Business New Europe: Lenin again! Lenin statue to be re-erected after toppling in Kharkiv

File Photo of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin

(Business New Europe – October 2, 2014) Kharkiv authorities have said they will re-erect the central square statue of Vladimir Lenin that was toppled by pro-Ukraine activists.

Kharkiv deputy head Ihor Terekhov said that “understanding the illegality of the monument’s toppling, the city authorities have ordered scaffolding to be put in place around the pedestal and in the immediate future work will start on restoring the monument’s superstructure to its proper condition.”

The statue of Lenin that dominates the vast Freedom Square at the heart of Kharkiv was toppled September 28 by unidentified pro-Ukraine activists. Pro-Ukraine football fans broke up a small demonstration in favour of re-erecting the statue September 30, according to newswires.

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, was the first capital of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Ukraine following the Russian Revolution 1917, right up to 1935.

The city’s controversial mayor Gennady Kernes, was one of Ukraine’s earliest pro-Russian and pro-federalisation politicians in response to pro-Ukraine and pro-Europe political mass demonstrations during winter 2013-2014. But he abruptly changed his position following the ouster of former president Viktor Yanukovych February 22, 2014, backing Ukrainian unity. He survived an apparent assassination attempt shortly after.

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