On April 27, 2012 people saw at first Yuliya Tymoshenko's look in the prison thanks to the photos, made by parliament's human rights representative Nina Karpachova in Kachanivka prison on April 25, 2012 and published on "Batkivshchyna" party' site and in the different newspapers. These photos show the bruises on the arms and stomach of Tymoshenko and are the evidences of Tymoshenko statement about her beating in the prison. Thus Yuliya Tymoshenko, former Ukrainian Prime Minister and the main rival of present Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych at the presidential elections in February of 2010, wrote a statement about her beating by jail's guards and her moving by force from Kachanivka jail to a hospital in Kharkiv. This Tymoshenko statement was read by her lawyer Serhiy Vlasenko and was published on "Batkivshchyna" site on April 24, 2012. Yuliya Tymoshenko said in the statement that on April 20 in the evening three prison's guards went in the cell, took out her cell's mate, put bed sheet on Tymoshenko and began to pull her off the bed, using brutal force. But ex-Prime Minister began to defend herself and said about her disagreement to be moved into a hospital, and then one of the guards beat her once in the stomach through the bed sheet, after what they pulled her off the bed and using such brutal methods she was moved to a hospital. Y. Tymoshenko refused from the treatment in the hospital and was removed again in the jail on April 22. She descibed that all situation in her statement and wrote about bruises on her arms and stomach, got after violent transfering from the jail to a hospital, and she also started hunger strike since April 20 as her protest against physical violence and breach her human rights in the prison and against present Ukrainian power in general. Nina Karpachova also said about bad health and bruises on Tymoshenko's body after visiting her in the prison on April 25. So when are such conditions of staying in the prison for such famous politician like Tymoshenko, how can be the conditions of staying there for simple Ukrainians?
Several weeks ago Ukrainian TV-channel TVі (ТВі in Ukrainian) demonstrated a documentary film and special journalistic report of Kostyantyn Usov, TVi Kyiv journalist, about Lukyanivka investigatory isolation ward in Kyiv (Ukrainian film's name is "Лук'янівка.Тюрма №1", the name of this film with English subtitles is "Lukyanivka. Prison №1"). In Ukraine people often wait judge's verdict many time in the investigatory isolation wards, being not found guilty or innocent yet, and this documentary film shows that awful conditions, in which people stay there.
What can I say something else? Ukraine very needs a great reform in the legal sphere to be real democratic state.

Main task for Ukrainian opposition

Main task for Ukrainian oppositional politicians is the achievement of the freedom for Yuliya Tymoshenko and others, also oppositional politicians, and the possibility of their participation in the next parliamentary elections in September, 2012. But instead of it Ukrainian people can see on the TV and can read in the newspapers about different versions of the oppositional parties' unities, about discussions who will be number 1, 2, 3 etc. in its elective list. So these oppositional politicians (or so-called oppositional?) don't try to achieve the freedom for their colleagues, though all oppositional politicians must achieve it every day, using their deputies' and political rights and possibilities, if they really want to be strong opposition in Ukraine. But oppositional politicians (who are free and aren't in the prisons!) think about parliamentary elections and about their own participation in the elections. Some politicians say that they will achieve to free Tymoshenko after parliamentary elections, when they will become deputies and will have oppositional majority in the parliament. But why after elections and not now, when they are also deputies? Then deputies from Tymoshenko's party "Batkivshchyna" say about number 1 of Y.Tymoshenko in their elective list. But Yuliya Tymoshenko is in the prison now and according to Ukrainian Constitution she can't take part in any elections till she is in the prison and till she is admitted guilty in the crime. So Y. Tymoshenko must be free to take part in the elections! If these oppositional leaders will be only in the elective list, but indeed they will be in the jail, it will look like some cynical farse of other politicians.If politicians are really oppositional, they must fight for their oppositional colleagues, who are in the jail now. How can some oppositional politicians think only about their own next five years of the deputy's being in the parliament, while some their oppositional colleagues are in the prison or abroad, getting political asylum there? How can some oppositional politicians say about political repressions of the present Ukrainian power and also prepare to take part in the parliamentary elections in the same time, while ex-Prime Minister Tymoshenko and another oppositional politicians are in the jail? Is this different opposition toward present power in Ukraine or what?

