For a detailed description of the United National Assembly - Ukrainian Self-Defense Organization (UNA-UNSO) and its ideology and activities, as well as information on the treatment of UNA-UNSO members by the state, please consult UKR42849.E of 30 August 2004.

In addition, a 9 July 2004 article mentions that the UNA-UNSO was to take part in an electoral coalition formed by Ukrainian nationalist parties and other organizations, for the October 2004 presidential elections, and called Rukh (Movement) of Ukrainian Patriots (Interfax 9 July 2004). No other information on the participation of UNA-UNSO in this coalition was found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Regarding treatment of minorities, information specifically referring to UNA-UNSO was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Jews

Please see UKR42849.E of 30 August 2004 and UKR40328.E of 25 November 2002 for information on ideology of the UNA-UNSO that is critical towards Jews. Contrary to this information, the World Jewish Congress has declared that the radicalism of the UNA-UNSO is "exaggerated" and that a former leader of the group, Dmitry Korchinsky, has "repeatedly spoke[n] out in support of Israel" (n.d.).

No other information on the treatment of Jews by the UNA-UNSO was found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Homosexuals

Information concerning the treatment of homosexuals by UNA-UNSO could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Tatars

The Kiev news digest Den indicates that a demonstration marking the anniversary of the deportation of Tatars from Crimea was more peaceful than expected and that "the UNA-UNS[O] was nowhere to be seen in Crimea" (1 June 2004).

Further information concerning the treatment of Tatars by members of UNA-UNSO could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

State action against UNA-UNSO

Information on state action taken against the UNA-UNSO for ill-treatment of minorities was not found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the following information might prove useful.

Freedom House indicated that "the leader of the opposition right-wing party, UNA-UNSO, was detained on charges of hooliganism in June 2003 to prevent him from attending a congress of his party in Kyiv" (ibid.). He was later acquitted (ibid.). No other information was found on state action against UNA-UNSO members among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Den [Kiev, in Ukrainian]. 1 June 2004. "Ukrainian Paper Notes Signs of Interethnic Peace in Crimea." (BBC International Reports/Dialog)

Freedom House. 6 April 2004. Natalie Mychajlyszyn. "Ukraine." Countries at the Crossroads: A Survey of Democratic Governance. http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/crossroads/2004/ukraine2004.pdf [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]

Interfax. 9 July 2004. "Ukrainian Nationalists Form Electoral Coalition." (FBIS-SOV-2004-0709 12 July 2004/WNC)

World Jewish Congress. n.d. "Anti-Semitism in the Former Soviet Union: Ukraine." http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/anti-semitism/ukraine-pol.cfm [Accessed 15 Nov. 2004]

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International, Center for Peace, Conversion and Foreign Policy of Ukraine, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003, Human Rights Watch, Institute for Jewish Policy Research, International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, International Religious Freedom Report 2003, Kiev Post, Prima News, The Ukraine Weekly, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism.