Member of Parliament Criticizes Kyiv Administration's Plans for Fountain at Bessarabia — Why?

A member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has voiced his discontent regarding the plans of the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) to establish a fountain at the location where the Lenin monument once stood, a statue that was dismantled in 2013, marking the beginning of a significant movement to remove monuments across Ukraine. In expressing his opinion, the MP stated that this decision is not only inappropriate but also raises questions about aesthetic taste.

“I could understand if the fountain featured a urinating Lenin. That would at least be funny. But this is not funny at all. Maybe I lack taste, or perhaps I am not well-versed in modern aesthetics, but to my simple mind, this is some sort of fantastical nonsense,” the MP declared, emphasizing his disagreement with the idea of installing a fountain at this particular site.

Beyond aesthetic considerations, the MP also highlighted the financial implications of such a project. He underscored that in the context of war, spending budgetary funds on a fountain is not only impractical but also immoral. “Although, I am told that some, in the name of their arrogance and desire to etch their name into the history of Kyiv, are willing to finance the construction of the fountain and the loyalty of officials,” he added, hinting at potential corruption schemes that could accompany this project.

The MP further suggested that a monument, for instance, to a soldier-defender, should stand at this location, emphasizing the relevance of such an initiative. “I know for sure that the significance of this monument would remain high for many years. Can you imagine how many useful narratives and meanings could be created around it?” he asked, pointing out the opportunity to create a cultural and historical context surrounding the monument.

Additionally, the MP noted that the initiative to install the fountain is reportedly supported by the Deputy Head of the KCSA, Mondryi. “I don’t know who convinced him that this is a good idea, but I have a polar opinion,” he stated, emphasizing his disagreement with this decision.

It is important to note that in similar situations, when officials have differing opinions from the public, a voting mechanism should be utilized. “In Kyiv, digital voting was used to decide on street names and metro station names. There have been other votes as well. This is truly Vox populi, which the residents of Kyiv agree with,” the MP stressed, calling for a vote on this issue so that the citizens can ultimately decide what will be placed at this location.

“Do you agree with this opinion? Or are you okay with that fountain?” he concluded his speech, urging the public to engage in discussion on this important topic.

This text has been published with the author's permission. Tags: Kyiv Digital, Boryslav Bereza, Bessarabia, Lenin Monument, Kyiv.