Yanukovych: 1930s Famine Was Not Ukrainian Genocide

By The Associated Press

April 28, 2010

A metro ad showing a 1942 photo of a train with Stalin?€™s portrait. Vladimir Filonov

STRASBOURG, France — In a major turnaround in Ukrainian policy, new President Viktor Yanukovych said Tuesday that the 1930s Stalinist famine that killed millions should not be considered genocide against Ukrainians because it targeted its victims indiscriminately.

Yanukovych told the Council of Europe that he considered the famine "a shared tragedy" of all people who were all part of the Soviet Union, then led by Josef Stalin.

Yanukovych's stance is a complete shift from that of his predecessor, pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko, who sought to have the famine recognized as genocide against Ukrainians. Since being elected in February, Yanukovych has sought closer ties with Russia.

Moscow has long pressed the view that the starvation should not be considered genocide.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue