategic moves to bring ourselves closer to an effective alliance with Russia -- such as shifting our policy on strategic missile defense in Poland -- in preparation for this next phase of the confrontation with the Iranian regime? Or was it simply fortuitous that the steps had been taken, and the groundwork had been laid that would allow Russia and the U.S. to stand together against a common threat?

Perhaps it doesn't matter. But it does matter that our foreign policy may be built less on rhetoric, and more on our capacity to build effective alliances against real, and common, threats.

Elton John Deemed Too Old, Too Gay To Adopt HIV Positive Ukrainian Boy

2009-09-14T10:00:33Z

KIEV, Ukraine — Elton John won't be able to adopt a 14-month-old HIV-positive child from Ukraine because the pop star is too old and isn't married, the government said Monday.

Adoption and gay rights advocates expressed regret about the determination by Family, Youth and Sports Minister Yuriy Pavlenko, while a children's charity had reservations about John's weekend announcement that he and his male partner, David Furnish, wanted to adopt the boy.

Elton John Wants To Adopt Ukrainian Toddler Lev

2009-09-13T08:31:14Z

LONDON — Look out, Madonna and Angelina Jolie – pop star Elton John has decided he wants to join the ranks of A-list celebrities with adopted children.

But it's not clear if John, 62, will be able to adopt, and the Rocket Man star has not yet started formal proceedings, which are often long and complicated.

Doug Bandow: Pres. Obama: Time for Washington to Do Less Abroad

2009-09-08T04:21:31Z

President Barack Obama was elected proposing to do what most every other modern presidential candidate proposes doing: more.

His international agenda involves the standard litany. The U.S. must strengthen alliances, browbeat adversaries, resolve crises, ameliorate conflicts, protect friends, negotiate agreements, deter wars, combat disease, promote prosperity, and more.

The normal result is an agenda without end -- and almost as long a list of failures. Presidents leave office having suffered multiple frustrations, broken numerous promises, proposed extraordinary outlays, and caused occasional wars.

President Obama seems set to repeat the pattern, unless he learns from his predecessors. The answer is simple, though counterintuitive: do less.

Barack Obama entered office with an ambitious foreign policy. He was aided by the positive international response to his election. No one could deny that he was different from his unpopular, confrontational predecessor. For the first time in years, there was widespread optimism around the globe about an American administration.

However, the president has quickly learned the limitations facing even the world's most powerful nation. Again and again, Washington has failed to achieve its objectives. In some instances the results are delayed or the costs are inflated. In other cases success appears unlikely or well-nigh impossible.

Perhaps the administration's highest current priority is Afghanistan. Yet the military situation continues to deteriorate, with combat commanders requesting more troops. Air strikes continue to cost civilian lives and undercut popular backing for the allied cause. Attacking the expansive drug trade risks increasing support for insurgents. The Karzai government's credibility, already at low ebb due to corruption and incompetence, fell even further with the recent fraud-ridden election. President Obama has been in office for less than eight months and already he appears to be channeling Lyndon Johnson in Vietnam.

The endgame in Iraq appears increasingly likely to be a stalemate at best. Violence remains distressingly high: the latest spate of bombings underlies the weaknesses of the security forces, limits on political reconciliation, and dangers for the future. Baghdad is unlikely to be either a liberal democracy or an American ally. There isn't much for the Obama administration to do but draw down U.S. forces and watch the denouement.

One of the president's most dramatic breaks with the Bush administration was a willingness to talk to America's adversaries. Yet the wheels came off the Barack express with the fraudulent Iranian election and ensuing popular protests. Unsure whether criticism or silence was more prudent, the administration looked ineffective and confused. While engagement remains possible -- and, frankly, essential -- Washington has found it hard to negotiate with an Iranian government that so recently was breaking demonstrators' heads in the streets and even now is conducting Stalinesque show trials in its courtrooms.

North Korea wasn't even supposed to be on the administration's early agenda. But "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il had other ideas, testing a nuclear weapon, shooting off missiles, and arresting two U.S. journalists. Pyongyang now is proposing negotiation, leaving President Obama, who sharply criticized his predecessor's intransigence, to appear to put procedure before principle in refusing to engage outside of the so-called Six-Party Talks. Yet it isn't clear that negotiation in any setting would be more effective under this administration than the last one.

To his credit, the president is determined to reset relations with Russia. However, talking sweetly has had only limited practical impact on Moscow's attitudes since Washington continues to proclaim its support for NATO membership for Georgia and Ukraine. Yet the administration's best efforts to promote more responsible governance in those two states, including a visit by Vice President Joe Biden, have had equally little effect. Georgia's Mikheil Saakashvili seems chastened neither by his military defeat last year nor growing political unrest at home; politics in Kiev retains its soap opera-like quality as America's favorite, President Viktor Yushchenko, blunders his way towards likely defeat in next year's election.