Arena Lviv

General quantity of the seats at the stadium - 34 915, the quantity of the seats during Euro-2012 - 32 767. Area of the football field is 105x68 m.

Stadium "Arena Lviv" outside

Main press conference hall (one of 6 press conference halls)

Main press conference hall

Cloak-room for football players

Massage room for football players

"Arena Lviv" will receive football teams and fans of Germany, Portugal and Denmark on European championship Euro-2012 in June.

Player bench for football players and coaches

Wonderful construction of Lviv stadium

One of 19 fast food on the stadium

Arena Lviv was built in 2011

Places for the invalids and their accompanied

Journalists' places

Fan sector and VIP-sector above

Restaurant for 408 persons (VIP-sector)

View of the stadium from this restaurant

Sky box or VIP-room for 12 person

Mini-kitchen near every of 14 sky boxes, where will be cooking a food during football match

Danylo Halytskyy Lviv International Airport

This year Lviv International Airport has got new terminal and was named after Danylo Halytskyy, first Ukrainian king, Halytsko-Volynskyy prince and founder of Lviv. Old terminal of Lviv airport was constructed in 1955 and Lviv really needed a new modern airport's terminal, so it happened - Lviv airport has new terminal now!

New Lviv airport's terminal outside

Airplanes flew at new terminal

Entrance hall

Entrance hall and time table

Airport time table

Look of the upper floor from entrance hall

Hall for registration of the passengers

Posts for registration of the passengers

Entrance hall's look from the second floor

Entrance hall's look from the second floor

The second floor

Airplane flew at new terminal

Security checkpoint

Customs & passport control

Hall on the second floor and passage to waiting hall (on the third floor)

Waiting hall

Waiting hall's ceiling

Mukachevo castle.

If You'll decide to visit Ukraine, I highly recommend You to go in the beautiful Transcarpathian city Mukachevo and, of course, to visit wonderful Mukachevo castle, famous city's sightseeing, constructed in the XIV-XVII centuries. Mukachevo castle is situated on the mountain 68 m high and occupies an area of 14 thousand sq. km. The castle consists of three parts, situated on the three different terraces. Upper Mukachevo castle, the oldest castle's part of the XIV-XVI centuries, locates on the mountain's top and is former residence of castle's owners. Upper castle has closed yard, two-storey and three-storey buildings of the XVI-XVII centuries, where castle's owners lived, chapel of the XVII century and three round towers of the XIV-XVII centuries. Well 85 m deep is in the yard and two bastions are in the north side of Upper castle. Middle Mukachevo castle of the XVII century locates 6m lower than Upper and has four bastions. Big yard of Middle castle is surrounded by two-storey and three-storey buildings - former arsenal, knightly hall, garrison's barracks, kitchens, pantries. Lower Mukachevo castle, constructed also in the XVII century, locates 10 m lower than Middle. Two orbed bastions are nearby the gate of Lower castle. In general there are eight bastions in the whole castle and the artillery was in the bastions in the past. Mukachevo castle is surrounded by wall 3 m thick and a moat 10-12 m deep. Many years ago, in the XVI century, a water moat surrounded Mukachevo castle and the wooden palisade, called "Palanok", was built around this water moat to strengthen it. Though water moat and wooden palisade don't exist nowadays, but Mukachevo castle got the second name - "Palanok".

So welcome to "Palanok", Mukachevo castle!

