May 4, 2018 Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate 6252 Honolulu Avenue La Crescenta, CA 91214 Tel: (818) 248-7737 Fax: (818) 248-7745 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.westernprelacy.org EPISCOPAL DIVINE LITURGY ON THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. GARABED CHURCH OF HOLLYWOOD St. Garabed Church of Hollywood this year marks its 40th anniversary. On Sunday, April 29, 2018, this milestone anniversary was celebrated with a reception presided over by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate. The celebration was organized by Parish Pastor Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian and the Board of Trustees, and was hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Navasart and Maral Kazazian at their home. Church consecration Godfather Mr. Vahe Karapetian was the event's Honorary President. On this special occasion, on Sunday, May 6, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, will celebrate Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at St. Garabed Church. *** ANNOUNCEMENT "HARUT BARSAMIAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND" ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2018-2019 ACADEMIC YEAR His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, the Executive Council, and the "Harut Barsamian Scholarship Fund" Committee announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2018-2019 academic year. The Fund was established by the late Prof. Harut Barsamian to assist students of Armenian descent obtain higher education in the United States in scientific fields of study. Application packet must include: 1. Brief biography, resume, students photo, and information on community involvement. Applicants must also note a concern regarding the Armenian Diaspora and what he/she proposes to rectify that concern/challenge. 2. Proof of acceptance or enrollment at a college/university in the United States 3. Student ID 4. Official transcript and preferably a letter of recommendation Applications (complete package) must be received by Monday, July 2nd, 2018 at the following address: Harut Barsamian Scholarship Fund c/o Western Prelacy 6252 Honolulu Ave. La Crescenta, CA 91214 WESTERN PRELACY TIVAN CLERGY CONFERENCE HELD AHEAD OF WESTERN PRELACY 46TH REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY Ahead of the Western Prelacy 46th Representative Assembly and in preparation for a new term of service, on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, a clergy conference was held at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino presided by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate. The day began with a prayer service and a spiritual meditation by the Prelate. His Eminence first greeted the clergy and once again congratulated Vicar General H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan on his recent Episcopal ordination. The theme of the meditation was Romans 12:2, which gives the message to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Renewal necessitates living in the example of Christ, it begins with a conscious awareness of the mission we are called to, and renewal of the mind comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit, said the Prelate, and called for the clergy to serve our church and nation with renewed faith and devotion. The conference convened at "Yeghia Sarafian" Hall with opening remarks by the Prelate, who wished for the day's proceedings to be beneficial for all and lead to renewed spirits and drive. The election of the tivan followed; Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian served as Chair and Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian as Secretary. Fr. Muron also expressed his wish for the conference to be fruitful and impel all in their mission. The Religious Council report to be presented at the Representative Assembly was reviewed and participants offered their input. The second session convened after lunch. The Vicar General presented a lecture on spiritual renewal highlighting the message of Ephesians chapter 4. "Renewal is an ongoing process. It has a beginning but no end. When it comes to our faith especially, we are always in need of renewal," said the Vicar General, who then presented the ten-year plan of action for reorganization and revitalization which was prepared by a special committee and whose work continues. The Prelate shared his thoughts and suggestions, and clergy participated in the discussion by sharing their ideas and experiences. The remainder of the session included the presentation of reports by parish pastors, plans for the centennial celebration of the first Republic of Armenia and forthcoming feasts, drafting of suggestions to present to the Representative Assembly, election of religious delegates to the Assembly, and unforeseen matters. Given that the Prelate was to participate in a meeting of the In Defense of Christians Religious Advisory Board, the Vicar General delivered the closing message commending the service of the