Monument to Catherine the Great in Odesa ‘dressed up as executioner’
The presence of a symbol of Russian imperialism in Odessa infuriates Ukrainians (Photo:t.me/ssternenko)
A monument to Empress Catherine the Great of Russia and her companions, also known as monument to the founders of Odesa, has been dressed up as an executioner, Ukrainian activist and blogger Serhiy Sternenko said on the Telegram messenger on Nov. 2.
Sternenko posted a photo of the altered monument. In it, the Russian Empress’ head is covered with a red cap and a hangman’s noose has been placed in her right hand.
Earlier the monument to Empress Catherine the Great was doused with red paint to symbolize the blood of Ukrainians on her hands. In addition, a person unknown wrote “Catherine = Putin” on the monument’s pedestal.
People in Odesa have regularly called for the monument, a symbol of Russian imperialism, to be demolished, but this has been strongly opposed by Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov.
In the past, Trukhanov has been accused of sympathizing with Russia.
Moreover, he allocated more than UAH 2 million ($54,692) of budgetary funds to paying for an armed guard for the monument, which has caused even more indignation among members of the public.
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