Author of book about Gongadze case addresses Detroit-area audience (04/20/03)

Author of book about Gongadze case addresses Detroit-area audience

WARREN, Mich. - The Detroit branch of Americans for Democracy in Ukraine, Inc. (ADU), and its project dubbed Ukrainian Textbooks for Ukrainian Schools in Eastern Ukraine hosted a book launch on Saturday, March 8, for Jaroslav Koshiw, the author of the recently published book "Beheaded," which investigates the unsolved kidnapping and murder of independent journalist Heorhii Gongadze in 2000.

In this well-documented book, Mr. Koshiw gives a factual report on the lives of Mr. Gongadze, Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma and Mykola Melnychenko, Mr. Kuchma's former security officer, whose secret recordings of the president's conversations gave rise to many of the administration's problems, both domestically and abroad.

The book examines the evidence that points to President Kuchma's direct involvement in and responsibility for the killing of Mr. Gongadze. Mr. Koshiw carried out his investigation of the Gongadze case in Ukraine for a period of eight months, interviewing key witnesses.

This fascinating book by Mr. Koshiw, a former deputy editor of the Kyiv Post, reads like a spy novel, but is not fiction. It is a historical exposé of events that occurred in Ukraine. The English-language book is currently being translated into Ukrainian. At the book launch, Mr. Koshiw spoke in Ukrainian and read excerpts from the newly translated book. Afterwards, he took questions from the audience.

Mr. Koshiw, received a memento from the ADU, a beautiful hand-crafted cherry-wood pen made by artisan-engineer Roman Stefaniuk. A former resident of Detroit, Mr. Koshiw belonged to Plast and the Ukrainian Sports Club Chernyk, both of which honored him with a presentation of their 50th anniversary books.

The author now resides in London, England, where he took part in the making of two TV documentaries on Chornobyl for HTV-Wales. In addition, he has undertaken many other journalistic endeavors. "Beheaded" is his third book. The first two, also of a political nature, were written under a pseudonym to protect his identity. Mr. Koshiw, said that he felt he must put his name to the book "Beheaded" to add validity to his research and give honor to the slain journalist Mr. Gongadze.

"Beheaded" may be purchased for $25 with a credit card from www.artemiapress.co.uk. The price includes the airmail postage to any address in the United States.

Mr. Koshiw donated the proceeds of his book launch to the Detroit ADU's Ukrainian Schools in Eastern Ukraine project, which raises money for the purchase of Ukrainian textbooks for Ukrainian-language schools in Eastern Ukraine. The project's goal is to be help preserve the Ukrainian language in schools. Ukrainian as the language of instruction is hampered by the lack of Ukrainian-language textbooks. While the textbooks are in stock, schools and parents are financially unable to purchase them. Consequently, Russian textbooks remain entrenched in schools.

Through the generosity of many contributors, the ADU has already purchased Ukrainian textbooks for two schools in Ukraine. The first school to receive Ukrainian-language textbooks was in the only Ukrainian school in the city of Yalta. The 400 students attending the school stand in their classrooms because the government will not pay for desks in a Ukrainian school. Nonetheless, there is a waiting list of 200 children who would like to attend this school.

The committee for Ukrainian Textbooks for Ukrainian Schools in Eastern Ukraine hopes to collect funds this spring to buy books needed for the fall.

Donations may be sent to: ADU-Detroit Branch, Textbook Project, P.O. Box 888, Warren, Ml 48090.

Detroit ADU activists also advise they are willing to help anyone interested in starting their own city ADU branch to help raise money for Ukrainian Textbooks for Ukrainian Schools in Eastern Ukraine.

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