clergymen and urging for their service to be rooted in devotion and mutual respect. The conference concluded with the singing of the hymn "Disciples of Christ," Cilicia, and the Pontifical anthem, followed by the benediction. *** ST. GARABED CHURCH 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION On the afternoon of Sunday, April 29, 2018, a reception in celebration of the 40th anniversary of St. Garabed Church of Hollywood was held at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Navasart and Maral Kazazian under the auspices of and presided by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, and organized by the Parish Pastor Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian and Board of Trustees. Church consecration Godfather Mr. Vahe Karapetian was the event's Honorary President. His Eminence was joined by H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan. In attendance was Catholicosate Central Executive member Mr. Gaidzag Zetlian, Executive Council member Dr. Kaloust Agopian, ARF Central Committee member Mr. Garo Ispenjian and "Karekin Njteh" Gomideh representatives, altar benefactor Mr. and Mrs. Hagop and Haiguhi Daglian, Rose and Alex Pilibos School Principal Dr. Alina Dorian, members of the church and school family, sponsors and friends. The program began with welcoming remarks by MC Mrs. Tamar Tufenkjian-Seraydarian, who greeted the guests and briefly reflected on the role of the Armenian Apostolic Church in our society. A group of students from Pilibos School participated in the celebration with songs and recitations. Dr. Navasart Kazazian welcomed the guests and thanked all those who contribute their moral and financial support to the advancement of St. Garabed Church. Fr. Vicken expressed gratitude to the Prelate and thanks to the guests, church members and volunteers, sister organizations, and sponsors, after which he highlighted St. Garabed Church's mission and service to the community over the past four decades. Given that the Prelate was to attend the ARS Montebello "Nairy" Chapter's 50th anniversary celebration, he delivered his message early in the program and conveyed his congratulations and commendation to the parish family. Referencing the day's feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross, he noted that the Armenian people have for centuries trusted in the power of the Holy Cross and looked to the Holy Cross for inspiration and guidance. His Eminence stated that this anniversary is an opportunity for all to become renewed and strengthened in their journey of faith and service, and highlighted four points in this regards. First, he urged for faithfulness to God and humility, love, and devotion in our service. Second, to be grateful for those who came before us, who served with faith, hope, and love. Third, to find joy in our present successes, and finally, to look to an even brighter future with faith and hope. In his remarks, Mr. Vahe Karapetian conveyed his congratulations and invited all to continue to lend their valuable support to St. Garabed Church. Bishop Torkom Donoyan delivered closing remarks. He highlighted the Armenian Church's mission of defending and promoting our Christian faith and national identity over the centuries, stressing that the Armenian Church is not only a bastion of our faith but also of culture and enlightenment, and stating, "where there is a church, there the Armenian people are strong." The reception concluded with the cake cutting and the benediction. *** VICAR GENERAL BISHOP TORKOM DONOYAN CELEBRATES FIRST EPISCOPAL DIVINE LITURGY AT ST. MARY'S CHURCH IN GLENDALE On Sunday, April 29, 2018, H.G. Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Vicar General, celebrated his first Episcopal Divine Liturgy at St. Mary's Church in Glendale following his ordination and consecration by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over Divine Liturgy, which was attended by Catholicosate Central Executive member Mr. Gaidzag Zetlian, Executive Council Chair Mr. Vahe Hovaguimian, Vice-Chair and ordination godfather Mr. Garo Eshgian, and Council members, representatives of community organizations, and a large number of faithful. Bishop Torkom was assisted at the altar by Archpriest Fr. Vazken Atmajian, Rev. Fr. Ardak Demirjian, and deacons. In his address to the faithful, the Prelate thanked God for the blessing of the day and reflected on the ordination ceremony in which he participated and which Executive Council and community members attended. He congratulated Bishop Torkom, wished for the living message of the feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross to strengthen in him the spirit of love and sacrifice as he continues his service for the advancement of our church and nation, and wished him good health, strength, and vigor in his calling as a servant of God. He concluded by greeting the members of the Executive Council and commending Mr. and Mrs. Garo and Sosse Eshgian who graciously took on the role of ordination godfather. Bishop Torkom began his message by thanking