30 March 2011, 12:37
Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, reminded that the future of the museums of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra would shortly be decided. He calls for considering not only the arguments of the experts who strongly object to the eviction of museums, but also the stand of Kyivans on this matter.
According to figures from a recent opinion poll conducted by "Ukrainian Democratic Circle" agency at the request of the Institute of Politics on March 19-25, 2011, the absolute majority of Kyivans (71,4%) stand for preserving the museum facilities of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. However, 14,8% suppose that the museum facilities of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra should be handed over to Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate, while only 4,6% call for handing it over to Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate. 9,2% could not decide on the answer.
Affiliation with certain confession does not influence the opinion concerning the future of the museums of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Most respondents who affiliate themselves with Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate and Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate (71% and 72% respectively) believe that the museum facilities of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra should remain a museum.
Thus, M.Tomenko believes that central and local authorities should decide whether their activity is governed by the interests of Kyivans or rather leaders of one of Orthodox confessions.