Yosyf Slipyy

In the last two weeks it was marked the 120th anniversary since the birth of Yosyf Slipyy, Patriarch, Great Archbishop and Cardinal of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in Ukrainian cities and abroad.
Yosyf Slipyy was born on February 17th, 1892 in the village Zazdrist in Ternopil region. At first Y. Slipyy finished school in his native village and then Ternopil gimnasium in 1911. Since 1911 he studied in Lviv Greek Catholic Seminary and since 1912 - in Innsbruk University. On September 30th, 1917 Yosyf Slipyy was ordained as a priest by Metropolitan of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Andrey Sheptytskyy in Univ, Lviv region. Y. Slipyy got a doctorate in theology at Innsbruk University in 1918 and continued studying in Rome at the Pontifical Oriental Institute and at the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1920. Y. Slipyy got Master Agregatus at the Pontifical Gregorian University and became a professor of the dogmatic theology. In 1922 he came back in Lviv and teached dogmatic science in Lviv Greek Catholic Seminary, where became a rector in 1926. Yosyf Slipyy was co-founder of Theological Scientific Society in Lviv and editor of the journal "Theology" in 1922-1939. In 1928 Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyy reformed Lviv Greek Catholic Seminary into Lviv Theological Academy and Yosyf Slipyy was appointed Academy's rector in 1929. On December 22th, 1939 Metropolitan A. Sheptytskyy ordained Y. Slipyy as Archbishop with the rights of successor of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church's Head. Yosyf Slipyy became Head of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church after Andrey Sheptytskyy's death on November 1th, 1944.

Memorable table, dedicated to Yosyf Slipyy on Kopernyk Street in Lviv.

On April 11th, 1945 Metropolitan Yosyf Slipyy was arrested by NKVS in Lviv and was convicted to 8 years of servitude and hard labour in Siberia. Soviet power wanted to destroy Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and sent Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church's priests in the prisons since 1945. Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) was officially prohibited from 1946 util 1989 in USSR, and Greek Catholic Ukrainians went secretly in some houses, where UGCC secret ordained priests conducted liturgy, married couples, baptized children till 1989.
In 1953 Soviet power continued Yosyf Slipyy's conviction until 1957, and then convicted him again for servitude until 1962. Soviet power decided to continue a term of Slipyy' servitude at the fourth time, but thanks to great efforts of Pope John XXIII Yosyf Slipyy was freed in 1963. After 18 years of Siberian servitude and staying in the prisons Yosyf Slipyy arrived in Grottaferrata monastery in Italy in 1963 and then lived in Rome.
Pope Paul VI proclaimed Yosyf Slipyy Cardinal of Catholic Church on January 25th in 1965. Cardinal Yosyf Slipyy did very much for Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. In Rome he constructed St. Sofiya Greek Catholic Cathedral, founded Ukrainian Catholic University of St. Pope Klyment and male monastery of Studyty order, reconstructed Sts. Serhiy and Vakkh Greek Catholic Church and created Museum of Ukrainian Art nearby this church. Cardinal Yosyf Slipyy united Ukrainian episcopate in Synod of Ukrainian Church, helped to make translated liturgy's books from different languages into Ukrainian, visited Ukrainians around the world to unite them. Yosyf Slipyy hoped for USSR's destruction and for creation of Ukrainian independent state at least. He also wished to be buried near Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyy in Lviv, Ukraine.
Great Archbishop, Patriarch, Cardinal of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church died on September 7th, 1984 in Rome and in 1992 his remains were transported and buried in the crypt of St. Yuriy Greek Catholic Cathedral in Lviv near Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyy's remains.
Yosyf Slipyy was strong person and religious leader of Ukrainian nation, who didn't fear Stalin, repressions, Siberian servitude, who wanted Ukrainian independence, patriarchate of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and all good things for Ukrainian people.

Monument to Yosyf Slipyy in Ternopil.

New Minister of Defence

New allocation on the post of Minister of Defence shocked citizens of Ukraine. On February 8th, 2012 President Viktor Yanukovych allocated on this post deputy of "Party of the Regions" Dmytro Salamatin, famous as one of so called deputies-fighters which often take part in the parliament's fights. Thus on April 27th, 2010 when opposition tried to stop the ratification of Kharkiv agreements (which allowed Russian navy to locate in the Crimea till 2042) by the parliament and blocked the parliament's rostrum, then some powerful deputies began to beat oppositional deputies and deputy Dmytro Salamatin hurted a nose of oppositional deputy Volodymyr Karpuk from the party block "Our Ukraine-Our Defence". Later in August, 2010 Dmytro Salamatin, who was also a director of state firm "Ukrspezexport" ("Ukrainian special export"), beat with a chair the director of "Termokholod" ("Thermocoldness") Yuriy Kyselov in his office, because the offices of "Ukrspezexport" and "Termokholod" were situated in one building and Dmytro Salamatin wanted to evict Kyselov's firm, but court let "Termokholod" to stay in that office. So D. Salamatin was angry from such court's decision and beat the opponent. And on December 16th, 2010 when oppositional deputies blocked the entrances into session hall of the parliament and demanded to abolish Yulia Tymoshenko's travel ban, powerful deputies broke the entrances' doors and began to fight oppositional deputies and deputy Dmytro Salamatin hurted a hand of deputy Volodymyr Bondarenko from "BYUT" in this fight. And such deputy-fighter D. Salamatin will rule Ukrainian army. He's not military man and more - he was born in Kazakhstan and lived in Russia till 1999 and only after 1999 in Ukraine. And now he is Minister of Defence of Ukraine.

