Update to Response to Information Request UKR16431.E of 25 February 1994 on the Ukrainian National Self-Defence (UNSO) organization, on the number of factions within the organization, on which ones are legal or illegal, and on whether there is any connection with authorities [UKR20649.E]

According to Reuters, the Ukrainian justice ministry registered the Ukrainian National Assembly (UNA) as a political party in December 1994 (30 Dec. 1994); the Ukrainian National Self-Defence (UNSO) organization is reportedly the military wing of the UNA (ibid.). Earlier in the year, three members of the UNA were elected to parliament (ibid.). Its members are considered to be extreme-nationalist Ukrainians (Reuters 17 Jan. 1995).

According to a report covered in the BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, the justice ministry has rejected any suggestion that it has given its approval to the UNSO, notwithstanding the claim of the UNA-UNSO leadership that the two organizations exist within a single structure (BBC 28 Jan. 1995). In an October 1994 interview, the leader of UNA-UNSO, Oleh Vitovych, explained that the double name "UNA-UNSO" was adopted six months earlier to account for the dual nature of UNA-UNSO work (The Ethnic Newswatch 23 Oct. 1994).

According to Vitovych, the UNA, as UNSO, can work as a paramilitary organization when the Ukraine is under a military threat; during peaceful conditions the "UNA carries out purely political tasks, while the UNSO engages in such general activities as physical education, leadership training and propaganda" (ibid.). Vitovych is UNA chairman and UNSO commander-in-chief (Russian Press Digest 31 Jan. 1995).

Since 11 November 1993 "unauthorized" paramilitary organizations have been banned in Ukraine (The Ethnic Newswatch 8 May 1994). Although this ban has not been rigorously enforced, police have raided UNSO headquarters and homes of UNSO members (ibid.).

Reuters recently reported that the UNSO had some 100 militants to Chechnya to counter the Russian forces (17 Jan. 1995). UNSO members also reportedly fought in Moldova's Dniestr region and in Georgia (ibid.).

None of the sources consulted by the DIRB revealed the existence of factions within the UNA-UNSO structure, or any connection with authorities. However, media reports sometimes refer to the Ukrainian People's Self-Defence Organization (UNSO) (Reuters 17 Jan. 1995), or to the Ukrainian National Self-Defence party (UNA-UNSD) (Russian Press Digest 28 Apr. 1995; BBC 17 Apr. 1995).

For additional information on UNA-UNSO, please consult the attached documents, which include an interview with Vitovych explaining the history and rationale of the UNA-UNSO.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References


BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 17 April 1995. "Other Report; Justice Ministry Warns Nationalists Not to Mock Russian Flag."(NEXIS)

_____. 28 January 1995. "Internal Affairs; Nationalist Leader Protests Refusal to Register Organization." (NEXIS)

The Ethnic Newswatch 23 October 1994. Yarema A. Bachynsky. "Oleh Vitovych, Leader of Ukrainian National Assembly." (NEXIS)

_____. 8 May 1994. Bohdan Nahaylo. "Political Extremism in Ukraine Part II: The Move Toward Fascism." (NEXIS)

Russian Press Digest. 28 April 1995. Vladimir Gavrilenko. "Ukrainian Nationalists Would Like to Rule Russia As Well." (NEXIS)

_____. 31 January 1995. Anatoly Polyakov. "Battalion of Ukrainian Nationalists Fights Russian Troops in Chechnya." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 17 January 1995. BC Cycle. Pavlo Balkovsky. "Ukraine Nationalists Say Activists in Chechnya." (NEXIS)

_____. 30 December 1994. BC Cycle. Pavlo Balkovsky. "Ukraine Legalises Nationalists." (NEXIS)

Attachments

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 17 April 1995. "Other Reports; Justice Ministry Warns Nationalists Not to Mock Russian Flag."(NEXIS)

_____. 28 January 1995. "Internal Affairs; Nationalist Leader Protests Refusal to Register Organization." (NEXIS)

CTK National News Wire. 10 January 1995. "Subcarpathian `Foreign Minister' Dreams of Autonomy." (NEXIS)

The Ethnic Newswatch. 30 October 1994. Yarema Bachynsky. "Oleh Vitovych, Leader of Ukrainian National Assembly." (NEXIS)

_____. 23 October 1994. Yarema A. Bachynsky. "Oleh Vitovych, Leader of Ukrainian National Assembly." (NEXIS)

_____. 8 May 1994. Bohdan Nahaylo. "Political Extremism in Ukraine Part II: The Move Toward Fascism." (NEXIS)

Moscow News. 15 September 1994. Sergei Tikhy. "Is a New Terrorist Movement Emerging?" (NEXIS)

The New Republic. 22 August 1994. Anna Husarska. "Big Guns: Kiev Postcard; Ukrainian Nationalism." (NEXIS)

Russian Press Digest. 28 April 1995. Vladimir Gavrilenko. "Ukrainian Nationalists Would Like to Rule Russia As Well." (NEXIS)

_____. 31 January 1995. Anatoly Polyakov. "Battalion of Ukrainian Nationalists Fights Russian Troops in Chechnya." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 17 January 1995. BC Cycle. Pavlo Balkovsky. "Ukraine Nationalists Say Activists in Chechnya." (NEXIS)

_____. 30 December 1994. BC Cycle. Pavlo Balkovsky. "Ukraine Legalises Nationalists." (NEXIS)

The Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union (TASS). 8 June 1994. Vladimir Gondusov. "While Politicians Haggle, Ukrainian Nationalists Act in Crimea." (NEXIS)

The United Press International (UPI). 21 June 1994. BC Cycle. Roma Ihnatowycz. "Ukrainian Ultranationalists Pin Hopes on Election." (NEXIS)