Europe should be an area of expanded cooperation, given President Obama's popularity throughout much of the continent. However, as part of the European Union the Europeans failed to follow his advice to engage in an American-style spending orgy in the name of stimulating the economy. As part of NATO the Europeans affirmed the importance of Afghanistan but refused to commit substantially more troops or resources; to the contrary, even the British now are talking about drawing down their forces. An international film version of American Alone appears to be in the offing.

Washington continues to push its stalled project for an independent Kosovo, with the half-recognized state divided by the unrecognized secession of ethnic Serbs in its north. Stubborn controversies between Macedonia and Greece and surrounding Cyprus have grown no less stubborn over the last eight months. After having embraced participation in America's missile defense project, Poland has been estranged by the administration's plan to drop the system.

The U.S. has had no more success winning cooperation from Israel, a nation which has received largely unconditional support in the form of money, weapons, and political backing for decades. Insistence on a freeze in settlement expansion, one of the most serious barriers to peace between Israelis and Palestinians, has been met with shock, hostility, and scorn. Along with the demand to keep writing the blank checks, if you please.

The administration has brought its power and prestige to bear on little Honduras and yet has been unable to force Tegucigalpa to restore Manuel Zelaya to the presidency. President Obama risks going from the sublime to the ridiculous by threatening not to recognize the results of the upcoming, regularly scheduled election which would replace Zelaya even if he was reinstated. The administration appears to be intent on destroying democracy to save it.

It is still early, but the incoming foreign policy team has not been able to turn a friendlier attitude towards Caracas into any relaxation of Hugo Chavez's tightening restrictions on opposition activity. A new and long overdue American openness to dialogue with Cuba has not accelerated reform in that impoverished, oppressed land.

China and India are no more willing today to slow their economies to reduce CO2 emissions at American insistence than when George W. Bush was president. The Japanese election result is likely to reduce Tokyo's readiness to underwrite U.S. geopolitical priorities. Egypt's politics remains as corrupt and authoritarian as ever, despite President Obama's high-profile visit and speech.

In short, the world has turned out to be a lot less malleable and willing to adjust to American preferences than the president may have thought before taking office.

The administration could continue muddling along like most of its predecessors. Just not creating any new policy disasters would be a welcome change from President George W. Bush, who bungled an unnecessary war in Iraq, oversaw North Korea's move towards full nuclear status, and damaged relations with both Europe and Russia. Heck of job, George!

Another option is more intensive intervention. More troops for Afghanistan, more lecturing of Georgia and Ukraine, more pressure on Israel, more threats against Honduras, more sanctions on Iran, more recalcitrance with North Korea, more pleas to Russia, more advice for Iraq. Unfortunately, most of these won't work, and their collective cost is likely to be far higher than the benefits of one or another isolated success.

The better choice would be to do less. Involvement in some issues obviously is inescapable: the U.S. is heavily engaged in Afghanistan, for instance. However, Washington should moderate its objectives. The goal of ousting and weakening al-Qaeda has been achieved. Bringing good governance to Kabul, making Afghanistan drug free, and spreading American culture to Pashtuns, whatever their value, are not worth war. Washington should be working to escape, not escalate.

Expanding NATO into the Caucasus and further along Russia's border reduces rather than increases U.S. security. Washington has no reason to meddle in Honduras' political imbroglio. Rather than badger Israel over its policies, the U.S. should cut official support for the Israeli government and step back from the conflict. Kosovo was never an important concern warranting meddling let alone war. And so on.

World War II and the Cold War turned the American republic into a quasi-empire, engaged in constant intervention and war. The demise of hegemonic communism and rise of populous and prosperous democratic states in Asia and Europe allow the U.S. to return to a more traditional role. President Obama should seize the opportunity and initiate real change in U.S. foreign policy.

The president will suffer the usual failures of his predecessors if he continues to attempt to micro-manage global affairs. To leave a positive legacy, he should move in the other direction, returning America to, in Jeane Kirkpatrick's words, the status of "a normal country in a normal time."

Diane Tucker: Freed Academic Haleh Esfandiari: 'Iranians Want Evolution, Not Revolution'

2009-08-26T13:48:07Z

Renowned journalist and academic Haleh Esfandiari used to fly from Washington, D.C., to Tehran every Christmas to visit her elderly mother. This pleasant routine changed dramatically in 2007 when Esfandiari was arrested and charged with plotting to overthrow the Iranian government, with a little help from the United States. The soft-spoken intellectual (and grandmother of two) spent months in Evin Prison, sleeping on the floor and enduring harrowing interrogations, until an international outcry hastened her release.

Yesterday I spoke with Esfandiari at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where she is the director of the Middle East Program.

At 67 years of age, you were put in solitary confinement in a Tehran prison. The physical stress was horrendous. I'm curious about the mental stress -- was your age a plus or a minus?

Haleh Esfandiari: It was a plus, because whenever I thought about my wonderful life and family and friends, I knew I had already experienced everything a person could wish for. I had a wonderful childhood in Iran. I enjoyed going to college in Austria. I was successful, I think, in my career. So I thought, "If worse comes to worse, and I am sentenced to life in prison...so what? I have had a beautiful life."

