Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, believes that the governmental policy has been directed contrary to the interests of the national reserves, but for the benefit of the church. "However, the state shall give priority to the national cultural heritage, not the property interests of the church," he admitted.
M.Tomenko drew attention to the critical situation in the National Historical and Ethnographic Reserve Pereyaslav. Thus, more than 5 thousand exhibits were moved to the maladjusted premises, while Mykhailivska church and bell tower were transferred into the ownership of the church community without concluding the lease agreements, although these objects are on the balance sheet of the reserve and are the monuments of the national cultural heritage. He also reminded of the eviction of the museums from Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, and the problems with the land and premises of Khersones reserve in Sevastopol. According to M.Tomenko, "the authorities should reach a compromise on these issues, protecting the Ukrainian heritage and honouring the church." He intends to initiate the round table discussion at the Parliament to debate these critical situations.