Communist bloc demands ouster of Morozov

KYYIV - Members of Parliament who were once members of the Communist Party of Ukraine, which is now banned, have begun circulating a petition demanding the resignation of Minister of Defense Konstantyn Morozov, reported the Respublika news service.

As well, the Communist bloc is calling for the removal of Maj. Gen. Volodymyr Muliava, director of the Defense Ministry's Social-Psychological Service. Both men are depicted by the Communists as ultra-nationalists.

The Ukrainian Republican Party reacted to the petition drive by cautioning the public to beware of Communist fabrications and disinformation.

A URP statement called on the people of Ukraine to defend members of the armed forces who serve Ukraine and who will be able to defend Ukraine from imperialism.

The statement notes that "having emerged from their foxholes," the Communists have begun a new attack, using fabrications and twisting facts, as was done in the worst days of the Communist regime. They attempt to discredit devoted citizens of Ukraine, to seize leading positions in the army and other structures of state power, and, ultimately, to rob Ukraine of its independent statehood, said the URP.

Meanwhile, the president of the Officers' Union of Ukraine, Hryhoriy Omelchenko reported that in the western oblasts of Ukraine bogus leaflets have been distributed. These leaflets, which seem to be issued by the Officers' Union, tout the Ukrainians' supremacy over Russians and Jews. Col. Omelchenko categorically denied his union had issued such materials and called the leaflets a provocation aimed at fomenting inter-ethnic animosity.

The Officers' Union of Ukraine issued a statement condemning such political provocations, which it said are meant to destabilize Ukraine. The union also stated that it supports President Leonid Kravchuk, the government of Ukraine and Defense Minister Morozov, who are working for the defense of Ukraine and the creation of its national armed forces.

The attempt to dismiss Minister Morozov by discrediting him, had begun in the summer of 1992, reported IntelNews. This campaign was approved by certain political and military forces in Russia, in particular those in command of CIS joint military forces, said Col. Omelchenko, explaining that the reason was Gen. Morozov's firm and principled stand on the formation of Ukrainian military forces and their non-participation in CIS military structures.

The 15,000-member Officers' Union expressed its solidarity with the fledgling Anti-Imperial, Anti-Communist Front, whose organizing committee was announced on the initiative of the Ukrainian Republican Party. The front's founding conference is scheduled to take place February 21.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, February 7, 1993, No. 6, Vol. LXI

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