February 20, 2008, STB TV Channel, Vikna [Windows], 22:00
Presenter Serhiy Popov:
‘I’m strong enough!’ – that is how Yevhen Chervonenko’s ex-wife has named her organization. Their divorce has turned into an all-Ukrainian scandal. Having lived through this, she decided to return to normal life, but not alone.
Journalist Serhiy Adrushko:
The ex-wife of Yevhen Chervonenko – Margarita has decided to become a public figure. This is her first press conference. She comes to it 15 minutes before the beginning.
Margarita Chervonenko, leader of the civil initiative:
Maybe I have made myself too soon? So far, I am trying to set up my business, and not to make myself.
Publicity does not come so easy for the transport minister’s ex-wife.
Margarita Chervonenko, leader of the civil initiative:
I’m better in cooking borsch…
Journalist:
Better than in what? Than in giving press conferences?
Margarita Chervonenko, leader of the civil initiative:
Well, of course. But, what can I do? That’s the way it has turned out. Life turned this way, the destiny. I have managed to do it for the first time. I will be learning.
She has been single for one year now. All this time she was thinking what she should be doing.
Margarita Chervonenko, leader of the civil initiative:
I read the book by Valeira and I thought maybe I could write a book too. No. Probably, no, after all.
Instead of a circle, Ms. Chervonenko has created the organization ‘I’m strong enough!’. Its aim is to help women during divorce proceedings. It has already launched a website. With the story of her divorce. She was living with him for 18 years, and he wants to take away the family name and the house. While she wants her half of the property.
Margarita Chervonenko, leader of the civil initiative:
The property issue, it remains unresolved, the case is in courts. It has not been settled in a civilized way. Currently, my husband is using all the jointly acquired property.
Journalist Lesia likes the idea of providing help during divorce proceedings. She has a baby and is already divorced.
Lesia:
We were in love with this person, yes. Everything was sweet and then, all of a sudden, you have to divide your cups, spoons, forks, vacuum cleaner, or some other stuff. Understand? This is important.
Organization employee:
Please, tell us, how long did you live with your husband? Yes. And what was to be the reason of such a solution, why have your relations ended up in a divorce?
The idea of Margarita Chervonenko is not new. The Centre for work with women has been engaged for ten years in the activities she decided to begin after the divorce. But the Centre is being shut down.
Klavdia Tarannikova, head of the asylum for women who suffer from violence:
A meeting of the Business Court took place and on January 31, according to its decision, the Centre for work with women is to vacate the premises. Instead, it is to be occupied by a travelling agency.
Singer Halyna and Vasyl Horbal, a politician belonging to the Regions Party, were not dividing property in courts. They separated amicably. But she is ready to give her advice to other women.
Halyna, ex-wife of Vasyl Horbal:
You just have to give it a wave of the hand, like this, and say: “Oh, my God, the entire future is lying ahead and I can find so many interesting things that…”
Ms. Chervonenko does not count on support of wives of well-known people. Only on simple ones. And also on grants from western organizations. At their expense all the Ukrainian women that have been left will be given free advice.