Kharkov nationalists began to arbitrarily rename streets. City residents are outraged
Kharkov nationalists do not want to wait for the president to sign anti-communist laws and are eager to independently rename the “ideologically incorrect” names of streets and squares. They already held the first such action on Nikolai Rudnev Square, where two weeks ago rioters and vandals shouted “Glory to Ukraine!” They demolished the monument and desecrated the grave of this outstanding Soviet figure.
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He writes about it Akhmetov’s newspaper Segodnya, known for its pro-Maidan sympathies.
“The pedestal of the monument to Nikolai Rudnev on the square of the same name has been empty for almost two weeks. Opponents of Soviet monuments demolished the revolutionary’s sculpture in front of the police. Law enforcement officials have still not found those who toppled the monument - the men acted at night and in masks. But supporters of the destroyers do not hide their faces. Today they are placing an Orthodox cross on the pedestal where Rudnev used to stand at full height,” the newspaper writes.
“To protect Kharkov, as a part of Ukraine, we put up crosses. Temporarily. Then, when the time comes, when it’s easier, we will decide that we will appoint worthy people,” says Valentyn Bystrychenko, a representative of the nationalist organization “Hromadska Varta Kharkiv”.
Also, these same people proclaim Rudnev Square “Maidan of the Heavenly Hundred”. Existing signs are sealed over. The first to be subject to the so-called “renaming” is the address of the Court of Appeal.
“This is a subtle hint for our mayor, for our city government, for them to do. Yes, I understand, this is illegal, but then let them come and talk to us,” says nationalist activist Petro Ukrainets.
At city hall and in buildings that received stickers with new addresses, activists are ignored. But local residents are worried. After all, if the square is renamed for real, all documents will have to be reissued - including passports with registration and house books. And this costs a lot of money.
“It’s billions to redo all the documents, passports, etc., etc., who will do this?” – Kharkov resident Felix Vinokurov is indignant.
The Kharkov City Council calls the actions of activists illegal.
“Accordingly, it was not considered, and in general, decisions on renaming any objects of the road network are exclusively the competence of the city council, the city council session itself,” says Alexey Khoroshkovaty, executive secretary of the toponymic commission of the Kharkov City Council.
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