God for making him worthy of receiving Episcopal ordination and prayed for the Lord's strength and guidance in the lives of all according to their faith. He conveyed his gratitude to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I for finding him worthy of the episcopate, which will spur him in his service for the prosperity of our church and nation, and with brotherly love greeted the Prelate, wishing him many bright years to come. He thanked also clergy and Executive Council members, in particular his godfather, and all those who offered support and prayers on his ordination. Bishop Torkom thereafter delivered his sermon on the feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross, praying for the Holy Cross of our Savior to bring blessings, guidance, and strengthening of faith to all. Next, he spoke on true Christian love, stating, "God is love, He is the essence of love. And out of the abundance of His love He created the universe and mankind, and granted the gift of love to man. Indeed He loved mankind so much, that He sacrificed His Son for our sins. God's love is greater than man's sin and evil. His love made us worthy to be temples of His Holy Spirit. Christianity is a religion of love, and love is the greatest virtue a Christian faithful can possess." He concluded by urging the faithful to exceed one another in loving God and to serve our church and nation with utmost love. At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, faithful had the opportunity to receive the blessings of Bishop Torkom. A reception followed at "Armenak Der Bedrossian" Hall. *** 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE ARS "NAIRY" CHAPTER OF MONTEBELLO On Sunday, April 29, 2018, the ARS "Nairy" Chapter of Montebello celebrated its 50th anniversary, the 37th anniversary of its Saturday School, and 20th anniversary of its Pre-School with a gala held at Holy Cross Cathedral's "Bagramian" Hall. H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, accompanied by Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, attended and conveyed his message. Among the guests in attendance were ARF Central Committee member Mr. Levon Kirakosian, Executive Council member Mr. Antranik Kasbarian, members of the "Tro" Gomideh and Holy Cross Cathedral Board of Trustees, sponsors and friends. The program began with the American, Armenian, and ARS anthems. Ms. Rita Topalian and Ms. Khatoune Pakradouni served as the evening's MCs. The "Nairy" Chapter message was delivered by Ms. Sona Fundukian, followed by the presentation of proclamations by elected officials and the invocation by Fr. Muron. On behalf of the "Nairy" Chapter, awards were presented to Preschool Director Lilit Barsegyan and Saturday School Principal Naira Ouzounian. The ARS Regional Executive's message was delivered by Ms. Silva Poladian. The Prelate began his message by congratulating the ARS family on the various milestones anniversaries being celebrated this year, the centennial of the Hollywood "Mayr" Chapter, the 60th anniversary of the San Fernando Valley "Anahid" Chapter, the 50th anniversary of the "Nairy" Chapter, and the 35th anniversary of the ARS Western Regional Executive. His Eminence presented a letter of blessing and commendation in which he lauded the members of the "Nairy" Chapter for their faithful and exemplary service as well as the ARS Western Regional Executive and the entire ARS family, stating that this celebration is a joy and triumph for all. The Prelate highlighted the "Nairy" Chapter's indispensable role in the life of the Montebello community through its invaluable moral and financial support to Mesrobian School, through its founding of a Saturday School and Pre-School, and through countless other endeavors. "A resounding job well done to you all, to the devoted members and to the generous sponsors. We are certain that you will continue to thrive in your noble mission and reach even greater heights so long as you continue to work together with faith, love, goodwill, and utmost dedication as you have been for all these years," he concluded. The program continued with more award presentations. On behalf of the ARS Central Executive and Regional Executive respectively, Ms. Rita Hintlian and Ms. Silva Poladian recognized "Nairy" Chapter members with fifty years of service. Ms. Olga Kirakossian was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Central Executive. A candle-lighting ceremony concluded the official program. The celebration continued with musical entertainment. *** COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND TRIBUTE TO MARIA JACOBSEN IN SOLVANG By the initiative of the Friends of Maria Jacobsen committee, on Sunday, April 29, 2018, a special tribute was held at Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang honoring the life of Danish missionary Maria Jacobsen who saved thousands of Armenian orphans during the Armenian Genocide and later founded the Bird's Nest Orphanage in Jbeil, Lebanon, to house and care for the young orphans. On behalf