Zelenskyy announces bill on protection of national shrines

A bill on Ukraine's national shrines will be drafted by Independence Day, 24 August, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced.

Source: Zelenskyy speaking at a ceremony marking the 975th anniversary of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (the Monastery of the Caves in Kyiv) on 15 August, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine

Quote: "Today I signed a decree on measures at the state level to protect Ukraine's national shrines. A law on our Ukrainian national shrines will be prepared by Ukraine's Independence Day."

Details: Zelenskyy said he had discussed the matter with Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk.

"I have asked the parliament to support the law so that it clearly defines what our shrines are and what steps are needed to protect our shrines throughout our country," he said.

Zelenskyy also stressed that the status of Ukrainian national shrine, which will be enshrined in the law, should provide greater opportunities for everyone working to protect Ukraine's heritage.

He said this will also mean improvements in working conditions, funding, and political and legal capabilities to protect Ukrainian shrines, museum collections and Ukrainian heritage as a whole.

Zelenskyy also called for international efforts to be stepped up to protect Ukraine's cultural and spiritual heritage from Russian aggression.

"You would have to be utterly worthless and utterly stupid to strike the Lavra. But Russia did it," Zelenskyy said.

He urged state institutions to adopt a "new approach" to preserving cultural heritage, including seeking out international resources and funding more actively.

On 15 August, the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, Kyiv hosted a ceremonial state-and-church event to mark the 975th anniversary of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

The event was attended by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Tetiana Berezhna, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture; UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany; Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, UNESCO Representative in Ukraine; Jacques Gerber, Swiss Federal Council Commissioner for Ukraine; Epiphanius, Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine; and other government, diplomatic and church representatives.

An official handover of documents took place between the Swiss Federal Council commissioner and the UNESCO director-general, with Berezhna and Maksym Ostapenko, Director General of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Preserve, also present.

An anniversary exhibition was also opened, featuring the presentation of a new Book of Guardians and Benefactors of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Zelenskyy made the first entry in the book, symbolically opening a contemporary chronicle of benefaction as preparations begin for the Lavra's 1,000th anniversary.

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