Even so, sometimes you daydreamed about being rescued by your husband, Shaul. When he accompanied the rest of your family on a vacation to Kennebunkport without you, did you feel abandoned?

I begged my family to go to Maine. We had planned this vacation together. I told them that if they really loved me, they would honor my wish. My husband, who is Jewish, couldn't come to Iran anyway. The authorities would have arrested him at the airport, and made a showcase out of both of us.

Tell me about the day you received a single white rose in prison.

One morning, one of the female guards walked into my cell, still wearing her veil. From underneath the veil, she pulled out a white rose and silently handed it to me. I was fighting back tears.

You're fighting back tears now.

Yes, just remembering her moving gesture....it really was amazing. I love flowers. I put the rose in a paper cup along with a leaf I had found on the prison grounds. When the rose faded, I placed it between the pages of the one book I had in my cell.

Iranian women once enjoyed so much more freedom than they do today, it's no wonder they poured into the streets to protest the election results. But weren't these women taking a huge risk?

When the Islamic Revolution took place 30 years ago, the new government suspended the Family Protection Law -- the pillar of women's rights. This law covered the age of marriage, the right to seek a divorce, the right to work, and so on. When it was suspended, men once again could take as many wives as they wanted, could take away the children in case of divorce, could stop women from leaving the house. At that moment -- the moment their rights were taken away -- Iranian women started protesting, and they have been a major force ever since. The movement culminated three years ago with the launch of the One Million Signatures Campaign. Some of the campaigners had been jailed, but not deterred.

More than 100 post-election protesters have been arrested for plotting to overthrow the regime -- the same bogus charge you faced. In your case, a tsunami of high-level international support hastened your release. Without global intervention, what will happen to these jailed demonstrators?

I'm very worried about them. I'm especially concerned about Kian Tajbakhsh, the Iranian-American who was in jail with me two years ago. Kian was freed a month after I was, but he opted to stay in Iran. For some reason the authorities have decided to go after him again. As far as I know, Kian has kept a low profile. They must be rehashing old charges, which is a worrisome development.

A number of the more than 100 people who are being put on trial are elite members of the Islamic Republic. They don't want to overthrow the regime, only to open up the system. I hope there will be serious international condemnation of this show trial. I hope the European Union will protest as a bloc.

Many Iranian expatriates would love to speak out against the mass trial, but they're afraid of endangering family and friends back home.

They can convey their fears, unhappiness, and concerns to their congressmen. Luckily, Iranians have representatives in Congress so our voices can be heard. At least, we hope our voices are heard.

In your beautifully written memoir, you said that two decades of authoritarian rule have turned a generation of students into outright revolutionaries. How convinced are you that the Green Wave is home grown, and not the work of foreign agents?

I'm 100 percent convinced the Green movement is home grown. First of all, it was an accidental movement. Mousavi was campaigning in the provinces when a young man came and put a green shawl around his neck. Mousavi thought the effect was beautiful, so he started wearing green, then his wife started wearing green, pretty soon everyone was wearing green. I truly don't believe this was a color revolution like the rose revolution of Georgia, or the orange revolution of Ukraine. This was a grassroots movement for one purpose only when it started -- to support Mousavi and get him elected the next president of Iran.

Yes, the Bush Administration allocated millions of dollars to promote democracy in Iran, but that effort failed. The people of Iran were upset about the money because they wanted change from within.

Students in Iran are surprisingly quiet right now.

They're scared. A mass trial will do that.

Every two or three years, there has been a wave of protests like this in Iran. But this time I think there has been a fundamental change. I don't know how the government is going to gain back its credibility. I'm stunned by the mass trial, which will hurt the regime more than they think it will.

In prison you wrote a children's book to keep from losing your mind. Tell me about the plot.

I wrote the book in my head, because I had no paper in my cell. It's the story of a fairy princess who was born in a castle, where she lives a beautiful life. Then one day she becomes lost in the woods, and stumbles upon many different animals. In the story, I describe her encounter with each animal. Her mother is a fairy, too, and a wonderful woman who watches over the princess throughout her journey. The story ends when the princess arrives back at the castle, bringing all of the animals with her. She puts them in a boat that looks a little like Noah's Ark, which she floats on a lake near the castle.

It was very soothing for me to write this story, because I could imagine telling it to my two granddaughters one day. This mental image kept me going.

After everything you've been through, do you still love Iran?

Yes, I love the mountains...the sea...the blue sky. I love my Iranian family. I love the Iranian people. Every country has good and evil people -- it's impossible to get through life without stumbling over evil people.

I wrote a book about my experience because I believe I would not have been arrested -- and the demonstrators would not be facing trial -- if the United States and Iran had diplomatic relations. It will be difficult to start this process now, because of recent developments. The Ahmadinejad regime does not have legitimacy inside Iran and as a result, they may feel too weak and vulnerable to sit at the negotiating table at this time.

