Ministry of Culture of Ukraine calls on UNESCO to expel Russia and to move its 45th session to Lviv

Diana Krechetova, Reporter for UP.Life

The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine has called on UNESCO to move its 45th session, planned to be held in Kazan in Russia, to Lviv.

This was reported by Oleksandr Tkachenko, Minister of Culture.

The Minister of Culture also said that the country that has been cynically destroying Ukrainian cultural heritage and which seeks to destroy Ukraine physically and historically cannot be a member of UNESCO.

"UNESCO, we appeal to you in order to transfer the 45th session from Kazan to Lviv. The Russian Federation, which is cynically obliterating everything in its path with their own hands, cannot be an organiser as well as a participant in UNESCO itself!", Tkachenko stated.

According to Tkachenko, Russian culture has been turned into a tool used by the Kremlin in its war against Ukraine, aided by directors, actors, musical performers who are working as mouthpieces for Russian propaganda.

"Actors, directors, and musicians are the mouthpieces of Kremlin propaganda. Not to mention the fact that the "Z" fascist symbol of Russian aggression is hung on cultural buildings", the Minister stressed.

Earlier, Ukrainian Parliament’s committee for cultural issues had previously appealed to the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to cancel state honours previously granted to performers who have supported the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

"Culture is a space of freedom, inspiration, truthful reporting and deep reflection – not propaganda of self-aggrandisement, cruelty and belittling others. It is not about building distorted ideas about the world to satisfy a criminal political regime, and not about distorting mirrors, in which truth does not matter.", said the Ukrainian Minister of Culture.

He also recalled that Russians are destroying theatres and historic buildings in Ukraine which are part of the world’s cultural heritage and which incorporate the cultures of other nations.

Tkachenko listed the Ukrainian cultural heritage sites that are under threat due to the Russian invasion:

"Tauric Chersonese, The Khan's Palace in Bakhchysarai, which is in general the only example of Crimean Tatar palace architecture in the world, are already in danger. Numerous buildings and theatres are being destroyed en masse.

"So which of these corresponds to the values and aims of UNESCO? It's up to you to decide," concluded Tkachenko.

Earlier, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine announced its initiative to gather information on the damage done to Ukraine’s cultural heritage sites as a result of the Russian aggression.