[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 140 (Monday, September 28, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING ADRIAN KARMAZYN, VOICE OF AMERICA UKRAINIAN SERVICE 
              CHIEF, ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 28, 2015

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ukrainian-
American and Northern Ohioan Adrian Karmazyn on the announcement of his 
retirement as Voice of America's (VOA) Ukrainian Service Chief. Mr. 
Karmazyn is a native of Parma, Ohio and is respected around the world 
as a veteran journalist covering Ukraine and Ukrainian-American 
communities in the United States.
  During his career, Mr. Karmazyn has contributed immensely to keeping 
the flame of freedom alive in Ukraine, even during some of her darkest 
hours. He is a freedom fighter. His mindful voice has been an essential 
component on the arduous path to a more open, democratic society 
following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the harrowing but steady 
progress of Ukraine to become part of the European community of 
nations.
  Mr. Karmazyn attended Ohio State University, receiving a B.A. in 
History. He then joined Voice of America in 1988 as an international 
radio broadcaster in VOA's Ukrainian Service, serving as a writer, 
producer, reporter, translator, announcer, and eventually as a 
correspondent in Kyiv. While there, he recruited a team of radio and 
video journalists in Kyiv and in other regional cities, helping to 
establish VOA's reporting presence throughout Ukraine.
  He continued to distinguish himself and in 1999 was named Program 
Manager of VOA's Ukrainian Service. Mr. Karmazyn directed the 
reorganization of the weekly Ukrainian Service TV magazine program 
Vikno v America, or Window on America. Over the next several years, the 
Ukrainian Service significantly expanded its network of reporters in 
Ukraine.
  In 2004, Mr. Karmazyn was assigned leadership over VOA's Ukrainian 
television programming. Later that year, during Ukraine's Orange 
Revolution, Karmazyn oversaw the launch of the daily Chas-Time 
television program. He was appointed Chief of VOA's Ukrainian Service 
in 2006 and served as one of the most reliable and valuable sources of 
information during the Euromaidan protests and Revolution of Dignity in 
2013. This was vital as freedom of the press was under threat in the 
region.
  I have known and worked with Adrian Karmazyn for many years. Please 
allow me to extend my heartfelt appreciation for his years of exemplary 
and passionate service and his commitment to telling the stories of 
Ukraine, from Kyiv to Cleveland. His labor has brought the American 
people and the people of Ukraine closer for decades, with his regular 
presence and positive influence at VOA for the cause of liberty. His 
has been a voice of freedom and he will be missed.

                          ____________________