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Pancake Week, eek, the end-of bration winter celebration with pagan roots, gets under way. In trawman the end, a strawman symbol of winter (at ned. Read right) is burned. e events all about the ation in the and celebration ction on Lifestyle section page 18.
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vol. 16, issue 8
February 25, 2011
London Judge Dismisses Firtash Lawsuit Against Kyiv Post Kyiv Postt Staff – A London judge on Feb. 24 dismissed wsuit filed by a libel lawsuit Ukrainian billionaire Dmytro inst the Firtash against Kyiv Post, saying that the link to sdiction English jurisdiction us in the was “tenuous extreme.” Observers hour hearof the two-hour ing in the High Court in London said the judge also called the Firtash inst the Kyiv lawsuit against st an abuse Post “almost of process.” The orall ruling by High Court Master John Leslie, to be followed ten order, by a written roceedings may end proceedings in the case involving a July 2 Kyiv Æ14
From left: Oliver Spence, Boyko Boev and Mushegh Yekmalyan of Article 19, a London-based group that defends free speech, hold up a banner in support of the Kyiv Post outside The Royal Court of Justice in London on Feb. 24. (George Torode)
Disappointed with corruption, EU holds up aid to Ukraine BY Y U R I Y O N YS H K I V ONYSHKIV@KYIVPOST.COM
The European Union temporarily froze plans to give more than $100 million dollars in financial assistance to Ukraine, citing failure by the nation’s leadership to curb corruption in state procurements and adopt legislation establishing more transparency in purchases worth billions of dollars. Ukraine’s failure to improve the notoriously opaque state procurement
Inside:
system, along with the EU’s retaliation by freezing the assistance, represents a financial and political blow to President Viktor Yanukovych. The development also raises questions about Yanukovych’s commitment to adopting democratic reforms that are needed to more closely integrate Ukraine with the 27-nation bloc, a goal he repeatedly says remains a priority. At stake is a total of $159 million in grant money to improve Ukraine’s transportation infrastructure Æ10
News Æ 2, 10, 13 – 15 Opinion Æ 4, 5, 12
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INSIDE: • Azarov tells business leaders that nation is on right track. Page 7.
Lutsenko: Tymoshenko ties get you arrested BY Y U R I Y O N YSH K I V
• • Heavy fines under new tax code start July 1. Page 6 • ArcelorMittal, biggest steel mill, gets tough treatment from government. Page 7
ONYSHKIV@KYIVPOST.COM
In an interview with the Kyiv Post and Glavred, ex-Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko – jailed since December on charges of overpaying his former official driver and other alleged misspending of the state budget – talked about the charges he is facing, which he describes as politically motivated and ordered by President Viktor Yanukovych. Below are excerpts:
Business Æ 6 – 9, 11
Employment/Real Estate/ Lifestyle Æ 17 – 29, 32 Classifieds Æ 30, 31
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Kyiv Post: In your opinion, who gave the order to arrest you? Yuriy Lutsenko: There are more than enough political prisoners here in Lukiyanivka [pre-trial detention jail]. So, there is one answer to that – this is the result of orders from the very top. KP: Do you think that arrest may be a tool to sure ex-Prime Minister Tymoshenko? YL: My arrest is part of the
your presYulia
Æ10