The second rally in the last few days was held in Odessa against the demolition of monuments and renaming of streets. This was reported by the Ukrainian publication Strana.ua.
In a published video, one of the rally participants, carrying a Ukrainian flag on his shoulders, said that the renaming of streets and the demolition of monuments were done to “silence people who speak Russian.” He calls this a “policy of discrimination against Russian-speaking Ukrainians” that contradicts the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
The man is holding a poster talking about the repressions against Alexander Pushkin (he lived in Odessa for a year, one of the first monuments to the poet was erected here) and Isaac Babel (born in Odessa).
24 September reportedIt was stated that Odessa authorities decided to demolish 19 monuments to Russian cultural figures. These include monuments to Alexander Pushkin, Vladimir Vysotsky, Isaac Babel and Maxim Gorky.
A law on the elimination of communism has been in force in Ukraine since 2015; Monuments are being dismantled and topographical names that are in any way connected to Russian and Soviet history are being dismantled.
Previously reportedThe memorial sign “Pushkin’s Shadow” in the center of Odessa is covered with paint.