Haleh at age six, wearing her first piece of "real" jewelry -- a brooch from her mother.

* * *

Haleh Esfandiari's memoir of her months spent in solitary confinement in Tehran's Evin Prison is called My Prison, My Home. It will be published on September 1st.

Diane Tucker's other posts on the situation in Iran can be read here, here, here, here, and here.

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Kseniya Simonova's Amazing Sand Drawing (VIDEO)

2009-08-13T13:26:10Z

Kseniya Simonova is a Ukrainian artist who just won Ukraine's version of "America's Got Talent." She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret Germany's invasion and occupation of Ukraine during WWII.

For more on the artist, read this Guardian profile.

WATCH:

Robert Amsterdam: Russia Huffs and Puffs as the House Comes Down

2009-08-12T18:11:04Z

It really is impressive the level of tolerance we've built up when it comes to Russia's confrontational antics. Take for example the move in early August to deploy two Akula II-class nuclear attack submarines off the East Coast of the United States. The Pentagon quickly discarded any potential threat from the stunt, which was only slightly more diplomatic than the response to the resumption of bomber patrols: "If Russia feels as though they want to take some of these old aircraft out of mothballs and get them flying again, that's their decision," a State Department rep quipped back in 2007.

It's the same story with the Europeans. At the end of the G8 Summit, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev resurrected his threat to place Iskander missiles in the Kaliningrad enclave, shortly followed by Ukrainian police stopping a Russian military convoy hauling missiles around Sevastopol streets. What can they do but shrug before this kind of behavior? Back in 2008 the Polish Defense Minister politely pointed out how often these threats come from Moscow: "Of course we don't like it when the Russian president or Russian generals threaten us with nuclear annihilation. It is not a friendly thing to do, and we have asked them to do it no more than once a month."

Meanwhile, inside Russia, a type of bloody anarchy is beginning to reign. On July 15th, the award winning human rights journalist and advocate Natalia Estemirova was brutally kidnapped, shot, and dumped by a roadside outside of Chechnya. Not even a month later, the husband and wife human rights workers Zarema Sadulayeva and Alik Djabrailov were found murdered, stuffed into the trunk of their car. This week, Construction Minister of Ingushetia Ruslan Amerkhanov was shot dead in his office. At some unknown date, human rights worker Andrei Kulagin was also murdered -- his body discovered later on at the bottom of a quarry. That's all just from the summer so far.

So the question is why Russia bothers to go through the motions -- sending Soviet era submarines of a rapidly degrading naval fleet, flying bombers which belong in a museum, or otherwise huffing and puffing in anger with all their aging military toys? They know that we know that actual military capabilities do match the hostility of the rhetoric, and they can predict our response. With these growing problems at home, how does the muscle flexing serve Russian interests?

Among the competing theories to explain this conduct, I find that deflection is the most convincing. By creating manageable confrontations, especially with Europe, the United States, and the former Soviet states, the Kremlin is attempting to govern outwardly, diminishing pressures for greater accountability in their domestic shortcomings, and helping to stir up nationalism and support for the regime. The impunity of murder in Chechnya is out of their control and beyond the limits of their political will, the embarrassing failure of the Bulava missile, the prize military technology of the New Russia, is unacceptable to the brass, and the poor management of the economy is becoming widely palpable among citizens.

When Medvedev launched a sharp personal attack against the unpopular Ukranian president Viktor Yushchenko, perhaps we are less likely to pay attention to the fact that the economy shrank by 10.9% in the second quarter, that the state is running a budget deficit of 9.4% of GDP this year, or that both the IMF and World Bank are raising red flags. As the Duma prepares to pass an ominous new legislative bill which will give the President the authority to deploy Russian troops abroad to defend interests from third party states, that's just one less headline reporting on the rumors of a 30-40% devaluation of the ruble. When Russia signs deals to send more tanks to Venezuela, and small arms for a government now strongly linked to FARC terrorists, we can safely ignore how their ten-year long campaign to join the World Trade Organization was scuppered by an ill-advised customs union stunt.

Whatever tensions are available to stoke, Russia may see an advantage in reinforcing their own portrayal as a besieged fortress, drawing attention away from the rule of law fiasco that is the second trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, or the official grand corruption highlight by the William Browder/Hermitage lawsuit alleging a $250 million fraud with participation from the Interior Ministry (disclosure: I am a member of the Khodorkovsky defense team).

One of the most frequently quoted lines from Joe Biden's candid interview with the Wall Street Journal was that the Russian leadership finds itself "in a situation where the world is changing before them and they're clinging to something in the past that is not sustainable." That's exactly what we can see behind the submarines, the verbal attack on the Ukraine, and the guns for FARC, the Abkhazians, and anyone else who wants them. The nature of the Putinist authoritarian model is not order and stability, but anarchy and unpredictability. The enormous level of corruption and business participation by government officials has blurred the line between national interests and personal bank accounts, with policy-making rationality as the first victim.

