News
from and about Ukraine & Ukrainians
Ukrainian Community Press Releases |
March 29, 1999
KyivAll of Ukraine mourns for Vyacheslav Chornovil as it tries to recover from the shock of this well-known political figure's sudden death. Mr. Chornovil lost his life in an automobile accident when a Kamaz truck rammed the Toyota in which he was being driven.
Yesterday (March 28), Lviv said it's final "good-bye" to Chornovil at a large gathering near the Taras Shevchenko monument. Thousands attended the funeral proceedings today (March 29) in Kyiv. The body of Chornovil was available for viewing in the building of former Central Rada on Volodymyrska street. It was almost impossible to enter the premises because of the endless line of mourners and also because of poor organization.
Comments heard from among those in the crowd suggested that the lack of organization was deliberate on the part of the left-leaning government in order to prevent a proper farewell to the Ukrainian nationalist leader.
Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma and Verkhovna Rada Speaker Oleksandr Tkachenko were ushered into the viewing room through a separate entrance. The crowd heckled the two with shouts of "Shame on you!," the shouts intended mostly for the ears of Tkachenko who advocates a "Slavic unity" policy with Belarus' and Russia.
It is clear that the entire country is deeply affected by Chornovil's death. Not all emotions are of mourning, however. It appears that there is an aura of fear enveloping certain government sectors. The concerns are based on the great public respect for Chornovil as a national leader in the Democratic movement, and the fear is that new agitation against leftist tendencies may arise in his wake.
Let us pray for Vyacheslav Chornovil and his soul.
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