A number of events are scheduled in Ukraine to mark the 80 th anniversary of the death of Symon Petliura, the distinguished Ukrainian statesman and public figure (see photo). Culture and Tourism Minister Ihor Likhovy made this announcement at a press conference on Monday, May 15, reports Interfax Ukraine.
“Unfortunately, Petliura is still not appreciated in Ukraine, considering his contribution to the building of the Ukrainian nation, so a decision has been made at the highest level to make every effort that Symon Petliura’s name will never be used to scare children, as was the case for a long while,” declared Likhovy, adding, “We must break this stereotype.”
May 25, the date of Petliura’s assassination by a Soviet agent in Paris, will witness the launch of an exhibit at the National Museum of Ukrainian History, entitled “The Knight of the Ukrainian Revolution,” said Deputy Minister Olha Shokalo-Bench. A memorial service will take place that day at St. Volodymyr Cathedral, with His Eminence Filaret, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate), presiding.
Stanislav Kulchytsky, deputy director of the Institute of History at Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, announced that the roundtable “Symon Petliura, Public Figure, Statesman, and Military Leader of Ukraine” would be held on Tuesday. Oleksandr Kucheruk, director of the Olzhych Library, said that an inscribed plaque would be placed on the site of the future monument to Petliura on Tuesday.
Kucheruk added that, after lengthy debates it was decided to erect the monument near the building of the former Central Rada at the intersection of Volodymyrska St. and Taras Shevchenko Blvd. “We hope this monument will be unveiled on Dec. 1.”
A number of books dedicated to Petliura’s life and work are scheduled to be published. According to Volodymyr Serhiychuk, director of the Ukrainian Studies Center under the aegis of Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv, three books commemorating Symon Petliura will come off the presses before May 25. A number of cultural events will be staged in Poltava, Petliura’s native city.