of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, Rev. Fr. Movses Shannakian participated in the commemoration. The day began with a worship service, followed by a memorial service in memory of Maria Jacobsen in front of the bust sculpture in the church courtyard. Opening remarks were delivered by organizing committee Chair Dr. Garbis Der Yeghiayan. Fr. Movses offered a prayer in memory of Maria Jacobsen and delivered his remarks stating "On this beautiful day, we have gathered here to join in prayer for the souls of our holy martyrs and to renew our pledge to persevere in our cause until we reach a just resolution of recognition, reparations, and justice. We are thankful to the nations and states that have recognized the Armenian Genocide as the irrefutable fact that it is, and to organizations and people like Maria Jacobsen who opened their hearts and arms to aid the Armenian people," he said. Pastor Chris Brown from Bethania Lutheran Church conveyed his message, stating "We are all brothers and sisters and children of God, no matter Armenian or Danish. Genocide and crimes against humanity shall never go unpunished and we must stand united in times of trials and tribulations." The service ended with singing of "Cilicia." The attendees were then treated to a fellowship lunch hosted by the organizing committee. *** ARMENIAN AMERICAN MEDICAL SOCIETY 33RD ANNIVERSARY GALA On Saturday, April 28, 2018, the Armenian American Medical Society celebrated its 33rd anniversary with a gala held at the Loews Hollywood Hotel, proceeds of which were allocated to the health care needs of wounded soldiers of the Artsakh war. On this occasion, the AAMS honored Prof. Ara Babloyan, Dr. Simon Keushkerian, Dr. Raffi Minasian, and the former Ladies Auxiliary for their years of service and contributions to the field of medicine. H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, accompanied by Archpriest Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian, attended and delivered his message. The program began with welcoming remarks by the evening's MCs, Dr. Vicken Sepilian and Ms. Helen Kalognomos, followed by the national anthems. In his message, the Prelate lauded the Armenian American Medical Society's valuable mission and the devoted service of its members and all of our healthcare professionals "who have dedicated their lives to making a positive difference in the lives of others, who invest their time and talents for the wellbeing of others, and who day in and day out carry the massive weight of our care and our health on their shoulders." He blessed and commended also the evening's honorees for their valuable service and contributions as well as the sponsors and guests for their moral and financial support, wishing continued successes to all. The program continued with remarks by AAMS Vice-President Dr. Kevin Galstyan and President Dr. Armond Kotikian, the presentation of awards, and cultural performances. *** WELCOMING RECEPTION FOR LEBANESE CONSUL GENERAL MIRNA KHAWLY On the evening of Friday, April 27, 2018, a reception in honor of the new Consul General of Lebanon in Los Angeles, the Honorable Mirna Khawly, was held at the California Club in Los Angeles hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Harry and Cheryl Nadjarian and a group of Lebanese-Americans and Lebanese-Armenians. H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, attended and once again conveyed his congratulations and well wishes to the Consul General. On Sunday, April 29, the Lebanese Diaspora, including Lebanese-Armenians in Los Angeles, voted in the country's Parliamentary elections. The Prelate cast his vote and had the opportunity to meet with the Consul General and Armenian members of the election committee. *** PRELACY PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE On Thursday, May 3rd, 2018, events were held across the United States in observance of National Day of Prayer, which is observed annually on the first Thursday of May. As in previous years, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and First Lady Amy Wakeland hosted an interfaith celebration at the Getty House on this occasion. Representing H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, at the event were Rev. Fr. Movses Shannakian and Chaplain Rafi Garabedian. The program featured remarks by the Mayor and First Lady, prayers for city leaders, the homeless, and the collective faith community, and a panel discussion on "Building the bridge through faith." ***
Author: Yeghisabet Vorskanian
Azerbaijani press: Russian MFA recommends to avoid crowded places in Yerevan
17:56 (UTC+04:00)
Baku, Azerbaijan, April 23
Trend:
The Russian Foreign Ministry has once again recommended Russians to avoid crowded places in Armenia's capital city Yerevan, where rallies continue, RIA Novosti reported.
"There is a growing confrontation between government forces and the opposition. Protests continue in Yerevan. It is recommended to avoid crowded places," reads a message posted on Twitter page of the Russian Foreign Ministry's situational crisis center.