Resorting to the old Cold War script presents an artificial but familiar political dynamic within which the panicked leadership is comfortable working. As more blood is spilt in Chechnya, we can expect more and more chest thumping and aggression. Unfortunately for the siloviki, however, this elaborate performance of deflection and misdirection is quickly becoming unsustainable and less believable. Let's just wait and see what comes next.

Prostitution Protests Held By Ukrainian Students

2009-07-30T11:10:23Z

Experts say that there are 12,000 prostitutes in Ukraine, many of whom are students trying to make ends meet in difficult times. One group has found creative -- and sometimes abrasive -- ways to let foreign tourists know that "Ukraine is no whorehouse."

Heorhiy Gongadze: Murdered Ukrainian Journalist Skull Pieces Likely Found

2009-07-28T12:41:14Z

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian investigators on Tuesday found what they believe are the remains of the skull of a journalist who was kidnapped and decapitated nearly nine years ago, officials said.

The damaged skull, thought to belong to Heorhiy Gongadze, was found in a village outside Kiev, Prosecutors' spokesman Yuriy Boychenko said.

World In Photos: July 27, 2009 (SLIDESHOW)

2009-07-27T12:57:59Z

Here is the HuffPost's selection of photos of today's news and events from every corner of the globe. Check back Monday through Friday for this HuffPost World feature.

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Christopher Herbert and Victoria Kataoka Rebuffet: Weekly Foreign Affairs Roundup

2009-07-24T17:53:48Z

The Week's Top Stories in Foreign Affairs :

The Geopolitical Importance of Syria

SI Analysis: Engagement with Syria seems to be a priority for many different parties with varying and vying interest of late. There have been ongoing discussions by the US and Israel considering opening talks with Damascus on issues as varied as economic expansion, resolving the conflict over the Golan Heights and curbing the transfer of arms and support to Hezbollah and Hamas. But Washington and Tel Aviv are not alone. Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr expressed a desire to create an Arab alliance with Damascus on a visit with President Bashir Assad, suggesting he is interested in other regional alliances that will fill the vacuum left by the US as it continues to withdraw. Russia too reiterated its interest to reopen a Soviet-era naval base in the Mediterranean port town on Tartus, (though in light of Russia's dwindling reserves, it remains to be seen whether this can be accomplished). And Turkey announced its intentions to pursue a strategic agreement with Damascus, a significant change for two countries who were on the brink of war only a decade ago. Geopolitical maneuvering is in full swing in the region as the US withdraws from Iraq and as Iran continues its effort to expand its regional influence. Israel will certainly be uneasy that such developments may compromise its security.

Indian Seduction

SI Analysis: US Secretary of State Clinton returned from India after securing nuclear, defense, seucity, energy, space and arms agreements. India is gleeful that the Bush-era policy -- that overlooked its status as a non-signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty -- remains for all intensive purposes in effect. This is because the US needs India as an ally: to pursue peace talks with Pakistan and wants to secure its alliance as a counter-force to China's growth in Asia.

Speculation of the Week: Hezbollah sparking Lebanese-Israeli Tensions

SI Analysis: Rhetoric on both sides of the Israeli-Lebanese border has been growing in recent weeks and most recently there have been reports of skirmishes on and around the border. This is a follow-up to the arrest and break-up of a massive alleged Israeli spy ring in Lebanon, over a month ago. While some analysts suggest that Israel is reeling and therefore a bit jumpy since its intelligence network has been greatly undermined. Lebanon has expressed surprisingly unified concern of late for its security and territorial integrity with regards to Israel. Israel however is eager that UN Interim Force (UNIFIL) proceed with its mandate to disarm Hezbollah. What is important to note here however is that things are different in Lebanon from two years ago when conflict broke out between Hezbollah and Israel: Lebanon is more politically stable and more politically unified. Even the pro-Western March 14th Coalition leadership has expressed concern about Israel's recent activity along the border. What this means is that if a conflict were to erupt it would pit Israel against the whole of Lebanon and not just the very heavily re-armed southern-based Shia minority, which could lead to an all-out war. Aware of this, Hezbollah is playing a high-stakes bluff with Israel: the current tension has been contrived by Hezbollah to avoid disarmament and inspections. Expect more of this.

Hodge-Podge/Under-the-Radar

Somalia Conflict Causing Regional Concern

SI Analysis: Kenya expressed concern over the increased number of Somali refugees in Kenyan camps. Moreover, analysts say that the border with Kenya is porous allowing for a flow of militants and arms to continue to nourish the conflict and risk its spread throughout the whole Horn of Africa.

Careful US Policy on Ukraine and Georgia

SI Analysis: US VP Biden traveled to Ukraine and Georgia to reassure the former Soviet states of US support of their fledgling democracies. However rhetoric was much toned down from the previous administration, notably not calling for immediate NATO expansion.

