Olympic Change is Even Worse PLEASE CHECK IT OUT

I am absolutely disgusted by the London Olympic Committee. They obviously realized they made a huge mistake with the website and the athletes birthplaces and they made a pretty quick change to the website. This change is only a bigger slap in the face than before. The website now reads Lutsk( ) and Lvov Region( ). Please explain to me what is the difference. They are still listed as Russian athletes therefore with blank parentheses they will be still considered Russian. The only thing that is worse, is that Ukraine does not exist. This just shows Englands and Russian disregard towards Ukraine. I hope they fix this by tomorrow...

 http://www.london2012.com/athlete/bazyuk-tatiana-1016457/

 http://www.london2012.com/athlete/khtey-taras-1013482/

I am just speechless at the stupidity and total disregard towards Ukraine from both the Russian Olympic Committee and the London Organizers. JUST DISGUSTING!!!!!

Shady Business in Ukraine

Hey readers,

I am currently in Uzhorod and let me tell you that the drive here was absolutely amazing. Obviously I have taken advantage of the new roads created for Euro Cup, but the road from L'viv to Uzhorod is mesmerizing. The countryside of Zakarpattia is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and just blew me away. On a different note I interviewed a few people here in Uzhorod because I was interested to see how they feel about Ukraine, being that they are so close to Slovakia and see the EU often. They actually had some really interesting thoughts and recommendations.

First off, almost everybody I have talked to has agreed that they are getting robbed by the government.

Secondly, they can not understand the ridiculous laws that are implemented that not only create corruption but enable it.

Thirdly, they need to go through illegal deals just to survive.

Let me Explain....

The people are being robbed by the government in the simplest of ways. There are a few big dogs sitting on Ukraine like a Sumo Fighter sits on a mouse. An example of these power houses is the owner of Укр-авто. Vasadze, is a auto powerhouse and holds control over the entire car market. The reason he holds power is because he has paid for import laws for vehicles to be over priced and a deterrent for any competition. They have exclusive rights for importation of Mercedes, Mini, along with a few other makes. The best part is if a person wants to import a car for profit, the import will cost so much that not only will the person not be able to afford it but he or she will never be able to sell the car for that price. The people of Uzhorod along with the rest of Ukraine can not grasp how a poorer country than Slovakia can have cars cost 3 times more. Every time a car is bought in Ukraine the government fills their pockets. Just one example of government theft....

The fact that corruption is enabled by the Ukrainian government is perfectly shown in this example and believe me this is only one of thousands. Ukrainian Diaspora always wonders why do Ukrainians pay bribes rather than take a ticket. First, the ticket for speeding, which is practically the only thing you will get pulled over for, is 400 hryvnia (min) which is approximately 1/4 of the average monthly salary. So for the driver it is more economical to give them 50 hryvnia and drive on. Secondly, there is a law which I was just informed about which states that a recording, or a video from a cell phone of a police officer taking a bribe is not viable in court. So you practically need to catch the officer with a movie production camera without him noticing. Obviously these laws are made to force people to pay bribes and in fact have no rights in court.

Now, understanding why many Ukrainians are involved in shady business to survive is really important, because much of Ukraine's prime real estate is controlled again by the political powerhouse oligarchs and people need to live somewhere and somehow. Well with rent and groceries the cost of living in Kyiv for example is 5 to 6 hundred dollars a month.(bare minimum) The average pay is 200 euros a month. Are you making the connection????
Now back to the car import tax and how some people conduct shady business to make a profit. The one good thing about these Oligarchs is that they love to drink and drive fast. Many high end cars end up being totaled. People buy the documents for the car for a mere 5 thousand dollars. Then they buy the same car from Europe or America and with some crafty work change the VIN number to match the documents they purchased. With this process they sneak around the import tax which for a 2008 Toyota would be about 25,000 Euros. At least this way the people can stick it to the MAN...

Although this sort of shady business also fuels the corruption it is inevitable because people need to find away to cover their cost of living.

I feel for the people of Ukraine and to tell you the truth believe that Ukraine's only hope is to change the President or have a revolution because someone needs to have enough BALLS to tell the Power House Oligarchs to F*** off. 

