Updated 11/22/94 POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS The following file contains: 1) GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FILE, SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND 2) A LISTING OF POLITICAL ALLIANCES AND FRONTS OF UKRAINE 3) A LISTING OF POLITICAL PARTIES OF UKRAINE 4) RESULTS FROM RECENT ELECTIONS TO THE VERKHOVNA RADA 5) BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTACT INFORMATION (where available) FOR THE VARIOUS POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS 6) A LISTING OF CRIMEAN POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FILE, SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND The following is a brief guide to political organizations in Ukraine, including alliances, fronts, and parties. It is taken from several sources including The Ukrainian Weekly, The Economist, and The Europa World Year Book. This last item draws extensively on material from publications from the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy; updates will be made periodically. Please report any errors of commission and omission which you may notice to Max Pyziur at pyz@panix.com. * * * * * * * * In Ukraine until 1990 the only legal political party was the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU), an integral part of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. In 1988, however, along with the founding of several other political organizations a Ukrainian People's Movement for Restructuring (known as Rukh) was established to support greater democratization and freedom of speech. In 1990, after the CPU's constitutional monopoly was abolished, many new political parties were established. In 1992 several coalitions were formed, notably the Congress of National Democratic Forces, which unites conservative, nationalist parties, and New Ukraine, which has the support of centrist parties. Rukh, which had been the main coalition of forces opposed to the CPU in 1988-91, became a political party (known as the People's Movement of Ukraine) in 1993. There is a wide range of extreme left- and right-wing parties, including the neo-fascist Ukrainian National Assembly, and the extreme left-wing Socialist Nationalist Party of Ukraine. Regional parties include the Republican Movement of the Crimea, which advocates Crimean secession from Ukraine, the Organization of the Crimean Tatar National Movement (which demands support for the return of Crimean Tatars to their homeland) and the Subcarpathian Republican Party, which proposes autonomy for Transcarpathia. A LISTING OF POLITICAL ALLIANCES AND FRONTS OF UKRAINE All Popular Movement of Ukraine Anti-Communist and Anti-Imperialist Front of Ukraine Congress of National Democratic Forces New Ukraine A LISTING OF POLITICAL PARTIES OF UKRAINE All-Ukrainian Centrist Party of Civil Accord Christian Democratic Party of Ukraine Civic Congress of Ukraine Communist Party of Ukraine Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists Constitutional Democratic Party Democratic Party of Ukraine Green Party of Ukraine Labor Congress of Ukraine Liberal Democratic Party of Ukraine Liberal Party of Ukraine Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists National Fascist Party Party for Democratic Renewal (Rebirth) of Ukraine Party of Free Peasants of Ukraine Party of Labor Party for the National Salvation of Ukraine Party for the Protection of Disabled and Socially Disadvantaged Citizens of Ukraine Party of Slavic Unity Peasant's Party of Ukraine People's Movement of Ukraine (Rukh) People's Party of Ukraine Social-Democratic Party of Ukraine Socialist Party of Ukraine State Independence of Ukraine Ukrainian Beer Lovers' Party Ukrainian Christian Democratic Party Ukrainian Conservative Republican Party Ukrainian Democratic Renaissance Party Ukrainian National Conservative Party Ukrainian National Assembly Ukrainian Party of Justice Ukrainian Peasant Democratic Party Ukrainian Republican Party United Social-Democratic Party of Ukraine RESULTS FROM RECENT ELECTIONS TO THE VERKHOVNA RADA The parties in Ukraine can be broken down across a range which at one end is extremely nationalistic/against any sort of alliances with Russia to at the other end being disposed to alliances with Russia and the maintenance of existing Soviet-style structures. Extreme nationalists Ukrainian National Assembly 3 Ukrainian Conservative Republican Party 2 Moderate nationalists