Ihor Bilozir, a noted songwriter from Lviv, officially recognized as a People’s Artist of Ukraine, died in the emergency ward of Lviv hospital on the night of May 27-28 as a result of injuries sustained in a brawl. His death marks a sad loss to Ukrainian culture, and the manner of his dying has caused tension and public unrest in the city.
The incident leading to his death occurred a few days ago in Lviv’s Tsisarska Kava Cafe. Ihor Bilozir and a group of friends were in the cafП, singing the composer’s songs and a group of young people sitting nearby objected. Unpleasant words were exchanged, but eventually things were calmed down and everything returned to normal. But later that evening the youths met the composer and his friends in a small park across the street from the regional prosecutor’s office. In the subsequent fistfight Ihor Bilozir sustained severe body injuries and was brought to hospital unconscious. He died a few nights later.
To add to an already deplorable situation was the presence among the attackers of the son of a ranking militia officer. This is, allegedly, why the procurator’s office has shown a marked lack of enthusiasm in investigating the case. A spontaneous rally gathered in Lviv, sparking off another incident; the outdoor cafП Vezha Kramariv was attacked by several dozen radically-minded people. Preliminary reports say nobody was injured, but the crowd overturned several tables, broke flowerpots, and tore down a notice written in Russian “Welcome to Lvov!”
“How cruel fate can be! Ihor passed away so early,” intoned colleague Oleksandr Zlotnyk on hearing about the tragedy. “His name symbolizes the maturation of Ukrainian pop music. He led the rock group Vatra which, back in the 1980s, was among the most popular groups in Ukraine. It was from that point on that Oksana Bilozir, the Vatra lead singer, became a star. As with every creative personality, Ihor had barren and fertile times, yet he still had so many creative plans destined never to be carried out.”
On May 30 a day of mourning was declared in the city and thousands of Lvivites gathered outside the Regional Philharmonic Society, St. Andrew’s Church, and Lychakivsky Cemetery to pay their last respects to the gifted composer. Despite the solemnity of the occasion, tension was running very high. Security measures were taken by the local authorities, but the situation threatened to get out of control.
After national-democratic supporting pickets were posted at the regional procurator’s office, the crowed raided the now-notorious Tsisarska Kava CafП, despite its being closed for the day. (Ironically, the procurator’s office and the cafe are at a distance of 100 metres from each other.) At 1300 local time, as the funeral procession was approaching the Taras Shevchenko statue, voices were raised demanding demonstrations outside the homes of those who had taken part in the assault on Ihor Bilozir. Later, Yaroslav Klymovych, head of the domestic policy department for the regional state administration, told The Day they were lucky to have had only one cafe attacked.
At this stage it is hard to predict what course events in Lviv will take. The Day has interviewed noted cultural figures and scientists of the city. Everybody has expressed the opinion that Bilozir’s death was along the lines of a culturally motivated assassination. The tragedy is linked in people’s minds to the inadequate official policy with regard to preserving the Ukrainian language and culture. Although many of the staunchly pro-Ukrainian language and culture Lvivites are threatening to take their own revenge, the local intelligentsia supports the idea of court proceedings in the case.
COMMENTARY
The situation that has developed highlights the fact that practically no one in Ukraine is safe from being mugged or killed. One can die after expressing political views others hate or simply because others want your wallet. The Constitution reads that human life is of the greatest value; as in Soviet times, this remains a mere declaration and nothing is being done to actualize it.
The Editors and staff of The Day wish to extend their heartfelt condolences to the late Ihor Bilozir’s relatives and friends.
