YTNF :: SVITUkraine

On August 20th, a group of 10 volunteers from Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Belgium, USA and Ukraine met in Kharkiv, in order to continue our investigation on racism in Ukraine. The idea of the project was developed during international study visit “Dobre razom”, which took place in summer 2007 in Kharkiv, Lviv and Kyiv. This year, the goal for the project is to go deeper in the problem, research situation in detail and compare with other countries, think of possible solutions. As a result, participants will make a short film of educational/documentary character, on racism and xenophobia in Ukraine.

Along with getting to know each other, building group atmosphere and starting to work with Ukrainian film students, participants had chance to think of own ideas and scenarios for the film, and also get some highlights on racism in Ukraine during some meetings. One of them, with Yuri Chumak, assistant to Minister of Internal Affairs in Kharkiv region, brought up some interesting points: how is Ukrainian police implementing human rights in practice towards prisoners and each other. More often patrols control foreign citizens who look differently, who do not speak local language and are thus easier to cheat (mostly students). Behind such approach is not so much of racism, but rather common belief that foreigners have more money, and would pay bribe.

Other point is nazi-minded public organizations, also of nationalistic and patriotic direction, who become more and more active in Ukraine. Their motto: “White person – great Ukraine”. Having obvious Russian influence here, they criticize all but Russians, and act in somewhat provocative way. One example is public actions linked to activities of democratic political forces, which makes general public think that democratic parties = Nazis. Officials allow such organizations work and exist, because it is easier to control in when their activities are public.

The project will last till September 8th, and it is planned to have more meetings with representatives of diverse public organizations, including Kharkiv Human Rights Group and Amnesty International, as well as continue working on concepts and filming.

During two weeks in August 2008, a group of twelve international volunteers and three to eleven local volunteers from Chernovtsy cleaned together the Jewish cemetery in ul. Zelena, Chernovtsy. We worked all in all ten days from nine in the morning till two or three o ‘clock in the afternoon with around one hour lunch break. The result of our work is a cleaned field section 33 and two rows of field section 34 that follows behind field section 33. The field section 33 is located behind the “ceremony hall” and the grave field of famous Jewish personalities of Chernovtsy. We assume that we cleaned 2-3 % of the total area of the cemetery, a drop on the hot stone as the director of the Christian- Jewish cemetery said during a television interview. Details...

5 local volunteers from Chernovtsy have joined the international group to work on the historic Jewish cemetery, and more local young people phone and make inquiries as result of information in the media and public action, which was organized yesterday, August 12th, by the volunteers jointly with local NGOs. During the public action, international volunteers and activists of local NGOs "Dopomoga lyudam", "Narodna dopomoga" and "Union of active youth" have put up information tent at Sobornaya square in the central part of the town, and were distributing information flyers about the cemetery, talking to people and inviting more volunteers to join the cleanup. Details...