The Rada Proposes New Rules for the Establishment of the National Pantheon and Reburials
A bill on the creation of a National Pantheon was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on June 28. The document provides for changes to the rules governing the state commemoration of historical figures and the introduction of a new procedure for reburials, as well as setting restrictions on individuals who may not be admitted to the pantheon.
The bill calls for the creation of a separate, nationwide memorial space that will be exclusively owned by the state and will not be subject to privatization. The Pantheon is intended to serve as a venue for state ceremonies, military burials, and the commemoration of individuals who have made significant contributions to Ukraine’s development—ranging from nation-building and defense to science, culture, and sports.
The list of those who may be honored includes rulers of Ukrainian states from various eras, presidents of Ukraine (except in cases of impeachment), military leaders, cultural and scientific figures, recipients of international awards, as well as internationally recognized individuals with ties to Ukraine.
At the same time, certain restrictions apply: individuals convicted of crimes against national security or peace, as well as those subject to laws on decommunization and the prohibition of symbols of totalitarian regimes, cannot be honored.
The procedure for reburials is regulated separately: they may take place no earlier than 20 years after death (with exceptions), with the consent of relatives and following a decision by a special advisory body and the Verkhovna Rada.
The bill also provides for the digitization of processes through electronic registries and the “Diya” system, as well as the introduction of a separate legal and urban planning regime for the construction of the Pantheon without the standard procedures for changing land use designations.
If the bill is adopted, Ukraine will gain a new centralized system of state memorialization that will unite historical and contemporary figures within a single national space of remembrance.
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