The Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (United) is concerned with the Kyiv City State Administration’s stand on the fate of St. Sophia Cathedral and other historical monuments of Ukraine’s capital. “As early as in the summer of 2002, the city community voiced its categorical disagreement with the plans for large- scale and rather dubious construction of a fitness center in the vicinity of St. Sophia Cathedral sanctioned by the city authorities,” reads the SDPU (U)’s statement published in the mass media. “Kyivans’ concern is shared by the President of Ukraine who was compelled to interfere in this situation and point out the inadmissibility of an irresponsible attitude towards the national historical heritage. However, recent statements by the city leaders, unfortunately, demonstrated that they failed to understand how significant their moral responsibility for preserving the historical sanctuaries of Ukrainian people is. The problem consists not in the legal estimation of the relevancy of constructing just another fitness center but in city officials ignoring the public opinion and their disdainful and purely commercial approach to the architectural traditions of one of the most significant European cities. This, in part, lead to obvious miscalculations in reconstructing the Independence Square. An excessive accent on the needs of certain trade companies resulted in an obvious distortion of the architectural image of Ukrainian capital’s central square.
“One can assume that the city’s information policy is aimed on preventing those opposing architectural tastes of the city’s top officials from broadcasting their views. In part, there appeared information that Deputy Head of the Society to Protect Monuments of History and Culture Larysa Skoryk was banned from the air at the Kyiv television and Radio Company.
“It is only fair to admit the energy, persistency, and active stand of head of the Kyiv City Administration Oleksandr Omelchenko. However, we would wish him to become Kyivan not only by place of residence but also by the spirit of his decisions. We also sincerely hope that an order will be introduced in the city’s finances and a regime of transparency established, allowing to remove the community’s suspicions regarding the city’s high officials’ interest in implementing one or another commercial project,” the SDPU (U)’s statement reads.