Rukh 20 Ukrainian Republican Party 8 Congress of National Democratic Forces 5 Democratic Party of Ukraine 2 Centrists Inter-regional Reform Block 4 Ukrainian Democratic Renaissance Party 4 Civic Congress of Ukraine 2 Social Democratic Paty of Ukraine 2 Labor Congress of Ukraine 4 Christian Democratic Party of Ukraine 1 Communist Communist Party 86 Peasant Party 18 Ukrainian Socialist Party 14 Unaffiliated 163 Total 338 112 out of 450 seats remain unfilled BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTACT INFORMATION (where available) FOR THE VARIOUS POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS All-Popular Movement of Ukraine (APMU), dounded 1992 Referred to as the "alternative Rukh," the (APMU) is an alliance of center-right parties and organizations. At a high-level APMU meeting on October 23, Chairman Larysa Skoryk, a former radical national democrat and a strong supporter of President Kravchuk, described the APMU as an independent mass movement open to all democratic forces in Ukraine that support the principles of nation building. The movement rejects any form of government by council and opposes any type of federal government that would allow greater regional autonomy. Anti-Communist and Anti-Imperialist Front of Ukraine (AAFU), founded 1993. In January 1993, in response to the perceived threat of a revival of the former Communist system, Rukh leader Mr. Chornovil united with rival nationalist leaders in the URP and DPU to form the Anti-Communist and Anti-Imperialist Front of Ukraine (AAFU). Ivan Drach, the first leader of Rukh, was chosen to head the front's Coordinating Council, whose nucleus was formed by Rukh, the Congress of National Democratic Forces (CNDF), the Ukrainian Republican Party (URP), and the Democratic Party of Ukraine (DPU). The front was in favor of new parliamentary elections and opposed the lifting of the ban on the Communist Party. Its current goals are to adopt a new constitution, speed up economic reform prevent Ukrainian membership in the Commonwealth of Independent States, stop unilateral disarmament, and defend the territorial integrity of Ukraine. It is a loose alliance of more than 30 parties, including Rukh, the CNDF, the URP, the UDP. Kiev. Civic Congres of Ukraine Leader: O. Bazylyuk Christian Democratic Party of Ukraine Members: 12,000 Chairperson: V. Zhuravsky Lviv Papanivtsiv St., 10-a Tel: 7-0322-33-13-25 Communist Party of Ukraine Banned in August 1991 but revived in October 1993, the CPU has an estimated membership of 120,000. The party has announced that it will preserve its socialist orientation and seek to promote humanitarian and democratic principles as well as equal rights for all nationalities in Ukraine. At its first plenary session in Kiev in early November,CPU Chairman Petro Symenenko welcomed SPU leader Oleksandr Moroz. Congress of National Democratic Forces (CNDF), founded 1992 Developments within Rukh paved the way for the creation in August 1992 of the CNDF coalition by the URP and the DPU. Besides these two major parties, the CNDF is composed of a number of smaller center-right political parties; the APMU, the UPDP, the Ukrainian Christian Democratic Party and the Ukrainian Conservative Republican Party. Ms. Larysa Skoryk, the chairman of the APMU, has argued that the CNDF's main goal should be to support President Kravchuk. In 1993 the leadership of the CNDF announced that the movement would participate in the next elections as a coalition. The alliance advocates a strong presidency, a unitary state, secession from the CIS, and a 'socially-just' market-economy. The chairperson is: Mykhailo Horyn. Kiev. Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists Leader: S. Stestko Constitutional Democratic Party Leader: V. Zolotarev Democratic Party of Ukraine (DPU), founded 1990 The moderately reformist Democratic party of Ukraine (DPU) supports President Kravchuk. A long-time member of Rukh, the DPU left the movement after the takeover of the organization by Mr. Chornovil. At its December 1992 congress, the charismatic Volodymyr Yavorivsky replaced Yuriy Badzio as chairman. Concerned with the growing strength of its rivals, Rukh and the Socialist Party of Ukraine (SPU), the congress voted to merge with the Ukrainian Republican Party (URP), although the merger has not yet taken place. The DPU's popularity has been attributed to its appealing name and to the high visibility of its current chairman and