Ukrainian biathlonists

Oops...I didn't retell You about important victories of Ukrainian sportsmen. So I'll do it right now. From January 26th until February 2nd IBU Open European Championships Biathlon were held in Osrblie, Slovakia and Ukrainian biathlonists consolved Ukrainian fans very much: Ukrainian adult team won 3 gold and 5 silver medals and Ukrainian junior team won 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medals. Ukrainians can be really proud of Ukraine's biathlonists! Olena Pidhrushna won 2 gold medal in women's sprint and pursuit competitions and Iryna Varvynets won gold medal in women's junior pursuit competition. Our women's adult team (Yuliya Dzhyma, sisters Valentyna and Vita Semerenko, Olena Pidhrushna) also won gold medal in women's relay. Silver medals were brought for Ukraine by Artem Pryma in men's sprint and individual competitions, Valentyna Semerenko in women's sprint and pursuit competitions, Serhiy Semenov in men's pursuit competition, Iryna Varvynets in women's junior sprint competition. And Ukrainian junior biathlonists (Anastasiya Merkushyna, Iryna Varvynets, Ivan Moravskyy, Oleksandr Dakhno) won bronze medal in mixed relay. Biathlon is popular kind of sport in Ukraine and Ukrainians sincerily congratulate Ukraine's biathlonists with their victories and wish them good luck and many victories at the future world biathlon championship in Ruhpolding, Germany.

Huge transport problems in Lviv

Since the first day of 2012 and nowadays Lviv has big transport problems. The reason of these problems is new transport scheme of the routes of small buses, called marshrutky in Ukraine. New transport scheme was adopted in the end of 2011 by Lviv municipality to change transport routes in the better way. But indeed Lviv power just changed enterpreneurs-proprietors of licenses for new transport routes and diminished the proprietors to 5! And the quantity of small buses diminished too, because these enterpreneurs-winners have such quantity of transport as they had in the past. Lviv power said about the necessary to lessen transport in the historical centre of the city, that's why our power decided to change transport scheme, but power didn't think anything about citizens! In January of 2012 and nowadays Lviv citizens stay on the transport stations for 30-40 minutes and even more an hour, waiting for any transport: buses, marshrutky, trolley-buses, trams. It's hard to wait transport, especially in these frosty days, when Lviv day temperature lowers to -18 degrees by Celcius. Of course, it's not Siberian temperature, but here is high humidity of the air in Lviv, so that's why even Lviv's -18 degrees are bad for human health.
So people wait for transport much longer than earlier, and they often take a taxi in the morning not to be late for lectures in the institute or for work and not to be discharged. Many people go on foot for work or for study, though they can be much frozen now. And such transport collapse lasts more than a month in Lviv. Lviv citizens want only one thing in this situation - they want to turn the old transport scheme in the city! But for the present Lviv power doesn't hear what citizens ask.

Cold winter in Ukraine

Today it's known cold wintry weather killed 101 persons - 64 people died on the streets, 11 in the hospitals and 26 in their own homes since January, 27th in Ukraine. The winter's victims got frostbitten and died, the majority of the frost's victims were homeless people. During last frosty days 1592 Ukrainians appealed to doctors for help because of hypothermia and frostbite and1248 of them were hospitalized. There were created thousands special places around the country, where people could warm. Meteorologists say the temperature will continue to lower in the next days in Ukraine.