UWC calls on President Yanukovych to stop liquidation of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory

December 9, 2010

PRESS RELEASE

 

UWC CALLS ON PRESIDENT YANUKOVYCH TO STOP LIQUIDATION OF THE UKRAINIAN INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL MEMORY

 

On December 7, 2010, the UNIAN news agency publicized a draft of President Victor Yanukovych’s decree “On the system of central bodies of the executive branch of government” that would see the liquidation of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory along with forty other state structures.

Created in May 2006, the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory is known internationally as the governmental body responsible for renewing the national memory of the Ukrainian people, strengthening societal interest in Ukrainian history, popularization of objective and fair history in Ukraine and the world, researching the different stages of Ukraine’s quest to restore statehood during the twentieth century and organizing events to honour the memories of those who fought for national liberation and the victims of artificial famines and political repressions. In four years of existence the Institute made significant progress in helping formulate policies of national memory in Ukraine and did important work in revealing little-known pages of Ukrainian history.

President of the Ukrainian World Congress Eugene Czolij said “The proposed liquidation of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory is unfortunately one more example of the current government’s belittling of Ukraine’s national interests. The Ukrainian World Congress calls on President Victor Yanukovych to refrain from liquidating this important institute whose purpose is to help form the Ukrainian people’s national consciousness after three hundred years of russification.”

 

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