NEWSWATCH: “Row over Ukrainian city’s new name” – BBC

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

The BBC covers debates in Ukraine over the jettisoning of names recalling Soviet rule, including the effort to rename Kirovohrad as Inhulsk.

Since pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in 2014, Ukraine has been removing all public vestiges of Soviet rule, from statues of Lenin to street names honouring other Communist luminaries. A parliamentary committee recently decided that Kirovohrad, which was named in honour of leading Bolshevik Sergei Kirov in the 1930s, is to be called Inhulsk after the local river. … some local campaigners … have been lobbying the city council not to adopt the new name … Inhulsk was one of seven options that received some support in a local referendum last year…. But the most popular choice among the public – backed by 76% … was the pre-Soviet name Yelisavetgrad. …

Click here for BBC: “Row over Ukrainian city’s new name”

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