other prominent members. It opposes CIS membership, advocates national cultural and linguistic policies to support Ukrainian heritage; approximately 4,000 members. Kiev Tel: 7-044-216-8591, 293-7556 Green Party of Ukraine, founded 1990 as the political wing of the environmental organization Zeleniy Svit (Green World, founded 1987). The Greens have focused on ecological issues and have not taken a strong stand on either nationalism or economic reform. The party's leaders have worked together with the Kravchuk regime and have avoided adopting an anti-establishment stance. The party's congress in October 1992 elected Vitaliy Kononov as chairman. The Greens joined the coalition New Ukraine in June 1992. It has approximately 3,600 members. 252024 Kiev Ukraine Vul. Luteranska 24 Tel: 7-044-293-6909 Fax: 7-044-293-5236 Labor Congress of Ukraine Members: 2,000 Leader: A. Matviyenko Liberal Democratic Party of Ukraine Members: 1,000 Leader: V. Klymchuk Liberal Party of Ukraine Members: 10,000 Leader: Ihor Markulov New Ukraine, founded 1992 A coalition of mainly center-left parties rivaling Rukh, New Ukraine was founded in January 1992 by economic reformers whose main interests focused on eastern Ukraine. Led by Volodymyr Hryniov, New Ukraine declared itself in opposition to Rukh and demanded that the government of Vitold Fokin resign. It also called for market-oriented economic reforms, privatization and new parliamentary elections along with improvement of links with Russia and the CIS. In August one of its larger members, the Luhanske branch of the PDRU, switched its allegiance to the SDPU. The latter left New Ukraine at the end of September 1993. It has approximately 30,000 members. Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists Leader: M. Slyvka Party for the Democratic Rebirth of Ukraine (PDRU), founded 1990. The PDRU was founded as the Democratic Platform within the CPU by reform Communists mainly from Kharkiv who regarded Rukh as too nationalistic and favoring western Ukraine over the other regions. It is a strong advocate of economic reforms leading to a market economy and privatization and thus opposes President Kravchuk, who has been slow to implement such reforms. Also, it advocates close economic links with Russia and the CIS. The PDRU played a leading role in New Ukraine until its recent departure from the coalition and initially supported the program of former Prime Minister Leonid Kuchma. At its congress in Luhanske in September, the party witnessed clashes between its social democratic and liberal wings, eastern and western factions, and Ukrainian and Russian members. At present, the PDRU is looking for partners to form a new centrist coalition. Its leaders include Volodymyr Filenko and it has approximately 2,600 members. Kiev Ukraine Instytutska St, 27/6, suite 31. Peasant Party of Ukraine, founded in 1992. Often confused with the UPDP, the Peasant Party of Ukraine a "party of kolhosp chairmen" with a powerful parliamentary lobby and has its headquarters in Kherson. Many of its leaders oppose the radical economic reform and privatization of holhosp land, thereby advocating the retention of collective farm systems, and have called for the preservation of an economic zone within the Commonwealth of Independent States. The party is a rural counterpart of the SPU and is often regarded as anti-nationalist. Its leader is Serhii Dovhan and it claims 1.6 million members. People's Party of Ukraine Leader: L. Taburansky Dnipropetrovsk Naberezhna Lenina St., 1 Tel: 7-0562-58-80-32 Rukh, also known as the People's Movement of Ukraine, founded 1988 as a popular front (Ukrainian People's Movement for Restructuring). It was registered as a political party in 1993. Originally the main democratic opposition movement, Rukh nearly split in early March 1992 over the issue of support for President Leonid Kravchuk. In an attempt to hold the movement together, three chairmen were elected in early 1992: Kravchuk allies Ivan Drach and Mykhailo Horyn and Kravchuk foe Vyacheslav Chornovil. In the months that followed, Mr. Chornovil increasingly dominated Rukh. At the movement's fourth congress, in December 1992, he was elected leader by an overwhelming majority. It has approximately 60,000 full members, 500,000 associate members. Kiev Ukraine Shevchenko Blvd., 37/122 Tel: 7-044-224-9151, 216-8333, 274-2077 Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (SDPU), founded 1990. The Social