Help Make a Change

Please if this Olympic discrimination of Ukraine and other ex Soviet countries bothers you make a difference... Please write an email to this address:

complaints@enquiries.london2012.com

With your help we can all make a change!!!!!

Letter to the London Olympics 2012

To who ever can make a change:

My name is Alexander Myskiw and I am an American citizen of Ukrainian decent and what has been published on your official Olympic website is not only an abomination to Ukrainians but also extremely illiterate. Just from scanning a short while on your website I noticed that two of the athletes listed under the Russian Federation were actually born in Ukraine. I understand that Ukrainian athletes are able to compete for Russia and I hold nothing against that, but what i do believe should be properly published on the website is there birth place. Athlete Vera Moskalyuk, born inZhitomir Region (RUS), Tatiana Bazyuk, born in Lutsk (RUS), Taras Khtey, born in L'viv Region(RUS), along with a few others from Ukraine and neighboring ex Soviet Countries are parenthesized as Athletes from Russia and should rather be listed with (UKR) and the appropriate country Code. I will give your organization a bit of a geography lesson and say that all those athletes listed are from Ukraine.

Ukraine has been a sovereign country for 20 years now and the fact that a powerhouse country such as England can degrade these countries by not only annexing them to Russia but listing the information as if Ukraine has never existed. My ancestors along with millions of other Ukrainians ancestors gave their lives for a free and democratic Ukraine and your organization has taken that away by agreeing to the information provided to your organization from the Russian Olympic Committee without even researching the information. This type of error can not be considered an error but rather a showcase of Russia's imperialistic and communistic power which they consistently instill over the once Soviet Countries.

England is a country that strives for freedom and a peoples choice, but with such a display on your website you limit the Ukrainian people a chance to show themselves.

Yes these athletes are winning medals for Russia but their birthplace is Ukraine and I am almost positive that the athletes themselves have not forgotten who and from where they originated.

I strongly suggest your organization makes the necessary changes quickly and write a letter of apology not only to the Ukrainian athletes but also to the other countries that have been improperly recognized and even disrespected during these Olympics.

The Olympics are meant to be an event that brings countries together under sportsmanship, competition, and fairness. This error not only negates the Olympic values but brings dishonor to the participating countries.

Thank You for taking the time to read this email and I can guarantee it will not be the last.

Alexander Myskiw

Russia Takes Over Ukraine Via Olympic Website

Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Alex and I am of Ukrainian decent. My mother and father were born in New Jersey and so was I. In other words I am a second generation Ukrainian. The interesting part is that I have moved to Ukraine and am trying to build a life here. The reasons for moving from the USA, where every Ukrainian wants to flee too, are not truly that important for understanding the reason for creating this blog. After living here for some time I have started realizing Ukraine's flaws AND OH BOY THERE ARE PLENTY!!!!! Although there are many problems in the country this place is absolutely beautiful and has amazing potential.

I will start with the current events issues and where Ukraine's problems lay. The Olympics are starting in London and I was introduced to some disheartening information off the official Olympic Website. Check out the links:

http://www.london2012.com/athlete/bazyuk-tatiana-1016457/

 http://www.london2012.com/athlete/khtey-taras-1013482/

These two athletes along with many others from other countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Ukraine are listed as Russian Regions. This Phrase troubles me dearly because they are not regions of Russia they are all sovereign countries. I guess the Russia Federation still believes they are the Stalin Powerhouse of the Soviet Union Era.

Why Ukraine needs change is that very few people in Ukraine even care about such displays of power and imperialism. I believe that the main reason is the fact that people in Ukraine do not understand the demeaning connotation it bears towards the country itself. Russia is basically claiming sovereign countries subliminally. This allows Putin to hold a sort of grasp around Ukraine, Georgia, and other neighboring countries. I always wondered why my American friends would say,"Oh Ukraine isn't that part of Russia". Now I realize that it is only because of subliminal messaging from the Soviets (Russians).

The People of Ukraine along with the political figures must make a huge ruckus in the press and to the Olympic Organizers about this not to only change it on the website but to show Putin and his band of PUPPETS that Ukraine is a free country and no one will take that away.

It is time that the people of Ukraine stand up for themselves. Not only showing the international public they can but showing themselves that they can and must.

Hope you enjoyed reading my first post and I will surely be filling you all in to the wonderful problems of Ukraine.