The Ukrainian Press
August 2010
by Erin Decker
The following news coverage is drawn from two popular Ukrainian newspapers: The Kyiv Post is an English-language newspaper that provides a foreign perspective, while Segodnya one of many widely-read Russian-language newspapers in Ukraine. Its coverage tends to be more conservative and often has a more pro-Russian view on political matters.
This news review is part of SRAS's monthly "obzor" publications. We provide links to the related stories from the sources when available online.
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Law Enforcement Involved in Journalist’s Disappearance
On August 26, Segodnya reported that Interior Minister Anatoliy Mohyliov announced at a briefing that “Kharkov regional law enforcement authorities participated in the disappearance of Vasyl Klymentyev, editor-in-chief of the Kharkov newspaper Novyi Stil.” According to Mohyliov, there are “reasons to suppose” that Klymentyev is already dead, but the article did not provide any additional details. Furthermore, the report on Klymentyev’s disappearance appeared in an article that also outlined several more recent disappearances, seeming to emphasize that such cases as Klymentyev’s were not out of the ordinary.
Another short Segodnya article on the case stated that the Interior Ministry was giving a “scolding” to two suspects in the disappearance – the head of the Kharkov Regional Tax Inspectorate and the region’s deputy prosecutor, both of which Klymentyev had written about in an article before his disappearance. Segodnya stated only that the two would be questioned.
However, the Kyiv Post reported the same day that Interior Minister Mohyliov had said that there was "a suspicion that representatives from law enforcement agencies, both working and dismissed, could be involved.” According to the article, some unnamed politicians were saying that “change in the management of the Kharkiv police was the reason for the murder,” although Mohyliov denied that this played a role. Klymentyev’s colleagues are insisting that his disappearance was connected with his work. The article made note of the fact that the case on Klymentyev was opened on August 15 under Article 115 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, “Premeditated Murder.”
Ukraine Considering Regulation of Grain Exports
Droughts and forest fires are leading Ukraine to consider applying quotas or a temporary ban on grain exports from the country. According to Segodnya, experts are advising quotas to be put in place on how much grain can be exported, rather than selling the grain at the highest possible prices. However, the article reported that this is precisely what Viktor Slauta, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Agricultural Issues, is advising farmers to do. Experts are reacting by saying that “such government policy might lead to grain deficits and a sharp increase in bread prices.” The article explained that exporting grain after an abnormally low crop yield this season would not be as much of an issue if Ukraine kept grain reserves in case of such an emergency, something that President Viktor Yanukovich is now pushing for. However, Deputy Prime Minister Slauta is still “calling for farmers to sell their grain at the highest possible prices.”
A week later, on August 11, the Kyiv Post reported that Ukraine was still mulling over whether or not to impose grain export quotas for the 2010-2011 season. Mykola Prysyazhnyuk, Ukraine’s Agriculture Minister, said that the ministry “would propose grain export quotas” even though “representatives of the Ukrainian Grain Association have asked to introduce a wheat export ban.” The article pointed out that even though one week prior “drought-stricken Russia announced such an export ban,” Prysyazhnyuk said, “I think that this measure is not effective and I proposed that they consider grain export quotas” instead.
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