Mass rallies broke out in Yerevan and other Armenian cities on April 13 following former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s nomination as prime minister. The opposition accuses him of ineffective governance and worsening the economic situation in the country.
Despite the protests, Armenia’s parliament elected Sargsyan as prime minister on April 17. On April 19, opposition members tried to disrupt the new Cabinet of Ministers’ meeting, blocking entrances to government facilities and marching down Yerevan streets.
About 3,000 people took part in a rally in the evening. As many as 123 people were arrested over the day.
On April 23, Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan resigned.
Over 907 million AMD embezzled during implementation of EU grant programs in Armenia: 19 charged over incident
Category
Society
The preliminary investigation of the criminal case on embezzlement of grants provided by the EU Delegation to Armenia to a number of NGOs has been completed in the general department of investigations of the Investigative Committee, the Investigative Committee reported.
As a result of large-scale investigative operations sufficient evidence was obtained according to which during 2009-2016 a group of people developed grant programs with an initial agreement, acquired already registered NGOs through which the programs have been submitted to the grant programs assessment competition announced by the EU Delegation to Armenia. The submitted programs were approved with the support of the employee of the EU Delegation, and the funds for the implementation of programs were provided.
The aforementioned persons formed false accounting, financial-economic and program documents, in particular, fake labor, service contracts, documents for purchase of goods, fake documents for business trips based on which they have stolen large sums of money provided for the implementation of the programs.
Based on the investigation sufficient proofs were obtained that embezzlement were made over 18 grant programs funded by the EU Delegation, and the total money embezzled comprises 907.281.869.7 AMD.
19 people were charged over this incident.
Azerbaijani forces open gunfire at civilians in Armenian border town, countermeasures used to suppress attack
ArmenPress, Armenia
Azerbaijani forces open gunfire at civilians in Armenian border town, countermeasures used to suppress attack
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani military opened gunfire at a civilian cargo vehicle in the town of Baghanis (close to the Azerbaijani border) in Armenia’s Tavush province late in the evening of April 12.
The Armenian Armed Forces suppressed the gunfire with countermeasures, Armenian defense ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan said on Facebook.
“The vehicle was damaged, but fortunately the [civilian] driver was not wounded. The adversary was silenced after the countermeasure gunfire of the Armenian military”, Hovhannisyan said.
Earlier on April 9, the Azerbaijani armed forces had once again targeted the small Armenian town near the border, killing livestock of farmers.
English –translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan
Sports: Reuters: Just 2 weightlifters to represent Armenia for the 2020 Tokyo Games
MediaMax, Armenia
Reuters: Just 2 weightlifters to represent Armenia for the 2020 Tokyo Games
The agency writes that the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has made a decision, according to which any nation with 20 or more doping violations from 2008 to 2020 will have just one man and one woman at the Games.
The list involves Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Belarus, which have already registered a number of disqualified athletes.
Let us remind that in 2008-2012 tests of several Armenian athletes revealed prohibited substances, while at the beginning of 2018 only one Armenian athlete’s doping test showed positive result.
The new policy has been approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Book: Fishkill author’s ‘Roman Armenia’ traces history of genocide
Poughkeepsie Journal, NY
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Please find the attached press release of the Ministry of Diaspora. Sincerely, Media and PR Department (+374 10) 585601, internal 805 ---------------------- Հարգանքով` Մամուլի և հասարակայնության հետ կապերի վարչություն (+374 10) 585601, ներքին 805
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Sports: Mkhitaryan offered to Manchester City
Daily Cannon
April 7 2018
Mkhitaryan came to Arsenal in exchange for Alexis Sanchez and has spoken about his delight at moving to London.
“Two months ago he (Raiola) offered me (Henrikh) Mkhitaryan and Pogba to play with us,” Guardiola told the press ahead of the Manchester derby which could see City lift the title against Jose Mourinho. “He was interested in Mkhitaryan and Pogba to play with us. Pogba is an incredible player. A top, top player.”