Turkish Trials

SI Analysis: The ongoing conflict between Army-backed secularists and the former Islamists-leadership regained headlines as Turkey begins a retrials of members of the army accused of plotting a coup against the government led by President Abdul Gul and PM Recip Erdogan, whose AKP party has links to an Islamist past.

War Reports:

SI Analysis on Afghanistan and Pakistan: Independent militias fighting the Taliban in the Pakistani region of Dir request aid from the Pakistani military, but it unclear whether Pakistan is willing or able to provide such assistance. Afghan security forces have made significant progress in competency of late, as illustrated in the recent thwarting suicide bomb attempts.

SI Analysis on Iraq: The security transition from the US to Iraq under the terms of the bilateral security pact is all in all going well. Notably, Iraqi security forces are making extra efforts to protect the Christian minorities who have been under attack of late. Elections in the Kurdish provinces of Dahuk, Sulaimaniya and Erbi will be held on Saturday.

To go to Simple Intelligence, click here.

Medvedev: US-Ukraine, Georgia Ties OK With Me

2009-07-24T11:02:16Z

MOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said U.S. efforts to mend relations with Moscow need not be made at the expense of Washington's ties to Ukraine and Georgia.

Medvedev's comments, broadcast Friday, were clearly meant to send a positive signal about the potential for warmer relations with the United States after his summit this month with President Barack Obama.

Biden Georgia Visit Causes Russia-Georgia Verbal Spat

2009-07-22T17:20:44Z

In apparent response to Vice President Joe Biden's visit to former Soviet nations this week, reports emerged of a tit-for-tat diplomat expulsion between Russia and Georgia, which Russia's foreign minister claims is nothing but a PR stunt by the Georgian government, The Moscow Times reports:

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday confirmed that two diplomats from each country had their accreditations removed but said it had happened "some months ago" and that Tbilisi had asked Moscow to keep the matter secret.

"The Georgians had asked us not to publicize it, yet now they did it themselves and I have difficulties telling you why," Lavrov told reporters in Thailand, Interfax reported.

Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Karasin suggested that the report's timing was connected with Biden's arrival Wednesday for talks with the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Biden's visit, first to Ukraine and then to Georgia, has been aimed at reassuring the Caucus states that they have the full support of the US in light of Russian aggression during the Russia-Georgia conflict last year. According to Reuters:

Biden arrived from Ukraine on the second leg of a trip designed to reassure the two former Soviet republics they have not been abandoned in U.S. President Barack Obama's drive to "reset" relations with Russia.

Biden said he had come "to send an unequivocal, clear, simple message to all who will listen and those who even don't want to listen: that America stands with you at this moment and will continue to stand with you."

While in Ukraine, Biden rejected Russia's 'sphere of influence' and reaffirmed all sovereign nations' right to make their own choices regarding who they maintain ties with.

Watch:

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Georgiy Gongadze Murder: Ukraine General Admits To Killing Journalist

2009-07-22T16:03:40Z

A former Ukrainian general suspected of carrying out the high-profile murder of journalist Georgiy Gongadze has reportedly confessed to the killing.

Biden Visits Ukraine: "So Many Beautiful Women"

2009-07-21T14:28:47Z

Vice President Joe Biden met with Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko In Kiev Tuesday to voice support for the country's NATO bid and its embrace of the West, but the conversation was not all serious geo-political business, judging by the pool report. While sitting around a pub in the late afternoon the conversation drifted--inevitably?-to the topic of churches... and beautiful women.

VPOTUS and Yushchenko were seated a table in the back of the pub with their two translators, the mayor and vice mayor of Kiev, and the head of the presidential secretariat. Pool joined conversation in the middle, but Yushchenko was talking about Ukrainian churches. VPOTUS overheard saying: "I cannot believe that a Frenchman visiting Kiev went back home and told his colleagues he discovered something and didn't say he discovered the most beautiful women in the world. That's my observation." Unclear who Frenchman VPOTUS was referring to. "It's certain you have so many beautiful women."

Biden Meets With Ukraine's President, Reaffirms US Support

2009-07-21T08:00:29Z

KIEV, Ukraine — Vice President Joe Biden assured a nervous Ukraine that its interests won't be sacrificed as the United States tries to mend ties with Moscow.

Visiting Kiev two weeks after President Barack Obama attended a Moscow summit, Biden said Russia can claim no "sphere of influence" in its backyard. The U.S. vice president travels next to another former Soviet republic, Georgia, which lost a five-day war with Russia last year over separatist provinces that Moscow insists are independent states.

