In the open letter "A Cry For Justice In Uzhhorod" sent to Yushchenko and published by BosNewsLife News Agency on Monday July 17, the unregistered group ‘Concerned Citizens of Uzhhorod’ urged Yushchenko to end the corruption practices, despite apparent death threats in some cases.
"Despite threats and intimidation the undersigned, simple men and women of faith, decided to share with you our experiences. With judges and police who refuse to do justice because of receiving bribes or political pressure. With Uzhhorod’s Mayor Sergey Ratushnyak and other local officials whose only mission it seems to enrich themselves in a town where houses cry out for a coat of paint, and ordinary people struggle with their every day lives."
In addition there are "prosecutors, who are reluctant to prosecute those misusing their positions, denying justice to people fighting for the democratic transformation of this still troubled nation."
CLOTHING DESIGNER
As an example they mentioned 61-year old Svetlana Milchevich, who last year bought a small piece of land to build a home from the money she earned with her life-long work as a clothing designer. Because her neighbor opposing the construction was a close friend of the current major, authorities and judges allegedly refused to allow her to continue the project.
The neighbor, identified as business man Josif Ivanovich Kostich was able to steal parts of her lend and the plots of other neighbors with the apparent support of the mayor, the residents claimed. Kostich has denied the charges.
"The undersigned have all similar stories as Ms. Milchevich. Judges, police, prosecutors and politicians treat Uzhhorod as their personal empire. They build their villa’s and drive their Western cars. And we know Uzhhorod is not alone. We don’t want to punish the rich if they earn their money with honest business. We too work very hard. All we want, is justice and the Orange Revolution to finally reach our region as well," they said.
JOURNALIST ATTACKED
The open letter came three weeks after an investigative Ukrainian journalist who revealed high level corruption and abuse of power in the Ukrainian border town of Uzhhorod was rushed to hospital after being attacked by supporters of the mayor.
Sergei Romanenko was "beaten up in downtown Uzhhorod" Monday, June 26, shortly after reporting on shady business dealings of Uzhhorod’s Mayor Sergei Ratushnyak, whose name is also spelled as Serhiy Ratushniak, said the journalist’s news website www.ua-reporter.com, of which he is Editor-in-Chief.
Romanenko told BosNewsLife he still needs medical treatment following the attack. He was treated at Uzhhorod’s Regional Hospital with severe injuries, including a concussion of the brain, broken teeth, and torn lips, seen as a sign from the underworld that he should be silent. Deputy Mayor Vladimir Bobkov refused to arrange an interview with Ratushnyak saying he first needed "a list of questions to approve them. I will sue you if you publish this, I prohibit it."
MANY COMPANIES
Ratushnyak owned over 50 companies, including alcohol and soft drink production plants, as well as insurance and banking firms, many of whom he reportedly illegally privatized, either by giving bribes, falsifying documents, or by using violence. Under his previous leadership (from 1994 till 1998) many Uzhhorod citizens also lost properties, including lands and homes, BosNewsLife learned.
Critics claim Ratushnyak came back to power March 28 after being absent for four years, to reclaim companies and properties he lost during an investigation for economic crimes in Uzhhorod, seen as a major gateway for exports to, and imports from, the European Union. Locals have questioned whether the March local elections were free and fair because of the mayor’s reported violent behavior and control over local media.
Besides Romanenko, several other independent local journalists in the Uzhhorod region have been beaten and even killed after apparently trying to cover the involvement of judges, police, municipality departments and nearby customs authorities in the criminal network of Ratushnyak and his allies, human rights watchers say. In 2004, cameraman Ishtvan Kotsanyk of Transcarpathian television channel M-Studio was killed. His murder was never solved.
PLEDGES MADE
In the open letter to President Yushchenko the ‘Concerned Citizens of Uzhhorod’ reminded him to pledges he made during the 2004-2005 Orange Revolution of democracy, including stamping out corruption in border areas.
The group said that while "we are not rich and famous" and “Trail behind the powerful leaders with whom you often meet” the “hard working concerned citizens of Uzhhorod and victims of injustice” had been with him with "prayers and thoughts, supporting your Orange vision to make Ukraine once again a nation of hope and democracy."
Mr. President your [former] Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko once famously said: "Our government has come to the conclusion that Ukraine can never rise on her feet until she bows down her knees before the Almighty God." We also recall how you and your family led our nation in prayer.
We believe that God placed you at this position at a crucial time for our nation. We are proud to have you as our president. But, Mr. Yushenko, we ask you, please here our cries. And help us to renew our faith in our nation. (This story is part of a BosNewsLife initiative to expand coverage on freedom of expression issues in for instance ex-Communist nations).
TEXT OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT: "A CRY FOR JUSTICE IN UZHHOROD"
BUDAPEST/UZHHOROD (BosNewsLife)– Following is the full text of the open letter to Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko obtained by BosNewsLife and published Monday, July 17.
"Dear Mr. President Victor Yushchenko,
We are not rich or famous. We trail behind the powerful leaders with whom you often meet. We are far removed from Kiev. But we, the hard working concerned citizens of Uzhhorod and victims of injustice, have been with you. With our prayers and thoughts, supporting your Orange vision to make Ukraine once again a nation of hope and democracy.
