The Verkhovna Rada approved the creation of the Ukrainian National Pantheon in Kyiv to honor the most prominent representatives of the Ukrainian nation, including, in particular, the leadership of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
A total of 287 MPs voted for the relevant bill No. 15360, with a minimum of 226 votes, Ukrainian News Agency reports.
The law was submitted to the parliament for approval by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The bill states that the Pantheon is a nationwide place of remembrance of the Ukrainian people, a place of honoring the most prominent representatives of the Ukrainian nation who made an exceptional, historically significant contribution to the acquisition and restoration of independence, to the state formation and development of the Ukrainian state, the protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the formation of the Ukrainian nation, the army, culture, art, science, sports, the formation of the Ukrainian literary language, the development of civil society or religion.
It is envisaged that the Pantheon will honor the most prominent representatives of the Ukrainian nation by means of their honorable reburial, the installation of cenotaphs and other forms of honoring.
The Pantheon may honor the memory of:
1) persons who held the positions of heads of state or were equated to them in Rus, the Rus Kingdom, the Ukrainian Cossack State (Zaporozhian Army), the Ukrainian People's Republic, the Western Ukrainian People's Republic, the Ukrainian State, and Carpathian Ukraine;
2) Presidents of Ukraine, except for those who, in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, were removed from office by impeachment;
3) persons who held the positions of commanders-in-chief (chief commanders) or were equated to them in the armed forces (army) of the Ukrainian People's Republic, the Galician Army (Ukrainian Galician Army), the People's Defense Organization "Carpathian Sich", and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army;
4) commanders-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the War of Independence of Ukraine;
5) persons who made an exceptional, historically significant contribution to the acquisition and restoration of independence, to the state formation and development of the Ukrainian state, the protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the formation of the Ukrainian nation, army, culture, art, science, sports, the formation of the Ukrainian literary language, the development of civil society or religion;
6) Nobel Prize laureates in science or literature, world-class scientists or cultural figures who were citizens of Ukraine, or who were born or lived in the territory of Ukraine, or whose activities were connected with the territory of Ukraine.
The Pantheon cannot honor the memory of persons who have been convicted of a criminal offense against the foundations of national security of Ukraine and against peace, the security of humanity and international law, as well as those who are subject to restrictions in accordance with the laws on decommunization and decolonization.
The bill provides that for the purpose of preliminary consideration of the issue of the honorable reburial of the ashes of individuals in the Pantheon, or the installation of cenotaphs for individuals, or the commemoration of individuals through other forms, a permanent collegial advisory body shall be formed, which, on the basis of a competitive selection, shall include representatives of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, scientific institutions, specialists in the field of history, national memory, education, memorialization, as well as representatives of public organizations in the field of security, culture, art, science, sports, Ukrainian linguistics, the development of civil society or religion.
The customer for the construction of the Pantheon is determined by the Cabinet of Ministers, the development of the Pantheon project is carried out on a competitive basis.
It is envisaged that the construction, maintenance in good condition and protection of the Pantheon shall be carried out at the expense of the state budget.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, Zelenskyy initiated this bill against the backdrop of aggravation of relations between Ukraine and Poland, after Polish President Karol Navrotsky announced the deprivation of Zelenskyy's Order of the White Eagle due to the decision to name a unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine after the "Heroes of the UPA". In May, a reburial ceremony was held for the second leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), Colonel of the Army of the Ukrainian People's Republic Andrii Melnyk, and his wife Sofia Fedak-Melnyk at the National War Memorial Cemetery (NWMC) in the Kyiv Region.
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