President Sargsyan is the best candidate for Prime Minister, says minister Lokyan
Category
Politics
Minister of territorial administration and development Davit Lokyan says incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan is the best candidate for the future Prime Minister.
During the meeting with reporters asked whether he sees President Serzh Sargsyan as the best candidate for the post of the Prime Minister, minister Lokyan said: “Yes, I see. Many factor conditions of today’s Armenia dictate the presence of an experienced person in that post”.
At the same time the minister noted that the right to nominate candidate for the PM fully belongs to the Republican Party which is majority.
https://en.168.am/2018/03/29/23404.html
The power of Ukraine’s famine
The Globe and Mail (Canada)
Saturday
The power of Ukraine’s famine
Anne Applebaum
Contributed to The Globe and Mail
Kiev, 2003: Some 2,000 people with Ukrainan flags and Orthodox gonfalons are seen through the monument to victims of the country's 1932-34 famine. Millions of people died in the famine engineered by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
ANDREI LUKATSKY/Associated Press
Anne Applebaum’s latest book is Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine, from which this essay is adapted.
Those who lived through the Ukrainian famine always described it, once they were allowed to describe it, as an act of state aggression. The peasants who experienced the searches and the blacklists remembered them as a collective assault on themselves and their culture. The Ukrainians who witnessed the arrests and murders of intellectuals, academics, writers and artists remembered them in the same way, as a deliberate attack on their national elite.
The archival record backs up the intuition of the survivors. Neither crop failure nor bad weather alone caused the famine in Ukraine. Although the chaos of collectivization helped create the conditions that led to famine, the high numbers of deaths in Ukraine in 1932-34, and especially the spike in casualties in the spring of 1933, were not caused directly by collectivization. Starvation was the result, rather, of the forcible removal of food from people’s homes; the road blocks that kept peasants from seeking work or food; the harsh rules of the blacklists imposed on farms and villages; the restrictions on barter and trade; and the vicious propaganda campaign designed to persuade Ukrainians to watch, unmoved, as their neighbours died of hunger.
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Joseph Stalin did not seek to kill all Ukrainians, nor did all Ukrainians resist. On the contrary, some Ukrainians collaborated, both actively and passively, with the Soviet project. But Stalin did seek to physically eliminate the most active and engaged Ukrainians, in both the countryside and the cities. He understood the consequences of both the famine and the simultaneous wave of mass arrests in Ukraine as they were happening. So did the people closest to him, including the leading Ukrainian Communists.
Joseph Stalin, shown in 1946, seven years before his death.
Associated Press
At the time it took place, there was no word to describe a state-sponsored assault on an ethnic group or nation and no international law that defined it as a particular kind of crime. But once the word “genocide” came into use in the late 1940s, many sought to apply it to the famine and the accompanying purges in Ukraine. Their efforts were complicated at the time, and are complicated still, by multiple interpretations of the word “genocide” – a legal and moral category rather than a historical one – as well as by the convoluted and constantly shifting politics of Russia and Ukraine.
In a very literal sense, the concept of genocide has its origins in Ukraine, specifically in the Polish-Jewish-Ukrainian city of L’viv. Raphael Lemkin, the legal scholar who invented the word – he combined the Greek word “genos,” meaning race or nation, with the Latin word for killing, “cide” – studied law at the University of L’viv. Although he left for Warsaw in 1929, Lemkin wrote in his autobiography that he was inspired to think about genocide by the history of his region and a long tradition of invaders who sought to attack not just people but their “political and social institutions, of culture, language, national feelings, religion.” In a 1953 essay, he described Soviet policy in Ukraine as “genocidal.” Ukrainian elites, he wrote, are “small and easily eliminated, and so it is upon these groups particularly that the full force of the Soviet axe has fallen, with its familiar tools of mass murder, deportation and forced labour, exile and starvation.”
Had the concept of genocide remained a scholarly and intellectual category, there would be no argument today. According to Lemkin’s definition, the Holodomor was a genocide – as it is by most intuitive understandings of the word. But the concept of genocide became part of international law in a completely different context: that of the Nuremberg trials and the legal debates that followed.