Mr. President, we remember your words during the Orange Revolution when you promised to help Ukraine tackle a phenomena spreading as a cancer throughout the nation, and more specifically, our border town: corruption.
Despite threats and intimidation the undersigned, simple men and women of faith, decided to share with you our experiences. With judges and police who refuse to do justice because of receiving bribes or political pressure. With Uzhhorod’s Mayor Sergey Ratushnyak and other local officials whose only mission it seems to enrich themselves in a town where houses cry out for a coat of paint, and ordinary people struggle with their every day lives.
And with prosecutors, who are reluctant to prosecute those misusing their positions, denying justice to people fighting for the democratic transformation of this still troubled nation. Mr. President, we have all experienced unfair decisions by judges. Some of us lost their jobs, others have lost their homes or lands, because local officials or their friends needed them. From a Carpathian point of view, our struggle often seems an uphill battle.
As an example we mention Svetlana Milchevich ,61, who last year bought a small piece of land to build a home from the money she earned with her life-long work as a clothing designer.
Ms. Milchevich received a building permission from the local municipality issued by Inspector Alexandra Sergeevna Zotova. However one day Inspector Alexandra Sergeevna Zotova suddenly prohibited Ms. Milchevich to continue construction. She said she received complaints from neighbors of Ms. Milchevich and therefore had "to make corrections" to the project, although it was done according to all building regulations and the laws of the land.
We have reasons to believe that she made this decision because the main neighbor opposing the construction, Mr. Josif Ivanovich Kostich, is a close friend and (former) business partner of Uzhhorod’s current Mayor Sergey Ratushnyak, also known as Serhiy Ratushniak.
Part of Ms. Milchevich’s land as well as lands of three other neighbors were illegally privatized by the same person, who used his old mother as a cover. The illegal transactions were done in 1996 when Mr. Ratushnyak was serving his first term as Uzhhorod’s mayor.
Mr. Kostich has beaten up workers and other people, seriously injuring some, and even threatened to kill Ms. Milchevich or anyone else who would dare to continue building the house, even using dangerous dogs. "You will not live here…" he shouted.
Police have refused to intervene saying "no crime is committed," while prosecutors are still "investigating" the attacks and death threats, for about five months. Meanwhile Ms. Milchevich, and others fear for their lives.
Desperate, she was hoping that at least the Court would rule in her favor. But despite hard evidences, Judge Vasily Dmitrevich Andrijtso (case No 2-1816/06) ruled Ms. Milchevich can not construct, despite an already issued and approved building plan. The decision is appealed in the regional court with a hearing expected soon.
In addition, Judge Jury Andreevich Koroly (case No. 2-1065/06) has refused to rule on the return of the land she lost, despite documents that part of the territory was illegally privatized and papers that prove Mr. Kostich is illegally using part of the land of Ms. Milchevich. The decision is appealed in the regional court and we hope a hearing will be held within the next few weeks.
Judge Koroly (case No 2a-373/06) also refused to declare as illegal the inactivity and apparent refusal of the previous mayor Mr. Pogorelov Viktor Victorovich to intervene. The decision was appealed in the regional court, but the appeal judges seemed to show solidarity with their colleague, and confirmed the ruling of judge Koroly. The case has been forwarded to the Ukrainian Supreme Court.
Judge Ivan Nikolaevich Mashkarinets (case No. 2-2077/06) also brought a decision in favor of Mr. Kostich Josif Ivanovich’s mother, although Ms. Milchevich has a mountain of hard evidences to show the illegal activities. The ruling will be appealed in the regional court.
One more case is still not closed by Uzhhorod’s Court: The acknowledgement that the local municipality supported the illegal privatization of land by Mr. Josif Ivanovich Kostich’s mother who privatized a much bigger plot of land than was allowed by Ukrainian law, and also privatized parts of lands from her four neighbors.
Judge Konstantsija Konstantinovna Pisanets (case No. 2a-778/06) is still dealing with the case, but we fear the trial will be postponed. Ms. Milchevich has had a nervous breakdown and says she feels herself as someone shouting in an empty desert, because even judges seem part of a network involved in illegal activities, including apparently taking bribes in whatever form.
Mr. President, the undersigned have all similar stories as Ms. Milchevich. Judges, police, prosecutors and politicians treat Uzhgorod as their personal empire. They build their villa’s and drive their Western cars. And we know Uzhhorod is not alone. We don’t want to punish the rich if they earn their money with honest business. We too work very hard. All we want, is justice and the Orange Revolution to finally reach our region as well.
Mr. President, we dream with you of a different Ukraine. A Ukraine where the rule of law is respected. A Ukraine that will find its rightful place in Europe as a full fledged member of the European Union. Where Western investors feel save and secure to create jobs. We feel it is a tragedy that a relative small group of people currently stop that process in a crucial border area.
Mr. President your [former] Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko once famously said: "Our government has come to the conclusion that Ukraine can never rise on her feet until she bows down her knees before the Almighty God." We also recall how you and your family led our nation in prayer.
We believe that God placed you at this position at a crucial time for our nation. We are proud to have you as our president. But, Mr. Yushenko, we ask you, please here our cries. And help us to renew our faith in our nation.
May God Bless You,
The Concerned Citizens of Uzhhorod
Zakarpatskaya region
Ukraine "
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