Democrats split in 1990 to found two rival parties: the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (SDPU), a rightist party opposing "traditional" socialism and advocating social democracy, and the United Social Democratic Party of Ukraine, a leftist party adhering to "democratic socialism." In May 1992 the SDPU split again over the question of joining the coalition New Ukraine; the mainstream joined the CNDF. Recently the SDPU has been looking for ways to unite with other social democratic forces, including the Party for the Democratic Rebirth of Ukraine (PDRU). Its leader is Yuriy Zbitnev; it has approximately 1,800 members. Kiev Ukraine Tolstoy St, 16/24 Tel: 7-044-229-0816 Socialist Party of Ukraine (SPU), founded 1991. The successor to the former Communist party, the SPU is headed by Oleksander Moroz, who was the leader of the Communist majority in the Parliament before the dissolution of that party in August 1991. It advocates the retention of a large state role in the economy, stronger links with the CIS, and priority for workers in privatization. It is strongly anti-nationalist. The SPU was formed in the fall of 1992 specifically to unite former Communists. At its first conference in June 1992, there were calls for the restoration of socialism, the USSR and the Communist Party. A second congress, in November 192, adopted a program calling for state regulation, opposing privatization, and demanding that the Russian language have the same status in Ukraine as Ukrainian. With the recent revival of the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU) signs have emerged that the Socialists and Communists will cooperate in preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections. It has approximately 10,000 members. Kiev Ukraine 9 Bankova St., 6, suite 638 Ukrainian National Assembly Leader: Dmytro Korchynsky Ukrainian National Conservative Party, founded 1992 by the merger of Ukrainian National Party and Ukrainian People's Democratic party. Leader: V. Radionov Kiev. Ukrainian Peasant Democratic Party (UPDP), founded 1990 The leading rural organization of the center right, the Ukrainian Peasant Democratic Party (UPDP) was a long-time member of Rukh and supporter of Mr. Chornovil. It was forced to leave Rukh when the movement's December 1992 congress voted to exclude other parties. Its chairman, Serhiy Plachynda, was elected in August 1992 to the CNDF council. A strong advocate of land ownership, private farming, and dissolution of collective farms. It has approximately 3,250 members. 290058 Lviv Ukraine 252024 Kiev Ukraine vul. 700-richya Lviva 63, kv. 712 Bankivska St, 2 Tel: 7-0322-59-97-37 Tel: 7-044-224-1792 Ukrainian Republican Party (URP), founded 1990. A leading radical national democratic party, the URP was an offshoot of the Ukrainian Helsinki Union. It advocates immediate departure from the CIS. In mid-1992, the URP switched to a more centrist, pro-Kravchuk stance, electing Mr. Horyn as chairman. A faction led by Stepan Khmara subsequently left the URP to form the Ukrainian Conservative Republican Party. In August 1992 the URP, together with the DPU, founded the CNDF. It is now preparing to merge with the DPU. It has approximately 12,000 members. 252034 Kiev Ukraine Prorizna St., 27 Tel: 7-044-228-0306 Fax: 7-044-228-0409 email: rst@urp.kiev.ua United Social-Democratic Party of Ukraine (USDPU), founded 1990. It is a left-wing democratic party which advocates a comprehensive social welfare system, gradual approach to economic reform, and continued Ukrainian membership in the CIS. Its leader is Oleksandr Alin, and it has approximately 1,000 members. Kiev Tolstoy St., 16/24 Tel: 7-044-225-1146 A LISTING OF CRIMEAN POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS Agrarian Party of Crimea Ldr: Ivan Dezhemeryv Communist Party of Crimea Ldr: Leonid Hrach Crimean Party of Social Guarantees Ldr: Yukhym Fiks Crimean Tatar National Movement Ldr: Vashtiy Abdurayimov Democratic Party of Crimea Ldr: Anatoliy Filatov Milli Firka Ldr: Ilmy Umerov National movement of the Crimean Tatars National Movement of Tatars Ldr: Mustafa Cemiloglu Organization of the Crimean Tatar National Movement Party for the Economic Renewal of Crimea Ldr: Vladimir Sheviov Republican Party of Crimea Ldr: Serhiy Tsekov Russian-Language Movement of Crimea Russian Party of Crimea Ukrainian Civic Congress of Crimea Union for the Support of the Republic of Crimea Ldr: Yakob Apter