Lemkin served as adviser to the chief counsel at Nuremberg, Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, and, thanks to his advocacy, the term was used at the trial. After Nuremberg ended, many felt, for reasons of both morality and realpolitik, that the term ought to be enshrined in the United Nations’ basic documents.
But Cold War politics shaped the drafting of the UN convention on genocide far more than Lemkin’s scholarship. The Soviet Union, knowing it could be considered guilty of carrying out genocide against political groups, ensured that the definition of genocide was organically bound up with Fascism-Nazism and other similar race theories.
When the convention finally passed, the legal definition was narrow, and it was interpreted even more narrowly in the years that followed. In practice, genocide, as defined by the UN documents, came to mean the physical elimination of an entire ethnic group, in a manner similar to the Holocaust. Because the Soviet Union itself helped shape the language, it has become difficult to classify any Soviet crimes, including the Holodomor, from being classified as genocide.
This difficulty has not stopped a series of Ukrainian governments from trying to do so – or many governments from joining them. The first attempt followed the Orange Revolution of 2004 – a series of street protests in Kiev against a stolen election, corruption and perceived Russian influence in Ukrainian politics. Those protests led to the election of Viktor Yushchenko, the first president of Ukraine without a Communist Party pedigree. Mr. Yushchenko made references to the Holodomor in his inaugural speech and created a National Memory Institute with Holodomor research at its heart. He also lobbied for the United Nations and other international institutions to recognize the Holodomor as a genocide.
Open this photo in gallery
Top: Viktor Yushchenko, then an opposition presidential candidate, speaks to thousands of supporters in Kiev in 2004. Bottom: Mr. Yushchenko, then Ukraine's president, looks at a picture during the opening of an exhibition in Kiev in 2005, as the country holds ceremonies honouring the victims of the Holodomor.
Associated Press, Reuters
He understood the power of the famine as a unifying national memory for Ukrainians, especially because it had been so long denied. He undoubtedly “politicized” it, in the sense that he used political tools to draw more attention to the story. But he stopped short of using the famine to antagonize Ukraine’s Russian neighbours. At the 75th anniversary Holodomor commemoration ceremony in 2008, as on other occasions, Mr. Yushchenko went out of his way to avoid blaming the Russian people for the tragedy:
“We appeal to everyone, above all the Russian Federation, to be true, honest and pure before their brothers in denouncing the crimes of Stalinism and the totalitarian Soviet Union … We were all together in the same hell. We reject the brazen lie that we are blaming any one people for our tragedy. This is untrue. There is one criminal: the imperial, communist Soviet regime.”
The Russian political establishment, which was by the mid-2000s recovering its own imperial ambitions in the region, nevertheless insisted on interpreting Mr. Yushchenko’s campaign as an attack. Pro-Russian groups inside Ukraine followed the Russian state’s lead: In 2006, a group of Russian nationalist thugs, led by a member of the local Communist Party, entered the office of Volodymyr Kalinichenko, a historian who wrote about the famine in the Kharkiv region, kicked at locked doors and shouted threats. In 2008, the Russian media denounced the Holodomor commemorations as “Russophobic,” and then-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev turned down an invitation to attend, dismissing talk of the “so-called Holodomor” as “immoral.” Behind the scenes, Mr. Medvedev threatened other leaders in the region, advising them not to vote for a motion designating the Holodomor as a genocide at the United Nations. According to Prince Andrew of Britain, Mr. Medvedev told the president of Azerbaijan that he could “forget about Nagorno-Karabakh,” a region disputed by Azerbaijan and Armenia, unless he voted against the motion.
The historiography of the famine also became controversial inside Ukraine. Mr. Yushchenko had put the famine at the centre of his historical and cultural policy. But his opponent and successor, Viktor Yanukovych – a pro-Russian president elected in 2010 with open Russian financial and political support – abruptly reversed that policy. Mr. Yanukovych removed references to the Holodomor from the presidential website, replaced the head of the National Memory Institute with a former Communist historian and stopped using the word “genocide” to describe the famine.
