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An effigy of Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera, his order of the Hero of Ukraine and the presidential decree awarding him this title were burned in Odessa on Saturday by activists protesting against the glorification of the Nazi henchman.
Several public organisations, including the Office of Officers and Black Sea Cossacks, condemned Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko for glorifying and rehabilitating Nazi criminals and their supporters. They described Yushchenko’s actions as “leading to a division of the country, insulting the feelings of people, especially of the Great Patriotic War veterans”.
They ripped the order from Bandera’s effigy and burned it. One of the initiators of the action, Anton Davidchenko, the leader of an organisation called Kolokol (Bell), “The remains of the presidential decree and an appeal to the general public of Odessa will be presented to Odessa region Governor Nikolai Serdyuk so that he would hand them order to Viktor Yushchenko.”
The governor will also be given materials from a photo exhibition telling of Bandera’s activities and the crimes committed by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN).
Itar-Tass
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Bandera’s effigy, his order, decree making him hero burned in Odessa
Wihelm
