Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, believes that Installation of the Monument to I.Stalin is Groundless, and calls for the Legislative Regulation of the Commemoration of Historic Figures
"The crimes of Stalin can not be suppressed or neglected. I can name terrible figures in the period of 1923-1953, more than 1 million people were convicted and exterminated under the political clauses. Thus, 156 thousand people were convicted in Ukraine in 1937 only", V.Lytvyn stated in the interview to Rada television channel.
However, V.Lytvyn warns against "attaching all the blame to I.Stalin." "I suppose that installation of a monument to this person is groundless", he stated.
The Head of the Parliament deems necessary "to bury the bones of the unknown soldiers of the Great Patriotic War that are being found every day." "The efforts shall be focused on this cause, as people say that war is not over until the last soldier is buried", he stated.
V.Lytvyn objects to commemorating historic figures rejected by either part of the country. He supposes that politicians use it as a means of attracting extra admirers and new voters. "It is not the monuments, but the public opinion that determines the heroes", he stated.
The Head of the Parliament deems necessary to fix the procedure of monuments installation. "It shall be a state matter, not the wish of a certain political force or a person. The state and the people can not exist without symbols and myths; however, they should be widely recognized, uniting the nation. Nevertheless, the war against the political rivals by means of monuments has been launched. It will not do any good", V.Lytvyn stated.