Human Rights First: Biden's Big Chance: Kyiv Visit Offers Opportunity to Combat Racist Violence in Ukraine

2009-07-20T15:30:07Z

By Charles Asante-Yeboa
President, African Center of Kyiv

In January 2008, I was returning home from a meeting with a Nigerian man who had been a victim of a violent racist attack a few days earlier. Standing at the bus stop near Shuliavska metro station, I was suddenly attacked by a group of young men. One of the attackers first hit me with a metal bar in the back of the head, as others--up to 15 persons--joined in kicking and beating me with a variety of objects. I was also stabbed in several places, including one deep wound in the back of my head. The attackers shouted "let's slit his throat" and "no, let's cut his head in two." I kept struggling for my life until a minivan approached, causing them to flee. I am yet to recover fully from the wounds that I suffered, and the memory of that evening still makes me cautious as I walk down even busy city streets. Furthermore, I am still waiting for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. Like in most other cases of racist violence in Ukraine, there is a general climate of impunity for those who commit these brazen acts of discrimination.

After arriving in Ukraine from my native Ghana a decade ago, I quickly came to see the many problems faced by foreigners, especially Africans, in Ukraine. In order to address those grievances, I spearheaded the establishment of the African Center. My colleagues and I advise and provide legal assistance to people of African origin living in Ukraine; help to improve their living standards; facilitate their return home if necessary; and promote discussions on African culture and politics, among other subjects. Regrettably, dealing with problems related to racially motivated attacks on members of our community in Ukraine has taken a bulk of our time and resources, particularly over the past several years. In this effort, we have worked closely in the framework of the "Diversity Initiative" -- a coalition of international and domestic organizations based in Ukraine, spearheaded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Since 2005, nongovernmental monitors in Ukraine have documented a dramatic rise in violent crimes with a suspected bias motivation. Violence against foreigners and other visible minorities is taking place throughout the country, although incidents occurring in Kyiv have been relatively better reported. This violence has been largely committed against people of African and Asian origin, Jews and Roma, as well as people from the Caucasus and the Middle East. Asylum seekers, refugees, and labor migrants are among the victims. Foreign students, of which there are some forty thousand and who bring substantial funds to Ukrainian universities, have been among the principal victims of hate crimes.

Immigrants like myself are vulnerable targets of racism and xenophobia because we are highly visible in society. Although relatively few people of African origin reside in Ukraine, the rate of violence against this group has been extraordinary. The attacks are rampant and unpredictable, and could happen anywhere: on subway and buses, in downtown and outskirts, in front of many witnesses or in dark alleys, and even near student hostels.

I was lucky enough to survive the brutal attack described above. However, Julius Igbodunu Azike's Ukrainian wife and three kids are still mourning the death of their father, a Nigerian national who was shot outside their home in Kyiv on June 26, 2009. The latest murder has renewed--or rather increased--the sense of fear and desperation among foreigners, especially African migrants.

Last year, a 19-year-old Congolese asylum seeker Joseph Bunta was found with seventeen knife wounds to his head, chest, and back. Another victim's funeral turned into a march against racism, as antiracism activists joined the friends and family of Gbenda-Charles Victor, a 39-year-old refugee from Sierra Leone, who was stabbed some ten times and died in front of his wife. The list goes on.

We are still seeking justice for the murders of Julius, Joseph, Charles, and others, who perished in these hateful attacks. Although there have been some improvements, police and prosecutors have been largely ineffective in investigating these incidents, recognizing the racist motives, and in bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Ukrainian government needs to step up efforts to combat hate crimes. The international community can support those efforts by reminding the government of its international commitments in this area. The visit to Kyiv of U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden represents one such opportunity. We recognize that his meetings with Ukrainian officials will likely focus on important economic and security matters. However, Mr. Biden should also use the opportunity to encourage the Ukrainian government to take practical and concrete steps - like those outlined by Human Rights First - to strengthen its response to hate crime. The best way to ensure Ukraine's European integration is by strengthening the government's commitment to advancing human rights and the rule of law. A strong response to racist violence is one important barometer of that commitment.

Recognition of this problem at the highest levels of government is ever so important. After the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC was attacked in June, President Obama came forth to make a strong statement, unequivocally reaffirming that "we must remain vigilant against antisemitism and prejudice in all its forms." President Yuschenko could take a page out of Mr. Obama's book and react to violence in Ukraine in a similar fashion, sending strong messages to law enforcement and criminal justice authorities that impunity for bias-motivated violence is inexcusable.

Biden In Ukraine To Pledge Continued Support Despite Russia Efforts

2009-07-20T09:11:49Z

KIEV, Ukraine — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Kiev on Monday to pledge continued support for Ukraine and was expected to calm fears that Washington's efforts to improve relations with Russia may come at the expense of ex-Soviet nations.

Biden is expected to reaffirm Washington's backing for Ukraine's NATO membership despite opposition from the Kremlin. The visit comes after Russia and the U.S. pledged to work toward improving bilateral ties during a summit in Moscow.

'Bruno' Banned By Ukraine Because It's Immoral

2009-07-15T09:10:54Z

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine's Culture Ministry says it has banned Sacha Baron Cohen's new hit movie, "Bruno," because it's immoral.

The movie is centered around the adventures of a flamboyant gay fashion journalist from Austria.