He continued to speak of the famine as a “tragedy” and continued to hold annual commemoration ceremonies. He did not stop or harass archival researchers, as President Vladimir Putin did in Russia at about the same time, although many feared he would. Nevertheless, the president’s change of tone and emphasis enraged his political opponents. In particular, his refusal to use the word “genocide” was widely dismissed as a gesture of deference to Russia (it is notable that Mr. Medvedev did finally visit a Holodomor memorial in Kiev in 2010, during the Yanukovych presidency, perhaps as a reward for the toned-down language). One group of citizens even tried to take Mr. Yanukovych to court for “genocide denial.” His disastrous presidency further discredited all his policies, including his historical ones. He systematically undermined Ukrainian political institutions and engaged in corruption on an extraordinary scale. He fled the country in February, 2014, after his police shot more than 100 protesters dead in Kiev’s Maidan square during an extended protest against his rule.
His disgrace left its mark on the public historical debate. Thanks to the politics that swirled around it, the word “genocide” became a kind of identity tag in Ukrainian politics, a term that could mark those who used it as partisans of one political party and those who did not as partisans of another. The problem worsened in the spring of 2014, when the Russian government produced a caricature “genocide” argument to justify its own behaviour. During the Russian invasions of Crimea and eastern Ukraine, Russian-backed separatists and Russian politicians both said their illegal interventions were a “defence against genocide” – meaning the “cultural genocide” that “Ukrainian Nazis” were supposedly carrying out against Russian speakers in Ukraine.
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensified, attacks on the history and historiography also worsened. In August, 2015, Russian-backed separatists destroyed a monument to the victims of the famine in the occupied eastern Ukrainian town of Snizhne. That same month, Sputnik News, a Russian government propaganda website, published an article in English titled “Holodomor Hoax.” It presented views reminiscent of the Soviet era, calling the famine “one of the 20th century’s most famous myths and vitriolic pieces of anti-Soviet Propaganda.”
By 2016, the arguments had come full circle. The post-Soviet Russian state was once again in full denial: The Holodomor did not happen, and only “Nazis” would claim that it did. All of these arguments muddied the application of the word “genocide” so successfully that to use it in any Russian or Ukrainian context is wearyingly controversial. People feel exhausted by the debate – which was, perhaps, the point of the Russian assault on the historiography of the famine in the first place.
And yet, the genocide debate, so fierce a decade ago, has subsided for other reasons, too. The accumulation of evidence has changed the conversation. That the famine happened, that it was deliberate and that it was part of a political plan to undermine Ukrainian identity is becoming more widely accepted, in Ukraine as well as in Western academic circles, whether or not an international court confirms it.
Slowly, the debate is also becoming less important to Ukrainians. In truth, the legal arguments about the famine and genocide were often proxy arguments. Their real subject was Ukraine, Ukrainian sovereignty and Ukraine’s right to exist. The discussion of a famine was a way of insisting on Ukraine’s right to a separate national history.
Ukraine’s patient diplomacy, the state’s dogged pursuit of recognition of the famine as a genocide, has its place. The legal definition of the word has been interpreted too narrowly. If only to undermine the Soviet definition of the term, in due course, all Western states should recognize the Ukrainian famine, along with the persecution and mass murder of other ethnic groups in the Soviet Union, as a genocide. But now – after more than a quarter-century of independence, two street revolutions and a Russian invasion that was finally halted by a Ukrainian army – sovereignty is a fact, not a theory that requires historical justification, or any justification at all. Ukraine’s resurrection is a triumph over Stalinism – and Ukraine’s persistence is a triumph over Putinism, too.
Anne Applebaum’s Red Famine is this year’s winner of the Lionel Gelber Prize, a literary award for the world’s best non-fiction book in English on foreign affairs, presented in partnership with the Lionel Gelber Foundation, Foreign Policy magazine and the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. Ms. Applebaum will receive her award and give a free public lecture at the Munk School on April 17.