National Pantheon to be established in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law in Kyiv to establish a national pantheon of Ukraine. It is intended to immortalize the memory of heads of state, military commanders, prominent figures in science, culture and other fields from different historical periods. Some experts say that the immortalization of the memory of members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UIA) in the pantheon could cause new disagreements in relations with Poland.
Ukraine to Create National Pantheon.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law on the creation of the National Pantheon of Ukraine. According to the website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the document was signed by the head of state on August 22.
Zelensky said that "the Ukrainian Pantheon will definitely exist. Only Ukrainians themselves will decide who our heroes are."
The bill was supported by 290 deputies in the first reading in the Verkhovna Rada on July 1. Later, 287 deputies voted for the full adoption of the document.
The law provides for the creation of a single national space in Kiev, which will symbolize the continuity of the traditions of Ukrainian statehood. According to media reports, the pantheon is planned to reflect the history of statehood from Kievan Rus to modern Ukraine.
The memorial complex is intended to be a place for the reburial of prominent historical figures of Ukraine. For those whose remains cannot be returned to the country, symbolic graves - cenotaphs - can be erected.
At the same time, the pantheon also serves as a center for preserving historical memory, patriotic education, and holding state ceremonies.
According to the law, the pantheon can immortalize the memory of heads of state of Ukraine from different historical periods, presidents of the country, commanders-in-chief of Ukrainian military formations, as well as prominent figures in the fields of science, culture, education, religion, and state building. Presidents removed from office by impeachment are excluded.
The possibility of immortalizing the memory of Nobel Prize laureates related to Ukraine in the pantheon is also envisaged.
According to Novini.LIVE, the final decision on who to bury or rebury in the pantheon will be made by a specially created state commission. It is planned to involve scientists in the work of the commission.
One of the controversial aspects of the project is the possibility of immortalizing the memory of members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army - UIA - in the pantheon. In Poland, the UIA is associated primarily with the mass murder of the Polish population in Volyn during World War II. Warsaw officially recognized these events as genocide.
Therefore, experts note that the National Pantheon project may further exacerbate the disagreements between Kiev and Warsaw on the issue of historical memory. The Polish side has previously sharply criticized the project.
Recently, the issue of the UIA has once again become a topic of discussion in relations between Ukraine and Poland. In particular, after Zelensky decided to name one of the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces "Heroes of the UIA", Warsaw reacted sharply.