Centre for Monitoring Democratic Processes «Quorum»

Lutsk – capital of the Volynsk area, and thus one of the most beautiful and ancient cities in the Western Ukraine. Admires since the first moment – unique atmosphere which create an unusual landscape, remarkable architecture and, last but not least here reigns, hospitable inhabitants are friendly also. Without any doubt the city could become the tourist centre. Much to my regret, today Lutsk is known more likely as сентр the Ukrainian nationalist movement which plays recently more and more a considerable role in a political life of this young country....

My stay in Lutsk has begun with visiting of a selective staff of Yulia Timoshenko which in local election district has received excellent result of 53 % - one of the best in all country. Gathering материялов on a theme of revival of the Ukrainian nationalism, and also tool use of slogans and postulates насионалистического character for selective propagation of candidates was my main task. Among the population of Volhynia шовинистские and nationalist slogans, unfortunately, ползуются enough big попюларностью, and Timoshenko's prime minister (is faster on conuncture, than to the ideological reasons) is not confused to be used these for the election campaign.

I wish to add that my family on a fatherly line occurs from Volhynia and Pokutsija (my dead man the grandfather was born in Vladimir Volynskom, and the childhood has spent in Kolomyi). I from маленкости heard about awful crimes, совершанны fighters OUN-UPA; then, already as the student and the post-graduate student, the expert in political science and the Eastern Europe, and also the historical journalist, I has received knowledge on this theme. I do not hide that posthumous award by president Victor Yushchenko of an honorary title of the Hero of Ukraine to the Hitlerite collaborator and criminal Stepan Bandere has caused in me feeling of horror and disgust. Was also blow on memory of my ancestors. Not surprisingly, what exactly these subjects became the leader in the course of my investigations and supervision on Volhynia.

After an input I was presented to a site of a staff of Yulia Timoshenko (it is necessary to add that it is impressing and reminds a palace) and have stated desire to interview with представительём the candidate. I have formulated the question in the Polish, Russian and English languages, simultaneously apologising that much to my regret I do not know language of Tarasa of Shevchenko. In the answer I have heard: «That you for an observer if you do not speak in a local official language?» . I have got used to popular here in определёных circles to a manner of the reference to unfamiliar persons at use of the form "you", was not confused and continued conversation. My resoluteness became remunerated. Me have invited in an elegant lobby and (this time it is polite under the form) have asked to wait yet the meeting will not end. When I have sat down in an armchair, there has begun with me разговоривать the man in пожылом age – by own words, the bard who for the ideological reasons has arrived from native Kovelja to Lutsk that the voice and creativity to support the madam of Premieres sings also. The man has given me fragments of the creativity (a little bit naive, but it is unconditional искренные), and then became объясняь that Yulia Timoshenko is the sixth after Bohdana Khmelnitskiy, Ivan Mazepa, Pavlo Grushchevsky, Lesi of the Ukrainian and Stepan Bandery the founder of greatness and independence of the Ukrainian power. Has added that its pension makes for today 720 grivnas (about 3000 roubles) in a month, but he does not doubt that after Timoshenko's victory will live «as Germans, Frenchmen and Dutches».

After that необычнего experience I have been invited inside. Has greeted me elderly, but the strong man which – to my astonishment – was presented as the deputy of the Supreme body of Evgen Kirillchenko. In the beginning I tried to avoid inconsistent themes and consequently conversation had very pleasant character. The deputy has shared with me the confidence of wisdom and ingenuity of an Ukrainian language избирателья, and also absence of any doubts in Timoshenko's victory. The first argument behind last thesis beauty of the candidate, the second – the criminal past of its contender Victor Janukovycha. When I have asked about infringements during elections, I have heard that the unique candidate responsible for all проблеммы was chairman of the party Regionov. When the present representative of the Block of Yulia Timoshenko in the Country council Anatoly Grytsjuk wished to tell about deprived of civil rights действях president Victor Yushchenko, Kirilchenko has ordered to it to keep silent:« There is no sense about it to speak, because it all the same has no value ». The Conflict situation has arisen, when I have asked politicians about Stepan Banderu and assignment to it of an honorary title of the Hero of Ukraine. With unexpected sincerity my interlocutor has told that in his opinion the decision, maybe, really was accepted not during time, but its essence correct because it is necessary to esteem memory of all fighters for independence of Ukraine. When I have rebuked that the main ideologist УПА is responsible for a genocide on the Polish population, I have heard in the answer:« Ф your Army Craiova has killed at least twice more Ukrainians! As you oppressed us so much years!» . I did not wish to provoke quarrel and did not continue conversation. In the end of my interlocutor has stated the hope that the Polish president definitively to apologise for crimes of Poles on the Ukrainian people (my statements that such apologies took place already repeatedly were absolutely useless), and Poland and Ukraine together will be members of the NATO. When Evgen Kirillchenko said goodbye to me, has told that only its candidate is capable to conduct the country «by the Maidan», and has then handed over me the book about crimes of Poles on the Ukrainian people.After visit to a site of a selective staff of Yulia Timoshenko I have decided to go to a local Catholic cathedral believing, what exactly there I can find representatives of the Polish diaspora which – on collected by me зараннее to the data – considers nearby 2000 persons. Really – украински the bishop has accepted me very politely and has acquainted with the chairman of a local Polish community. Mister Valenty Vakulok, the editor-in-chief of magazine „Monitor Wołyński” has invited me in bureau of the organisation of the Volynsk Poles. Our conversation has passed in constructive and pleasant atmosphere. Sir Valenty – the hot supporter of a polsko-Ukrainian language of an armistice, is far from all рессентиментов, and furthermore from any chauvinism. Especially веспокоит its appreciable growth throughout long time ксенофобских and nationalist sentiments among the Ukrainian population of Volhynia which politicians do not hesitate to use цыничные. Because of the unequivocal criticism бандеровского movements to it угражали figures of the different nationalist organisations. We have come to the general conclusion that it is impossible to build the Ukrainian national consciousness by falsification of history and a sacralization of nazi collaborators.

I very much wish to return in the future to Lutsk. I hope that during my following visit to amazing capital of Volhynia this city will show me the beautiful, multi-coloured person of the multicultural centre instead of a disgusting physiognomy zombie of Bandera.

The author is the political scientist, the post-graduate student on Chair of east researches
Institute of political sciences of the Warsaw university
During presidential election is in Ukraine as the participant of observant mission of «CIS-EMO»