Ukraine: Culture War Arrives, With Bans On Porn And Gambling

2009-07-10T13:53:12Z

David L. Stern | GlobalPost

KIEV -- Igor Gaidai considers himself an artist, who, among other things, produces erotic photography that glorifies the beauty of the feminine form.

In his photo studio and gallery in the center of the Ukrainian capital, he displays his various projects, including one called "Saman," which hearkens back to a "pre-Christian era" when "witches" roamed the earth. In it, naked women are depicted in various poses with brooms, as if in mid-flight, and are meant to glorify "the power of feminine energy, beauty and wisdom." His main display window also exhibits four young nude mothers, partially covered by their equally nude infants.

In recent days Gaidai may have become an outlaw.

In a flurry of moral protectionism, Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, overwhelmingly agreed last month to beef up the country's law on pornography, outlawing its "possession" in addition to "its sale, distribution and manufacture." Signed last week by President Viktor Yushchenko, the addition to the criminal code has caused many observers to fear that a crackdown against all erotic materials may soon follow.

The culture wars have arrived in Ukraine -- albeit with a post-Soviet twist. The pornography law closely followed another new piece of Ukrainian legislation attempting to eradicate immoral living. Casinos, slot machine halls and bookmaker offices were closed practically overnight in June, when deputies voted to enact an immediate ban on all gambling-related activities.

"We want every Ukrainian family not to have a porno mag in the bedroom dresser, but a Bible," said Viktor Shvets, chairman of the parliament committee that drafted the pornography law.

Shvets says that the legislation's purpose is to prevent the accumulation of large quantities of pornography with the intention to then sell it. Deputies also originally intended to target child pornography, said officials with close knowledge of the law, but "got a little carried away."

Despite the terseness of the 38-word text that was passed -- or perhaps because of it -- many struggled to understand the law's actual intent. It came as news to many, for example, that the sale and distribution of pornography has already been banned for some time in Ukraine.

More of a problem is that "pornography" is not defined in the criminal code. According to Shvets, a special commission of experts must be assembled to determine exactly what pornography is every time an arrest is made.

The law's vagueness is actually the point, said Gaidai. "The text gives the government the ability to act as it wants," he said. "This is a step back into the Middle Ages."

(Some news reports and blogs claimed that the legislation outlawed all pornography, except that needed for "medicinal purposes." The phrase is not anywhere in the original text, however.)

Political observers say that the new laws are an attempt to score easy populist points in the run-up to hotly contested presidential elections in January. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko immediately seized upon the gambling law, which her party co-authored, claiming that she was protecting the population and asking citizens to call a hotline if they discovered any underground gambling houses.

"This is a classic political stunt," said Volodymyr Fesenko, director of the Penta political think tank in Kiev, adding that a small percentage of the population takes advantage of gambling and pornography, while bans are popular among the poor, elderly and religious.

Or as Igor Samoylov, general director of the Avalon entertainment center and casino in Kiev puts it, referring to the gambling law: "This was a sanctimonious decision."

The gambling law mirrors a similar one that took effect in Russia July 1, moving gambling halls from cities to Las Vegas-like centers in investment-needy regions in the Russian hinterland.

But the Russian legislation, adopted back in 2006, allowed businesses a grace period to adjust and close down; in Ukraine it was just a matter of days. Valerii Pysarenko, one of the Ukrainian law's authors, says that the harsh terms were necessary to rip up by the roots an "epidemic on the level of AIDS or tuberculosis."

"Russia's experience showed us that a transitional period doesn't work -- it didn't facilitate the building of the special zones," he said.

Pysarenko claimed that 70 percent of those visiting gambling halls are "youth." What's more, the government earns only 2 percent in taxes from what he says is a $5 billion a year industry. Anywhere from 70 to 90 percent of the businesses are working in the shadow economy, he added.

Gambling proponents concede that the industry has negatively affected the country's poor, but say that this is primarily the fault of the government, which inadequately controlled the growth of slot machine halls, the main culprit. More to the point, they say, the law has closed a legitimate and legally-working line of business, throwing more than 200,000 people out of work in the middle of a debilitating economic crisis.

"A civilized state would try to change the situation and regulate it -- not close it down completely," said Aleksei Konshin, director of the Aurum casino, which shut its doors on June 11.

Just over a year ago Konshin achieved his life's goal after 18 years in the casino business when he opened his own establishment, modeled on an English private club. All the fixtures were state of the art: furniture from Italy, roulette wheels from England, walnut wood fixtures, all surrounding a plush marble fireplace. He says he invested more than $3 million of his own money, which he hoped to earn back in three years. Now it is all lost. He did not have outside investors. "Thank God -- I'm much more relaxed," he said.

"The government delivered a knockout punch. It was like a meteor dropping from the sky," Konshin said, standing in the middle of the deathly silent gaming room. "It's as if you are playing blackjack and the dealer suddenly grabs all your cards and money and says 'That's all.'"

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