Premier Pustovoitenko has gone down in history in the truest sense, and his exploit (which stands out dramatically from the traditional Ukrainian routine background) should be considered as good as already included in all Ukrainian history textbooks to be published. It is possible that the story about “managers taken prisoner" will be used by script writers and producers of heroic movies, playwrights, and historical authors.
On the other hand, one must admit, regrettably, that history and the press abide by the same rule: the story must be good. A constructive policy sounds dull and is seldom remembered afterward, yet for us having to put up with current realities history seems of minor importance. The important thing is the light in which this extraordinary situation has portrayed us.
In the first place, it made us face the choice: money or honor. We took a purely Ukrainian approach: neither. Because our "imprisoned managers" (even though not all of them) succeeded in losing both, in that neither resigned afterward or refused to go through the ordeal for reasons of honor. Is our bureaucratic elite (although "elite" is hardly the term befitting these government-appointed managers) prepared to live in keeping with civilized norms? Of course not. None of then has sued the Cabinet for material and moral damage. And this is "elite," so what can one expect from ordinary people?
Following this logic, our Premier created an interesting precedent. Now all our little old ladies, tortured and starved by back pensions, could get organized, bushwhack, capture Mr. Pustovoitenko, and tell the militia rushing to his rescue (as they will, no doubt): "So what? He did this, why can't we?"
In fact, his experience is being used by some of the managers released "on bail." In Sevastopol, a similar conference of local managers was organized, and each was ordered to pay debts and was let out of the audience on his own recognizance. Among other things, Russian Navy bank accounts were promised to be frozen, because no payments were forthcoming from that end. Almost simultaneously, the municipal authorities declared expanding friendly ties with Moscow. Maybe it was the right gesture preventing an international conflict. In other areas, chagrined managers started demanding payments not only from their subordinates, but also from private businessmen. In a word, all of Ukraine is now busy squeezing out payments, so there is no time to work, and nor does there seem any reason to do so (what money you make will be taken away from you, anyway).






