Today, April 13, Odesa activists conducted a unique protest at the monument of Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, located near the city hall on Primorsky Boulevard: they placed a noose around the monument and hung a sign reading «Looking for a bulldozer».
According to witnesses, some Odesa residents were outraged by such actions.
«Is there nothing more important to address?» asked a man off-camera.
The outcome of the confrontation remains unclear.
Kateryna Musienko, head and founder of the youth organization «We Make You Nervous», explained that activists decided to «prepare the Pushkin monument for Easter» in this unconventional manner.
«Today, we prepared the Pushkin monument for the holiday, clearly indicating that the figure should celebrate this occasion in a museum. We are following Ukrainian Easter traditions – clearing out unnecessary items from our homes!», she wrote on her Facebook.
She stated that «the history of the occupation by the Moscow Empire and then the Soviet Union should be studied through textbooks and museum exhibits.»
«Colonial monuments have no place on the streets of a Ukrainian city,» she firmly believes.
In her opinion, the city council, having the authority to demolish the monument of the «Moscow figure», not only neglects its responsibilities but even dares to renovate the monument’s facade and plant flower beds around it.
«Let's help Trukhanov find the equipment to demolish the marker of the «Russian World» in the center of Odesa! Tear off the number from the «Looking for a bulldozer» sign and call the mayor to expedite the process!», Musienko urged.