Trade Unions call for their burnt HQ to be a Museum of the Euromaidan

The Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU) has called for the House of Trade Unions, which was burned by the Security Police during the Euromaidan protest on 20th February 2014 to become a permanent museum dedicated to the Revolution of Dignity.  Ukraine Solidarity Campaign published below a letter sent to us by the FPU to V.B. Groisman, Chairman of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine  and others.   It highlights the role played by trade unions during the rebellion in Ukraine against Yanukovych’s authoritarian government.

FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS OF UKRAINE

2, Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), KYIV

No.11/01-15/167 of 11 February 2015

To:      V.B. Groisman, Chairman of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

E.V. Sobolev, I.S. Lutsenko, V.z. Parasyuk, Yu.V. Tymoshenko, O.V. Medunitsa, M.v. Gavryluk, Yu.R> Shukhevych – People’s deputies of Ukraine

Subject: “Immortalize the   Revolution of Dingity’s Memory 2013 – 2014”  

Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine and the staff of International Center of Culture and Art of Ukraine are addressing to you in view of intentions to set up the Museum of Maidan on the basis of Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine enterprise “International Center of Culture and Art of Ukraine”. On 6 February 2015 the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine registered the draft Law of Ukraine “On Immortalization of the Revolution of Dignity’s Memory 2013 – 2014” (hereinafter as the draft Law). In accordance with the draft Law, article 3, the building of the Federation of Trade Unions enterprise “International Center of Culture and Art of Ukraine” (hereinafter as ICCAU) will have to get returned to the state owned property and the Museum of Maidan should be established on its basis.

As you are aware that in period social and political actions occurred in November 2013 through February 2014 during the Revolution of Dignity Federation of Trade Unions did not stand apart from those actions and union members took an active part and supported protesters. ICCAU along with the House of Unions was involved both as the resistance headquarters and press-center in Kyiv. About 4 000 people-protesters were staying in the building during tense and hot activities. Those buildings were a stronghold of democracy for thousands of those who stood up for  their rights, showed their courage, patriotism in the struggle for constitutional regulations of democracy, rights and freedoms of our people during the Dignity Revolution.

As you are aware that the building of Unions Federation was burnt on the night of 19 February 2014 when the building was attacked by the security authorities. The Federation of Trade Unions has not received any financial support that is tens of UAH millions, to renovate the facility yet. In 2005, the Ukrainian authorities and officials initiated the set up of Ukrainian Institute of the National Memory with the purpose to immortalize a memory of victims of political repressions and starvation in Ukraine on the basis of ICCAU.

In accordance with the draft Law, article 3, the building of   Federation of Trade Unions enterprise “International Center of Culture and Art of Ukraine” will have to be returned to the state owned property. In this connection we would like to note that all assets of Unions Federation of Ukraine enterprise “International Center of Culture and Art of Ukraine” belong as proprietary to the Ukrainian Unions Federation Council, Independent Unions and Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine.

Federation of Trade Unions supports a common conception and idea to establish the Museum of Maidan. The Unions are ready to cooperate shoulder to shoulder with the state and society to immortalize the Revolution of Dignity’s memory and people who showed their civilian courage. Federation of Trade Unions proposes the possibility to place partial exposures of the Museum of Maidan in rooms of the Unions House and ICCAU after its renovation in 2016 taking into consideration regulations of the Law of Ukraine “On Museums and museum affair”, article 11.

We would like you to get your attention to the stability of the proprietary, equality of all management against the law, and the state commitment to protect the property especially social orientation that is provided for by the Constitution of Ukraine. Just because we consider to be inadmissible to save the unions and other creative teams from holding of cultural and art efforts at International Center of Culture and Art of Ukraine created 60 years ago.

Besides, costs of the Museum to support ICCAU rooms of 17 000 m² would be not less than 20 million UAH a year that currently is unreasonable expenses from the Budget of Ukraine. Therefore, in our opinion the most acceptable approach in this situation is to set up exposures of the Museum indifferent buildings which were used as strongholds during the EuroMaidan actions.

Taking into account above mentioned, kindly request you to recognize the Federation of Trade Unions position regarding the readiness for cooperation with state and civil organizations of Maidan in terms of the set up of the Museum and herewith submit our proposals and comments to the draft Law of Ukraine “On Immortalization of the Revolution of Dignity’s Memory 2013 – 2014”.

Amendments:

1. The draft Law of Ukraine revision “On Immortalization of the Revolution of Dignity’s Memory 2013 – 2014”.

Sincerely,

G.V. Osoviy                Signed             Chief of Federation of Trade Unions

O.V. Plevanuk            Signed             Acting Director of ICCAU

draft Revision submitted by E.V.Sobolev

and other People’s deputies of Ukraine including

comments and proposals submitted by

Unions Federation of Ukraine

The Law of Ukraine “On Immortalization of the Revolution of Dignity’s Memory 2013 – 2014”.

This Law is passed to observe a historic significance of Ukrainian people confrontation to corrupt officials and regime in November 2013 – February 2014 – the Dignity Revolution – give the tribute to the memory of those who died, realize a moral responsibility before the future younger generation, and maintain the memory of courage, dedication and heroism showed for the confirmation of the freedom and democracy worth.

Article 1. Immortalize the Revolution of Dignity’s Memory

Respectful relation to the memory about the Revolution of dignity and its victims is a sacred duty of the state and citizens of Ukraine.

Article 2. The Form of Immortalization of the Revolution of Dignity’s Memory

The main forms of immortalization of the Revolution of Dignity’s memory are as follows:

Celebrate the Day of Dignity and Freedom.

Construction and preservation of monuments, installation of memorable signs, set up of museums and memorial complexes devoted to the memory of victims and participants of the Revolution of dignity.

Facilitate an investigation of the Revolution history, reflection of the events, its victims and participants courage in the literature and arts, books and catalogues of memory, and in mass media.

Article 3. Set up the Maidan Museum

Establish the Maidan Museum to immortalize people’s memory who showed their civilian courage, performed active humanistic activities during the Revolution of dignity.

Article 4. Responsibility for the non-fulfillment of the Law

Identities who are guilty in the violation of the Law are responsible in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine.

Article 5. Statutory provisions

1. The Law shall come into effect as soon as it is published.
2. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine:

• Set up the Maidan Museum in Kyiv and approve its status in compliance with the Law of Ukraine “On Museums and Museum affairs”.
• Make provision for the funds required to set up and operation the Museum upon development of the draft law regarding changes in the Law of Ukraine and the State Budget of Ukraine in 2015.

Chairman of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine